Song Wei Ce — the Strategies of Song and Wey, a single book

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. Song and Wei were both small and much fought over, and their two records were combined into a single book, gathered here as the Strategies of Song and Wey (Song Wei Ce): Mozi's hundred-stage walk to Chu, his feet callused layer upon layer, to argue Gongshu Ban and King Hui of Chu out of attacking Song with newly built siege engines; Nan Wenzi's wariness, twice repeated, of unearned gifts sent by the ambitious Zhi Bo to the ruler of Wei; King Kang of Song's omen of a hawk born from a sparrow, and the arrogance, culminating in shooting arrows at Heaven and flogging the earth, that brought his state down when Qi finally attacked; and Sijun of Wei's deathbed transfer of the chancellor's seal to check the ministers who had made light of him in life.

Each persuasion or anecdote stands under its own heading drawn from the episode it records, and the book proceeds loosely through the two states' history down to their absorption by larger neighbors; 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 〔 〕.

Names of persons and states are given in Hanyu pinyin without tone marks, with the Chinese characters supplied at first appearance. Two states share the same romanization, Wei, in this book: the small state of Wei (衞), a central figure alongside Song, and the larger state of Wei (魏), a constant neighbor and threat to both. Where the source sets them side by side in a single passage, as it repeatedly does, the translation marks each occurrence with its Chinese character in parentheses to keep them apart for the reader.

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 Song and Wey (宋衛策)
  • Qi Attacks Song, and Song Sends Zangzi to Seek Rescue from Jing (齊攻宋宋使臧子索救於荊)
  • Gongshu Ban Builds Siege Engines for Chu (公輸般爲楚設機)
  • Xishou Attacks Huang (犀首伐黃)
  • The King of Liang Attacks Handan (梁王伐邯鄲)
  • A Man Speaks to the Grand Steward (謂大尹曰)
  • Song and Chu Are as Brothers (宋與楚爲兄弟)
  • The Heir Apparent of Wei Takes Command and Passes Through Waihuang in Song (魏太子自將過宋外黃)
  • In the Time of King Kang of Song a Sparrow Gave Birth to a Hawk (宋康王之時有雀生𪇥)
  • Zhi Bo Wishes to Attack Wey (智伯欲伐衞)
  • Zhi Bo Wishes to Raid Wey (智伯欲襲衞)
  • Qin Attacks Pu of Wey (秦攻衞之蒲)
  • Wey Sends a Retainer to Serve Wei (衞使客事魏)
  • Sijun of Wey Falls Ill (衞嗣君病)
  • In the Time of Sijun of Wey a Convict Flees to Wei (衞嗣君時胥靡逃之魏)
  • A Man of Wey Fetches His Bride (衞人迎新婦)

Translation

Strategies of Song and Wey (宋衛策)

Qi Attacks Song, and Song Sends Zangzi to Seek Rescue from Jing (齊攻宋宋使臧子索救於荊)

Qi attacked Song, and Song sent Zangzi (臧子) to seek rescue from Jing. The king of Jing was greatly pleased and promised rescue most earnestly. Zangzi came back worried. His charioteer said, "You sought rescue and got it. Why do you wear a look of worry?"

Zangzi said, "Song is small and Qi is large. To rescue little Song and so give offense to great Qi — this is the sort of thing a king worries about. Yet the king of Jing was pleased beyond measure. He must mean to stiffen us. If we hold firm and Qi is worn down, that is Jing's advantage."

Zangzi then went home. The king of Qi did indeed attack, and took five cities of Song, and the king of Jing never came.

Gongshu Ban Builds Siege Engines for Chu (公輸般爲楚設機)

Gongshu Ban (公輸般) built siege engines for Chu, intending to attack Song with them. Mozi (墨子) heard of it and traveled a hundred stages, his feet callused layer upon layer, to go and see Gongshu Ban. He said to him, "In Song I heard of you. I wish to make use of you to kill a king."

Gongshu Ban said, "By what I hold right, I certainly do not kill kings."

Mozi said, "I have heard that you have made cloud ladders, and intend to attack Song with them. What crime has Song committed? By what you hold right you will not kill a king, and yet you attack a state: this is not to kill few but to kill many. May I ask what right there is in attacking Song?"

Gongshu Ban acknowledged himself beaten, and asked leave to present him to the king.

Mozi saw the king of Chu and said, "Suppose there were a man here who set aside his own carved and painted carriage and wanted to steal his neighbor's broken cart; who set aside his own brocade and embroidery and wanted to steal his neighbor's coarse short jacket; who set aside his own fine grain and meat and wanted to steal his neighbor's dregs and chaff. What sort of man would this be?"

The king said, "He must have a sickness for stealing."

Mozi said, "The land of Jing is five thousand li square; Song is five hundred li square. This is the carved carriage beside the broken cart. Jing has Yunmeng, filled with rhinoceros and wild ox, elk and deer; the Jiang and the Han are the richest waters in the world for fish and turtle, river turtle and alligator. Song is what men call a place with neither pheasant nor hare nor even a small carp. This is fine grain and meat beside dregs and chaff. Jing has tall pine, patterned catalpa, pian and nan and camphor; Song has no tall timber. This is brocade and embroidery beside a coarse short jacket. I hold that Your Majesty's officers, in attacking Song, are of one kind with this man."

The king said, "Well said. I ask leave not to attack Song."

Xishou Attacks Huang (犀首伐黃)

Xishou (犀首) attacked Huang. Passing through Wey, he sent a man to say to the ruler of Wey: "The army of my poor city has passed by the outskirts of your great state, and there has not been so much as a single envoy to ask after it. I venture to ask what our offense has been. The walls of Huang are about to fall; and when that is done, I shall shift my troops and come to the foot of your great state's walls."

The ruler of Wey was afraid. He bound up three hundred lengths of silk cord and three hundred yi of gold to send after the envoy.

