Dong Zhou Ce — the strategies of Eastern Zhou, the smaller of the two rump Zhou domains

The Strategies of the Warring States (Zhanguo Ce) is Liu Xiang's Han-dynasty compilation, arranged by state, of the persuasions, stratagems, and anecdotes that Warring States wandering counselors used to move the courts of their age. This book, the Strategies of Eastern Zhou (Dong Zhou Ce), carries the record of the smaller and lesser of the two rump domains into which the old royal house of Zhou had split by this period — Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou, each no more than a city and its surrounding fields, squeezed between the great powers that had once been its own vassals. It opens with Yan Shuai's twin embassies to the king of Qi, first to borrow rescue against a Qin army demanding the Nine Cauldrons, the ancient symbols of royal legitimacy, and then to talk Qi itself out of collecting on that promise by making the logistics of moving a cauldron sound absurd; and it carries the fall of Yiyang to Qin, engineered in part by Zhao Lei's reading of the ambitious general Gan Mao and Jing Cui's relief force.

The book goes on to the standing rivalry between Eastern and Western Zhou themselves — over water for a rice crop, over treasure to be traded to Chu and Han, over war and peace with each other — and to a run of short persuasions protecting Eastern Zhou's narrow room to maneuver among Qin, Han, Chu, and Qi: the dismissal and swift reinstatement of the chancellor Lü Cang, a stranger from Wen who talks his way past the city gate by quoting the Odes to prove that no man stands outside the king's domain, and the killing of the defector Chang Ta, lured back into a trap by a forged letter. Each episode stands under its own heading drawn from its opening line, and the book proceeds through a chain of small, exposed rulers surviving by wit rather than force.

Names of persons and states are given in Hanyu pinyin without tone marks, with the Chinese characters supplied at first appearance; the standing rivalry of the Vertical Alliance (合從) against the Horizontal Alliance (連橫) runs in the background of several of these persuasions even though Eastern Zhou itself was too small to join either camp outright. The commentary of Bao Biao and Yao Hong travels with the source text below in its own untranslated layer, along with the collation notes set in 〔 〕.

Translated for the Good Works Library directly from the classical Chinese, which is printed in full below. J. I. Crump's Chan-kuo Ts'e (1970; revised 1996) is the standing complete English translation of the Strategies of the Warring States; it is named here as a control-in-existence but was not consulted, and this translation makes no claim of firstness.

Contents

• Strategies of Eastern Zhou (東周策)
  • Qin Raises an Army against Zhou and Demands the Nine Cauldrons (秦興師臨周而求九鼎)
  • Qin Attacks Yiyang (秦攻宜陽)
  • Eastern Zhou Goes to War with Western Zhou (東周與西周戰)
  • Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou Contend (東周與西周爭)
  • Eastern Zhou Wishes to Grow Rice (東周欲為稻)
  • Zhao Xian Is at Yangdi (昭獻在陽翟)
  • Qin Asks a Road through Zhou to Attack Han (秦假道於周以伐韓)
  • Chu Attacks Yongshi (楚攻雍氏)
  • Zhou Zui Speaks to Shi Li (周最謂石禮)
  • Lü Cang, Chancellor of Zhou, Presents a Guest to the Lord of Zhou (周相呂倉見客於周君)
  • Lord Wen of Zhou Dismisses the Officer Gongshi Ji (周文君免士工師籍)
  • A Man of Wen Goes to Zhou (溫人之周)
  • Someone Speaks to Jin Tou on Zhou Zui's Behalf (或為周最謂金投)
  • Zhou Zui Speaks to Jin Tou (周最謂金投)
  • Shi Xingqin Speaks to the Grand Liangzao (石行秦謂大梁造)
  • Someone Speaks to the Lord of Xue (謂薛公)
  • Qi Listens to Zhu Fu (齊聽祝弗)
  • Su Li Speaks to Su Qin on Zhou Zui's Behalf (蘇厲為周最謂蘇秦)
  • Someone Says to Zhou Zui: Qiu He Is Made Chancellor of Song (謂周最曰仇赫之相宋)
  • Someone Speaks to the King of Wei on Zhou Zui's Behalf (為周最謂魏王)
  • Someone Says to Zhou Zui: The King of Wei Has Given You His State (謂周最曰魏王以國與先生)
  • Zhao Takes Zhou's Sacrificial Land (趙取周之祭地)
  • Du He Wishes to Make Jing Cui Weighty in Zhou (杜赫欲重景翠於周)
  • The Heir Apparent Gong of Zhou Dies (周共太子死)
  • The Three States Block Qin (三國隘秦)
  • Chang Ta Flees Western Zhou (昌他亡西周)
  • Zhao Jian Falls Out with Eastern Zhou (昭翦與東周惡)
  • A Man of the Yan Clan Commits Murder (嚴氏為賊)

Translation

Strategies of Eastern Zhou (東周策)

Qin Raises an Army against Zhou and Demands the Nine Cauldrons (秦興師臨周而求九鼎)

Qin raised an army, moved up against Zhou, and demanded the Nine Cauldrons. The lord of Zhou was troubled by it and told Yan Shuai (顏率). Yan Shuai said, "Great King, do not be anxious. Your servant asks leave to go east and borrow rescue from Qi."

Yan Shuai reached Qi and said to the king of Qi: "Qin acts without any principle. It means to raise troops, move up against Zhou, and demand the Nine Cauldrons. The ruler and ministers of Zhou, taking counsel within themselves and exhausting every thought, have concluded that rather than let the cauldrons go to Qin it would be better to make them over to your great state. To preserve a state in danger is a fine name; to obtain the Nine Cauldrons is a rich treasure. I hope the Great King will consider it." The king of Qi was greatly pleased. He sent out an army of fifty thousand men under Chen Chensi (陳臣思) to rescue Zhou, and the troops of Qin withdrew.

Then Qi was about to demand the Nine Cauldrons, and the lord of Zhou was troubled again. Yan Shuai said, "Great King, do not be anxious. Your servant asks leave to go east and undo it." Yan Shuai reached Qi and said to the king of Qi, "Zhou has relied upon the righteousness of your great state, so that ruler and minister, father and son, have been able to protect one another. We wish to present the Nine Cauldrons; but we do not know by what road the great state would have them brought to Qi."

The king of Qi said, "I shall borrow a way through Liang."

Yan Shuai said, "That will not do. The ruler and ministers of Liang have wanted to get the Nine Cauldrons; they have been plotting for them below the Hui Terrace and above Shaohai for a long time now. Once the cauldrons enter Liang they will certainly never come out."

The king of Qi said, "Then I shall borrow a way through Chu."

He replied, "That will not do. The ruler and ministers of Chu have wanted to get the Nine Cauldrons; they have been plotting for them in the courtyard of Ye for a long time now. If the cauldrons enter Chu they will certainly never come out."

The king said, "By what road, then, am I in the end to have them brought to Qi?"

Yan Shuai said, "Our poor city has indeed been troubled about this privately on the Great King's behalf. A cauldron is not like a vinegar flask or a sauce jar, that a man may carry in his breast or take up in his hand and so bring to Qi; nor is it like birds flocking and crows flying, like hares starting up and horses galloping away, that it should come streaming easily to rest in Qi. In the past, when Zhou attacked Yin and obtained the Nine Cauldrons, ninety thousand men hauled each single cauldron: nine times nine, eight hundred and ten thousand men. Officers and foot soldiers, companies and levies, gear and weapons and the equipment they wore — all that had to be made ready was in proportion to that number. Now, though the Great King should have the men, by what road would you bring them out? Your servant is privately anxious for the Great King about it."

The king of Qi said, "You have come here again and again, and it comes to just this: you will not give them."

Yan Shuai said, "I would not dare deceive the great state. Determine quickly by what road they are to come out, and our poor city will move the cauldrons and await your command." Thereupon the king of Qi gave the matter up.

Qin Attacks Yiyang (秦攻宜陽)

Qin attacked Yiyang. The lord of Zhou said to Zhao Lei (趙累), "What do you make of it?"

He replied, "Yiyang will certainly be taken."

The lord said, "The city of Yiyang is eight li square. It has a hundred thousand able fighting men and grain enough for several years. Gongzhong's army numbers two hundred thousand, and Jing Cui (景翠), with the host of Chu, is drawn up against the mountain to relieve it. Qin will surely accomplish nothing."

He replied, "Gan Mao (甘茂) is a sojourner in Qin. If he attacks Yiyang and succeeds, he becomes a Duke Dan of Zhou; if he fails, his traces will be scraped away from Qin. The king of Qin did not listen to the arguments of his assembled ministers and elder kinsmen but attacked Yiyang; if Yiyang is not taken, the king of Qin will be shamed by it. Therefore I say that it will be taken."

The lord said, "Then make a plan for me. What is to be done?"

He replied, "Let my lord say to Jing Cui: 'Your rank is Holder of the Jade Tablet and your office is Pillar of the State. If you fight and win, nothing more can be added to you; if you do not win, you die. Better to turn your back on Qin and relieve Yiyang. When you advance your troops, Qin will fear that you mean to take advantage of its exhaustion and will certainly serve you with treasure; and Gongzhong, grateful that you have taken on Qin for his sake, will also certainly empty out his treasure to you.'"

Qin took Yiyang, and Jing Cui did indeed advance his troops. Qin was afraid and at once handed over Zhuzao, and the house of Han did indeed also hand over heavy treasure. Jing Cui got a city from Qin and received treasure from Han, and he was grateful to Eastern Zhou.

