韓二 THE STRATAGEMS OF HAN II (A)
楚圍雍氏五月
Chu Besieges the House of Yong for Five Months
楚圍雍氏五月。韓令使者求救於秦，冠蓋相望也，秦師不下殽。韓又令尚靳使秦，謂秦王曰：「韓之於秦也，居為隱蔽，出為鴈行。今韓已病矣，秦師不下殽。臣聞之，脣揭者其齒寒，願大王之熟計之。」宣太后曰：「使者來者眾矣，獨尚子之言是。」召尚子入。宣太后謂尚子曰：「妾事先王也，先王以其髀加妾之身，妾困不疲也；盡置其身妾之上，而妾弗重也，何也？以其少有利焉。今佐韓，兵不眾，糧不多，則不足以救韓。夫救韓之危，日費千金，獨不可使妾少有利焉。」
Chu had been besieging the House of Yong[1] for five months when Han sent envoys to request aid from Qin. It sent so many that their convoys were never out of sight of one another on the road, but Qin's batallions would not advance beyond Xiao[2]. Han then sent Shang Jin[3] as its ambassador to Qin. He spoke to the King of Qin[4], saying, "Han is a shield for Qin when you choose not to move, and a vanguard when you choose to advance. Now Han is in extremis and Qin's troops will not advance beyond Xiao. Your servant has heard that when the lips are gone the teeth grow cold. I hope that Your Majesty is planning intensively for this."
Queen Dowager Xuan[6] said, "Of the hordes of envoys that have come here, yours are the only speeches that ring true."
She summoned Master Shang to her court and spoke to him, saying, "When[7] your servant served the former king[8] and he pinned me down between his thighs, however tired I was I offered no resistance[9]. When his full weight pressed upon me, I did not consider him too heavy. Why? It was nothing compared to the profit I stood to gain. If we assist Han now and do not commit vast batallions and signficant provisions the effort will be insufficient to save you. Aiding Han will put us in danger and cost us a thousand gold pieces a day. You simply have not convinced me that this is a small price to pay for the profits that we will gain."
尚靳歸書報韓王，韓王遣張翠。張翠稱病，日行一縣。張翠至，甘茂曰：「韓急矣，先生病而來。」張翠曰：「韓未急也，且急矣。」甘茂曰：「秦重國知王也，韓之急緩莫不知。今先生言不急，可乎？」張翠曰：「韓急則折而入於楚矣，臣安敢來？」甘茂曰：「先生毋復言也。」
Shang Jin submitted a memorial reporting this to the King of Han[10], and the King of Han dispatched Zhang Cui[11] to Qin. Zhang Cui claimed to be ill and only travelled one county a day. When Zhang Cui arrived, Gan Mao[12] said, "Han must be in a dire situation, if you were willing to come despite being so sick."
Zhang Cui said, "Han is not in a dire situation yet, but it will be."
Gan Mao said, "Qin is an influential state with a perspicacious king[13]. Whether Han is in a dire situation or an easy one, there is nothing we do not know about it. Now you claim that your situation is not dire. Can this be true?"
Zhang Cui said, "If Han were in a dire situation then we would have broken off relations with you and gone to pay our respects in Chu. How then would I dare to come here?"
Gan Mao said, "Say no more."
甘茂入言秦王曰：「公仲柄得秦師，故敢捍楚。今雍氏圍，而秦師不下殽，是無韓也。公仲且抑首而不朝，公叔且以國南合於楚。楚、韓為一，魏氏不敢不聽，是楚以三國謀秦也。如此則伐秦之形成矣。不識坐而待伐，孰與伐人之利？」秦王曰：「善。」果下師於殽以救韓。
Gan Mao went in to speak to the King of Qin, saying, "Gongzhong[14] is counting on obtaining authority over Qin's troops; that is why he dares to resist Chu. Now Chu has the House of Yong surrounded. If we will not advance our brigades beyond Xiao we will lose Han's support. If Gongzhong is forced to bow his head and withdraw from the court of Han, then Gongshu[15] will take control of the state and turn south to seek an accord with Chu. Once Chu and Han are united, then the House of Wei will not dare refuse to obey them, and thus Chu will have two other states with which to plot against Qin. This will create the perfect circumstances for an attack on Qin. Would it be more advantageous to sit and wait to be attacked or launch our attack first?"
