Zhao Ce — the four books of the Strategies of Zhao

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. These four books, the Strategies of Zhao (Zhao Ce), carry the record of the state of Zhao from the destruction of the Zhi clan through the disaster at Changping to the state's final conquest by Qin: Zhi Bo's siege and flooding of Jinyang and the counter-plot of Zhang Mengtan that broke him, the long vengeance of Yu Rang for his fallen lord Zhi Bo, King Wuling's adoption of the Hu dress and mounted archery over the protests of his own court, the Lord of Mafu Zhao She's discourse to the chancellor Tian Dan on the uses and limits of a great army, the debate over ceding cities to Qin after the rout at Changping, the Left Master Chu Zhe's remonstrance with the queen dowager on planning far ahead for a beloved son, and the slander that brought down the general Li Mu on the eve of Qin's final campaign against Zhao.

Each persuasion or anecdote stands under its own heading drawn from the episode it records, and the four books proceed loosely through Zhao's history from the destruction of the Zhi clan in the early fifth century BCE to the state's fall in 222 BCE; 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; rulers below the rank of king keep their conventional titles such as marquis and lord, and the standing rivalry of the Vertical Alliance (合從) binding the eastern states against Qin, against the Horizontal Alliance (連橫) by which individual states made separate peace with Qin, runs through nearly every persuasion in this book.

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 Zhao, 1 (趙策一)
  • Zhi Bo Led the Troops of Han and Wei to Attack Zhao (知伯從韓魏兵以攻趙)
  • Zhi Bo Led Zhao, Han, and Wei Against the Fan and Zhonghang Houses (知伯帥趙韓魏而伐范中行氏)
  • When Zhang Mengtan Had Made the House of Zhao Secure (張孟談既固趙宗)
  • Yu Rang, Grandson of Bi Yang of Jin (晉畢陽之孫豫讓)
  • Marquis Wen of Wei Borrowed a Road Through Zhao to Attack Zhongshan (魏文侯借道於趙攻中山)
  • Qin and Han Besieged Liang and Yan and Zhao Rescued It (秦韓圍梁燕趙救之)
  • Fu Ji Built a House and It Was Large (腹擊為室而鉅)
  • Su Qin Persuaded Li Dui (蘇秦說李兌)
  • Zhao Gathered the World Intending to Attack Qi (趙收天下且以伐齊)
  • Qi Attacked Song and the Lord of Fengyang Was Unwilling (齊攻宋奉陽君不欲)
  • The King of Qin Spoke to Prince Ta (秦王謂公子他)
  • Su Qin Went as Envoy to Qin for the King of Zhao (蘇秦為趙王使於秦)
  • Gan Mao Made a Pact with Wei for Qin to Attack Yiyang in Han (甘茂為秦約魏以攻韓宜陽)
  • Someone Spoke to the Chancellor Pi (謂皮相國)
  • Another Spoke to the Chancellor Pi (或謂皮相國)
  • The King of Zhao Enfeoffed the Lord of Mengchang with Wucheng (趙王封孟嘗君以武城)
  • Someone Said to the King of Zhao — When the Three Jin States Join, Qin Is Weak (謂趙王曰三晉合而秦弱)
• Strategies of Zhao, 2 (趙策二)
  • Su Qin Went from Yan to Zhao and First Formed the Vertical Alliance (蘇秦從燕之趙始合從)
  • Qin Attacks Zhao (秦攻趙)
  • Zhang Yi, on Behalf of Qin, Urges the Horizontal Alliance upon the King of Zhao (張儀為秦連橫說趙王)
  • King Wuling Sits at Leisure in Broad Daylight (武靈王平晝間居)
  • The King Appoints Zhou Shao as Tutor (王立周紹為傅)
  • Zhao Yan Is Late in Taking the Hu Dress (趙燕後胡服)
  • The King Breaks Up Yuanyang (王破原陽)
• Strategies of Zhao, 3 (趙策三)
  • The Thirtieth Year of King Huiwen of Zhao (趙惠文王三十年)
  • Zhao Sends Jihao to Qin (趙使机郝之秦)
  • Qi Breaks Yan and Zhao Wishes to Preserve It (齊破燕趙欲存之)
  • Qin Attacks Zhao and Lin, Lishi, and Qi Are Taken (秦攻趙藺離石祁拔)
  • Fu Ding Wishes to Join Zhao with Qi and Wei (富丁欲以趙合齊魏)
  • Wei, Through Fu Ding, Was About to Join with Qin (魏因富丁且合於秦)
  • Wei Sent a Man Through the Lord of Pingyuan to Ask Zhao for the Vertical Alliance (魏使人因平原君請從於趙)
  • The Lord of Pingyuan Consulted Feng Ji (平原君請馮忌)
  • The Lord of Pingyuan Spoke to the Lord of Pingyang (平原君謂平陽君)
  • Qin Attacked Zhao at Changping (秦攻趙於長平)
  • Qin Attacked Zhao and the Lord of Pingyuan Sent to Wei for Rescue (秦攻趙平原君使人請救於魏)
  • Qin and Zhao Fought at Changping (秦趙戰於長平)
  • Qin Besieged Handan of Zhao (秦圍趙之邯鄲)
  • Persuading Chancellor Zhang (說張相國)
  • Zheng Tong Went North to See the King of Zhao (鄭同北見趙王)
  • The Lord of Jianxin Was Honored in Zhao (建信君貴於趙)
  • Duke Ling of Wey Kept Yong Ju and Mizi Xia Close (衛靈公近雍疸彌子瑕)
  • Someone Told the Lord of Jianxin How He Served the King (或謂建信君之所以事王者)
  • Ku Chengchang Spoke to the Lord of Jianxin (苦成常謂建信君)
  • Xi Xie Saw the Lord of Jianxin (希寫見建信君)
  • Wei Jie Spoke to the Lord of Jianxin (魏魀謂建信君)
  • Qin Attacked Zhao and the Sound of Drums and Bells Was Heard in the Northern Hall (秦攻趙鼓鐸之音聞於北堂)
  • Li Bo of Qi Had Audience with King Xiaocheng (齊人李伯見孝成王)
• Strategies of Zhao, 4 (趙策四)
  • A Letter Presented to the King of Zhao on Qi's Behalf (為齊獻書趙王)
  • Qi Wished to Attack Song (齊欲攻宋)
  • Qi Is About to Attack Song and Qin and Chu Forbid It (齊將攻宋而秦楚禁之)
  • The Five States Attack Qin Without Success (五國伐秦無功)
  • Lou Huan, About to Go on a Mission, Takes Leave on a Secret Matter (樓緩將使伏事辭行)
  • Yu Qing Petitions the King of Zhao (虞卿請趙王)
  • Yan Enfeoffs Rong Fen, a Man of Song, as Lord of Gaoyang (燕封宋人榮蚡為高陽君)
  • Three States Attack Qin While Zhao Attacks Zhongshan (三國攻秦趙攻中山)
  • Zhao Sends Zhao Zhuang to Form the Vertical Alliance (趙使趙莊合從)
  • Zhai Zhang Comes from Liang (翟章從梁來)
  • Feng Ji Speaks to the King of Zhao for the Lord of Luling (馮忌為廬陵君謂趙王)
  • Feng Ji Asks for an Audience with the King of Zhao (馮忌請見趙王)
  • A Guest Has Audience with the King of Zhao (客見趙王)
  • Qin Attacks Wei and Takes Ningyi (秦攻魏取寧邑)
  • Zhao Sends Yao Jia to Make a Pact with Han and Wei (趙使姚賈約韓魏)
  • Wei Defeats Chu at Xingshan (魏敗楚於陘山)
  • Qin Summons the Marquis of Chunping (秦召春平侯)
  • The Queen Dowager of Zhao Newly Takes Charge (趙太后新用事)
  • Qin Sends Wang Jian to Attack Zhao (秦使王翦攻趙)

Translation

Strategies of Zhao, 1 (趙策一)

Zhi Bo Led the Troops of Han and Wei to Attack Zhao (知伯從韓魏兵以攻趙)

Zhi Bo (知伯) led the troops of Han and Wei in an attack on Zhao. He surrounded Jinyang (晉陽) and flooded it, until only three courses of the wall stood above the water. Xi Ci (郤疵) said to Zhi Bo, "The rulers of Han and Wei will certainly turn against you."

Zhi Bo said, "How do you know it?"

Xi Ci said, "I know it from the way they conduct themselves. They join their troops with yours to attack Zhao; but once Zhao is destroyed, the trouble will certainly reach Han and Wei. The agreement now is that when Zhao is beaten the land will be divided in three. Now only three courses of the wall are unsubmerged; frogs breed in the mortars and the cooking stoves; men and horses eat one another; the fall of the city is a matter of days — and yet the rulers of Han and Wei show no delight but wear an anxious look. If this is not turning against you, what is it?"

The next day Zhi Bo told the rulers of Han and Wei, "Xi Ci says that you are about to turn against me."

The rulers of Han and Wei said, "To beat Zhao and divide its land three ways — the city is on the very point of being taken. Foolish as the three houses may be, they would not throw away the fine profit lying before them, break the covenant sworn in good faith, and undertake a perilous business that cannot succeed. The situation is plain to see. This is Ci making plans for Zhao: he would have you doubt the hearts of the two lords, so that you slacken in attacking Zhao. Now you listen to the words of a slanderous minister and estrange yourself from the friendship of the two lords. We regret it for your sake." And they hurried out.

Xi Ci said to Zhi Bo, "And why did you tell the rulers of Han and Wei what Ci said?"

Zhi Bo said, "How do you know that I did?"

He replied, "The rulers of Han and Wei looked straight at Ci and then walked quickly away."

Xi Ci, knowing that his words would not be heeded, asked to be sent as envoy to Qi, and Zhi Bo dispatched him. The rulers of Han and Wei did indeed turn against him.

Zhi Bo Led Zhao, Han, and Wei Against the Fan and Zhonghang Houses (知伯帥趙韓魏而伐范中行氏)

Zhi Bo led Zhao, Han, and Wei against the Fan and Zhonghang houses (范中行氏) and wiped them out. After resting some years he sent a man to ask land of Han. Han Kangzi (韓康子) wished not to give it, but Duan Gui (段䂓) remonstrated, saying, "It cannot be done. Zhi Bo is by nature greedy for gain, savage and obstinate. If he comes asking for land and is refused, he will certainly bring troops against Han. Give it to him. Once you have given it, he will grow used to it and will go on to ask land of other states; and if the other states do not comply, he will certainly turn his troops on them. In that case Han may escape calamity and wait for events to change."

Kangzi said, "Good." He sent an envoy to hand over to Zhi Bo one town of ten thousand households.

Zhi Bo was pleased, and again sent a man to ask land of Wei. Wei Xuanzi (魏宣子) wished not to give it, but Zhao Jia (趙葭) remonstrated, saying, "He asked land of Han, and Han gave it. If he asks land of Wei and Wei refuses, then Wei will be making itself strong within while angering Zhi Bo without. In that case he will certainly plant his troops on Wei. Better to give it."

Xuanzi said, "So be it." Accordingly he sent a man to hand over to Zhi Bo one town of ten thousand households.

Zhi Bo was pleased, and again sent a man to Zhao to ask for the lands of Cai and Gaolang. Zhao Xiangzi (趙襄子) would not give them. Zhi Bo therefore made a secret compact with Han and Wei, meaning to attack Zhao.

Zhao Xiangzi summoned Zhang Mengtan (張孟談) and told him, "Zhi Bo by nature is friendly in the open and distant in secret. Three times he has sent to Han and Wei, and I alone have not gone along with him. He will certainly move his troops against me. Where can I safely settle now?"

Zhang Mengtan said, "Dong'e Anyu (董閼安于) was a capable minister of Lord Jian; in his generation he governed Jinyang, and Yin Ze (尹澤) carried on his work, so that the remains of his government and instruction still survive. Let my lord settle himself at Jinyang."

The lord said, "So be it." He then sent Yanling Wang (延陵王) ahead to Jinyang with the chariots and horse, and followed after him. On arriving he walked the walls and outworks, checked the storehouses and armories, and looked over the granaries; then he summoned Zhang Mengtan and said, "My walls and outworks are sound, my storehouses hold enough for use, my granaries are full — but there are no arrows. What of that?"

Zhang Mengtan said, "I have heard that when Master Dong governed Jinyang, the enclosing walls of the ducal palace were all built up with reed, wormwood, and thorn-briar, standing more than a zhang high. Let my lord open them and use them."

So they were opened and tested, and for stiffness even the finest arrow-bamboo could not surpass them.

The lord said, "That is enough. But my bronze is scarce. How is that to be met?"

Zhang Mengtan said, "I have heard that when Master Dong governed Jinyang, the chambers of the ducal palace all had pillar-bases of refined bronze. Let these be taken up and used, and there will be bronze to spare."

The lord said, "Good." The orders were settled and the defenses made ready.

The troops of the three states pressed upon the wall of Jinyang and fought. For three months they could not take it, so they spread out their army and encircled the city, and they breached the Jin River and flooded it. They besieged Jinyang for three years. Within the city the people lived in nests and hung their cauldrons to cook; goods and food were nearly gone; the soldiers were sick and wasted. Xiangzi said to Zhang Mengtan, "The grain is exhausted, the strength of the city is spent, the officers and grandees are sick; I cannot hold. I mean to give up the city. What do you say?"

Zhang Mengtan said, "I have heard it said: if, when a state is perishing, one cannot preserve it, and when it is in danger one cannot make it safe, then there is no reason to value men of knowledge. Let my lord put this plan aside and speak of it no more. I beg to go and see the rulers of Han and Wei."

Xiangzi said, "So be it."

Zhang Mengtan then saw the rulers of Han and Wei in secret and said, "I have heard that when the lips are gone the teeth are cold. Now Zhi Bo leads the rulers of two states against Zhao, and Zhao is about to perish; and when it perishes, you two lords will be next."

The two lords said, "We know that it is so. But Zhi Bo is harsh at heart and gives little affection. If our plot is known before it has been carried through, disaster will certainly come. What is to be done?"

Zhang Mengtan said, "The plan leaves the mouths of you two lords and enters my ears. No one else will know it."

The two lords at once made a secret compact with Zhang Mengtan concerning the three armies and set a day with him; and that night they sent him back into Jinyang. Zhang Mengtan reported it to Xiangzi, and Xiangzi bowed to him twice.

Zhang Mengtan then attended Zhi Bo's court, and as he came out he met Zhi Guo (知過) outside the camp gate. Zhi Guo went in and saw Zhi Bo, saying, "The two lords are on the verge of a change."

The lord said, "How so?"

He replied, "I met Zhang Mengtan outside the camp gate. His bearing was proud and his step was lofty."

Zhi Bo said, "Not so. I made my covenant with the two lords carefully: when Zhao is broken, the land is to be divided in three. I have treated them as intimates; they will surely not cheat me. Let it go, and do not let it out of your mouth."

Zhi Guo went out and saw the two lords, then came in and said to Zhi Bo, "The color of the two lords has altered and their minds have changed. They will certainly turn their backs on you. Better to have them killed."

Zhi Bo said, "My troops have clung to Jinyang for three years. Any morning or evening now I shall take it and feast on the profit of it — and are they to have other designs? It cannot be. Be careful, and say no more."

Zhi Guo said, "If you will not kill them, then bind them closer to you."

Zhi Bo said, "How am I to bind them closer?"

Zhi Guo said, "Wei Xuanzi's counsellor is Zhao Jia, and Kangzi's counsellor is Duan Gui. These two are able to shift their lords' plans. Let my lord make a covenant with the two lords that, when Zhao is broken, each of these two men shall be enfeoffed with a county of ten thousand households. If this is done, the hearts of the two lords need not change, and my lord will get what he wants."

Zhi Bo said, "To break Zhao and divide its land in three, and then to enfeoff each of these two men with a county of ten thousand households besides — then what I get is little. It cannot be."

Zhi Guo, seeing that his lord would not employ him and would not listen to his words, went out, changed his surname to Fu, and departed, never to be seen again.

Zhang Mengtan heard of it, went in and saw Xiangzi, and said, "I met Zhi Guo outside the camp gate. In his look there was a mind that suspected me. He went in to see Zhi Bo, and when he came out he changed his surname. If we do not strike this evening, we shall certainly be too late."

Xiangzi said, "So be it." He sent Zhang Mengtan to see the rulers of Han and Wei, saying, "At the appointed hour tonight, kill the officers guarding the dyke and let the water out upon Zhi Bo's army."

Zhi Bo's army, struggling with the flood, fell into confusion. Han and Wei struck it on either wing, Xiangzi led his soldiers against its front, and they utterly defeated Zhi Bo's army and took Zhi Bo prisoner.

Zhi Bo died in his own person, his state perished and his lands were divided, and he became the laughingstock of the world: this was greed that never had enough. And his failure to listen to Zhi Guo was also a cause of his ruin. The Zhi clan was wiped out entirely; only the Fu clan survived.

When Zhang Mengtan Had Made the House of Zhao Secure (張孟談既固趙宗)

When Zhang Mengtan had made the ancestral house of Zhao secure, had widened its borders, and had revived the work of the Five Hegemons, he cited the way of Lord Jian in addressing Xiangzi: "In former days the counsel handed down by the rulers of the states and lands of old had it that, 'What enabled the Five Hegemons to draw the world to themselves was that they bound the ruler's power so that it could govern the ministers, and never let a minister be able to govern the ruler. Therefore one honored with the rank of ranking marquis was not allowed to hold the chancellor's seat, and from general upward none was made a grandee of the inner circle.' Now my name is illustrious and my person honored, my power is heavy and the multitude submits to me. I beg leave to cast away merit and fame and to put off power and position, so as to withdraw from the multitude."

Xiangzi, displeased, said, "What is this? I have heard that he who supports his ruler has an illustrious name, that he whose merit is great has an honored person, that he who takes charge of the state has heavy power, and that when good faith and loyalty are in a man the multitude submits to him. This is how the sages of old gathered states together and made the altars of soil and grain secure. Why do you speak so?"

Zhang Mengtan replied, "What my lord says is the beauty of merit accomplished. What I speak of is the way of holding a state. I have observed things brought to pass and have heard of ancient times: that where the world's excellences are alike, and the power of minister and ruler is equal, both should flourish — this has never yet been. What is not forgotten of former affairs is the teacher of the affairs that follow. If my lord will not consider it, then my strength is not sufficient." And he looked stricken, with the face of a man resolved to part.

Xiangzi left him. After lying down three days, he sent a man to ask him, "In the government of Jinyang, what is done with a subordinate who will not serve?"

He answered, "Death and public execution."

Zhang Mengtan said, "The Marshal of the Left was employed by the state; to make the altars of soil and grain secure he did not shrink from his death, and so completed his loyalty. Let my lord carry it out."

The lord said, "Go about your affairs." And so he granted it.

Zhang Mengtan set his substance at ease in order to set his name at ease; he handed back his lands and laid down his office in order to be rid of power and honor, and he plowed at the Hill of Fuqin. Therefore it is said: the conduct of a worthy man is the government of an enlightened ruler.

He had plowed three years when Han, Wei, Qi, and Yan turned their backs on their bond of friendship and plotted against Zhao. Xiangzi went to see Zhang Mengtan and told him, "In the old days, when the lands of the Zhi clan were divided, the Zhao house took ten cities more; and now they come again, and the feudal lords are plotting against me. What is to be done?"

Zhang Mengtan said, "Let my lord gird on his sword and himself drive me into the capital; lodge me in the ancestral temple and appoint my officers as grandees, and I will try to plan it."

The lord said, "So be it."

Then Zhang Mengtan set about it: his wife went to Chu, his eldest son to Han, his second son to Wei, and his youngest son to Qi. The four states grew suspicious of one another, and their plot came to nothing.

Yu Rang, Grandson of Bi Yang of Jin (晉畢陽之孫豫讓)

Yu Rang (豫讓), grandson of Bi Yang of Jin, first served the Fan and Zhonghang houses and was not content there. He left them and attached himself to Zhi Bo, and Zhi Bo favored him. When the three houses of Jin divided the Zhi clan's lands, Zhao Xiangzi hated Zhi Bo most of all, and took his skull to make a drinking vessel of it.

Yu Rang fled into the mountains and said, "Alas! A knight dies for one who knows him; a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her. I will take vengeance for the Zhi clan."

So he changed his surname and his name, became a convict laborer, entered the palace to plaster the privies, and meant to stab Xiangzi. Xiangzi went to the privy; his heart stirred within him, and he seized and questioned the plasterer — and it was Yu Rang. He had set a blade upon the shaft of his tool. He said, "I meant to avenge Zhi Bo!"

Those about Xiangzi wished to kill him. Zhao Xiangzi said, "He is a righteous man. I need only be careful to keep out of his way. Besides, Zhi Bo is dead and has no heir, and yet his servant goes so far as to avenge him. This is a worthy man of the world." In the end he released him.

Yu Rang then lacquered his body to raise sores upon it, destroyed his beard and took off his eyebrows, and mutilated himself to change his appearance. He became a beggar and went begging, and his own wife did not know him, but said, "His shape and face are not like my husband's — yet how greatly his voice is like my husband's!" So he swallowed charcoal to make himself hoarse and changed his voice.

His friend said to him, "Your way is very hard and brings nothing. To say you have will is true; to say you have wisdom is not. With talents like yours, if you served Xiangzi well, Xiangzi would certainly bring you near and favor you. Once near him you could do what you wish. This is very easy, and success would be certain."

Yu Rang laughed and answered him, "That would be to avenge the man who knew me first by serving the man who knows me after; it would be to injure a new lord for the sake of an old one. Nothing so grossly confounds the duty between ruler and servant as that. What I mean by doing as I do is to make plain the duty between ruler and servant, not to follow what is easy. Moreover, to present one's pledge and serve a man while seeking to kill him is to serve a lord with a divided heart. I take the hard way precisely to shame the servants of the world and of ages to come who serve their lords with divided hearts."

Some time after this, when Xiangzi was to go out, Yu Rang lay hidden under a bridge he would have to cross. Xiangzi came to the bridge and his horse shied. Xiangzi said, "This must be Yu Rang." He sent men to look, and it was indeed Yu Rang.

Then Zhao Xiangzi reproached Yu Rang to his face, saying, "Did you not once serve the Fan and Zhonghang houses? Zhi Bo wiped out the Fan and Zhonghang, and you did not avenge them; on the contrary you gave your pledge and served Zhi Bo. Zhi Bo is dead — why is your vengeance for him alone so deep?"

Yu Rang said, "I served the Fan and Zhonghang, and the Fan and Zhonghang treated me as one of the crowd; therefore I repaid them as one of the crowd. Zhi Bo treated me as a knight of the realm; therefore I repay him as a knight of the realm."

Xiangzi then sighed heavily and wept, saying, "Alas, Master Yu! What you have done for Zhi Bo has already made your name, and in sparing you I have already done enough. Make your own reckoning; I shall not release you." And he had his soldiers ring him about.

Yu Rang said, "I have heard that an enlightened ruler does not cover over another man's righteousness, and that a loyal servant does not begrudge his death to complete his name. My lord pardoned and released me before, and there is no one in the world who does not praise your worth. In today's business I of course submit to execution; yet I beg to ask for my lord's robe and to strike it, and though I die I shall have no regret. It is not what I may look for, but I make bold to lay bare my inmost heart."

At this Xiangzi held him righteous, and sent an attendant to carry his robe to Yu Rang. Yu Rang drew his sword, leapt three times, cried out to Heaven and struck it, saying, "Now I can repay Zhi Bo!" Then he fell upon his sword and died. On the day he died, when the knights of the state of Zhao heard of it, they all wept for him.

Marquis Wen of Wei Borrowed a Road Through Zhao to Attack Zhongshan (魏文侯借道於趙攻中山)

Marquis Wen of Wei (魏文侯) asked leave to pass through Zhao in order to attack Zhongshan. The Marquis of Zhao was about to refuse. Zhao Li said, "That would be a mistake. If Wei attacks Zhongshan and cannot take it, Wei will be worn out; and if Wei is worn out, Zhao gains weight. If Wei does take Zhongshan, it will certainly not be able to hold Zhongshan across the body of Zhao. So the one who spends the troops is Wei, and the one who gets the land is Zhao. My lord had better grant it. But if you grant it with too much encouragement, he will understand that you profit by it, and will certainly break off. You had better lend him the road while showing him that you do it unwillingly."

Qin and Han Besieged Liang and Yan and Zhao Rescued It (秦韓圍梁燕趙救之)

Qin and Han besieged Liang, and Yan and Zhao came to its rescue. Someone said to the Lord of Shanyang, "If Qin fights and defeats the three states, Qin will pass through Zhou and Han and possess Liang. If the three states defeat Qin, then although the strength of the three states is not enough to attack Qin, it is enough to take Zheng. For one who is planning, nothing is better than to bring the three states together to attack Qin."

Fu Ji Built a House and It Was Large (腹擊為室而鉅)

Fu Ji built himself a house, and it was large. Jing Gan reported it to the lord, who said to Master Fu, "Why have you built so large a house?"

Fu Ji said, "I am a sojourner here. My rank is high but my emolument light; my dwelling is small and my household not numerous. Though my lord trusts me, the hundred families all say, 'If the state has some great affair, Ji will certainly be of no use.' Now that Ji has a great house, it is in order to win the trust of the hundred families."

The ruling lord said, "Good."

Su Qin Persuaded Li Dui (蘇秦說李兌)

Su Qin (蘇秦) persuaded Li Dui (李兌), saying, "I am Su Qin of Luoyang, the rider of a canopied carriage. My family is poor and my parents are old; I have neither a worn cart nor a sorry nag. With mulberry-wood wheels, a wicker chest, and a slack satchel, my books on my back and a bag on my shoulder, I have met the dust and borne the frost and dew, crossed the Zhang and the Yellow River until my feet are thick with calluses, and gone a hundred li a day before taking lodging. I have come to your outer gate-tower, wishing to be received in your presence and to speak with my own mouth of the affairs of the world."

Li Dui said, "If you come to see me with the words of ghosts, well and good; but as for the affairs of men, Dui knows them all."

Su Qin replied, "It is indeed with the words of ghosts that I come to see you, and not with the words of men."

So Li Dui received him. Su Qin said, "Today I came late and was behind the outer city gate. I could get nothing to spread as a mat, and lodged in someone's field, beside which was a great thicket. At midnight an earthen figure and a wooden figure fell to quarreling. The earthen one said, 'You are no match for me. What I am is earth. If I meet a fierce wind and a drenching rain and am broken down, I simply go back to being earth. But you are either the root of a tree or the branch of one. If you meet a fierce wind and a drenching rain, you will be floated off into the Zhang and the Yellow River and carried east to the sea, and tossed about with nowhere to stop.' I privately judged that the earthen figure had the better of it.

"Now you have killed the Lord Father and destroyed his kin, and your standing in the world is more precarious than a pile of eggs. If you listen to my plan you live; if you do not listen to my plan you die."

Li Dui said, "Sir, go to your lodging, and come again tomorrow to see Dui." And Su Qin went out.

Li Dui's retainer said to Li Dui, "I have been watching you talk with Master Su. His argument surpasses yours and his learning surpasses yours. Can you follow Master Su's plan?"

Li Dui said, "I cannot."

The retainer said, "If you cannot, then I beg you to stop up both ears firmly and not listen to his talk."

The next day Su Qin saw him again, talked the whole day, and left. The retainer went out to see Master Su off, and Su Qin said to him, "Yesterday my talk was rough and your lord was moved; today it was fine and he was not moved. Why is that?"

The retainer said, "Your plans are great and your designs lofty, and my lord cannot use them. It was I who asked my lord to stop both ears and not listen to your talk. Even so, come again tomorrow, sir, and I will see that you are generously provided for."

The next day he came, and they talked with palms clapped together. Li Dui presented Su Qin with a bright-moon pearl, the jade disc of Mr. He, a robe of black sable, and a hundred yi of gold. Su Qin got these for his expenses and went west into Qin.

Zhao Gathered the World Intending to Attack Qi (趙收天下且以伐齊)

Zhao gathered the states of the world, intending to attack Qi with them. Su Qin, on behalf of Qi, submitted a letter to persuade the King of Zhao:

"I have heard that with the worthy rulers of antiquity it was not that their virtuous conduct was spread over all within the seas, nor that their teaching and obedience, kindness and love, were laid out among the myriad people, nor that their sacrifices and seasonal offerings answered exactly to the ghosts and spirits. When sweet dew fell and wind and rain came in season, when the farmers' crops ripened and the year's grain was abundant, the multitude rejoiced at it — but the worthy ruler was uneasy at it.

"Now your Majesty's exertions have not been laid again and again in pain upon the state of Qin, and as for venom of resentment and hoarded ill-will, you have not deeply trampled upon Han. Yet I have privately heard from outside the debates of the great ministers and the lesser officers, and all of them say that in your presence they hold firmly to the view that Qin loves Zhao and hates Han. When I look at the matter for myself, how can Qin love Zhao and hate Han? Qin wishes to destroy Han and swallow the lands of the two Zhou, and therefore it uses Han for bait. It first lets the word go out to the world, wishing the neighboring states to hear it and watch. Fearing that the business will not succeed, it sends out troops to make a false show to Zhao and Wei. Fearing that the world will start awake, it makes a small move against Han in order to divide them. Fearing that the world will suspect it, it sends out hostages as a pledge of good faith. It proclaims its kindness to its allies while in truth attacking an emptied Han. When I observe how Qin lays its plans, I judge that its designs must proceed on just these lines.

"Moreover the reckonings of the persuaders all say that Han loses the Three Rivers and Wei loses the land of Jin; and while men rely on Han's not yet being at an end, the disaster has already reached Zhao. Now things may indeed have different circumstances and the same trouble, and again the same circumstances and different trouble. In former days the men of Chu were long under attack, and Zhongshan perished.

"Now Yan holds all of Han's land south of the river, and reaches to Shaqiu; and from there to the border of Julu is three hundred li. From Hanguan to Yuzhong is fifteen hundred li. If Qin takes all of the Shangdang of Han and Wei, then the ground that adjoins your capital and lies joined to your soil is seven hundred li. If Qin plants three armies with strong crossbows on the heights of Yangtang, then that ground is twenty li from Handan. And if Qin attacks your Majesty's Shangdang with three armies and endangers your north, then all west of Gouzhu will not be yours. If you now pass Gouzhu, bar Changshan and hold it, while three hundred li lead through to Yan's Tang and Quwu, then the horses of Dai and the colts of the Hu will not come east, and the jade of Kunshan will not come out. These three treasures also will no longer be yours. Now to follow mighty Qin in an attack on Qi — I fear the disaster will come out of just this.

"In former days the kings of five states once joined in a horizontal league and plotted to attack Zhao, to divide the soil of the state of Zhao in three, inscribing it upon basin and platter and pledging it in the exchange of toasts. The armies of the five states had their day appointed. But Han then sent its host west to bar the state of Qin, and made Qin issue its orders, put on plain garments and give way, restoring Wen, Zhi, and Gaoping to Wei, and Sangong and Shiqing to Zhao. Your Majesty knows this clearly.

"Han's service to Zhao ought properly to be reckoned friendship of the first rank; yet now it is charged with a crime and made the object of attack. I fear that those who serve your Majesty hereafter will not dare to be sure of themselves. Now if your Majesty gathers the world, all will surely hold that your Majesty has done rightly. If Han puts its altars of soil and grain in peril in order to serve your Majesty, the world will surely hold your Majesty in weight. Then Han will count your Majesty righteous and bring the world to attach itself to you, and at the least Han will admire your Majesty and bring the world to be gathered in by you; and so the destiny of an age will be controlled by your Majesty alone.

"I beg your great Majesty to take counsel deeply and gravely with those about you and with your assembled ministers, to complete your thinking before the event, and to consider it maturely."

Qi Attacked Song and the Lord of Fengyang Was Unwilling (齊攻宋奉陽君不欲)

Qi attacked Song, and the Lord of Fengyang was against it. A retainer petitioned the Lord of Fengyang, saying, "My lord's years are high, and your fief is not yet settled; you cannot but consider this maturely. Qin is greedy; Han and Wei are in danger; Wey and Chu are settled; the land of Zhongshan is thin; Song's guilt is heavy and Qi's anger is deep. To crush and punish disordered Song, to settle your own enfeoffment, and to lay a kindness upon mighty Qi — this is a moment that comes once in a hundred generations."

The King of Qin Spoke to Prince Ta (秦王謂公子他)

The King of Qin said to Prince Ta, "In the affair below Xiao some years back, Han formed the center army and joined the feudal lords in attacking Qin. Han's borders and soil touch upon Qin's; its territory does not reach a thousand li; it twists and turns and cannot be bound by agreement. Formerly, when Qin and Chu fought at Lantian, Han sent out its crack troops to assist Qin; and when the fighting went badly for Qin, Han thereupon turned to Chu. It does not hold firm to a covenant sworn in good faith, but follows only its own convenience. Han, for me, is a disease of the heart and belly. I mean to attack it. What do you say?"

Prince Ta said, "If your Majesty sends troops into Han, Han will certainly be afraid; and being afraid, you may take deep cessions from it without a battle."

The king said, "Good." So he raised troops: one army came up at Xingyang, one army came up at Taihang.

Han was afraid, and sent the Lord of Yangcheng into Qin to make apology, offering to hand over the land of Shangdang in order to make peace. Han Yang was ordered to tell Jin Zhi, the defender of Shangdang, "Qin has raised two armies to come up against Han, and Han cannot hold. Now the king has ordered that Han shall not raise troops but shall bring Shangdang in to Qin for peace. He has sent Yang to speak of it to the Grand Defender; let the Grand Defender hand it over."

Jin Zhi said, "Men have a saying: the wit of one who carries a water jug does not lose hold of the vessel in his charge. The king has his order; but I am the Grand Defender. Even the king and you, sir, would then hold me in suspicion. Let me send out the whole garrison to meet Qin; and if I cannot see it through, I will die for it."

Han Yang hurried back to report to the king, and the king said, "I have already given my consent to the Marquis of Ying. If I now do not give it up, that is to cheat him." So he sent Feng Ting to replace Jin Zhi.

Feng Ting held the post for thirty days, then secretly sent a man to petition the King of Zhao: "Han cannot hold Shangdang and is about to give it to Qin, but its people all wish not to belong to Qin and would rather belong to Zhao. There are here seventy walled towns with markets. I would present them in homage to your Majesty; let your Majesty dispose of them as he sees fit."

The King of Zhao was delighted. He summoned the Lord of Pingyuan and told him, "Han cannot hold Shangdang and is about to give it to Qin, but its officers and people do not wish to belong to Qin, and all wish to belong to Zhao. Now Feng Ting sends an envoy to give it to me. What do you say?"

Zhao Bao replied, "I have heard that a sage counts profit that comes without cause a great calamity."

The king said, "Men cherish my righteousness. How can you call it without cause?"

He replied, "Qin has been eating away the lands of the house of Han like a silkworm, cutting them through the middle so that they cannot communicate; therefore Qin reckons that it will receive Shangdang sitting still. And the reason Han brings it in to Zhao is that it wishes to marry off its own disaster. Qin bears the labor and Zhao takes the profit. Even the strong and great cannot get such a thing from the small and weak; and shall the small and weak, on the contrary, get it from the strong and great? If your Majesty now takes it, can that be called having a cause? Moreover Qin plows with oxen and carries its grain by water; its men sworn to die are all ranged in the high country; its orders are strict and its government is carried out. It cannot be fought. Let your Majesty consider it for himself."

The king was greatly angered and said, "To use a host of a million and to attack and fight through year after year, and not to see a single city! Now, without using troops, we get seventy cities. Why should we not do it?" And Zhao Bao went out.

The king summoned Zhao Sheng and Zhao Yu and told them, "Han cannot hold Shangdang, and now its defender gives it to me — seventy walled towns with markets."

The two men replied, "We have used our troops year after year and have not seen one city; now, sitting still, we get cities. This is a great profit." So he sent Zhao Sheng to go and receive the land.

Zhao Sheng arrived and said, "The king of my humble state has sent his envoy, your servant Sheng. The Grand Defender has made his announcement, and I am sent to say: 'We beg to enfeoff the Grand Defender with a city of thirty thousand households, and to enfeoff the county magistrates with a thousand households each; all the officers shall be raised three degrees in rank; and those of the people who can hold together shall be granted six measures of gold to a household.'"

Feng Ting let his tears fall and, bowing his head, said, "In this I stand in three unrighteous positions. To have guarded land for my lord and to have been unable to die for it, but to have given it to another — that is the first unrighteousness. My lord meant to bring it in to Qin, and I have not obeyed my lord's command — that is the second unrighteousness. To sell my lord's land and eat of it — that is the third unrighteousness."

He declined the enfeoffment and went into Han, and said to the King of Han, "Zhao has heard that Han cannot hold Shangdang, and has now sent out troops and taken it."

Han reported to Qin, "Zhao has raised troops and taken Shangdang." The King of Qin was angry, and ordered Gongsun Qi and Wang Yi to meet Zhao with troops at Changping.

Su Qin Went as Envoy to Qin for the King of Zhao (蘇秦為趙王使於秦)

Su Qin went as envoy to Qin for the King of Zhao. When he returned, for three days he could not obtain an audience. He said to the King of Zhao, "In Qin I lately passed Mount Zhu, where there were two trees. One of them seemed to be calling to its fellow, and one of them seemed to be weeping. I asked the reason, and the answer was: 'I am already grown large and my years are already long, and I am pained by the carpenter, who will take his marking-line and ink and set compass and square to me and carve me up.' The other said: 'That is not what pains me; that is simply my proper lot. What pains me is the iron wedge, which goes in of itself and drives out the one who was there.'

"Now I have gone as envoy to Qin, and for three days I have not been received. Is there not someone who calls your servant the iron wedge?"

Gan Mao Made a Pact with Wei for Qin to Attack Yiyang in Han (甘茂為秦約魏以攻韓宜陽)

Gan Mao, on Qin's behalf, made a pact with Wei to attack Yiyang in Han, and then went north to Zhao. Leng Xiang said to Qiangguo, "Better to have Zhao detain Gan Mao and not let him go, and so make a market of him with Qi, Han, and Qin. The King of Qi, wishing to seek the rescue of Yiyang, will certainly hand over Xianhushi. Han, wishing to keep Yiyang, will certainly bribe Zhao with Lushe and Duanshi. The King of Qin, wishing to get Yiyang, will not grudge his famous treasures. And detaining Mao will also serve to put Gongsun He and Chuli Ji in place."

