魏三 THE STRATAGEMS OF WEI III
秦趙約而伐魏
Qin and Zhao Make an Accord to Attack Wei
秦、趙約而伐魏，魏王患之。芒卯曰：「王勿憂也。臣請發張倚使謂趙王曰，夫鄴，寡人固刑弗有也。今大王收秦而攻魏，寡人請以鄴事大王。」趙王喜，召相國而命之曰：「魏王請以鄴事寡人，使寡人絕秦。」相國曰：「收秦攻魏，利不過鄴。今不用兵而得鄴，請許魏。」
Qin made an agreement with Zhao[1] to attack Wei. The King of Wei[2] was growing anxious about it, but Mang Mao[3] said, "You should not worry, Your Majesty. Your servant begs permission to send Zhang Yi[4] as an envoy to talk to the King of Zhao[5]. He will say, 'Ye[6] is on terrain[7] that was not originally ours, so now that Your Majesty has obtained Qin's support for an attack on Wei we beg permission to offer Ye in service of your interests.'" The King of Zhao[8] was delighted. He summoned his Chancellor[9] and gave him the order, saying, "The King of Wei is begging permission to offer Ye[10] in service of our interests, so that we may break off our relations with Qin."
The Chancellor said, "Even if we have Qin join us for an attack on Wei the profits will not outweigh Ye's rents. Now we can obtain Ye without deploying any troops. I beg permission to give Wei our accord."
張倚因謂趙王曰：「敝邑之吏效城者，已在鄴矣。大王且何以報魏？」趙王因令閉關絕秦。秦、趙大惡。芒卯應趙使曰：「敝邑所以事大王者，為完鄴也。今郊鄴者，使者之罪也，卯不知也。」趙王恐魏承秦之怒，遽割五城以合於魏而支秦。
Zhang Yi then took the opportunity to talk to the King of Zhao, saying, "The officials of our humble state who have been tasked with handing over the city are already in Ye. How is Your Majesty going to repay Wei?" As a result, the King of Zhao ordered that the Pass[11] be closed and ties with Qin severed. Relations between Qin and Zhao worsened dramatically.
When Mang Mao received Zhao's envoys, he said, "The reason that our humble state agreed to serve your King's interests was so that Ye would remain intact. Now we are supposed to hand it over to you[12]? This could be a fault on our envoy's part, I do not know[13]." The King of Zhao was afraid that Wei would take advantage of Qin's anger towards him, and offered five more cities for to secure the accord with Wei and thereby forestall any agreement Wei might make with Qin.
[1] Reading 約趙 for 趙約, per the commentaries.
[2] It is not clear which King of Wei is indicated here.
[3] Mang Mao seems to have been a politician from Qi, also known as Meng Mao.
[4] This is not Zhang Yi, the Chancellor of Qin, but another Zhang Yi from Wei.
[5] King Huiwen of Zhao (298 – 266 BC) was a younger son of King Wuling of Zhao, who abdicated in Huiwen's favour. Wuling's elder son, Zhao Zhang, rebelled, but was defeated and pursued by Huiwen's Chancellor, Li Dui. Zhao Zhang fled to his father's residence, where Li Dui besieged them. Wuling killed Zhang in an attempt to convince Li Dui to let him out, but Li Dui starved him to death. King Huiwen had a successful reign, defeating Qin more than once.
[6] Ye is now Linzhang in Hebei.
[7] Reading 形 for 刑, per the commentaries.
[8] Yao suggests that the 趙 here may be superfluous.
[9] It is not clear which chancellor is indicated here.
[10] Some of the commentaries suggest 鄴國 for 鄴 here.
[11] I.e. Hangu Pass, in modern Henan, the ancient gateway to Qin.
[12] Reading 效 for 郊, per the commentaries.
[13] The implication seems to be that Mang Mao is denying any knowledge of the handover to make Zhao nervous about the solidity of its accord with Wei. It has already cut off its relations with Qin, so now it has no choice but to offer more land to secure its relationship with Wei.
芒卯謂秦王
Mang Mao Speaks to the King of Qin
芒卯謂秦王曰：「王之士未有為之中者也。臣聞明王不胥中而行。王之所欲於魏者，長羊、王屋、洛林之地也。王能使臣為魏之司徒，則臣能使魏獻之。」秦王曰：「善。」因任之以為魏之司徒。
Mang Mao[1] spoke to the King of Qin[2], saying, "You do not yet have any officials working for you among the central states[3]. Your servant has heard that an intelligent king takes no action with his back to the centre[4]. What you desire are the lands of Changping[5], Wangshi[6] and Luolin[7]. You could send your servant to Wei to serve as their Interior Minister. Then I will be able to make you a gift of Wei."
The King of Qin said, "Very well." Therefore the King had Mang Mao appointed as Wei's Interior Minister[8].
謂魏王曰：「王所患者上地也。秦之所欲於魏者，長羊、王屋、洛林之地也。王獻之秦，則上地無憂患。因請以下兵東擊齊，攘地必遠矣。」魏王曰：「善。」因獻之秦。
He then spoke to the King of Wei[9], saying, "Your lands up-river are the source of your worries[10], while the lands of Changping, Wangshi and Luolin are what Qin desires. If you offer them to Qin, then your lands upriver will no longer be a source of concern, as I will beg permission to dispatch Qin's troops against Qi, thus ensuring that its territorial ambitions will be fulfilled far from here[11]."
The King of Wei said, "Very well." Consequently he offered Changping, Wangshi and Luolin to Qin.
地入數月，而秦兵不下。魏王謂芒卯曰：「地已入數月，而秦兵不下，何也？」芒卯曰：「臣有死罪。雖然，臣死，則契折於秦，王無以責秦。王因赦其罪，臣為王責約於秦。」
The land was handed over and several months passed, but Qin's troops had not yet been dispatched. The King of Wei spoke to Mang Mao, saying, "We handed the land over several months ago, but Qin has not dispatched its troops. Why is this?"
Mang Mao said, "I deserve death for this offense. Nevertheless, if I am killed it will be as if you had torn up your contract with Qin and you will then have no means of recalling Qin to its responsibilities. If you will, in the circumstances, forgive my transgressions I shall remind Qin of its contractual obligations."
乃之秦，謂秦王曰：「魏之所以獻長羊、王屋、洛林之地者，有意欲以下大王之兵東擊齊也。今地已入，而秦兵不可下，臣則死人也。雖然，後山東之士，無以利事王者矣。」秦王戄然曰：「國有事，未澹下兵也，今以兵從。」後十日，秦兵下。芒卯并將秦、魏之兵，以東擊齊，啟地二十二縣。
Consequently he went to Qin and spoke to the King, saying, "The reason Wei offered you Changping, Wangshi and Luolin was because it wished to join Your Majesty in dispatching troops eastwards to launch a strike against Qi[12]. These lands have been handed over to Qin and Qin has not yet permitted its soldiers to depart. Now I am dead man and - this being so - officials east of the mountains[13] will henceforth see no profit in serving Your Majesty."
The King panicked and said[14], "The state had other affairs on hand so it has not yet sent any troops to assist. I will send an army to follow Wei's." Ten days later Qin's troops left. Mang Mao served as general over both the Qin's and Wei's troops, and he led them in an assault on Qi, overrunning twenty-two counties.
[1] Mang Mao was a politician from Qi.
[2] King Zhaoxiang of Qin (306–251 BC) began life as a relatively minor prince, and served as a child hostage in Zhao before being sneaked out by Queen Xuan (his mother), her brother Wei Ran, and King Wuling of Zhao to assume the throne following the premature death of his brother, King Wu. Upon coming of age, he exiled Xuan and Wei Ran, and worked with a succession of important figures of the age (Gan Mao, Fan Ju, Bai Qi...) to expand Qin's territory during the course of a long and successful reign.
[3] I.e. he has not managed to appoint any of his own people as officials among the other states.
[4] Reading 背 for 胥 here, per the commentaries.
[5] The commentaries suggest that 長羊 may be an error for 長平 (Changping). Changping is now Gaoping in Shanxi. At the time it was on the border between Han, Qin, Wei and Zhao.
[6] Wangshi seems to have been in modern Changyuan County, Henan.
[7] The commentaries suggest that this refers to a place called Linzhong, but it is not clear where this was.
[8] The commentaries suggest that the 之 here may be superfluous.
[9] It is not clear which King of Wei is indicated here.
[10] Interpreting 上 as 上流, per the commentaries.
[11] Commentaries and modern translations disagree regarding the interpretation of this sentence. It may be intended to read something like "the chance to expand your territories will not be far away".
[12] According to the commentaries 有意 is superfluous.
[13] Mount Hua, which marked Qin's eastern border.
[14] The commentaries suggest 懼 for 戄 here.
[15] Reading 贍 for 澹, per the commentaries.