Eastern Zhou Goes to War with Western Zhou (東周與西周戰)

Eastern Zhou went to war with Western Zhou, and Han came to the rescue of Western Zhou. Someone, on behalf of Eastern Zhou, said to the king of Han: "Western Zhou is the old domain of the Son of Heaven; it holds many famous vessels and weighty treasures. Rest your troops and do not send them out: you can put Eastern Zhou in your debt, and the treasures of Western Zhou may be had entire."

Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou Contend (東周與西周爭)

Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou were in contention, and Western Zhou wished to make terms with Chu and Han. Qi Ming (齊明) said to the lord of Eastern Zhou: "Your servant fears that Western Zhou will give treasure to Chu and Han and have them demand land from Eastern Zhou on its behalf. Better to say to Chu and Han: 'Western Zhou's willingness to send in its treasure hangs upon two possibilities. As things stand, the troops of Eastern Zhou are not pressing Western Zhou hard, and so the treasure of Western Zhou will not come in to Chu and Han.' Chu and Han, wanting the treasure, will then urge us on to attack Western Zhou. When the treasure of Western Zhou comes out, it will be we who have got the treasure for Chu and Han and put them in our debt — and Western Zhou will be weakened."

Eastern Zhou Wishes to Grow Rice (東周欲為稻)

Eastern Zhou wished to grow rice, but Western Zhou would not let the water down, and Eastern Zhou was troubled by it. Master Su said to the lord of Eastern Zhou, "Your servant asks leave to make Western Zhou let the water down. May I?"

He then went and saw the lord of Western Zhou and said: "My lord's plan is mistaken. By not letting the water down now, you are making Eastern Zhou rich. At present their people are all sowing wheat and sowing nothing else. If my lord wishes to injure them, nothing would serve so well as to let the water down just once and so spoil what they have sown. Once the water is down, Eastern Zhou will surely go back to planting rice; and when they have planted rice, take the water from them again. In this way the people of Eastern Zhou can be made to look up to Western Zhou alone and to receive their orders from my lord."

The lord of Western Zhou said, "Good," and let the water down. Master Su for his part received gold from both states.

Zhao Xian Is at Yangdi (昭獻在陽翟)

Zhao Xian (昭獻) was at Yangdi, and the lord of Zhou was about to order his chancellor to go there. The chancellor did not wish to. Su Li (蘇厲) spoke on his behalf to the lord of Zhou: "When the king of Chu and the king of Wei met, my lord ordered Chen Feng to go to Chu and Lord Xiang to go to Wei. When Chu and Han met, my lord ordered Lord Xu to go to Chu and Lord Xiang to go to Han. Now Zhao Xian is not a ruler of men, and yet my lord orders the chancellor to go. If his king were at Yangdi, whom would my lord order to go then?"

The lord of Zhou said, "Good," and stopped the journey.

Qin Asks a Road through Zhou to Attack Han (秦假道於周以伐韓)

Qin asked for a road through Zhou in order to attack Han. Zhou was afraid: to grant it would make Han hostile, and not to grant it would make Qin hostile. Shi Yan (史黶) said to the lord of Zhou: "Why does my lord not send someone to say to Gongshu of Han (韓公叔): 'The reason Qin dares to cross the barrier and attack Han is that it trusts Eastern Zhou. Why do you not give Zhou land and dispatch an envoy of weight to Chu? Qin will surely be suspicious and will no longer trust Zhou, and then Han will not be attacked.' And then say to the king of Qin: 'Han is forcing land upon Zhou, meaning to make Qin suspect Zhou; I dare not refuse to accept it.' Qin will surely have no argument by which to order Zhou to refuse it. Thus you get land from Han and are obedient to Qin as well."

Chu Attacks Yongshi (楚攻雍氏)

Chu attacked Yongshi. Zhou supplied grain to Qin and Han, and the king of Chu was angry with Zhou; the lord of Zhou was troubled by it. Someone said to the king of Chu on Zhou's behalf: "If with the king's strength you show anger against Zhou, Zhou will be afraid and will certainly join its state to the states it has supplied with grain, and that will be to strengthen the king's enemies. Therefore the king had better quickly relieve Zhou of its fear. Having first been at fault and afterwards been relieved of it, Zhou will surely serve the king generously."

Zhou Zui Speaks to Shi Li (周最謂石禮)

Zhou Zui (周最) said to Shi Li (石禮): "Why do you not use Qin to attack Qi? Your servant asks leave to have Qi make you its chancellor. Then, making Qi serve Qin, you will surely be in no difficulty. You may then have Zhou Zui stay in Wei to act together with you, and the world will be governed by you. In the east you will carry weight in Qi, in the west you will be honored in Qin; and when Qin and Qi are joined, you will always be a man of weight."

Lü Cang, Chancellor of Zhou, Presents a Guest to the Lord of Zhou (周相呂倉見客於周君)

Lü Cang (呂倉), chancellor of Zhou, presented a guest to the lord of Zhou. The former chancellor, Gongshi Ji (工師藉), fearing that the guest would injure him, therefore had someone say to the lord of Zhou: "This guest is a persuader; but the reason he will not do is that he is fond of tearing men down."

Lord Wen of Zhou Dismisses the Officer Gongshi Ji (周文君免士工師籍)

Lord Wen of Zhou was about to dismiss the officer Gongshi Ji and make Lü Cang his chancellor, and the people of the state were not pleased. The lord's heart was troubled and anxious.

Someone said to Lord Wen of Zhou: "A state must have both blame and praise. A loyal minister makes the blame fall upon himself and the praise upon his superior. The lord of Song took his people's season from them in order to build a terrace, and the people condemned him, because he had no loyal minister to cover it over. Zi Han (子罕) gave up the chancellorship to become minister of works, and the people condemned Zi Han and thought well of their lord. Duke Huan of Qi had seven markets within his palace and seven hundred women's lodges, and the people of the state condemned him; so Guan Zhong (管仲) deliberately kept a household of three wives in order to screen Duke Huan — was that not injuring himself in the eyes of the people? The Springs and Autumns records ministers who assassinated their rulers by the hundred, and all of them were great ministers who had been praised. Therefore for a great minister to win praise is no fine thing for the state and the ruling house. Thus the multitude makes strength, and heaping upon heaping makes a mountain."

So the lord of Zhou did not carry out the dismissal after all.

A Man of Wen Goes to Zhou (溫人之周)

A man of Wen went to Zhou, and Zhou would not admit him. The visitor thereupon answered, "I am a householder here." When he was asked what lane he lived in and did not know it, the officers therefore imprisoned him. The lord sent someone to question him: "You are not a man of Zhou, and yet you say of yourself that you are no visitor. Why?"

He replied: "Your servant when young recited the Odes, and the Odes say:

Under the whole of heaven,
there is no land that is not the king's;
to the very shores of the land,
there is no man who is not the king's servant.

Now Zhou is lord over all under heaven; then I am a servant of the Son of Heaven — how can I also be a visitor? Therefore I said I was a householder."

The lord thereupon ordered the officers to release him.

Someone Speaks to Jin Tou on Zhou Zui's Behalf (或為周最謂金投)

Someone spoke to Jin Tou (金投) on Zhou Zui's behalf: "Because Zhou Zui has gone to Qi, Qin suspects the whole world; and it knows besides that Zhao is reluctant to have you fight the men of Qi. Fearing a union of Qi and Han, Qin will certainly join Qi to itself first. If Qin and Qi are joined, your state becomes a wasteland. You had better rescue Qi, and then, assisting Qin, attack Han and Wei: Shangdang and Changzi will be Zhao's. In the east you will gather treasure from Qin, in the south take land from Han, and Wei will thereby be brought into straits; then work slowly eastward, and a union can be had."

Zhou Zui Speaks to Jin Tou (周最謂金投)

Zhou Zui said to Jin Tou: "You have taken it upon yourself to make Qin fight with strong Qi. If the war is won, Qin will gather Qi in and fix its borders for it, so that it need not cede much land, and will leave it to fight with the rest of the world. If the war is not won, your state will be gravely wounded and cannot but obey Qin. Qin will swallow all of Shangdang and Taiyuan from Han and Wei, and everything as far west will be Qin's and Qin's alone. The territory of Qin is half the world, and it commands the fate of Qi, Chu, and the Three Jin. Your state will be overturned and your own person endangered. What sort of planning is this?"

Shi Xingqin Speaks to the Grand Liangzao (石行秦謂大梁造)

Shi Xingqin (石行秦) said to the Grand Liangzao: "If you wish to settle the name of hegemon and king, nothing is better than to be on your guard against the persuaders and clever men of the two Zhous." And he said to the lord of Zhou: "My lord had better set your persuaders and clever men to contend for you in Qin."

Someone Speaks to the Lord of Xue (謂薛公)

Someone said to the Lord of Xue (薛公): "Zhou Zui stood well with the king of Qi, and yet the king drove him out; he listens to Zhu Fu (祝弗) and has made Lü Li (呂禮) his chancellor, because he wishes to win over Qin. If Qin and Qi are joined, Zhu Fu and Lü Li become men of weight. With Zhou and Qi in their hands, Qin will surely make light of my lord. You had better hasten the troops of the north and press Zhao toward Qin and Wei, and gather Zhou Zui in for a later move; so you will reverse the trust of the king of Qi and bar the world besides from following his lead. Once Qi is without Qin, the world will make up its mind, Zhu Fu will certainly flee, and with whom will the king of Qi then manage his state?"