Nan Wenzi (南文子) stopped him and said, "If he takes the walls of Huang, he will certainly not dare to come; and if he fails to take them, he will not dare to come either. Should he take the walls of Huang, his merit will be great and his name fine, and at home he will stand above his own rank. Those inside the court hate to be stood over, and they will pick his conduct apart. To be wrapped in a great name, to carry a finished success, and then to sit at the reins waiting on the debates of the court — Xishou may be a fool, but he will certainly not do it. And should he fail to take the walls of Huang, he will run off with his heart broken, and on his return he will fear he cannot escape punishment. How would he dare attack Wey and so double the guilt of his failure?"

He did indeed take the walls of Huang, and led his army home; and in the end he did not dare pass through Wey.

The King of Liang Attacks Handan (梁王伐邯鄲)

The king of Liang attacked Handan and summoned troops from Song. The ruler of Song sent an envoy to make a request of the king of Zhao, saying, "The soldiers of Liang are strong and its power is weighty. Now it summons troops from my poor city. If my poor city does not comply, I fear for the altars of the state; but to support Liang in attacking Zhao, and so harm the state of Zhao, is what I cannot bear. I wish Your Majesty would give my poor city some instruction."

The king of Zhao said, "It is so. That Song is no match for Liang, this I know. Yet to weaken Zhao and strengthen Liang would certainly not profit Song. What, then, can I tell you that would serve?"

The envoy said, "Let me ask to be given a border city. I shall press the attack slowly and let the days drag out, waiting only until your own officers have the city secure."

The king of Zhao said, "Good."

The men of Song accordingly raised troops, entered Zhao territory, and laid siege to one city. The king of Liang was greatly pleased and said, "The men of Song are helping me in the attack." The king of Zhao was pleased as well and said, "The men of Song stop at this and no further." So the troops withdrew and the difficulty was undone: Song laid a favor upon Liang and incurred no resentment from Zhao. Thus there was a place to which the name was added, and a place to which the substance came home.

A Man Speaks to the Grand Steward (謂大尹曰)

Someone said to the Grand Steward (大尹), "The ruler grows older by the day. Once he takes the government into his own hands, you, sir, will have nothing to do. You would do better to have Chu send congratulations on the ruler's filial devotion. Then the ruler will not strip the queen dowager of her charge of affairs, and you, sir, will be employed in Song for good."

Song and Chu Are as Brothers (宋與楚爲兄弟)

Song and Chu were as elder and younger brother. Qi attacked Song, and the king of Chu spoke of rescuing Song. Song thereupon traded on the weight of Chu to seek terms with Qi, but Qi would not listen.

Su Qin (蘇秦), on Song's behalf, said to the chancellor of Qi, "Better to grant the terms, and so make plain that Song has sold Chu's weight to Qi. Chu will be enraged, will certainly break with Song and serve Qi; and once Qi and Chu are joined, attacking Song will be easy."

The Heir Apparent of Wei Takes Command and Passes Through Waihuang in Song (魏太子自將過宋外黃)

The heir apparent of Wei took command in person and passed through Waihuang in Song. Xuzi of Waihuang (外黃徐子) said, "Your servant has an art by which one is victorious a hundred times in a hundred battles. Can the heir apparent listen to me?"

The heir apparent said, "I should like to hear it."

The guest said, "I have long wished to offer it. Now the heir apparent takes command himself to attack Qi. Win a great victory and annex Ju, and your wealth will still be no more than to possess Wei, and your honor no greater than to become king. But fight and fail to win, and for ten thousand generations there will be no Wei for you. This is your servant's art of a hundred victories in a hundred battles."

The heir apparent said, "Agreed. Let me by all means follow your words and turn back."

The guest said, "Though the heir apparent may wish to turn back, he will not be able to. Those who profit by your fighting and attacking, and who want their own appetites filled, are many. Though you may wish to turn back, I fear you will not be able to."

The heir apparent mounted his chariot and asked to turn back. His charioteer said, "To march out as commander and then turn back is the same as running from the enemy. Better to go on."

So he went on. He fought the men of Qi and died, and in the end he never obtained Wei.

In the Time of King Kang of Song a Sparrow Gave Birth to a Hawk (宋康王之時有雀生𪇥)

In the time of King Kang of Song (宋康王), a sparrow gave birth to a hawk in a corner of the city wall. He had the scribe divine about it, and the scribe said, "The small has given birth to the great. You will certainly be hegemon over the world."

King Kang was greatly delighted. Thereupon he extinguished Teng and attacked Xue, and took the lands north of the Huai; and he trusted himself all the more, wanting the hegemony finished quickly. So he shot arrows at Heaven and flogged the Earth; he cut down the altars of soil and grain and burned them, saying, "By awe I subdue the ghosts and spirits of the world." He reviled the elders of the state who remonstrated with him. He made himself a cap that left the brow bare, to show his boldness. He cut open the back of a hunchback and hacked through the shins of a man who waded a stream in the morning, and the people of the state were greatly appalled.

Qi heard of it and attacked him. The people scattered, and the walls were not held. The king then fled to the lodge of the Marquis of Ni, and there he was taken and died.

He was shown a sign of good fortune and did not make it good fortune; it turned instead into disaster.

Zhi Bo Wishes to Attack Wey (智伯欲伐衞)

Zhi Bo (智伯) wished to attack Wey, and presented the ruler of Wey with four wild horses and one white jade disc. The ruler of Wey was greatly delighted and all his ministers offered congratulations; only Nan Wenzi wore a look of worry.

The ruler of Wey said, "A great state shows us great goodwill, and you wear a look of worry. Why?"

Wenzi said, "A reward where there has been no merit, a courtesy where there has been no service — these must not go unexamined. Four wild horses and one jade disc: this is the courtesy of a small state, and yet it is a great state that has sent it. Let my lord think it over."

The ruler of Wey passed his words on to the frontier posts. Zhi Bo did indeed raise troops and made a surprise attack on Wey; but he reached the border and turned back, saying, "Wey has a worthy man. He knew my plan before I made it."