秦敗魏於華走芒卯而圍大梁
Qin Defeats Wei at Hua, Putting Mang Mao to Flight and Surrounding Daliang
秦敗魏於華，走芒卯而圍大梁。須賈為魏謂穰侯曰：「臣聞魏氏大臣父兄皆謂魏王曰：『初時惠王伐趙，戰勝乎三梁，十萬之軍拔邯鄲，趙氏不割，而邯鄲復歸。齊人攻燕，殺子之，破故國，燕不割，而燕國復歸。燕、趙之所以國全兵勁，而地不并乎諸侯者，以其能忍難而重出地也。宋、中山數伐數割，而隨以亡。臣以為燕、趙可法，而宋、中山可無為也。夫秦貪戾之國而無親，蠶食魏，盡晉國，戰勝睾子，割八縣，地未畢入而兵復出矣。夫秦何厭之有哉！今又走芒卯，入北地，此非但攻梁也，且劫王以多割也，王必勿聽也。今王循楚、趙而講，楚、趙怒而與王爭事秦，秦必受之。秦挾楚、趙之兵以復攻，則國救亡不可得也已。願王之必無講也。王若欲講，必少割而有質；不然必欺。』是臣之所聞於魏也，願君之以是慮事也。
Qin defeated Wei at Hua[1], putting Mang Mao[2] to flight and surrounding Daliang[3]. Xu Jia[4] spoke to Marquis Rang[5] on Wei's behalf, saying[6], "Your servant has heard that the Wei family's various relations and secretaries of state are all speaking to the King, saying, 'Early in King Hui's[7] reign he attacked Zhao, fighting and securing victory Sanliang[8]. An army a hundred thousand strong overran Handan[9], but the Zhao family refused to cede any land and eventually regained Handan. Qi's partisans attacked Yan, killed Zizhi[10] and ravaged the country, but Yan refused to cede any land and eventually regained its state. If Yan and Zhao were able to restore their states, reinforce their armies, and prevent their lands from being annexed by the sovereign lords, it was because they were able to endure hardship and regarded any loss of land as a grave matter. Song and Zhongshan fought often and ceded land just as often, and so they were exterminated. Your servant believes that you should take Yan and Zhao as your model rather than Song and Zhongshan[11]. Qin is a rapacious and friendless state, and is gradually eating away at Wei like a silkworm, swallowing up all the land you received from Jin. It fought and defeated Master Bao[12] securing the surrender of eight counties[13], but before the land transfer was complete Qin had already dispatched its troops again. How can Qin ever be satiated? Now it has put Mang Mao to flight and annexed our northern lands[14]; this is not just an attack on Liang, it is an attack on you yourself, an attempt to force you to cede even more land. You must not listen to them. Now you are working with Chu and Zhao[15], but if you open negotiations with Qin then they will be angered and vie with you to present Qin with a more advantageous offer. Qin will certainly accept their support. Once Qin gets its hands on the armies of Chu and Zhao it will renew its attacks, and then there will be no one to save your state from destruction[16]. I hope that you will refuse categorically to sue for peace, but if you do choose to negotiate, then you must minimise your land concessions[18] and take hostages from Qin; otherwise they will certainly betray you.' This is what your servant heard in Wei, and I hope that Your Lordship will take it into consideration in this affair.
「周書曰：『維命不于常。』此言幸之不可數也。夫戰勝睾子，而割八縣，此非兵力之精，非計之工也，天幸為多矣。今又走芒卯，入北地，以攻大梁，是以天幸自為常也。知者不然。
"The Book of Zhou says 'rely not upon the constancy of destiny'[17]. This means that blessings do not fall twice. If Master Bao was defeated in battle and the eight counties handed over, it was not on account of the superlative strength of your troops or the quality of your strategies[18], but because heaven showered good fortune upon you. Now you have put Mang Mao to flight and annexed Wei's northern lands, and - on top of that - you are attacking Daliang. If you are doing this, it must be because you believe that your continued good fortune can be relied upon, though the astute know that this is not the case.
「臣聞魏氏悉其百縣勝兵，以止戍大梁，臣以為不下三十萬。以三十萬之眾，守十仞之城，臣以為雖湯、武復生，弗易攻也。夫輕信楚、趙之兵，陵十仞之城，戴三十萬之眾，而志必舉之，臣以為自天下之始分以至于今，未嘗有之也。攻而不能拔，秦兵必罷，陰必亡，則前功必棄矣。今魏方疑，可以少割收也。願之及楚、趙之兵未任於大梁也，亟以少割收。魏方疑，而得以少割為和，必欲之，則君得所欲矣。楚、趙怒於魏之先己講也，必爭事秦。從是以散，而君後擇焉。且君之嘗割晉國取地也，何必以兵哉？夫兵不用，而魏效絳、安邑，又為陰啟兩機，盡故宋，衛效尤憚。秦兵已令，而君制之，何求而不得？何為而不成？臣願君之熟計而無行危也。」
"Your servant has heard that the Wei clan has deployed all the conscripts it could raise from a hundred counties[19] to stop your invading forces before they reach Daliang. I believe this force cannot be less than three hundred thousand strong. With an army three hundred thousand strong one can defend a fortified city with walls ten ren high such that even if Tang[20] or Wu[21] were to return to life, I am convinced that they would not easily be able to attack it. To disregard the trust placed in you by the armies of Chu and Zhao, to swarm the ten-ren walls of a fortified city, to do battle[22] with an army three hundred thousand strong, and to conquer by sheer effort of will... Your servant believes that from the time that All-Under-Heaven was first divided up down to the present day such a thing has never been done. If you attack and cannot overcome the enemy then your troops will be exhausted; you will certainly lose Yin[23] and have to abandon all you have gained. Now, however, Wei is vacilating, and will be willing to cede a little more land to secure your support. I hope you will make your[24] approach before the armies of Chu and Zhao have taken up position in Daliang; if you move immediately Wei will prefer to cede land now in return for your backing - given the uncertainty of its position, if Wei has the chance to make peace immediately in return for just a little land it will definitely prefer this, and so you too will get what you desire. If Chu and Zhao are indignant because Wei chose to negotiate with you rather than wait then they will certainly vie with Wei to present you with a more advantageous offer. When this happens the alliance will be scattered and you will then be able to take your pick from among them. When Jin surrendered its lands and you took them, what need did you have of troops then? Before you deployed your troops Wei had already offered up Jiang[25] and Anyi[26], which you were able to use to open up two routes through Yin, granting you the means to wipe out Song and making Wey offer up Shanfu[27]. With Qin's troops under your command and these places under your control[28], why should you not obtain whatever you demand? How could your undertakings not succeed? Your servant hopes that you will think intensively about this and not walk into danger."
穰侯曰：「善。」乃罷梁圍。
Marquis Rang said, "Very well." Consequently he ended the siege of Liang.
[1] It is not entirely clear which Hua is being referred to here.
[2] Mang Mao was a politician from Qi.
[3] Daliang was the capital of Wei. It is now Kaifeng in Henan.
[4] Xu Jia was a politician in Wei.
[5] Wei Ran (Marquis Rang) was the half-brother of Queen Xuan of Qin and the uncle of King Zhaoxiang. Having backed Zhaoxiang in the struggle for succession that occurred following the death of King Wu, he subsequently became Chancellor.
[6] Reading 曰 for 葉, per the commentaries.
[7] King Hui of Wei (344 - 319 BC) succeeded Marquis Wu following a violent succession conflict during which Wei was almost conquered by Han and Zhao. He conducted several discussions with Mencius and exchanged territory with Han, making his state easier to defend.
[8] Sanliang seems to have been somewhere in Southern Wei.
[9] Handan was the capital of Zhao. It is still called Handan, and is in Hebei.
[10] Zizhi was Chancellor of Yan, and occupied the throne for a time after King Kuai was persuaded to abdicate in his favour as a demonstration of virtue. He successfully put down a revolt by the Crown Prince, but both Zizhi and King Yan were subsequently killed by invading Qi troops.
[11] The commentaries suggest that the 臣 here may be superfluous.
[12] Bao Yuan was a Han general.
[13] Reading 暴 for 睾, per the commentaries.
[14] According to the commentaries, this refers to Zhaiyang, now Xingyang in Henan.
[15] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[16] The commentaries suggest that the 也 here may be usperfluous.
[17] This seems to have been a common saying, but it does not appear in the current version of the Book of Zhou.
[18] Reading 功 for 工, per the commentaries.
[19] Yao and Zeng suggest 姓 for 縣, per the commentaries, in which case the troops are being raised from among the general population.
[20] Tang of Shang (c. 1675 – 1646 BC) overthrew King Jie to become the first ruler of the Shang Dynasty.
[21] King Wu of Zhou (1046–1043 BC) defeated King Zhou of Shang to become one of the founders of the Zhou Dynasty.
[22] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[23] Yin was an alternative name for Taoyi, Marquis Rang's fiefdom. It is now in Heze, Shandong.
[24] Reading 願君 for 願, per the commentaries.
[25] Jiang is still called Jiang, and is in modern Shanxi.
[26] Anyi is now Yuncheng, in Shanxi.
[27] Shanfu is now called Shan, and is in Shandong.