Someone Spoke to the Chancellor Pi (謂皮相國)

Someone said to the Chancellor Pi, "That weak Zhao should lean upon the Lord of Jianxin, and that Shemeng should be held an enemy — why is this so? It is because they take the vertical alliance to be a thing that brings success. But Qi does not join the alliance, and the Lord of Jianxin knows that the alliance will bring no success. How then can the Lord of Jianxin, with no success to show, do harm to Qin? Being unable, with no success, to harm Qin, he will then send out troops to help Qin attack Wei, and with Chu and Zhao divide Qi; and there his whole design for strength is ended.

"If the Lord of Jianxin and the Lord of Chunshen make the alliance, then without success they still harm Qin. If Qin divides Qi and Qi destroys Wei, then there is success and Qin is pleased. So then, you two lords: which will you choose, the course with success or the course without it, and call that wisdom?"

Another Spoke to the Chancellor Pi (或謂皮相國)

Someone said to the Chancellor Pi, "Wei killed Lü Liao, and Wey was struck by troops; it lost its Beiyang, and Liang was in danger. The enfeoffment of Hejian is not settled, and Qi is in danger; Wenxin cannot get his will, and it is a doubled anxiety for the three Jin states. Now Wei's shame is not yet wiped out and Zhao's trouble has risen again, and the Marquis of Wenxin's anxiety is great. Qi does not join the alliance, and the hearts of the three Jin states are in doubt. He whose anxiety is great makes peace without reckoning; he whose heart is in doubt serves Qin urgently. A peace between Qin and Wei will be concluded without waiting for any cession of land. Then Qin with Chu and Wei will attack Qi and alone swallow Zhao, and Qi and Zhao must both perish together."

The King of Zhao Enfeoffed the Lord of Mengchang with Wucheng (趙王封孟嘗君以武城)

The King of Zhao enfeoffed the Lord of Mengchang with Wucheng. The Lord of Mengchang chose men of his household to be officers of Wucheng, and as he sent them off he said, "Does not the common saying run: he who borrows a cart drives it hard, and he who borrows a robe wears it out?"

They all answered, "It does."

The Lord of Mengchang said, "Wen very much disapproves of that. Those from whom one borrows robe and cart are either close friends or brothers. To drive a close friend's cart hard, to wear out a brother's robe — Wen holds that it may not be done. Now the King of Zhao, not knowing how unworthy Wen is, has enfeoffed him with Wucheng. I would have you gentlemen, when you go, fell no trees and pull down no houses, so that without your seeking it the King of Zhao may awake and know what Wen is. Take care that you may keep it whole and give it back to him."

Someone Said to the King of Zhao — When the Three Jin States Join, Qin Is Weak (謂趙王曰三晉合而秦弱)

Someone said to the King of Zhao, "When the three Jin states join, Qin is weak; when the three Jin states part, Qin is strong. This is clear to all the world. Qin, having Yan, attacks Zhao; having Zhao, it attacks Yan. Having Liang, it attacks Zhao; having Zhao, it attacks Liang. Having Chu, it attacks Han; having Han, it attacks Chu. This all the world sees plainly. Yet the states east of the mountains cannot change their road, because their armies are weak. Weak, and yet unable to make themselves one — how is it that Qin is so knowing and the lands east of the mountains so foolish? This is what makes me grieve for the lands east of the mountains.

"A tiger is about to come upon the beasts. The beasts do not know that the tiger is coming upon them, and they fight one another until both are spent, and then hand over their deaths to the tiger. Therefore if the beasts knew that the tiger was coming upon them, they would certainly not fight one another. Now the rulers east of the mountains do not know that Qin is coming upon them; they still fight one another until both are worn out, and then hand over their states to Qin. In knowledge they fall far below the beasts. I beg your Majesty to consider this maturely.

"Now there is a matter that presses. Qin's desire to attack Han and Liang and to peer eastward at the House of Zhou is very great; only in sleep does it forget it. That it now attacks Chu in the south is because it hates a great union of the three Jin states. It has attacked Chu, rested, and attacked again for five years now, and has stripped away more than a thousand li of land. Now it says to the King of Chu, 'If you will only lift your jade footsteps and come to see me, I will surely make Chu a brother state, and will surely attack Han and Liang for Chu's sake and give back Chu's old lands.' The King of Chu, thinking Qin's words fine and angry that Han and Liang did not rescue him, will certainly go in to Qin. And again there is a scheme: Qin therefore sends envoys to Zhao, baiting Zhao with Yan, and so parts the three Jin states. Now your Majesty thinks Qin's words fine and wishes to attack Yan; but if you attack Yan, before your food has filled you the disaster will already have come.

"When the King of Chu goes in to Qin, Qin and Chu become one, and they will face east and attack Han. Han, having no Chu to the south and no Zhao to the north, will not wait to be attacked, but will cut off land and carry it in hand and run west faster than horse or hare. Qin will take Han as its friend of the first rank, and Qin's disaster will then shift to Liang. With Qin's strength, and the use of Chu and Han, Liang will not wait to be attacked; it too will cut off land and carry it in hand and run west. Qin will take Liang as its friend of the first rank, and Qin's disaster will then be rolled on to Zhao. When strong Qin has Han, Liang, and Chu, and Yan's anger besides, the cessions demanded of you will be deep indeed. That the state should come to this is why I have come. Therefore I say: there is a matter that must be acted on quickly.

"While the King of Chu has not yet gone in, let the three Jin states draw close to one another and hold firm, and send out crack troops to garrison the western borders of Han and Liang. When the King of Chu hears of it, he will certainly not go in to Qin; and Qin will certainly be angry and go on attacking Chu as before. Then Qin's disaster does not leave Chu, and that is convenient for the three Jin states. And if the King of Chu does go in, Qin, seeing that the three Jin states are greatly united and firm, will certainly not let the King of Chu out, and will exact many cessions from him. Then too Qin's disaster does not leave Chu, and there is advantage in it for the three Jin states. I beg your Majesty to reckon it maturely, and quickly!"

The King of Zhao thereupon raised troops and went south to garrison the western borders of Han and Liang. Qin, seeing that the three Jin states were firm, did indeed not let the King of Chu out, and demanded much land.

Strategies of Zhao, 2 (趙策二)

Su Qin Went from Yan to Zhao and First Formed the Vertical Alliance (蘇秦從燕之趙始合從)

Su Qin went from Yan to Zhao and first formed the vertical alliance. He persuaded the King of Zhao, saying:

"Among the ministers and chancellors and servants of the lords of the world, and down to the officers in plain cloth, there is none who does not esteem as high and worthy the righteousness of your Majesty's conduct, and all of them have long wished to receive your instruction and to lay out their loyalty before you. Even so, the Lord of Fengyang was jealous, and your Majesty could not take charge of affairs; and therefore, of the guests from abroad and the officers who travel and persuade, none dared to give his full loyalty in your presence. Now that the Lord of Fengyang has quitted his lodging, your Majesty at last may be close to his officers and his people; and so I make bold to offer my foolish thought and to render my foolish loyalty.

"In planning for your Majesty, nothing is better than to keep the people at peace and free of business; I beg that you have nothing that must be done. The root of keeping the people at peace lies in the choice of alliances. If the choice of alliance is well made, the people are at peace; if the choice of alliance is not well made, the people will not be at peace all your days.

"Let me speak of the trouble from without. If Qi and Qin are two enemies, the people cannot be at peace; if you lean on Qin to attack Qi, the people cannot be at peace; if you lean on Qi to attack Qin, the people cannot be at peace. Therefore one who plots against another's ruler and attacks another's state commonly takes pains to put out words that cut off another's friendships. I beg your Majesty to be careful and to let nothing of the kind out of your mouth."

"I ask that your attendants withdraw, and I will state plainly wherein the two courses differ: they are yin and yang, and nothing more. If Your Majesty can truly listen to me, Yan will surely bring you its land of felt and furs, of dogs and horses; Qi will surely bring you its land of fish and salt along the sea; Chu will surely bring you its land of oranges and pomelos and the Yunmeng marsh; Han and Wei can both be made to bring you fief lands and towns whose revenue keeps your household; and your noble kinsmen, your uncles and elder brothers, can all receive enfeoffment as marquises. To carve off land and hand over its substance is what the Five Hegemons sought by overturning armies and taking generals captive; to enfeoff kinsmen as marquises is what Tang and Wu contended for by banishing and by killing. Now Your Majesty may fold your hands and have both. This is what I desire for Your Majesty.

"If Your Majesty joins Qin, then Qin will surely weaken Han and Wei; if you join Qi, then Qi will surely weaken Chu and Wei. If Wei is weakened it will cede the land beyond the He; if Han is weakened it will hand over Yiyang. Once Yiyang is handed over, Shangjun is cut off; once the land beyond the He is ceded, the road is no longer open. If Chu is weakened, you have no support. These three courses must be thought through with care. When Qin comes down the Zhi road, Nanyang is shaken; when it coerces Han and encircles Zhou, Zhao melts away of itself; when it takes hold of Wey and seizes the Qi, Qi must come to court. Once Qin's desires have been carried out east of the mountains, it will surely raise its armored men and turn upon Zhao. When Qin's armored men cross the He and pass the Zhang and take hold of Panwu, then the fighting must come below Handan. This is what I fear for Your Majesty.

"At the present time, among the states established east of the mountains, none is as strong as Zhao. Zhao's land is two thousand li square; its armored men are several hundred thousand, its chariots a thousand, its cavalry ten thousand horses, and its grain will support it for ten years. To the west it has Changshan; to the south the He and the Zhang; to the east the Qinghe; to the north the state of Yan. Yan is a weak state to begin with, and not worth fearing. And of everything under Heaven, what Qin fears as a harm to itself is nothing so much as Zhao. Yet Qin does not dare raise its armed men and attack Zhao. Why? Because it fears that Han and Wei will plot against its rear. Han and Wei, then, are Zhao's southern screen. When Qin attacks Han and Wei, it is otherwise: there is no barrier of famous mountains or great rivers, and little by little it eats them away like a silkworm until it has come up against their capitals and stops there. Han and Wei will not be able to withstand Qin and must enter its service as subjects. Once Han and Wei are subjects of Qin, Qin will have no partition of Han and Wei between, and the disaster will strike home upon Zhao. This is what I fear for Your Majesty.

"I have heard that Yao had not the holding of three husbandmen, and Shun had not a foot of ground, and yet they possessed all under Heaven; that Yu had not a gathering of a hundred men, and yet he reigned as king over the feudal lords. The soldiers of Tang and Wu were no more than three thousand and their chariots no more than three hundred, and yet they were established as Sons of Heaven. Truly, they had found the right way. Therefore an enlightened ruler reckons, without, the strength or weakness of the enemy states, and measures, within, whether his own officers and soldiers are many or few, worthy or unworthy. He does not wait for the two armies to stand against one another: the turning points of victory and defeat, of survival and ruin, are already plain within his breast. How should he be blinded by the talk of the crowd and decide affairs in the dark!

"I have privately examined the map of all under Heaven. The lands of the feudal lords are five times those of Qin; reckoning the soldiers of the feudal lords, they are ten times those of Qin. If the six states joined their strength into one and faced west to attack Qin, Qin would surely be broken. Yet now they are broken by Qin, face west and serve it, and are made subjects to Qin. To break others and to be broken by others, to make subjects of others and to be made subjects of others — how can these be spoken of in one breath! Those men of the horizontal alliance all wish to carve up the lands of the feudal lords and hand them over to make terms with Qin. Once terms are made with Qin, they will have high terraces and fine palace chambers, will listen to the sound of pipes and zithers, will judge the harmony of the five flavors, will have the Xuanyuan chambers before them and the long courtyard behind, and beautiful women smiling artfully; and when the trouble from Qin comes at last, they will not share in the sorrow of it. Therefore the men of the horizontal alliance labor day and night to frighten and threaten the feudal lords with the power of Qin, in order to demand the cession of land. I would have Your Majesty consider it carefully.

"I have heard that an enlightened king cuts off doubt and puts away slander, blocks the tracks of rumor and shuts the gate against factions; and so plans for honoring the ruler, widening his land, and strengthening his army — such loyalty I am able to set forth before you. Therefore I privately plan for Your Majesty: nothing is better than to make one of Han, Wei, Qi, Chu, Yan, and Zhao — the six states joined in vertical alliance and kinship, to shut out Qin and turn against it. Let the generals and chancellors of all under Heaven come together on the banks of the Huan River, exchange hostages, and slaughter a white horse to swear the covenant. Let the covenant say:

"If Qin attacks Chu, then Qi and Wei shall each send out picked troops to help it, Han shall cut the grain road, Zhao shall cross the He and the Zhang, and Yan shall hold the country north of Changshan.

"If Qin attacks Han and Wei, then Chu shall cut off its rear, Qi shall send out picked troops to help them, Zhao shall cross the He and the Zhang, and Yan shall hold Yunzhong.

"If Qin attacks Qi, then Chu shall cut off its rear, Han shall hold Chenggao, Wei shall block the Wu road, Zhao shall cross the He, the Zhang, and Boguan, and Yan shall send out picked troops to help.

"If Qin attacks Yan, then Zhao shall hold Changshan, Chu shall encamp at Wuguan, Qi shall cross the Bohai, and Han and Wei shall send out picked troops to help.

"If Qin attacks Zhao, then Han shall encamp at Yiyang, Chu shall encamp at Wuguan, Wei shall encamp beyond the He, Qi shall cross the Bohai, and Yan shall send out picked troops to help.

"If any of the feudal lords is the first to turn his back on the covenant, the five states shall together attack him.

"If the six states join in vertical alliance and kinship to shut out Qin, Qin will surely not dare send troops out of the Hangu Pass to harm the lands east of the mountains. If this is done, the work of a hegemon is accomplished!"

The king of Zhao said: "I am young in years, and the days since I came to preside over the state are few; I have never yet been able to hear a long plan for the altars of soil and grain. Now my honored guest has a mind to preserve all under Heaven and to give peace to the feudal lords. I respectfully follow you with my state." He then enfeoffed Su Qin as Lord of Wu'an, with a hundred ornamented chariots, a thousand yi of yellow gold, a hundred pairs of white jade discs, and a thousand bolts of brocade and embroidery, with which to bind the feudal lords by covenant.

Qin Attacks Zhao (秦攻趙)

Qin attacked Zhao. Master Su spoke to the king of Qin, saying: "I have heard that the enlightened king, in dealing with his people, judges them broadly and tries them in their skills; therefore no office lacks its business and no strength is worn out. In dealing with their words, he listens to many and uses them in season; therefore no undertaking comes to ruin and no evil is displayed. I would have Your Majesty examine what I lay before you and put it to the test of present use.

"I have heard that a man carrying a heavy treasure does not travel by night, and a man charged with a great achievement does not make light of the enemy. Therefore the worthy man bears a heavy charge and walks respectfully, and the wise man's merit is great and his words are yielding. So the people do not resent his honors, and the age does not envy his work.

"I have heard this: in a state grown a hundredfold, the people take no pleasure in what is still to come; when a man's merit and achievement stand above the age, the ruler does not do it a second time; a people whose strength is spent, the benevolent man does not employ; to gain what was sought and then return to quiet is the rule of a sage ruler; to give the people rest when the merit is great is the way of using arms. Now you use arms your whole life without rest, and your strength is spent and yet you do not stop. You press Zhao in anger, bent on making its towns your own — Zhao barely survives! Yet it is a state that opens on all four sides. Even if you take Handan now, it is no lasting benefit to your state. Consider: the land will be broad and untilled, the people worn out and unrested, and you will press them further with harsh punishments; then though they follow you, they will not stay. A saying goes: 'He who wins his battles and yet whose state is in danger — it is because affairs are never brought to an end. He whose merit is great and yet whose authority is light — it is because the land does not come in.' Therefore in a charge beyond a man's strength, a father cannot obtain it from his son; in a demand that never ends, a ruler cannot obtain it from his ministers. Therefore he who knows that the slight becomes the manifest is strong; he who perceives that resting the people is itself a way of using them becomes a hegemon; he who understands that holding oneself light is what makes one weighty becomes a king."

The king of Qin said: "If I stay my arms and give the people rest, then all under Heaven will surely form the vertical alliance and use it against Qin."

Master Su said: "I have grounds for knowing that all under Heaven cannot form a vertical alliance against Qin. I hold that Tian Dan and Ru Er are greatly mistaken. And are Tian Dan and Ru Er alone greatly mistaken? The rulers of all under Heaven are mistaken to a man! To think of gathering up a ruined Qi, an exhausted Chu, a worn-out Wei, and a Zhao whose fate cannot be known, and with these to press Qin to the end and break Han — I hold this to be the height of folly.

"King Wei and King Xuan of Qi were worthy rulers of their age: their virtue was broad and their land wide, their state rich and their people serviceable, their generals martial and their soldiers strong. King Xuan used them: afterward he pressed Han and overawed Wei, in the south attacked Chu and in the west attacked Qin; and the troops of Qi were hard pressed above the Xiao pass. For ten years he pushed his borders outward, and the men of Qin kept their distance and would not submit — and Qi became a waste of ruined ground and stricken people. Why was it that the army of Qi was broken, while Han and Wei barely survived? It was that Qi attacked Chu and struck at Qin, and afterward received the calamity of it. Now the wealth of the states has nothing left of King Wei's and King Xuan's Qi; their picked troops have nothing of the arsenals of a rich Han and a vigorous Wei; and their generals have nothing of the calculation of a Tian Dan or a Sima. To gather up a broken Qi, an exhausted Chu, a worn-out Wei, and a Zhao whose fate cannot be known, and to hope with these to press Qin to the end and break Han — I hold this to be an utter error. I hold that the vertical alliance cannot be made one.

"There are guests who raise objections, and there is something in this age that troubles me. The school of forms and names all say, 'A white horse is not a horse.' Yet if a white horse is in fact a horse, then to be a horse would be nothing but to be a white horse. This is what troubles me.

"In former times the men of Qin sent troops down to attack Huai and subdued its people, and three states went after them. Zhao She and Bao Ning were the generals, and Chu had four men who rose and went with them. They came up to Huai and did not relieve it; the men of Qin withdrew and they did not pursue. I do not know: did the three states hate Qin and love Huai? Or did they hate Huai and love Qin? To go against it and not relieve it, to let them withdraw and not pursue — by this one knows that the armies of the three states were in straits, and that this was the skill of Zhao She and Bao Ning. And so land was carved up and defeat was brought upon Qi. Tian Dan led the best men of Qi and for fourteen years moved his troops at will through the middle lands, yet to the end of his life he never dared array his troops to attack Qin and break Han, but galloped about within his own borders. I do not know where a vertical alliance made one is to be found."

Thereupon the king of Qin disbanded his troops and did not send them beyond his borders. The feudal lords had rest, all under Heaven was at peace, and for twenty-nine years they did not attack one another.

Zhang Yi, on Behalf of Qin, Urges the Horizontal Alliance upon the King of Zhao (張儀為秦連橫說趙王)

Zhang Yi (張儀), working for Qin's horizontal alliance, persuaded the king of Zhao, saying: "The king of Qin, of my poor city, has sent me to venture to present a letter to Your Majesty's recorder. Your Majesty gathered and led all under Heaven to shut out Qin, and the troops of Qin have not dared come out of the Hangu Pass for fifteen years. Your Majesty's awe runs through all under Heaven east of the mountains. My poor city, in fear and cowering submission, has repaired its armor and sharpened its weapons, ornamented its chariots and horsemen, practiced riding and shooting, worked its fields and stored its grain, and guarded within its four borders, dwelling in anxiety and living in dread, not daring to stir — only because Your Majesty might have a mind to call it to account.

"Now Qin, by Your Majesty's own strength, has taken Ba and Shu in the west, annexed Hanzhong, gathered in the two Zhou in the east and moved the Nine Cauldrons westward, and holds the ford of Baima. Though Qin lies remote and out of the way, its heart has long been full of resentment and anger. Now our unworthy ruler, with his poor armor and dull weapons, is encamped at Mianchi, and wishes to cross the He and pass the Zhang, to take hold of Panwu, and to meet you in battle below Handan. He wishes to join battle on the day jiazi, and so to settle matters as they were settled with Zhou of Yin. He has respectfully sent me to make this known beforehand to your attendants.

"In all that Your Majesty has trusted in making the vertical alliance, you relied upon the plans of Su Qin. He dazzled and misled the feudal lords, making the right wrong and the wrong right; he wished to overturn the state of Qi and could not, and brought upon himself the tearing apart by chariots in the marketplace of Qi. That all under Heaven cannot be made one is thus plain enough. Now Chu and Qin are states of elder and younger brother; Han and Wei style themselves subject screens on the east; and Qi has presented its land of fish and salt. This cuts off Zhao's right arm. To have your right arm cut off and still seek to fight with a man, to lose your party and dwell alone, and then to hope to be out of danger — how can that be had?

"Now Qin has sent out three generals. One army blocks the Wu road, and Qi has been told to raise its troops, cross the Qinghe, and encamp east of Handan. One army encamps at Chenggao, driving Han and Wei before it, and encamps beyond the He. One army encamps at Mianchi. The covenant says: the four states shall be as one in attacking Zhao, and when Zhao is broken they shall divide its lands four ways. Therefore I do not dare conceal my intention or hide the facts, but make them known beforehand to your attendants. I privately plan for Your Majesty: nothing is better than to meet Qin at Mianchi, to see one another face to face and bind yourselves person to person. I ask that arms be stayed and no attack made. I would have Your Majesty settle your plan."

The king of Zhao said: "In the time of the former king, the Lord of Fengyang was chancellor. He monopolized power and seized authority, kept the former king in darkness, and alone controlled the business of office. I lived in the palace, entrusted to my tutors, and could not share in the counsels of the state. When the former king left his assembled ministers, I was young in years, and the days since I took up the sacrifices were few; in my private heart I already had my doubts. I thought that to hold to the vertical alliance alone and not serve Qin was no lasting benefit to the state. So I was ready to change my heart and alter my thoughts, to divide off land and apologize for past faults, and so to serve Qin. I was on the point of harnessing my chariot and setting out when your envoy's clear command arrived." Thereupon he went with three hundred chariots to court at Mianchi, and ceded Hejian in order to serve Qin.

King Wuling Sits at Leisure in Broad Daylight (武靈王平晝間居)

King Wuling (武靈王) was sitting at leisure in the middle of the day, with Fei Yi (肥義) attending in his seat. Fei Yi said: "Is Your Majesty pondering the changes in the affairs of the age, weighing the use of armor and arms, recalling the traces of Jian and Xiang, and reckoning the advantage of the Hu and the Di?"

The king said: "Not to forget the virtue of one's predecessors when one succeeds to the throne — that is the way of a ruler. To pledge oneself and labor to make plain one's ruler's strengths — that is the standard of a minister. Therefore a worthy ruler, in stillness, has a teaching that guides the people and eases their business, and, in motion, has merit that makes plain the ages before him. One who is a minister, in obscurity, has the measure of deference and yielding to his elders, and, in eminence, has the work of aiding the people and benefiting his ruler. These two are the portions of ruler and minister. Now I wish to carry on the work of Lord Xiang and open up the country of the Hu and the Di, and yet to the end of the age it is not understood. Against a weak enemy one uses little strength and gains much merit; one may avoid exhausting the labor of the hundred families and still enjoy the merit of the ancients. He who has merit above his age must bear the burden of being cast off by custom; he who has thoughts known to himself alone must suffer the alarm of common men. Now I am about to teach the hundred families the Hu dress and mounted archery, and the age will surely find fault with me."

Fei Yi said: "I have heard that a doubtful undertaking has no achievement and a doubtful action has no name. Now that Your Majesty has settled it in your mind to bear the burden of being cast off by custom, you should give no heed whatever to the talk of all under Heaven. He who discourses on the highest virtue is not in accord with custom; he who accomplishes great merit does not take counsel with the crowd. Of old Shun danced before the You Miao, and Yu went bare into the Land of the Naked — not to feed their desires or please their fancy, but to set forth their virtue and secure their achievement. The foolish are blind to what is already done; the wise see what has not yet sprouted. Let Your Majesty carry it through."

The king said: "It is not that I doubt the Hu dress; I fear that all under Heaven will laugh at me. The delight of a madman is the grief of the wise; the laughter of fools is the sorrow of the worthy. If there are in this age those who follow me, then the achievement of the Hu dress cannot yet be measured. Though the whole world be driven to laugh at me, the land of the Hu and Zhongshan I shall certainly possess."

The king then took the Hu dress. He sent Wangsun Xie (王孫緤) to inform Prince Cheng (公子成), saying: "I have put on the Hu dress and shall wear it at court, and I wish my uncle to wear it also. In the household one obeys one's parent, in the state one obeys one's ruler: this is the common practice of ancient and modern times. A son does not oppose his parent, and a minister does not go against his ruler: this is the settled right of the former kings. Now I have made a teaching and changed the dress, and if my uncle will not wear it, I fear all under Heaven will talk of it. In governing a state there is a constant rule, and benefiting the people is its root; in conducting government there is a standard, and having commands carried out is the highest. Therefore making virtue plain lies in reaching down to the humble, and carrying out government lies in its extending to the noble. The intent of the Hu dress is not to feed desire or please the fancy. An undertaking has that from which it comes, and merit has that at which it arrives; when the undertaking is accomplished and the merit established, only then is the virtue seen. Now I fear that my uncle will go against the standard of conducting government and so lend support to those who object. Moreover I have heard that he whose deeds benefit the state acts without crookedness, and that he who relies upon his noble kin takes no stain upon his name. Therefore I wish to draw upon my uncle's righteousness in order to complete the achievement of the Hu dress. I send Xie to present this to my uncle and to ask that he wear it."

Prince Cheng bowed twice and said: "I had indeed heard that Your Majesty has taken the Hu dress. Being without talent, I have been laid up with illness and cannot hurry about, and so I did not come forward first. Now that Your Majesty commands it, I dare to exhaust my foolish loyalty. I have heard that the Middle Kingdom is where the clear-sighted and wise dwell, where the goods and wealth of the ten thousand things are gathered, where the worthy and the sage give their teaching, where benevolence and righteousness are practiced, where the Odes, the Documents, the rites, and the music are employed, where rare skill and craft are tried, where distant regions come to look and to resort, and where the Man and the Yi take their models of right conduct. Now Your Majesty puts this aside and takes up the dress of a distant region, changes the teaching of antiquity, alters the way of antiquity, goes against the hearts of men, turns his back on the learned, and departs from the Middle Kingdom. I would have Your Majesty consider it."

The messenger reported to the king. The king said: "I had indeed heard that my uncle was ill." He then went himself to the house of Prince Cheng and made his request in person, saying: "Dress is that by which use is made convenient; rites are that by which affairs are made convenient. Therefore the sage looks at the locality and follows what suits it, takes the affair in hand and frames the rites for it, and so benefits his people and enriches his state. To wear the hair loose and tattoo the body, to mark the arms and fasten the robe on the left — these are the people of Ouyue. To blacken the teeth and mark the forehead, to wear caps of catfish skin and coarse-stitched clothes — that is the state of Great Wu. Their rites and their dress are not the same, but in convenience they are one. Thus when the locality differs the usage changes, and when the affair differs the rites are altered. Therefore the sage, if he can truly benefit his people, does not make their usages uniform; if he can indeed make their affairs convenient, he does not make their rites the same. Confucian scholars share one master and yet their rites differ; the Middle Kingdom shares one custom and yet its teachings diverge — how much more where the convenience of hills and valleys is concerned! So the changes of going and staying cannot be made one even by the wise, and the dress of far and near cannot be made the same even by the worthy and the sage. Remote villages have many oddities, and crooked learning has much disputation. To be ignorant of a thing and yet not doubt it, to find a thing different from one's own and yet not condemn it — this is being impartial in the search for the good.

"What you speak of, my lord, is custom. What I speak of is that by which custom is shaped. Now my state has to the east the waters of the He and the Boluo, which we share with Qi and Zhongshan, and yet we have no use of boats and oars. From Changshan as far as Dai and Shangdang, to the east lie the borders of Yan and the Eastern Hu, and to the west the frontiers of Loufan, Qin, and Han, and yet we have no equipment for mounted archery. Therefore I shall gather the use of boats and oars and seek out the people who live by the water, in order to hold the waters of the He and the Boluo; and I shall change the dress and take up mounted archery, in order to guard the frontiers of the Hu who lie scattered among us, of Loufan, of Qin, and of Han.

"Moreover, in former times Lord Jian did not close off Jinyang but reached as far as Shangdang, and Lord Xiang annexed the Rong and took Dai, and so drove back the various Hu. This is plain to the foolish and the wise alike. Formerly Zhongshan, relying upon the strong troops of Qi, invaded and plundered our land and bound our people in chains, and drew off the water to besiege Hao; had it not been for the spirits of the altars of soil and grain, Hao would nearly have been lost. The former king was enraged at it, and the grudge has not yet been repaid. Now the dress of mounted archery can, near at hand, provide against the terrain of Shangdang, and far off can repay the grudge against Zhongshan. Yet my uncle follows the custom of the Middle Kingdom in order to oppose the intent of Jian and Xiang, and hates the name of changing the dress while forgetting the disgrace of the state's affairs. This is not what I hoped for from you!"

Prince Cheng bowed twice, touching his head to the ground, and said: "In my folly I did not grasp Your Majesty's argument, and I ventured to speak the common talk of the age. Now that you wish to carry on the intent of Jian and Xiang and to follow the will of the former king, how should I dare not obey the command?" He bowed twice again, and the Hu dress was bestowed upon him.

Zhao Wen (趙文) came forward to remonstrate: "The farmer labors and the gentleman is nourished by it: this is the standard of government. The foolish set out their ideas and the wise judge them: this is the way of teaching. That a minister hide no loyalty and a ruler suppress no speech: this is the good fortune of a state. Foolish though I am, I wish to exhaust my loyalty."

The king said: "Deliberation carries no vexation, and loyalty incurs no blame. Speak, sir."

Zhao Wen said: "To accord with one's age and uphold its customs is the way of the ancients. That clothing has its constant forms is the regulation of the rites. To follow the law without transgression is the duty of the people. These three are what the former sages taught. Now Your Lordship sets them aside and takes up the dress of a distant region, changes the teaching of antiquity and alters the way of antiquity. Therefore I wish Your Majesty to consider it."

The king said: "What you say is the common talk of the age. Ordinary people are drowned in habit and custom, and the learned are sunk in what they have heard. These two are the means by which offices are filled and government made smooth; they are not the means of looking far ahead and discussing beginnings. Moreover the Three Dynasties did not share one dress, and yet all reigned as kings; the Five Hegemons did not share one teaching, and yet all governed. The wise make the teaching, and the foolish are ruled by it. The worthy debate custom, and the unworthy are bound by it. Those who are ruled by their dress are not fit to discuss the heart with; the crowd that is bound by custom is not fit to convey one's meaning to. Therefore that circumstance changes along with custom, and rites go together with change — this is the way of the sage. To act upon what is taught and to follow the law without private ends is the duty of the people. One who knows learning can shift with what he hears; one who has grasped the changes of the rites can transform with the times. Therefore he who acts for himself does not wait upon others, and he who shapes the present does not take antiquity for his model. Let the matter go, sir."

Zhao Zao (趙造) remonstrated: "To hide one's loyalty and not exhaust it is of the sort that is treacherous. To use private ends to impose upon the state is of the sort that cheapens it. He who commits treachery dies in his own person; he who cheapens the state has his clan and lineage destroyed. These two the former sages punished openly, and they are the great crimes of a subject. Foolish though I am, I wish to exhaust my loyalty and not flee from death for it."

The king said: "To exhaust one's meaning without concealment is loyalty. That the one above suppresses no speech is clarity. Loyalty does not shun danger, and clarity does not keep men at a distance. Speak, sir."

Zhao Zao said: "I have heard that the sage does not change his people in order to teach them, and the wise man does not alter custom in order to act. He who teaches according to his people succeeds without toil; he who acts upon custom finds his plan a short road and easily seen. Now Your Majesty alters the beginning and does not follow custom, and takes the Hu dress with no regard for the age. This is not the way to teach the people and perfect the rites. Besides, one whose dress is strange is licentious in purpose, and one whose customs are perverse throws the people into disorder. Therefore he who presides over a state does not take up strange and perverse dress, and the Middle Kingdom does not come near the practices of the Man and the Yi; such things are not the way to teach the people and perfect the rites. Moreover, to follow the law is to be without fault, and to cultivate the rites is to be without crookedness. I would have Your Majesty consider it."

The king said: "Antiquity and the present do not share one custom — which antiquity would you take for model? Emperors and kings did not follow one another — whose rites would you follow? Fuxi and Shennong taught and did not punish; the Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun punished and did not rage. When it came to the Three Kings, they observed the times and framed their laws, took affairs in hand and framed their rites; their statutes, measures, regulations, and commands each followed what was fitting, and their clothing, vessels, and implements each suited their use. Therefore in ordering the age one need not make the way uniform, and in benefiting the state one need not model on antiquity. When sages arose they did not follow one another, and yet they reigned as kings; when Xia and Yin declined they did not alter their rites, and they perished. That being so, to go against antiquity is not to be condemned, and to follow the rites is not much to be praised. And if strange dress makes purpose licentious, then Zou and Lu would have no strange conduct; if perverse custom changes the people, then Wu and Yue would have no outstanding men. Therefore what the sage calls dress is what benefits the body; what he calls teaching is what makes affairs convenient; what he calls measure is advance and retreat; and the regulation of clothing is the means of making common people uniform, not the means of judging the worthy. Therefore the sage flows along with custom, and the worthy goes along with change. A proverb says: 'He who drives by the book does not exhaust the nature of the horse; he who governs the present by antiquity does not reach the changes of affairs.' Therefore the merit of following the law is not enough to raise a man above his age, and the learning that models on antiquity is not enough to shape the present. Do not oppose me, sir."

The King Appoints Zhou Shao as Tutor (王立周紹為傅)

The king appointed Zhou Shao (周紹) as tutor, saying: "When I first went out on circuit through the counties and passed by Panwu, in the days when you were still a son in your father's house, all who were able to mount a horse spoke of your filial piety. Therefore I made you a gift of a jade disc and sent you wine and food, and asked to see you; but you pleaded illness and declined. There are those who have said of you: 'A father's filial son is a ruler's loyal minister.' Therefore I take your understanding and deliberation to be such that your discernment is enough to guide men, your steadfastness enough to hold up under difficulty, your loyalty able to set forth its meaning, and your good faith able to be relied on far ahead. The Odes say: 'To face difficulty with courage and to govern disorder with wisdom is the reckoning of affairs; to set up a tutor for conduct and to teach the young with learning is the standard of right. In affairs that follow reckoning there may be a lapse and no burden; in conduct that consults counsel there may be extremity and no grief.' Therefore I wish you to take the Hu dress and be tutor to my son."

Zhou Shao said: "Your Majesty has judged wrongly. This is not a charge that a lowly servant dares to accept."

The king said: "For choosing a son there is none like the father; for judging a minister there is none like the ruler. And the ruler is myself."

Zhou Shao said: "There are six ways of establishing a tutor."

The king said: "What are the six?"

Zhou Shao said: "Understanding and deliberation that are unhurried and reach through to change; conduct of the person that is generous and kind and reaches through to the rites; a man whom awe and severity cannot shift in his place; a man whose heart heavy profit cannot alter; reverence in teaching without laxity; harmony with those below without endangering them. These six are the talents of a tutor, and I have not one of them. To hide what is within and not exhaust it would be my own fault; to attach myself to a command and take a servant's office, and so trouble those in charge, would be an officer's disgrace. Let Your Majesty judge again."

The king said: "It is because you know these six that I employ you."

Zhou Shao said: "The state has not yet come round to Your Majesty's Hu dress. Even so, I am Your Majesty's servant, and Your Majesty lays this charge on me with weight; how should I dare not obey the command?" He bowed twice, and the Hu dress was bestowed upon him.

The king said: "I put the prince in your charge as your own son, and I wish you to love him deeply and to let him see nothing ugly. Guide him with righteous conduct, and do not let him be drowned and worn down in mere study. He who serves a ruler goes along with his intent and does not cross his will; he who serves one who has gone before makes his height plain and does not turn his back on his orphan. That there are ministers who can be charged with a task is the good fortune of a state. If you can carry this out, then all that you owe in serving me is complete. The Documents say: 'Put away crookedness without hesitation; employ the worthy without a divided mind.' Between you and me, no other man need be used." He then bestowed on Zhou Shao Hu clothing and cap, with a fitted belt and a shibi buckle of yellow gold, that he might be tutor to the prince.

Zhao Yan Is Late in Taking the Hu Dress (趙燕後胡服)

Zhao Yan (趙燕) was late in taking the Hu dress, and the king had him rebuked, saying: "In conduct that serves a ruler, one exhausts one's mind and spends one's strength; one remonstrates quietly and makes no clamor; one answers and does not resent; one does not cross one's superior in order to praise oneself, and does not set up private ends to make a name. A son's way is to comply and not to go against; a minister's conduct is to yield and not to contend. A son who uses a private way brings certain disorder upon his household; a minister who uses a private righteousness brings certain danger upon the state. To make it one's conduct to go against one's parent — a kind father does not own such a son; to oppose one's ruler in order to make oneself — a gracious ruler does not own such a minister. I have put on the Hu dress, and you alone do not wear it: there is no greater crime than to go against one's ruler. To treat compliance with the government as a burden and opposition to the ruler as lofty: there is no greater acting for private ends. Therefore I fear that you may in your own person incur the penalty of punishment and execution, and so make plain the law of the officers."

Zhao Yan bowed twice, touching his head to the ground, and said: "Earlier the officials commanded the Hu dress, and the order reached down to your lowly servant. I let the command slip and the term pass; yet instead of the teaching of humiliating punishment, this is Your Majesty's kindness. I have respectfully conformed in my clothing and have waited for this day."

The King Breaks Up Yuanyang (王破原陽)

The king broke up Yuanyang and made it a cavalry town. Niu Zan (牛贊) came forward to remonstrate: "A state has its fixed registers, and an army has its constant standard. Change the registers and there is disorder; lose the standard and there is weakness. Now Your Majesty breaks up Yuanyang and makes it a cavalry town: this is to change the registers and cast away the standard. Moreover those who are practiced in their weapons make light of the enemy, and those to whom their equipment is handy make light of what is hard. Now the people find their equipment handy and Your Majesty changes it: this is to diminish the ruler and weaken the state. Therefore one does not change a custom unless the benefit be a hundredfold, and one does not change an implement unless the gain be tenfold. Now Your Majesty breaks up the ranks and scatters the foot soldiers in order to furnish mounted archery. I fear that the profit of what is attacked and taken will not equal the cost of what is lost."