The King said, "Very well." As a result of this Qin's batallions advanced to assist Han.
[1] The Yong clan had had a state of their own up to the middle of the Spring and Autumn period, when it was annexed by Jin.
[2] The Xiao (or Yao) Mountains are in modern Henan, and were on the border between Chu and Qin at the time.
[3] Shang Jin was a bureaucrat in Han.
[4] 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 Queen 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.
[6] Queen Dowager Xuan, the wife of King Huiwen and 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] The commentaries disagree on whether this should read 日 or 也.
[8] King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BC) began his reign by killing Shang Yang, but maintained his legal and military reforms, using his strengthened state to acquire large tracts of additional land. He was married to Queen Xuan.
[9] Reading 支 for 疲, per the commentaries.
[10] King Xiang of Han (311 - 296 BC) suffered repeated attacks by both Qin and Chu during his reign.
[11] Zhang Cui was a bureaucrat in Han.
[12] Gan Mao was a successful politician and General in Qin, but later defected to Qi.
[13] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[14] Gongzhong Peng was also known as Han Peng and Gongzhong Chi, and served as a politician for several years in Han.
[15] Han Gongshu was a politician in Han. He served as Chancellor for a time.
楚圍雍氏韓令冷向借救於秦
Chu Besieges the Yong Clan and Han Sends Leng Xiang to go to Beg Aid from Qin
楚圍雍氏，韓令冷向借救於秦，秦為發使公孫昧入韓。公仲曰：「子以秦為將救韓乎？其不乎？」對曰：「秦王之言曰，請道於南鄭、藍田以入攻楚，出兵於三川以待公，殆不合，軍於南鄭矣。」公仲曰：「柰何？」對曰：「秦王必祖張儀之故謀。楚威王攻梁，張儀謂秦王曰：『與楚攻梁，魏折而入於楚。韓固其與國也，是秦孤也。故不如出兵以勁魏。』於是攻皮氏。魏氏勁，威王怒，楚與魏大戰，秦取西河之外以歸。今也其將揚言救韓，而陰善楚，公恃秦而勁，必輕與楚戰。楚陰得秦之不用也，必易與公相支也。公戰勝楚，逐與公乘楚，易三川而歸。公戰不勝楚，塞三川而守之，公不能救也。臣甚惡其事。司馬康三反之郢矣，甘茂與昭獻遇於境，其言曰收璽，其實猶有約也。」公仲恐曰：「然則柰何？」對曰：「公必先韓而後秦，先身而後張儀，以公不如亟以國合於齊、楚，秦必委國於公以解伐。是公之所以外者儀而已，其實猶之不失秦也。」
When Chu was beseiging the House of Yong[1] Han sent Leng Xiang[2] to go and beg aid from Qin. In response, Qin sent Gongsun Mei[3] to Han.
Gongzhong[4] said, "Do you think that Qin will help us or not?"
He replied, "The King of Qin[5] told me to say the following: 'Please take the road through Nanzheng[6] and Lantian[7] to enter Chu and launch an attack. We will send our troops into Sanchuan[8] to wait for you.' It seems that he does not intend to join up with your army at Nanzheng[9]."
Gongzhong said, "How should we manage this?"