[28] Reading 又為陶開兩道，幾盡故宋，衛必效單父，秦兵可全 for 又為陰啟兩機，盡故宋，衛效尤憚。秦兵已令 following the Shiji version of the text.
秦敗魏於華魏王且入朝於秦
Qin Defeats Wei at Hua and the King of Wei Plans to Go and Pay Respects in the COurt of Qin
秦敗魏於華，魏王且入朝於秦。周訢謂王曰：「宋人有學者，三年反而名其母。其母曰：『子學三年，反而名我者，何也？』其子曰：『吾所賢者，無過堯、舜，堯、舜名。吾所大者，無大天地，天地名。今母賢不過堯、舜，母大不過天地，是以名母也。』其母曰：『子之於學者，將盡行之乎？願子之有以易名母也。子之於學也，將有所不行乎？願子之且以名母為後也。』今王之事秦，尚有可以易入朝者乎？願王之有以易之，而以入朝為後。」魏王曰：「子患寡人入而不出邪？許綰為我祝曰：『入而不出，請殉寡人以頭。』」周訢對曰：「如臣之賤也，今人有謂臣曰，入不測之淵而必出，不出，請以一鼠首為女殉者，臣必不為也。今秦不可知之國也，猶不測之淵也；而許綰之首，猶鼠首也。
內王於不可知之秦，而殉王以鼠首，臣竊為王不取也。且無梁孰與無河內急？」王曰：「梁急。」「無梁孰與無身急？」王曰：「身急。」曰：「以三者，身，上也；河內，其下也。秦未索其下，而王效其上，可乎？」
Qin defeated Wei at Hua[1], and the King of Wei[2] planned to go and pay his respects in the court of Qin. Zhou Xin[3] talked to the King, saying, "There was once a person from Song who went away to study. He returned after three years and called out to his mother using her personal name. His mother said, 'You have spent three years studying and yet now you have returned you are calling me by my personal name. What is this all about?'[4] Her son said, 'I can think of none wiser than Yao and Shun, and yet still I call them Yao and Shun. I can think of nothing greater than Heaven and Earth, and yet I still call them Heaven and Earth. Now your wisdom does not surpass that of Yao and Shun, and your greatness does not surpass that of Heaven and Earth; this being so, I shall call you by your name.' His mother said, 'Are you intending to put all you have learned into practice? In that case I hope you will use your knowledge to find something else to call me. Or will you omit to put some of it into practice[5]? In that case I hope you will make calling me by my personal name the last part that you implement.' Now you may be obliged to serve Qin, but can you not find another way to do so than by going to pay respects in their court? I wish you would find another way to handle this, or at least make going to the court of Qin your last resort."
The King of Wei said, "Are you afraid that we will enter Qin and never leave? Xu Wan[6] gave us his word: if we go and do not come back, he will beg that he himself be sacrificed and his head buried with us as an offering."
Zhou Xin replied, "Humble though your servant may be, if someone said to me now that that I should jump into a botomless abyss on the basis that I would certainly be able to climb out or - failing that - he would beg to sacrifice a rat and offer it up as a handmaid for me in the afterlife, I would not do it. Now the state of Qin is as unknowable as a bottomless abyss, and Xu Wan's head is worth no more than a rat's. To enter an impenetrable state like Qin with only a sacrificial rat to guarantee your safety, your servant humbly suggests would be a bad idea. Which would be more critical to you: the loss of Liang or the loss of your lands east of the Yellow River[7]?"
The King said. "Losing Liang."
Zhou Xin said, "Which would be more critical to you: the loss of Liang or or the loss of your own life?"
The King said, "Losing my life."
Zhou Xin said, "Of these three, your life is the most important, and the land east of the Yellow River is the least important. Qin has not yet demanded the latter, but you are offering it the former. Why?"
王尚未聽也。支期曰：「王視楚王。楚王入秦，王以三乘先之；楚王不入，楚、魏為一，尚足以捍秦。」王乃止。王謂支期曰：「吾始已諾於應侯矣，今不行者欺之矣。」支期曰：「王勿憂也。臣使長信侯請無內王，王待臣也。」
Nevertheless, the King did not listen. Zhi Qi[8] said, "Your Majesty should observe the King of Chu[9]. If he goes to Qin to pay his respects, then you can send three carriages ahead of him. If he does not go, then you will be able to make an alliance with Chu that will be sufficient to keep Qin at bay."
Consequently, the King abandoned his plans, saying to Zhi Qi, "I previously gave my word to Marquis Ying[10]; if I refuse to go now he will consider it a betrayal."
Zhi Qi said, "Do not worry. I shall send Marquis Changxin[11] to beg that you be dispensed from going. Your Majesty has only to wait."
支期說於長信侯曰：「王命召相國。」長信侯曰：「王何以臣為？」支期曰：「臣不知也，王急召君。」長信侯曰：「吾內王於秦者，寧以為秦邪？吾以為魏也。」支期曰：「君無為魏計，君其自為計。且安死乎？安生乎？安窮乎？安貴乎？君其先自為計，後為魏計。」長信侯曰：「樓公將入矣，臣今從。」支期曰：「王急召君，君不行，血濺君襟矣！」
Zhi Qi went to persuade Marquis Changxin, saying, "The King is summoning you, Chancellor."
Marquis Changxin said, "What does the King want from me?"
Zhi Qi said, "I am not aware of that, but the King is summoning Your Lordship urgently."
Marquis Changxin said, "Does he take it that I was working on Qin's behalf when I said that he should go there? I simply felt it would be best for Wei!"
Zhi Qi said, "Your Lordship should not be making plans for Wei, you should be making plans for yourself. To die or live? Be ruined or exalted? First plan for your own future, and only then for Wei's."
Marquis Changxin said, "Lord Lou[12] is leaving for Qin now. I will go with him[13]."
Zhi Qi said, "The King is summoning Your Lordship urgently, if you do not go to him, your collar will be dyed red with blood."
長信侯行，支期隨其後。且見王，支期先入謂王曰：「偽病者乎而見之，臣已恐之矣。」長信侯入見王，王曰：「病甚奈何！吾始已諾於應侯矣，意雖道死，行乎？」長信侯曰：「王毋行矣！臣能得之於應侯，願王無憂。」
Marquis Changxin went, and Zhi Qi followed behind him. When they arrived for their audience, Zhi Qi entered first and spoke to the King, saying, "Pretend to be sick when you see him, I have already given him a fright."
When Marquis Changxin entered, the King said, "I am so sick; how shall I manage? I made a promise to Marquis Ying, and I feel that I should undertake this journey even if it kills me."
Marquis Changxin said, "Do not go! I can get what you want from Marquis Ying. I would not want you to worry."
[1] It is not entirely clear which Hua is being referred to here.
[2] It is not clear which King of Wei is indicated here
[3] It is not entirely clear whether this person's name was 周訢 (Zhou Xin), 周訴 (Zhou Su) or 周訢 (Zhou Yi). He seems to have been a politician in Wei.
[4] At the time it was considered rude to call anyone older or more senior by their personal name.
[5] Reading 也 for 乎, per the commentaries.
[6] Xu Wan was a Qin diplomat.
[7] This refers to the land on Qin's border that Wei has already lost.
[8] This person is not otherwise well-known.
[9] King Qingxiang of Chu (298–263 BC) was the son of King Huai, and ascended the throne while his father was still held prisoner in Qin.
[10] Fan Ju, also known as Marquis Ying, was Chancellor of Qin.
[11] Marquis Changxin was the chancellor of Wei at the time; he was on good terms with Qin.
[12] Lou Huan was a politician in Zhao and Qin, and a proponent of the Zhao-Qin alliance.
[13] Lou Huan was known for his associations with Qin, and also had to flee Zhao under suspicions of espionage. Changxin seems to be afraid that he too will be suspected and wishes to spend some time outside Wei until any heat is off.
華軍之戰
The Battle of Huayang
華軍之戰，魏不勝秦。明年，將使段干崇割地而講。
At the Battle of Huayang[1] Wei was unable to defeat Qin. The following year, Wei planned to send Duanhan Chong[2] to offer land as a basis for opening peace talks.
孫臣謂魏王曰：「魏不以敗之上割，可謂善用不勝矣；而秦不以勝之上割，可謂不能用勝矣。今處期年乃欲割，是群臣之私而王不知也。且夫欲璽者，段干子也，王因使之割地；欲地者，秦也，而王因使之受璽。夫欲璽者制地，而欲地者制璽，其勢必無魏矣。且夫姦臣固皆欲以地事秦。以地事秦，譬猶抱薪而救火也。薪不盡，則火不止。今王之地有盡，而秦之求無窮，是薪火之說也。」
Sun Chen[3] spoke to the King of Wei, saying, "Wei emerged from its defeat without having ceded any land; thus it was said that Wei knew how best to handle a defeat. Qin emerged from its victory without having gained any land; thus it was said that Qin did not know how best to handle a victory[4]. If, after waiting a year, you have decided that you wish to cede land to Qin, it must because your private secretaries have been corrupted and you are as yet unaware of the fact. Duanhan Chong desires official titles and you have conveniently sent him to handle your land transfer, while the King of Qin desires land and you have conveniently sent him an envoy who longs for official titles[6]. Now the one who seeks titles has control over the land, and the one who seeks land has control over the titles; the advantage in such a situation is certainly not Wei's. The traitors among your partisans will all certainly want you to offer land to serve Qin's interests[7]. In fact, offering land to Qin is like trying to put out a house fire by adding more wood; as long as the wood is not exhausted, the fire will not go out. Given that your land will eventually run out but Qin will never grow any less demanding[8], this is a lesson worth recalling.