The king said: "Antiquity and the present have different advantages, and far and near change their uses. Yin and yang do not share one way, and the four seasons are not fitting in one manner. Therefore the worthy man observes the times and is not observed by them; he shapes his arms and is not shaped by them. You know the registers of the offices but not the advantage of implements; you know the use of arms and armor but not what suits yin and yang. So if arms do not answer their use, what arms may not be changed? If a teaching does not make affairs convenient, what custom may not be altered? Of old our former ruler Lord Xiang shared a border with Dai; he walled the boundary and marked its bounds, and named it the Gate of No End, in order to make it known to those who came after and to set his aim far off. Now heavy armor and the old weapons cannot be carried across difficult ground, and benevolence, righteousness, the Way, and virtue cannot bring men to court. I have heard that good faith does not cast away merit, and that wisdom does not let the moment slip. Now you use the registers of the offices to confound my affairs. This is not something you understand."

Niu Zan bowed twice, touching his head to the ground, and said: "How should I dare not obey the command?" The king then took the Hu dress, led his cavalry into the country of the Hu, went out by the Gate of Yiyi, crossed the fastness of the Nine Barriers, cut through the difficulty of the Five Defiles, reached Yuzhong, and opened up a thousand li of land.

Strategies of Zhao, 3 (趙策三)

The Thirtieth Year of King Huiwen of Zhao (趙惠文王三十年)

In the thirtieth year of King Huiwen of Zhao (趙惠文王), the chancellor Tian Dan (田單), Lord of Duping, asked Zhao She (趙奢): "It is not that I do not admire your art of war, General. What I cannot accept is only your use of great numbers. To use great numbers keeps the people from ploughing and sowing, and the hauling and the hire of grain cannot be met. This is the way of breaking oneself while sitting still, and it is not what I would do. I have heard that the armies of emperors and kings used no more than thirty thousand men, and all under Heaven submitted. Now you, General, must have a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand at your back before you will use them. This is what I cannot accept."

The Lord of Mafu said: "It is not only that you do not understand arms, my lord; you also do not see clearly the circumstances of the times. The sword of Gan of Wu, tried on flesh, cuts through ox and horse; tried on metal, it slices basins and ewers. But press it against a pillar and strike, and it breaks in three; lay it upon a stone and strike, and it shatters into a hundred pieces. To meet the army of a strong state now with thirty thousand men is of the same kind as pressing a sword against a pillar or striking it on stone. Moreover the stuff of the sword of Gan of Wu is hard to come by: without the thickness of the spine, the point will not enter; without the thinness of the flank, the blade will not sever. And having both of these, if it lacks the convenience of ring, haft, guard, and grip-cord, then to take it by the blade and thrust is to have one's hand cut off before it enters. My lord has no host of a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand to serve as this ring, haft, guard, and grip-cord, and would go about all under Heaven with a bare thirty thousand. How could you manage it?

"Moreover, in antiquity, within the four seas the land was divided into ten thousand states. Great as a city might be, none exceeded three hundred zhang; many as its people might be, none exceeded three thousand households. To stand against these with a gathered force of thirty thousand — where was the difficulty in that? But now take what in antiquity made ten thousand states, divided into the seven warring states: they can put in the field armies of several hundred thousand, keep the field day upon day and hold out for years — and there you have your own Qi. Qi with two hundred thousand men attacked Jing, and only after five years did it stop. Zhao with two hundred thousand men attacked Zhongshan, and only after five years did it return. Now Qi and Han are matched against each other, and a state is besieged and assaulted. Who would dare to say, 'I will relieve it with thirty thousand men'? Now cities of a thousand zhang and towns of ten thousand households stand within sight of one another, and you would seek with thirty thousand men to besiege a city of a thousand zhang: you would not fill one corner of it, and for battle in the open they would not be enough. What will you do with them, my lord?"

The Lord of Duping sighed deeply and said: "Dan had not reached so far!"

Zhao Sends Jihao to Qin (趙使机郝之秦)

Zhao sent Jihao (机郝) to Qin to ask that Wei Ran (魏冉) be made chancellor. Song Tu (宋突) said to Jihao: "If Qin does not consent, Lou Huan will surely bear you a grudge. You had better tell Master Lou privately: 'I shall not press the king of Qin.' When the king of Qin sees that Zhao is not urgent about making Wei Ran chancellor, and moreover does not accept your words, then the affair will not succeed — and Wei Ran will still be in your debt."

Qi Breaks Yan and Zhao Wishes to Preserve It (齊破燕趙欲存之)

Qi broke Yan, and Zhao wished to preserve it. Yue Yi (樂毅) said to the king of Zhao: "If you attack Qi now without a covenant, Qi will surely make an enemy of Zhao. It would be better to ask that Hedong be exchanged with Qi for the lands of Yan. Then Zhao will have Hebei and Qi will have Hedong, and Yan and Zhao will certainly not quarrel; thus the two states will be on good terms. If you strengthen Qi with the land of Hedong and have Yan and Zhao support it, all under Heaven will hate it, and all will surely serve Your Majesty in order to attack Qi. This is to use all under Heaven to break Qi."

The king said: "Good." He then exchanged Hedong with Qi. Chu and Wei hated it, and sent Nao Hua (淖滑) and Hui Shi (惠施) to Zhao to ask that Qi be attacked and Yan preserved.

Qin Attacks Zhao and Lin, Lishi, and Qi Are Taken (秦攻趙藺離石祁拔)

Qin attacked Zhao, and Lin, Lishi, and Qi were taken. Zhao sent Prince Wu (公子郚) as a hostage to Qin and asked to hand over the cities of Jiao, Li, and Niuhu, in exchange for the return of Lin, Lishi, and Qi to Zhao. Then Zhao turned its back on Qin and did not give up Jiao, Li, and Niuhu. The king of Qin was enraged and sent Prince Zeng (公子繒) to demand the land. The king of Zhao then had Zheng Zhu (鄭朱) reply: "The lands of Lin, Lishi, and Qi lie far off from Zhao and near to your great state. It was by the brilliance of my former kings and the strength of my former ministers that we were able to hold them. Now I am not their equal; I cannot even care for my own altars of soil and grain — how could I gather in and care for Lin, Lishi, and Qi? I have ministers who do not obey, and it was they who did this thing. It is not something I would presume to know of." In the end Zhao turned against Qin.

The king of Qin was greatly enraged and sent Wey Huyi (衛胡易) to attack Zhao and assault Yuyu. Zhao She led troops to relieve it. Wei had Prince Jiu (公子咎) station picked troops at Anyi in order to hold Qin in check. Qin was defeated at Yuyu and turned instead to attack Ji of Wei; Lian Po (廉頗) relieved Ji and greatly defeated the army of Qin.

Fu Ding Wishes to Join Zhao with Qi and Wei (富丁欲以趙合齊魏)

Fu Ding (富丁) wished to join Zhao with Qi and Wei, while Lou Huan (樓緩) wished to join Zhao with Qin and Chu. Fu Ding feared that the Lord Father would listen to Lou Huan and join with Qin and Chu.

Sima Qian (司馬淺), on behalf of Fu Ding (富丁), said to the Lord Father (主父): "It would be better to fall in with Qi. If we now refuse to fall in with Qi and attack Qin, Qin and Chu are certain to join and attack Han and Wei. Han and Wei will report their distress to Qi; and Qi, not wishing to attack Qin, will certainly make Zhao its excuse — then the one who should have attacked Qin will be Zhao, and Han and Wei will surely resent Zhao. If Qi's troops do not go west, Han will certainly obey Qin and break with Qi; and having broken with Qi and drawn close to Qin, the troops will certainly turn upon Zhao. But if we now fall in and Qi still does not go west, Han and Wei will certainly cut off Qi, and having cut off Qi they will all serve us. Moreover, if we fall in with Qi, Qi will not fail to go west. In former days Lou Huan (樓緩) sat in Wei three months and could not break up the friendship of Qi and Wei. If now we fall in and Qi and Wei do indeed go west, this wears out Qi and exhausts Qin, and Zhao is certain to become the state of weight in the world."

The Lord Father said: "If I join the three states in attacking Qin, we shall all alike be worn out."

He said: "Not so. We bind the three states by covenant and tell them that we have not yet come to terms with Zhongshan. Since the three states want their attack on Qin to be carried through, they will certainly listen to us and will wish to reconcile us. If Zhongshan agrees to it, then with the three states behind us we shall get the more from Zhongshan and take its land. If Zhongshan does not agree, the three states will certainly break with it, and Zhongshan will stand alone. If the three states cannot reconcile us, then even to send out few troops will do. We divide our forces and leave Zhongshan isolated, and Zhongshan is certain to be destroyed. Once we have destroyed Zhongshan, we take the troops that remain and join the three states in attacking Qin. Thus with a single move we take land twice over, from Qin and from Zhongshan."

Wei, Through Fu Ding, Was About to Join with Qin (魏因富丁且合於秦)

Wei, acting through Fu Ding, was about to join with Qin. Zhao was afraid, and offered to cede land to Wei and to follow the Lord of Xue (薛公). Jiao Zikai (教子欬) said to Li Dui (李兌): "Zhao fears the making of the Horizontal alliance, and therefore wishes to cede land to Wei and follow the Lord of Xue. You would do better to have the Lord Father provide Zhou Zui (周最) with land and ask that he be made chancellor in Wei. Zhou Zui is the man who has dealt generously with Qin on the world's behalf; if he now becomes chancellor of Wei, the bond between Wei and Qin will be hollow. Qi and Wei, however vigorous, cannot injure Zhao without Qin. If the king of Wei consents, that is to make light of Qi. Qin and Wei, however vigorous, cannot get Zhao without Qi. This is profitable for Zhao and convenient for Zhou Zui."

Wei Sent a Man Through the Lord of Pingyuan to Ask Zhao for the Vertical Alliance (魏使人因平原君請從於趙)

Wei sent a man through the Lord of Pingyuan (平原君) to ask Zhao for the Vertical alliance. Three times he spoke of it, and the king of Zhao would not listen. Going out, the man met Yu Qing (虞卿) and said, "For my sake, when you go in, be sure to speak of the Vertical alliance."

Yu Qing went in, and the king said, "Just now the Lord of Pingyuan asked for the Vertical alliance on Wei's behalf, and I did not consent. How does it seem to you?"

Yu Qing said, "Wei is in the wrong."

The king said, "Just so; that is why I did not consent."

Yu Qing said, "Your Majesty is in the wrong as well."

The king said, "How so?"

He said, "Whenever the strong and the weak undertake an affair together, the strong receives the advantage of it and the weak receives the harm. Now Wei seeks the Vertical alliance and Your Majesty will not consent: that is Wei asking for the harm and Your Majesty refusing the advantage. Therefore I say: Wei is in the wrong, and Your Majesty is in the wrong as well."

The Lord of Pingyuan Consulted Feng Ji (平原君請馮忌)

The Lord of Pingyuan said to Feng Ji (馮忌): "I wish to march north against Shangdang and send out troops to attack Yan. What of it?"

Feng Ji replied: "It cannot be done. The Qin general, the Lord of Wu'an, Gongsun Qi (武安君公孫起), riding the awe of seven victories, fought the son of the Lord of Mafu (馬服) below Changping, broke the army of Zhao utterly, and then with the troops that remained to him besieged the city of Handan. Zhao, with the remnant of a ruined and beaten host, gathered up the worn defense of a broken army; yet Qin was exhausted below Handan, and Zhao held and could not be taken. That was because attacking is hard and defending is easy. Now Zhao has no awe of seven conquests, and Yan has suffered no disaster of Changping. The disaster of seven defeats has not yet been made good, and you would take an exhausted Zhao and attack a strong Yan. This is to make weak Zhao do what strong Qin did in attacking, and to make strong Yan do what weak Zhao did in defending, while a strong Qin, its troops rested, takes up Zhao's exhaustion. This is how the strong Wu perished and the weak Yue became hegemon. Therefore I do not see that Yan can be attacked."

The Lord of Pingyuan said, "Well said!"

The Lord of Pingyuan Spoke to the Lord of Pingyang (平原君謂平陽君)

The Lord of Pingyuan said to the Lord of Pingyang (平陽君): "Prince Mou (公子牟) traveled in Qin, and when he was about to go east he took his leave of the Lord of Ying (應侯). The Lord of Ying said, 'The prince is about to depart. Have you nothing at all to teach me?' He said, 'Even without your command bidding me to it, I did indeed have something to offer you. Honor makes no appointment with wealth, yet wealth arrives; wealth makes no appointment with fine grain and meat, yet fine grain and meat arrive; fine grain and meat make no appointment with pride and extravagance, yet pride and extravagance arrive; pride and extravagance make no appointment with death and ruin, yet death and ruin arrive. In the generations before us, many have fallen by this.' The Lord of Ying said, 'What the prince has taught me is generous indeed.' I have been able to hear this, and I do not forget it in my heart. I hope that you too will not forget it."

The Lord of Pingyang said, "I respectfully agree."

Qin Attacked Zhao at Changping (秦攻趙於長平)

Qin attacked Zhao at Changping, broke it utterly, and led its troops home. It then sent a man to demand six cities of Zhao and make peace. Zhao's counsel was not yet settled. Lou Huan had newly come from Qin, and the king of Zhao took counsel with him, saying, "What if I give Qin the cities? What if I do not?"

Lou Huan declined, saying, "This is not a thing a subject can know."

The king said, "Even so, try telling me your own private view."

Lou Huan said: "Has Your Majesty heard of the mother of Gongfu Wenbo (公甫文伯)? Gongfu Wenbo held office in Lu and died of illness. The women who killed themselves for him in their chambers were twice eight. When his mother heard of it she would not weep. The household steward said, 'How can there be a mother who does not weep when her son has died?' His mother said, 'Confucius was a worthy man, and when he was driven out of Lu this man did not follow him. Now he has died, and sixteen women have died for him. Is it not that toward his elders he was thin, and toward women generous?' Now, said from a mother's side, this makes her a worthy mother; said from a wife's side, she cannot escape being a jealous wife. The words are one and the same; but when the speaker differs, men's minds change. Now I have newly come from Qin. If I say, do not give, that is no plan; if I say, give them, then I fear Your Majesty will take me for one who acts for Qin. Therefore I dare not answer. But if I may reckon it for Your Majesty, it would be better to give."

The king said, "Very well."

Yu Qing heard of it, went in to see the king, and the king told him Lou Huan's words. Yu Qing said, "This is a dressed-up argument."

After Qin had lifted the siege of Handan, the king of Zhao went to court and sent Zhao Hao (趙郝) to arrange terms with Qin, ceding six counties to make peace.

The king said, "What do you mean?"

Yu Qing said, "When Qin attacked Zhao, did it go home because it was weary? Or does Your Majesty think its strength could still have pressed on, and that out of love for Your Majesty it did not attack?"

The king said, "When Qin attacked me it spared no strength at all; it must have gone home from weariness."

Yu Qing said, "Qin used its strength to attack what it could not take, and went home weary. Now Your Majesty would hand over what its strength was unable to attack: this is helping Qin to attack yourself. Next year Qin will attack Your Majesty again, and Your Majesty will have no means of rescue."

The king again reported Yu Qing's words to Lou Huan. Lou Huan said, "Can Yu Qing know to the full how far Qin's strength reaches? If he truly knows where Qin's strength does not reach, then even this pellet of land should not be given. But suppose that next year Qin attacks Your Majesty again — will you not then have to cut off land from the interior to make peace?"

The king said, "Granting that I follow you and cede the land, can you guarantee that next year Qin will not attack me again?"

Lou Huan replied, "That is not something I dare take upon myself. In former times the three Jin states in their dealings with Qin were on good terms with it. Now Qin lets Han and Wei alone and attacks Your Majesty only; Your Majesty must serve Qin less well than Han and Wei do. Now I would, for you, undo the attack that came of breaking a friendship, open the passes, let gifts pass through, and set your dealings level with those of Han and Wei. And if by the coming year Your Majesty alone is not taken up by Qin, then the way Your Majesty serves Qin must stand behind that of Han and Wei. That is not something I dare take upon myself."

The king reported Lou Huan's words. Yu Qing said: "Lou Huan says that if you do not make peace, then next year, when Qin attacks Your Majesty again, you cannot avoid cutting off land from the interior to make peace. But if you make peace now, Lou Huan still cannot guarantee that Qin will not attack again; and then what good has the cession done? Next year it attacks again, and again you cede what its strength could not take, in order to make peace: this is the art of exhausting oneself. Better not to make peace at all. Qin, skilled at attack though it is, cannot take six cities; Zhao, unable to hold though it is, will not come to lose six cities. Qin went home weary; its troops must be exhausted. With five cities I would gather the world to attack a weary Qin. Thus I lose to the world and take my compensation from Qin. My state would still profit. Which is better — that, or sitting still and cutting off land, weakening myself to strengthen Qin? Now Lou Huan says, 'That Qin is on good terms with Han and Wei and attacks Zhao must be because Your Majesty serves Qin less well than Han and Wei do.' This is to make Your Majesty serve Qin with six cities a year; and then, sitting still, your land is gone. Next year Qin will again demand a cession of land. Will Your Majesty give it? If you do not give, that is to throw away what you gave before and to provoke disaster from Qin; if you do give, you will have no land left to give. The saying goes, 'The strong is good at attacking, and the weak cannot hold his own.' Now to sit still and obey Qin is for Qin's troops to be unworn and to gain much land: this is to strengthen Qin and weaken Zhao. To add to an ever stronger Qin and carve up an ever weaker Zhao — such reckoning will certainly not stop. Moreover Qin is a state of tigers and wolves, with no heart for ritual or righteousness. Its demands are without end, while Your Majesty's land has an end. To supply demands without end from land that has an end — the outcome must be that there is no Zhao. Therefore I say: this is a dressed-up argument. Your Majesty must not give."

The king said, "Very well."

Lou Huan heard of it, went in to see the king, and the king again told him Yu Qing's words. Lou Huan said: "Not so. Yu Qing has got the one side of it and does not know the other. When Qin and Zhao join in strife, why is it that all the world is pleased? They say, 'We shall take hold of the strong and ride down upon the weak.' Now Zhao's army is hard pressed by Qin, and those in the world who congratulate the victor will all be at Qin. So it would be better to cede land quickly and sue for peace, to leave the world in doubt and to comfort Qin's heart. If not, the world will take advantage of Qin's anger, ride upon Zhao's exhaustion, and carve Zhao up like a melon. Once Zhao is gone, what plan will there be against Qin? Let Your Majesty decide by this, and take counsel no further."

Yu Qing heard of it and again went in to see the king, saying: "This is perilous — Master Lou is acting for Qin! Zhao's army is hard pressed by Qin, and now land is to be ceded for peace besides: this only makes the world more doubtful, and how does it comfort Qin's heart? Is it not rather a great showing of weakness to the world? And when I said, do not give, I did not mean simply not giving and nothing more. Qin demands six cities of Your Majesty: let Your Majesty offer five cities to Qi. Qi is Qin's deep enemy. Having got Your Majesty's five cities, it will join its strength with yours and strike west at Qin; and Qi's consent to Your Majesty will not wait for the end of your sentence. Thus Your Majesty loses to Qi and takes compensation from Qin. At a single stroke you knot the friendship of three states, and you and Qin change places."

The king of Zhao said, "Good." He thereupon dispatched Yu Qing east to see the king of Qi and to plan against Qin with him.

Before Yu Qing had returned, Qin's envoy was already in Zhao. When Lou Huan heard of it, he fled.

Qin Attacked Zhao and the Lord of Pingyuan Sent to Wei for Rescue (秦攻趙平原君使人請救於魏)

Qin attacked Zhao, and the Lord of Pingyuan sent a man to ask Wei for rescue. The Lord of Xinling (信陵君) sent out troops and came below the walls of Handan, and the Qin troops withdrew. Yu Qing asked for an increase of land for the Lord of Pingyuan, saying to the king of Zhao, "To have dissolved the trouble of two states without one soldier fighting and without one halberd blunted — this was the Lord of Pingyuan's doing. To use a man's strength and forget a man's merit will not do."

The king of Zhao said, "Good," and was about to increase his land.

Gongsun Long (公孫龍) heard of it, saw the Lord of Pingyuan, and said: "My lord has no merit of overturning armies and killing generals, yet he was enfeoffed with Dongwucheng. Among the bold and outstanding officers of Zhao, many stand above my lord, yet my lord is chancellor because of kinship. My lord, enfeoffed with Dongwucheng, did not decline it for want of merit; girded with the chancellor's seal of Zhao, he did not refuse it for want of ability. Now, having once dissolved the state's trouble, he would ask for an increase of land. That is: kinsmen receive fiefs, while the men of the state have their merits reckoned. In reckoning for my lord, it would be better not to accept."

The Lord of Pingyuan said, "I respectfully receive your instruction," and did not accept the enfeoffment.

Qin and Zhao Fought at Changping (秦趙戰於長平)

Qin and Zhao fought at Changping, and Zhao did not win; it lost a commandant. The king of Zhao summoned Lou Chang (樓昌) and Yu Qing and said, "The army has fought without victory, and a commandant is dead besides. I would have them roll up their armor and hasten upon the enemy. What of it?"

Lou Chang said, "There is no profit in it. Better to send a weighty envoy and make peace."

Yu Qing said, "Those who speak of peace hold that without peace the army must be broken; but the control of the peace lies with Qin. And in Your Majesty's judgment of Qin, does Qin wish to break Your Majesty's army, or does it not?"

The king said, "Qin has spared no strength; it certainly means to break the army of Zhao."

Yu Qing said, "Let Your Majesty listen to me for the moment. Send envoys out with weighty treasures to attach Chu and Wei. Chu and Wei, wanting Your Majesty's weighty treasures, will certainly let our envoys in. Once Zhao's envoys have entered Chu and Wei, Qin will surely suspect that the world is forming the Vertical alliance, and will surely take fright. In that case peace can be made."

The king of Zhao did not listen. Together with the Lord of Pingyang he made for peace, and dispatched Zheng Zhu (鄭朱) into Qin; and Qin received him. The king of Zhao summoned Yu Qing and said, "I sent the Lord of Pingyang to make peace with Qin, and Qin has now received Zheng Zhu. What do you make of it?"

Yu Qing said, "Your Majesty will certainly not get peace, and the army will certainly be broken. Those in the world who congratulate the victor are all at Qin. Zheng Zhu is a man of honor in Zhao, and he has gone into Qin; the king of Qin and the Lord of Ying will surely display him with honor to show the world. Chu and Wei, taking Zhao to be making peace, will certainly not rescue Your Majesty. And once Qin knows that the world will not rescue Your Majesty, peace cannot be brought about."

In the end Zhao did not get peace, and the army was indeed greatly defeated. The king went into Qin, and Qin detained the king of Zhao and only afterward granted him peace.

Qin Besieged Handan of Zhao (秦圍趙之邯鄲)

Qin besieged Handan of Zhao. King Anli of Wei (魏安釐王) sent the general Jin Bi (晉鄙) to rescue Zhao; but fearing Qin he halted at Dangyin and did not advance. The king of Wei sent the guest general Xinyuan Yan (辛垣衍) secretly into Handan, and through the Lord of Pingyuan he said to the king of Zhao: "The reason Qin presses the siege of Zhao is this. Formerly it contended with King Min of Qi (齊湣王) as to which should be the stronger and take the title of Emperor, and afterward gave the title back again, on account of Qi. Now the Qi of King Min has grown weaker still. At this moment Qin alone lords it over the world. This is not necessarily greed for Handan; its intention is to seek to be Emperor. If Zhao would indeed send an envoy to honor King Zhao of Qin as Emperor, Qin would surely be delighted, and would withdraw its troops and go."

The Lord of Pingyuan wavered and had come to no decision.

At that time Lu Zhonglian (魯仲連) happened to be traveling in Zhao, and met with Qin's siege of Zhao. Hearing that the general of Wei wished to have Zhao honor Qin as Emperor, he saw the Lord of Pingyuan and said, "How is this affair to be dealt with?"

The Lord of Pingyuan said, "How should I, Sheng, dare speak of affairs? A host of a million has been broken beyond our borders; and now, within, Handan is besieged and the enemy cannot be driven off. The king of Wei has sent the general Xinyuan Yan to have Zhao make Qin Emperor. The man is here at this moment. How should I, Sheng, dare speak of affairs?"

Lu Lian said, "At first I took you for the worthiest prince in the world; now at last I know that you are not the worthiest prince in the world. Where is Xinyuan Yan, the guest from Liang? Let me take him to task for you and send him home."

The Lord of Pingyuan said, "Let me, Sheng, summon him and present him to you, sir."

The Lord of Pingyuan then saw Xinyuan Yan and said, "There is a Master Lu Lian from the eastern country, and the man is here. Let me, Sheng, act as go-between and present him to you, General."

Xinyuan Yan said, "I have heard that Master Lu Lian is a lofty scholar of the state of Qi. I, Yan, am a subject; my mission has its own charge. I do not wish to see Master Lu Lian."

The Lord of Pingyuan said, "I, Sheng, have already let it out." Xinyuan Yan consented.

Lu Lian saw Xinyuan Yan and said nothing. Xinyuan Yan said, "As I see it, all who stay within this besieged city have something to ask of the Lord of Pingyuan. But looking upon your jade countenance, sir, you are not one who has anything to ask of the Lord of Pingyuan. Why then do you stay so long within this besieged city and not leave?"

Lu Lian said: "The age holds that Bao Jiao (鮑焦) died for want of composure; they are all wrong. The multitude do not understand him, and think he did it for his own person alone. That Qin is a state that has cast away rites and righteousness and set the counting of severed heads above all. It uses its officers by naked power and its people as captives. If it should shamelessly make itself Emperor, and by that wrong go on to govern the world, then I, Lian, have the Eastern Sea to throw myself into and die. I could not bear to be its subject. My reason for seeing you, General, is that I wish to help Zhao."

Xinyuan Yan said, "And how will you help them?"

Lu Lian said, "I shall make Liang and Yan help them. Qi and Chu are helping them already."

Xinyuan Yan said, "As for Yan, I grant you it will follow. But as for Liang — I am myself a man of Liang. How can you, sir, make Liang help them?"

Lu Lian said, "It is because Liang has not yet seen the harm of Qin's calling itself Emperor. If Liang were made to see the harm of Qin's calling itself Emperor, it would certainly help Zhao."

Xinyuan Yan said, "And what is this harm of Qin's calling itself Emperor?"

Lu Zhonglian said: "Formerly King Wei of Qi (齊威王) practiced benevolence and righteousness. He led the feudal lords of the world to pay court to Zhou. Zhou was poor and weak, and none of the lords came to court; Qi alone came. A year and more later King Lie of Zhou died. The lords all sent condolence, and Qi came late. Zhou was angry, and announced to Qi: 'Heaven has fallen and earth has split; the Son of Heaven has come down to the mourning mat. The vassal of the eastern marches, Tian Ying Qi, came late — let him be cut down.' King Wei flared up in anger and said, 'Bah! Your mother was a slave girl.' In the end he became the laughingstock of the world. So while the king of Zhou lived he paid court to him, and when he died he railed at him: truly he could not endure his demands. But such the Son of Heaven necessarily is, and there is nothing to wonder at in it."

Xinyuan Yan said, "Have you alone, sir, never seen servants? When ten men follow one man, is it that their strength cannot prevail, or that their wits are not equal to his? They fear him."

Lu Zhonglian said, "Then, set beside Qin, is Liang a servant?"

Xinyuan Yan said, "It is."

Lu Zhonglian said, "Then I shall make the king of Qin boil the king of Liang and mince him into pickle."

Xinyuan Yan, sullen and displeased, said, "Ha! That is going much too far, sir, what you say. And how could you make the king of Qin boil the king of Liang and mince him?"

Lu Zhonglian said: "Of course I can; wait while I tell you. In former times the Marquis of Gui (鬼侯), the Marquis of E (鄂侯), and King Wen were the three high ministers of the tyrant Zhou (紂). The Marquis of Gui had a daughter, and she was beautiful, and so he sent her in to the tyrant. The tyrant found her displeasing, and minced the Marquis of Gui into pickle. The Marquis of E contended over it urgently and argued it fiercely, and so the tyrant made dried meat of the Marquis of E. King Wen heard of it and sighed heavily, and so the tyrant shut him up in the storehouse at Youli for a hundred days and would have had him die there. Why should men who are all alike styled Emperors and kings come in the end to the place of dried meat and pickle?

"King Min of Qi was about to go to Lu, and Yiwei Zi (夷維子) followed him holding the horse-whip. He said to the men of Lu, 'How will you receive my lord?' The men of Lu said, 'We shall receive your lord with ten sets of the great sacrificial beasts.' Yiwei Zi said, 'From what rite did you take this, that you come and receive my lord so? That lord of mine is the Son of Heaven. When the Son of Heaven makes his tour of inspection, the feudal lords quit their own dwellings, hand over their keys and bolts, gather up their skirts and carry his armrest, and oversee the serving of his food below the hall; and only when the Son of Heaven has eaten do they withdraw and attend to their own court.' The men of Lu threw down the key of their gate, and in the end did not admit him.

"Unable to enter Lu, he was about to go to Xue, and asked leave to pass through Zou. At that time the ruler of Zou had died, and King Min wished to go in and offer condolence. Yiwei Zi said to the orphaned heir of Zou, 'When the Son of Heaven offers condolence, the chief mourner must turn his back on the coffin, set a north-facing place on the southern side, and only then does the Son of Heaven face south and condole.' The assembled ministers of Zou said, 'If it must be so, we shall fall upon our swords and die.' And so he did not dare enter Zou.

"The ministers of Zou and Lu, while their rulers lived, could not fully serve and support them, and when they died could not perform for them the rite of rice and jade in the mouth. Yet when a man wished to carry out the rites of the Son of Heaven upon the ministers of Zou and Lu, they in the end did not admit him. Now Qin is a state of ten thousand chariots, and Liang too is a state of ten thousand chariots. Both hold states of ten thousand chariots, and each bears the name of king. Yet, having seen Qin win a single battle, you would follow after it and make it Emperor. This is to make the great ministers of the three Jin states less than the servants and concubines of Zou and Lu.

"Moreover, if Qin will not stop until it is Emperor, it will then change about the great ministers of the feudal lords. It will strip those it calls unworthy and give to those it calls worthy; it will strip those it hates and give to those it loves. It will also make its own daughters and its slanderous concubines the consorts and favorites of the feudal lords, and set them in the palace of Liang. How then could the king of Liang rest at ease? And you, General — how would you keep your old favor?"

At this Xinyuan Yan rose, bowed twice, and apologized, saying, "At first I took you, sir, for an ordinary man; today I know that you are a gentleman of the world. Let me withdraw; I dare not speak again of making Qin Emperor." When the Qin general heard of it, he drew his army back fifty li.

It happened just then that Wuji, the prince of Wei (魏公子無忌), seized Jin Bi's army in order to rescue Zhao and strike Qin, and the Qin army drew off and went away. Thereupon the Lord of Pingyuan wished to enfeoff Lu Zhonglian. Lu Zhonglian declined three times, and to the end would not accept. The Lord of Pingyuan then set out wine; and when the wine was at its height he rose, came forward, and offered a thousand catties of gold as a toast to Lu Lian's long life. Lu Lian laughed and said, "What is prized in the gentlemen of the world is that they thrust aside troubles for others, loose their difficulties, and undo their tangles, and take nothing for it. If one takes something, that is the way of a merchant, and I, Zhonglian, cannot bear to do it." He then took leave of the Lord of Pingyuan and departed, and to the end of his life did not see him again.

Persuading Chancellor Zhang (說張相國)

Someone persuaded Chancellor Zhang (張相國), saying: "How can you think little of the men of Zhao and yet have the men of Zhao think much of you? How can you hate the men of Zhao and yet have the men of Zhao love you? Glue and lacquer are the stickiest of things, yet they cannot join what is far apart; a swan's feather is the lightest of things, yet it cannot lift itself. But let it be blown on a clear wind, and it crosses the four seas. So there are affairs that are simple and yet succeed: it is because they take hold of something. Now Zhao is a strong state of ten thousand chariots. Before it lie the Zhang and the Fu, on its right is Changshan, on its left Hejian, and to the north it holds Dai; it has a million men in armor. It once held down a strong Qi, and for more than forty years Qin could not get what it wanted. Looking at it in this way, Zhao is no light thing in the world. Now you make light of a Zhao strong with ten thousand chariots, and long after a little Liang that cannot be had. I privately think this is not the course for you."

The lord said, "Good." From that time on, in crowded company he never failed to speak of the excellence of the men of Zhao, and never failed to speak of the goodness of the customs of Zhao.

Zheng Tong Went North to See the King of Zhao (鄭同北見趙王)

Zheng Tong (鄭同) went north to see the king of Zhao. The king of Zhao said, "You are a broadly learned scholar of the south. What have you to teach me?"

Zheng Tong said, "I am a man of the grass and the wilds of the south. What am I worth asking? Still, since Your Majesty has brought me before you, how should I dare not answer? When I was young, my father once taught me the art of war."

The king of Zhao said, "I am not fond of war."

Zheng Tong thereupon rubbed his hands, looked up to heaven and laughed at this, saying: "War is indeed the delight of the crafty of the world, and so I did suppose that Your Majesty would not be fond of it. I once spoke of war to King Zhao of Wei (魏昭王) as well, and King Zhao likewise said, 'I do not care for it.' I said, 'Can Your Majesty's conduct match that of Xu You? Xu You had no encumbrance of the world, and therefore did not accept it. Now Your Majesty has received the transmission of the former kings. Do you wish the ancestral temple to be secure, the land not to be pared away, and the altars of soil and grain to receive their blood offerings?' The king said, 'I do.'

"Now suppose a man holds the pearl of the Marquis of Sui and the jade ring of Qiu and treasure worth ten thousand in gold, and lodges alone in the open country, and that within he has neither the might of Meng Ben (孟賁) nor the resolve of Jing and Qing, and without he has no defense of bow and crossbow: before the night is out, men will certainly do him harm. Now there is a strong and greedy state that overlooks Your Majesty's borders and demands Your Majesty's land. To tell it of what is reasonable will not serve; to argue with it from righteousness it will not hear. If Your Majesty lacks the gear by which a warring state defends itself, with what will you meet them? If Your Majesty has no army, the neighboring states will have their way."

The king of Zhao said, "Let me receive your teaching."

The Lord of Jianxin Was Honored in Zhao (建信君貴於趙)

The Lord of Jianxin (建信君) was held in honor in Zhao. Prince Wei Mou (公子魏牟) passed through Zhao, and the king of Zhao went out to meet him. When the king had turned back and come to his seat, there was a foot of silk before him, and he was about to have a craftsman make a cap of it. The craftsman, seeing that a guest had come, withdrew.

The king of Zhao said, "You, prince, have driven your carriage after mine and favored me with your presence. I should like to hear how the world is to be governed."

Wei Mou said, "If Your Majesty can hold his state as weighty as this foot of silk, then Your Majesty's state will be well ordered indeed."

The king of Zhao was displeased, and it showed in his face. He said, "You do not know, sir, that unworthy as I am I have been made to uphold the altars of the state. How should I dare make so light of my state?"

Wei Mou said, "Do not be angry, Your Majesty; let me explain it for you." He said, "Your Majesty has this foot of silk. Why not have one of the gentlemen of the guard before you make the cap?"

The king said, "The gentlemen of the guard do not know how to make a cap."

Wei Mou said: "And if in making the cap they spoiled it, what loss would that be to Your Majesty's state? Yet Your Majesty must wait for a craftsman before setting anyone to it. Now, in the choosing of craftsmen for the world, should you choose wrongly, the altars of the state become a waste and the former kings receive no blood offerings; yet in this Your Majesty does not give the work to a craftsman, but to the young and the pretty. Moreover the former sovereign of Your Majesty's house yoked Xishou (犀首) in the shafts and the Lord of Mafu at the trace, and so contended with Qin; and Qin at that time gave way before his edge. Now Your Majesty bustles to and fro, and takes the Lord of Jianxin up into the carriage to contend with a strong Qin. I fear that Qin will snap Your Majesty's carriage rail."

Duke Ling of Wey Kept Yong Ju and Mizi Xia Close (衛靈公近雍疸彌子瑕)

Duke Ling of Wey (衛靈公) kept Yong Ju (雍疸) and Mizi Xia (彌子瑕) close to him. These two engrossed the ruler's power and screened off those about him. Futu Zhen (復塗偵) said to the ruler, "The other day I dreamed of my lord."

The ruler said, "What did you dream?"

He said, "I dreamed of the god of the stove."

The ruler flushed with anger and said, "I have heard that one who dreams of the ruler of men dreams of the sun. Now you say you dreamed of the god of the stove, and call that dreaming of your lord. If you have an explanation, well and good; if you have none, you die."

He replied, "The sun lights the whole world together, and no single thing can screen it. The stove is not so: if the man in front of it warms himself at the fire, then the man behind him has no way of seeing it. Now I suspect that someone is warming himself before my lord, and that is why I dreamed of the god of the stove."

The ruler said, "Good." Thereupon he put aside Yong Ju and Mizi Xia, and set up Gou, the minister of works (司空狗).

Someone Told the Lord of Jianxin How He Served the King (或謂建信君之所以事王者)

Someone said to Jianxin: "What my lord serves the king with is his looks; what Qi (葺) serves the king with is his knowledge. Looks grow old and fade; knowledge grows old and increases. To set looks that fade and grow ugly to chase after knowledge that grows daily greater — my lord will certainly be in straits."

The Lord of Jianxin said, "What then?"

He said: "One who runs beside a fine steed gives out after five li; one who mounts the steed and drives it is not wearied, and covers much road. Let my lord have Qi ride in the carriage of sole decision and drive the power of sole decision, and station him in Handan; let him order the affairs of state within and probe the feudal lords without. Then there will be matters in Qi's business that he does not report. My lord may then speak of it to the king and hold him strictly to account, and Qi's axle will snap on the spot."

The Lord of Jianxin bowed twice and received the counsel. He went in and spoke to the king, and charged Qi heavily with affairs as a man of ability, and held him strictly to account. Before a full year was out, Qi had fled.

Ku Chengchang Spoke to the Lord of Jianxin (苦成常謂建信君)

Ku Chengchang (苦成常) said to the Lord of Jianxin: "The world has joined in the Vertical alliance, and yet it is said that Zhao alone hates Qin. Why is this? Wei killed Lü Yi (呂遺), and the world made friends with Wei. Now to take Hejian — in what does this differ from killing Lü Yi? Though my lord dress up a feigned sickness, the Lord of Wenxin (文信侯) will know of it all the same. If the alliance succeeds, what fear that you will not get Hejian? If the alliance does not succeed, what good will taking Hejian do?"