He replied, "The King of Qin will certainly follow Zhang Yi's[10] old strategy. When King Wei of Chu[11] attacked Liang, Zhang Yi spoke to the King of Qin[12], saying, 'If we join Chu's attack on Liang, Wei will sever its relations with us and go to pay homage in Chu[13]. Han will back them up, and Qin will be left isolated[14]. Therefore you had better send your troops to reinforce Wei.' Thus when Chu attacked Pishi[15], the House of Wei received reinforcements from Qin, which frightened King Wei. In the conflagration between Chu and Wei, Qin seized the lands west of the Yellow River and incorporated them within its own state. Qin is saying publicly[16] that it will help Han, but secretly it has been ingratiating itself with Chu. If you intend to wait upon Qin's reinforcements then you will have to be in a position to shrug off Chu's attacks - if Chu learns in secret that Qin will not deploy its forces, they will regard you as an easy target. If you fight and defeat Chu, Qin will follow your advance and overrun Chu, easily annexing Sanchuan. If you fight and do not defeat Chu, Chu[17] will cut off your access to Sanchuan and fortify it, and there will be nothing you can do about it. I despise such affairs. Sima Kang[18] has returned three times to Ying[19], and Gan Mao[20] met Zhao Xian[21] at the border. He said that he has already received the military seals[22]. It really seems like they have an agreement[23]."
Gongzhong said, "If this is true, how should we handle it?"
He replied, "You must rely upon Han first and Qin second. Yourself first and Zhang Yi second. You could do no better than to seek an alliance with Qi and Chu[24] immediately. Qin will put its state at your disposal avoid being attacked itself. In this way the only one you alienate will be Yi; you will not lose Qin's support."
[1] The Yong clan had had a state of their own up to the middle of the Spring and Autumn period, when it was annexed by Jin.
[2] Leng Xiang was a politician in Han.
[3] Gongsun Mei was a politician in Qin.
[4] Gongzhong Peng was also known as Han Peng and Gongzhong Chi, and served as a politician for several years in Han.
[5] 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 Queen 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.
[6] Nanzheng is still called Nanzheng and is in Shaanxi.
[7] Lantian is now a district of Xi'an in Shaanxi.
[8] Sanchuan Commandery was near modern Luoyang in Henan.
[9] I.e. Qin intends to deploy troops in the general vicinity and see how Han's attack progresses before deciding whether to offer support. According to the commentaries, the part about Nanzheng may be superfluous here.
[10] 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.
[11] King Wei of Chu (339–329 BC).
[12] King Huiwen of Qin (338–311 BC) began his reign by killing Shang Yang, but maintained his legal and military reforms, using his strengthened state to acquire large tracts of additional land.
[13] In the hope of forming an alliance with Chu in order to turn on Qin.
[14] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[15] Pishi is now Hejin in Shanxi.
[16] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[17] The commentaries suggest 楚 ，楚 for 楚 here. The modern translations suggest that it is actually Qin cutting off access to Sanchuan.
[18] This person's first name may have been Geng (庚) or Tang (唐). He was a politician in Qin.
[19] Ying was one of the capitals of Chu. It was in modern Jingzhou, Hubei.
[20] Gan Mao was a successful politician and General in Qin, but later defected to Qi.
[21] Zhao Xian was also known as Zhao Yu, and was a politician in Chu, serving as Prime Minister for a time.
[22] These were given to generals to prove their authority, and without them they could not deploy troops. When the Prime Minister took them back, his generals would not be able to act. Thus, Chu would not be able to attack Han.
[23] It is not clear who is doing what in this sentence, and the translations and commentaries disagree on how it should be read. This version aims to preserve the ambiguity of the original.
[24] The commentaries suggest that the 以 here may be superfluous.