Zhi Bo Wishes to Raid Wey (智伯欲襲衞)

Zhi Bo wished to raid Wey, so he pretended to drive out his own heir apparent and had him flee to Wey.

Nan Wenzi said, "The heir apparent Yan is his lord's son, deeply loved and in favor. For him to flee without having committed some great crime — there must be a reason behind it." He sent men to meet him at the border, saying, "If his carriages number more than five, take care not to let him in."

Zhi Bo heard of it and desisted.

Qin Attacks Pu of Wey (秦攻衞之蒲)

Qin attacked Pu, a city of Wey (衞). Hu Yan (胡衍) said to Chuli Ji (樗里疾), "In attacking Pu, are you doing this for Qin, or for Wei (魏)? If for Wei, it is well done; if for Qin, there is no profit in it. What makes Wey Wey is that it holds Pu. Now if Pu passes to Wei, Wey will certainly break away and go over to Wei. Wei lost the lands west of the Yellow River and has not been able to take them back again, because it is weak. Now annex Wey to Wei, and Wei will surely grow strong. On the day Wei is strong, the lands west of the river will surely be in danger. Moreover the king of Qin will be watching what you do. To harm Qin in order to do a good turn to Wei — the king of Qin will surely hold it against you."

Chuli Ji said, "What is to be done?"

Hu Yan said, "Let my lord release Pu and not attack it. Your servant asks leave to go in on your behalf and give warning to the commandant of Pu, so as to put the ruler of Wey in your debt."

Chuli Ji said, "Good."

Hu Yan thereupon went into Pu and said to its commandant, "Chuli Zi knows the straits Pu is in. He has said, 'I will certainly take Pu.' But I am able to make him release Pu and not attack."

The commandant of Pu bowed twice and thereupon offered him three hundred yi of gold, saying, "If the Qin soldiers truly depart, I will ask that you be richly rewarded by the ruler of Wey."

Hu Yan took the gold from Pu, and by it made himself weighty in Wey. Chuli Zi likewise got three hundred in gold and went home, and had besides put the ruler of Wey in his debt.

Wey Sends a Retainer to Serve Wei (衞使客事魏)

Wey (衞) sent a retainer to serve Wei (魏), and for three years he could not obtain an audience. The retainer of Wey was troubled by this, and went to see the Master Under the Wutong Tree (梧下先生), promising him a hundred in gold. The Master Under the Wutong Tree said, "Agreed."

He then had audience with the king of Wei and said, "Your servant has heard that Qin has sent out troops, and no one knows where they are bound. It is long since the relations of Qin and Wei have been kept in repair. I would have Your Majesty serve Qin with your whole strength and entertain no other plan."

The king of Wei said, "Agreed."

The guest hurried out, reached the corridor gate, and turned back, saying, "Your servant fears Your Majesty will be too late in serving Qin."

The king said, "How so?"

The master said, "Men are over-quick with those who serve them, and over-slow in serving others. Now Your Majesty is slow with one who serves him. How then could he be quick in serving another?"

"How do you know this?"

"A retainer of Wey says that he has served Your Majesty three years and has not obtained an audience. By this your servant knows Your Majesty is slow."

The king of Wei hurried to receive the retainer of Wey.

Sijun of Wey Falls Ill (衞嗣君病)

Sijun of Wey (衛嗣君) fell ill. Fu Shu (富術) said to Yin Shunju (殷順且), "If you listen to my words and use them to persuade the ruler, adding nothing and taking nothing away, the ruler will certainly treat you well. What a man does while he lives and what is in his heart when he is dying are not the same. From the first, what the ruler practiced before the world was to feed on high style and beauty, and those he employed were Xie Cuo (緤錯) and Ru Bo (挐薄). His ministers all took it that the ruler made light of the state and loved high style and beauty, and there is certainly no one who will speak to him of the affairs of the state. Do you say to the ruler: 'What my lord has practiced before the world is greatly mistaken. Xie Cuo holds the power of decision in the state, and Ru Bo assists him. From this day forward, the Gongsun clan will certainly receive no blood offerings.'"

The ruler said, "Good." He gave him the chancellor's seal and said, "When I die, you shall control it."

When Sijun died, Yin Shunju, by the ruler's command, served as chancellor to Gongqi; and the clans of Xie Cuo and Ru Bo were all driven out.

In the Time of Sijun of Wey a Convict Flees to Wei (衞嗣君時胥靡逃之魏)

In the time of Sijun of Wey (衛), a chained convict fled to Wei (魏). Wey offered a hundred in gold to ransom him, and Wei would not give him up. Wey then asked to give Zuoshi for him.

The ministers remonstrated, saying, "To ransom one chained convict with land worth a hundred in gold — surely this will not do?"

The ruler said, "For good order there is no state too small; for disorder there is no state large enough. If instruction and transformation are made plain to the people, a town of three hundred households is enough for good government. If the people have no sense of shame, then though I had ten Zuoshis, what use could I make of them?"

A Man of Wey Fetches His Bride (衞人迎新婦)

A man of Wey fetched his bride. When the bride had mounted the carriage, she asked, "The trace horses — whose horses are they?"

The driver said, "They are borrowed."

The bride said to the servant, "Lay on the trace horses, and do not whip the pair in the shafts."

When the carriage reached the gate and she was handed down, she instructed the matron who had escorted her, "Put out the stove; it will start a fire."

Entering the room, she saw a mortar and said, "Move it under the window; it is in the way of those coming and going."

Her hosts laughed at her. These three sayings were all sayings to the point; and yet she did not escape being laughed at, because she was wrong in her timing, speaking too early or too late.

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 names: Song shares this single book with the small state of Wei (衞), whose romanization is identical to that of its far larger neighbor Wei (魏), a constant presence in these same anecdotes. Wherever the source sets the two side by side, the translation gives Wei (衞) and Wei (魏) with their characters rather than silently choosing one spelling for both, so the reader can always tell which state is meant.

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

🌲

Source Text: 戰國策 宋衛策

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.