魏王曰：「善。雖然，吾已許秦矣，不可以革也。」對曰：「王獨不見夫博者之用梟邪？欲食則食，欲握則握。今君劫於群臣而許秦，因曰不可革，何用智之不若梟也？」魏王曰：「善。」乃案其行。
The King of Wei said, "Well said, but even so, I have already made a promise to Qin[9]. I cannot go back on it."
Sun Chen said, "Can it be that you have never seen a gambler get a winning hand at chupu[10]? If he wants to take another piece, he takes it. If he wants to hold, he holds. Now, under pressure from your private secretaries, Your Lordship made a promise to Qin and now they are simply taking advantage of that to say that you cannot change your mind. Why rack your brains for ways to get out of it when you already hold the winning hand?" The King of Wei said, "Very well." Consequently he cancelled Duanhan Chong's trip.
[1] Reading 華陽 for 華軍, per the commentaries. This referred to the area south of the Qinling Mountains.
[2] Duanhan Chong was a politician in Wei.
[3] Sun Chen was another politician in Wei.
[4] Reading 善 for 能, per the commentaries.
[5] 璽 refers to the official seals that accompanied the bestowal of a fiefdom.
[6] Reading 授 for 受, per the commentaries.
[7] The commentaries suggest 姦人 for 姦臣 here.
[8] Reading 求之 for 之求 here, per the commentaries.
[9] The commentaries suggest 以 for 已 here.
[7] The rules of chupu have not survived, but getting an owl seems to have been something like turning a pawn into a queen in chess - it was powerful enough to allow him to do as he liked. The idea is that Wei's position is so strong that the King can go back on his promises without needing to provide justification.
齊欲伐魏
Qi Wishes to Launch an Attack on Wei
齊欲伐魏，魏使人謂淳于髡曰：「齊欲伐魏，能解魏患，唯先生也。敝邑有寶璧二雙，文馬二駟，請致之先生。」淳于髡曰：「諾。」入說齊王曰：「楚，齊之仇敵也；魏，齊之與國也。夫伐與國，使仇敵制其餘敝，名醜而實危，為王弗取也。」齊王曰：「善。」乃不伐魏。
Qi wished to launch an attack on Wei. Wei sent one of its people to speak to Chunyu Kun[1], saying, "Qi wishes to attack us, and the only one who can extricate us from our troubles is you, Your Excellency. Our humble state is in possession of two pairs of jade rings[2] and two teams of skewbald horses. I beg to give them to you."
Chunyu Kun said, "So be it." Thereupon he headed into the court to exercise his persuasions on the King of Qi[3], saying, "Chu and Qi are enemies, while Wei and Qi are allies[4]. If we attack an ally, we will be placing the fate of our remaining troops in the hands of our enemy[5], blackening our good name and putting ourselves in danger. This is not an option you can take."
The King of Qi said, "Very well." Consequently he refrained from attacking Wei.
客謂齊王曰：「淳于髡言不伐魏者，受魏之璧、馬也。」王以謂淳于髡曰：「聞先生受魏之璧、馬，有諸？」曰：「有之。」「然則先生之為寡人計之何如？」淳于髡曰：「伐魏之事不便，魏雖刺髡，於王何益？若誠不便，魏雖封髡，於王何損？且夫王無伐與國之誹，魏無見亡之危，百姓無被兵之患，髡有璧、馬之寶，於王何傷乎？」
A visitor later spoke to the King, saying, "If Chunyu Kun is saying that we should not attack Wei, it is because he received jade and horses from them."
The King talked about this to to Chunyu Kun, saying, "We have heard that Your Excellency received jade and horses from Wei. Did you?"
He said, "I did."
"Then what does that mean for the strategy that you proposed to us?"
Chunyu Kun said, "If your plan to attack Wei is not advisable, then even if Wei had assassinated me, would this have made the plan any better? If it is genuinely not the right moment to attack Wei[6], then even if they gave me a domain[7], what damage would it have done you? As things stand, you will not be criticised for attacking a potential ally, Wei will not be in danger of extermination, the hundred clans will not be harassed by invading troops, and I will gain some valuable jade and horses. How does any of this injure you?"
[1] Chunyu Kun was a politician in Qi and a celebrated wit and bon vivant.
[2] 璧 (bi) were circular jade pieces with holes in the middle that generally came in pairs.
[3] King Wei of Qi (356–320 BC) was celebrated for his good government and military successes. He employed Sun Bin and was victorious against Wei at the Battle of Maling, and was the grandfather of Lord Mengchang.
[4] This situates this story in the aftermath of the Battle of Maling. Wei begged for an alliance to prevent further attacks by Qi, and Chu turned against Qi as a result of this.
[5] Because Chu will take advantage of Qi's troops being tied up with their attack on Wei to launch an attack of its own against Qi.
[6] Some of the commentaries suggest that the 不 here is superfluous, which would change the logic of the propositions but not the overall tenor of the argument.
[7] Some of the commentaries suggest that the 魏 here is superfluous.
秦將伐魏
Qin Plans to Attack Wei
秦將伐魏。魏王聞之，夜見孟嘗君，告之曰：「秦且攻魏，子為寡人謀，奈何？」孟嘗君曰：「有諸侯之救，則國可存也。」王曰：「寡人願子之行也。」重為之約車百乘。
Qin was planning to attack Wei, and when the King of Wei[1] heard about it he went that very night to seek an audience with Lord Mengchang[2]. He reported the matter, saying, "Qin is about to attack us. You make our strategies; how would you handle this?"
Lord Mengchang said, "If we can get help from the other sovereign lords then the state will be able to survive."
The King said, "I would like you to go and take care of this." As a sign of how much weight he attached to this, he lent Lord Mengchang a hundred chariots.
孟嘗君之趙，謂趙王曰：「文願借兵以救魏。」趙王曰：「寡人不能。」孟嘗君曰：「夫敢借兵者，以忠王也。」王曰：「可得聞乎？」孟嘗君曰：「夫趙之兵，非能彊於魏之兵；魏之兵，非能弱於趙也。然而趙之地不歲危，而民不歲死；而魏之地歲危，而民歲死者，何也？以其西為趙蔽也。今趙不救魏，魏歃盟於秦，是趙與強秦為界也，地亦且歲危，民亦且歲死矣。此文之所以忠於大王也。」趙王許諾，為起兵十萬，車三百乘。
Lord Mengchang arrived in Zhao, where he spoke to the King[3], saying, "I would like to borrow some of your troops to assist Wei."
The King of Zhao said, "We cannot help."
Lord Mengchang said, "If I have dared to ask to borrow troops, it is on account of my loyalty to Your Majesty."
The King said, "May I hear more?"
Lord Mengchang said, "Zhao's armies are no stronger than Wei's, and Wei's armies are no weaker than Zhao's[4]. Nevertheless, it is not Zhao's lands that have been in danger for years, nor Zhao's citizens who have been dying. Rather it is Wei's land that is at risk and Wei's people being killed. Why? Because we are a shield on your western border. Now if Zhao does not assist Wei, the King of Wei will wipe his mouth with the blood of a sacrificial victim and swear an oath of alliance with Qin[5]. Then mighty Qin's eastern border will be the state of Wei, and it will be your lands in danger and your citizens dying. This is why I say I am acting out of loyalty to Your Majesty." The King of Zhao promised his cooperation and raised an army a hundred thousand strong and three hundred chariots.
又北見燕王曰：「先日公子常約兩王之交矣。今秦且攻魏，願大王之救之。」燕王曰：「吾歲不熟二年矣，今又行數千里而以助魏，且奈何？」田文曰：「夫行數千里而救人者，此國之利也。今魏王出國門而望見軍，雖欲行數千里而助人，可得乎？」燕王尚未許也。田文曰：「臣效便計於王，王不用臣之忠計，文請行矣。恐天下之將有大變也。」王曰：「大變可得聞乎？」曰：「秦攻魏未能克之也，而臺已燔，游已奪矣。而燕不救魏，魏王折節割地，以國之半與秦，秦必去矣。秦已去魏，魏王悉韓、魏之兵，又西借秦兵，以因趙之眾，以四國攻燕，王且何利？利行數千里而助人乎？利出燕南門而望見軍乎？則道里近而輸又易矣，王何利？」燕王曰：「子行矣，寡人聽子。」乃為之起兵八萬，車二百乘，以從田文。
Lord Mengchang then went north to seek an audience the King of Yan[6], where he said, "In the days of the former Duke[7], we worked to maintain good relations between both[8] our sovereigns[9]. Now that Qin is attacking Wei, I hope that Your Majesty will send aid."