公仲為韓魏易地
Gongzhong Arranges a Land Exchange Between Han and Wei
公仲為韓、魏易地，公叔爭之而不聽，且亡。史惕謂公叔曰：「公亡，則易必可成矣。公無辭以後反，且示天下輕公，公不若順之。夫韓地易於上，則害於趙；魏地易於下，則害於楚。公不如告楚、趙。楚、趙惡之。趙聞之，起兵臨羊腸，楚聞之，發兵臨方城，而易必敗矣。」
Gongzhong[1] arranged a land exchange between Han and Wei[2]. Gongshu[3] opposed it and was ignored, so he planned to defect. Shi Ti[4] spoke to Gongshu, saying, "If you leave, then they will certainly bring off this land exchange. There will be nothing you can say to undo what has been done[5], and All-Under-Heaven will see the contempt with which they are able to treat you. You would do better to go along with the exchange. When Han exchanges its northern lands with Wei, this will hurt Zhao[6]. When Wei exchanges its northern lands with Han[7], then this will harm Chu[8]. The best option would be to inform Chu and Zhao about this - they will loathe it. When Zhao hears about this, it will raise an army and move against Yangchang[9]. When Chu hears about it, it will dispatch troops and move into Fangcheng[10]. Thus the exchange will fail."
[1] Probably Han Gongzhong. He served as Chancellor in Han for a time, before being killed as a result of his feud with Han Gongshu.
[2] Because of the way the state of Jin had been divided up between Han, Wei and Zhao, both Han and Wei territory ended up straggly and intertwined. They conducted a series of land exchanges with the aim of consolidating their respective holdings and rendering themselves less open to attack.
[3] Han Gongshu replaced Han Gongzhong as Chancellor of Han.
[4] This person is known principally via this story.
[5] Reading 復 for 後 here, per the commentaries.
[6] Wei was a threat to Zhao, so anything that strengthened Wei was bad for Zhao.
[7] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[8] Because Han was one of Chu's major opponents, so anything that strengthened Han weakened Chu.
[9] Yangchang was the name of a mountain somewhere in modern Shanxi, but there are several candidates for the actual location.
[10] Fangcheng referred to the on the border between Chu and its northern neighbours.
錡宣之教韓王取秦
Qi Xuan Teaches Han how to Obtain Qin's Backing
錡宣之教韓王取秦，曰：「為公叔具車百乘，言之楚，易三川。因令公仲謂秦王曰：『三川之言曰，秦王必取我。韓王之心，不可解矣。王何不試以襄子為質於韓，令韓王知王之不取三川也。』因以出襄子而德太子。」
This is how Qi Xuan[1] taught Han how to obtain Qin's backing. He said, "Prepare a hundred carriages for Gongshu[2] and announce that he is going to Chu to exchange for Sanchuan for some of Chu's land[3]. You can then have Gongzhong[4] go and speak to the King of Qin[5], saying, 'In Sanchuan people have been talking, saying, 'The King of Qin will certainly conquer us.' The King of Han could conceive of no other way to resolve this[6]. Why do you not try sending Xiangzi[7] to serve as a hostage in Han? This will let the King of Han know that you do not intend to take Sanchuan[8].' Once we have rid him of Xiangzi, the Crown Prince will owe us a debt of honour[9]."
[1] Qi Xuan was a politician in Han.
[2] Han Gongshu served as Chancellor of Han for a time.
[3] Sanchuan Commandery was near modern Luoyang in Henan.
[4] Gongzhong Chi, also known as Han Gongzhong, Gongzhong Peng and Han Chi served as Chancellor and supported Han Jise in his struggle for power. He had ties with Qin.
[5] 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 Queen 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.
[6] I.e. Han would rather give the land to Chu, which may be able to defend it and thereby prevent further incursions, than attempt to defend it itself and lose it to Qin.
[7] According to the commentaries, this refers to a prince in Qin, presumably a pretender to the throne in some capacity.
[8] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[9] Xiangzi seems to have been one of the Crown Prince of the time's rivals.