宋衛策

〔鮑本宋　沛、梁、楚、山陽、濟陰、東平及東郡之須昌、壽張。補曰：漢志，壽張下有「今之睢陽」四字。〕

〔鮑本衞　東郡及魏郡黎陽，河北之野王、朝歌。後文公徙楚丘，黎陽是也。〕

齊攻宋宋使臧子索救於荊

齊攻宋，宋使臧子索救於荊。荊王〔鮑本威。〕大説，許救甚勸。〔姚本勸，力也。〕臧子憂而反。其御曰：「索救而得，有憂色何也？」臧子曰：「宋小而齊大。夫救於小宋而惡於大齊，此王之所憂也；而荊王説甚，必以堅我。我堅而齊弊，荊之利也。」臧子乃歸。齊王〔鮑本宣。〕果〔鮑本「果」下無「攻」字。○〕攻，拔宋五城，而荊王不至。〔鮑本此四章有蘇秦語，得爲君偃？而君偃弒立怒鄰，宜不能曲折如此，故係之剔成。然則孟子所稱，審亦皆剔成也。正曰：此章時不可考，缺之可也。鮑妄爲傅會，至謂孟子所稱皆剔成。孟子謂戴不勝「子之王」、「薛居州居王所」，王非偃而誰？〕

公輸般爲楚設機

公輸般〔姚本公輸般，魯班之號也。　鮑本魯之巧人。補曰：它書或作「班」，古字通。漢書，班師。〕爲楚設機，〔姚本機，械。雲梯之屬也。　鮑本天地疏，機關也。雲梯之屬。補曰：索隱云，械者，飛梯、撞車、飛石、車弩之具。〕將以攻宋。墨子〔姚本墨子，墨翟也。　鮑本宋人，名翟。〕聞之，百舍重繭，〔姚本百舍，百里一舍也。重繭，累胝也。　鮑本補曰：莊子「百舍」注，百日止宿也。按，繭即趼字，吉典反。增韻，謂足胝起如繭，胝音支。〕往見公輸般，謂之曰：「吾自宋聞子。〔鮑本聞其善。〕吾欲藉子殺王。」〔鮑本正曰：一本三「殺王」並作「殺𤯔」，云人、𤯔並而鄰反。集韻云，唐武后字作「𤯔」，如臣字作「𢘑」，「𤯔」即人也。　札記丕烈案：下文「吾義固不殺王」，墨子公輸篇正作「人」，此句云「北方有侮臣，請藉子殺之」，可證「𤯔」字是也。〕公輸般曰：「吾義固不殺王。」墨子曰：「聞公爲雲梯，〔姚本梯長而高，上至於雲，故曰雲梯也。　鮑本梯之高上如雲。〕將以攻宋。宋何罪之有？〔姚本楚欲廣土，而起伐宋，宋非有罪也，故曰宋何罪之有乎？〕義不殺王而攻國，是不殺少而殺眾。敢問攻宋何義也？」公輸般服焉，請見之王。〔鮑本見翟於王。〕

墨子見楚王〔鮑本非昭即惠。正曰：當缺。〕曰：「今有人於此，舍其文軒，〔姚本文軒，文錯之車也。　鮑本車有雕飾者。〕鄰有弊輿而欲竊之；舍其錦繡，鄰有短〔姚本一作「裋」。　鮑本「短」作「裋」。○　豎使之衣。補曰：一本「短褐」。姚本注，「短」一作「裋」。韓文考異云，「裋褐」一作「短」。方云，貨殖傳用「裋」字。董彥遠、洪慶善皆辨古無「短褐」字。按「裋褐」字，賈誼、貢禹、貨殖傳，班彪、劉平、張衡傳凡六見。班彪論漢書作「裋」。文選則用丁管切。是唐儒兩用之。故少陵以長纓短褐爲對，而史記孟嘗傳、國策墨子語皆傳寫之訛。今按國策「短」一作「裋」，史「安不得短褐」，司馬貞亦音豎。班彪王命論「短」字，韋昭云當作「裋」，襦也。又淮南子，「巫馬期絻衣短褐」，而高誘無説，未必皆傳寫之訛。柳子厚亦嘗用之，安知韓公之必不然乎？兩存以俟知者。〕褐而欲竊之；舍其梁肉，鄰有糟糠而欲竊之。此爲何若人也？」〔姚本言名此爲何等人也。〕王曰：「必爲有竊疾〔鮑本疾，猶癖。〕矣。」

墨子曰：「荊之地方五千里，宋方五百里，此猶文軒之與弊輿也。荊有雲夢，犀兕麋鹿盈之，江、漢魚鱉黿鼉爲天下〔姚本下民也。〕饒，宋所謂無雉兔鮒〔鮑本鮒，魚之小者。正曰：爾雅翼，鮒，鰿也。今作鯽。〕魚者也，此猶梁肉之與糟糠也。荊有長松、文梓、楩、柟、豫樟，〔姚本皆大木也。　鮑本「柟」作「楠」，「樟」作「章」。○　大小凡五。補曰：楩、楠、豫章，書注，楩，梓。一本「楠」作「柟」，「章」作「樟」。姚同。「楠」即「柟」。〕宋無長木，此猶錦繡之與短褐也。惡〔鮑本「惡」作「臣」。○　補曰：疑字誤。　札記今本「惡」作「臣」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：此「𢘑」字耳。〕以王吏之攻宋，爲與此同類也。」王曰：「善哉！請無攻宋。」〔鮑本彪謂：翟之説美矣。然此時諸侯固有竊疾，強吞弱，大并小，直患其力不給爾，豈爲若説止攻哉？意者，墨守之嚴，輸般服病焉。假此説以縮兵則有之，彼楚國非止足而無有竊疾者也！補曰：墨子云，公輸般爲雲梯之械成，將以攻宋。墨子聞之，至于郢，見，公輸般之攻械盡，墨子之守固有餘。般詘而言曰，「吾知所以距子矣，吾不言」。墨子亦曰，「吾知子之所以距我者，吾不言」。楚王問其故，墨子曰，「公輸子之意，不過欲殺臣，殺臣，宋莫能守。雖然，臣之弟子禽滑釐等三百人，已持臣守圍之器，在宋城上而待楚寇矣。雖殺臣，不能絶也」。楚王曰，「善哉。吾請無攻宋城矣」。　史云，墨翟，宋之大夫，或云並孔子時，或云在其後。索隱云，按別錄，墨翟書有文子。文子，子夏弟子，問於墨子。如此，則墨子在七十子後。愚按，孔子以敬王四十一年卒，景公以元王七年卒，相去十一年。檀弓，季康子母死，般請以機封，則般亦與孔子相及。大事記云，揚、墨之説，肆行於天下，必在春秋後。蓋異端之説，非王教盡廢，不能興也。〕