The King of Yan said, "The past two harvests failed and now you you want us to travel several thousand li to help Wei? How could we manage that?"
Tian Wen said, "If you travel several thousand li to aid Wei, this will be to your state's benefit. Currently the King of Wei is waiting at his border gate, watching for the relief troops. Even if anyone else were willing to travel thousands of li to assist, could they get there in time to help?"[10] The King of Yan still would not give his accord, so Tian Wen said, "Your servant has offered you a most advantageous strategy. If you do not wish to employ my loyal advice, then I beg permission to leave. I am afraid that All-Under-Heaven is about to undergo great changes."
The King said, "May I hear more about these great changes?"
Lord Mengchang said, "Qin has already attacked Wei, but has yet to overwhelm us. Nevertheless, Qin has burnt our watch towers and robbed us of the luxury of time[11]. If Yan does not aid us then our king will break his agreements with Yan and offer land to Qin. If we give half of our state to Qin, then Qin will certainly withdraw. Once Qin has withdrawn, our king will mobilise the armies of Han and Wei and borrow troops from Qin in the west, as well as making use of Zhao's batallions, and have all four states attack Yan. Will that be to your benefit? Or would it be more profitable to travel several thousand li and provide aid? Would you rather wait at your own southern border gate, watching for the arrival of our armies? That would give you a shorter distance to travel and an easier trip, would that be better for you?"
The King of Yan said, "Go on ahead, we will follow your advice." Accordingly he had an army eighty-thousand strong raised, along with three hundred chariots[12], and had them follow Tian Wen[13].
魏王大說，曰：「君得燕、趙之兵臣眾且亟矣。」秦王大恐，割地請誑於魏。因歸燕、趙之兵，而封田文。
The King of Wei was overjoyed, and said, "Your Lordship has secured so many troops from Yan and Zhao, and at such short notice too!" The King of Qin[14] was terrified and offered Wei land as a precursor to peace negotiations. Wei thereupon sent the armies of Yan and Zhao home, and granted Tian Wen a domain.
[1] King Zhao of Wei (296 BC to 277 BC) found himself subject to an unending series of successful attacks by Qin, losing more and more territory until he finally accepted an alliance with Qin to attack Song. This did not last long, and he soon changed sides to join an alliance with Qi.
[2] Lord Mengchang, also known as Tian Wen, was Qi's greatest general at the time. He served most of his career in Qi, but left to work in Wei for some years in response to King Min's poor human resources policy. At this point he was presumably still in Wei.
[3] King Huiwen of Zhao (298 – 266 BC) was a younger son of King Wuling of Zhao, who abdicated in Huiwen's favour. Wuling's elder son, Zhao Zhang, rebelled, but was defeated and pursued by Huiwen's Chancellor, Li Dui. Zhao Zhang fled to his father's residence, where Li Dui besieged them. Wuling killed Zhang in an attempt to convince Li Dui to let him out, but Li Dui starved him to death. King Huiwen had a successful reign, defeating Qin more than once.
[4] According to the commentaries both 能s here may be superfluous.
[5] At the time swearing a solemn alliance usually involved animal sacrifices (often a white horse), with the blood being drunk by or smeared on the mouths of the participants.
[6] King Zhao of Yan (311 - 279 BC) came to the throne after his father, King Kuai, handed the throne to his Chancellor, Zizhi, in a display of virtue, and both were killed in the rebellion that followed. Yan was almost conquered by Qi, but King Zhao returned with the aid of King Wuling of Zhao and later took revenge upon Qi.
[7] Tian Ying, Lord Mengchang's father.
[8] It is not entirely clear whether this refers to the kings of Wei and Yan or Yan and Qi.
[9] Reading 主 for 王 here, per the commentaries.
[10] The implication will be that because no one but Yan will be able to provide assistance, Yan has the power of life or death over Wei, and will be able to extract correspondingly large concessions.
[11] The commentaries and modern translations disagree regarding the interpretation of this section, this is a best guess.
[12] Reading 三 for 二 here, per the commentaries.
[13] Yao suggests that the 從 here is superfluous.
[14] King Zhaoxiang of Qin (306–251 BC) arrived on the throne after the premature death of his brother, King Wu, as a result of the machinations of his mother, Mi Yue, and King Wuling of Zhao. While his early years were spent under the domination of his mother's family, he later asserted his authority and enjoyed a long and successful reign, expanding Qin's territory abroad.
魏將與秦攻韓
Wei Plans to Join Qin in an Attack on Han
魏將與秦攻韓，朱己謂魏王曰：「秦與戎、翟同俗，有虎狼之心，貪戾好利而無信，不識禮義德行。苟有利焉，不顧親戚兄弟，若禽獸耳。此天下之所同知也，非所施厚積德也。故太后母也，而以憂死；穰侯舅也，功莫大焉，而竟逐之；兩弟無罪，而再奪之國。此於其親戚兄弟若此，而又況於仇讎之敵國也。
Wei planned to join Qin in an attack on Han, but Wuji[1] spoke to the King of Wei[2], saying, "Qin shares its customs with the Rong[3] tribes and the Di[4]. Its people have the hearts of tigers and wolves. They are savage and acquisitive; thoroughly untrustworthy, they love only profit. They have no understanding of propriety, duty or honour. If there is some advantage in it, they will turn their backs on their nearest and dearest just like wild animals. This is known throughout All-Under-Heaven. They are not the kind of people one may treat generously[5] in the hope of accumulating respect. The former Queen Dowager[6] was the King's own mother, but he saw to it that she died wretchedly; Marquis Rang[7] was the King's uncle and no one had achieved more than he, but he ended up exiled. The King's younger brothers[8] had committed no crimes, and yet they were both deprived of their domains. If this is how he will treat his nearest and dearest, then how will he treat his enemies?[9]
「今大王與秦伐韓而益近秦，臣甚或之，而王弗識也，則不明矣。群臣知之，而莫以此諫，則不忠矣。今夫韓氏以一女子承一弱主，內有大亂，外安能支強秦、魏之兵，王以為不破乎？韓亡，秦盡有鄭地，與大梁鄰，王以為安乎？王欲得故地，而今負強秦之禍也，王以為利乎？
"Now Your Majesty plans to join Qin in an attack on Han, thereby drawing Qin ever closer. Your servant is at a loss[10]. If you cannot see what is happening then you have no insight at all. Your assembled private secretaries are all aware of what is going on; if there are none that dares remonstrate, it must be due to their lack of loyalty. Now the head of the Han family is a woman[11] who has taken advantage of her weak sovereign[12] to seize control, and they are suffering great disorders at home; how can they resist the armies of mighty Qin or Wei abroad? Do you really believe that they will escape destruction? When Han has been exterminated Qin will take full possession[13] of the lands of Zheng[14], as far as the outskirts of Daliang[15]. How will you maintain our security then? You[16] wish to regain your former lands[17], but in current circumstance that will mean bearing all the misfortunes that mighty Qin can inflict. Do you really think this will be beneficial?
「秦非無事之國也，韓亡之後，必且便事；便事，必就易與利；就易與利，必不伐楚與趙矣。是何也？夫越山踰河，絕韓之上黨而攻強趙，則是復閼與之事也，秦必不為也。若道河內，倍鄴、朝歌，絕漳、滏之水，而以與趙兵決勝於邯鄲之郊，是受智伯之禍也，秦又不敢。伐楚，道涉而谷行三十里，而攻危隘之塞，所行者甚遠，而所攻者甚難，秦又弗為也。若道河外，背大梁，而右上蔡、召陵，以與楚兵決於陳郊，秦又不敢也。故曰，秦必不伐楚與趙矣，又不攻衛與齊矣。韓亡之後，兵出之日，非魏無攻矣。
"Qin is not a state that can be content in inactivity. When Han has been exterminated then it will certainly turn to pursue other affairs. In its pursuit of these affairs it will be seeking easy profits, which it will certainly not get via an attack on Chu or Zhao. Why is this? If it were to cross the mountains and the Yellow River and cutting through Shangdang[18] in Han to attack mighty Zhao, it would simply be recreating the circumstances that led to it becoming entangled at Yanyu[19], so it will certainly not do that. If it were to try the road through the lands this side of the Yellow River, bypass Ye[20] and Chaoge[21], cross the Zhang[22] and the Fu[23] Rivers, and then seek to win a decisive victory over Zhao's troops in the suburbs of Handan[24], it would be begging to suffer just as Zhi Bo[25] did. It would not dare. If it attacked Chu, it would have to traverse mountains and valleys[26] for three thousand[27] li, attacking the border fortress at Mian'ai[28] - a place that is hard to reach and difficult to assault. Qin will not do this either. If it were to take the road through the lands this side of the Yellow River, avoiding Daliang and keeping Shangcai[29] and Zhaoling[30] to its right[31], then it would have to make its approach through the outskirts of Chen and and defeat Chu's troops there. It would not dare do this either. Therefore I say that Qin will certainly not attack Chu or Zhao. Neither will it attack Wey or Qi[32]. Once Han has been wiped out, the next time Qin dispatches its troops there will be no one but Wei left to attack.