Xi Xie Saw the Lord of Jianxin (希寫見建信君)

Xi Xie (希寫) saw the Lord of Jianxin. The Lord of Jianxin said, "The Lord of Wenxin has behaved toward me with great want of courtesy. Qin sent a man to take service here, and I gave him office under the chancellor and the rank of Fifth Grandee. Yet the Lord of Wenxin has behaved toward me — how great is his want of courtesy!"

Xi Xie said, "I hold that those who manage affairs in the present age are not the equals of merchants."

The Lord of Jianxin flared up and said, "Do you rate those who manage affairs low and merchants high?"

He said: "Not so. A good merchant does not wrangle with men over the price of buying and selling, but watches the season carefully. He buys when the season makes things cheap, and though the price be high it is already cheap; he sells when the season makes things dear, and though the price be low it is already dear. In former times King Wen was shut up at Youli and King Wu was held at the Jade Gate; yet in the end they cut off the head of the tyrant Zhou and hung it from the Taibai banner. That was King Wu's achievement. Now my lord cannot match the Lord of Wenxin in power, yet he takes the Lord of Wenxin to task for want of courtesy. I privately think this is not the course for you."

Wei Jie Spoke to the Lord of Jianxin (魏魀謂建信君)

Wei Jie (魏魀) said to the Lord of Jianxin: "A man once set a foot-snare and caught a tiger. The tiger, in its rage, tore off its own paw and went away. It is not that the tiger's nature does not love its paw; but it would not let a paw an inch round destroy a body seven feet long. That is weighing. Now a state is more than a body seven feet long, and my lord's own person, in the king's eyes, is no more than a paw an inch round. I hope you will think it out thoroughly."

Qin Attacked Zhao and the Sound of Drums and Bells Was Heard in the Northern Hall (秦攻趙鼓鐸之音聞於北堂)

Qin attacked Zhao, and the sound of drums and bells was heard in the northern hall. Xi Bei (希卑) said, "Qin's attack on Zhao ought not to be as urgent as this. This is a summoning of troops. There must be some great minister who wants the Horizontal alliance. If Your Majesty wishes to know the man, tomorrow morning speak well of the matter before the assembled ministers and question them; the one who speaks first for the Horizontal alliance is the man." The Lord of Jianxin did indeed speak first for the Horizontal alliance.

Li Bo of Qi Had Audience with King Xiaocheng (齊人李伯見孝成王)

Li Bo (李伯), a man of Qi, had audience with King Xiaocheng. King Xiaocheng was pleased with him and made him governor of Dai commandery. He had been there no long while when a man reported that he had revolted. King Xiaocheng was just then at his meal, and he did not let his food fall. Not long after, the informer came again, and King Xiaocheng gave no answer. Presently Li Bo sent an envoy to say: "Qi has raised troops to strike Yan. Fearing that under the name of striking Yan it might use its troops to fall upon Zhao, I sent out troops to provide against it. Now that Yan and Qi have joined, I ask leave to catch them at their weakest, and much land may be cut off." From that time on, none of those who served King Xiaocheng abroad had cause to doubt themselves at home.

Strategies of Zhao, 4 (趙策四)

A Letter Presented to the King of Zhao on Qi's Behalf (為齊獻書趙王)

A letter was presented to the king of Zhao on Qi's behalf; the envoy, together with Fu Chou (復丑), said:

"Let me have audience once, and I could make Your Majesty sit still while the world brought you famous treasures. And I privately wonder that Your Majesty will not try seeing me, but leaves me in straits. Many among your ministers must hold me to be incapable, and so Your Majesty makes a difficulty of seeing me. Those who hold me incapable do so for no other reason than this: they wish to use Your Majesty's troops to accomplish their own private ends. If not that, then their dealings lean to one side; if not that, then their knowledge is not sufficient; if not that, then they wish to frighten Your Majesty with the weight of the world and so get their own way with Your Majesty.

"Through Qi I would serve Your Majesty faithfully. Your Majesty could destroy Yan, could destroy Han and Wei, could attack Qin, could isolate Qin. If through Qi I bring an honored name to Your Majesty, who in the world would dare not bring an honored name to Your Majesty? If through Qi I bring land to Your Majesty, who in the world would dare not bring land to Your Majesty? If through Qi I seek a name for Your Majesty from Yan and from Han and Wei, who would dare refuse it? My ability in this can be seen before the event.

"It is because Qi first held Your Majesty in weight that the whole world holds Your Majesty in weight; without Qi, the world must all make light of Your Majesty. Strong as Qin is, it holds Your Majesty in weight because it is without Qi; and Yan and Wei of themselves hold Your Majesty in weight because they are without Qi. If now Your Majesty too is without Qi, how alone can Your Majesty avoid losing weight in the world? Therefore those who urge Your Majesty to do without Qi, if it is not that their knowledge is insufficient, are disloyal; if not that, they wish to use Your Majesty's troops to accomplish their private ends; if not that, they wish to make Your Majesty light and, with the weight of the world, get their own way with Your Majesty; if not that, they are men whose rank is high and whose ability is low. I hope Your Majesty will consider thoroughly the advantage and the harm of being without Qi."

Qi Wished to Attack Song (齊欲攻宋)

Qi wished to attack Song, and Qin sent Qi Jia (起賈) to forbid it. Qi then drew Zhao in to attack Song. The king of Qin was angry and fixed his resentment upon Zhao. Li Dui bound five states by covenant to attack Qin; it came to nothing, and he left the troops of the world at Chenggao while secretly making terms with Qin. He then wished to join Qin in attacking Wei, in order to loose Qin's resentment and to get a fief for himself.

The king of Wei was displeased. The speaker then went to Qi and said to the king of Qi: "On your behalf I said to the king of Wei: 'The three Jin states all have Qin to fear. The present campaign against Qin is being waged for Zhao's sake. Were the five states to attack Zhao, Zhao would certainly perish. If Qin drives out Li Dui (李兌), Li Dui will certainly die; and the present campaign against Qin is meant to save Master Li from death. Now Zhao keeps the armored troops of the world halted at Chenggao while secretly selling them to Qin; and once he has come to terms he will have Qin attack Wei in order to round out his private fief. What has Your Majesty gained by serving Zhao? Moreover Your Majesty once crossed the Zhang river and went in person to court at Handan, holding Yin and Cheng in your arms and Hao, Ge, and Xue on your back, to serve Zhao as a screen; yet Zhao has done nothing on Your Majesty's account. And now, with Heyang and Gumi, he enfeoffs his own son, while getting Qin to attack Your Majesty so that it may be convenient for him to take Yin.

"'Men are set beside their like, and only then is the worthy known from the unworthy. If Your Majesty were to spend on winning Qi half of what has been spent on serving Zhao, would there be anyone in the world who dared to plot against Your Majesty? In serving Qi, Your Majesty has suffered no humiliation of going in to court and no expense of ceded land. For Your Majesty's sake Qi emptied her state out in front of Yan and Zhao and used her arms two thousand li from home; and so, whether storming walls or fighting in the open, she has never failed to take the arrows and stones first on Your Majesty's behalf. She won two cities and cut off Hedong, and made over the whole of it to Your Majesty. Ever since, whenever Qin has attacked Wei, Qi's armored men have never failed to come to Your Majesty's borders year by year. May I ask whether the way Your Majesty has repaid Qi will do? Han Min (韓呡) resides in Zhao, three thousand li from Qi, and on that account Your Majesty suspects Qi and says she has a secret understanding with Qin. Yet now Your Majesty keeps the former Lord of Xue at hand as chancellor, cultivates Han Xu as your highest connection, and honors Yu Shang as your chief guest. Can Your Majesty still turn and suspect Qi?'

"Hearing these words, the king of Wei was much abashed. His wish to serve Your Majesty became very pliant, and he greatly resented Zhao. I would have Your Majesty keep in constant touch with Wei and let no hostility appear; and let me push his resentment onto Zhao for Your Majesty. I would have Your Majesty give weight to Zhao in secret, and not let Qin see that Your Majesty gives weight to Zhao. If Qin sees it, Qin too will give weight to Zhao. When Qi and Qin both give weight to Zhao, I shall surely see Yan, Han, and Wei give weight to Zhao as well, and none will dare to measure themselves against Zhao. With five states serving Zhao, and Zhao joining the vertical alliance and yet coming to terms with Qin, she will certainly rank above Your Majesty.

"Therefore I wish Your Majesty to coerce the whole world at large and to sweeten each of them in private. Let Your Majesty send me to coerce Zhao with Han, Wei, and Yan, and send Dan to sweeten her; to coerce Han and Wei with Zhao, and send me to sweeten them; to coerce Qin with the three Jin, and send Shun to sweeten her; to coerce Chu with the whole world, and send Min to sweeten her. Then the whole world will press together upon Qin and serve Your Majesty, and none will dare make private arrangements with another. When the alignments are settled, Your Majesty may then choose."

Qi Is About to Attack Song and Qin and Chu Forbid It (齊將攻宋而秦楚禁之)

Qi was about to attack Song, and Qin and Chu forbade it. Qi therefore wished to make common cause with Zhao, but Zhao would not listen. Qi then had Gongsun Yan (公孫衍) persuade Li Dui to attack Song and settle his fief by it. Li Dui thereupon said to the king of Qi: "My reason for holding the three Jin firm in the attack on Qin was not that I thought Qi would profit by Qin's ruin, but that I wished thereby to make the attack on Song possible. But Song set up her heir apparent as king, those below were attached to those above, and her defense was firm; and so I wished you to withdraw quickly and let your officers and people rest. Now the heir apparent has fled, and all who favored the heir apparent are resolved to die. If you attack again, that state will surely fall into disorder, and with the heir apparent outside, this too is the moment for taking Song.

"On your behalf I sent Gongsun Yan to persuade the Lord of Fengyang, saying: 'My lord, you are old in years, and your fief must not go unsettled much longer. Considering a fief for you, there is nothing like Song; no other state will serve. The men of Qin are greedy, Han and Wei are precarious, Yan and Chu are remote, the soil of Zhongshan is poor: there is nothing like Yin. Lose the present moment and it cannot be had again. Song's offense is grave and Qi's anger deep. To wreck and ruin Song, to win great Qi, and to settle your own fief — this is such a moment as comes once in a hundred generations.' The Lord of Fengyang has already grown very greedy for it; he wants only to obtain a great fief, and Qi has offered him nothing out of the ordinary. I would have you make a great show of launching the attack on Song without actually bringing up your troops — wait until the ploughing is done, and watch how the Lord of Fengyang answers you. Dangle Yin before him to sweeten him, keep Yan in accord with you to overawe him, while I stand by to make his fief good, and the affair will certainly succeed in a great way. I would also have you offer some land to the Lord of Xiang'an, to furnish me with means. If you do indeed wreck Song, this is the moment for both territories, and what should you grudge? If you do not get your will in Song, how would your allies dare hope for anything? Furnish me with this, and I shall keep Yan in accord and watch Zhao, and you will strike where it is already breaking and settle the world."

The Five States Attack Qin Without Success (五國伐秦無功)

The five states attacked Qin without success and broke up at Chenggao. Zhao wished to come to terms with Qin, and Chu, Wei, and Han were about to fall in with her; Qin did not want it. Su Dai (蘇代) said to the king of Qi: "I have already seen the Lord of Fengyang on your behalf. I said to the Lord of Fengyang: 'If the world scatters and serves Qin, Qin will surely occupy Song, and Wei Ran will surely be jealous of your holding Yin. The king of Qin is greedy and Wei Ran is jealous; then Yin cannot be got. If you make no terms, Qi will surely attack Song; and when Qi attacks Song, Chu will attack Song and Wei will attack Song, and Yan and Zhao will help them. With five states holding Song, in less than a month or two Yin will surely be yours. Get Yin and then make terms; then though Qin shift about, you will have nothing to fear. If it cannot be helped and terms must be made, then I would have the five states make the covenant firm again. The five states wish to have Zhao; you would soar as the cock among them, and together with the great officers of the house of Han urge the eastern states on, and the king of Qi would certainly not summon Han Min. Let me keep watch over the covenant: if any of the allied states turns its back on the covenant, let the other four attack it; and if none turns its back but Qin encroaches upon the covenant, let the five states stand firm again and shut her out. Now Han and Wei and Qi suspect one another; if they again fail to make the covenant firm and instead come to terms, I fear great disorder among the allies. Qi and Qin will not come together again, and there will certainly be one that tips the weight to one side. A later coalition, or a lopsided preponderance — neither is to Zhao's advantage. Moreover, if the world scatters and serves Qin, then Qin controls the world; and if Qin controls the world, what use will the world be to you? I would have you plan early.

"'If the world scrambles after Qin, there are six moves, and all of them are against Zhao's interest. Should the world scramble after Qin, the king of Qin would take in the states that have the sea at their backs and knit up again the friendships that had been turned away from, so as to command the Central States and seek profit from the three Jin. That is one move of Qin. If Qin carries out that plan, it is against Zhao's interest, and in the end you will not get Yin: that is the first. Should the world scramble after Qin, the king of Qin would install Han Min in Qi, install the Lord of Chengyang in Han, and make Wei Huai chancellor in Wei; he would have Gongsun Yan knit up again the dealings of the two kings, and the likes of Wang Ben and Han Ta would all rise up and act. That is one move of Qin. If Qin carries out that plan, it is against Zhao's interest, and again you will not get Yin: that is the second. Should the world scramble after Qin, the king of Qin would take in Qi and take in Zhao — three strong states in a threefold friendship — so as to press upon Wei and demand Anyi. That is one move of Qin. If Qin carries out that plan and Qi and Zhao fall in with it, Wei will not wait to be attacked but will hug Anyi and put her trust in Qin. Qin will gain the richness of Anyi, Wei will become her chief connection, Han will certainly go to court in Qin, and with Anyi Qin will already have outstripped Zhao. That is one move of Qin. If Qin carries out that plan, it is against Zhao's interest, and you will certainly not get Yin: that is the third. Should the world scramble after Qin, Qin would make firm her connection with Yan and Zhao, so as to attack Qi and win over Chu, and would join with Han Min to attack Wei. That is one move of Qin. If Qin carries out that plan and Yan and Zhao fall in with it, then when Yan and Zhao attack Qi and their arms are just engaged, Qin will thereupon win over Chu and attack Wei, and in less than a month or two Wei will surely be broken. Qin will take Anyi and block Nüji; Han's Taiyuan will be cut off; she will come down upon the Zhi road, Nanyang, and Gao, attack Wei, cut off Han, and enclose the two Zhou courts — and then Zhao will melt away of herself. Your state scorched by Qin and your troops divided off against Qi is not to Zhao's advantage; and to the end of your days you will not get Yin: that is the fourth. Should the world scramble after Qin, Qin would make firm her connection with the three Jin in order to attack Qi; their states broken and their means exhausted, their arms drawn off eastward against Qi, Qin would then hold her troops in check and attack Wei and take Anyi. That is one move of Qin. If Qin carries out that plan and you calmly go to rescue Wei, you will be using troops already worn out by attacking Qi to rescue her and to fight it out with Qin; and if you do not rescue her, how are Han and Wei to escape joining with the west? Your state lies inside their scheme, and again to the end of your days you will not get Yin: that is the fifth. Should the world scramble after Qin, Qin would set herself up as righteous — preserving the perishing and continuing the extinguished, securing the endangered and supporting the weak, and establishing rulers who have committed no offense — and she would surely raise up Zhongshan and Sheng. If Qin raises up Zhongshan and Sheng, then Zhao and Song will share one fate, and what leisure will there be to speak of Yin? That is the sixth. Therefore I say: make no terms, and Yin will surely be yours.'

"The Lord of Fengyang said, 'Good.' He then broke off the peace with Qin and drew in Qi and Wei, in order to accomplish the taking of Yin."

Lou Huan, About to Go on a Mission, Takes Leave on a Secret Matter (樓緩將使伏事辭行)

Lou Huan (樓緩) was about to go on a mission. On a secret matter he took his leave, saying to the king of Zhao: "Though I spend all my strength and exhaust my wits, I shall die and never see Your Majesty again." The king said, "What talk is this? I shall certainly draw up a warrant and entrust much to you." Master Lou said: "Has Your Majesty not heard of Prince Mouyi in Song? He would eat nothing but meat. Wen Zhang stood well with Song and spoke ill of Prince Mouyi, and so it fell out. Now my standing with Your Majesty is not what Prince Mouyi's was with Song, while those who speak ill of me surpass Wen Zhang. Therefore I shall die and never see Your Majesty again." The king said, "Go, and do your best. You and I have sworn a word between us." Master Lou then went.

Afterward he revolted with Zhongmou and went over to Liang. The scouts came and reported it, but the king would not listen, saying, "I have already given my word to Master Lou."

Yu Qing Petitions the King of Zhao (虞卿請趙王)

Yu Qing (虞卿) said to the king of Zhao: "In the nature of men, would one rather have others come to court to him, or go to court to others?" The king of Zhao said, "A man would of course rather have others come to court to him. Why should he rather go to court to others?" Yu Qing said: "Wei is the head of the vertical alliance, and the man who stands in the way is Fan Zuo (范座). If Your Majesty will now offer a hundred li of land, or a town of ten thousand households, and ask Wei to put Fan Zuo to death — once Fan Zuo is dead, the business of the alliance can be moved to Zhao." The king of Zhao said, "Good." He then sent a man with a hundred li of land to ask Wei to put Fan Zuo to death. The king of Wei agreed and had the minister of education arrest Fan Zuo, but he had not yet killed him.

Fan Zuo presented a letter to the king of Wei: "I have heard that the king of Zhao offers a hundred li of land and asks for the death of Zuo. To kill the guiltless Fan Zuo is a small matter; to gain a hundred li of land is a great profit. I privately think it a fine thing for Your Majesty. Even so, there is this one point: if the hundred li of land is not obtained, and the dead cannot be brought back to life, then Your Majesty will certainly be laughed at by the world. I privately think that rather than trade with a dead man it would be better to trade with a living one."

He also sent a letter to his successor as chancellor, the Lord of Xinling: "Zhao and Wei are states matched in war. The king of Zhao sends a letter a foot long, and the king of Wei lightly kills the guiltless Zuo for his sake. Unworthy though Zuo is, he is a former chancellor of Wei now out of office, and it was on Wei's account that he incurred Zhao's enmity. Where a state has no usable servants within, then though land be gained abroad, circumstances will not let it be held; and of those who can now hold Wei there is none like you. After the king has listened to Zhao and killed Zuo, if powerful Qin takes up Zhao's appetite and doubles Zhao's demand for a cession, how will you stop it? That will be your burden." The Lord of Xinling said, "Good." He at once spoke to the king and had him released.

Yan Enfeoffs Rong Fen, a Man of Song, as Lord of Gaoyang (燕封宋人榮蚡為高陽君)

Yan enfeoffed Rong Fen (榮蚡), a man of Song, as Lord of Gaoyang, and made him general to attack Zhao. The king of Zhao thereupon cut off three cities east of the Ji, together with the lands of Lu, Gaotang, and Pingyuanling — fifty-seven walled towns and market towns in all — and ordered them given to Qi, in order to obtain the Lord of Anping and make him general.

The Lord of Mafu (馬服君) said to the Lord of Pingyuan: "How utterly without men the state must be! You bring in the Lord of Anping to be general, and for that you cut off three cities east of the Ji, fifty-seven walled towns and market towns, and give them to Qi. These are the things one takes by fighting an enemy state, overthrowing its army and killing its general — land cut away from an enemy state. Now you give them to Qi to get the Lord of Anping for a general. How utterly without men the state must be! And why do you not make She your general? She once lived in Yan under sentence, and Yan made She governor of Shanggu. She knows Yan's connecting valleys and strategic passes thoroughly. Within a hundred days, before the armies of the world have gathered, She will have taken Yan. Why then do you seek the Lord of Anping for a general?"

The Lord of Pingyuan said: "Let it go, General. I have already spoken of it to my lord, and my lord has been good enough to listen to me. Say no more, General."

The Lord of Mafu said: "You are mistaken! Your reason for seeking the Lord of Anping is that between Qi and Yan there is a feud of eating livers and wading in blood. With She it is otherwise. If the Lord of Anping is a fool, he plainly cannot stand against Rong Fen; if the Lord of Anping is shrewd, he will not be willing to fight the men of Yan. Of these two sayings, one must hold of the Lord of Anping. Even so, one of the two does hold. If the Lord of Anping is shrewd, then why should he want Zhao to be strong? If Zhao is strong, Qi will never again be hegemon. Now, getting the troops of strong Zhao to fend off the general of Yan, he will drag the matter out for years on end, until the strength of the officers, the grandees, and their younger sons is spent in ditch and rampart, until chariots and armor and feathered standards are torn and worn, until treasuries and granaries are empty and the two states are worn down against each other — and then he will lead his troops home. That the armies of both states should be used up: nothing is plainer than this."

In summer, the army hung up its cauldrons to cook. Three cities were gained, and not one of them was more than a hundred zhi of wall in extent. It fell out exactly as the Lord of Mafu had said.

Three States Attack Qin While Zhao Attacks Zhongshan (三國攻秦趙攻中山)

Three states attacked Qin while Zhao attacked Zhongshan, took Fuliu, and for five years held the Hutuo as her own. The men of Qi, Rong Guo and Song Tu, said to Chou He: "It would be better to give back all the newly taken land of Zhongshan. Zhongshan will then rest on this and say to Qi that the four states are about to borrow a road through Wey so as to pass along Zhangzi's road. When Qi hears this, she will certainly hand over Gu."

Zhao Sends Zhao Zhuang to Form the Vertical Alliance (趙使趙莊合從)

Zhao sent Zhao Zhuang to form the vertical alliance, wishing to attack Qi. Qi asked to hand over land, and Zhao thereupon demoted Zhao Zhuang. Qi Ming spoke on his behalf to the king of Zhao: "Qi is afraid of the alliance men joining together, and therefore offers land. Now she hears that Zhao Zhuang is lowered and Zhang Qin exalted; Qi will certainly not hand over the land." The king of Zhao said, "Good." He then summoned Zhao Zhuang and raised him in honor.

Zhai Zhang Comes from Liang (翟章從梁來)

Zhai Zhang came from Liang and stood very well with the king of Zhao. Three times the king of Zhao offered him the chancellorship, and Zhai Zhang declined and would not accept. Tian Si said to the Pillar of the State, Han Xiang: "Let me stab him for you, my lord. If the guest dies, the king will certainly be enraged and put the Lord of Jianxin to death; and if the Lord of Jianxin dies, you will certainly become chancellor. If the Lord of Jianxin does not die, he will count it a bond of friendship, unbroken to the end of his life, and you will thereby have put the Lord of Jianxin in your debt."

Feng Ji Speaks to the King of Zhao for the Lord of Luling (馮忌為廬陵君謂趙王)

Feng Ji (馮忌) spoke to the king of Zhao on behalf of the Lord of Luling: "Your Majesty is banishing the Lord of Luling for Yan's sake." The king said, "What I count as weighty has nothing to do with Yan or Qin." He replied: "Three times Qin spoke about Yu Qing, and Your Majesty did not banish him. Now Yan has spoken once about the Lord of Luling, and Your Majesty banishes him. This is to make light of strong Qin and much of weak Yan." The king said, "It is not for Yan's sake; I meant to banish him in any case." "Then in banishing the Lord of Luling Your Majesty is not acting for Yan either. To go and banish a beloved younger brother, and at the same time to set both Yan and Qin at nothing — I privately think Your Majesty ought not to do it."

Feng Ji Asks for an Audience with the King of Zhao (馮忌請見趙王)

Feng Ji asked for an audience with the king of Zhao, and the usher presented him. Feng Ji joined his hands and bowed his head, wishing to speak but not daring. The king asked the reason, and he replied: "There was a guest who recommended a man to Master Fu, and afterward asked what the man's fault had been. Master Fu said: 'Your guest has just three faults. He looked at me and smiled — that is over-familiarity. He talked without citing his teacher — that is turning his back on him. His acquaintance was shallow and his words were deep — that is disorder.' The guest said: 'Not so. To look at a man and smile is harmony; to speak without citing a teacher is common talk; to speak deeply on shallow acquaintance is loyalty. Of old, Yao saw Shun among the grass and rushes; they sat on the field-ridge in the shade of a mulberry, and before the shade had shifted he handed over to him the succession of the world. Yi Yin carried cauldron and chopping block on his back to seek out Tang, and before his name was known he received the rank of the Three Dukes. If a man of shallow acquaintance may not speak deeply, then the world would not have been handed on, and the Three Dukes would not have been obtained.'" The king of Zhao said, "Very good." Feng Ji said, "Now I, a servant from abroad, am of shallow acquaintance and wish to speak deeply. May I?" The king said, "Let me receive your instruction." Thereupon Feng Ji spoke.

A Guest Has Audience with the King of Zhao (客見趙王)

A guest had audience with the king of Zhao and said, "I have heard that Your Majesty is sending someone to buy horses. Is it so?" The king said, "It is so." "Why has no one been sent to this day?" The king said, "I have not yet got a man skilled at judging horses." He replied, "Why does Your Majesty not send the Lord of Jianxin?" The king said, "The Lord of Jianxin has the business of the state, and besides he does not know how to judge horses." He said, "Why does Your Majesty not send the lady Ji?" The king said, "The lady Ji is a woman; she does not know how to judge horses." He replied, "If the horses bought are good, what does it profit the state?" The king said, "It profits the state nothing." "If the horses bought are bad, what danger is it to the state?" The king said, "It is no danger to the state." He replied: "Then whether the horses bought are good or bad, neither harms nor profits the state; and yet in buying horses Your Majesty will certainly wait for a skilled man. Now in governing the world, if what is raised up and what is set aside are wrong, the state becomes an empty waste and the altars of soil and grain get no blood offering. Yet in this Your Majesty does not wait for a skilled man, but hands it to the Lord of Jianxin. Why?"

The king of Zhao made no answer to this. The guest said, "In the code of Yan Guo there is what is called the mulberry canker. Does Your Majesty know of it?" The king said, "I have not heard of it." "What is called the mulberry canker is the flatterers and favorites nearest at Your Majesty's side, and the ladies' pampered darlings and pet youths. These are all people who can take advantage of Your Majesty's drunken and clouded hours to seek from Your Majesty what they want. When they can get it within, then the great ministers bend the law for them without. So the sun and moon shine outside, but what preys on them is within; a man carefully guards against what he hates, and the calamity lies in what he loves."

Qin Attacks Wei and Takes Ningyi (秦攻魏取寧邑)

Qin attacked Wei and took Ningyi, and the feudal lords all sent congratulations. The king of Zhao sent men to congratulate her, and three times they came back without having been received. The king of Zhao was troubled by it and said to his attendants: "With Qin's strength, having got Ningyi she can control Qi and Zhao. The feudal lords all congratulate her; I alone send congratulations and am not received. She will certainly bring her arms against us. What is to be done?" His attendants said: "That the envoys have gone three times and not been received must mean that the men sent were not the right men. There is one Liang Yi (諒毅), a skilled debater; Your Majesty might try sending him."

Liang Yi received his commission in person and went. Arriving in Qin, he presented a letter to the king of Qin, saying: "Your Majesty has enlarged your territory with Ningyi, and the feudal lords all congratulate you. My poor state's unworthy ruler also privately rejoices in it, and dares not sit still: he has sent his lowly servants bearing his gifts three times to Your Majesty's court, and the envoys have not been received. If the envoys are guiltless, I beg Your Majesty not to cut off their goodwill; if the envoys are at fault, I beg leave to ask what the fault is." The king of Qin sent an envoy to reply: "In what I require of the state of Zhao, if in matters small and great she obeys my word, then I shall receive the letter and the gifts. If she does not follow my word, then let your envoys go home." Liang Yi replied: "In coming I wished from the first to receive the great state's intent. How should I dare make difficulties? If Your Majesty has any command to lay upon us, I beg to take it up and carry it out, and shall not dare to hesitate."

Thereupon the king of Qin received the envoy and said: "Zhao Bao and the Lord of Pingyuan have repeatedly cheated and made sport of me. If Zhao can kill these two men, well and good. If she cannot kill them, then I shall now lead the feudal lords to receive her submission beneath the walls of Handan." Liang Yi said: "Zhao Bao and the Lord of Pingyuan are my ruler's own younger brothers by the same mother, just as Your Majesty has the Lords of Yeyang and Jingyang. Your Majesty is known throughout the world for governing by filial piety: clothing that is easy on the body, food that is pleasing to the mouth, you have never failed to share with the Lords of Yeyang and Jingyang, and the carriages, horses, and clothing of the Lords of Yeyang and Jingyang are all such as Your Majesty himself wears and uses. I have heard it said: 'Where nests are overturned and eggs broken, the phoenix does not fly; where wombs are cut open and the newborn burned, the qilin does not come.' If I now receive Your Majesty's command and carry it back in reply, my poor state's ruler will be afraid and will not dare disobey. Would that not wound the hearts of the Lords of Yeyang and Jingyang?"

The king of Qin said, "Very well. Then let them not take part in government." Liang Yi said: "My poor state's ruler has brothers by the same mother whom he has failed to instruct, so that they have offended the great state. I beg that he demote them and not let them share in the business of government, so as to answer the great state's wish." The king of Qin was then pleased; he received the gifts and treated him generously.

Zhao Sends Yao Jia to Make a Pact with Han and Wei (趙使姚賈約韓魏)

Zhao sent Yao Jia (姚賈) to make a pact with Han and Wei, and Han and Wei made a friend of him. Ju Mao spoke to the king of Zhao on Yao Jia's behalf: "Jia is Your Majesty's loyal servant. Han and Wei want to get him, and so they befriend him: they mean to make Your Majesty banish him and then take him in themselves. If Your Majesty now banishes him, then what Han and Wei desire is granted, and Your Majesty's loyal servant is made a criminal. Therefore Your Majesty had better not banish him, so as to make Your Majesty's worth plain and break off Han's and Wei's attempt to draw him away."

Wei Defeats Chu at Xingshan (魏敗楚於陘山)

Wei defeated Chu at Xingshan and captured Tang Ming. The king of Chu was afraid and ordered Zhao Ying to escort the heir apparent and commit the making of peace to the Lord of Xue. The Ruling Father wished to wreck this, and so bound Qin to himself and linked the connections of Chu and Song, making Chou He chancellor in Song and Lou Huan chancellor in Qin. The king of Chu took hold of Zhao and Song, and the peace with Wei broke down in the end.

Qin Summons the Marquis of Chunping (秦召春平侯)

Qin summoned the Marquis of Chunping and thereupon detained him. Shi Jun spoke on his behalf to the Marquis of Wenxin: "The Marquis of Chunping is greatly loved by the king of Zhao, and the palace gentlemen are very jealous of him. So they plotted together and said, 'If the Marquis of Chunping goes into Qin, Qin will certainly detain him' — and so they schemed and got him sent into Qin. If you now detain him, this is to break with Zhao for nothing, and the palace gentlemen's scheme hits its mark. Therefore you had better send the Marquis of Chunping back and detain the Marquis of Pingdu instead. The word of the Marquis of Chunping carries with the king of Zhao; he will certainly cut off a generous portion of Zhao to serve you, and so ransom the Marquis of Pingdu." The Marquis of Wenxin said, "Good." He therefore came to an understanding with him and sent him back.

The Queen Dowager of Zhao Newly Takes Charge (趙太后新用事)

The queen dowager of Zhao had newly taken charge of affairs, and Qin attacked hard. The house of Zhao sought rescue from Qi. Qi said, "Only if the Lord of Chang'an is sent as a hostage will the troops go out." The queen dowager would not have it, and the great ministers remonstrated strongly. The queen dowager said plainly to her attendants, "If anyone speaks again of making the Lord of Chang'an a hostage, this old woman will spit in his face."

The Left Master Chu Zhe (觸讋) asked to see the queen dowager. The queen dowager waited for him swelling with anger. He came in at a slow shuffle, and on reaching her made his apology, saying: "Your old servant's feet are bad, and I cannot walk quickly; it is long since I could come and see you. I privately excused myself, and yet feared that the queen dowager's jade person might be somewhat out of sorts, and so I wished to come and look upon the queen dowager." The queen dowager said, "This old woman gets about by leaning on a carriage." He said, "Has your daily eating and drinking not fallen off?" She said, "I live on gruel, that is all." He said, "Of late your old servant has had no appetite at all; so I forced myself to walk three or four li a day, and little by little my taste for food increased, and it agrees with my body." The queen dowager said, "This old woman cannot do that." Her expression softened somewhat.

The Left Master said: "Your old servant's worthless son Shu Qi is the youngest and is of no ability; and your servant is failing, and privately dotes on him. I would beg that he be allowed to fill out the number of the black-coats and guard the royal palace; at the risk of death I make it known." The queen dowager said, "Respectfully granted. How old is he?" He replied, "Fifteen. Young though he is, I wish to entrust him while I have not yet filled a ditch or a gully." The queen dowager said, "Do men too dote on their youngest sons?" He replied, "More than women do." The queen dowager laughed and said, "Women are far worse." He replied, "Your old servant privately thinks that my lady loves the queen of Yan better than the Lord of Chang'an." She said, "You are mistaken, sir; not nearly so much as the Lord of Chang'an." The Left Master said: "When parents love a child, they plan far ahead for him. When my lady sent off the queen of Yan, you held her heel and wept for her, grieving that she was going far — that too was sorrow for her. After she had gone, it was not that you did not think of her: at every sacrifice you would surely pray for her, and the prayer was, 'Let her never come back.' Was that not planning for the long term, that her sons and grandsons should succeed one another as kings?" The queen dowager said, "It is so." The Left Master said, "Now, going back three generations, and back to when Zhao first became Zhao, of the sons and grandsons of Zhao's rulers who were made marquises, are there any whose lines still survive?" She said, "There are none." He said, "Not Zhao alone — among the feudal lords, are there any surviving?" She said, "This old woman has not heard of any." "In these cases the nearer met calamity in their own persons, the more distant in their sons and grandsons. Is it that the sons and grandsons of rulers must necessarily be bad? Their positions were honored without merit, their emoluments rich without labor, and they held many things of weight. Now my lady exalts the position of the Lord of Chang'an, enfeoffs him with rich and fertile land, and gives him many things of weight, but does not take this present time to have him do meritorious service for the state. One morning, when the mountain and the hill crumble, on what will the Lord of Chang'an rely to keep his place in Zhao? Your old servant thinks that my lady's plans for the Lord of Chang'an are short, and therefore holds that you love him less than the queen of Yan." The queen dowager said, "Very well. Do with him as you please." Thereupon a hundred chariots were made ready for the Lord of Chang'an, and he was sent as hostage to Qi; and then the troops of Qi went out.

Ziyi heard of it and said: "A ruler's own son, his own flesh and bone, still cannot rely on honor without merit and emolument without labor and so keep hold of the weight of gold and jade — how much less a subject?"

Qin Sends Wang Jian to Attack Zhao (秦使王翦攻趙)

Qin sent Wang Jian (王翦) to attack Zhao, and Zhao sent Li Mu (李牧) and Sima Shang to resist him. Li Mu repeatedly broke and routed the Qin armies and killed the Qin general Huan Yi. Wang Jian hated this, and so gave much gold to Guo Kai and the other favorites of the king of Zhao and had them sow disaffection, saying, "Li Mu and Sima Shang mean to join Qin and turn against Zhao, so as to get a large fief from Qin." The king of Zhao suspected them, sent Zhao Cong and Yan Ju to take over the command, beheaded Li Mu, and dismissed Sima Shang. Three months later Wang Jian struck hard, greatly defeated Zhao, cut down the Zhao army, took captive King Qian of Zhao and his general Yan Ju, and so extinguished Zhao.

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.

One recurring pair of terms is worth flagging for the reader: 從 (合從), the Vertical Alliance binding the eastern states against Qin, and 橫 (連橫), the Horizontal Alliance by which individual states made separate peace with Qin, name the two rival strategies that structure most of the persuasions in this book and are kept in English gloss rather than transliterated throughout.

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 趙策

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.