Qi Listens to Zhu Fu (齊聽祝弗)

Qi listened to Zhu Fu and kept Zhou Zui outside. Someone said to the king of Qi: "In driving out Zhou Zui, in listening to Zhu Fu, and in making Lü Li chancellor, you wish to take deep hold of Qin. But if Qin gains the world, its attack upon Qi will be deep indeed. Should Qi join with Qin, Zhao will fear being attacked, and will therefore hurry out its troops as a show against Qin. Whether Qin uses Zhao's attack, or goes over to Qi and attacks Zhao, the underlying principle is the same: it will certainly not hold still. Therefore to employ Zhu Fu is precisely the way all under heaven will go."

Su Li Speaks to Su Qin on Zhou Zui's Behalf (蘇厲為周最謂蘇秦)

Su Li, on Zhou Zui's behalf, said to Su Qin (蘇秦): "You had better have the king listen to Zui and use land to make terms with Wei and Zhao; then you will of course be angered and make terms with Qi. In that way you, by joining Qi with the powerful Chu, will beget sons anew. If you wish to make use of Zui's business, then the one who joins with Qi will be you, and the one who cedes the land will be Zui."

Someone Says to Zhou Zui: Qiu He Is Made Chancellor of Song (謂周最曰仇赫之相宋)

Someone said to Zhou Zui: "Qiu He's (仇赫) holding the chancellorship of Song is meant to watch whether Qin will answer Zhao and Song and defeat the three states. If the three states are not defeated, he will join with Zhao and Song in the east to isolate Qin. He will also watch how Han and Wei stand toward Qi. If that is not firm, then he will join with Song to defeat the three states, and so sell Zhao and Song to the three states. Why do you not send someone to say to the kings of Han and Wei: 'Do you wish Qin and Zhao to sell each other? Then why not agree together to make Zhou Zui chancellor of both, and show that you cannot be parted? Qin and Zhao will then certainly sell each other in order to join with you.'"

Someone Speaks to the King of Wei on Zhou Zui's Behalf (為周最謂魏王)

Someone said to the king of Wei on Zhou Zui's behalf: "Qin knows that Zhao is reluctant to fight Qi, and, fearing that Qi and Zhao may join, will certainly strengthen Zhao in secret. Zhao does not dare fight, and, fearing that Qin will not take it in, will join with Qi first. Qin and Zhao will contend for Qi, and the king will have no man of his own in the business; that will not do. If the king does not send Zhou Zui off, so as to join with Qi and gather it in, but under the urgency of arms attacks Qi instead, there will be nothing left to depend upon."

Someone Says to Zhou Zui: The King of Wei Has Given You His State (謂周最曰魏王以國與先生)

Someone said to Zhou Zui: "The king of Wei has given his state into your hands, sir, and sets store by joining with Qin to attack Qi. As for the Lord of Xue — he treats his former sovereign lightly, forgetting his own Xue and giving no thought to the grave-mounds of his ancestral lords. Yet you alone keep up an empty good faith and make a fine show of conduct, declaring before the assembled ministers that you hold to your former sovereign and will not take part in attacking Qi. This will breed resentment in powerful Qin; it will not do.

"You had better say to the king of Wei and to the Lord of Xue: 'Let me enter Qi on the king's behalf, and the world will not be able to injure Qi. If there is a change, your servant asks leave to rescue it; if there is no change, the king may then attack it. Moreover, for your servant to be a slave to Qi, and so to entangle the king's dealings with the world, would not do. The king's gift to your servant is generous indeed; and when your servant has entered Qi, the king will also be free of any entanglement with Qi.'"

Zhao Takes Zhou's Sacrificial Land (趙取周之祭地)

Zhao took the sacrificial land of Zhou, and the lord of Zhou was troubled by it and told Zheng Chao (鄭朝). Zheng Chao said, "My lord need not be troubled. Your servant asks leave to take it back with thirty measures of gold." The lord of Zhou gave him the gold, and Zheng Chao presented it to the Grand Diviner of Zhao, telling him at the same time about the matter of the sacrificial land. When the king fell ill and had it divined, the Grand Diviner reproached him, saying, "The sacrificial land of Zhou is working this curse." Zhao thereupon gave it back.

Du He Wishes to Make Jing Cui Weighty in Zhou (杜赫欲重景翠於周)

Du He (杜赫) wished to make Jing Cui a man of weight in Zhou, and said to the lord of Zhou: "My lord's state is small. To spend all your weighty treasures, your pearls and jades, in serving the feudal lords is a thing you must look into. Compare it to a man spreading a net. If he spreads it where there are no birds, he will get nothing all day long; if he spreads it where the birds are many, he will only startle them away. He must spread it just at the border between where there are birds and where there are none, and only then can he take many birds. Now if my lord bestows on great men, the great men will make light of you; if you bestow on small men, there is nothing to be sought from small men, and you waste your wealth besides. My lord should bestow on one who is at present a man in straits, but of whom it cannot be said that he will not become a great man — then you can get what you want."

The Heir Apparent Gong of Zhou Dies (周共太子死)

The heir apparent Gong of Zhou died. There were five sons by secondary consorts, all of them beloved, and no settled succession. Sima Jian (司馬翦) said to the king of Chu, "Why not enfeoff Prince Jiu (公子咎) and ask that he be made heir apparent?"

Zuo Cheng (左成) said to Sima Jian: "If the lord of Zhou does not listen, your wisdom will be shown at a loss and your dealings with Zhou will be broken off. Better to say to the lord of Zhou: 'Whom do you wish to set up? Tell Jian quietly, and Jian will have the king of Chu furnish him with land.' And if you wish to help a man to be heir apparent, then send someone to say to the chancellor's charioteer Zhan Zi (展子) and to Qiang Fukong (廧夫空): 'The king seems to want you to do this. These are hardy men, and their remaining at the center does not suit the chancellor.'"

The chancellor then had him made heir apparent.

The Three States Block Qin (三國隘秦)

The three states blocked Qin. Zhou ordered its chancellor to go to Qin; but because Qin was being made light of, he held back his journey. Someone said to the chancellor: "Whether Qin is light or weighty cannot yet be known. Qin wishes to know the real condition of the three states. You had better go straight in and see the king of Qin and say, 'Let me watch for the king what the east is about.' Qin will then certainly treat you as a man of weight. That is to make Zhou weighty, and by Zhou's weight to take hold of Qin. Qi is a weighty state, and it is on that account that it holds Zhou; and Zhou has already taken hold of Qi. Thus Zhou will never lose its standing with the weighty states."

Chang Ta Flees Western Zhou (昌他亡西周)

Chang Ta (昌他) fled from Western Zhou and went to Eastern Zhou, delivering up to Eastern Zhou the whole inner condition of Western Zhou. Eastern Zhou was greatly delighted and Western Zhou greatly enraged. Feng Ju (馮且) said, "Your servant can kill him." The lord gave him thirty catties of gold.

Feng Ju had a man take the gold and a letter and deliver the letter secretly to Chang Ta. It said: "Word to Chang Ta. If the business can be brought off, exert yourself and bring it off; if it cannot be brought off, flee back at once, flee back at once. If the business drags on it will leak out, and you will bring death upon yourself."

He then sent a man to tell the watchmen of Eastern Zhou, "Tonight a traitor is to come in." The watchmen took the man and presented him to Eastern Zhou, and Eastern Zhou immediately put Chang Ta to death.

Zhao Jian Falls Out with Eastern Zhou (昭翦與東周惡)

Zhao Jian (昭翦) was on bad terms with Eastern Zhou. Someone said to Zhao Jian, "Let me lay out a hidden plan for you."

Zhao Jian said, "What is it?"

"Western Zhou greatly hates Eastern Zhou, and has long wished to set Eastern Zhou at odds with Chu. Western Zhou will certainly send an assassin to assassinate you, and then give it out that Eastern Zhou did it, and so turn the king against it."

Zhao Jian said, "Good. And I also fear that Eastern Zhou may have me assassinated, and so, by weakening Western Zhou, make it hated in Chu." He hastily made peace with Eastern Zhou.

A Man of the Yan Clan Commits Murder (嚴氏為賊)

A man of the Yan clan (嚴氏) committed a murder, and Yang Shu (陽豎) had a hand in it. Their road lay through Zhou. The lord of Zhou detained them fourteen days, then set them in a carriage with a team of four horses and sent them off. Han sent someone to reproach Zhou, and the lord of Zhou was troubled by it. A guest said to the lord of Zhou: "Speak to him plainly. Say: 'I knew that the man of the Yan clan had done the murder and that Yang Shu had a share in it, and therefore I detained them fourteen days, awaiting your command. A small state is not equal to harboring murderers, and since my lord's envoy did not come, I therefore sent them off.'"

Colophon

This file was prepared for the Chinese shelf of the Good Works Library, translated independently from the classical Chinese text printed below. Each persuasion and anecdote keeps its own heading as the 士禮居叢書 text divides it, and speeches are rendered as continuous direct discourse rather than broken into summary. Only the main text is translated; the interlinear commentary of Bao Biao and Yao Hong, together with the collation notes set in 〔 〕, are printed in the source layer but not rendered into English.

J. I. Crump's Chan-kuo Ts'e (1970; revised 1996) is a complete published English translation of the Zhanguo Ce and is named here as a control-in-existence; it was not fetched or consulted in preparing this file, and no claim of firstness is made for this translation.