「秦故有懷地刑丘、之城、垝津，而以之臨河內，河內之共、汲莫不危矣。秦有鄭地，得垣雍，決熒澤，而水大梁，大梁必亡矣。王之使者大過矣，乃惡安陵氏於秦，秦之欲許之久矣。然而秦之葉陽、昆陽與舞陽、高陵鄰，聽使者之惡也，隨安陵氏而欲亡之。秦繞舞陽之北，以東臨許，則南國必危矣。南國雖無危，則魏國豈得安哉？且夫憎韓不受安陵氏可也，夫不患秦之不愛南國非也。
"Qin previously took possession of Huai[33], Mao[34] and Xingqiu[35] then fortified[36] Guijin[37]; it will use them to expand into the lands on this side of the Yellow River[38]. On this side of the river, Gong[39] and Ji[40] will be doomed. Qin will take possession of the lands of Zheng, gaining Huanyong[41] and breaking the river banks at Yingze[42] to flood Daliang. Then we will have lost Daliang. It was a grave mistake on the part of Your Majesty's envoys to denounce the Anling family[43] in Qin. Qin has long coveted Xu[44] but its garrisons at Yeyang[45] and Kunyang[46] are bounded by Wuyang[47] and Gaoling[48]. Now it has heard your envoy's denunciations, these will provide an excuse to exterminate the Anling family. Qin will circle around to the north of Wuyang and use it as a base from which to approach Xu from the east. Then the southern lands[49] will be in danger. Even if they were not, however, how would the state of Wei maintain its security? Even supposing that fostering Han's hatred while rejecting the support of the Anling family is acceptable to you, Qin's destructive presence in your neglected southern regions should not be.
「異日者，秦乃在河西，晉國之去梁也，千里有餘，河山以蘭之，有周、韓而間之。從林軍以至于今，秦十攻魏，五入國中，邊城盡拔。文臺墮，垂都焚，林木伐，麋鹿盡，而國繼以圍。又長驅梁北，東至陶、衛之郊，北至乎闞，所亡乎秦者，山北、河外、河內，大縣數百，名都數十。秦乃在河西，晉國之去大梁也尚千里，而禍若是矣。又況於使秦無韓而有鄭地，無河山以蘭之，無周、韓以間之，去大梁百里，禍必百此矣。異日者，從之不成矣，楚、魏疑而韓不可得而約也。今韓受兵三年矣，秦撓之以講，韓知亡，猶弗聽，投質於趙，而請為天下鴈行頓刃。以臣之觀之，則楚、趙必與之攻矣。此何也？則皆知秦之無窮也，非盡亡天下之兵，而臣海內之民，必不休矣。是故臣願以從事乎王，王速受楚、趙之約，而挾韓、魏之質，以存韓為務，因求故地於韓，韓必效之。如此則士民不勞而故地得，其功多於與秦共伐韓，然而無與強秦鄰之禍。
"In former times Qin's bases were west of the Yellow River, and the capital of Jin was over a thousand li from that of Liang. We were sheltered by rivers and and mountains[50] and had Zhou and Han between us and Qin. From the time our armies met at Linxiang[51] until today, however, Qin has fought Wei ten times and crossed our borders five times, overrunning our frontier towns. Wentai[52] fell and Chuidu[53] was burnt. They cut down our forests and devoured our deer whille keeping our state surrounded. They they struck deep into northern Liang, reaching Tao[54] in the East and the Wey hinterlands, as well as Hukan[55] to the North. The southern and northern mountain chains[56], the lands on the other bank of the Yellow River, ten large counties on this side of the river, a hundred notable cities[57]... All of these were lost to Qin. Even when Qin's bases were west of the Yellow River, and the capital of Jin was thousands of li from Daliang, they still managed to inflict such miseries upon us. If, on top of this, you eliminate Han for Qin and hand it Zheng, the rivers and mountains will no longer serve to protect us. If we do not have Zhou or Han as a buffer, then Qin will only be a hundred li from Daliang, and your troubles will be a hundred times greater. Soon it will no longer be possible to build a defensive alliance[58]. Chu and Wei will be too suspicious of one another, and Han will no longer be in a position to make its own treaties. Now it has been three years since Han was invaded and Qin is pressurising it to accept its terms in exchange for peace[59]; Han knows that this would mark its downfall and so it is refusing to obey[60]. It has committed hostages to Zhao and is begging the other states of All-Under-Heaven to march out together in wild goose formation and blunt their weapons in battle[61]. It is my humble point of view[62] that Chu and Zhao will certainly join this attack. Why is this? Because they both know that Qin's desires[63] will not be satiated until it has wiped out the armies of All-Under-Heaven; it will not rest until it has made servants of all the peoples within the four seas. This is why I wish to provide you with followers to serve your interests[64]. You will soon acquire treaties with Chu and Zhao, and once you are holding hostages from Han[65] you will be able to work to secure its survival. You will then be able to take advantage of the situation to request land from Han, and Han will have no choice but to hand it over. In this way, without troubling your officials or your citizens, you will have regained your former lands. This will be a greater achievement than working with Qin to launch an attack on Han, and you will avoid the misery of having Qin for a neighbour.
「夫存韓安魏而利天下，此亦王之大時已。通韓之上黨於共、莫，使道已通，因而關之，出入者賦之，是魏重質韓以其上黨也。共有其賦，足以富國，韓必德魏、愛魏、重魏、畏魏，韓必不敢反魏。韓是魏之縣也。魏得韓以為縣，則衛、大梁、河外必安矣。今不存韓，則二周必危，安陵必易。楚、趙楚大破，衛、齊甚畏，天下之西鄉而馳秦，入朝為臣之日不久。」
"Preserving Han will bring peace to Wei and profit to All-Under-Heaven. This is a great opportunity for Your Majesty. You will be able to open the road through Han's land in Shangdang to Gong[66] and Ning[67] and take advantage of this to set up border checkpoints and tax those who come and go. In this way, Wei will be able to use Han's lands in Shangdang as collateral. Gong's taxes will be sufficient to enrich the state, and Han will be forced to pay tribute to you, favouring, honouring and fearing Wei. Han will certainly not dare turn against you - it will be reduced to the status of a province. When Wei holds Han like a province, then Wey, Daliang and the lands beyond the Yellow River will be secure. If you do not now work to preserve Han, then the two Zhous will certainly be in danger and Anling will change sides. Chu and Zhao[68] will suffer a great defeat, and Wey and Qi will live in fear. The western territories will send their messengers galloping off to Qin, and the day that they go to pay respects as servants in Qin's court will not be far off."
[1] Reading 無忌 for 朱己, per the commentaries. Wei Wuji, otherwise known as Lord Xinling was a son of King Zhao of Wei and a brother of King Anxi. He was one of the greatest politicians and strategists of the age.
[2] King Anxi of Wei (276 - 243 BC) suffered repeated defeats by Qin and Zhao throughout his reign.
[3] The Rong were non-Huaxia peoples living to the northwest of Qin.
[4] The Di were another non-Huaxia people based in modern Gansu.
[5] Yao and Liu suggest 惠 for 厚 here.
[6] Queen Dowager Xuan, the mother of King Zhaoxiang. With her family and the aid of King Wuling of Zhao she managed to ensure that her son took the throne following the unexpected death of his older brother, King Wu. With her brother, Marquis Rang, she ruled while Zhaoxiang was still underage, but he eventually succeeded in forcing both out after he attained maturity.
[7] Wei Ran (Marquis Rang) was the half-brother of Queen Xuan of Qin and the uncle of King Zhaoxiang. Having backed Zhaoxiang in the struggle for succession that occurred following the death of King Wu, he subsequently became Chancellor.
[8] Lord Gaoling and Lord Jingyang. Both were largely useless and corrupt.
[9] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[10] Some of the commentaries suggest 惑 for 或 here.
[11] The identity of this lady is unknown, but she seems to have been ruling on behalf of King Huanhui, who was still underage at the time.
[12] King Huanhui of Han (272 - 239 BC) seems to have taken the throne as a child and then spent much of his reign attempting to placate or distract Qin.
[13] The commentaries suggest that the 盡 here may be superfluous.
[14] Han annexed Zheng shortly after its independence, but the eastern part of Han was still referred to as Zheng.
[15] Daliang was the capital of Wei. It is now Kaifeng in Henan.
[16] The commentaries suggest that the 王 here may be superfluous.
[17] Wei lands that had previously been taken by Han.
[18] Shangdang Commandery was an important strategic area on the border of Han, Qin, Wei and Zhao.
[19] Zhao defeated Qin at the Battle of Yuyu in 269 BC. Yuyu was in Heshun County, in modern Shanxi.
[20] Ye was in modern Linzhang County, Hebei.
[21] Chaoge was in modern Qi County, Henan.
[22] The Zhang River flows through modern Henan and Hebei.
[23] The Fu River flows through Hebei.