趙策 一

〔鮑本趙　初分晉，得趙國。北有信都、真定、常山、中山，又得涿郡之高陽鄚州鄉。東有廣平、鉅鹿、清河、河間、渤海之東平、舒、中邑、文安、束州、成平、章武河以北。南至浮水、繁陽、內黃、斥丘。西有太原、定原、上黨。〕

知伯從韓魏兵以攻趙

知伯從韓、魏兵〔鮑本二國兵從之。〕以攻趙，圍晉陽而水之，城下〔鮑本「下」作「之」。○　補曰：疑衍，或是「之」字。〕不沉者三板。郤疵〔姚本元和姓篡，郤，己姓，青陽氏之後，趙有郤疵。　鮑本晉人。補曰：郤，刺黎反，孫本作「郗」，說文作「絺」。〕謂知伯曰：「韓、魏之君必反矣。」知伯曰「何以知之？」郤疵曰：「以其人事知之。夫〔鮑本「夫」作「矣」。○　一本作「夫」，「夫」當屬下句。〕從韓、魏之兵〔鮑本「兵」作「君」。○〕而攻趙，趙亡，難必及韓、魏矣。今約勝趙〔姚本四本無「勝趙」二字。〕而三分其地。今城不沒者三板，臼灶生蛙，人馬相食，城降有日，而韓、魏之君無憙〔鮑本「憙」作「喜」。○〕志而有憂色，是非反如〔鮑本補曰：猶而。〕何也？」

明日，知伯以告韓、魏之君曰：「郤疵言君之且反也。」韓、魏之君曰：「夫勝趙而三分其地，城今且將拔矣。夫三〔姚本錢、劉作「二」。　鮑本「三」作「二」。○〕家雖愚，〔鮑本補曰：「愚」下恐當有「必」字。　札記丕烈案：吳說未是。〕不棄美利於前，背信盟之約，而為危難不可成之事，其勢可見也。是疵為趙計矣，使君疑二主之心，〔鮑本二主自稱曰「主」，亦非當時語。〕而解〔鮑本「解」，「懈」同。〕於攻趙也。今君聽讒臣之言，而離二主之交，為君惜之。」趨而出。郤疵謂知伯曰：「君又何以疵言告韓、魏之君為？」知伯曰：「子安知之？」對曰：「韓、魏之君視疵端而趨疾。」〔鮑本視端，畏之；趨疾，避之。恐疵要之與見知伯而辭屈也。〕

郤疵知其言之不聽，請使於齊，知伯遣之。韓、魏之君果反矣。〔鮑本彪謂：智伯至是，眩於得而不顧其禍，殆天奪其魄者。至以謀人之言，質人以反，夫非狂昏癡瞢，孰肯自承其反哉？〕

知伯帥趙韓魏而伐范中行氏

知伯帥趙、韓、魏而伐范中行氏，〔鮑本補曰：范氏，士會之後。荀林父將中行，後因以官為氏。〕滅之。休數年，使人請地於韓。韓康子欲勿與，段䂓〔鮑本韓人。晉舊姓，故魏亦有。補曰：姓譜，段，鄭共叔段之後。〕諫曰：「不可。夫知伯之為人也，好利而鷙〔鮑本鷙，殺鳥也，喻其殘忍。〕復，〔姚本四本只作「復」，劉作「愎」。　鮑本補曰：韓子作「鷙愎」。〕來請地不與，必加兵於韓矣。君其與之。與之〔鮑本「與之」不重。○　札記丕烈案：韓子復有。〕彼狃，〔鮑本狃，犬性驕也。補曰：狃，習也。〕又將請地於他國，他國不聽，必鄉之以兵；然則韓可以免於患難，而待事之變。」康子曰：「善。」使使者致萬家之邑一於知伯。知伯說，又使人請地於魏，魏宣〔鮑本「宣」作「桓」。○　補曰：韓子、說苑亦並作「宣」，恐「桓」字訛，下同。〕子欲勿與。趙葭〔鮑本魏人，亦晉舊姓。〕諫曰：「彼請地於韓，韓與之。請地於魏，魏弗與，則是魏內自強，而外怒知伯也。然則其錯兵於魏必矣！不如與之。」宣子曰：「諾。」因使人致萬家之邑一於知伯。知伯說，又使人之趙，請蔡、〔鮑本「蔡」作「藺」。○　蔡非趙地，皋狼屬西河。補曰：恐名偶同。漢志，西河郡有皋狼縣，又有藺縣。或「藺」字訛。　札記丕烈案：韓子作「蔡」。〕皋狼之地；趙襄子弗與。知伯因〔鮑本無「因」字。○　札記丕烈案：韓子有。〕陰結韓、魏，將以伐趙。

趙〔姚本曾、錢無「趙」字。〕襄子召張孟談而告之曰：「夫知伯之為人，陽親而陰疏，〔鮑本他日陰疏，今則顯矣。〕三使韓、魏，而寡人弗與焉，其移兵寡人必矣。今吾安居而可？」張孟談曰：「夫董閼安于，簡主〔鮑本「主」作「子」。○　補曰：一本作「主」。　札記丕烈案：韓子作「主」。〕之才臣也，世治晉陽，而尹澤〔鮑本「尹」作「君」。○　君澤，趙臣，繼安于者。補曰：大事記，晉陽，漢太原郡所治，龍山在西北，晉水所出。一本「尹澤」。大事記謂「澤」字誤，韓子、國語作「尹鐸」。　札記丕烈案：「澤」、「鐸」同字耳。〕循〔姚本曾、錢皆作「修」。〕之，其餘政教猶存，君其定居晉陽。」君〔鮑本君，謂襄子。〕曰：「諾。」乃使延陵王〔鮑本「王」作「君」。○　此襄子臣，不得稱王。「王」當作「生」。正曰：韓子云，趙襄子召延陵生令將云云。浚儀王氏謂鮑失考。　札記今本「王」作「君」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕將車騎先之晉陽，君因從之。至，行城郭，案〔鮑本「案」，「按」同。行也。〕府庫，視倉廩，召張孟談曰：「吾城郭之完，府庫足用，倉廩實矣，無矢奈何？」張孟談曰：「臣聞董子之治晉陽也，公宮之垣，〔鮑本垣，牆也。〕皆以狄蒿苫楚廧之，〔鮑本「狄」作「荻」。○　荻，萑葦屬。爾雅「蕭荻」注，即蒿。又蘩醜，秋為蒿。苫，蓋也。楚，荊也。以是為牆。「廧」，「牆」同。　札記今本「苫」作「楛」，「之」下有「有楛」二字。丕烈案：韓子作「皆以荻蒿楛楚牆之，有楛高至于丈」。此「苫」字當作「苦」，即韓子之「楛」字。韓子「有楛」二字依此，策文當衍。今本反依之添入，誤也。〕其高至丈餘，君發而用之。」於是發而試之，其堅則箘簬〔鮑本補曰：箘，音窘。簬，即簵，見禹貢。〕之勁不能過也。君曰：「足〔鮑本「足」上有「矢」字。○　札記丕烈案：韓子作「吾箭已足矣」。〕矣，吾銅少若何？」張孟談曰：「臣聞董子之治晉陽也，公宮之室，皆以鍊銅為柱質，〔鮑本質，礎也。〕請發而用之，則有餘銅矣。」君曰：「善。」號令以定，備守以具。

三國之兵乘晉陽城，遂戰。三月不能拔，因舒軍而圍之，決晉水而灌之。圍晉陽三年，城中巢居而處，懸釜而炊，財食將盡，士卒病羸。襄子謂張孟談曰：「糧食匱，城〔鮑本「城」作「財」。○　札記丕烈案：韓子作「財」。〕力盡，士大夫病，吾不能守矣。欲以城下，〔鮑本謂將降。〕何如？」張孟談曰：「臣聞之，亡不能存，危不能安，則無為貴知士也。君釋此計，勿復言也。臣請見韓、魏之君。」襄子曰：「諾。」

張孟談於是陰見韓、魏之君曰：「臣聞脣亡則齒寒，今知伯帥二國之君伐趙，趙將亡矣，亡則二君為之次矣。」二君曰：「我知其然。夫知伯為人也，麁中〔鮑本「麁」作「麤」。○　「麤」，「粗」同，疏也。正曰：相厲少仁愛。　札記丕烈案：韓子作「麤」。〕而少親，我謀未遂而知，則其禍必至，為之奈何？」張孟談曰：「謀出二君之口，入臣之耳，人莫之知也。」二君即與張孟談陰約三軍，與之期曰，〔鮑本無「曰」字，補「日」字。○　札記丕烈案：韓子有，作「日」。〕夜，〔鮑本曰既夜。〕遣入晉陽。張孟談以報襄子，襄子再拜之。

張孟談因朝〔鮑本兵交，使在其間，胡得朝之？〕知伯而出，遇知過〔姚本一云「知果」。　鮑本「過」，一作「果」，智伯之族。補曰：晉語，「智宣子將以瑤為後，知果曰：『不如宵也。』弗聽」。知果，別族，於太史為輔氏。通鑑取此，與策先後不同。〕轅門之外。〔鮑本以車為門，而轅外向。〕知過入見知伯曰：「二主殆將有變。」君〔鮑本君，智伯。〕曰：「何如？」對曰：「臣遇張孟談於轅門之外，其志矜，其行高。」知伯曰：「不然。吾與二主約謹矣，破趙三分其地，寡人所親之，〔鮑本言親與二國約。〕必不欺也。子釋之，勿出於口。」知過出見二主，入說知伯曰：「二主色動而意變，必背君，不如令殺之。」知伯曰：「兵箸〔鮑本箸，言附其城。〕晉陽三年矣，旦暮當拔之〔鮑本無「之」字。○　札記丕烈案：韓子有。〕而饗其利，乃有他心？不可，子慎勿復言。」知過曰：「不殺則遂親之。」知伯曰：「親之奈何？」知過曰：「魏宣子之謀臣曰趙葭，康子之〔鮑本「宣」上有「桓」字，「康」上補「韓」字。○　補曰：恐缺「韓」字。　札記丕烈案：韓子有。〕謀臣曰段䂓，〔鮑本二謚皆非當時語。〕是皆能移其君之計。君其與二君約，破趙則封二子者各萬家之縣一，如是則二主之心可不變，而君得其所欲矣。」知伯曰：「破趙而三分其地，又封二子者各萬家之縣一，則吾所得者少，不可。」知過見君之不用也，言之不聽，出，更其姓為輔氏，遂去不見。

張孟談聞之，入見襄子曰：「臣遇知過於轅門之外，其視有疑臣之心，入見知伯，出更其姓。〔鮑本恐智伯以過之去之決，有感動矣。〕今暮不擊，必後之矣。」襄子曰：「諾。」使張孟談見韓、魏之君曰：〔鮑本「曰」作「日」。○　札記丕烈案：韓子作「至於期日之夜」。〕「夜期殺守堤之吏，而決水灌知伯軍。」知伯軍〔鮑本原無「軍」字，補「軍」字。○　札記丕烈案：韓子有。〕救水而亂，韓、魏翼而擊之，〔鮑本左右夾擊。〕襄子將卒犯其前，大敗知伯軍而禽知伯。

知伯身死，國亡地分，為天下笑，此貪欲無厭也。夫不聽知過，亦所以亡也。知氏盡滅，唯輔氏存焉。〔鮑本彪謂：段䂓之策，智伯、智過之察，孟談皆如在其目中，可謂明也已矣。此一時三晉、智氏皆有士，三晉之應之如響，智氏獨不用之而亡，則士豈非天下之重寶乎？雖然，水灌晉陽，城之不沈者三板，於此時，使智伯殺韓、魏之君，亦難聽矣。其次，欲其分封二子，是豈不可為與？智伯惟沒於利，故昏於智，故孟子之說曰，「何必曰利」？〕

張孟談既固趙宗

張孟談〔鮑本補曰：「談」，史作「同」，太史公避父諱也。〕既固趙宗，廣〔鮑本「廣」作「廟」。○　補曰：一本「廟」作「廣」，是。〕封疆，發五百，〔鮑本「百」作「霸」。○　下同。伯業不振，今復發之。補曰：即「伯」，古通。〕乃稱簡之塗〔鮑本稱者，舉其說也。此士國地君之御。　札記丕烈案：此策文多不可通，當闕。〕以告襄子曰：「昔者，前國地君之御〔鮑本國地猶武安之類，御則之塗。〕有之曰：『五百之所以致天下者，約〔鮑本約者，自斷之辭。〕兩〔鮑本衍「兩」字。補曰：恐字有誤。　札記今本無「兩」字，乃誤涉鮑也。〕主勢能制臣，無令臣能制主。故貴為列侯者，不令在相位，自將軍以上，不為近大夫。』今臣之名顯而身尊，權重而眾服，臣願捐〔鮑本「捐」作「損」。○　補曰：一本作「捐」。〕功名去權勢以離眾。」襄子恨然曰：「何哉？吾聞輔主者名顯，功大者身尊，任國者權重，信忠在己而眾服焉。此先聖之所以集國家，安社稷乎！〔姚本劉改作「也」。〕子何為然？」張孟談對曰：「君之所言，成功之美也。臣之所謂，持國之道也。臣觀成事，聞往古，天下之美同，〔鮑本有美而同，必相嫉。〕臣主之權均之〔鮑本補曰：外記「之」作「而」。　札記丕烈案：此外記改耳。〕能美，未之有也。前事之不忘，後事之師。君若弗圖，則臣力不足。」愴然有決〔鮑本雖欲決去，而猶愴然，明不得已也。一說，決，猶別。〕色。襄子去之。臥三日，使人謂之曰：「晉陽之政，臣下不使者〔鮑本不為國用。〕何如？」〔札記今本「何如」誤「如何」。〕對曰：「死僇。」〔鮑本「僇」，「戮」同。〕張孟談曰：「左司馬〔鮑本失其名。〕見使於國家，安社稷，不避其死，以成其忠，君其行之。」〔鮑本行，猶用也，疑當作「任」。補曰：左司馬，恐孟談自謂之辭。行之者，許之，僇之，推□也。〕君曰：「子從事。」乃許之。〔鮑本使談自從其所欲之事，以其薦賢自代，故許其去。〕張孟談〔鮑本此下著書者美之也。〕便厚以便名，〔鮑本便，安。厚，重也。去權所以安其重，損名所以安其名。〕納地釋事以去權尊，而耕於負親之丘。〔鮑本趙地，缺。〕故曰，賢人之行，明主之政也。〔鮑本此美襄子。〕

耕三年，韓、魏、齊、燕〔鮑本「燕」作「楚」。○　補曰：下文有楚無燕，必有一誤。〕負親以謀趙，〔鮑本言五國昔約親，今背之。正曰：上言「負親之丘」，不應此義頓異。恐「負親」字衍，或上有缺文。〕襄子往見張孟談而告之曰：「昔者知氏之地，趙氏分則多十城，復來，〔鮑本言分地多自與，韓、魏嘗以為言矣，今復來也。正曰：「復來」字恐舛誤在上。當云「而今諸侯復來」，句似順。〕而今諸侯孰〔鮑本衍「孰」字。補曰：孰為我謀。　札記今本無「孰」字，乃誤涉鮑也。〕謀我，為之奈何？」張孟談曰：「君其負劍而御臣以之國，〔鮑本君自為御。〕舍臣於廟，授吏大夫，〔鮑本授談之吏以為大夫，示尊顯之也。〕臣試計之。」君曰：「諾。」張孟談乃行，其妻之楚，〔鮑本使妻之楚。〕長子之韓，次子之魏，少子之齊。四國疑而謀敗。〔鮑本談，趙之謀臣，而其妻子分適四國，故四國更相疑，以為厚趙也。〕　　〔鮑本彪謂：孟談，有道之士也。國有危難，不顧萬死，出入行陣，以就其謀，功成事遂，則委而去之。已去而復出，以銷國家之難。非有道，孰能出處語默若是之裕哉？范蠡始終之際賢矣，方之孟談猶一間也。正曰：孟談可謂謀智之士，有道則未也。〕

晉畢陽之孫豫讓

晉畢陽〔鮑本畢萬之後。正曰：無明據。晉語，伯宗索士庇州犁，得畢陽。及欒弗忌之難，諸大夫害伯宗，畢陽實送州犁于荊。讓乃其孫，義烈有自來矣。〕之孫豫讓，始事范中行氏而不說，去而就知伯，知伯寵之。及三晉分知氏，趙襄子最怨知伯，而將其頭以為飲器。〔鮑本補曰：史，漆其頭。說苑，異日智伯與襄子飲，而灌襄子之首，後敗智伯，漆其首為飲器。索隱云，案大宛傳，匈奴以月氏王頭為飲器。裴氏引韋昭云「稗榼也」，晉灼曰「虎子也」，皆非。稗榼所以盛酒，非用飲者。皆以韓子、呂氏春秋并云「漆智伯頭以為飲器」故也。〕豫讓遁逃山中，曰：「嗟乎！士為知己者死，女為悅己者容。〔鮑本修其容色。補曰：司馬子長用此語，「死」作「用」。〕吾其報知氏之讎矣。」乃變姓名，為刑人，入宮塗厠，欲以刺襄子。襄子如厠，心動，執問塗者，則豫讓也。刃其扞，〔姚本曾本作「〈扌午〉」。　鮑本「扞」，「銲」同。集韻，矛鐏謂之銲。刃，施刃其端。〕曰：「欲為知伯報讎！」左右欲殺之。趙襄子曰：「彼義士也，吾謹避之耳。且知伯已死，無後，而其臣至為報讎，此天下之賢人也。」卒釋之。豫讓又漆身為厲，〔鮑本補曰：索隱曰，癩，惡瘡。凡漆有毒，近之多患疥腫，若癩病然。故讓以漆塗身，令若癩。「厲」、「癩」，聲近假借。〕滅鬚去眉，自刑以變其容，為乞人而往〔鮑本補曰：史作「行」。　札記丕烈案：史作「行乞於市」，與此策文多不同也。〕乞，其妻不識，曰：「狀貌不似吾夫，其音何類吾夫之甚也。」又吞炭為啞，變其音。其友謂之曰：「子之道甚難而無功，謂子有志則然矣，謂子智則否。以子之才，而善事襄子，襄子必近幸子；子之得近而行所欲，此甚易而功必成。」豫讓乃笑而應之曰：「是為先知報後知，為故君賊新君，大亂君臣之義者無〔鮑本補曰：「無」字下恐有缺字。〕此矣。凡吾所謂為此者，以明君臣之義，非從易也。且夫委質而事人，而求弒之，是懷二心以事君也。吾所為難，亦將以愧天下後世人臣懷二心者。」

居頃之，襄子當出，豫讓伏所當〔鮑本「所當」二字作「以」。○　補曰：一本「伏所當過」。　札記丕烈案：史記作「所當」。〕過橋下。襄子至橋而馬驚。襄子曰：「此必豫讓也。」使人問之，果豫讓。於是趙襄子面數豫讓曰：「子不嘗事范中行氏乎？知伯滅范中行氏，而子不為報讎，反委質事知伯。知伯已死，子獨何為報讎之深也？」豫讓曰：「臣事范中行氏，范〔鮑本原無「范」字，補「范」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕中行氏以眾人遇臣，臣故眾人報之；知伯以國士〔鮑本國士，名蓋一國者。〕遇臣，臣故國士報之。」〔鮑本為國士所為以報之。〕襄子乃喟然歎泣曰：「嗟乎，豫子！豫〔姚本劉去「豫」字。　鮑本無「豫」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記無。〕子〔鮑本衍「子」字。　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕之為知伯，名既成矣，寡人舍子，亦以〔鮑本「以」作「已」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「已」。〕足矣。子自為計，寡人不舍子。」使兵環之。豫讓曰：「臣聞明主不掩人之義，忠臣不愛死以成名。君前已〔札記今本「已」誤「以」。〕寬舍臣，天下莫不稱君之賢。今日之事，臣故〔鮑本補曰：「故」，「固」通。〕伏誅，然願請君之衣而擊之，雖死不恨。非所望也，〔鮑本言有此心，望不及此。〕敢布腹心。」於是襄子義之，乃使使者〔札記今本「者」下誤衍「者」字。〕持衣與豫讓。豫讓拔劍三躍，呼天擊之〔姚本錢無「呼天」二字，劉作「呼天而擊之」。〕曰：「而可以報知伯矣。」〔鮑本而，自呼也。〕遂伏劍而死。死之日，趙國之士聞之，皆為涕泣。〔姚本續云：司馬貞引戰國策，「衣盡血，襄子回車之輪，未周而亡」。此不言衣出血者，太史公恐涉怪妄，故略之耳。今本無此，乃後人所刪。說苑，「襄子自置車庫中，水漿不入口三日，以禮豫讓」。　鮑本刺客傳有。彪謂：襄子、豫子皆千載人也。豫子能報舊君，能厲天下後世之為臣。使他人為之，必一失於此矣。或以其無成事為空自苦。夫壯士能行其志而已，成不成則有命焉，吾何以必之哉？智伯有如此臣，以國士遇之，而不免於亡，殆與郭君善善為輩者歟！補曰：讓，義士也，史遷列之刺客，而蘇轍氏古史亦謂之非賢，失之矣。朱子綱目附見於三晉始命之下，則以其事在前，不得特書以表之爾。大事記解題略見，而記不書，未知呂子之旨。按索隱引策云，「衣盡出血，襄子回車，車輪未周而亡」。今無此文，或以其怪而刪之歟。〕

魏文侯借道於趙攻中山

魏文侯借道於趙攻中山。〔鮑本魏十七年，此元年。〕趙侯將不許。趙利曰：「過矣。魏攻中山而不能取，則魏必罷，〔鮑本音疲。〕罷則趙重。魏拔中山，必不能越趙而有中山矣。是用兵者，魏也；而得地者，趙也。君不如許之，許之大勸，彼將知矣〔姚本劉無「矣」字。　鮑本「矣」作「趙」。○　補曰：此本「趙利」又舉人姓名，皆難解，疑有舛誤。　札記丕烈案：韓子有此事，云「彼將知君利之也」。「趙」字當是，吳氏失考也。〕利之也，必輟。君不如借之道，而示之不得已。」

秦韓圍梁燕趙救之

秦、韓圍梁，〔鮑本衍「韓」字。秦獻公二十三年戰少梁，此九年。正曰：據鮑說以為魏敗韓、趙于澮之年。少梁，即獲公叔痤之戰，不聞燕、趙之救也，時方敗趙，趙豈得救之？此皆無據之言。且策云圍梁，不云少梁，圍梁必惠王徙都大梁后，不可考矣。徙都大梁在惠王三十一年。〕燕、趙救之。謂山陽君〔鮑本楚宣策言此人，正同時也。〕曰：「秦戰而勝三國，秦必過周、韓而有梁。三國而勝秦，三國之力，雖不足以攻秦，足以拔鄭。〔鮑本新鄭。鄭近梁，故云。正曰：韓哀侯二年已滅鄭，此鄭即謂韓。〕計〔鮑本為梁計。〕者不如構三國攻秦。」〔鮑本原在趙策。正曰：證據不明，且當從舊。〕

腹擊為室而鉅

腹擊〔鮑本他國人，仕趙。〕為室而鉅，荊敢〔鮑本楚人，仕趙。正曰：無據。荊軻，衛人，荊豈專為楚姓？〕言之主。謂腹子曰：「何故為室之鉅也？」腹擊曰：「臣羈旅也，爵高而祿輕，宮室小而帑不眾。〔鮑本帑，金幣所藏。正曰：「帑」，「孥」通。詩注，子孫也。金幣與「眾」義不協。〕主雖信臣，百姓皆曰：『國有大事，擊必不為用。』今擊之鉅宮，〔姚本曾改作「室」。〕將以取信於百姓也。」主君曰：「善。」〔鮑本此曰「主」、曰「主君」，主父故在也。然則上章「王」當作「主」。正曰：齊侯使高張唁公，稱「主君」。子家子曰「齊卑君矣。主君，大夫之稱也」。秦策，甘茂引樂羊曰「主君之功」。魏策，魯侯擇言稱「主君之尊」云云，蓋三晉以大夫為諸侯，故猶仍之。趙稱襄主、簡主是也。策後亦多稱「主」，武靈自稱「主父」，與稱「主」者不同。此策時不可考。鮑妄置於惠文時，故為之說。又齊、韓、魏攻秦，在惠文元年。滅中山在三年。大事記從世家，以年表為誤。愚考中山亡，實在前。見齊策。主父死在四年，上章五年，自有所指，初不與此相涉，安得以此改彼文也？補曰：鉅宮以信百姓，誑主甚矣。〕

蘇秦說李兌

蘇秦〔鮑本「秦」作「子」。○　補曰：字誤，下同。　札記丕烈案：吳氏補曰，字誤，下同。非也。又曰，太史公所謂異時事有類之者皆附之，蘇秦其此類邪？是也。策文本如此。〕說李兌曰：「雒陽〔姚本元和姓纂，洛陽，蘇秦之後，今無聞。〕乘軒車〔鮑本補曰：一本「乘軒里」。既曰「乘軒車」，而下又云：「無罷車駑馬」，則此作「里」字為是。河南志，洛陽城東御道北孝義里西北隅，有蘇秦冢。　札記丕烈案：史記正義引策云，「蘇秦，洛陽軒里之人也」。則張守節所見本是「里」字，可證一本之善也。〕蘇秦，〔鮑本「秦」作「某」。○　札記丕烈案：鮑改誤甚，策文無作「某」之例。〕家貧親老，無罷車駑馬，〔鮑本「罷」，「疲」同。猶敝也。車勞敗敝。〕桑輪蓬篋羸〔鮑本「羸」作「贏」。○　正曰：說見秦策蘇秦章。〕幐，負書擔橐，〔鮑本「橐」作「囊」。○〕觸塵埃，蒙霜露，越漳、河，〔鮑本「漳河」作「河漳」。○　補曰：濁漳合清漳，東北至阜城，入北河。漢初，漳猶入河，其後河徙日東，而漳自入海。策中凡言「漳河」、「河漳」者，以漳入河相連也。此下又有「漳河」字。〕足重繭，〔鮑本繭，足胝也。〕日百而舍，〔鮑本日行百里乃就舍。〕造外闕，願見於前，口道天下之事。」李兌曰：「先生以鬼之言見我則可，若以人之〔鮑本無「之」字。○〕事，兌盡知之矣。」蘇秦對曰：「臣固以鬼之言見君，非以人之言也。」李兌見之。蘇秦曰：「今日臣之來也暮，後郭門，〔鮑本郭門後至，不及其開時。〕藉〔鮑本藉，謂借。〕席無所得，寄宿人田中，傍有大叢。〔鮑本補曰：叢，見秦策。〕夜半，土梗〔鮑本土亦言梗，因木為類也。補曰：說見齊策。〕與木梗鬬曰：『汝不如我，我者〔姚本曾去「者」字。　鮑本補曰：愚謂有「者」字語勝。〕乃土也。使我逢疾風淋〔鮑本淋，言其大能沃物。〕雨，壞沮，〔鮑本「沮」作「阻」。○　札記丕烈案：「阻」字誤。〕乃復歸土。今汝非木之根，則木之枝耳。汝逢疾風淋雨，漂入漳、河，東流至海，汜濫無所止。』臣竊以為土梗勝也。〔鮑本此喻不切於兌之事，蓋以鬼事發其言耳。〕今君殺主父而族之，〔鮑本殺在四年，言族，則其宗多死者。〕君之立於天下，危於累卵。君聽臣計則生，不聽臣計則死。」李兌曰：「先生就舍，明日復來見兌也。」蘇秦出。

李兌舍人謂李兌曰：「臣竊觀君與蘇公談也，其辯過君，其博過君，君能聽蘇公之計乎？」李兌曰：「不能。」舍人曰：「君即不能，願君堅塞兩耳，無聽其談也。」明日復見，終日談而去。舍人出送蘇君，蘇秦謂舍人曰：「昨日我談粗而君動，今日精而君不動，何也？」舍人曰：「先生之計大而規高，吾君不能用也。乃我請君塞〔鮑本「塞」上有「堅」字。○〕兩耳，無聽談者。雖然，先生明日復來，吾請資先生厚〔鮑本言使兌厚而用之。正曰：用，財費也。〕用。」明日來，抵掌而談。李兌送蘇秦明月之珠，〔鮑本覽冥訓注，隋侯珠云。　札記今本「月」誤「日」。〕和氏之璧，〔鮑本卞和所獻楚文王者。補曰：趙得楚和氏璧，秦昭王欲以十五城易之。李兌所送必非。〕黑貂之裘，黃金百鎰。〔鮑本「鎰」作「溢」，又改作「鎰」。○〕蘇秦得以為用，西入於秦。〔鮑本補曰：蘇秦之死在慎靚王四年，去主父見殺時遠甚。此策言殺主父事，非秦明矣。其代、厲與？首尾亦與秦策蘇秦章類，抑本秦言事，而勦入後事歟？土梗、木梗之喻，與齊策止田文說同。彼亦秦死後事，而指為秦皆不合。太史公所謂異時事有類之者皆附之。蘇秦其此類耶？〕

趙收天下且以伐齊

趙收天下，且以伐齊。蘇秦〔鮑本「秦」作「厲」。○　補曰：史作「厲」。〕為〔鮑本補曰：去聲。〕齊上書說趙王曰：「臣聞古之賢君，德行非施於海內也，教順慈愛，非布於萬民也，祭祀時享，非當於鬼神也。甘露降，風雨時至，〔鮑本無「至」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「時雨至」。〕農夫登，〔鮑本穀熟曰登。〕年穀豐盈，眾人喜之，〔鮑本「喜」作「善」。○　補曰：一本「喜之」。　札記丕烈案：史記作「善」。〕而賢主惡〔鮑本惡，心不安也。以其無以致之故。〕之。今足下功力，〔鮑本謂戰伐。〕非數痛加於秦國，而怨毒積惡，非曾深凌於韓也。〔姚本曾本，「非素深于韓、齊也」。　鮑本補曰：「曾」恐即「增」。〕臣竊外聞大臣及下吏之議，皆言主前專據，〔鮑本言行之不疑。〕以秦為愛趙而憎韓。臣竊以事觀之，秦豈得愛趙而憎韓哉？欲亡韓吞兩周之地，故以韓為餌，〔鮑本趙時惡韓，故秦以亡韓悅趙，趙遂以為愛己也。補曰：秦兩「憎韓」及「以韓為餌」之「韓」，史並作「齊」，說見後。且亡韓吞兩周，文義明，作「齊」則不順。〕先出聲於天下，欲鄰國聞而觀之也。〔鮑本觀其愛趙。〕恐其事不成，故出兵以佯示〔鮑本虛以伐韓示之。〕趙、魏。恐天下之驚覺，故微韓以貳之。〔鮑本「微」下補「伐」字。○　補曰：「微」下有缺文，史作「徵兵於韓以威之」。貳，猶疑。　札記今本「微」下有「伐」字，乃誤涉鮑也。〕恐天下疑己，故出質以為信。聲德於與國，而實伐空韓。〔鮑本如上文，則伐韓非秦所急也。此言實伐者，韓之在秦掌握中物耳，故不急於伐。恐趙不以為德，故終伐之。其伐之，亦欲以吞周而非愛趙也。正曰：實欲伐空虛之韓。〕臣竊觀其圖之也，議〔鮑本議，猶意。正曰：一本「議以為秦計謀」。〕秦以謀計，必出於是。

「且夫說士之計，皆曰韓亡三川，魏滅晉國，〔鮑本晉國，謂安邑。〕恃〔鮑本「恃」作「是」。○　補曰：恃，非所恃也。　札記今本「恃」作「是」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：史記作「市朝未變，而禍已及矣」，與策文不同。〕韓未窮，而禍及於趙。〔鮑本三晉，脣齒之國，故韓亡則魏滅，魏滅而禍及於趙，不待韓滅盡也。〕且物固有勢異而患同者，又有勢同而患異者。昔者，楚人久伐而中山亡。〔鮑本此言楚受秦伐，趙無秦患，故破中山滅之。故秦昭八年，再敗楚，遂言趙破中山。正曰：大事記，中山恃魏，楚、魏久連兵，中山失助而亡。今詳此言亦失考。年表，武靈王二十五年攻中山，而秦、韓、魏、齊擊楚，敗唐昧，亦此時也。說見燕、魏等策。〕今燕盡韓之河南，〔鮑本盡，言得其地。補曰：「盡韓之河」，史作「燕盡齊之北地」。〕距沙丘，而至鉅鹿〔鮑本鉅鹿，冀州郡。〕之界三百里；〔鮑本自此皆言近趙。〕距於扞關，至於榆中千五百里。〔鮑本衍「千」字。榆中屬金城。補曰：「距於」云云，史作「秦之上郡，近扞關，至於榆中，千五百里」。榆中、上郡見前。自上郡至榆中，則千五百里為是。楚有扞關，說見前策。大事記云，扞者，扞敵之扞，非關名也。此趙扞敵之關，非獨楚有之。趙之扞關，陸地之關；楚之扞關，水道之關也。〕秦盡韓、魏之上黨，則地與國都〔鮑本國，謂趙。〕邦屬而壤挈者〔鮑本言為秦所取。挈，言取之易。〕七百里。秦以三軍強弩坐羊唐〔鮑本「唐」作「腸」。○　札記鮑改「唐」為「腸」。丕烈案：因史記有羊腸之西而改耳。此多不同，未是也。〕之上，即地去邯鄲二十里。且秦以三軍攻王之上黨而危其北，則句注之西，〔鮑本屬鴈門。補曰：括地志云，句注山在鴈門縣西北。〕非王之有也。今魯〔鮑本「魯」作「踰」。○　補曰：字義未詳。　札記今本「魯」作「踰」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：史記作「踰句注，斬常山而守之」。〕句注禁常山而守，〔鮑本守，猶閉。〕三百里通於燕之唐、曲吾，〔鮑本「吾」作「遇」。○　正曰：當作「曲逆」。遇，音顒。史注，中牟、曲遇、聚，鄭州縣，非此所指。按齊策權之難章云，燕戰勝兵罷，趙可以取唐、曲逆。唐，即唐縣；曲逆，蒲陰縣。並屬中山。此「曲」下必「逆」字也，一本止作「唐曲」，亦缺誤。　札記今本「吾」作「遇」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：「吾」、「逆」聲之轉也，當存舊。史記無「之唐曲吾」四字，文不同。〕此代馬胡駒〔鮑本補曰：「胡駒」，史作「胡犬」。郭璞云，胡地野犬，似狐而小也。〕不東，而崑山之玉〔鮑本後志，金城臨羌有崑山。正曰：禹貢，雍州貢球琳、琅玕。爾雅，崑崙虛之璆琳、琅玕。李斯傳，崑山之玉。正義云，崑岡在于闐國東北，出玉。按，武帝以于闐山出玉，故號玉所出曰崑崙。〕不出也。此三寶者，又非王之有也。今從於彊秦國〔鮑本「國」作「與」。○　札記今本「國」作「與」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：史記作「王久伐齊，從彊秦攻韓」。〕之伐齊，臣恐其禍出於是矣。昔者，〔鮑本無「昔者」二字。○〕五國〔鮑本齊、楚、魏、韓、燕。〕之王，嘗合橫而謀伐趙，參分趙國壤地，著之盤盂，〔鮑本「參」作「三」。○　盤盂，取太公為武王作盤盂之銘。補曰：言其日見而不忘。〕屬之讎柞。〔鮑本「讎柞」，「酬酢」同。言其相屬伐趙於酬酢之間。〕五國之兵有日矣，韓〔鮑本「韓」作「齊」。○　下并同。正曰：專據史文輒改，大不然也。〕乃西師以禁〔鮑本禁，閉拒之。〕秦國，使秦發令素服而聽，〔鮑本今令其國素服者，兵敗以喪禮自居也。史不書。〕反溫、枳、〔姚本一作「根柔」。　鮑本「枳」作「軹」。○　並屬河內。〕高平〔鮑本高平，屬臨淮，安定亦有。正曰：括地志云，高平故城，在懷州河陽縣西。言臨淮者，繆。安定，秦地，亦非。溫、枳皆河內，故當以懷州者為正。〕於魏，反三公、什清〔姚本續云：史記改「三公、什清」作「巠分、先俞」。　鮑本「公」字疑誤。安定有三水，朔方有三封，勃海有三戶，皆近趙。張儀塞什谷之口，當屯留之道，則什近屯留。後志中牟注有清口，皆趙地也。正曰：「三公」二字有誤。史云，反高平、根柔於魏，反巠分、先俞於趙。根柔未詳，文已明。括地志云，句注山一名正陘山。爾雅云，陵西踰、鄢門。疑此巠分乃巠山，先俞即西俞也。　札記丕烈案：徐廣注云，一作「王公」，即出於此。當各依本文。吳氏專以張守節說為據，未是也。〕於趙，以王之明知也。夫韓事趙宜正為上交；〔鮑本「韓」作「齊」，無「正」字。○　以其有志為趙閉秦。　札記今本「韓」上有「齊」字，乃誤涉鮑也。鮑改「韓」為「齊」。今本兩存，尤誤之甚者也。今本無「正」字，鮑本無。丕烈案：史記無。〕今乃以抵〔鮑本「抵」作「邸」。○　「邸」，「抵」同，坐也。正曰：姚本作「抵」，當也。　札記丕烈案：史記作「抵」。〕罪取伐，臣恐其後事王者之〔鮑本無「者之」二字。○　補曰：一本「事王者之」云云。　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕不敢自必也。今王收〔鮑本「收」下補「齊」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「今王毋與天下攻齊，天下必以王為義」。〕天下，必以王為得。〔鮑本「得」下「韓」作「齊」。○〕韓危〔姚本「危」，曾作「抱」。　鮑本「危」上補「齊」字。○　札記鮑改「韓」為「齊」，讀上屬。丕烈案：鮑讀誤也。史記作「齊抱社稷以厚事王」。史記「齊」，即此文「韓」，不得上屬。〕社稷以事王，天下必重王。然則韓〔鮑本「韓」作「齊」。○〕義王以天下就之，〔鮑本趙得天下之交而屈就齊，故齊以為義。〕下至韓慕王以天下收之，〔鮑本「韓」作「齊」。○　就之，上也，故收言下。正曰：就者，屈就之；收者，收結之。　札記鮑改「韓」為「齊」。丕烈案：吳氏有正，見上。史記作「王以天下善秦，秦暴，王以天下禁之」。此策文有誤字。〕是一世之命，制於王已。臣願大王深與左右群臣卒計而重謀，先事成慮而熟圖之也。」〔姚本此段與史記文多不同，蓋訛謬，當用史記全篇觀之。　鮑本趙惠文十六年有。正曰：史趙世家，惠文十五年，燕昭王與趙、韓、魏、秦共擊齊，齊敗走，燕獨深入，取臨淄。十六年，秦復與趙數擊齊，齊人患之，蘇厲為齊遺趙王書云云，於是趙乃輟，謝秦不擊齊。大事記，是時齊地皆入燕，獨莒、即墨僅存。蘇厲之書皆不及之，恐非此時事。按策多為韓言，乃趙將擊韓，而厲為韓止之者，其間事實，皆明為韓，而首云伐齊、為齊殊不合，決有誤。而史一切以「韓」為「齊」，抑馬遷之所改歟？然趙伐韓事，亦不知在何時，其文及地名亦多舛異不同，強為之說。鮑專據史文輒改，大不然也。　札記丕烈案：吳說是也。策文本皆作「韓」，或以史記「齊」字亂之。〕

齊攻宋奉陽君不欲

齊攻宋，奉陽君不欲。客請奉陽君曰：「君之春秋高矣，而封地不定，不可不熟圖也。秦之貪，韓、魏危，衛、〔鮑本「衛」作「燕」。○　正曰：上章作「燕」。　札記丕烈案：鮑依後公孫衍說文也。〕楚正，〔鮑本「正」作「僻」。○　蓋「僻」、「匹」聲近，「匹」又訛作「正」字。補曰：宜註原文下。　札記丕烈案：鮑依後公孫衍說文也。〕中山之地薄，宋罪重，齊怒深，殘伐亂宋，定身封，德強齊，此百代之一時也。」〔鮑本正曰：趙策說奉陽君取陰之辭，自「宋罪重」以下至「百世之一時」已，凡兩見，而秦策亦有之，以為謂穰侯。趙策又曰，「魏冉必妒君之有陰」。按陰即陶，宋地，冉所封也。秦記，昭王十二年，樓緩免，穰侯魏冉為相；十六年，冉免，封公子巿宛，公子悝鄧，魏冉陶，為諸侯。冉傳云，免樓緩而魏冉相，冉謝病免，以燭壽為相；燭免，復相冉，乃封於穰，後益封陶，號曰穰侯。大事記先書穰侯魏冉為相，從本；後書復以魏冉為丞相，封於穰與陶，謂之穰侯，又封公子巿為宛侯，公子悝為鄧侯，從傳。又謂三子之封，皆取於鄰國。秦去年取宛，今年取鄧，穰、陶雖不載何年得之，蓋亦近歲。按赧王十四年，秦付韓取穰，大事記已書之矣。獨以陶為近歲所取，則眩於史文，未考其實。且據秦紀，則冉始相已封穰，後相封陶。於傳則復相時封穰，後益以陶，已有不合。大事記從之，亦偶未察，獨見於策者可考。李兌約五國伐秦，後欲取陰定封，說穰侯者亦勸之。策文容有復混，而其事實並一時。是時齊欲攻宋，秦禁之，齊欲與趙，故說者勸李兌，上距冉復相秦五歲爾。使冉已封陶，兌安得欲之，而言者亦安得云「冉妒君之有陰」？因此言而知冉之未封陶而欲得之也。其後，齊滅宋兩年而為五國所破，趙既不取陶，而齊亦卒不能有。穰侯之取陶在此時歟？或謂魏策謂穰侯云，「君攻楚取宛、穰，以廣陶封」，以封陶在前。竊謂秦之取穰、冉之封穰，固無疑矣。獨取陶定封，歲月不載。而史所謂後益封陶，號曰穰侯者，辭亦不明。意者陶之封大而入厚，冉國於陶，如取剛壽之類，皆云廣陶封，故魏策之言如此。而宛亦非冉封，不足據信。使冉封陶，當曰陶侯，而稱穰侯，知始封穰必非誤也。〕