A note on one name: the lord of Zhou in this book is Eastern Zhou's own ruler, kept distinct throughout from the lord of Zhou who appears in the companion book of Western Zhou; where the source calls a figure by office alone — the chancellor, the Grand Diviner — that office is kept consistent rather than supplying a name the source itself withholds.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted translation and editorial work.

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Source Text: 戰國策 東周策

Classical Chinese text in the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the 士禮居叢書 edition, with the commentary of Bao Biao and Yao Hong and the collation notes set in 〔 〕 as the transcription carries them. Presented complete for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above; the commentary is not translated.

東周策

〔鮑本東周　漢志，河南鞏，東周君所居。正曰：東周當從舊，居卷首，說見前。　大事記云，東周惠公班秉政洛陽，采邑在鞏。漢志說非。餘見前。〕

秦興師臨周而求九鼎

秦興師臨周〔姚本續：周顯王，后語。〕而求九鼎，周君患之，以告顏率。〔姚本續：率，名也。當如字。或云，力出切，后語註。　鮑本周人。〕顏率曰：「大王勿憂，臣請東借救於齊。」顏率至齊，謂齊王〔姚本續：齊宣王，后語。　鮑本閔。正曰：大事記云，姚氏考春秋后語，周顯王、齊宣王也。今附載於顯王三十三年宋太丘社亡之前。〕曰：「夫秦之為〔鮑本「為」作「於」。○〕無道也，欲興兵臨周而求九鼎，周之君臣，內自盡〔姚本劉、曾、集，一作「畫」，錢作「盡」。　鮑本盡其心思。〕計，〔鮑本計，猶謀。〕與秦，不若歸之大國。〔鮑本謂齊。〕夫存危國，〔鮑本周有秦兵，危。〕美名也；得九鼎，厚寶〔鮑本厚，猶重。　札記今本「寶」作「實」，鮑本作「寶」。〕也。願大王圖之。」齊王大悅，〔鮑本無「悅」字。○　補曰：一本「大說」。〕發師五萬人，使陳臣思〔鮑本即後田臣思，凡陳、田皆齊公族。〕將以救周，而秦兵罷。

齊將求九鼎，周君又患之。顏率曰：「大王勿憂，臣請東解之。」〔鮑本東之齊，解免之。〕顏率至齊，謂齊王曰：「周賴大國之義，得君臣父子相保也，願獻九鼎，不識大國何塗之〔鮑本問其路所從出。禮，「遂上有徑，洫上有塗」。〕從而致之齊？」齊王曰：「寡人將寄徑〔鮑本徑，步道也。猶言假塗。〕於梁。」顏率曰：「不可。夫梁之君臣欲得九鼎，謀之暉臺〔鮑本臺名曰暉。故孟子稱「梁有臺池之樂」。〕之下，少海〔鮑本「少」作「沙」。○　補曰：「少」當作「沙」。九域圖，開封有沙海，引此。　札記丕烈案：此不當輒改。〕之上，其日久矣。鼎入梁，必不出。」齊王曰：「寡人將寄徑於楚。」〔鮑本楚非適齊之途，既不可入梁，亦無從至楚。其云然不可曉也。〕對曰：「不可。楚之君臣欲得九鼎，謀之於葉庭之中，〔姚本續：后語作「章華之庭」。注云，徐廣曰，華容有章華亭。　鮑本即南陽葉也。〕其日久矣。若入楚，鼎必不出。」王曰：「寡人終何塗之從而致之齊？」顏率曰：「弊邑固竊為大王患之。夫鼎者，非效䤈壺醬甀〔姚本一作「瓿」。　鮑本「醯壺」作「壺醯」，「甀」作「瓿」。○壺，昆吾圜器。瓿，甂也。補曰：一本「醯壺」，此文殽次。〕耳，可懷挾提挈以至齊者；非效鳥集烏飛，兔興馬逝，〔姚本曾、集作「鳧逝」。　鮑本並喻其輕疾。〕灕然止〔姚本「止」一作「可至」。　鮑本集韻，灕，滲流貌。〕於齊者。昔周之伐〔鮑本「伐」作「代」。○〕殷，得〔姚本一本「得」上有「凡」字。〕九鼎，凡一鼎而〔姚本一本無「凡一」二字，「鼎而」作「而鼎」。〕九萬人輓〔鮑本輓，引也。〕之，九九八十一萬人，士卒師徒，〔鮑本士，一人也。二千五百人為師。徒，步行者。正曰：左傳注，步卒七十二人，甲士三人。又百人為卒。徒，眾也。此「士卒師徒」，亦大概言之耳。〕器械被具，〔鮑本「器械」作「械器」。○　械，器之總名。被具，士卒所服用之具。〕所以〔鮑本「以」作「已」。○〕備者稱此。〔鮑本備人之所應用，使稱足此八十一萬人。正曰：稱此者，彼此均等，猶史言他物稱是。謂士眾賫械具備輓鼎之役者，又且八十一萬也。〕今大王縱有其人，何塗之從而出？臣竊〔鮑本「竊」作「切」。○〕為大王私憂之。」齊王曰：「子之數來〔鮑本「來」下無「者」字。○〕者，猶無與耳。」〔鮑本言許之而實不與也。〕顏率曰：「不敢欺大國，疾定所從出，弊邑遷鼎以待命。」齊王乃止。〔鮑本補曰：洪氏邁，原策首載此，以為奇謀，此特兒童之見爾，疑必無是事，而好事者飾之。愚按，左氏嘗載楚子問鼎事，當時爭欲得鼎，以見其強，不可以為無。〕

秦攻宜陽

秦攻宜陽，〔鮑本韓邑，屬弘農。秦武三年攻宜陽，赧之七年也。　補曰：大事記云，今河南有福昌縣，城東南北三面，峭絕天險，黽池、二殽皆在境內，蓋控扼之地。　此據甘茂傳文。年表，拔宜陽在次年。宜陽之役，五月而不拔，凡涉兩歲也。通鑑、大事記皆於赧七年書伐，八年書拔。景翠救韓在八年。〕周君謂趙累〔鮑本「趙」作「周」。○　補曰：一本「趙累」。大事記引。〕曰：「子以為何如？」對曰：「宜陽必拔也。」君曰：「宜陽城方八里，材士〔鮑本士之有材武者。〕十萬，粟支數年，公仲之軍二十萬，景翠〔鮑本楚將。〕以楚之眾，臨山而救之，〔鮑本楚與韓鄰而與秦相圖，故救之。〕秦必無功。」對曰：「甘茂，〔鮑本甘茂，下蔡人，仕秦。補曰：「茂」一作「戊」，后多有。說苑作「戊」，古字通。〕羈旅〔鮑本集韻，羈旅，寓也。〕也，攻宜陽而有功，則周公旦〔鮑本言且相秦。〕也；無功，則削跡於秦。〔鮑本言不得留。〕秦王不聽群臣父兄之義〔鮑本「義」作「議」。○〕而攻宜陽，宜陽不拔，秦王恥之。臣故曰拔。」君曰：「子為寡人謀，〔札記今本「為」誤「曰」。〕且柰何？」對曰：「君謂景翠曰：『公爵為執圭，官為柱國，〔鮑本楚卿。〕戰而勝，則無加焉矣；〔姚本集、曾作「耳」，劉、錢作「矣」。〕不勝，則死。不如背秦援宜陽。〔鮑本翠時蓋援宜而有秦私，故說之云。補曰：秦策，馮章許楚漢中，楚懽而不進，所說有秦私者。竊謂，此策上既言秦之必拔，翠之不勝則死，而又曰「不如背秦援宜陽」，意殊不類。恐此句有缺誤，「背」下或有「之」字，或「秦」下復有「秦」字，「援」字或作「拔」。勸之避秦兵，待秦既拔，然後進兵乘其敝。當秦懼之，韓德之，而交得賂以為利。下文秦拔宜陽，景翠果進兵，「果」字可見。又秦策，「楚畔秦而合於韓」句，意似與此同。然彼指翠未救時言之爾。其後韓、楚雖合，楚不為韓氏，謂先戰，固已預知之矣。　札記丕烈案：吳說是也。此必「背」下有脫，但不詳何字。〕公進兵，秦恐公之乘〔鮑本乘，謂因而攻之。〕其弊也，必以寶事公；公中〔鮑本「中」作「仲」。○　札記今本「中」作「仲」。〕慕公之為己乘秦也，亦必盡其寶。』」

秦拔宜陽，景翠果進兵。秦懼，遽效煮棗，〔鮑本屬濟陰冤句。〕韓氏果亦效重寶。景翠得城於秦，受寶於韓，而德〔鮑本德，恩之也。〕東周。〔鮑本補曰：「為寡」、「為己」之「為」，去聲。餘如字。〕

東周與西周戰

東周與西周戰，韓救西周。為東周謂〔姚本集本改作「謫」，一作「謂」。〕韓王〔鮑本襄。〕曰：「西周者，故天子之國也，多名器重寶。案〔鮑本「案」作「按」。○　按，下，與舉反。〕兵而勿出，可以德東周，西周之寶可盡矣。」〔鮑本欲韓出兵，故賂之。紀八年有。〕