襄陵之役
During the Battle of Xiangling
襄陵之役，畢長謂公叔曰：「謂毋用兵，而楚、魏皆德公之國矣。夫楚欲置公子高，必以兵臨魏。公何不令人說昭子曰：『戰未必勝，請為子起兵以之魏。』子有辭以毋戰，於是以太子扁、昭揚、梁王皆德公矣。」
During the Battle of Xiangling[1] Bi Chang[2] spoke to Gongshu[3], saying, "I say that you should not deploy your troops until Chu and Wei have paid your state due tribute. Chu wishes to establish Prince Gao[4] as Crown Prince, so it will have its troops march on Wei. Why do you not have someone go and persuade Master Zhao[5], saying, 'Victory in this fight is not yet certain. Please allow us to raise troops on your behalf to be used against Wei'? If you then find some excuse not to fight, then in that case the Crown Prince[6], Zhao Yang[7] and the King of Liang[8] will all pay you appropriate tribute.“[9]
[1] The Battle of Xiangling took place in 352 BC between Han and Wei on one side and Qi on the other. Xiangling was in modern Sui County, Henan.
[2] This person is known principally via this story.
[3] Han Gongshu served as Chancellor of Han for a time.
[4] Prince Gao was the son of King Hui of Wei. He spent some time as a hostage in Chu, and while there won the support of the Chu government, which then backed his attempt to be named as Crown Prince. The commentaries suggest that 高 (Gao) may be an error for 咎 (Jiu), but the original seems more reasonable, as Jiu was a prince in Han and Chu, in fact, opposed his establishment as Crown Prince, preferring his rival, Prince Jise.
[5] Zhao Yang was a politician in Chu and served as Prime Minister for a time.
[6] Reading 太子與 for 以太子扁 here, per the commentaries.
[7] Reading 昭陽 for 朝揚, per the commentaries.
[8] 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.
[9] This story is somewhat garbled, and this is my best effort to interpret the text in a way that makes sense - implying that Gongshu should raise an army but then hold it in reserve to assist whoever pays the biggest bribe. In this I have followed modern translations rather than the commentaries, which attempt to tie it in with the battle for the succession of Han between Prince Jiu and Prince Jise.
公叔使馮君於秦
Gongshu Dispatches Feng Jun as his Envoy to Qin
公叔使馮君於秦，恐留，教陽向說秦王曰：「留馮君以善韓臣，非上知也。主君不如善馮君，而資之以秦。馮君廣王而不聽公叔，以與太子爭，則王澤布，而害於韓矣。」
Gongshu[1] dispatched Feng Jun[2] as his envoy to Qin. Feng Jun was afraid of being detained there, so he instructed Yang Xiang[2] to persuade the King of Qin[4] in his favour, saying, "Detaining Feng Jun to ingratiate yourself with Han Chen[5] is hardly the most intelligent course of action. Your Lordship would do better to curry favour with Feng Jun, and endow him with resources courtesy of Qin. Feng Jun will extol Your Majesty[6] and ignore Gongshu. He will join you in your struggle against the Crown Prince[7] and sing your praises, all to Han's detriment[8]."
[1] Han Gongshu served as Chancellor of Han for a time.
[2] Feng Jun is known principally via this story.
[3] This person may have been a politician in Han.
[4] 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 Queen 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.
[5] Reading 韓辰 for 韓臣 here, per the commentaries. Han Chen was a politician in Han.
[6] This sentence may contain an error. The commentaries do not suggest any alternative, however. Here we follow modern interpretations.
[7] At the time two sons of King Xiang of Han, Han Jiu and Han Jise, were fighting for the position of Crown Prince. The Han government's plan was originally to appoint Jise (who had the backing of Qin and Chu), but Jise had been serving as a hostage in Chu, and before he could return, Jiu (who had the support of Gongshu, Qi and Wei) had managed to secure enough support to be appointed in his place.
[8] The commentaries suggest 善 for 害 here, in which case the sentence would read "sing your praises, improving your position in Han".