犀首伐黃

犀首〔鮑本魏官也，非公孫衍。正曰：據左傳，南文子相衞悼公。悼公與智伯並時，則犀首非公孫衍矣。司馬彪謂「犀首」爲魏官。以此策考之，悼公元年，當貞定王元年，至威烈王二十三年，三晉始爲諸侯時六十餘年。是時已有犀首，非魏官矣。意嘗其爲姓名或號，説見秦策。然則此犀首者，亦三晉之臣歟？〕伐黃，〔姚本黃，國名也。　鮑本補曰：舊註，黃，國名。按策言黃不一處，此未詳。〕過衞，使人謂衞君〔鮑本此策以南文子與智伯同時，知爲悼公。補曰：左傳，「公之入也，奪南氏邑」，杜註，子南之子公孫彌牟。彌牟與褚師比等逐公，越皋如等將納公，文子致眾而問曰「彌牟亡有益」云云，遂立悼公，南氏相之，事在哀公二十五年、二十六年。〕曰：「弊邑之師過大國之郊，曾無一介之使以存之乎？敢請其罪。今黃城將下矣，已，〔鮑本已，言已下黃城。〕將移兵而造大國之城下。」〔姚本造，詣也。言至衞國之城下。〕衞君懼，束組三百緄，〔姚本組，斜文紛綬之屬也。十首爲一緄也。　鮑本補曰：組，屢見前。緄，古本反，説文，帶也。詩，緄縢。傳，繩也。皆與此不協。鮑引高注。〕黃金三百鎰，以隨使者。南文子〔姚本南文子，衞大夫。〕止之曰：「是勝黃城，必不敢來；不勝，亦不敢來。〔姚本來，敢移兵來至城也。〕是勝黃城，則功大名美，內臨其倫。〔姚本倫，等。　鮑本臨，言以功處其上；倫，其輩類。〕夫在中者〔鮑本國中之臣。〕惡臨，議其事。〔姚本惡其臨己，故將議其事也。　鮑本議，謂譖短之。〕蒙〔鮑本蒙，冒處之也。〕大名，挾成功，坐御〔鮑本坐其御。言不營爲。〕以待中之議，犀首雖愚，必不爲也。是不勝黃城，破心〔鮑本破心，懼罪也。〕而走，歸，恐不免於罪矣！彼安敢攻衞以重其不勝之罪哉？」果勝黃城，帥師而歸，遂不敢過衞。

梁王伐邯鄲

梁王〔鮑本襄。正曰：惠。〕伐邯鄲，而徵〔姚本徵，召也。〕師於宋。宋君使使者請於趙王〔鮑本武靈。正曰：成侯。〕曰：「夫梁兵勁〔姚本勁，強也。〕而權重，今徵師於弊邑，弊邑不從，則恐危社稷；若扶〔姚本扶，助也。　鮑本扶，謂助之。〕梁伐趙，以害趙國，則寡人不忍也。願王之有以命弊邑。」〔姚本弊邑，宋也。〕

趙王曰：「然。夫宋之不足如〔姚本如，當也。　鮑本「不」下無「足」字。○　補曰：一本「不足如梁」。〕梁也，寡人知之矣。弱趙以強梁，宋必不利也。〔姚本梁必兼宋，故宋不利之矣。〕則吾何以告子而可乎？」〔鮑本雖知宋不助梁，然無辭使宋不聽梁。〕使者曰：「臣〔姚本曾、錢作「𢘑」。自此至卷尾，曾本皆作「𢘑」。〕請受邊城，〔鮑本請得攻一城應梁。〕徐其攻而留其日，〔姚本徐，緩。留其日，稽留其日也。〕以待下吏之有城而已。」〔鮑本攻之不力，使趙無失城。〕趙王曰：「善」。

宋人因遂舉兵入趙境，而圍一城焉。梁王甚説，曰：「宋人助我攻〔姚本以宋人圍趙一城，故云「助我攻」。〕矣。」趙王亦説曰：〔鮑本「曰」上無「説」字。○　補曰：一本「趙王亦説曰」。〕「宋人止於此矣。」〔姚本以宋使者言徐攻留其日，趙王亦説，言宋人止於此。〕故兵退難解，德施於梁而無怨於趙。故名有所加而實有所歸。〔鮑本君偃宜無此善。以在犀首伐黃下，蘇秦論攻宋前，故次之此。正曰：大事記，周顯王十五年，梁惠十七年，宋公剔成十六年，宋伐趙圍一城。解題曰，梁惠王伐邯鄲，引策云云。又按史世家，景公六十四年卒。左傳，景公在位四十八年卒。大事記定從左氏。景公卒當元王七年。鮑以此次之景公，繆甚。〕

謂大尹曰

謂大尹〔姚本大尹，宋卿也。　鮑本宋卿。正曰：左傳哀二十六年，宋景公無子，取得與啟畜諸公宮，於是云云，六卿三族降聽政，因大尹以達。杜註，近官有寵者。鮑因「大尹」字，遂傅會爲景公時，蓋無稽之言也。〕曰：「君〔鮑本君，宋君。〕日長矣，自知政，〔姚本言宋王年日長大，自能制法布政也，則大尹無復有專政之事也。　鮑本言親國事。〕則公無事。公不如令楚賀君之孝，則君不奪太后之事矣，〔姚本事，政事也。　鮑本后時與政。〕則公常用宋矣。」〔姚本太后，尹母也。與后共爲政。太后不見奪政，則大尹亦不見廢也，故云「常用於宋也」。鮑本見用於宋，尹蓋太后之人。正曰：皆無考。〕