東周與西周爭

東周與西周爭，西周欲和於楚、韓。〔鮑本和二國以為己援。〕齊明〔鮑本疑楚人。兩見楚策。正曰：無明徵。注例，以國姓者，皆其國人，齊明豈不可為齊人邪？故大事記止云當時之辯士也。〕謂東周君曰：「臣恐西周之與楚、韓寶，令之為己求地於東周也。不如謂楚、韓曰，西周之欲入寶，持二端。〔鮑本言東兵急則入，不急則已。〕今東周之兵不急西周，西周之寶不入楚、韓。楚、韓欲得寶，即且趣我攻西周。〔鮑本趣，疾也。督使疾戰。我，謂東周。〕西周寶出，是我為楚、韓取寶以德之也，〔鮑本言有恩於楚、韓。〕西周弱矣。」

東周欲為稻

東周欲為〔鮑本為，謂種之。〕稻，西周不下水，〔鮑本稻宜濕，西周居河之上流。正曰：未知專指河否？〕東周患之。蘇子〔鮑本非代則厲。〕謂東周君曰：「臣請使西周下水可乎？」乃往見西周之君曰：「君之謀過矣！今不下水，所以富東周也。今其民皆種麥，〔鮑本麥宜燥也。〕無他種矣。君若欲害之，不若一為下水，以病其所種。下水，東周必復種稻；種稻而復奪之。若是，則東周之民可令一仰〔鮑本有望於上則仰。補曰：為，去聲。仰，疑向反。〕西周，而受命於君矣。」西周君曰：「善。」遂下水。〔鮑本無「遂下水」三字。○〕蘇子亦得兩國之金也。〔鮑本彪謂：此策不可行。東、西周壤地相接，豈不能候其所種？蘇子，東人也，為東游說而豈得不疑？且今下水，安能保其不奪？雖一為下，何補哉！正曰：據此策，則西人可以制周，必不疑於其說。蘇子公為反覆以得金，豈顧其復奪哉？大事記云，其微如此，其所爭又如此，可不哀哉！然則又何足深辨也。〕

昭獻在陽翟

昭獻在陽翟，〔鮑本屬潁川。補曰：韓策，楚昭獻相韓。〕周君將令相國往，〔鮑本往與獻會。〕相國將不欲。蘇厲為之謂周君曰：「楚王與魏王遇也，主君令陳封之楚，〔鮑本此言疇昔之事。陳、向、許皆仕周，而位在相下。〕令向公之魏。楚、韓之遇〔鮑本亦其王遇。〕也，主君令許〔鮑本「許」作「葉」。○札記今本「許」作「葉」。〕公之楚，令向公之韓。今昭獻非人主也，而主君令相國往；若其王在陽翟，主君將令誰往？」〔姚本曾作「誰往周」，集、劉、錢無「周」字。　鮑本言必君自往。〕周君曰：「善。」乃止其行。

秦假道於周以伐韓

秦假道於周以伐韓，周恐假之而惡於韓，不假而惡〔姚本續：史記兩「惡」作「畏」。〕於秦。史黶〔姚本一作「史厭」。　鮑本韓史。疑即「厭」。補曰：「黶」，正義云，烏減、於點二反。〕謂周君曰：「君何不令人謂韓公叔〔鮑本韓公族。〕曰：『秦敢絕塞〔鮑本絕，橫渡。塞，障也。為垣壘以遮止鄰國往來。〕而伐韓者，信東周也。公何不與周地，發重使〔鮑本使周發使。〕使之楚，秦必疑，〔鮑本秦、楚相圖之國也，周使使楚，故秦疑其圖己。〕不信周，是韓不伐〔鮑本不受秦伐。〕也。』又謂秦王〔鮑本武。〕曰：『韓強〔鮑本補曰：強，巨兩反。〕與周地，將以疑周於秦，寡人不敢弗〔姚本集：一去「弗」字。〕受。』秦必無辭而令周弗受，是得地於韓而聽於秦也。」〔鮑本紀，八年。彪謂：戰國之士，設心措辭，無不出於詐，若此者君子之所恕也。下章次之。正曰：鮑意尊周，故謂行詐免難所可恕。與前注為伍得章失同。〕

楚攻雍氏

楚攻雍氏，〔鮑本此亦赧之十五年也。〕周粻〔鮑本粻，食米也。時秦救韓，周以米餉之。正曰：詩傳，糧也。音張。〕秦、韓，楚王〔鮑本懷。〕怒周，周之君患之。為周謂楚王曰：「以王之強而怒周，周恐，必以國合於所與粟之國，則是勁〔鮑本勁，強也。〕王之敵也。故王不如速解周恐，〔鮑本周以楚怒之，故恐。〕彼前得罪而後得解，必厚事王矣。」

周最謂石禮

周最謂石禮〔鮑本「石」作「呂」。○　凡呂皆齊人。禮以秦昭十三年奔魏，十九年復歸秦，其相齊在薛公歸薛後，見孟嘗傳，蓋赧二十一年後也。正曰：呂皆齊人，此類無據，當缺。晉有呂錡、呂相，本魏氏，不必呂尚後也。　注「奔魏」，據秦紀。按，穰侯傳，冉相秦，欲誅呂禮，禮出奔齊。大事記從之。「歸秦」，據秦紀及穰侯傳。按，秦紀下接齊破宋之文，年表破宋在秦昭二十一年，則紀誤矣。按，呂禮相齊，孟嘗君遺穰侯書，勸秦伐齊而禮亡，事當在齊滅宋前。大事記書於赧王二十九年之首（即秦昭二十一年），則禮自奔齊至去齊，首尾九年。然解題亦據紀為說，謂後六年來歸，則未改也。札記丕烈案：「呂」字是也。〕曰：「子何不以秦攻齊？臣請令齊相子，〔鮑本秦攻齊，禮使之也。齊欲免攻，故可使之相禮。〕子以齊事秦，必無處〔鮑本「處」作「慮」。○　正曰：前后章有此字，義當同。　札記丕烈案：後策文有「必不處矣」，又有「請謂王聽東方之處」。吳氏指此也。〕矣。子因令〔鮑本「令」下衍「周」字。○〕周最居魏以共〔鮑本與齊俱事秦。〕之，是天下制於子也。子東重於齊，西貴於秦，秦、齊合，則子常重矣。」

周相呂倉見客於周君

周相呂倉見客於周君。〔鮑本言之於君，使得見。補曰：見，賢遍反。〕前相工師藉恐客之傷己〔鮑本「藉」作「籍」，下同。○　傷，猶毀。此即後工陳籍。〕也，因令人謂周君曰：「客者，辯士也，然而所以不可〔鮑本不可聽用。〕者，好毀人。」〔鮑本彪謂：工師籍，非端人也。德義不愆，何恤人之言。〕

周文君免士工師籍

周文君〔鮑本史書東周略甚，豈惠公後有此君邪？不然，則惠公別稱也。鴻烈道應訓亦稱周昭文君。此後書訓，皆鴻烈也。〕免士〔姚本集、曾，一去「士」字。　鮑本「免」下衍「士」字。○　補曰：疑衍。　札記丕烈案：楚策，韓求相工陳籍，即此也。「陳」乃「師」字形近之訛。〕工師藉，相呂倉，國人不說也。君有閔閔之心。〔鮑本亦不說也。〕

謂周文君曰：「國必有誹〔鮑本誹，謗也。〕譽，忠臣令誹在己，譽在上。宋君奪民時以為臺，而民非之，〔鮑本見襄十一年。〕無忠臣以掩蓋之也。子罕釋相為司空，〔鮑本司空主土工。傳言子罕親執朴以行築者，是也。〕民非子罕而善其君。齊桓公宮中七〔鮑本「七」作「女」。○〕市，女閭七百，〔鮑本閭，里中門也。為門為市於宮中，使女子居之。正曰：宮中為七市，女閭此七百也。〕國人非之。管仲故為三歸之家，〔鮑本婦人謂嫁曰歸，夫家曰家。仲蓋三取女也。〕以掩桓公，非自傷於民也？〔鮑本管仲為此，人皆毀之。仲非樂於毀也，其意欲掩蓋桓公耳。一說仲欲掩公之非，寧自毀也。〕春秋記臣弒君者以百數，皆大臣見譽者也。故大臣得譽，非國家之美也。〔鮑本彪謂：此言掩君之非可耳！而齒見譽者於殺君之列，則後世名卿賢相，何道而可以安於朝廷之上？不仁哉此言也！補曰：漢高帝繫治蕭何曰，「吾聞李斯相秦，有善歸主，有惡自與」云云。王衛尉曰，「秦以不聞其過，亡天下」。李斯之分過，又何足法哉？〕故眾庶成彊，〔鮑本「彊」作「強」。○　言師籍之得眾。　札記今本「彊」誤「疆」。〕增積成山。」〔鮑本「成」作「如」。○〕周君遂不免。〔鮑本卒相倉也。〕

溫人之周

溫〔鮑本溫，時為西邑，綦母恢請之也。正曰：西周得溫囿耳。〕人之周，周不納。〔鮑本并東周。〕客即對〔姚本一本，「周不內，問曰：客耶？對曰」。續：韓非子文與一本同。〕曰：「主人〔鮑本矯稱東人。〕也。」問其巷〔鮑本補曰：韓非子作「巷人」。〕而不知也，吏因囚之。君使人問之曰：「子非周人，而自謂非客何也？」對曰：「臣少而誦詩，詩曰：『普天之下，莫非王土；率土之濱，莫非王臣。』〔鮑本小雅北山詩。普，遍；率，從也。〕今周君天下，則我天子之臣，而又為客哉？故曰主人。」君乃使吏出之。