謂公叔曰公欲得武遂於秦
Gongshu is Told How to Obtain Wusui from Qin
謂公叔曰：「公欲得武遂於秦，而不患楚之能揚河外也。公不如令人恐楚王，而令人為公求武遂於秦。謂楚王曰：『發重使為韓求武遂於秦。秦王聽，是令得行於萬乘之主也。韓得武遂以恨秦，毋秦患而得楚。韓，楚之縣而已。秦不聽，是秦、韓之怨深，而交楚也。』」
Someone spoke to Gongshu[1], saying, “If you wish to obtain Wusui[2] from Qin and not have to worry about Chu's capacity to manoeuvre beyond the Yellow River[3], then your best course of action would be to send one of your people to strike fear[4] into the King of Chu[5] and another to request Wusui from Qin. Then you should say to the King of Chu, "A plenipotentiary has been dispatched from Han to request Wusui from Qin[6]. If the King of Qin[7] listens to him, that will show that we are able to direct the actions of a Lord of ten thousand chariots. If we get Wusui we will be able to contain[8] Qin, and then we will be able to pay appropriate tribute to Chu without worrying about being troubled by Qin[9]. From then on Han may as well be one of Chu's own provinces. If Qin does not listen, then the resentment between Qin and Han will deepen, and we will work to serve Chu in order to secure your friendship[7].'"
[1] Han Gongshu served as Chancellor of Han for a time. Elsewhere it seems that Qin actually promised Wusui to one of the Gongshongs, so this may be an error.
[2] Wusui is now called Xushui, and is in Hebei.
[3] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[4] Presumably a fear of Qin.
[5] 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.
[6] Crump interprets this as Han's envoy recommending that Chu send an envoy to Qin to request Wusui on Han's behalf.
[7] 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 Queen 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.
[8] Reading 限 for 恨, per the commentaries.
[9] Reading 無秦患而德楚 for 毋秦患而得楚 here, per the commentaries.
[10] The commentaries suggest 交事 for 交 here.
謂公叔曰乘舟
Discussing Boats with Gongshu
謂公叔曰：「乘舟，舟漏而弗塞，則舟沉矣。塞漏舟，而輕陽侯之波，則舟覆矣。今公自以辯於薛公而輕秦，是塞漏舟而輕陽侯之波也，願公之察也。」
Someone spoke to Gongshu[1], saying, "If you are in a boat that starts leaking and no one blocks the leak then the boat will sink. If the leak in the boat is blocked but you pay no heed to the waves of Yanghou[2], then the boat will be overturned. Now you have got the measure of[3] Duke Xue[4], but dismiss Qin. Thus you have blocked the leak in your boat but are paying no heed to the waves of Yanghou. I hope you will consider this."
[1] Han Gongshu served as Chancellor of Han for a time.
[2] Yanghou seems to have been a water god.
[3] Reading 以為辨 for 以辯, per the commentaries.
[4] Duke Xue was also known as Tian Wen, and his dramatic career was the source of a large number of persuasions, was a high-ranking member of the Qi royal house. He later defected to Wei, and this story is probably taking place during that time.
齊令周最使鄭
Qi Sends Zhou Zui as an Envoy to Zheng
齊令周最使鄭，立韓擾而廢公叔。周最患之，曰：「公叔之與周君交也，令我使鄭，立韓擾而廢公叔。語曰：『怒於室者色於市。』今公叔怨齊，無柰何也，必周君而深怨我矣。」史舍曰：「公行矣，請令公叔必重公。」
Qi appointed Zhou Zui[1] as its envoy in Zheng[2], making it his mission to establish Han Rao[3] as Chancellor and expel Gongshu[4]. Zhou Zui was worried about this, and said, "Gongshu is a friend of the Lord of Zhou[5]. Now[6] you are sending me to Zheng to establish Han Rao as Chancellor and expel Gongshu, but there is a saying: 'domstic irritations inevitably find public expression'. If Gongshu now forms a grudge against Qi there is nothing he can do about it, but he will sever his ties[7] with the Lord of Zhou out of resentment against me."
Shi She[8] said, "You should go. I will, by your leave, make sure that Gongshu pays you due respect."