[24] Handan was the capital of Zhao. It is still called Handan, and is in Hebei.
[25] Zhi Bo (also known as Zhi Yao, Zhi Boyao, Xun Yao and Zhi Xiangzi) was the last Chancellor of Jin, and a representative of the Zhi clan, which cooperated with the Han, Wei and Zhao clans to break up the state of Jin before being wiped out by them in turn.
[26] Reading 山 for 而, per the commentaries.
[27] Reading 三千 for 三十, per the commentaries.
[28] Reading 黽隘 for 危隘 here following modern translations. The commentaries suggest a number of possible readings for this section.
[29] Shangcai is still called Shangcai, and is in Henan.
[30] Zhaoling was in modern Luohe, Henan.
[31] I.e. to the West.
[32] Because these were even further east than Chu and Zhao.
[33] Huai was in modern Wuzhi County, Henan.
[34] It is not clear which Mao is indicated here.
[34] Reading 邢丘 for 刑丘, per the commentaries. Xingqiu was in modern Wen County, Henan.
[35] Following the interpretation given by the Chinese translations. Crump suggests that this may be an error for Ancheng.
[36] It is not clear where this was.
[37] It is not clear where this was.
[38] This and the next sentence are both hopelessly garbled, with commentaries and translations disagreeing on the correct reading. Here we have taken 秦固有懷、茅、邢丘，城垝津以臨河內，河內共、汲必危 for 秦故有懷地刑丘、之城、垝津，而以之臨河內，河內之共、汲莫不危矣, following the Shiji version.
[39] It is not clear where this was, or even whether it is correct.
[40] Ji may have been in modern Weihui County, Henan, alternatively it could be an error.
[41] Huanyong was in modern Yuanyang County, Henan.
[42] The commentaries suggest that 熒澤 here may be intended to read 滎澤. Yingze was in modern Zhengzhou, Henan.
[43] This were minor vassals of Wei. They opposed the attack on Han, contrary to Wei's officials, and will appear again later attempting to resist Qin's expansion.
[44] The Shiji version suggests 誅 for 許 here, in which case the sentence would read "Qin has long wanted to execute them". Xu is now Xuchang in Henan.
[45] Yeyang wasin modern Ye County, Henan.
[46] Kunyang was in modern Ye County, Henan.
[47] Wuyang is still called Wuyang, and is in Henan. Wuyang (and presumably Gaoling) was territory owned by the Anling family.
[48] There were multiple places called Gaoling, and it is not clear which - if any - of the known ones is indicated here.
[49] The commentaries disagree as to whether this is a generic reference to areas to the south of Wei in general, to Nanyang, or to Nanguo, a town in modern Jian'an District, Henan.
[50] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[51] Reading 林鄉軍 for 林軍 here, following the Shiji version and modern interpretations. Linxiang was in Chu at the time, and is now a part of Nanyang, in modern Henan.
[52] The commentaries disagree regarding precisely where this was.
[53] Chuidu was in modern Juancheng County, Shandong.
[54] Tao was in modern Heze in Shandong.
[55] Hukan was in modern Wenshang County, Shandong. However, this could also be an error. The Shiji version has 北至平、監 which would make it a reference to two places called Ping and Jian, both in modern Pinglu County, Shanxi.
[56] The commentaries suggest that the "northern mountains" were those in the vicinity of Mount Hua and the southern ones around Mount Wu.
[57] Reading 大縣數十，名都數百 for 大縣數百，名都數十, per the commentaries.
[58] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[59] Which would involve Han ceding large tracts of land to Qin and, probably, making a formal alliance to attack a third party.
[60] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[61] There is some discussion concerning this expression. It seems to imply that Han would commit its own troops as the vanguard with the other states bringing up the rear.
[62] Reading 愚觀 for 觀, per the commentaries.
[63] The commentaries agree that this sentence should have a 欲 in it, but disagree as to where.
[64] According to the commentaries 乎 is superfluous.
[65] According to the commentaries 魏 is superfluous.
[66] Gong was in modern Hui County, Henan.
[67] Reading 甯 for 莫 here, following the Shiji version. It is not clear where this was.
[68] The commentaries suggest that the second 楚 here is superfluous.
葉陽君約魏
Lord Sheyang Brokers a Treaty with Wei
葉陽君約魏，魏王將封其子，謂魏王曰：「王嘗身濟漳，朝邯鄲，抱葛、薜、陰、成以為趙養邑，而趙無為王有也。王能又封其子問陽姑衣乎？臣為王不取也。」魏王乃止。
Lord Sheyang[1] brokered a treaty with Wei. The King of Wei[2] was planning to bestow a domain upon Lord Sheyang's son, but someone spoke to him, saying, "Your Majesty crossed the Zhang River[3] in person to pay your respects in the royal court at Handan[4], bringing with you the titles to the cities of Ge[5], Bi[6], Yin[7] and Cheng[8] to provide an income for Zhao, but the King of Zhao[9] has, as yet, done nothing for you. Can it be that you now intend to grant Heyang[10] and Gumi[11] to this boy as well? I feel this is unacceptable behaviour for a king." Accordingly the King of Wei cancelled his plans.
[1] Some commentaries suggest 奉陽 (Fengyang) for 葉陽 here. Both were politicians from Zhao.
[2] King Anxi of Wei (276 - 243 BC) suffered repeated attacks by Qin throughout his reign.
[3] The Zhang River flows through modern Henan and Hebei.
[4] Handan was the capital of Zhao. It is still called Handan, and is in Hebei.
[5] It is not clear where this was.
[6] It is not clear where this was, or even whether it is correctly transcribed.
[7] Yin was an alternative name for Tao, in modern Heze, Shandong.
[8] Cheng could refer to several places, and it is not clear which is intended.
[9] King Huiwen of Zhao (298 – 266 BC) was a younger son of King Wuling of Zhao, who abdicated in Huiwen's favour. Wuling's elder son, Zhao Zhang, rebelled, but was defeated and pursued by Huiwen's Chancellor, Li Dui. Zhao Zhang fled to his father's residence, where Li Dui besieged them. Wuling killed Zhang in an attempt to convince Li Dui to let him out, but Li Dui starved him to death. King Huiwen had a successful reign, defeating Qin more than once.
[10] Reading 河陽 for 問陽, per the commentaries.. Heyang was in modern Mengzhou, Henan.
[11] Reading 姑密 for 姑衣 here. It is not clear where this was.
秦使趙攻魏
Qin Has Zhao Attack Wei
秦使趙攻魏，魏謂趙王曰：「攻魏者，亡趙之始也。昔者，晉人欲亡虞而伐虢，伐虢者，亡虞之始也。故荀息以馬與璧假道於虞，宮之奇諫而不聽，卒假晉道。晉人伐虢，反而取虞。故春秋書之，以罪虞公。今國莫強於趙，而并齊、秦，王賢而有聲者相之，所以為腹心之疾者，趙也。魏者，趙之虢也；趙者，魏之虞也。聽秦而攻魏者，虞之為也。願王之熟計之也。」
Qin had Zhao launch an attack on Wei. Wei spoke to the King of Zhao[1], saying, "This attack on Wei is the first step on the road of Zhao's destruction. In the past[2] Jin's partisans wished to destroy Yu so they attacked Guo, and this attack on Guo was the beginning of Yu's downfall. On the pretext of launching the attack, Xun Xi[3] offered horses and jade in exchange for permission to use the road through Yu to Guo. Gong Zhiqi protested but was ignored, and in the end Jin was permitted to borrow the route through Yu. Jin's partisans attacked Guo and then turned back and took Yu. Thus when this episode was written up in the Spring and Autumn Annals, the blame was placed upon the Duke of Yu[4]. Now there is no other state as strong as Zhao; it is a match for both Qi and Qin and its king is renowned for his wisdom. For this reason Zhao is like a tumor in Qin's entrails[5]. Wei is Zhao's Guo. Zhao is Wei's Yu. If you listen to Qin and attack Wei you will be embracing Yu's role. I hope that you will consider your strategy intensively."
[1] King Huiwen of Zhao (298 – 266 BC) was a younger son of King Wuling of Zhao, who abdicated in Huiwen's favour. Wuling's elder son, Zhao Zhang, rebelled, but was defeated and pursued by Huiwen's Chancellor, Li Dui. Zhao Zhang fled to his father's residence, where Li Dui besieged them. Wuling killed Zhang in an attempt to convince Li Dui to let him out, but Li Dui starved him to death. King Huiwen had a successful reign, defeating Qin more than once.
[2] Yao suggests 昔也 for 昔者 here.
[3] Xun Xi served as Chancellor of Jin.
[4] The name of the last Duke of Yu is unknown.
[5] Reading 心腹 for 腹心, per the commentaries.