秦王謂公子他

秦王〔鮑本昭。〕謂公子他曰：「昔歲殽下之事，〔鮑本即秦惠七年，五國攻函谷事。函、殽地近，故云。補曰：按趙世家，孝成二年，受韓上黨。長平之敗，在七年。秦惠七年，五國攻秦，至孝成二年，凡五十四年。秦惠十三年，敗楚藍田，距此四十九年。又韓襄王十四年，與齊、魏共擊秦於函谷，河渭絕一日，距孝成二年為三十五年，稍近。然遠引前事者，祗欲言韓之不可不伐耳。年表，破長平在孝成六年，與世家異。〕韓為中軍，以與諸侯攻秦。韓與秦接境壤界，其地不能千里，展轉〔鮑本展轉，猶反覆。〕不可約。日者秦、楚戰於藍田，〔鮑本秦惠文後十三年。〕韓出銳師以佐秦，秦戰不利，因轉與楚，不固信盟，唯便是從。韓之在我，心腹之疾。吾將伐之，何如？」公子他曰：「王出兵韓，〔鮑本軍於其地。〕韓必懼，懼則可以不戰而深取割。」王曰：「善。」乃起兵，一軍臨熒陽，〔鮑本「熒」作「滎」。○〕一軍臨太行。

韓恐，使陽城君入謝於秦，〔鮑本「恐」上無「韓」字，補「韓」字。○　疑當作「成陽」，秦昭十七入朝者也。　札記丕烈案：鮑以為秦本紀昭十七年，城陽君入朝者。今考集解、索隱無說，正義亦不以為韓。鮑所說，殊無據，其繆多此類。〕請效上黨之地以為和。令韓陽告上黨之守靳𪏘〔鮑本「𪏘」作「黈」。𪏘，字書無此字，下同。　札記今本「𪏘」作「黈」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：此字有誤，但所改未是。〕曰：「秦起二軍以臨韓，韓不能有。〔鮑本「有」作「支」。○　札記今本「有」作「支」。〕今王〔鮑本桓惠。〕令韓興兵〔鮑本恐守不效地故。〕以上黨入和於秦，使陽言之太守，〔鮑本補曰：索隱云，漢景時始稱太守，「太」者衍字。愚按，史文止一稱太守，故索隱云然。此策凡五言之，決非衍，當時已有此稱矣。〕太守其效之。」靳𪏘曰：「人有言：挈瓶之知，〔鮑本挈瓶之人之智。〕不失守器。〔鮑本所守之器，謂瓶。〕王則有令，而臣太守，〔札記今本「太」誤「失」。丕烈案：此吳所數之一，不得改去。〕雖王與子，亦其猜焉。〔鮑本「亦其」作「其亦」。○　嫌其不能守。〕臣請悉發守以應秦，〔鮑本發兵。正曰：悉發守兵。〕若不能卒，則死之。」〔鮑本言戰敗不終事。〕韓陽趨以報王，王曰：「吾始已諾於應侯矣，今不與，是欺之也。」乃使馮亭代靳𪏘。

馮亭守三十日，陰使人請趙王曰：「韓不能守上黨，且以與秦，其民皆不欲為秦，而願為趙。今有城市之邑七十，〔鮑本補曰：史作「十七」，下同。〕願拜內之於王，唯王才〔鮑本「才」，「財」、「裁」同。〕之。」趙王喜，召平原君〔鮑本「平原君」作「平陽君」。○　史作「平陽君」，趙豹是也。若果平原，下文不應復云召趙勝。補曰：「原」當作「陽」。〕而告之曰：「韓不能守上黨，且以與秦，其吏民不欲為秦，而皆願為趙。今〔札記今本「今」誤「令」。〕馮亭令使者以與寡人，何如？」趙豹對曰：「臣聞聖人甚禍無故之利。」〔鮑本無「臣聞」二字。○　無故得利，聖人以為禍。　札記丕烈案：史記無。〕王曰：「人懷吾義，何謂無故乎？」對曰：「秦蠶食韓氏之地，中絕不令相通，故自以為坐受上黨也。且夫韓之所以內趙者，欲嫁其禍也。秦被其勞，而趙受其利，雖強大不能得之於小弱，而小弱顧能得之強大乎？今王取之，可謂有故乎？且秦以牛田，〔姚本錢、劉作「甲」。　鮑本牛田，秦地，缺，因其水為漕。正曰：牛耕積穀，水漕通糧。秦從渭水漕運入河洛。或以為漢世始用牛耕。竊以為古用木耜，未有金耜，用人耕未用牛耕。耦耕者，二人並耕，或一人一牛亦可。漢始專用牛耕也。字書，「犁」從牛。冉耕字伯牛，司馬牛名犁，不可謂牛耕非古也。〕水通糧，其死士皆列之於上地，〔鮑本韓之上流。正曰：地之上者。〕令嚴政行，不可與戰。王自圖之！」王大怒曰：「夫用百萬之眾，攻戰〔姚本三本同作「齊」。〕踰年歷歲，未見一城也。今不用兵而得城七十，何故不為？」趙豹出。

王召趙勝、趙禹而告之曰：「韓不能守上黨，今其守以與寡人，有城市之邑七十。」二人對曰：「用兵踰年，未見一城，今坐而得城，〔鮑本「城」下補「七十」二字。○　補曰：史此有「七十」二字。〕此大利也。」乃使趙勝往受地。

趙勝至曰：「敝邑之王，使使者臣勝，太〔鮑本「太」上補「告」字。○　札記今本「太」上有「告」字，乃誤涉鮑也，鮑補「告」字。丕烈案：史記無此句。策文本如此，不誤，述馮亭所云也。下文「使臣勝謂曰」，方是告馮亭。鮑補誤甚。〕守有詔，〔鮑本詔，告也，謂太守有告。有詔，秦人語耳。〕使臣勝謂曰：『請以三萬戶之都封太守，千戶封縣令，〔鮑本補曰：縣令，說見楚策。〕諸吏皆益爵三級，民能相集者，賜家六金。』」馮亭垂涕而勉〔鮑本「勉」作「免」。○　免，辭也。補曰：此書「勉」、「免」通。　札記丕烈案：此以「勉」為「俛」字也，吳說未是。〕曰：「是吾處三不義也：為主守地而不能死，而以與人，不義一也；主內之秦，不順主命，不義二也；賣主之地而食〔鮑本食，食封戶也。〕之，不義三也。」辭封而入韓，〔鮑本補曰：漢書，趙封馮亭為華陽君，與趙將括距秦，戰死長平，與此異。〕謂韓王曰：「趙聞韓不能守上黨，今發兵已取之矣。」

韓告秦曰：「趙起兵取上黨。」秦王怒，令公孫起、王齮〔鮑本補曰：公孫起即白起。史王齕非齮，秦將有桓齮，此恐訛舛。　札記丕烈案：吳說非也。白起傳曰，「乃陰使武安君白起為上將軍，而王齕為尉裨將」。秦始皇紀「王齮、麃公」等，徐廣注，一作「齕」。索隱曰，「王齮即王齕。昭王二十九年，代大夫陵伐趙者」。六國表，「秦莊襄王三年，王齕擊上黨」。徐廣亦注，一作「齕」。是王齮即王齕，其證甚明，與桓齮迥不相涉。吳偶失考也。王震澤本索隱，「齕」作「騎」，單本並刪去「王齕」二字，皆誤。〕以兵遇趙於長平。
〔鮑本趙記四年有，馮亭下。彪謂：平陽嫁禍之言，豈不易曉，而孝成怒之，昏於利之。勝、禹入而順旨，以濟其欲，不幾於一言而喪邦歟？故為邦者以遠佞人為急。正曰：勝、禹淺謀，非佞也。〕

蘇秦為趙王使於秦

蘇秦為趙王使於秦，〔鮑本本傳不書。〕反，三日不得見。謂趙王曰：「秦乃者過柱山，〔鮑本蓋砥柱。正曰：無考。〕有兩木焉。一蓋呼侶，〔鮑本招其徒。〕一蓋哭。問其〔姚本一本「秦問其故」。〕故，對曰：『吾已大矣，年已長矣，吾苦夫匠人，且以繩墨案規矩刻鏤我。一蓋曰：『此非吾所苦也，是故吾事也。〔鮑本事，猶分。補曰：「故」，「固」通。〕吾所苦夫鐵鉆〔鮑本「鉆」作「銛」，下同。○　銛，言铁之利。若鉆，則铁鋷也，義不合此。正曰：鉆，玉篇，其沾、敕淹二反。鋷，音鑷。後漢章帝詔有「鉆」、「鑽」字。蒼頡篇，鉆，持也。蓋字與鉗同，以铁有所劫朿也。　札記丕烈案：吳氏正以為「蓋字與鉗同」者亦非也。聞諸金壇段先生玉裁云，「鉆」與「㰇」同，說文「楔」也。其說得之矣。下文「自入而出夫人者」為一句，言㰇入而木出也。故云「謂臣為铁鉆者」，秦言其人自入而出，臣有似於楔也者。〕然，自入而出夫人者。』〔鮑本人，謂木屑，自铁言之為人。正曰：難通，其義未詳。〕今臣使於秦，而三日不見，無有〔鮑本無有，言得無有也。〕謂〔姚本集、錢、劉作「為」。　鮑本「謂」作「為」。○〕臣為鐵鉆者乎？」

甘茂為秦約魏以攻韓宜陽

甘茂為秦約魏以攻韓宜陽，〔鮑本秦武王三年，此十八年。〕又北之趙，冷向謂強國〔鮑本趙人。〕曰：「不如令趙拘甘茂，勿出，以與齊、韓、秦市。齊王〔鮑本閔。〕欲求救宜陽，必效縣狐氏。〔鮑本地缺。〕韓欲有〔鮑本「有」作「存」。○〕宜陽，必以路涉、〔鮑本地缺。〕端氏〔鮑本屬河東。〕賂趙。秦王〔鮑本武。〕欲得宜陽，不愛名寶，〔鮑本寶之名世者。齊、韓之賂，欲拘茂，敗其約也；秦賂，則欲出之。〕且拘茂也，且以置公孫赫、樗里疾。」〔鮑本茂不還秦，則二人用。〕

謂皮相國

謂皮相國〔鮑本趙相。〕曰：「以趙之弱而據〔鮑本據，猶任。〕之建信君，〔鮑本建信，趙幸臣。〕涉孟之讎〔鮑本蓋為橫者，與建信異趣，故趙讎之。補曰：「涉孟之讎」四字未詳，或言建信、涉孟二人，以其反有害於趙，故以讎稱。〕然者〔鮑本補曰：「然者」，下章亦有此文法，當至「也」字句。　札記丕烈案：下章在平原君請馮忌見彼下。〕何也？以從為有功也。齊不從，〔鮑本正曰：句。〕建信君知從〔鮑本此「從」如字。〕之無功。建信者〔姚本一作「君」。〕安能以無功惡秦〔鮑本惡，猶害也。從有功乃能害秦爾。〕哉？不能以無功惡秦，則且出兵助秦攻魏，以楚、趙分齊，〔鮑本為從無功，則反助秦，不則分齊。齊雖不為從，然與秦爭衡，故助秦則分齊之地。分，分其地。〕則是強畢矣。〔鮑本言建信圖強之計盡於此。補曰：謂不能害秦，則可助秦攻魏。怒齊之不從，則合楚以分齊。二策必居一焉。則圖強之計，畢於此矣。〕建信、春申〔鮑本春申，悼襄四年主從約，發議於此時也。〕從，則無功而惡秦。〔鮑本言楚、趙合，則雖未見功，有害秦之形。〕秦分齊，〔鮑本「分」作「合」。○　秦見二國合，亦與齊合。〕齊亡魏，〔鮑本正曰：「秦分齊，齊亡魏」，語不可解，疑有舛誤。當是「分齊亡魏」，而衍「秦齊」二字。蓋曰建信、春申從，則雖無功而其勢可以惡秦，此合楚、趙之策也。分齊亡魏則有功，而可以善秦，此助秦之策也。　札記丕烈案：吳說是也。上文「則且出兵助秦攻魏，以楚、趙分齊」，即其事。〕則有功而善秦。〔鮑本齊本不從建信，今秦來合，故助之攻魏以善之。〕故兩君者，〔鮑本兩，齊、趙也。趙知據建信，而不知其不合楚不能成功。齊不從建信，而不知其合楚足以成功。不知所擇也。正曰：兩君，指皮相國、建信君，或指建信君，涉孟，將何所擇於有功無功二者而為智哉。〕擇有功之〔鮑本「之」下補「與」字。○　補曰：「之」字疑當在「無功」下。〕無功為知哉？」

或謂皮相國

或〔鮑本無「或」字。○〕謂皮相國曰：「魏殺呂遼〔鮑本魏臣，秦所重者。正曰：魏臣無考。後章作呂遺，未知孰是？又言收河間，何異殺呂遺，則呂為秦重者。〕而衛兵，〔鮑本正曰：衛兵，句。〕亡其北〔姚本一作「比」。　鮑本「北」作「比」。○　正曰：一本「比」作「北」。〕陽〔鮑本屬南陽。衛附秦者也。故魏殺秦重，衛為之亡魏之鄙以危之。正曰：衛附魏者也。衛兵，衛被兵也。兵，秦兵也。〕而梁危，河間封不定而齊〔鮑本「齊」作「趙」。○　正曰：河間近齊，後言攻齊，必此時併欲攻齊。〕危，〔鮑本時魏、趙欲以封文信，而不果。正曰：秦策所謂不果攻趙，趙賂以河間十二縣，在前事也。戰國封地，往往取之他國。是時秦以河間地封不韋，秦策稱不韋欲攻趙以廣河間，是也。時趙方與諸侯合從，欲收河間，故言封不定。〕文信不得志，〔鮑本文信，呂不韋也。莊襄元年封，此十七年也。未得河間，故不得志。正曰：按史，封文信侯，食河南洛陽十萬戶，河間後封。〕三晉倍之憂也。〔鮑本文信欲得河間，必伐趙。韓、魏，趙之與國，故其憂倍。正曰：倍，猶背也。三晉之憂也。「倍」字，疑「信」字訛衍。〕今魏恥未滅，〔鮑本言嘗分魏之憂。正曰：見上文。〕趙患又起，〔鮑本患文信也。〕文信侯之憂大矣。〔鮑本文信為三晉之憂。補曰：文信之憂未詳，恐有字誤。〕齊不從，〔鮑本不與山東約從。〕三晉之心疑矣。〔鮑本疑從之不可合。〕憂大者不計而構，〔鮑本「構」作「講」，下同。○　言趙必求和於秦，不待計也。正曰：下文言秦、魏無趙。〕心疑者事秦急。秦、魏之構，不待割而成。〔鮑本凡講，必割地。今急於成，不待已割蓋先講也。〕秦從楚、魏攻齊，獨吞趙，〔鮑本趙近秦，秦攻之，不待楚、魏。〕齊、趙必俱亡矣。」〔鮑本此說欲趙以河間廣文信封也，下有一章合此。〕

趙王封孟嘗君以武城

趙王封孟嘗君以武城。〔鮑本屬清河，即下東武城。此當田文奔薛後。正曰：無考。〕孟嘗君擇舍人以為武城吏，而〔札記今本「而」誤「之」。〕遣之曰：「鄙語豈不曰，借車者馳之，〔鮑本借車與衣，固將馳且被也。今云然，蓋常常馳被而弗愛也。〕借衣者被〔姚本被，平聲湊音。　鮑本補曰：被，姚湊音披。〕之哉？」皆對曰：「有之。」孟嘗君曰：「文甚不取也。夫所借衣車者，非親友，則兄弟也。夫馳親友之車，被兄弟之衣，文以為不可。今趙王不知文不肖，而封之以武城，願大夫之往也，毋伐樹木，毋發〔鮑本補曰：一本標御覽「發」作「廢」。〕屋室，訾然使趙王悟而知文也。〔鮑本無「也」字。○　訾，不思稱意也，言其不期得知而見知，知其善任人也。補曰：一本「知文也」。〕謹使〔鮑本遣吏之辭。正曰：「謹使」，屬下句。使，如字。補曰：一本標御覽「謹」作「僅」。〕可全而歸之。」

謂趙王曰三晉合而秦弱

謂趙王曰：「三晉合而秦弱，三晉離而秦強，此天下之所明〔鮑本補曰：「明」下疑有缺字。〕也。秦之有燕而伐趙，有趙而伐燕；有梁而伐趙，有趙而伐梁；有楚而伐韓，有韓而伐楚；〔鮑本補曰：有者，善之也。〕此〔札記今本「此」誤「而」。〕天下之所明見也。然山東不能易其路，〔鮑本言易橫秦之路，以合三晉。正曰：山東六國，不能易其合秦之道以合。〕兵弱也。弱而不能相壹，是何楚〔鮑本「楚」作「秦」。○　補曰：當作「秦」。　札記今本「楚」作「秦」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕之知，山東之愚也。是臣所為山東之憂也。虎將即禽，〔鮑本走獸總名。〕禽不知虎之即己也，而相鬬兩罷，〔鮑本補曰：音疲。〕而歸其死於虎。故使禽知虎之即己，決不相鬬矣。今山東之主不知秦之即己也，而尚相鬬兩敝，而歸其國於秦，知不如禽遠矣。願王熟慮之也。

「今事有可急者，秦之欲伐韓、梁，東闚於周室甚，惟寐亡〔姚本劉本作「忘」。　鮑本「亡」作「忘」。○　札記丕烈案：此以「亡」為「忘」字耳。〕之。今南攻楚者，惡三晉之大合〔鮑本「大」作「相」。○　合，合楚也。楚強晉弱，先攻其強，則弱者沮，不敢合矣。〕也。今攻楚休而復之，〔鮑本休，罷兵。復，復攻。補曰：復，扶又反。〕已五年矣，〔鮑本先是秦取漢中，取召陵，又敗之重丘。〕攘地千餘里。今謂楚王：〔鮑本懷。〕『苟來舉玉趾而見寡人，必與楚為兄弟之國，〔鮑本楚懷三十年，秦昭云然。此二十七年。〕必為楚攻韓、梁，反楚之故地。』楚王美秦之語，怒韓、梁之不救己，必入於秦。有謀故殺〔姚本劉作「發」。　鮑本「有謀」上補「秦」字，「殺」作「發」。○　札記今本「秦」下復有「秦」字。乃誤涉鮑也。鮑補「秦」字，改「殺」為「發」。丕烈案：此讀「有謀」連下，以「有」為「又」字也，鮑補於「謀」字句，誤甚。〕使之趙，以燕餌趙，〔鮑本言欲與趙攻燕。〕而離三晉。〔鮑本韓、魏時不合秦，而趙合之，必不善趙。〕今王美秦之言，而欲攻燕，攻燕，食未飽而禍已及矣。楚王入秦，秦、楚為一，東面而攻韓。韓南無楚，北無趙，〔鮑本美秦反地餌燕之說，故不救韓，亦離三晉之策也。〕韓不待伐，割挈馬兔〔姚本曾作「免」。　鮑本補曰：一本作「免」，下同。〕而西走。〔鮑本割地挈而走秦，疾於馬兔。〕秦與韓為上交，秦禍〔鮑本禍，兵禍。〕安〔姚本續云：改「安」作「案」。荀子「上不能好其人，下不能隆禮，安特將學雜識，志順詩書而已耳，則末世窮年，不免為陋儒而已」注，「安」，語助，猶言抑也，或作「案」。荀子多用此字。禮記三年問作「焉」。戰國策謂趙王曰，「秦與韓為上交，秦禍按移於梁矣」，「秦與梁為上交，秦禍按攘於趙矣」。呂氏春秋吳起謂商文曰，「今置質為臣，其主安重；釋璽辭官，其主安輕」。蓋當時人通以「安」為語助，或方言耳，特猶言直也。雜志記之，書百家之說，言既不能好其人，又不能隆禮，直學雜說順詩書而已，豈免為陋儒乎？言不知通變也。　鮑本安，言其不勞。〕移於梁矣。以秦之強，有楚、韓之用，梁不待伐矣。〔姚本一無「矣」字。　鮑本衍「矣」字。〕割挈馬兔而西走，秦與梁為上交，秦禍案攘於趙矣。〔鮑本「攘於」作「環中」。○　「案」，「安」同，故荀卿書多用「案」字。此言秦視趙在其度內，如物在環中。「環中」一作「移於」字可也。正曰：姚本「案攘於趙」，愚以「攘」即「移」字訛，當作「移於」。鮑本說是。　札記「攘於」鮑本作「環中」。吳氏正曰，愚以「攘」即「移」字訛，當作「移於」。丕烈案：吳說未是。楊倞荀子注引作「攘」字。〕以強秦之有韓、梁、楚，與燕之怒，〔鮑本秦有三國，趙之患也，燕又怒之。〕割必深矣。〔鮑本秦割趙地。〕國之舉此，〔鮑本國，謂趙。舉，猶行。〕臣之所為來。臣故曰：事有可急為者。

「及楚王之未入也，三晉相親相堅，〔鮑本堅其約。〕出銳師以戍韓、梁西邊，楚王聞之，必不入秦，秦必怒而循攻楚，〔鮑本循前而攻。〕是秦禍不離楚也，便於三晉。若楚王入，秦〔鮑本「秦」下補「秦」字。○　札記丕烈案：此讀「入」句絕。魏策支期曰，「王視楚王，楚王入」；又曰，「楚王不入」。皆可為證。鮑補誤也。〕見三晉之大合而堅也，必不出楚王，〔鮑本恐其合晉。〕即多割，〔鮑本楚求出故。〕是秦禍不離楚也，有利於三晉。願王之熟計之也急！」〔鮑本重言急以促之。補曰：一本無「急」字，是。此下蓋敘述者之辭。〕

趙王因起兵南戍〔鮑本「南」下有「伐山戎」三字。○　戎近秦，伐之以偪秦。補曰：姚本有「戍」，無「伐山戎」三字，是。〕韓、梁之西〔鮑本「西」作「惡」，又改作「西」。○　補曰：一本作「西」。〕邊。秦見三晉之堅也，果不出楚王卬，〔姚本劉改「卬」作「印」。　鮑本衍「卬」字。補曰：字誤衍，姚云，劉改作「印」，亦難通。　札記丕烈案：此與上文「即多割」，「即」、「印」二字皆有誤，但衍者未是。〕而多求地。〔鮑本彪謂：從橫之說，未有善於此者也。趙少嘗之，其效已見，是以知張儀之可折也。為其效不大見於後，則是諸侯之不一也，是其計之不明不智也。吁，惜哉！補曰：此策自「割必深矣」以上，其論從橫之利害當矣。自「事有可急者」以下，勸三晉之相堅，而移禍於楚，亦未得為盡善。蓋陳軫不得已之計也。愚考齊策秦伐魏陳軫合三晉而東章及韓、燕策與此章多合。此章言楚王入秦，正秦誘懷王武關之歲，在赧王十六年，詳見齊策。「所為」、「為楚」、「為來」之「為」，去聲。〕

趙策 二

蘇秦從燕之趙始合從

蘇秦從燕之趙，〔鮑本此十六年。〕始合從，說趙王曰：「天下之卿相人臣，乃至布衣之士，莫不高賢大王之行義，皆願奉教陳忠於前之日久矣。雖然，奉陽君妒，〔鮑本秦傳言肅侯令其弟成為相，號奉陽君。妒，嫉賢也。正曰：奉陽君，說見後。〕大王不得任事，是以外〔鮑本外，疏之也。〕賓〔姚本錢、劉去「賓」字。〕客遊談之士，無敢盡忠於前者。今奉陽君捐館舍，〔鮑本禮，婦人死曰捐館舍，蓋亦通稱。〕大王乃今然後得與士民相親，臣故敢獻其愚，效愚忠。〔鮑本「獻」作「進」，無「效愚」二字。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「進其愚慮」。此策文當是「獻其愚」下脫「慮」字。「效愚忠」三字別為句。〕為大王計，莫若安民無事，請無庸有為也。安民之本，在於擇交。〔鮑本與諸侯交。〕擇交而得則民安，擇交不得則民終身〔鮑本終趙王身。〕不得安。請言外患：齊、秦為兩敵，〔鮑本為趙敵。〕而民不得安；倚秦攻齊，而民不得安；倚齊攻秦，而民不得安。故夫謀人之主，伐人之國，常苦〔鮑本苦，言其力。〕出辭斷絕人之交，〔鮑本橫人蓋然。〕願大王慎無出於口也。

「請屏左右，曰〔鮑本「曰」作「白」。○　補曰：史作「請別白黑所以異」。大事記謂，當從策。按索隱引策作「白言」，尤明。　札記丕烈案：此「曰」即「白」之訛。〕言所以異，陰陽〔鮑本陰陽，言事只有兩端，指謂從橫。〕而已矣。大王誠能聽臣，燕必致氊裘狗馬之地，齊必致海隅魚鹽之地，楚必致橘柚雲夢之地，韓、魏皆可使致封地〔鮑本封內之地。正曰：下文封侯之類。〕湯沐之邑，貴戚父兄皆可以受封侯。夫割地效實，〔鮑本實，如氊裘之類。〕五伯之所以覆軍禽將而求也；封侯貴戚，湯、武之所以放殺而爭也。〔鮑本此非所以言湯、武，蓋游士之詞。〕今大王垂拱而兩有之，是臣之所以為大王願也。大王與秦，則秦必弱韓、魏；與齊，則齊必弱楚、魏。魏弱則割河外，〔鮑本補曰：正義云，河外，同華等地，此即西河之外也。〕韓弱則效宜陽。〔鮑本皆以地與秦。〕宜陽效則上郡絕，〔鮑本并州郡。正曰：正義云，上郡在同州西北則屯。廣記云，今鄜、延安、丹坊部銀夏、綏德、保安之地。〕河外割則道不通。楚弱則無援。此三策者，不可不熟計也。夫秦下軹道〔鮑本秦紀注，亭名，在霸陵。正曰：故軹城在懷州濟源縣東南，以下言修武之南陽知之。按大事記，顯王十一年，韓使計息以枳道易鹿於魏。水經注，年表，赧王三十六年，秦伐魏至軹，取城大小六十一，皆魏之軹也。「軹」，「枳」通。策又作「咫」。蘇秦傳云，秦下軹道則南陽危。又云，我下軹道、南陽、封冀。亦指此。其言秦者在雍州萬年縣東北，去霸水百步。軹道亭，秦王降處也。蘇代云，楚得枳而國亡，則巴郡之枳也。〕則南陽動，〔鮑本修武者。〕劫韓包周則趙自銷鑠，據衛取淇則齊必入朝。秦欲已得行〔姚本錢、劉去「行」字。〕於山東，則必舉甲而向趙。秦甲涉河踰漳，據番吾，〔鮑本補曰：正義云，番，音婆，又音蒲、音盤。徐廣云，常山蒲吾縣。淇、常山、河、漳、清河皆見前。〕則兵必戰於邯鄲之下矣。此臣之所以為大王患也。

「當今之時，山東之建國，莫如趙強。趙地方二千里，〔鮑本「二」作「三」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「二千餘里」。〕帶甲數十萬，車千乘，騎萬匹，粟支十年；西有常山，南有河、漳，東有清河，北有燕國。燕固弱國，不足畏也。且秦之所畏害於天下者，莫如趙。〔鮑本言秦於天下，獨畏趙害己。〕然而秦不敢舉兵甲而伐趙者，何也？畏韓、魏之議其後也。然則韓、魏，趙之南蔽也。秦之攻韓、魏也，則不然。無有名山大川之限，稍稍蠶食之，傅之國都而止矣。〔鮑本「傅」，「附」同。止，兵止於此。〕韓、魏不能〔姚本錢、劉本無「能」字。〕支秦，必入臣。韓、魏臣〔鮑本無「韓魏臣」三字。○　札記丕烈案：史記無。〕於秦，秦無韓、魏之隔，禍中〔鮑本「中」上有「必」字。○　猶射中的。　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕於趙矣。此臣之所以為大王患也。

「臣聞，堯無三夫之分，舜無咫尺之地，以有天下。禹無百人之聚，以王諸侯。〔鮑本一夫有田百畝。此未為唐侯時。正曰：此說士無據之辭。且舜，顓頊後，有國於虞。其側微，特在下爾。禹乃崇伯鯀子，亦有國土者。今曰云云，豈足信哉？枚乘書「舜無立錐之地，禹無十戶之聚」，李善注又引韓子云云，皆此類。〕湯、武之卒不過三千人，車不過三百乘，立為天子。誠得其道也。是故明主外料其〔姚本一本無「其」字。〕敵國之強弱，內度其士卒之眾寡、賢與不肖，不待兩軍相當，而勝敗存亡之機節，〔姚本一本無「節」字。　鮑本節，節目。〕固已見於胸中矣，豈掩〔姚本錢、劉作「闇」。　鮑本掩，猶蔽。〕於眾人之言，而以冥冥決事哉！

「臣竊以天下地圖案之。諸侯之地五倍於秦，料諸侯之卒，十倍於秦。六國并力為一，西面而攻秦，秦〔鮑本原無「秦」字，「破」上補「秦」字。○　補曰：一本復有「秦」字。　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕破必矣。今見破於秦，〔姚本一本無此「見破于秦」四字。　鮑本無「今見破于秦」五字，補「今」字。○　補曰：一本「今見破於秦西面」云云。　札記丕烈案：史記有「今」字，無「見破於秦」四字。〕西面而事之，見臣於秦。夫破人之與破於人也，臣人之與臣於人也，豈可同日而言之哉！夫橫人者，皆欲割諸侯之地以與秦成。與秦成，則高臺，〔鮑本「臺」下補「榭」字。○　臺有木曰榭。補曰：史作「臺榭」。〕美宮室，聽竽瑟〔鮑本「竽」下有「笙琴」二字。○　補曰：一本無「笙琴」字。　札記丕烈案：史記無。〕之音，察五味之和，前有軒轅，〔鮑本天文志，「權軒轅，象後宮」。此言美人之所處也。〕後有長庭，〔姚本一本改「庭」作「姣」。〕美人巧笑，卒〔鮑本「卒」，「猝」同。〕有秦患，而不與其憂。是故橫人日夜務以秦權恐猲〔鮑本「猲」作「喝」。○　正曰：「喝」，「猲」通。見齊策。此章史作「愒」，相恐脅也。前漢王子侯表，「坐恐猲」，並許葛反。〕諸侯，以求割地。願大王之熟計之也。

「臣聞，明王絕疑去讒，屏流言之跡，塞朋黨之門，故尊主廣地強兵之計，臣得陳忠於前矣。故竊為大王計，莫如一韓、魏、齊、楚、燕、趙，六國從親，〔札記今本「親」誤「國」。〕以儐〔札記丕烈案：此句「儐」字，當是因下句而衍。史記無。〕畔秦。令天下之將相，相與會於洹水〔鮑本補曰：洹水，見秦策。〕之上，通質刑白馬以盟之。約曰：秦攻楚，齊、魏各出銳師以佐之，韓絕食道，趙涉河、漳，燕守常山之北。秦攻韓、魏，則楚絕其後，齊出銳師以佐之，趙涉河、漳，燕守雲中。〔鮑本并州郡。〕秦攻齊，則楚絕其後，韓守成臯，魏塞午道，〔鮑本王莽傳注，「今京城直南山有谷，通漢、梁道者，名子午谷。又宜州西、慶州東有山名子午嶺，南北直相當。此則北山是子，南山是午，共為子午道。」詳此，則午道，秦南道也。塞之使不得通。莽所通者因秦也。正曰：索隱云，當在趙東齊西。午道，地名也。鄭玄云，「一從一橫為道，謂交道也。」按下張儀說趙王章亦有。〕趙涉河、漳、博關，〔鮑本補曰：博關見齊策。〕燕出銳師以佐之。秦攻燕，則趙守常山，楚軍武關，齊涉渤海，韓、魏出銳師以佐之。秦攻趙，則韓軍宜陽，楚軍武關，魏軍河外，齊涉渤海，燕出銳師以佐之。諸侯有先背約者，五國共伐之。六國從親以擯〔鮑本「擯」作「儐」。○　「儐」元作「擯」，無異義，今並從前作「儐」。正曰：說已見前。札記丕烈案：史記作「賓」。〕秦，秦必不敢出兵於函谷關以害山東矣！如是則伯業成矣！」

趙王曰：「寡人年少，蒞國之日淺，未嘗得聞社稷之長計。今上客有意存天下，安諸侯，寡人敬以國從。」乃封蘇秦為武安君，飾車百乘，黃金千鎰，白璧百雙，錦繡千純，以約諸侯。〔鮑本秦傳有，在說燕後。彪謂：從約者，天下之心，亦其勢也。夫秦有吞天下之心，不盡不止。諸侯皆病之，而欲儐之，此其心也。同舟遇風，胡、越之相救，如手足於其頭目，此其勢也。以天下之心，行天下之勢，如水之就下，孰能禦之？故謂之從。從者，從也，順也。其所不可者，諸侯之心不一。夫其心不一者，非明計智算也，或見少利而相侵，或修小怨而相伐，或眩於名實而為橫人之所恐喝。此張儀所以投隙而起。使諸侯之智少靈於連雞，則秦人自保之不給，安能圖併吞之舉耶！儀謂秦地形勢便，兵強士武，足以橫天下，然則天時、人和，道德之威，仁義之澤，舉無與於興亡之數乎？雖然，一從一橫，皆一偏之論，有王者作，則從橫皆廢，而天下定，而非所以論於此時也。補曰：璧、純，並見秦策。〕

秦攻趙

秦攻趙，蘇子為〔姚本一本無「為」字。　鮑本無「為」字。○〕謂秦王曰：「臣聞明王之於其民也，博論而技藝〔鮑本試之以事。〕之，是故官無乏事而力不困；於其言也，多聽而時用之，是故事無敗業而惡不章。臣願王察臣之所謁，而效之於一時之用也。臣聞懷重寶者，不以夜行；任大功者，不以輕敵。是以賢者任重而行恭，知者功大而辭順。〔鮑本皆不伐也。〕故民不惡其尊，而世不妒〔鮑本「妒」作「姤」。○　補曰：訛，當作「妒」。〕其業。臣聞之：百倍之國者，〔鮑本謂地廣也。〕民不樂後也；〔鮑本爭先附之。正曰：地既廣矣，民不樂其後之復有事也。〕功業高世者，人主不再行也；〔鮑本一舉成之，不待後。正曰：大功不再。〕力盡之民，仁者不用也；求得而反靜，〔鮑本復於無事。〕聖主〔鮑本「主」作「王」。○〕之制也；功大而息民，用兵之道也。今用兵終身不休，力盡不罷，趙怒〔鮑本「趙怒」作「怒趙」。○　補曰：當作「怒趙」。　札記丕烈案：此有誤字。〕必於其己邑，〔鮑本必欲戰服，使為己邑。〕趙僅存哉！〔鮑本言所存無幾。〕然而四輪〔鮑本輪，猶通，言其民於適四方，無所不通。故下言「從而不止」。正曰：姚本作「四輸」，是言四面輸寫之國。　札記今本「輪」作「輸」。丕烈案：作「輸」者，姚別本。〕之國也，今雖〔鮑本時攻邯鄲不拔，故曰「今雖」。〕得邯鄲，非國之長利也。意者，地廣而不耕，民羸而不休，又嚴之以刑罰，〔鮑本新民未服故。〕則雖從而不止矣。〔鮑本言且去之。〕語曰：『戰勝而國危者，物不斷也。〔鮑本物，事也。斷，猶止。言戰事不止。〕功大而權輕者，地不入也。』〔鮑本補曰：戰勝國宜安，而愈戰則國危。功大權宜重，而愈求功則權輕。危，故物不止。輕，故地不入。不斷、不入，因上文「用兵不休」與「雖從而不止」言之。〕故過任之事，父不得於子，〔鮑本雖父責之其子使必為，不可得也。〕無已之求，君不得於臣。故〔鮑本補曰：此下當有缺字，以下文推之可見。〕微之為著者強，察乎息民之為用者伯，明乎輕之為重者王。」〔鮑本不伐人，人所輕也，重莫大焉。〕