周最行至鄭，公叔大怒。史舍入見曰：「周最固不欲來使，臣竊強之。周最不欲來，以為公也；臣之強之也，亦以為公也。」公叔曰：「請聞其說。」對曰：「齊大夫諸子有犬，犬猛不可叱，叱之必噬人。客有請叱之者，疾視而徐叱之，犬不動；復叱之，犬遂無噬人之心。今周最固得事足下，而以不得已之故來使，彼將禮陳其辭而緩其言，鄭王必以齊王為不急，必不許也。今周最不來，他人必來。來使者無交於公，而欲德於韓擾，其使之必疾，言之必急，則鄭王必許之矣。」公叔曰：「善。」遂重周最。王果不許韓擾。
Zhou Zui arrived in Zheng, and Gongshu was enraged, but Shi She obtained an audience with Gongshu and said, "Zhou Zui had resolved not to come, but your servant exerted some discreet pressure upon him - it was on your account that Zhou Zui did not wish to come and on your account that I pressured him[9]."
Gongshu said, "I beg to hear your persuasions."
He replied, "One of the Counsellors of Qi had a dog that was savage and impossible to command - it bit whoever attempted to do so. A guest begged permission to try his hand at the task. He gazed intently at it and gave the command quietly; the dog did not move. He gave the command again, and the dog still showed no inclination to bite him. Zhou Zui hoped to enter your service but in the end he could not obtain a position; thus he has come as an envoy. Now he will present Qi's arguments according to protocol, but soften their tennor such that the King of Zheng[10] will believe that the King of Qi's[11] situation is not urgent, and thus he will not acceed to his request. If Zhou Zui had not come here now, someone else would have come in his place. Whoever came would be no friend of yours, driven only by a desire to extract due tribute from Han Rao. He would be full of urgency and his speeches correspondingly intense; thus the King of Zheng would certainly have agreed to his requests."
Gongshu said, "Very well." He treated Zhou Zui with appropriate respect and - as a result of this - the King did not grant Han Rao the position.
[1] Zhou Zui was a member of the West Zhou ruling family, but worked for various other states at different times. Anti-Qin, he served in Qi for a while before defecting to Wei when Qi and Qin formed an alliance. He later returned to Qi. At this point he seems to have been based in Zhou but working for Qi.
[2] Zheng was originally the capital of Zheng, and then became the capital of Han after Han annexed Zheng. It was in modern Weinan, Shaanxi.
[3] Han Rao was a member of the Han ruling house.
[4] Han Gongshu served as Chancellor of Han for a time.
[5] Probably King Nan of Zhou (314–256 BC). King Nan was the last King of Zhou. In 256 BC he went to Qin to offer his submission, but was imprisoned and died shortly afterwards. His heir was exiled, and the state annexed.
[6] Reading 今 for 令 here, per the commentaries.
[7] Reading 絕 for 必, per the commentaries.
[8] Shi She was a diplomat in Han and Qi.
[9] The commentaries disagree regarding the precise reading of this sentence, but the general sense is clear.
[10] I.e. the King of Han. It is not clear which King of Han is indicated here.
[11] King Min of Qi (300–284 BC) was famously bad at managing his subordinates, and almost lost his state following an invasion by Yan. His own generals eventually turned upon him and one of them, Nao Chi, killed him.
韓公叔與幾瑟爭國鄭強為楚王使於韓
Han GongShu Fights Jise for Control over the State and Zheng Qiang Serves as the King of Chu's Envoy in in Han
韓公叔與幾瑟爭國。鄭強為楚王使於韓，矯以新城、陽人合世子，以與公叔爭國。楚怒，將罪之。鄭強曰：「臣之矯與之，以為國也。臣曰，世子得新城、陽人，以與公叔爭國，而得全，魏必急韓氏；韓氏急，必縣命於楚，又何新城、陽人敢索？若戰而不勝，走而不死，今且以至，又安敢言地？」楚王曰：「善。」乃弗罪。
When Han Gongshu[1] was fighting Jise[2] for control over the state Zheng Qiang[3] was serving the King of Chu's[4] envoy in Han. Exceeding his authority, he ordered[5] that the towns of Xincheng[5] and Yangren[6] be offered to Shizi[7] to bolster him in his struggle with Gongshu. This angered the King of Chu, who intended to censure Zheng Qiang for it. Zheng Qiang said, "If I exceeded my authority in offering up Xincheng and Yangren, it was for the sake of the state. Your servant suggests that if Shizi obtains the titles to Xincheng and Yangren for use in his fight with Gongshu and consequently assumes full control of the state, then Wei will increase its pressure on the House of Han[8]. The pressure will be such as to render its fate dependent upon Chu; will he really dare take Xincheng and Yangren from us then? If Shizi fights, does not win, and flees[9] before he is killed, then even if he makes it to Chu, how would he dare to speak of Xincheng and Yangren?"