或為周最謂金投

或為周最謂金投〔鮑本蓋趙人之不善齊者。〕曰：「秦以周最之齊疑天下，〔鮑本周使最之齊，秦以此疑周、齊與天下合而謀己。正曰：無考。〕而又知趙之難子〔姚本曾本作「予」，集本改作「予」，劉作「子」。　鮑本不敢違投。〕齊人戰，恐〔鮑本秦既疑齊，投又不善齊，故齊懼伐。〕齊、韓之合，〔鮑本「齊」下衍「韓」字。○　補曰：疑衍。　札記丕烈案：此不衍，謂秦恐齊、韓之合也。下文云必先合秦者，必先合齊於秦也。故下文即云秦、齊合。鮑誤以「恐」字屬上句讀，所解全謬。吳氏依之，亦非。〕必先合於秦。秦、齊合，則公之國虛〔鮑本言趙必破而為墟。「墟」，「虛」字同，大丘也。〕矣。公不如救齊，因佐秦而伐韓、魏，上黨長子〔鮑本屬上黨，蓋韓地。〕趙之有。〔鮑本二國有秦兵，故趙得取其邊地。〕公東收寶於秦，〔鮑本佐秦故。〕南取地於韓，〔鮑本韓，魏唇齒之國故也。〕魏因以因，〔鮑本「因」作「困」。○　札記今本下「因」字作「困」。〕徐為之東，〔鮑本為，猶謀也。東謂齊。〕則有合矣。」〔鮑本齊合趙也。始時趙與齊隙，無合理。今得秦、韓，故齊懼而合。其實，最時相齊，慮有趙患，故為最謀者，侈之韓、魏也。〕

周最謂金投

周最謂金投曰：「公負令〔姚本錢、劉作「全」。　鮑本負，猶失也，其失在此。正曰：負，持也。「令」字疑「合」。〕秦與強齊戰。戰勝，〔鮑本勝齊。〕秦且收齊而封〔鮑本封，謂疆理之。〕之，使無多割，〔鮑本割，謂出地。〕而聽天下之戰；〔鮑本諸國求地於齊，齊不多割，則必戰。此秦弱齊之計。正曰：此秦制齊之命。〕不勝，國大傷，〔鮑本趙傷也。時趙令秦與齊戰，戰不勝，則秦必咎趙，能無傷乎？正曰：趙恃合於秦以與齊戰，不勝，則國大傷而聽命於秦矣。〕不得不聽秦。〔鮑本趙聽也。〕秦盡韓、魏之上黨太原，〔鮑本魏地，後為秦郡。〕西〔姚本曾、錢、集作「西」。錢，一作「而」。〕止〔鮑本「止」作「土」。○　札記丕烈按：此有誤，但所改未是。〕秦之有已。〔鮑本秦之所難者，齊也。已收齊，則韓、魏不守。〕秦地，天下之半也，制齊、楚、三晉之命，〔鮑本趙以大傷，故亦見制。〕復〔鮑本「復」作「覆」。○　補曰：「覆」通。〕國且身危，〔鮑本覆，如覆器然。國，趙也。身，謂投。〕是何計之道〔鮑本言非計。〕也。」〔鮑本此策，最為齊使趙拒秦也。〕

石行秦謂大梁造

石行秦〔姚本劉本作「右行楚」。　鮑本周人。正曰：無考。一本「石」作「右」。右行，秦官也。〕謂大梁造〔姚本續：商子作「大梁造」。　鮑本秦爵，「梁」作「良」。秦孝十年衛鞅，惠文五年公孫衍，昭襄十五年白起，皆為之。此蓋起也。正曰：無考。〕曰：「欲決霸王之名，不如備〔鮑本備，謹待之。〕兩周辯知之士。」謂周君〔鮑本行秦謂之。〕曰：「君不如令辯知之士，為君爭於秦。」〔鮑本秦欲卑周，爭者爭此也。既謹待之，則爭必得矣。補曰：王應麟云，周赧王卒于乙巳。明年丙午，秦遷西周君，而東周君猶存。壬子，秦遷東周君，而周遂不祀。作史者當自丙午至壬子係周統於七國之上，乃得春秋存陳之義。大事記，周赧後即係秦，朱子以為未當。綱目以七國如楚、漢並書之。今按解題云，自赧王降，周統已絕，東周雖未亡，特邾、莒附庸之類耳。所以存而未論也。朱子雖以七國並書，而赧王之後，亦不以東周係統者，其意亦不異。綱目之成，在乾道壬辰，而淳熙辛丑呂子卒，大事記始出，非矯之也。〕

謂薛公

謂〔姚本劉本題起「謂」字。〕薛公〔鮑本田文。　札記今本「公」誤「君」。〕曰：「周最於齊王〔鮑本「王」下有「厚」字。○　閔王。　札記今本「王」下有「厚」字。丕烈案：有者當是。〕也而逐之，〔鮑本補曰：史，秦亡將呂禮相齊，欲困蘇代，代乃謂云云。史，周最於齊王至厚也，而齊王逐之。策文省而勝。〕聽祝弗，〔姚本續：史記作「親弗」，注云，人姓名。索隱引戰國策作「祝弗」，蓋「祝」為得也。　鮑本齊人。補曰：「祝弗」史作「親弗」，索隱謂策得之。一本「況弗」。　札記丕烈案：鮑本當不作「祝弗」，故吳校如此。詳姚校云，索隱引戰國策作「祝弗」，疑亦本不作「祝弗」也，今無可考。〕相呂禮者，欲取秦。〔鮑本無下「秦」字，「取秦」下補「也秦」二字。○　札記今本「取秦」下有「也」字，乃誤涉鮑也。鮑本「秦」字不重。〕秦、齊合，〔鮑本上章所謂以齊事秦。正曰：注據史補二字。然言齊合則秦自見，省文爾。下章齊合亦然。〕弗與禮重〔鮑本與，猶如也。言二國合，則齊所重無如禮者。正曰：史，「親弗與呂禮重矣」，言二國合，則二人重。策，「齊合，弗與禮重矣」，言齊與秦合，則一人重於齊。視史語簡而勝。上文「秦」字省，尤可見。〕矣。有周〔鮑本「有」下衍「周」字。○　補曰：史作「用」。　札記今本無「周」字，乃誤涉鮑也。〕齊，〔鮑本秦有之。正曰：有用齊者，言二子用齊。〕秦必輕君。君弗如急北兵趨趙〔鮑本亦與趙攻秦。〕以秦、魏，〔鮑本能左右之曰「以」。以，猶使。正曰：從史，「以」下有「和」字是。「急北兵」讀，「秦、魏」句。是時秦怒齊，齊、趙交惡，秦欲合魏。前章，魏貴合秦以攻齊、趙，難與齊戰；下章，齊合則趙恐伐，可見皆一時事也。秦、趙、魏合，為攻齊也。故云「急北兵趨趙以和秦、魏」也。趨，即趣，促也。謂不如急北方之兵，促趙之應秦、魏，而相與以攻齊也。魏策，周最入齊，秦讓魏，魏謂秦曰，「大國欲急兵，則趨趙而已」。趨，即趣也。此語正同。雖時有後先，而事理不誤爾（魏策載周最入齊，知在後）。史載此策，在文謝病歸薛後，文從其計。而呂禮嫉害文，乃勸秦伐齊。呂禮亡，其後齊滅宋，文乃奔魏。且文在齊，豈敢召穰侯之兵哉？召秦伐齊必文也，去齊而史失之也。此策云，「收周最，反齊王」，則亦文奔魏之後，召秦兵之前乎？〕收周最以為後行，〔鮑本齊初逐最，欲取秦合也；今攻秦，收最用之，可圖後舉。行，猶舉。正曰：當從史，無「為」字，「後」作「厚」。行，下孟反。最本厚於齊，今齊逐之，故收最以厚其行。上文「厚」字，同義。〕且反齊王之信，〔鮑本齊前與秦合，今與趙攻之，信反也。正曰：齊周禮以合秦取信，今反之，使不合也。〕又禁天下之率。〔鮑本率，猶從也。謂從齊。補曰：「率」，史作「變」。索隱云，齊、秦合則弗、禮用；用則輕孟嘗。二說皆通。　札記今本「又」誤「以」。〕齊無秦，天下果，〔鮑本果，猶決也。走，去音，趨之也。言不趨齊。正曰：史，齊無秦，則天下集齊，親弗必走。此「果」字，當從史作「集」。謂齊無秦合，而秦、趙、魏合，則天下之兵集於齊，祝弗必走。言弗而不及禮者，齊聽弗而相禮，弗走，禮不待言矣。〕弗必走，齊王誰與為其國？」〔鮑本言必重文。孟嘗傳有。〕〔鮑本正曰：以章參之，史可以互正。如弗乃祝弗名，易知，而注乃釋以他說，其誤甚矣。〕