宋與楚爲兄弟

宋與楚爲兄弟。齊攻宋，楚王〔鮑本威。〕言救宋。宋因賣〔鮑本賣，謂衒鬻之。〕楚重以求講於齊，〔姚本齊伐宋，楚將救宋，宋恃楚之重求和於齊者。〕齊不聽。蘇秦爲宋謂齊相曰：「不如與之，〔姚本不如與之和也。　鮑本聽其講。〕以明宋之賣〔鮑本「賣」作「資」，又改作「賣」。○　補曰：一本作「賣」。〕楚重於齊也。楚怒，〔鮑本怒其背己而與齊講。〕必絶於宋而事齊，齊、楚合，則攻宋易矣。」〔鮑本蘇秦與剔成、齊宣同時，知非閔時。正曰：此必非景公時。〕

魏太子自將過宋外黃

魏太子〔姚本魏惠王太子申也，自將攻齊。〕自將，過宋外黃。〔姚本外黃，今陳留外黃，故宋城也，後徙睢陽也。〕外黃徐子〔鮑本劉向別錄，徐子，外黃人。〕曰：「臣有百戰百勝之術，太子能聽臣乎？」太子曰：「願聞之。」客〔姚本客，徐子也。〕曰：「固願效之。今太子自將攻齊，大勝并莒，則富不過有魏，而貴不益爲王。〔姚本益，亦過也。　鮑本爲王之外，無加也。〕若戰不勝，則萬世無魏。〔姚本不勝，則太子滅，復何魏之有？故云「萬世無魏」也。〕此臣之百戰百勝之術也。」太子曰：「諾。請必從公之言而還。」客曰：「太子雖欲還，不得矣。彼利太子之戰攻，而欲滿其意者眾，〔姚本彼，謂魏戰士也。欲使太子戰，得其利，以盈滿其志意。眾，多也。　鮑本希賞也。〕太子雖欲還，恐不得矣。」太子上車請還。其御曰：「將出而還，與北同，〔姚本北，退走也。與退走者同罪。〕不如遂行。」遂行。〔札記今本脫「遂行」二字。〕與齊人戰而死，卒不得魏。〔姚本齊人敗之馬陵，虜龐涓，而殺太子申。故云「卒不得魏」也。〕 　〔鮑本原在宋策。魏記三十年有。彪謂：此申生伐皋落之例，晉國之覆轍也。里克之諫，惠王非忘之而忍爲之，故孟子以爲不仁。補曰：以過宋而徐子言之，從舊可。〕

宋康王之時有雀生𪇥

宋康王〔姚本康王，辟公之子，剔成之弟。　鮑本衍「康」字，下同。按史，君偃在年表、世家、傳並不書謚。正曰：索隱云，戰國策、呂氏春秋皆以偃謚康王。　札記丕烈案：新序亦作「康」也。〕之時，有雀生𪇥〔姚本𪄟。王鵬也，羽蟲之孽也。續云：新序，爵生鸇，通鑑作𪇥。　鮑本集韻音欺。今江東呼鵂鶹爲鵋䳢。正曰：此與爾雅「鵅，鵋䳢」註同文。鵅音格，鵋音忌，䳢音欺。按史記，「好射鶀鴈」。鶀，小鴈也，音期。愚按，策文云「小而生巨」，以雀生鴈言可也；云「見祥而不祥」，鵂鶹，非祥也。黃公紹韻會，「鶀」、「䳢」並爲一字，音期者非。新序作「鸇」，所載比策文爲詳，今通鑑作「𪇥」。　札記丕烈案：新序云，鸇，黑色，食爵，大于爵，害爵也。爲「鸇」明甚。此必本作「𪄟」，「𪄟」、「鸇」同字也。作「𪇥」者，形近之訛。〕於城之陬。〔姚本陬，隅也。五行傳，「思心之不容，是謂不聖，時則有黃眚」。黃，祥也。〕使史占之，曰：「小而生巨，必霸天下。」〔姚本史，太史。曰能辨吉凶之妖祥。康王無道，不敢正對，故云「必霸天下」。危行言遜，太史有焉。　鮑本蓋言遜也。〕康王大喜。於是滅滕〔鮑本隱七年注，在沛國公丘縣。補曰：大事記云，杜氏世族譜，滕爲齊滅。觀孟子所載滕定公、文公，則杜説誤，策所記是也。〕伐薛，取淮北之地，乃愈自信，欲霸之亟〔姚本亟，速也。　鮑本「亟」作「速」。○　札記丕烈案：鮑本誤，高注其證也，新序亦作「亟」。〕成，故射天笞地，斬社稷而焚滅之，曰：「威服天下鬼神。」罵國老諫曰，〔鮑本「曰」作「臣」。○　補曰：疑字誤。　札記今本「曰」作「臣」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：新序作「罵國老之諫者」。「曰」即「者」壞字耳。〕爲無顏之冠，〔鮑本冠不覆額。補曰：史，王偃盛血以革囊，縣而射之，命曰射天。淫於酒、婦人，群臣諫者，輒射之。諸侯皆曰桀宋。〕以示勇。剖〔姚本剖，劈也。〕傴之背，鍥朝涉之脛，〔鮑本鍥，刻。脛，胻也。〕而國人大駭。〔姚本駭，亂憂也。〕齊聞而伐之，民散，城不守。王乃逃倪侯〔鮑本侯，其臣也。正曰：無稽。〕之館，遂得而死。〔鮑本補曰：世家云，殺王偃。年表云，死於溫。溫，魏地。新序「得」下有「病」字。　札記丕烈案：新序誤衍也。得，獲也，即世家殺王偃事。〕見祥而不爲祥，反爲禍。〔姚本禍，謂齊湣王與魏、楚共伐宋，殺康王而滅國，三分其地也。〕　〔鮑本補曰：家語，「昔者殷王帝辛之世，有雀生大鳥於城隅，占之曰，『凡以小生大，則國家必正而名益昌』。於是帝辛介雀之德，不修國政，亢暴無極，朝臣莫救，外寇乃至，殷國以亡」。又説苑，孔子曰昔者殷王帝辛云云一段，亦同。愚按，宋，殷後也。疑即此一事，而記者不同。〕