The King of Chu said, "Very well." Consequently Zheng Qiang went unpunished.
[1] Han Gongshu served as Chancellor of Han for a time.
[2] Han Jise was one of the sons of King Xiang of Han. At the time two sons of King Xiang of Han, Han Jiu and Han Jise, were fighting for the position of Crown Prince. The Han government's plan was originally to appoint Jise (who had the backing of Qin and Chu), but Jise had been serving as a hostage in Chu, and before he could return, Jiu (who had the support of Gongshu, Qi and Wei) had managed to secure enough support to be appointed in his place.
[3] Zheng Qiang was a member of the Zheng ruling house who later became a politician in Han following Han's annexation of Zheng. However, this may be intended to read 鄭申 (Zheng Shen), a Chu politician. The two may or may not have been the same person.
[4] 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.
[5] Reading 命 for 合, per the commentaries.
[5] Xincheng was in modern Yichuan County, Henan.
[6] Yangren is now called Ruzhou and is in modern Henan.
[7] This was another name for Prince Jise.
[8] Wei opposed Jise's bid for power, preferring his brother, Jiu.
[9] The commentaries suggest 幸 as an alternative for 走 here, in which case the sentence should read "and has the good fortune to avoid being killed".
韓公叔與幾瑟爭國中庶子強謂太子
Han GongShu Fights Jise for Control Over the State and Private Secretary Qiang Speaks to the Crown Prince
韓公叔與幾瑟爭國。中庶子強謂太子曰：「不若及齊師未入，急擊公叔。」太子曰：「不可。戰之於國中必分。」對曰：「事不成，身必危，尚何足以圖國之全為？」太子弗聽，齊師果入，太子出走。
When Han Gongshu[1] was fighting with Jise[2] for control over the state Adjunct Qiang[3] spoke to the Crown Prince[4], saying, "You had better launch a strike against Gongshu immediately, before Qi's troops get here[5]."
The Crown Prince said, "I could not do it. A pitched battle on Han territory would certainly lead to the break-up of the state[6]."
Qiang replied, "If this affair is not brought to a successful conclusion, then your life will be in danger. Is that really a price worth paying to preserve the unity of the state?[7]" The Crown Prince did not listen. Consequently Qi's troops crossed into Han and the Crown Prince fled.
[1] Han Gongshu served as Chancellor of Han for a time.
[2] Han Jise was one of the sons of King Xiang of Han. At the time two sons of King Xiang of Han, Han Jiu and Han Jise, were fighting for the position of Crown Prince. The Han government's plan was originally to appoint Jise (who had the backing of Qin and Chu), but Jise had been serving as a hostage in Chu, and before he could return, Jiu (who had the support of Gongshu, Qi and Wei) had managed to secure enough support to be appointed in his place.
[3] Zheng Qiang was a member of the Zheng ruling house who later became a politician in Han following Han's annexation of Zheng. 中庶子 (translated here as "adjunct") was an attendant serving a high-ranking individual in their personal rather than their official capacity.
[4] I.e. Han Jise, who still held the title at this point.
[5] Qi had dispatched troops to assert Prince Jiu's claim to the throne.
[6] The commentaries suggest 國必 for 必 here.
[7] Zeng suggests 尚之 for 國之 here.