齊聽祝弗

齊〔姚本劉本題起「齊」字。〕聽祝弗，外周最。謂齊王〔鮑本閔。〕曰：「逐周最、聽祝弗、相呂禮者，欲深取〔鮑本補曰：「深取」之「深」，恐因下文衍。〕秦也。秦得天下，則伐齊深〔鮑本秦得齊，則益強，故能得天下；得天下，則亦不能存齊。〕矣。夫齊合，〔鮑本「夫」下補「秦」字。○　正曰：說見上。此下云「急兵以示秦」，則無「秦」字尤明矣。　札記今本「夫」下有「秦」字，乃誤涉鮑也。鮑補「秦」字，吳氏有正。〕則趙恐伐，〔鮑本秦伐之。〕故急兵以示秦。〔鮑本趙兵攻齊。〕秦以趙攻，〔鮑本攻齊。〕與之〔鮑本之，猶趨。〕齊伐趙，其實同理，〔鮑本以趙攻齊則得齊，趨齊受趙亦得趙。故其理同。〕必不處矣。〔鮑本處，猶據也。秦不據齊，理同。而獨不據齊，齊無兵而趙已出兵故也。正曰：注難通，「處」義未詳。〕故用祝弗，即天下之理〔鮑本理在受兵於趙。正曰：言天下必將歸秦。〕也。」

蘇厲為周最謂蘇秦

蘇厲為周最謂蘇秦〔鮑本「秦」作「子」。○　札記丕烈案：此有誤，但所改未是。〕曰：「君不如令王〔鮑本君，謂蘇子。王，周君也。此時與赧俱王，其稱公，後避秦也。正曰：尤繆。〕聽最，以地〔鮑本地，周地。〕合於魏、趙，故〔姚本曾無「故」字。〕必怒〔姚本「怒」，一作「恐」。　鮑本稱故者，特為之。怒，蘇子怒最。〕合於齊，〔鮑本怒最而反其所合。〕是君以合〔姚本一作「全以」。〕齊與強楚吏產子。〔鮑本時齊與楚善，合齊則得與楚為與國，可至再世。產子，言易世也。與，黨與也。補曰：劉辰翁云，「吏」字當作「更」，平聲。〕君若欲因最之事，〔鮑本與最同合魏、趙，此厲本謀也，前皆游辭耳。故為，為周最。〕則合齊者，君也；割地者，最也。」〔鮑本補曰：最欲合趙、魏，而蘇秦欲合齊，厲為最，故言若不發最之事，則君合齊，而最合趙、魏也。〕

謂周最曰仇赫之相宋

謂周最曰：「仇赫〔姚本續：史記，机郝。　鮑本補曰：「赫」，一本作「郝」。〕之相宋，將以觀秦之應趙、宋，〔鮑本絕句。〕敗三國。〔鮑本韓、魏、齊也。魏紀，哀二十一年，與韓、齊敗秦函谷，蓋此時秦欲敗之，反為所敗也。赧十八年。正曰：「哀」當作「襄」，下同。「十八」當作「十七」，年表文，大事記從之。〕三國不敗，將與趙、宋合於東方〔鮑本即三國。〕以孤秦。亦將觀韓、魏之於齊也。不固，則將與宋敗三國，〔鮑本此應秦也。〕則賣趙、〔鮑本「賣」下無「趙」字。○　補曰：一本「則賣趙、宋」。〕宋於三國。〔鮑本此應三國也。以國情輸之曰賣。言赫不忠於宋，不應秦則應三國。以此知赫本非宋人。〕公何不令人謂韓、魏之王〔鮑本韓襄、魏哀。〕曰：『欲秦、趙之相賣〔鮑本此賣猶欺。〕乎？何不合周最兼相，〔鮑本使韓、魏皆相之。〕視之不可離，〔鮑本視，示字。二國同相最，可見其交之固。補曰：離，去聲。〕則秦、趙必相賣以合於王也。』」

為周最謂魏王

為周最謂魏王〔鮑本哀。正曰：襄。〕曰：「秦知趙之難與齊戰也，〔鮑本難，言其不和。正曰：難，畏阻意。〕將恐齊、趙之合也，必陰勁〔姚本曾、集改「勁」作「助」。　鮑本勁趙以兵，使之強。〕之。趙不敢戰，〔鮑本難先戰。〕恐秦不己收〔鮑本違其勁之之意。〕也，先合於齊。秦、趙爭齊，〔鮑本齊固秦所欲合，故其勁趙謂之陰勁。正曰：秦欲伐齊，趙欲合齊，故云「爭齊」。〕而王無人〔鮑本無主其事與齊者。〕焉，不可。王不去周最，〔鮑本最時在魏，欲之齊，故此士為之言，使得去。〕合與收齊，〔鮑本與，即謂齊。齊，魏之與國。〕而以兵之急〔鮑本「之急」作「急之」，「急之」下重「急之」。○　原作「之急」，急之以兵，則非合矣。〕則伐齊，無因事〔鮑本「也」作「矣」。○〕也。」〔鮑本言秦見齊有魏兵必伐之。有此有彼曰「因」，猶言無他事矣。齊敗魏馬陵，宜為魏讎，因此言「合與」，蓋其國形宜相依也。正曰：「而以」止「伐齊」，句。因，猶依也。言今不合與收齊，而以秦兵之急則伐齊（下章秦欲合魏伐齊，可見），是無可依之事矣。〕

謂周最曰魏王以國與先生

謂周最曰：「魏王〔鮑本哀。正曰：昭。〕以國與先生，〔鮑本以德齒尊稱之也。與，謂相之。正曰：孟子注，學士年長者，謂之先生。〕貴〔鮑本貴，猶欲。〕合於秦以伐齊。薛公〔鮑本田文。〕故主，〔鮑本齊閔王也。最嘗仕齊，故稱之然。正曰：「故主」上恐缺一字。〕輕忘其薛，不顧其先君之丘墓，〔鮑本謂齊王、田文欲去國以避秦兵。正曰：此田文相魏時也，下文「謂魏王、薛公」可見。文激於祝弗、呂禮之故，勸秦伐齊。蓋言文猶背齊，以起下文「最不與伐齊」之意。大事記，赧王二十九年，魏以田文為相，謂其去齊相魏，在齊滅宋之前。史在滅宋後，非。〕而公獨脩虛信〔鮑本最本善齊，固不背齊。然今相魏，魏有以秦伐齊之形，猶為虛信。信，謂親之。〕為〔姚本曾，「為」下有「物」字。劉無。〕茂〔鮑本茂，盛美也。〕行，明群臣〔鮑本明，猶示也。臣，魏臣。〕據故主，〔鮑本據，仗持也，猶言為之。此言最在魏，示朝臣以為齊王，不欺之，此所謂「茂行」。正曰：「修虛信為茂行」句，「明群臣據故主」句。〕不與〔鮑本與，去音。正曰：與，如字，許也。〕伐齊者，〔鮑本「齊」下無「者」字。○〕產以忿強秦，〔鮑本產，猶生也。魏欲伐齊，己獨不與，猶生此節目也。違秦不伐齊，故秦忿。〕不可。公不如謂魏王、薛公曰：『請為王入齊，天下不能傷齊。〔鮑本最之知略，足以全齊。〕而有變，〔鮑本萬一有傷齊者。〕臣請為救之；〔鮑本此則非虛信矣。〕無變，王遂伐之。〔鮑本伐秦。〕且臣〔鮑本「臣」作「秦」。○〕為齊奴〔鮑本為，去音。言其為之如奴事主。〕也，如累王之交於天下，〔鮑本累者，事相連及，猶誤也。交，謂齊、魏。〕不可。〔鮑本此言非人之情。〕王為臣賜厚矣，臣入齊，則王亦無齊之累〔鮑本此累，猶患。〕也。』」〔鮑本正曰：按魏策，周最入齊，秦王怒，令姚賈讓魏王，魏王為之謂秦王曰，「魏之所以為王通天下者，以周最也。今最遁寡人入齊，齊無通於天下矣。敝邑之事，王亦無齊累矣」。最入齊，則正與此章相首尾。所謂「敝邑之事，王亦無齊累」語，又與此合。曰：「請為王入齊，天下不能傷齊」者，最自許其足以全齊。「有變」，謂秦伐齊，齊急則請魏之救；「無變」，謂秦不能伐，則王遂伐之。此厚齊之說也。「且臣為齊奴」以下，以為魏言之。「為齊奴」，為齊奴隸也。交，指秦也。累，連及也。不可以最故，使魏惡於秦。王使最得入齊為賜厚矣。最入齊，則秦無疑於魏，是魏不為齊所累也。補曰：「為王」、「為救」之為」，去聲。餘如字。〕

趙取周之祭地

趙取周之祭地，周君患之，告於鄭朝。〔鮑本凡鄭，皆鄭人。〕鄭朝曰：「君勿患也，臣請以三十金〔鮑本一斤為一金。正曰：正義云，秦以一鎰為一金。孟康云，二十四兩。國語注同。趙岐云，二十兩。〕復取之。」周君予之，鄭朝獻之趙太卜，因告以祭地事。及王病，使卜之。太卜譴之〔鮑本譴，謫問也。〕曰：「周之祭地為祟。」〔鮑本神禍也。〕趙乃還之。