魏太子在楚
The Crown Prince of Wei Spends Time in Chu
魏太子在楚，謂樓子於鄢陵曰：「公必且待齊、楚之合也，以救皮氏。今齊、楚之理，必不合矣。彼翟子之所惡於國者，無公矣。其人皆欲合齊、秦外楚以輕公，公必謂齊王曰：『魏之受兵，非秦實首伐之也，楚惡魏之事王也，故勸秦攻魏。』齊王故欲伐楚，而又怒其不己善也，必令魏以地聽秦而為和。以張子之強，有秦、韓之重，齊王惡之，而魏王不敢據也。今以齊、秦之重，外楚以輕公，臣為公患之。鈞之出地，以為和於秦也，豈若由楚乎？秦疾攻楚，楚還兵，魏王必懼，公因寄汾北以予秦而為和，合親以孤齊，秦、楚重公，公必為相矣。臣意秦王與樗里疾之欲之也，臣請為公說之。
The Crown Prince of Wei[1] was residing in Chu[2]. He sent someone to speak to[3] Master Lou[4] at Yanling[5], saying, "You must wait and see whether Qi and Chu form an accord before providing aid to Pishi[6]. Based upon the current positions of Qi and Chu, they will never reach such an accord. Of all those subject to Master Di's[7] excoriations in Wei, he targets no one more than you. His partisans all want an agreement between Qi and Qin, so they are trying to alienate Chu and diminish you. You must speak to the King of Qi[8], saying, 'If Wei has been invaded, it is not because Qin chose to attack Wei of its own initiative. Chu has been disparaging Wei on account of of its services to Your Majesty; thus it pushed Qin to attack Wei.' The King of Qi will thus form a desire to attack Chu, being indignant at Chu's lack of regard for him. He will certainly order Wei to offer land to Qin and acquiesce to its orders in return for an accord. Even when we disposed of Master Zhang[9] at the height of his powers, with the weight of Qin and Han behind him, the King of Qi[10] had only to criticise him and the King of Wei[11] ceased to make use of him. Now, with the weight of both Qi and Qin behind him, Master Di is seeking to alienate Chu and diminish your influence, and I am concerned on Your Lordship's behalf. If we are to be obliged to cede land for an accord with Qin either way, then why not do it for Chu instead? If Qin attacks Chu with all its strength and Chu switches sides[12], the King of Wei[13] will be terrified. You will then be able to take this opportunity to offer the land[14] north of the Fen River[15] to Qin in return for a three-way accord. Create a tight alliance and isolate Qi. Qin and Chu both respect you and you will certainly be made Chancellor of one of the two. I know that the King of Qin[16] and Chuli Ji[17] already desire this, so I beg permission to persuade them on your behalf."
乃請樗里子曰：「攻皮氏，此王之首事也，而不能拔，天下且以此輕秦。且有皮氏，於以攻韓、魏，利也。」樗里子曰：「吾已合魏矣，無所用之。」對曰：「臣願以鄙心意公，公無以為罪。有皮氏，國之大利也，而以與魏，公終自以為不能守也，故以與魏。今公之力有餘守之，何故而弗有也？」樗里子曰：「奈何？」曰：「魏王之所恃者，齊、楚也；所用者，樓鼻、翟強也。今齊王謂魏王曰：『欲講攻於齊王兵之辭也，是弗救矣。』楚王怒於魏之不用樓子，而使翟強為和也，怨顏已絕之矣。魏王之懼也見亡，翟強欲合齊、秦外楚，以輕樓鼻；樓鼻欲合秦、楚外齊，以輕翟強。公不如按魏之和，使人謂樓子曰：『子能以汾北與我乎？請合於楚外齊，以重公也，此吾事也。』樓子與楚王必疾矣。又謂翟子：『子能以汾北與我乎？必為合於齊外於楚，以重公也。』翟強與齊王必疾矣。是公外得齊、楚以為用，內得樓鼻、翟強以為佐，何故不能有地於河東乎？」
Thus he had someone speak to Chuli Ji, saying[18], "The attack on Pishi is the King's chief preoccupation. If he does not overrun it All-Under-Heaven will hold Qin in contempt, but if he takes possession of the city he will be able to profit from the acquisition to attack Han and Wei."
Master Chuli said, "I have a personal agreement with Wei. I can do nothing with this suggestion."
the envoy replied, "I would like to attempt to use my own poor mind to guess at the thoughts in yours; please do not take offense. Acquiring Pishi would be of great benefit to your state[19], so if you surrendered it to Wei it must be because you concluded that you would not be able to hold it. For this reason you left it for Wei to retake. Now you have more than enough strength to hold it[20]; why then should you not have it?"
Master Chuli said, "So how should I handle this?"
The envoy said, "The states upon which the King of Wei relies are Qi and Chu. The agents he employs are Lou Bi and Di Qiang. Now the King of Qi has been speaking to the King of Wei, saying, 'You wish to drag us into your conflict[21]; even the ordinary troops are saying so[22]. This being so, we will not help you[23].' The King of Chu[24] is indignant about Wei's refusal to employ Master Lou and the fact that we have sent Di Qiang out to broker a peace treaty with you. He seems resentful enough to sever his relations with Wei. The King of Wei is terrified and foresees this leading to his own demise. Di Qiang wishes to make an agreement between Wei, Qi and Qin to isolate Chu and thereby minimise Lou Bi's influence, while Lou Bi wishes to make an agreement between Wei, Qin and Chu to isolate Qi and thereby minimise Di Qiang's influence. The best thing for Your Lordship would be hold off on your attempts to reach an accord with Wei[25] and send someone to speak to Master Lou, saying, 'Could you have the land north of the Fen River made over to me? I would like to join Wei in requesting an accord with Chu in order to isolate Qi, thus increasing Your Lordship's infuence. Such is my interest in this affair.' Master Lou and the King of Chu will surely work to expedite things. At the same time, you can speak to Master Zhai, saying: 'Could you have the land north of the Fen River made over to me? We can work to make an accord with Qi and isolate Chu[26], thus increasing Your Lordship's infuence. ' Di Qiang and the King of Qi will surely work to expedite things. Thus you will place Qi and Chu at your disposal abroad, while Lou Bi and Di Qiang assist you in your task[27]. Why, then, should you not take the land east of the Yellow River?"
[1] Possibly the future King Zhao of Wei (296 BC to 277 BC).
[2] As a hostage.
[3] Reading 為 for 謂 here, per the commentaries.
[4] Lou Bi, a relative of Lou Huan the pro-Qin politician that has cropped up in previous chapters. He worked in Wei.
[5] Yanling was one of the capitals of Chu, in modern Yicheng, Hubei, however the commentaries suggest that this refers to a domain owned by Wei in the vicinity.
[6] This refers to the former fiefdom of the Pi family. It is now Hejin in Shanxi. At the time it belonged to Wei, something that the commentaries cannot explain. It was under attack by Qin and Chu at the time.
[7] Di Qiang was a politician from Wei and served as Chancellor for a time, as well as taking up official positions in Qi.
[8] The commentaries suggest that this was King Min of Qi, however, he only took the throne in 300 BC and by 305 BC Zhai Qiang already dead. In that case it must have been King Xuan of Qi (319–301 BC), who was famous for having discoursed with Mencius and established the Jixia Academy.
[9] Zhang Yi was a politician and general in Qin, and the principal proponent of Qin's Horizontal Alliance, the aim of which was to prevent the other states from unifying against Qin.
[10] It is not clear which king of Qi is intended here, or even whether the episode really happened.
[12] It is not clear which king of Wei is indicated here, or even whether the episode really happened.
[12] The commentaries suggest that 楚 here may be superfluous.
[13] Probably King Xiang of Wei (318 - 296 BC) he spent his entire reign switching between anti-Qin and anti-Chu alliances in an attempt to preserve his territory against larger neighbours.
[14] Reading 割 for 寄 here, per the commentaries.
[15] The Fen River is in modern Shanxi. The Pi clan's lands sat on its northern bank, east of the Yellow River.
[16] King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BC) was the son of Duke Xiao and the first Qin leader to take the title "King". He strengthened Qin militarily and conquered Ba and Shu.
[17] Chuli Ji was a son of Duke Xiao of Qin, and served as a General and Prime Minister at the same time as Gan Mao. He helped to preside over Qin's expansion. His military and political expertise was such that he is occasionally referred to as "Master Chuli" in literature.
[18] Reading 謂 for 請, per the commentaries.
[19] Reading 所之 for 之 here, per the commentaries.
[20] Yao suggests 攻 for 公 here.
[21] Reading 欲講攻於齊王兵之辭也 for 欲講攻於齊主兵之辭也, per the commentaries.
[22] Commentaries and modern translations disagree regarding the meaning of this sentence. This is a best guess interpretation.
[23] Reading 也 for 矣, per the commentaries.
[24] King Huai of Chu (328 - 299 BC) was known for having been the object of various poetic complaints by Qu Yuan. He was captured by Qin in 299 BC and his son King Qingxiang took the throne. He made one attempt to escape, but was recaptured and died in 296 BC.
[25] Yao suggests 親 for 魏 here.
[26] According to the commentaries the 於 may be superfluous.
[27] The original says that Lou Bi and Di Qiang will assist Qin "domestically". By this the envoy means in Wei (his own state) rather than in Qin, so the word has been omitted to avoid confusion.