智伯欲伐衞

智伯欲伐衞，遺衞君野馬四百，白璧一。〔姚本野馬，騊駼也。四百乘也。璧，玉環也。肉倍好曰璧。　鮑本「璧」上無「白」字。○　補曰：一本「白璧」。　札記丕烈案：此當以「野馬四」爲句，「白璧一」爲句，「百」即「白」字誤衍。下文「野馬四，百璧一」，誤同。考其注云，「四百，乘也」，「百」是「一」字誤。説苑有此事，作「智伯欲襲衞，故遺之乘馬，先之一璧」，與此可相證明。〕衞君大悅，群臣皆賀，南文子有憂色。衞君曰：「大國大懽，而子有憂色何？」文子曰：「無功之賞，無力之禮，不可不察也。野馬四，百璧一，此小國之禮也，〔鮑本「禮」下無「也」字。○　補曰：一本有「也」字。〕而大國致之，君其圖之。」衞君以其言告邊境。智伯果起兵而襲衞，至境而反〔姚本反，還。〕曰：「衞有賢人，先知吾謀也。」〔鮑本補曰：説苑，吳赤市使智氏及趙簡子以乘璧遺衞事相類。〕

智伯欲襲衞

智伯欲襲衞，乃佯亡其太子，使奔衞。南文子曰：「太子顏〔鮑本顏，太子名。〕爲君〔鮑本君，謂智伯。〕子也，甚愛而有寵，〔姚本智伯甚愛顏而寵祿之。〕非有大罪而亡，必有故。」〔姚本不有大罪而亡來，必有他故者也。〕使人迎之於境，曰：「車過五乘，慎勿納也。」智伯聞之，乃止。〔姚本止太子顏也。〕　〔鮑本彪謂：南文子，衞之賢智人也，慮無遺筭。補曰：大事記，貞定王十二年，晉荀瑤襲衞。解題曰，失其年。國語序「藍臺之宴」云，還自衞。姑載于此，未必果此年也。戰國策云云，並載此二年。〕

秦攻衞之蒲

秦攻衞之蒲。〔姚本蒲，衞邑也。　鮑本秦昭四年，取蒲阪。此二十三年。正曰：年表、世家，拔魏蒲阪。蒲阪在河東，非衞地。世家，衞嗣君時獨有濮陽。按史，秦昭王元年，樗里子伐蒲。索隱云，樗里疾圍蒲，不克，而秦惠王薨。事與此合。正義云，蒲故城在滑州匡城縣，此即子路作宰地。〕胡衍謂樗里疾曰：「公之伐蒲，以爲秦乎？以爲魏乎？爲魏則善，爲秦則不賴〔姚本賴，利也。〕矣。衞所以爲衞者，以有蒲也。今蒲入於魏，衞必折於魏。〔姚本衞知必失蒲，必自入於魏，以求救也。　鮑本衞恐秦取蒲，必自入之魏。補曰：一本「蒲入於秦」。司馬貞引策云，「今蒲入於秦，衞必折而入於魏」。樗里疾傳有，亦作「入於秦」。　札記丕烈案：索隱曰相反也。今吳校末「魏」字作「秦」，乃誤刊。〕魏亡西河之外，〔鮑本秦惠六年。正曰：秦惠八年，魏納河西地。後二年，魏入上郡於秦，而河西濱洛之地盡。〕而弗能復取者，〔姚本西河，魏邑也，秦兼取之。魏弱於秦，故云「不能取」。　鮑本「能」下無「復」字。○　補曰：一本有「復」字。〕弱也。今并衞於魏，魏必強。魏強之日，西河之外必危。〔姚本魏得衞而強，必更取西河之外，故云「西河之外必危」。〕且秦王〔鮑本昭。〕亦將觀公之事。害秦以善〔鮑本「善」作「害」，又改爲「善」。○　補曰：一本作「善」。〕魏，秦王必怨公。」樗里疾曰：「柰何？」胡衍曰：「公釋蒲勿攻，臣請爲公入戒蒲守，〔鮑本戒告之以釋攻。〕以德衞君。」樗里疾曰：「善。」

胡衍因入蒲，謂其守曰：「樗里子知蒲之病也，〔姚本病，困也。〕其言曰：『吾必取蒲。』今臣能使釋蒲勿攻。」蒲守再拜，因效金三百鎰〔鮑本「鎰」作「溢」，又改爲「鎰」。○　補曰：鎰通。〕焉，曰：「秦兵誠去，請厚子於衞君。」胡衍取金於蒲，以自重於衞。樗里子亦得三百金而歸，又以德衞君也。〔鮑本補曰：史樗里子傳有。〕

衞使客事魏

衞使客事魏，三年不得見。衞客患之，乃見梧下先生，〔姚本先生，長者有德者稱。家有大梧樹，因以爲號，若柳下惠。　鮑本蓋以所居爲號。補曰：藝文類聚作「梧丘」。〕許之以百金。梧下先生曰：「諾。」乃見魏王〔鮑本哀。正曰：無考。〕曰：「臣聞秦出〔鮑本「出」作「入」，又改爲「出」。○　正曰：一本作「人」，「兵」下有「出」字。〕兵，未知其所之。秦、魏交而不脩〔姚本溫故曰修。〕之日久矣。願王博〔鮑本「博」作「專」。○　補曰：字當作「專」。　札記丕烈案：此以「搏」爲「專」，因訛爲「博」也。〕事秦，無有佗計。」魏王曰：「諾。」