秦王曰：「寡人案兵息民，則天下必為從，將以逆秦。」

蘇子曰：「臣有以知天下之不能為從以逆秦也。臣以田單、如耳為大過也。〔鮑本補曰：如耳，見前。此時必二人欲為從，故云然。〕豈獨田單、如耳為大過哉？天下之主亦盡過矣！夫慮收亡〔姚本曾改「亡」作「破」。〕齊、〔鮑本言世主志慮欲爾。補曰：「亡齊」，指其嘗亡於燕言之。下作「破齊」。〕罷〔鮑本並音疲。〕楚、敝魏與不可知之趙，〔鮑本未亡而有亡形。正曰：言其存亡不可知。〕欲以窮秦折韓，臣以為至愚也。夫齊威、宣，〔鮑本「宣」下有「者」字。○〕世之賢主也，德博而地廣，國富而用民，〔鮑本「用兵」作「民用」。○　民為之用。補曰：當作「民用」。〕將武而兵強。宣王用之，後富〔鮑本「富」作「破」。○　補曰：字因下誤，疑為「逼」。〕韓威魏，以南伐楚，西攻秦，〔鮑本「秦」下補「秦」字。○　補曰：宜復有「秦」字。〕為齊兵困於殽塞〔鮑本「塞」作「函」。○〕之上，〔鮑本補曰：按秦惠後七年，五國擊秦，齊師獨後不敗，他戰無考。一本「殽塞之上」。〕十年攘〔鮑本攘，推也，猶拓。〕地，秦人遠跡不服，〔鮑本遠跡，畏而避之也，然終不服。〕而齊為虛戾。〔鮑本戰敗，其地為虛，其民為戾。戾，疾也。按齊記及表不書秦敗齊。唯秦記惠十三年，東攻齊；昭二十二年，伐齊河東，取九縣；三十六年，攻齊，取剛壽，不至，是也。此樂毅入臨淄之役也，秦與五國共敗之。補曰：趙策亦有「社稷為虛戾」之語。莊子，「國為虛厲」。釋文，「虛，如字，又音墟。李云，居宅無人曰虛，死而無後為厲」。恐此「戾」即「厲」也。〕夫齊兵之所以破，韓、魏之所以僅存者，何也？〔鮑本破韓、魏，宜能強，而適足自存者何？正曰：齊宜強而反遭破，韓、魏宜亡而乃僅存，何也？故下文言齊之受殃。注讀句誤。〕是則伐楚攻秦，而後受其殃也。今富非有齊威、宣之餘也，〔鮑本今，謂世主。〕精兵非有富韓勁魏之庫也，而將非有田單、司馬〔鮑本司馬穰苴。以齊言之耳，非威、宣將。正曰：說見齊策。〕之慮也。收破齊、罷楚、弊魏、不可知之趙，欲以窮秦折韓，臣以為至誤。臣以〔鮑本「以」下有「為」字。○〕從一〔鮑本合從為一。正曰：當作「一不可成」。下文「從之一成」可見。〕不可成也。客有難者，〔鮑本難者，如刑名家，蘇子所患也。〕今臣〔鮑本「臣」作「人」。○〕有患於世。夫刑名之家，〔鮑本申、韓之徒。〕皆曰『白馬非馬』也。已如白馬實馬，乃使有白馬之為也。〔鮑本如使白馬實馬，必有白馬之為，而天下之馬不皆為白馬，故曰非馬。〕此臣之所患也。〔鮑本言難者皆無端若此，故可患。而今非若此也。〕

「昔者，秦人下兵攻懷，〔鮑本屬河內。〕服其人，三國從之。〔鮑本趙，趙奢；齊，鮑佞；并楚為三。〕趙奢、鮑佞〔姚本一作「接」。〕將，〔鮑本絕句。〕楚有四人〔鮑本不名告之。〕起而從之。臨懷而不救，秦人去而不從。〔鮑本趙、鮑、楚四人，本起救懷而不救，又聽秦之自去，不隨擊也。〕不識三國之憎秦而愛懷邪？忘〔鮑本「忘」作「亡」。○〕其〔鮑本「亡其」，猶「亡亦」云。正曰：「亡其」前有，似不必注。〕憎懷而愛秦邪？夫攻而不救，去而不從，是以〔鮑本「以」下補「知」字。○　補曰：此下或有缺文。〕三國之兵困，而趙奢、鮑佞之能也。〔鮑本以不救不從為能，知秦之不可當也。〕故裂地以敗於齊。〔鮑本此下申言上殽、函之敗。正曰：裂地敗齊，當是指五國伐齊之事。三國之不救懷，卒裂地以敗齊，皆言從之不能合。〕田單將齊之良，以兵橫行於中十四年，終身不敢設兵以攻秦折韓也，而馳於封內，〔鮑本言不出戰，所謂橫行於中。〕不識從之一成惡存也。」

於是秦王解兵不出於境，諸侯休，天下安，二十九年不相攻。〔鮑本以此策為蘇秦合從時，則所稱趙奢，惠安、孝成將也，蘇秦不當稱之。自昭訖始皇定天下，無年不戰，則天下不相攻之說，不可曉也。今定為孝成九年邯鄲圍後，說是。後秦獨攻取兩周，猶息兵五、六年。前此後此，皆無解兵之事。補曰：二十九年不相攻，必有誤字。辯士增飾之辭固多，然不應如此之甚。原在趙策，為趙而說也，當從。〕

張儀為秦連橫說趙王

張儀為秦連橫，說趙王曰：「弊邑秦王〔鮑本惠。〕使臣敢獻書於大王御史。〔鮑本周宗伯屬官，秦因之，而趙亦有。言此者，不斥王也。補曰：御史，周官，以中士、下士為之，特小臣之傳命者。戰國其職益親，故此云云。秦、趙之會，御史書事，而淳于髡亦云「御史在前」，掌記事糾察之任也。秦益重矣。〕大王收率天下以儐秦，秦兵不敢出〔鮑本「出」作「去」。○　補曰：疑「出」字。　札記丕烈案：史記作「出」。〕函谷關十五年矣。大王之威，行於天下山東。〔鮑本補曰：一本無「山東」字。　札記丕烈案：史記作「行於山東」。〕弊邑恐懼懾伏，繕〔姚本一作「綴」。〕甲厲兵，飾車騎，習馳射，力田積粟，守四封之內，〔姚本三本同，無「之內」字。〕愁居懾處，不敢動搖，唯大王有意督〔鮑本高紀注，督，視責也。〕過之也。今秦以大王之力，〔鮑本因畏趙而飾兵故。〕西舉巴蜀，并漢中，東收兩周而西遷九鼎，〔鮑本史不書。正曰：遷鼎之說，大言之也。〕守白馬之津。秦雖辟遠，然而〔姚本三本同，無「而」字。〕心忿悁〔鮑本悁，亦忿。〕含怒之日久矣。今宣〔鮑本「宣」作「寡」。○　補曰：字訛，當作「寡」。〕君有微〔鮑本「微」作「敝」。○　補曰：史作「敝」。〕甲鈍兵，軍於澠池，願渡河踰漳，據番吾，迎戰邯鄲之下。願以甲子之日合戰，以正殷紂之事。敬使臣先以聞於左右。

「凡大王之所信以為從者，恃蘇秦之計。熒〔鮑本「熒」上補「秦」字。○　熒，火光也，猶眩。補曰：史有「蘇秦」字。〕惑諸侯，以是為非，以非為是，欲反覆齊國而不能，自令車裂於齊之市。〔鮑本補曰：說見楚策。〕夫天下之不可一亦明矣。今楚與秦為昆弟之國，而韓、魏稱為東蕃之臣，〔鮑本「為」作「於」，「蕃」作「藩」，無「之臣」二字。○　補曰：一本「東藩之臣」，史同。　札記丕烈案：史記作「為」。〕齊獻魚鹽之地，此斷趙之右臂也。夫斷右臂而求與人鬥，失其黨而孤居，求欲無危，豈可得哉？今秦發三將軍，一軍塞午道，〔鮑本補曰：說見前章。〕告齊使興師度清河，軍於邯鄲之東；一軍軍於成皋，敺〔鮑本「敺」，「驅」同。〕韓、魏而軍於河外；〔鮑本補曰：正義云，河外，謂鄭滑州，北臨河。〕一軍軍於澠池。約曰，四國為一以攻趙，破趙而四分其地。是故不敢匿意隱情，先以聞於左右。臣切〔鮑本「切」作「竊」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「竊」。〕為大王計，莫如與秦遇於澠池，面相見而身相結也。臣請案兵無攻，願大王之定計。」

趙王曰：「先王之時，奉陽君〔鮑本補曰：奉陽君，說見後。〕相，專權擅勢，蔽晦先王，獨制官事。寡人宮居，屬於師傅，不能與國謀。先王棄群臣，寡人年少，奉祠祭之日淺，私心固竊疑焉。以為一從不事秦，非國之長利也。乃且願變心易慮，剖地謝前過以事秦。方將約車趨〔鮑本「趨」，「趣」同。〕行，而適聞使者之明詔。」於是乃以車三〔鮑本「三」作「二」。○〕百乘入朝澠池，割河間以事秦。〔鮑本傳在楚、韓、齊後，蓋此十五六年。彪謂：約從以難秦者趙也。使秦得諸侯力，足以制趙，不告趙也。告之者，是力不足也。此時，諸侯惑於橫人之說，皆辭屈，貌從心不與也。使季子可作，則三國橫約可立解而坐破也。武靈此時血氣未定，而蘇氏兄弟適不在趙，故儀得以售其恐喝之說。加之數年，如議服之時，其必有以折儀也。燕昭末年，蘇代重燕而從約復舉，豈非天下之心之勢矣哉？〕

武靈王平晝間居

武靈王平晝〔鮑本無事之日，猶平日。〕間居，肥義〔鮑本趙相也。餘並公族。正曰：鮑指公子成、王孫緤、趙文、趙造言。文、造無他據。元和姓纂引策云，肥義，趙賢人。〕侍坐，曰：「王慮世事之變，權〔鮑本權，猶度。〕甲兵用之，念簡、襄之跡，計胡、狄之利乎？」〔姚本曾本添「乎」字。　鮑本無「乎」字。○〕王曰：〔姚本曾本添「曰」字。〕「嗣立不忘先德，君之道也；錯〔鮑本錯，猶委。〕質務明主之長，臣之論也。是以賢君靜而〔姚本一本無「而」字。〕有道民便事之教，動〔鮑本「動」下補「而」字。○〕有明古先〔鮑本先，猶高。〕世之功。為人臣者，窮有弟〔鮑本弟，順也。〕長辭讓之節，通有補民益主之業。此兩者，君臣之分也。今吾欲繼襄主〔鮑本「主」作「王」。○　札記丕烈案：「王」誤也，史記作「主」。〕之業，啟胡、翟之鄉，而卒世〔鮑本卒世，猶舉世，言舉世無能察此。正曰：正義云，卒，盡也。愚謂，猶言沒世。〕不見也。敵弱者，〔鮑本與弱為敵，謂胡、翟。〕用力少而功多，可以無盡百姓之勞，而享往古之勳。夫有高世之功者，必負遺俗之累；〔鮑本不與俗同，俗所遺也。〕有獨知之慮者，必被庶人之恐。〔鮑本所謂黎元懼焉。補曰：一本標「恐」。劉作「怨」。　札記丕烈案：史記作「任驁民之怨」。〕今吾將胡服〔鮑本補曰：正義云，胡服，今時服，廢除裘裳也。〕騎射以教百姓，而世必議寡人矣。」〔姚本曾本改「矣」字作「奈何」二字。〕

肥義曰：「臣聞之，疑事無功，疑行無名。今王即定〔鮑本定，言自定於心，不為俗移。〕負遺俗之慮，殆毋顧天下之議矣。夫論至德者，不和於俗；成大功者，不謀於眾。昔舜舞有苗，〔鮑本不用兵而舞干羽，欲以服人，亦異於俗。正曰：舞羽非為服苗，苗格非因舞羽，舜修德教，苗至，適當其時。〕而禹袒入裸國，〔鮑本非中國之禮。〕非以養欲而樂志也，欲以論德而要功也。愚者闇於成事，智者見於未萌，王其遂行之。」王曰：「寡人非疑胡服也，吾恐天下笑之。狂夫之樂，知者哀焉；愚者之笑，賢者戚焉。〔鮑本以此異趣，知俗必見遺。〕世有順我者，則胡服之功〔札記「功」，鮑本作「攻」。丕烈案：誤也，史記作「功」。〕未可知也。雖敺世以笑我，胡地〔鮑本元作「服」。　補曰：姚本作「地」，史同。依「服」字，則句。〕中山吾〔鮑本「吾」作「我」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「吾」。〕必有之。」

王遂胡服。使王孫緤告公子成曰：「寡人胡服，且將以朝，亦欲叔之服之也。家聽於親，國聽於君，古今之公行也；子不反親，臣不逆主，先王之通誼也。今寡人作教易服，而叔不服，吾恐天下議之也。夫制國有常，而利民為本；從政有經，而令行為上。故明德在於論賤，行政在於信〔鮑本「信」，「伸」同。所謂行法自近始。正曰：「信」，如字，言必行於貴者。〕貴。今胡服之意，非以養欲而樂志也。事有所出，〔姚本曾本「出」改作「止」。〕功有所止。〔姚本曾本「止」改作「出」。　鮑本止，猶至。補曰：姚云，曾本改互「出」、「止」字。愚按，此據史文。〕事成功立，然後德且〔鮑本「且」作「可」。○〕見也。今寡人恐叔〔鮑本補曰：「叔」字疑衍。　札記丕烈案：吳說非也，史記有。〕逆從政之經，以輔公叔之議。且寡人聞之，事利國者行無邪，因貴戚者名不累。故寡人願募〔鮑本「募」作「慕」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「慕」。〕公叔之義，以成胡服之功。使緤謁之叔，〔鮑本補曰：索隱，句。〕請服焉。」

公子成再拜曰：「臣固聞王之胡服也，不佞寢疾，不能趨走，是以不先進。王今命之，臣固敢竭其愚忠。臣聞之，中國者，聰明叡知之所居也，萬物財用〔鮑本「用」作「貨」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「用」。〕之所聚也，賢聖之所教也，仁義之所施也，詩書禮樂之所用也，異敏〔鮑本異，出類。敏，疾於事也。〕技藝之所試也，遠方之所觀赴也，蠻夷之所義行也。〔鮑本以中國為有義有行。補曰：自「中國者」至此，似周官大司徒文。〕今王釋此，而襲遠方之服，變古之教，易古之道，逆人之心，畔學者，離中國，臣願大王圖之。」

使者報王。王曰：「吾固聞叔之病也。」即之公叔成家，自請之曰：「夫服者，所以便用也；禮者，所以便事也。是以聖人觀其鄉而順宜，因其事而制禮，所以利其民而厚其國也。被〔姚本「被」，三本同作「祝」。　鮑本補曰：「被」字，史作「剪」。〕髮文身，錯臂左衽，〔姚本錢、劉無「錯臂」二字。「錯臂」一作「拃面」。孔衍作「右臂左衽」，右袒其臂也。　鮑本以兩臂交錯而立，言無禮容。補曰：索隱云。錯臂，亦文身，謂以丹青錯畫其臂。孔衍作「右臂」，謂右袒其臂也。愚謂，既言文身，則畫臂為複，恐後說是。「錯」或「袒」字訛。姚云，劉無「錯臂」字，一作「拃面」。吳世家「斷髮文身」，應劭注，常在水中，故以象龍子，不見傷害。劭注本說苑。　札記吳氏補曰，「錯」或「袒」字偽。丕烈案：吳說未是，史記作「錯」。〕甌〔姚本「甌」一作「林」。〕越〔姚本後語作「臨越」。注云，臨，亦百越之一名也。戰國策作「林」，今俗尚稱「林奴」。臨林，今雷州左側。　鮑本即漢東甌、閩、粵。補曰：漢東甌、閩中地。輿地志，交趾，周為駱越，秦為西甌。索隱云，今珠厓、儋耳謂之甌人，是有甌越。文選「三越」注，吳越、南越、閩越。東甌，即閩越。駱越，甌人，即南越也。〕之民也。黑齒雕題，〔鮑本史注，以草染齒為黑。雕題者，刻其肌，以丹青𣵀之。〕鯷冠秫縫，〔姚本曾作「鯷冠秫縫」，一作「鮭冠黎緤」。史記作「卻冠秫絀」，注，戰國策作「秫縫」，亦「縫紩」之別名。鉥者，綦鍼也。古字多假借，故作「秫絀」耳。蓋言女工鍼縷之麤拙也。　鮑本鯷，大鮎，以其皮為冠。秫，綦鍼也。言女工之拙。補曰：「秫」，即「鉥」字通借，時橘反。鯷，太計反。〕大吳之國也。禮服不同，其便一也。是以鄉異而用變，事異而禮易。是故聖人苟可以利其民，不一其用；果可以便其事，不同其禮。儒者一師而禮異，中國同俗而教離，又況山谷之便〔姚本「便」，孫作「士」。〕乎？故去就之變，知者不能一；遠近之服，賢聖不能同。窮鄉多異，〔鮑本異，異俗。〕曲學多辨，不知而不疑，〔鮑本言各不知其異而不疑之。〕異於己而不非者，公於求善也。今卿〔札記今本「卿」誤「鄉」。丕烈案：史記作「叔」。〕之所言者，俗也。吾之所言者，所以制俗也。今吾國東有河、薄洛之水，〔鮑本史記，安平涇縣西有漳水，津名薄洛津。後志，安定烏枝谷名。補曰：淮南子，「嶢山崩而薄洛之水涸」，注謂薄洛在馮翊臨晉。今按本文，謂在趙東，與齊、中山同之，恐皆非。此所指未詳。〕與齊、中山同之，而無舟楫之用。自常山以至代、上黨，東有燕、東胡之境，西有樓煩、秦、韓之邊，〔鮑本補曰：正義云，東胡，烏丸之先也，後為鮮卑，在匈奴東，故曰東胡。括地志云，東胡，漢初冒頓滅之，餘保烏丸山，因號烏丸。又曰，林胡樓煩即嵐、勝之北也。嵐、勝以南石州、離石、藺等，趙邊邑也，秦隔河也。晉、洛、潞、澤等州皆七國時韓地，趙西境也。〕而無騎射之備。故寡人且聚舟楫之用，求水居之民，以守河、薄洛之水；變服騎射，以備其〔鮑本「其」作「燕」。○　補曰：史作「燕」，姚引。〕參胡、〔姚本續云：史，備燕、三胡、秦、韓之邊。〕樓煩、秦、韓之邊。〔鮑本言參錯居其邊地。正曰：「參」，史作「三」，因音而訛也。據上文，則「參」當作「東」，字訛。〕且昔者簡主不塞〔鮑本「不塞」者，志在遠略。〕晉陽，以及上黨，而襄王〔鮑本「王」作「主」。○　札記丕烈案：「主」字是也。史記作「主」。〕兼戎取代，〔姚本集、劉、錢作「簡主實晉陽，而襄主兼戎取代」。〕以攘諸胡，此愚知之所明也。先時中山負齊之強兵，侵掠吾地，係累〔鮑本「累」，「纍」同。〕吾民，引水圍鄗，〔鮑本屬常山。補曰：光武即位於此，改高邑。〕非社稷之神靈，即鄗幾不守。先王忿之，其怨未能報也。今騎射之服，近可以備上黨之形，遠可以報中山之怨。而叔也順中國之俗以逆簡、襄之意，惡變服之名，而忘國事之恥，非寡人所望於子！」

公子成再拜稽首曰：「臣愚不達於王之議，敢道世俗之間。〔姚本一作「聞」。　鮑本「間」作「聞」。○　補曰：一本「聞」作「間」，與下文同。　札記丕烈案：史記作「聞」。〕今欲繼簡、襄之意，以順先王之志，臣敢不聽今。」〔鮑本「今」作「令」。○　札記丕烈案：「令」字是也，史記作「命」。〕再拜。乃賜胡服。

趙文進諫曰：「農夫勞〔鮑本「勞」下補「力」字。○　正曰：「勞」下恐有缺字。〕而君子養焉，政之經也。愚者陳意而知者論焉，教之道也。臣無隱忠，君無蔽〔鮑本蔽，猶伏。〕言，國之祿〔鮑本祿，猶福。〕也。臣雖愚，願竭其忠。」王曰：「慮無惡擾，〔鮑本「惡」作「變」。○　言能定慮，則不亂於物。〕忠無過〔鮑本過者，罪之小者。〕罪，子其言乎。」趙文曰：「當〔鮑本當，猶順。〕世輔俗，古之道也。衣服有常，禮之制也。修〔鮑本「修」作「脩」，又改作「循」。○　補曰：姚云一作「循禮」。商君傳正作「循」。朱子韓文考異著方氏說云，唐人書「脩」近「循」，楚辭亦有誤者，則此字古已混矣。下文兩有「循法」字，為「循」無疑。〕法無愆，民之職也。三者，先聖之所以教。今君釋此，而襲遠方之服，變古之教，易古之道，故臣願王之圖之。」王曰：「子〔鮑本「子」作「卿」。○〕言世俗之間。〔鮑本言其所言不能出俗。〕常民溺於習俗，學者沉於所聞。此兩者，所以成官而順政也，非所以觀遠而論始也。〔鮑本若今胡服自我始也。〕且夫三代不同服而王，五伯不同教而政。〔鮑本政，言治行於下。〕知者作教，而愚者制焉。賢者議俗，不肖者拘焉。夫制於服之民，不足與論心；拘於俗之眾，不足與致意。故勢與俗化，而禮與變俱，聖人之道也。承教而動，循法無私，〔鮑本不敢有私意。〕民之職也。知學之人，能與聞遷；〔鮑本有所聞，則改前之為。〕達於〔姚本一無「於」字。〕禮之變，能與時化。故為己者不待人，制今者不法古，子其釋之。」

趙造諫曰：「隱忠不竭，奸之屬也。以私誣國，賤〔姚本劉改「賤」作「賊」。　鮑本賤，謂輕國。〕之類也。犯姦者身死，賤〔姚本劉改「賤」作「賊」。〕國者族宗。〔鮑本族滅其宗。〕反〔姚本劉本無「反」字。　鮑本「反」作「有」。○〕此兩者，先聖〔鮑本「聖」作「王」。○〕之明刑，臣下之大罪也。臣雖愚，願盡其忠，無遁其死。」王曰：「竭意不諱，〔鮑本「諱」作「讓」。○　補曰：一本「讓」作「諱」。〕忠也。上無蔽言，明也。忠不辟危，明不距人。子其言乎。」

趙造曰：「臣聞之，聖人不易民而教，知者不變俗而動。因民而教者，不勞而成功；據〔鮑本據，猶依。〕俗而動者，慮徑〔鮑本徑以步道，喻其省便。〕而易見也。今王易初不循俗，胡服不顧世，非所以教民而成禮也。且服奇者志淫，俗辟者亂民。是以蒞國者不襲奇辟之服，中國不近蠻夷之行，非所以教民而成禮者也。且循法無過，脩〔姚本「脩」，一作「循」。　札記吳氏補曰，商君傳作「循」。〕禮無邪，臣願王之圖之。」

王曰：「古今不同俗，何古之法？帝王不相襲，何禮之循？宓戲、〔鮑本「宓戲」作「伏羲」。　札記丕烈案：史記作「虙戲」。〕神農教而不誅，黃帝、堯、舜誅而不怒。及至三王，觀時而制法，因事而制禮，法度制令，各順其宜；衣服器械，各便其用。故禮世〔姚本「禮」一作「理」。　鮑本禮施於世。補曰：宜從商君傳作「治世」。〕不必〔鮑本無「必」字。○〕一其〔姚本一本無「其」字。〕道，〔姚本劉作「後世不一其道」。　札記丕烈案：史記作「禮也不必一道」。〕便國不必法古。聖人之興也，不相襲而王。夏、殷之衰也，不易禮而滅。然則反古未可非，而循禮未足多也。且服奇而志淫，是鄒、魯無奇〔姚本錢改「奇」作「袤」。〕行也；〔姚本曾、集無「也」字。〕俗辟而民易，是吳、越無俊民也。〔鮑本鄒屬魯國。言二國雖無奇服，不無奇行。正曰：趙造言「服奇者志淫，俗辟者亂民，蒞國者不襲奇辟之服，中國不近蠻夷之行」，故此舉其言而詰之。按索隱云，「鄒、魯好長纓，是奇服也。服非其志，皆淫辟也。而有孔門顏、冉之屬，豈無奇行哉？方俗僻處山谷，而人皆改易，不通大化，則是吳、越無秀士，何得有季札、大夫種之屬哉」？今欲略改云「方俗僻陋」，刪「處山谷」三字。〕是以聖人利身之謂服，便事之謂教，進退之謂節，衣服之〔鮑本「服之」下有「謂」字。○〕制，所以齊常民，非所以論賢者也。〔鮑本此謂「進退」以下。補曰：史「進退之節，衣服之制」，無兩「謂」字，接下文為是。〕故聖與俗流，〔鮑本言其順俗。〕賢與變俱。諺曰：『以書為御者，不盡於〔鮑本無「於」字。○〕馬之情。以古制今者，不達於〔鮑本無「於」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記無。〕事之變。』故循法之功，不足以高世；法古之學，不足以制今。子其勿反也。」〔鮑本趙記十九年有，無二趙諫詞。彪謂：拓地開邊，非有國之所先也。不得已而有攘卻之事，嚴兵而已。兵嚴而士用命，雖不胡服，其無成功？如其不然，雖易服變古，何救於敗哉！孟子曰，「行一不義而得天下，不為也」。武靈之志，欲得中山、胡地而已，遂舉國而夷，甚矣其不權於輕重小大之差也！且其所稱反古之說，皆鉤金一輿羽之類，古所謂以辯言亂舊政者也，何足取哉？而史無譏，故備論之。補曰：史衛鞅傳與此章多同，今考列于后：衛鞅曰：「疑事無功，疑行無名。」肥義曰：同。「有高人之行者，固見非于世；有獨知之慮者，必見敖於民。」王曰：「有高世之功者，必有遺俗之累；有獨智之慮者，必被庶人之恐。」「愚者闇于成事，智者見於未萌。論至德者不和於俗，成大功者不謀於眾。」肥義曰：同。「聖人苟可以強國，不法其故；苟可以利民，不循其禮。」王曰：「聖人苟可以利其民，不一其用；果可以便其事，不同其禮。」甘龍曰：「聖人不易民而教，智者不變法而動。因民而教者，不勞而成功，緣法而治者，吏習而民安之。」趙造曰：「聖人不易民而教，智者不變法而動。因民而教者，不勞而成功，據俗而動者，慮徑而易見。」衛鞅曰：「龍之所言，世俗之言也。常人安於故俗，學者溺於所聞，以此兩言居官守法可也，非所以論於法之外也。三代不同禮而王，五伯不同法而霸。智者作法，愚者制焉。賢者更禮，不肖者拘焉。」王曰：「卿言世俗之間，常民溺於習俗，學者沉於所聞，此兩者所以成官而順政也，非所以觀遠而論始也。且夫三代不同服而王，五伯不同教而政。智者作教，而愚者制焉。賢者議俗，不肖者拘焉。」杜摯曰：「法古無過，循禮無邪。」趙造曰：「循法無過，脩禮無邪。」衛鞅曰：「治世不一道，便國不法古。湯、武不循古而王，夏、殷不易禮而亡。反古者不可非，而循禮者不足多。」王曰：「禮世不一其道，便國不必法古。聖人之興也，不相襲而王。夏、殷之衰也，不易禮而滅。然則反古未可非，而循禮不足多也。」衛鞅、趙武靈所稱「民不可慮始，治不必相襲」者，初不全非，但所以行是言者悖耳。商君傳語，策具有之，唯「民不可與慮始，而可與樂成」語，不襲用，而用其意也。史遷於趙世家所不載者，二趙諫詞耳。二事皆變古者也。當時紀載與遷所錄，固不能無混歟？然商君傳文法而簡，策文錯以他語，奇而肆，可以參觀。漢韓安國、王恢議伐匈奴辯難之辭，亦類此，亦間采其數語。　史云，趙文、趙造、周紹、趙俊皆諫。按周紹，即後章周紹傅王子何者，紹辭傅而未嘗諫易服也；趙俊，即趙燕後服者，王讓之即受服。史謬云諫也。牛贊嘗有諫而史不言。〕

王立周紹為傅

王立周紹為傅，曰：「寡人始行〔鮑本補曰：去聲。〕縣，過番吾，當子為子之時，踐石〔鮑本踐石，謂能騎乘者。禮「洗王石」注，乘馬石。〕以上者皆道子之孝。故寡人問子以璧，〔鮑本問，以禮遺之。〕遺子以酒食，而求見子。子謁〔鮑本「謁」作「謂」。○〕病而辭。人有言子者曰：『父之孝子，君之忠臣也。』故寡人以子之知慮，為辨足以道人，危〔鮑本危，言有危苦之節。正曰：危，高狀也。〕足以持難，忠可以寫〔鮑本寫，猶宣。〕意，信可以遠期。〔鮑本久而不渝。〕詩〔鮑本「詩」作「諺」。○〕云：『服難以勇，治亂以知，事之計也。立傅以行，〔鮑本去音。〕教少以學，義之經也。循計之事，〔鮑本先計而順行之。〕失〔鮑本「失」作「佚」。○〕而〔鮑本「而」下補「不」字。○　補曰：以下句例之，此恐缺「不」字。　札記今本「而」下有「不」字，乃誤涉鮑也。〕累；訪議之行，窮而不憂。』〔鮑本窮，言盡事之情。正曰：此言勇智為事之計，指胡服言。行學為事之經，指立傅言。循計謀之事，雖有故失而無累。訪謀議之行，雖有窮急而不憂。「訪義」，又疑「放義」，謂放於義也。〕故寡人欲子之胡服以傅王乎。」〔鮑本「乎」作「子」。○　補曰：「乎」當作「子」，大事記改。　札記今本「乎」作「子」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕

周紹曰：「王失論矣，非賤臣所敢任也。」王曰：「選子莫若父，論臣莫若君。君，寡人也。」周紹曰：「立傅之道六。」王曰：「六者何也？」周紹曰：「知慮不躁達於變，身行寬惠達於禮，威嚴不足以易於位，〔鮑本素位而行，不為威嚴所移。〕重利不足以變其心，恭於教而不快，〔鮑本快，謂縱逸。〕和於下而不危。六者，傅之才，而臣無一焉。隱中不竭，〔鮑本「竭」作「謁」。○　隱，自匿也。中，謂情實。此疑與趙造諫本一說。補曰：「不謁」，一作「不竭」。「中」，一作「忠」。即趙造語。〕臣之罪也。傅〔鮑本「傅」，「附」同。比也。〕命僕〔鮑本僕，猶辱。〕官，以煩有司，吏之恥也。王請更論。」

王曰：「知此六者，所以使子。」周紹曰：「乃國未通於王〔鮑本「王」下補「之」字。○〕胡服。雖然，臣，王之臣也，而王重命之，臣敢不聽令乎？」再拜，賜胡服。

王曰：「寡人以王子為子任，欲子之厚愛之，無所見醜。御道之以行義，勿令溺苦於學。〔鮑本溺、苦，皆勞也。勞於學，以無導之者故也。正曰：醜，言惡事也。學，言誦習也。謂厚愛教之，毋使見醜事。以行義導之，毋沉溺困苦於誦習之末也。武靈安知行義，蓋習聞古語，猶紹之論立傅爾。方務胡服騎射，宜以誦習為溺苦也。秦異人不習於誦，而王罷之。當時氣習類是，焚書之禍兆矣。〕事君者，順其意，不逆其志。事先〔鮑本先，先君。〕者，明其高，不倍其孤。故有臣可命，其國之祿也。子能行是，以〔鮑本「以」上補「所」字。○〕事寡人者畢矣。書云：『去邪無疑，任賢勿貳。』〔鮑本禹謨。〕寡人與子，不用人矣。」遂賜周紹胡服衣冠，具帶〔鮑本帶飾之備也，猶具劍。補曰：淮南子云，趙武靈王具帶鵔鸃而朝。此以「具」作「貝」。漢書佞幸傳，孝惠時，郎、侍中皆冠鵔鸃貝帶，注，「以貝飾帶」。　札記今本「具」作「且」。〕黃金師比，〔姚本續云：史記匈奴傳，漢遺單于有黃金飾貝帶一飾。漢書音義曰，腰中大帶，黃金胥紕一。徐廣曰，或作「犀毗」。注引戰國策「趙武靈王賜周紹貝帶黃金師比」。延篤云，胡革帶鉤也。則此帶鉤，亦名「師比」。則「胥」、「犀」與「師」並相近，而說各異耳。　鮑本未詳，蓋衣章。主術訓「武靈王貝帶鵔鸃而朝」注，𦑂〈孛羽〉，讀曰「私鈚」。頭三字與此小異。正曰：漢書「黃金犀比」，師古云，胡帶之鉤也。延篤說同，大事記引又謂「師比」。史記「胥紕」。「師」、「犀」、「胥」一也。〕以傅王子也。〔鮑本無「也」字。○〕　　〔鮑本補曰：大事記書趙惠后卒，使周紹胡服傅王子。解題云，惠后，吳娃也。娃方死，憐其子而將立之，廢長立少之意已見於此。而其論傅時，有古之遺言。愚謂，命胡服而誦古之遺言，豈其然乎？〕

趙燕後胡服

趙燕後胡服，〔鮑本服後於眾。〕王令讓之曰：「事主之行，竭意盡力，微諫而不譁，〔鮑本讙也。〕應對而不怨，不逆上以自伐，不立私以為名。子道順而不拂，臣行讓而不爭。子用私道者家必亂，臣用私義者國必危。反親以為行，慈父不子；逆主以自成，惠〔鮑本惠，猶慈。〕主不臣也。寡人胡服，子獨弗服，逆主罪莫大焉。以從政〔鮑本政，胡服之政。〕為累，以逆主為高，行私莫大焉。故寡人恐親〔鮑本燕，公族也，故稱親。正曰：親身犯之也。〕犯刑戮之罪，以明有司之法。」趙燕再拜稽首曰：「前〔鮑本前，前日。〕吏命胡服，施及賤臣，臣以失令過期，更〔姚本一作「史」。　鮑本更，猶反。正曰：更，改也。〕不用侵辱教，〔鮑本侵辱，刑也。言己宜服刑，王反不刑而教之。正曰：侵辱教，刑也。〕王之惠也。臣敬循〔姚本一作「修」。〕衣服，以待今日。」〔鮑本「今」作「令」。○　令，善也。補曰：施，以豉反，更，居行反。　札記今本「今日」作「令甲」。〕

王破原陽

王破〔鮑本正曰：破者，破卒散兵以為騎。〕原陽，〔鮑本屬雲中。〕以為騎邑。〔鮑本居騎士於此。〕牛贊〔鮑本趙人。〕進諫曰：「國有固籍，〔鮑本固，言不變。籍，猶令甲。正曰：「固」，「故」通。〕兵有常經。變籍則亂，失經則弱。今王破原陽，以為騎邑，是變籍而棄經也。且習其兵者輕其敵，〔鮑本習於敵人之兵，則玩而易之。〕便其用者〔鮑本此言本國械用。〕易〔鮑本補曰：易，以豉反。〕其難。今民便其用而王變之，是損〔姚本一作「捐」。〕君而弱國也。故利不百者不變俗，〔鮑本補曰：此亦商君傳杜摯語，「俗」作「法」。〕功不什者不易器。今王破卒散兵，以奉騎射，臣恐其攻獲之利，不如所失之費也。」

王曰：「古今異利，遠近易〔鮑本易，入音。〕用。陰陽不同道，四時不一宜。故賢人觀時，而不觀於時；〔鮑本時，猶俗也。視俗而變，不為俗所窺。〕制兵，而不制於兵。子知官府之籍，不知器械之利；知兵甲之用，不知陰陽之宜。〔鮑本趙居胡之南，陽也，欲攻胡而用趙兵，非其宜也。正曰：陰陽之宜，言天地氣化之運，人事剛柔之節。其詳則若范蠡之所以答越王者，語見國語。大事記解題，周元王元王年載之。〕故兵不當於用，何兵之不可易？教不便於事，何俗之不可變？昔者先君襄主與代交〔鮑本交，猶接。〕地，城境封之，〔鮑本築城境上，為之封域。〕名曰無窮之門，所以昭〔鮑本「昭」作「詔」。○〕後而期遠也。今重甲循〔姚本一作「修」。〕兵，〔鮑本趙甲重，不若新甲之輕。循，言其因舊。正曰：循，行也。言被重甲執兵而行，不可以踰險，不若胡服之騎射便利。〕不可以踰險；仁義道德，不可以來朝。〔鮑本此言胡也。〕吾聞信不棄功，知不遺時。今〔札記今本「今」誤「令」。〕子以官府之籍，亂寡人之事，非子所知。」〔鮑本「知」作「智」。○〕

牛贊再拜稽首曰：「臣敢不聽令乎？」至〔姚本集、劉作「王」。　鮑本「至」作「王」。○〕遂胡服，率騎入胡，出於遺遺之門，〔鮑本此門義取胡者古今所遺。正曰：無據而謬。　札記丕烈案：所標姚氏列遺逸有之，見後附錄。〕踰九限之固，絕五俓〔鮑本「俓」作「徑」。○　札記丕烈案：此當是「陘」之假借耳。〕之險，至榆中，〔鮑本「榆」作「胡」。○　補曰：「胡中」，一本「榆中」，世家二十年，王西略胡地至榆中。正義云，勝州所治榆林。〕辟地千里。〔鮑本補曰：大事記謂，賜周紹胡服衣冠，具帶黃金師比，此胡服也。又引水經注、竹書紀年，邯鄲命將軍、大吏、適子、代吏皆貂服。即胡服之事，按胡廣曰，趙武靈王改胡服，以金璫飾前，前搖貂尾為貴職。或以北土多寒，胡人以貂皮溫額，後代效之。亦曰惠文。漢曰武弁，曰女冠，武官冠之。侍中、中常侍加黃金璫，附蟬為文，貂尾為飾。漢官儀又名「鵔鸃冠」。愚謂，貂服者，此類也。今之靴，亦武靈所製云。　一本標春秋後語云，武靈王十九年春正月，大朝信武宮，乃召肥義與議天下事，五日而畢。遂北略中山，登黃華之上。注云，黃華，山名也。戰國策云，武陵王游於大陵，夢見處女，鼓瑟而歌，登黃華之上。今按史，十六年，游大陵，夢處女；十九年大朝信武宮，召肥義議事，略中山至房子之代地，至無窮，西至河，登黃華之上。先後不同。所載戰國策云云者，今缺，姑記以廣異聞。〕

趙策 三

趙惠文王三十年

趙惠文王三十年，相都平君田單〔鮑本「都平」作「平都」，下同。○　按史，單無都平之稱。魏策三言平都，今從之。又按，孝成元年，單將趙師攻燕，二年為相。蓋相平都而將之，實自惠文。至孝成，乃攻燕復相也。正曰：史趙世家，惠文王三十三年卒，孝成王元年，田單將趙師攻燕及韓，二年，田單為相。此稱都平君，是仍齊相之稱。都平，即安平也，故大事記俱作安平君。魏策長平之役，平都君云云，不言是田單也。惠文三十年，正趙奢破秦軍閼與後一歲，單未至趙也。疑三十年下有缺文。〕問趙奢曰：「吾非不說將軍之兵法也，所以不服者，獨將軍之用眾。用眾者，使民不得耕作，糧食輓賃〔鮑本賃，所稅於民者。〕不可給也。此坐而自破之道也，非單之所為也。單聞之，帝王之兵，所用者不過三萬，而天下服矣。今將軍必負十萬、二十萬之眾乃用之，此單之所不服也。」