杜赫欲重景翠於周

杜赫〔鮑本周人。正曰：楚策云，楚杜赫。〕欲重景翠於周，謂周君曰：「君之國小，盡君子〔鮑本「子」作「之」。○　札記今本「子」作「之」。〕重寶珠玉以事諸侯，不可不察〔鮑本國小，必賂以求援。不可勝賂，故宜察。〕也。譬之如張羅者，張於無鳥之所，則終日無所得矣；張於多鳥處，則又駭鳥〔鮑本多鳥處，有觸羅者，傍鳥必覺，覺則群驚而去矣。〕矣；必張於有鳥無鳥之際，然後能多得鳥矣。今君將施於大人，大人輕君；施於小人，小人無可以求，又費財焉。〔鮑本均之，費財。而小人多，則多費也。〕君必施於今之窮士，不必且為大人者，〔鮑本不必，猶不可知也。言不終窮，或且為大人者，此指翠也。〕故能得欲矣。」〔鮑本齊策、楚策皆有杜赫。在齊則威王時，於周顯王背也。自顯、威至是八十年矣，疑「赫」字誤。景翠實此時人。正曰：按齊策，田忌亡齊之楚，鄒忌代相，恐其以楚權復齊，杜赫曰，「臣請為留楚」。忌出奔，實宣王時。宣王二年，忌有馬陵之戰，其奔必後此（史以為威王時者誤，說見齊策）。楚策，五國伐秦，魏欲和，杜赫云云，在楚懷王十一年，當慎靚王三年。大事記據韓世家注，赧王三年，書楚景翠圍韓雍氏。自宣王二年至赧王三年，為三十年。自慎靚王三年至此為七年。則翠之與赫，何不相及之有？〕

周共太子死

周共太子死，〔姚本續：史記，西周武公之共太子死。徐廣云，惠王，公之長子。今乃編在東周。　鮑本周紀云，西周武公之共太子死。正曰：策原在東周，鮑據周紀改此，恐有誤，而下注周紀之文，以存疑。〕有五庶子，皆愛之，而無適〔鮑本適，猶定也，故與莫反。正曰：適，專主也。〕立也。司馬翦〔鮑本司馬，楚卿，疑即昭翦。〕謂楚王〔姚本一本無「楚」字。　鮑本懷。〕曰：「何不封公子咎，〔姚本「咎」一作「右」。　鮑本周君別子。〕而為之請太子？」〔鮑本請於周，請立為太子。〕左成〔姚本「左」一作「右」。　鮑本楚人。正曰：此類當因舊注，凡有明徵者可定。其生地不可考而仕國可見者，則當曰「某國臣」。正義注此正作「楚臣」。高注亦多作臣。後放此。〕謂司馬翦曰：「周君不聽，是公之知困而交絕於周也。不如謂周君曰：『孰欲立也？微告翦，翦今〔鮑本「今」作「令」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「令」。〕楚王資〔姚本「資」一作「奉」。〕之以〔鮑本封之以為之資。〕地。』公若欲為太子，〔鮑本此左成告翦之辭。為，皆去音，猶助也。〕因令人謂相國御展子、〔鮑本楚相之御，姓展。〕廧〔鮑本「廧」，「嗇」字同，小臣也，空其名。〕夫空曰：『王類欲令若為之，〔鮑本王，楚王。類，猶似。若，汝也。言楚王之意然。〕此健士〔鮑本此亦左成喻翦之言。健，猶悍也。正曰：此亦成作翦語，語展子者。〕也，居中〔鮑本國中。〕不便〔姚本「便」，劉作「使」。曾云，恐作「便」。〕於相國。』」〔鮑本二士居中與國事，以其悍，故相國不之便；若出而使周，則不居中用事，相國之所欲也。故以此說之，相國必從。〕相國令之為太子。〔鮑本此策，周紀有。原在東周。正曰：見上。補曰：「共」，「恭」同。適，丁歷反。咎，音皋。〕

三國隘秦

三國隘秦，〔鮑本赧十八年，注見前。隘，謂隔絕之。正曰：「八」當作「七」。補曰：策「隘」、「阨」字通。此當乙革反。〕周令其相之秦，以秦之輕〔鮑本見其隘於三國。〕也，留其行。〔鮑本不進。〕有人謂相國曰：「秦之輕重，未可知也。秦欲知三〔姚本曾、集、劉、錢作「亡」。〕國之情，公不如遂見秦王〔鮑本昭王。〕曰：『請謂〔鮑本「謂」作「為」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「為」。〕王聽東方之處。』〔鮑本聽，偵候之。東，三國也。處，其所為。〕秦必重公。是公重周，重周〔鮑本衍「重周」二字。　札記丕烈案：鮑衍非也。此有脫誤。〕以取秦也。〔鮑本秦重相，則周重矣。〕齊重故有周，〔鮑本齊重，天下重之也。故，猶舊也。有，言善之。〕而已取齊，〔鮑本此時秦、齊為天下重，已善秦，不可忽齊，故又勸之取齊。正曰：有，謂收己也。取，謂得於彼也。齊為重國，故能收有周，而周已取之矣。今復取秦，是周常不失重國之交。〕是周常不失重〔鮑本補曰：凡「輕重」字，自然重者，上聲，重之者，去聲。此章「輕重」、「齊重」、「重國」之「重」，上聲。餘去聲。〕國之交也。」

昌他亡西周

昌〔鮑本「昌」作「宮」。○　元作「昌」，下同。此書作「宮」，不一。正曰：且當依本文。〕他亡西周，〔鮑本以罪去國曰亡。〕之東周，盡輸〔鮑本輸，言委以告之。〕西周之情於東周。東周大喜，西周大怒。馮且〔鮑本「且」作「雎」。○　元作「且」，「雎」之省也，猶「趙」作「肖」，「齊」作「立」。故後唐且，史作「雎」。裴駰亦曰，「唐雎以華顛悟秦也」。此西人，下同。正曰：且當依本文。　札記今本「且」作「雎」，下同，乃誤涉鮑也。〕曰：「臣能殺之。」君予金三十斤。馮且使人操金與書，間遺昌他書〔鮑本「昌他」下無「書」字。○　為反間書以遺之。　札記今本無「書」字，改「昌」為「宮」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕曰：「告昌他，事可成，勉成之；不可成，亟〔鮑本亟，急也。〕亡來亡來。〔姚本一本止一「亡來」字。〕事久且泄，自令身死。」〔鮑本事泄露則死，而不亟來，自取之也。正曰：本文明白，注少「久」字，似不必。〕因使人告東周之候〔鮑本偵候之吏。揚雄曰，「西北一候」。〕曰：「今夕有姦人當入者矣。」候得而獻東周，〔鮑本得其人與書。〕東周立殺昌他。

昭翦與東周惡

昭翦與東周惡，或謂照〔鮑本「照」作「昭」，下同。○　札記今本「照」作「昭」。丕烈案：「昭」字是也。〕翦曰：「為公畫陰〔鮑本為人謀者，畫之以籌。〕計。」照翦曰：「何也？」「西〔鮑本「西」上補「曰」字。○　正曰：古書多如此，不必補。〕周甚憎東周，嘗〔鮑本「嘗」作「常」。○　補曰：當作「常」，古通。〕欲東周與楚惡，西周必令賊賊公，因宣〔鮑本集韻，宣揚也。〕言東周也，以西周〔鮑本「西周」作「以惡」。○　補曰：字有訛，未詳。〕之於王〔鮑本王，楚懷王。〕也。」照翦曰：「善。吾又恐東周之賊己〔鮑本此翦自計。〕而以輕西周惡之於楚。」〔鮑本翦惡東必善西，西善翦，則楚亦因重西矣。東欲壞其交，故賊翦，翦死則西無內主於楚，東因得使楚惡之。〕遽和東周。〔鮑本彪謂：周衰，君臣唯貪利而畏禍，故一切趨避變亂於游談之口，而無有持操。翦之慮死如此，其能復固其所守乎？〕

嚴氏為賊

嚴氏為賊，而陽豎〔姚本曾，一作「堅」。　鮑本嚴仲殺韓相傀，列侯三年，書殺俠累是也。殺人不以道曰賊。於此為五年。正曰：韓策，陽堅，此作「豎」，字有訛。索隱曰，紀年，韓山堅賊其君哀侯。韓山堅即韓嚴，非嚴遂使聶政殺俠累事也。說見上及韓策。鴻烈人間訓注，豎，小使也。韓策名「堅」。〕與焉。道周，〔鮑本出亡過周。〕周君留之十四日，載以乘車駟馬〔鮑本乘，四馬也。一車駕四馬，所謂駟馬車。〕而遣之。韓使人讓〔鮑本讓，譙責也。然則此時周之令已不行於諸侯矣。正曰：此東周君也。策文明曰「小國」。〕周，周君患之。客謂周君〔鮑本「客謂周君曰」作「客謂周君正語之曰」。○　使以留之之情告之。補曰：一本「客謂周君曰正語之」。「正」，猶直也。〕曰：「正語之曰：『寡人〔鮑本孤寡不穀，王侯之稱。〕知嚴氏之為賊，而陽豎與之，故留之十四日以待命〔鮑本待韓之命。〕也。小國不足亦〔鮑本「足」下衍「亦」字。○　補曰：疑在「不」字上。一本無。　札記今本無「亦」字，乃誤涉鮑也，鮑衍「亦」字。〕以容賊，君之使又不至，是以遣之也。』」〔鮑本原在東周策，時周未分也。彪謂：客之辯雖足以文周，而周君實為天下逋逃主，所謂欲蓋而彰者，何以示天下乎！正曰：考其時則烈王五年，王都東周，若以王都為尊，則舊卷首東周是矣。〕

Source Colophon

The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the Strategies of the Warring States (article 戰國策 (士禮居叢書本)/東周, revision of 7 October 2024), inspected from a witness copy captured on 22 August 2026. Chinese Wikisource transcriptions are published under CC BY-SA 4.0 and the GFDL; the text itself is ancient and in the public domain. The wiki header, navigation links, license templates, and modern contributors' footnotes have been removed; the text is otherwise complete and unaltered.

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