客〔姚本客，梧下先生也。〕趨出，至郎門〔姚本續：作「郭門」。　鮑本補曰：按韓非子，「使郎中日聞道於郎門之內」。愚恐「郎」即「廊」，見秦策。〕而反曰：「臣恐王事秦之晚。」〔姚本出、反，乃説事者而以亦不故爲此事秦也，若偶思念得之，故還而言也。　鮑本佯若不爲衞客，偶思念得之。〕王曰：「何也？」先生曰：「夫人於事己者過急，〔鮑本過，猶多。〕於事人者過緩。今王緩於事己者，安能急於事人。」「奚以知之？」〔鮑本王問。〕「衞客〔鮑本梧下稱之。〕曰，事王三年不得見。臣以是〔札記今本「以是」誤「是以」。〕知王緩也。」魏王趨見衞客。 〔鮑本彪謂：此一時氣俗，無不沒於利者。以先生稱於世，其人不薄矣！而以百金諾人，爲之行狡獪之計，況小子乎？彼哉，彼哉！正曰：此策時不可考，何得附之嗣君？〕

衞嗣君病

衞嗣君〔姚本嗣君，衞平侯之子也。秦王貶其號爲君也。〕病。富術謂殷順且〔鮑本皆衞人。正曰：古人以「且」名者，皆子余反。如夏無且、唐且、龍且之類是也。〕曰：「子聽吾言也以説君，勿益損也，〔鮑本使之一如其教。〕君必善子。〔姚本子，殷順且者也。〕人生之所行，與死之心異。始君之所行於世者，食高麗也；〔姚本食，用也。麗，美也。諸所行爲者，務用高美觀目而已，不務用德也。　鮑本凡有養於口體，皆得言食。補曰：「食高麗」，疑人名。〕所用者，緤錯、挐薄也。群臣盡以爲君輕國而好高麗，〔姚本緤錯、挐薄，之二人，君所幸，非賢也。長曰不肖，國必危，故群臣盡以君爲輕國也。　鮑本二臣名。補曰：緤，先結反。挐，女居反。〕必無與君言國事者。子謂君：〔鮑本補曰：「子謂君」以下，今教之以説君也。上言「死之心異」，故言此可以動之。〕『君之所行天下者甚謬。緤錯主斷於國，而挐薄輔之，自今以往者，公孫氏〔姚本公孫氏，謂嗣君也。衞髽之孫，故云公孫氏。　鮑本衞國姓也。故商君，衞之庶孽公子也，姓公孫氏。正曰：商君，説見秦策。〕必不血食矣。』」

君曰：「善。」與之相印，曰「我死，子制之。」嗣君死，殷順且以君令相公〔鮑本「公」下補「子」字。○〕期。〔姚本公期，嗣君子也。〕緤錯、挐薄之族皆逐〔鮑本「逐」下有「之」字。○〕也。〔鮑本彪謂：嗣君，賢君也，富術稱之貶矣。蓋諫者之言，多務爲深切詭激之辭。使嗣君不賢，安能受其言而委之以二臣乎？正曰：鮑誤釋胥靡之事，遂以衞君爲賢，其實非也。然能從順且之諫，使制二子，猶愈於迷復者也。〕

衞嗣君時胥靡逃之魏

衞嗣君時，胥靡〔姚本胥靡，有罪之賢人也。　鮑本有罪人。蓋賢者也。正曰：此本高註，竊以爲不然。有罪而逃，何以知其賢？此慕傅説之事而誤説者也。衞君以金贖之者，恥其失政廢刑爾。觀其言可見。補曰：靡，忙皮反。晉灼曰，「胥，相也。靡，隨也。」顏曰，「連繫相隨而服役之，猶今之囚徒」。莊子註，「以鐵鎖相連繫」。〕逃之魏，衞贖之百金，不與。乃請〔鮑本請，亦贖也。〕以左氏。〔姚本左氏，衞邑也。〕群臣諫曰：「以百金之地，贖一胥靡，無乃不可乎？」君曰：「治無小，亂無大。〔鮑本大、小，謂國。〕教化喻於民，三百之城，〔鮑本補曰：三百，或言家。〕足以爲治；民無廉恥，雖有十左氏，將何以用之？」〔鮑本彪謂：衞君之言及此，足以興起，而不得霸，豈輔之者無其人乎？以群臣之所諫，知不及其君遠矣。然享國四十餘年，不受外兵，則三百爲治之言，允蹈之者歟？正曰：罪人而逃，可謂無政矣。割地以求胥靡，可謂無謀矣。其言雖善，事則戾矣。補曰：韓非子有，略同。〕

衞人迎新婦

衞人迎新婦，婦上車，問：「驂馬，誰馬也？」御曰：「借之。」新婦謂僕曰：「拊驂，無笞服。」〔姚本拊，擊也。兩旁曰驂，轅中曰服。擊其驂，則中兩服馬不勞笞也。　鮑本皆言愛也，拊尤愛之。正曰：鮑以爲借馬，故曰愛之，非是。〕車至門，扶，〔姚本扶，謂下車。　鮑本人扶婦下。〕教送母：〔鮑本「母」下有「曰」字。○　母，送婦者。將還，故戒之。〕「滅灶，將失火。」入室見臼，曰：「徙之牖下，妨往來者。」主人笑之。此三言者，皆要〔鮑本「要」作「至」。○〕言也，然而不免爲笑者，蚤晚之時失也。〔姚本雖要指，非新婦所宜言也。以喻忠臣可以言而不言，失忠；未可以言而言，危身。故云「蚤晚之時失也」。　鮑本初爲婦而云然，失之蚤也。正曰：此策時不可考。補曰：呂氏春秋，白圭新與惠子相見，惠子説之以疆，惠子出，白圭告人曰云云，與此相類。〕

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)/宋衛, 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.

🌲