馬服曰：〔鮑本「曰」上有「君」字。○　補曰：馬服，注見秦策。張華曰，趙奢家在邯鄲西山上，謂之馬服山。　札記丕烈案：馬服，即馬服君也。后有。〕「君非徒不達於兵也，〔鮑本兵，則吳干之喻。〕又不明其時勢。〔鮑本時勢，則萬國、七國之異。〕夫吳干之劍，〔姚本續云：荀子注引作「吳干將之劍」。　鮑本吳王使干將鑄之，故云。〕肉試則斷牛馬，金試則截盤匜；〔鮑本匜，盥器。補曰：荀子作「劙盤盂」。注，銅器，引策文。〕薄之柱上而擊之，〔鮑本薄，猶迫。補曰：薄，音搏。〕則折為三，質〔鮑本質，以石為鑕。〕之石上而擊之，則碎為百。今以三萬之眾而應強國之兵，是薄柱擊石之類也。〔鮑本「類」作「謂」。○　補曰：言劍雖利，然薄之於柱，質之於石而擊之，則不敵於柱石之堅，必折且碎。一本，「之謂」作「之類」。荀子注引「吳干將」。〕且夫吳干之劍材，難〔鮑本材，謂脊脾之類，不易得也。〕夫毋〔鮑本「毋」作「無」○　補曰：「無」通。　札記丕烈案：吳補亦未是也。下句乃以「無」為「毋」。「難」字屬此句讀，連上者非。〕脊之厚，而鋒不入；無脾〔鮑本脾，近刃處。〕之薄，而刃不斷。兼有是兩〔鮑本「兩」作「二」。○〕者，無釣𢆔鐔蒙須〔姚本曾作「頃」，下同。　鮑本「釣」作「鉤」。「𢆔」作「罕」，又改作「竿」。○　鉤，劍頭鐶。竿，與「𣔼」同。集韻，柄也。鐔，珥鼻也。蒙須，疑為劍繩，猶蒯緱也。爾雅，「草有夫須」，蓋以草為繩。正曰：鉤，亦劍屬。一本作「𢆔」，是，下同。「咢」與「鍔」同，刃鋒也。姚云，曾本「須」作「頃」，亦未詳。補曰：鐔，徐心反。　札記今本「釣」作「鉤」。〕之便，操其刃而刺，則未入而手斷。君無十餘、〔鮑本正曰：恐即上文「萬」字。　札記丕烈案：吳說非是也，此不當改。〕二十萬之眾，而為此釣𢆔鐔蒙須之便，而徒以三萬行於天下，君焉能乎？且古者，四海之內，分為萬國。城雖大，無過三百丈〔姚本集作「三丈」。〕者；人雖眾，無過三千家者。而以集〔鮑本集，言平時團集，非烏合也。〕兵三萬，距此奚難哉！今取古之為萬國者，分以為戰國七，能〔鮑本「能」上補「不」字。○〕具數十萬之兵，曠日持久，數歲，即君之齊已。〔鮑本言以三萬拒數十萬，必敗亡也。齊嘗為燕昭所破，故云。正曰：「能具」云云，即下云齊以二十萬眾攻荊五年之事。〕齊以二十萬之眾攻荊，五年乃罷。趙以二十萬之眾攻中山，五年乃歸。〔鮑本此言雖眾猶不亟得志，況三萬乎？〕今者，齊、韓相方，〔鮑本方，猶比，猶敵。〕而國圍攻焉，〔鮑本兩國或圍或攻。〕豈有敢曰，我其以三萬救是者乎哉？今千丈之城，萬家之邑相望也，而索〔鮑本索，猶求。〕以三萬之眾，圍千丈之城，不存其一角，〔鮑本言城大兵少，曾不處城之一角，豈能合圍？〕而野戰不足用也，〔鮑本既不能圍，亦不可戰。〕君將以此何之？」都平君喟然太息曰：「單不至也！」〔鮑本至，猶及也，言慮不及此。彪謂：兵不期少多，商敵為數耳。單也以少擊眾，奇兵也。奢也以眾敵眾，正兵也。論兵者當以正為常，而用之則務出奇。奇不可論也。單也狃於即墨之勝，欲以奇為常而廢正，此其論所以屈也。補曰：兵不期少多，商敵為數，此論是矣。而有所未盡，以其論兵而不論將也。單之破燕，蓋乘眾之憤懈，而設奇駭之。奢之救閼與，曰道遠險狹，猶兩鼠鬥穴中，將勇者勝。其後卒以計敗秦。而長平之役，括以四十五萬之眾，而不免於白起。將善則能以少而勝，不善則雖多而亦敗爾。雖然，人知少之害而未知多之累。曹操以八十萬而敗于赤壁，將非不善也。故韓信之論高帝曰，「不過能將十萬」，而多多益辦，獨信能之。論兵者可以不知將哉？〕

趙使机郝之秦

趙使机郝〔鮑本「机郝」作「仇赫」。○　下同。史作「仇液」。補曰：「仇」訛。　札記丕烈案：東周策有「仇赫之相宋」，鮑所據也。此文史記作「仇液」。索隱曰，戰國策作「朹郝」。蓋一人而記別也。考後策有「齊人戎郭、宋突謂仇郝曰」，又有「令仇郝相宋」，即此。「机」者，「朹」之別體，於「仇」為同字。「郝」、「赫」、「液」，聲之轉也。〕之秦，請相魏冉。宋突〔鮑本齊人，郝客。正曰：無據。史作「宋公」，索隱引策云「宋交」。〕謂机郝曰：「秦不聽，樓緩必怨公。〔鮑本秦時已相緩。〕公不若陰辭〔鮑本辭，告之也。〕樓子曰：『請無急秦王。』〔鮑本昭王。言為緩故，請之不力。〕秦王見趙之相魏冉之不急也，〔鮑本無「也」字。○〕且不聽公言也，〔鮑本公，謂郝。〕是事而不成，〔鮑本「成」下補「以德樓子事成」六字。○　以史補此六字。補曰：史此下有「以德樓子事成」六字，恐策有缺文。〕魏冉固德公矣。」〔鮑本穰侯傳有，云秦昭七年。此二十六年。補曰：史，趙人樓緩來相秦，數不利，乃使仇液云云。於是仇液從之，而秦果免樓緩，而魏冉相。〕

齊破燕趙欲存之

齊破燕，〔鮑本之、噲之亂。燕七年，此十二年。〕趙欲存之。樂毅謂趙王曰：「今無約而攻齊，齊必讎趙。〔鮑本不約與國而獨攻齊，故齊怨。若有與同攻，則怨有所分矣。〕不如請以河東易燕地於齊。〔鮑本齊破燕，所謂地近趙，趙以河東易之。〕趙有河北，齊有河東，〔鮑本此二非郡。〕燕、趙必不爭矣。是二國親也。以河東之地強齊，〔鮑本言齊得河東則益強。〕以燕以〔姚本劉去「以」字。〕趙輔之，〔鮑本與之易地，是助之也。〕天下憎之，〔鮑本害其強。〕必皆事王以伐齊。是因天下以破齊也。」王曰：「善。」乃以河東易齊，楚、魏憎之，令淖滑、惠施之趙，請伐齊而存燕。〔鮑本補曰：大事記，按樂毅傳，毅賢好兵，趙人舉之。及武靈王有沙丘之亂，乃去趙適魏。毅嘗事趙也。又云，趙納公子職于燕，世家不書其立，蓋燕人不受也。〕

秦攻趙藺離石祁拔

秦攻趙，藺、離石、祁拔。趙以公子郚〔鮑本補曰：音吾。〕為質於秦，而請內焦、〔姚本一作「應」。　鮑本弘農郡有焦城。正曰：大事記據此。愚疑非此地。〕黎、〔鮑本東郡有黎，即黎陽。〕牛狐之城，〔鮑本地缺。〕以易藺、離石、祁於趙。〔鮑本「趙」作「秦」。○　札記今本「趙」作「秦」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕趙背秦，不予焦、黎、牛狐。秦王〔鮑本昭。〕怒，令公子繒請地。趙王乃令鄭朱對曰：「夫藺、離石、祁之地，曠遠於趙，而近於大國。有先王之明與先臣之力，故能有之。今寡人不逮，〔鮑本不及先王。〕其社稷之不能恤，安能收恤藺、離石、祁乎？寡人有不令之臣，實為此事也，非寡人之所敢知。」〔鮑本補曰：鄭朱之對，辭氣類左氏。〕卒倍秦。

秦王大怒，令衛胡易〔鮑本史無「易」字。補曰：秦紀，「中更胡傷」，說見後。　札記丕烈案：「易」當作「昜」，「昜」「傷」同字。〕伐趙，攻閼與。〔鮑本後志，上黨涅有閼與。補曰：大事記，潞州絧鞮縣西北，閼與震。閼，阿葛切。與，音預。〕趙奢將救之。〔鮑本此二十九年，破趙閼與下。〕魏令公子咎以銳師居安邑，以挾秦。〔鮑本挾，牽制之。正曰：夾持之。〕秦敗於閼與，反攻魏幾，〔鮑本魏將。正曰：幾，邑名。正義云，或屬齊，或屬魏，當在相、潞之間。幾音機，一音祈。〕廉頗救幾，大敗秦師。〔鮑本補曰：按西周策，蘇厲謂周君曰，敗韓、魏，殺犀武，攻趙，取藺、離石、祁者，皆白起。則此舉乃起將也。按顯王四十一年，秦敗趙，殺趙相，取離石。赧王二年，秦拔趙藺，虜趙莊藺引。而此言取二城，在伊闕戰後，史載於赧王三十四年。豈戰國地里不常，後復屬趙，而今為秦所拔歟？赧之三十四年，當惠文十八年。前一年秦拔我兩城，是年秦拔我石城。豈即此三邑，而石城即離石邪？末言戰閼與攻幾事，皆因此。按史，趙奢攻秦閼與，在惠文二十九年，廉頗攻幾，在惠文二十三年。今策戰閼與而後攻幾，前後不同。大事記謂，幾本屬魏，廉頗取之，自是遂屬趙。秦師既為趙奢所敗，師還，因擊幾，故下文稱救幾也。又按，秦紀，中更胡傷攻趙閼與，在趙奢破秦次年。年表，秦擊我閼與，城不拔，是再攻閼與也。與策亦舛。大事記從史書之而不辨，當詳之。〕

富丁欲以趙合齊魏

富丁〔鮑本趙人。〕欲以趙合齊、魏，樓緩欲以趙合秦、楚。富丁恐主父之聽樓緩而合秦、楚也。

司馬淺〔鮑本趙人。〕為富丁謂主父曰：「不如以順齊。〔鮑本齊本欲伐秦，今順之。〕今我不順齊伐秦，秦、楚必合而攻韓、魏。〔鮑本無齊之難，因得取其鄰也。〕韓、魏告急於齊，齊不欲伐秦，〔鮑本上言順齊伐秦，此又言齊不欲伐者，前時秦、楚未合，今合故也。〕必以趙為辭，〔鮑本以趙不順齊伐秦告二國。〕則〔鮑本「則」下補「不」字。○　補曰：「則」下宜有「不」字。〕伐秦者趙也，韓、魏必怨趙。齊之兵不西，〔鮑本不伐秦。〕韓必聽秦違齊。〔鮑本畏秦故。〕違齊而親，〔鮑本秦親韓。〕兵必歸於趙矣。今我順而齊不西，韓、魏必絕齊，絕齊則皆事我。且我順齊，齊無而西。〔鮑本「而」作「不」。○　補曰：字訛，或上文有誤。　札記今本「而」作「不」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕日者，〔鮑本言昔日。〕樓緩坐魏〔鮑本時欲離齊、魏。坐，言有所待。〕三月，不能散齊、魏之交。〔鮑本言二國本親，宜與之伐秦。〕今我順而齊、魏果西，是罷〔鮑本「罷」，「疲」同。〕齊敝秦也，趙必為天下重國。」主父曰：「我與三國攻秦，〔鮑本韓、魏、齊為三。〕是俱敝也。」曰：「不然。我約三國而告之秦，〔鮑本衍「秦」字。補曰：恐衍。〕以未構〔鮑本「構」作「講」。○　元作御名。〕中山也。〔鮑本此言可以少出兵也。此二十七年，趙破中山，未滅也，趙宜自備。〕三國欲伐秦之果也，必聽我，欲和我。〔鮑本使趙與中山講。〕中山聽之，是我以王因〔鮑本「王因」作「三國」。○　補曰：當作「三國」，字訛。〕饒中山而取地也。〔鮑本饒，猶益也。以三國欲和我，故益得取地於中山。〕中山不聽，三國必絕之，是中山孤也。三國不能和我，雖少出兵可也。我分兵而孤樂〔鮑本衍「樂」字。補曰：字誤，或衍。〕中山，中山必亡。〔鮑本「亡」作「之」。○　之，猶去。補曰：一本「之」作「亡」，是。〕我已亡中山，而以餘兵與三國攻秦，是我一舉而兩取地於秦、中山也。」〔鮑本補曰：中山，說見齊策。此策當在上章之前，多誤字。「為富」之「為」，去聲。〕

魏因富丁且合於秦

魏因富丁且合於秦，〔鮑本丁本欲以趙合齊、魏，今魏欲因以合秦，趙不聽故。〕趙恐，請效地於魏而聽薛公。〔鮑本文，時合齊、魏。〕教子欬〔鮑本或者「教之欬」，趙人。正曰：無考。〕謂李兌曰：「趙畏橫之合也，〔鮑本合秦，故言橫。〕故欲效地於魏而聽薛公。公不如令主父以地資周最，而請相之於魏。周最以天下辱〔鮑本「辱」作「厚」。○　札記丕烈案：「厚」字誤。〕秦者也，今相魏，魏、秦必虛矣。〔鮑本厚秦而舍之相魏，秦必惡之，故二國不合。虛，言其不合也。〕齊、魏雖勁，無秦不能傷趙。魏王〔鮑本哀。正曰：襄。〕聽，是輕齊也。〔鮑本齊亦重最故。正曰：最於齊厚，語見周策。魏用齊所厚以為相，是輕齊也。〕秦、魏雖勁，無齊不能得趙。此利於趙而便於周最也。」

魏使人因平原君請從於趙

魏使人因平原君請從於趙。三言之，趙王不聽。出遇虞卿曰：「為〔鮑本為，為我。〕入必語從。」虞卿入，王曰：「今者平原君為魏請從，寡人不聽。其於子何如？」虞卿曰：「魏過矣。」王曰：「然，故寡人不聽。」虞卿曰：「王亦過矣。」王曰：「何也？」曰：「凡強弱之舉事，強受其利，弱受其害。今魏求從，而王不聽，是魏求害，而王辭利也。臣故曰，魏過，王亦過矣。」〔鮑本「過」下無「矣」字。○　虞卿傳有。彪謂：虞卿之言，為皆不倍道，非反覆揣摩為人緩頰人也。從之利害正爾。雖微平原之說，卿亦必云爾。終之趙利魏亦利矣。惟不能必趙聽己，從而先有輕發，則是有受害之形也。〕

平原君請馮忌

平原君請〔姚本劉本，「請」作「謂」。　鮑本「請」作「謂」。○〕馮忌〔鮑本後稱「外臣」，知非趙人。〕曰：「吾欲北伐上黨，出兵攻燕，何如？」馮忌對曰：「不可。夫以秦將武安君公孫起〔鮑本補曰：即白起，前有。〕乘七勝之威，〔鮑本勝趙。〕而與馬服之子戰於長平之下，大敗趙師，因以其餘兵，圍邯鄲之城。趙以亡敗之餘眾，收破軍之敝守，〔鮑本敝守，守邯鄲。〕而秦罷於邯鄲之下，趙守而不可拔者，〔鮑本「者」上有「然」字。○　言所以然。　札記丕烈案：「然者」，上有。〕以〔鮑本無「以」字。○〕攻難而守者易也。今趙非有七克之威也，而燕非有長平之禍也。今七敗之禍未復，而欲以罷〔鮑本罷，音疲。〕趙攻強燕，是使弱趙為強秦之所以攻，而使強燕為弱趙之所以守。而強秦以休兵〔鮑本休息之兵。〕承趙之敝，此乃強吳之所以亡，而弱越之所以霸。故臣未見燕之可攻也。」平原君曰：「善哉！」

平原君謂平陽君

平原君謂平陽君曰：「公子牟〔鮑本魏公子。即下魏牟。若莊子所稱中山者，不與應侯同時。正曰：按莊子，「中山公子牟謂瞻子」下云，「魏牟，萬乘之公子也」。是中山公子牟，即魏牟，非二人也。又云「公孫龍問於魏牟」。公孫龍，平原君之門，正應侯同時也。史，赧王四十九年，范睢為相，封應侯。赧王之元年，之、噲死，莊子書及稱之、噲。則魏牟之上及莊子，下及應侯，無疑。〕游於秦，且東，〔鮑本東歸魏。〕而辭應侯。〔鮑本正曰：說苑載此，以為公子牟謂穰侯。〕應侯曰：『公子將行矣，獨無以教之乎？』曰：『且微君之命命之也，臣固且有效於君。夫貴不與富期，而富至；富不與粱肉期，而粱肉至；粱肉不與驕奢期，而驕奢至；驕奢不與死亡期，而死亡至。累世以前，坐此者多矣。』應侯曰：『公子之所以教之者厚矣。』僕〔鮑本僕，平原自稱。〕得聞此，不忘於心。願君之亦勿忘也。」平陽君曰：「敬諾。」〔鮑本彪謂：此言者，富貴之金石也。有能書諸紳，銘之几杖，勒之盤盂，則何亡國敗家之有？補曰：魏牟嘗言身居江海，心在魏闕。瞻子告以重生則利輕，則曰雖知而未能自勝，於是又得夫重傷之說焉。故莊子許其雖未至道，可謂有其意，其人可知矣。所以告范睢者，亦以富貴驕奢警之。是時，睢方擅秦權，廣身封，快意恩讎，沉於富貴。公子特自其所急者言之，其微旨固非睢所得聞也。正曰：此五章平原君，皆當與平原君不受封諸章相次，舊策所載是矣。〕

秦攻趙於長平

秦攻趙於長平，大破之，引兵而歸。因使人索六城於趙而講。〔鮑本「講」作「媾」，又改作「講」。○　史書此事在邯鄲圍解後。按邯鄲之圍，非秦德趙而解也，趙賴魏之力爾。何事朝秦而講以六城？此策以長平破，懼而賂之，是也。〕趙計未定。樓緩新從秦來，趙王與樓緩計之曰：「與秦城何如？不與何如？」樓緩辭讓曰：「此非人〔鮑本衍「人」字。　札記丕烈案：史記、新序無。〕臣之所能知也。」王曰：「雖然，試言公之私。」樓緩曰：「王亦聞夫公甫文伯母乎？公甫文伯官於魯，病死。婦人為之自殺於房中者二八。其母聞之，不肯哭也。相室曰：『焉有子死而不哭者乎？』其母曰：『孔子，賢人也，逐於魯，是人〔鮑本稱是人，不子之也。〕不隨。今死，而婦人為死者十六人。〔鮑本補曰：正義云，相室、傅姆之類。愚按，檀弓文伯之喪，敬姜據其床而不哭曰云云，與樓緩之言相出入。辯士之言或過。史及新序並作「二人」，是。上文「八」字，乃「人」字之訛。　札記丕烈案：吳說非也。史記、新序「二人」，皆「二八」之訛。〕若是者，其於長者薄，而於婦人厚？』故從母言之，之〔鮑本「之」字不重。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「故從母言之，是為賢母；從妻言之，是必不免為「妒妻」。新序有兩「是」字，無兩「之」字。此當「必」上脫一「之」字。」〕為賢母也；從婦言之，必不免為妒婦也。故其言一也，言者異，則人心變矣。今臣新從秦來，而言勿與，則非計也；言與之，則恐王以臣之為秦也。故不敢對。使臣得為王計之，不如予之。」王曰：「諾。」

虞卿聞之，入見王，王以樓緩言告之。虞卿曰：「此飾說也。」〔鮑本猶飾辯。〕秦既解邯鄲之圍，而趙王入朝，使趙郝〔姚本音釋，作「赦」。〕約事於秦，割六縣而講。〔鮑本原注衍「秦既解邯鄲之圍而趙王入朝使趙郝約事於秦割六縣而講」二十四字。○　補曰：此二十四字脫簡誤在此，史以為章首者。此策實非邯鄲圍解後事也。　札記丕烈案：史記以此篇列後秦趙戰長平趙不勝篇之下，首有此二十四字。此下至「其勢必無趙矣」，「樓緩」盡為「趙郝」，列於前；下接「趙計未定」，至「此飾說也」；下接「王必無與」，至末。新序亦如此。考此，乃策文先後，本不與史記同，或就此間標史記文而誤入正文，遂致與「趙計未定」上文複出。吳氏以為脫簡者，非是。當刪此二十四字。其餘次序仍策文之舊。〕王曰：「何謂也？」虞卿曰：「秦之攻趙也，倦而歸乎？王以〔姚本錢、劉去「王以」字，添「亡」字。〕其力尚能進，愛王而不攻乎？」王曰：「秦之攻我也，〔札記今本「攻」誤「伐」。〕不遺餘力矣，必以倦而歸也。」虞卿曰：「秦以其力攻其所不能取，倦而歸。王又以其力之所不能攻以資之，是助秦自攻也。來年秦復攻王，王無以救矣。」

王又以虞卿之言告樓緩。〔鮑本史云樓緩事。正曰：史云趙郝，新序同，止「其勢必無趙矣」。　札記丕烈案：此策文與史記不同，策無趙郝。新序出史記，說見上。〕樓緩曰：「虞卿能盡知秦力之所至乎？〔鮑本至，猶及也。虞卿言秦力倦而歸，謂秦力所及止是耳。秦力豈止是而已乎？〕誠知秦力之不至，〔鮑本「誠」下補「不」字，「之」下「不」作「所」。○　札記今本「誠」下有「不」字，「之」下有「所」字，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：史記、新序作「誠知秦力之所不至」。〕此彈丸之地，猶不予也，令秦來年復攻王，得無割其內而媾乎？」王曰：「誠聽子割矣，子能必來年秦之不復攻我乎？」樓緩對曰：「此非臣之所敢任也。昔者三晉之交於秦，相善也。今秦釋韓、魏而獨攻王，王之所以事秦必不如韓、魏也。今臣為足下解負親之攻，〔鮑本趙嘗親秦而復負之，故秦攻之，今為媾所以解也。〕啟關通敝，〔鮑本「敝」作「弊」。○　正曰：當作「幣」。　札記今本「敝」作「幣」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：新序作「幣」，史記作「弊」。〕齊交韓、魏。〔鮑本使其交秦與韓、魏等。〕至來年而王獨不取於秦，〔鮑本不為秦所取。〕王之所以事秦者，必在韓、魏之後也。此非臣之所敢任也。」

王以樓緩之言告。虞卿曰：〔鮑本「虞卿」下補「虞卿」二字。○　補曰：史此下復有「虞卿」二字。　札記丕烈案：新序有。〕「樓緩言不媾，來年秦復攻王，得無更割其內而媾。今媾，樓緩又不能必秦之不復攻也，雖割何益？來年復攻，又割其力之所不能取而媾也，此自盡之術也。不如無媾。秦雖善攻，不能取六城；趙雖不能守，而不至失六城。〔鮑本上「媾」皆作「講」，「而」作「亦」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「終不失」，新序作「亦不失」。〕秦倦而歸，兵必罷。〔鮑本並音疲。〕我以五城〔鮑本「五」作「六」。○　下同。正曰：此五城，與後「五城賂齊」、「得王五城」之「五」，且當從本文。　札記丕烈案：史記作「六城」，新序作「五縣」。考此，當策文作「城」，史記作「縣」，新序出史記。今本史記「城」「縣」錯出。新序後二處亦作「六城」。皆有誤。〕收天下以攻罷秦，是我失之於天下，而取償於秦也。吾國尚利，孰與坐而割地，自弱以強秦？今樓緩曰：『秦善韓、魏而攻趙者，必王之事秦不如韓、魏也。』是使王歲以六城事秦也，即坐而地盡矣。來年秦復求割地，王將予之乎？不與，則是棄前貴〔鮑本「貴」作「資」。○　補曰：恐作「資」。史作「功」。　札記今本「貴」作「資」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：新序作「功」。〕而挑秦禍也；〔鮑本史注「挑戰」為「致師」，則此言禍自我致也。〕與之，則無地而給之。語曰：『強者善攻，而弱者不能自守。』今坐而聽秦，秦兵不敝而多得地，是強秦而弱趙也。以益愈〔鮑本衍「愈」字。正曰：新序同，史作「益強」，然有「愈」字亦通。益，謂增益之也。〕強之秦，而割愈弱之趙，其計固不止矣。〔鮑本言割不止。〕且秦虎狼之國也，無禮義之心。其求無已，而王之地有盡。以有盡之地，給無已之求，其勢必無趙矣。故曰：此飾說〔鮑本補曰：按此「飾說」二字，與前相應，則文有亂脫無疑。　札記丕烈案：說見上。〕也。王必勿與。」王曰：「諾。」

樓緩聞之，入見於王，王又以虞卿言告之。樓緩曰：「不然，虞卿得其一，未知其二也。夫秦、趙構難，而天下皆說，何也？曰『我將因強而乘〔鮑本乘，猶陵。〕弱』。今趙兵困於秦，天下之賀戰者，〔鮑本「者」上補「勝」字。○　正曰：史有「勝」字。　札記丕烈案：新序有。〕則必盡〔鮑本無「盡」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記、新序有。〕在於秦矣。故不若亟割地求和，以疑天下，慰秦心。不然，天下將因秦之怒，秦〔姚本一作「乘」。　鮑本「秦」作「乘」。○〕趙之敝而瓜分之。〔鮑本分其地如破瓜然。〕趙且亡，何秦之圖？王以此斷之，勿復計也。」

虞卿聞之，又入見王曰：「危矣，樓子之為秦也！〔鮑本為秦計深，而趙勢危。〕夫趙兵困於秦，又割地為和，是愈疑天下，而何慰秦心哉？是不亦大示天下弱乎？且臣曰勿予者，非固勿予而已也。秦索六城於王，王以五城賂齊。齊，秦之深讎也，〔鮑本嘗爭為帝。正曰：不特此。〕得王五城，并力而西擊秦也，〔姚本劉本去「也」字。〕齊之聽王，不待辭之畢也。是王失於齊而取償於秦， 〔姚本孫本抹去此十字。〕一舉結三國之親，〔鮑本韓、魏本趙與國，與齊為三。〕而與秦易道也。」趙王曰：「善。」因發虞卿東見齊王，〔鮑本王建。〕與之謀秦。

虞卿未反，秦之使者已在趙矣。樓緩聞之，逃去。〔鮑本虞卿傳有，次第不同。先云「秦既解邯鄲」，與今所衍二十四字同。次「虞卿謂趙王曰，秦之攻王也倦而歸乎」止「勢必無趙矣」。次「趙王計未定，樓緩從秦來」止「此飾說也」。次「王必勿與，樓緩聞之」止「緩聞之逃去」。彪謂：虞卿可謂見善明者矣。當趙以四十萬覆於長平之下，凡在趙庭之臣，孰不魄奪氣喪，顧講秦以偷須臾之寧？卿獨為之延慮卻顧，折樓緩之口，挫強秦之心，反使秦人先趙而講。於此亦足以見從者，天下之勢。七國辯士，策必中，計必得，而不失其正，唯卿與陳軫有焉。賢矣哉！正曰：大事記引蘇氏云，虞卿終始事趙，專持從說，非說客也。鮑以卿與陳軫並稱，軫料事明切，不下於卿，其勸懷王賂秦而取償於齊，意亦類此。他雖辯給可善，而言稍浮。至其往來秦、楚，爭寵張儀，徼貴犀首，未離說客之習也！豈卿比哉？〕

秦攻趙平原君使人請救於魏

秦攻趙，平原君使人請救於魏。信陵君發兵至邯鄲城下，秦兵罷。虞卿為平原君請益地，謂趙王曰：「夫不鬥一卒，不頓〔鮑本頓劍之頓。正曰：頓，義見秦策。〕一戟，而解二國患者，平原君之力也。〔鮑本無「也」字。○　補曰：一本有「也」字。〕用人之力，而忘人之功，不可。」趙王曰：「善。」將益之地。公孫龍〔鮑本趙人，著守白論，莊子稱之。距是遠甚，豈同姓名如公孫弘者乎？正曰：莊子稱公孫龍之學「合同異，離堅白」。而史平原傳，稱公孫龍善為堅白同異之辨。荀卿傳末以為趙人。又見列子等書，同此人也。史稱莊子與梁惠、齊宣同時，楚威王欲以為相。威王元年，當顯王三十年，故大事記以楚相之事附見。下至赧王十七年，趙勝封平原君，則周距平原未遠也。莊子書稱之、噲。之、噲事當宣王末年，赧王元年也。下至魏破秦軍邯鄲時，以為赧王五十八年。則周之稱公孫龍，龍之在平原君門，皆相及也。惟以為仲尼弟子公孫龍者，則誤。蓋相去遠爾。〕聞之，〔姚本劉添「聞」字。　鮑本原無「聞」字，補「聞」字。○　補曰：史有。〕見平原君曰：「君無覆軍殺將之功，〔鮑本言初封時以公子耳。〕而封以東武城。趙國豪傑之士，多在君之右，〔鮑本右者，人道所尊。補曰：秦、漢以前，用右為上，如云「位在廉頗右」。〕而君為相國者以親故。〔鮑本「親」下補「也」字。○　正曰：「故」句。史作「親戚故也」。〕夫君封以東武城不讓無功，〔鮑本不以無功辭之。〕佩趙國相印不辭無能，一解國患，欲求益地，是親戚受封，而國人計功也。〔鮑本國人受封，必計其功，與平原異。補曰：勝本無功，向之受封也，已不當得，今又欲益地。是在親戚，則無功受封，國人則計功乃受賞，輕重不倫也。漢光武封陰識，識引此語。〕為君計者，不如勿受便。」平原君曰：「謹受令。」乃不受封。〔鮑本彪謂：平原失計於馮亭，以挑秦禍，幾喪趙國之半，馴致邯鄲之圍，何功之足論哉？然因人成事，亦有桑榆之收，不可忘也。虞卿之請，帝王懋賞之舉；公孫龍之辭，明哲讓功之誼。皆君子之善言也。正曰：趙勝功不贖罪，虞卿此為失言。〕

秦趙戰於長平

秦、趙戰於長平，趙不勝，〔鮑本無「不勝」二字。○　札記丕烈案：史記、新序有。〕亡一都尉。〔鮑本軍尉也。〕趙王召樓昌與虞卿曰：「軍戰不勝，尉復死，〔鮑本「復」作「係」。○　係，尉名。正曰：史同。　札記新序作「係」。徐廣注史記云，「復」一作「係」。〕寡人使卷甲而趍之，〔鮑本「趍」作「趨」。○　襲之也。〕何如？」樓昌曰：「無益也，不如發重使而為媾。」〔鮑本「媾」作「講」。○　從女從冓，求和也，與「講」無異義。而此書兩字互用。今以御名，並作「講」。　札記丕烈案：史記作「媾」，新序作「構」。〕虞卿曰：「夫言媾者，以為不媾者軍必破，而制媾者在秦。〔鮑本制，言聽否由之。〕且王之論秦也，欲破王之軍乎？其不邪？」王曰：「秦不遺餘力矣，必且破趙軍。」虞卿曰：「王聊聽臣，發使出重寶以附楚、魏。楚、魏欲得王之重寶，必入吾使。趙使入楚、魏，秦必疑天下合從也，且必恐。如此，則媾乃可為也。」

趙王不聽，與〔鮑本與，從之也。〕平陽君為媾，發鄭朱入秦，秦內之。趙王召虞卿曰：「寡人使平陽君媾秦，秦已內鄭朱矣，子以為奚如？」虞卿曰：「王必不得媾，軍必破矣，天下之賀戰勝者皆在秦矣。鄭朱，趙之貴人也，而入於秦，秦王〔鮑本昭。〕與應侯必顯重以示天下。楚、魏以趙為媾，必不救王。秦知〔姚本一本去「秦知」字。〕天下不救王，則媾不可得成也。」〔姚本一無「成」字。〕趙卒不得媾，軍果大敗。王入秦，秦留趙王而后許之媾。〔鮑本虞卿傳有。〕

秦圍趙之邯鄲

秦圍趙之邯鄲。〔鮑本此九年。〕魏安釐王使將軍晉鄙救趙。畏秦，止於蕩陰，〔姚本錢、劉改「蕩」作「湯」。　鮑本屬河內。補曰：正義云，蕩，天郎反。相州縣。〕不進。魏王使客將軍新〔鮑本「新」作「辛」。○　札記史記作「新」。此涉之而誤也。下文盡作「辛」。〕垣衍〔鮑本稱客，則衍他國人仕魏也。補曰：元和姓纂，衍，畢公高之後。〕間〔鮑本間，謂微行。〕入邯鄲，因平原君謂趙王曰：「秦所以急圍趙者，前與齊湣王〔鮑本「湣」作「閔」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「湣」。此涉之而誤也。齊策作「閔」。〕爭強為帝，已而復歸帝，以齊故。〔鮑本由齊不稱，秦亦失之。〕今齊湣王已益弱。〔鮑本無「已」字，原注衍「閔王」二字。○　今乃襄王爾，史亦誤。正曰：謂今之齊，視閔王已益弱。　札記丕烈案：史記作「今齊湣王已益弱」。〕方今唯秦雄天下，此非必貪邯鄲，其意欲求為帝。趙誠發使尊秦昭王為帝，〔鮑本稱謚，非當時語。補曰：追書之辭。〕秦必喜，罷兵去。」平原君猶豫未有所決。

此時魯仲連適游趙，會秦圍趙。聞魏將欲令趙尊秦為帝，乃見平原君曰：「事將奈何矣？」平原君曰：「勝也何敢言事？百萬之眾折於外，今又內圍邯鄲而不能〔姚本曾本添「能」字。　鮑本無「能」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕去。魏王使〔鮑本「使」下有「客」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕將軍辛垣衍令趙帝秦。今其人在是，勝也何敢言事？」魯連曰：「始吾以君為天下之賢公子也，吾乃今然后知君非天下之賢公子也。梁客辛垣衍安在？吾請為君責而歸之。」平原君曰：「勝請召而見之於先生。」〔姚本錢、劉作「為召而見之」。　鮑本「召」上有「為」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「請為紹介」。〕平原君遂見辛垣衍曰：「東國有魯連先生，〔鮑本東國，謂齊。補曰：一本「先生者」。　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕其人在此，勝請為紹介〔鮑本郭璞曰，紹介，相佑助也。補曰：索隱曰，禮，賓至，必因介以傳辭。紹者，繼也。故禮云，介紹而傳命。〕而見之於將軍。」〔姚本錢、劉作「請為紹交之於將軍」。〕辛垣衍曰：「吾聞魯連先生，齊國之高士也。衍，人臣也，使事有職。吾不願見魯連先生也。」平原君曰：「勝已泄之矣。」〔鮑本泄，言已白之。〕辛垣衍許諾。

魯連見辛垣衍而無言。辛垣衍曰：「吾視居北〔鮑本「北」作「此」。○　札記今本「北」作「此」。丕烈案：「此」字是也。史記作「此」。〕圍城之中者，皆有求於平原君者也。今吾視先生之玉貌，非有求於平原君者，曷為久居此〔鮑本「此」原作「若」，又改作「此」。○　補曰：「若」疑「居」字訛衍。史作「此」，無亦可。〕圍城之中而不去也？」魯連曰：「世以鮑焦〔鮑本鮑焦，周之介士，見莊子。補曰：韓詩外傳云，周時隱者，無子胤，不臣天子，不友諸侯。〕無從容而死者，皆非也。〔鮑本其人介，故人謂之然。〕今眾人不知，則為一身。〔鮑本不知者，以其抱木死為無以自養，不知其非世也。明己今亦然。〕彼秦者，〔鮑本無「者」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕棄禮義而上首功之國也。〔鮑本秦制爵二十等，戰獲首級者，計功受爵，時所尊上也。〕權使其士，虜使其民。〔鮑本視民如所虜獲。〕彼則肆然而為帝，過而遂正於天下，〔鮑本過，猶不幸。補曰：正義云，舊讀「帝過」句，謂遍行天子之禮。過，失也。愚按，此句亦難通。過，即過甚之義。史作「過而為政」。〕則連有赴東海而死矣。〔鮑本「矣」作「耳」。○　補曰：史作「耳」。〕吾不忍為之民也！所為見將軍者，欲以助趙也。」辛垣衍曰：「先生助之奈何？」魯連曰：「吾將使梁及燕助之。齊、楚則〔鮑本無「則」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕固助之矣。」辛垣衍曰：「燕則吾請以從矣。若乃梁，則吾乃梁人也，先生惡能使梁助之耶？」魯連曰：「梁未睹秦稱帝之害故也，使梁睹秦稱帝之害，則必助趙矣。」辛垣衍曰：「秦稱帝之害將奈何？」魯仲連曰：「昔齊威王嘗為仁義矣，率天下諸侯而朝周。周貧且微，諸侯莫朝，而齊獨朝之。居歲餘，周烈王崩，諸侯皆弔，齊後往。周怒，赴於齊曰：『天崩地坼，天子下席。東藩之臣田嬰齊後至，則斮之。』威王勃然怒曰：『叱嗟，〔鮑本嗟，咨也。〕而母婢也。』〔鮑本補曰：正義云，赴，告也。今文作「訃」。索隱云，下席，言其寢苫居廬，謂烈王太子安王驕也。正義云，「而母婢」，罵烈王后也。〕卒為天下笑。故生則朝周，死則叱之，誠不忍其求也。彼天子固然，〔鮑本固，猶必。〕其無足怪。」辛垣衍曰：「先生獨未見夫僕乎？十人而從一人者，寧力不勝，智不若耶？畏之也。」魯仲連曰：「然梁之比於秦若僕耶？」辛垣衍曰：「然。」魯仲連曰：「然吾將使秦王烹醢梁王。」〔鮑本「然」下補「則」字。○　醢，肉醬也。　札記丕烈案：史記無「然」字。凡古言「然」，與今言「然則」同。鮑本誤。〕辛垣衍怏然不悅曰：「嘻，亦太甚矣，先生之言也！〔鮑本補曰：嘻，嘆；言也，句。〕先生又惡能使秦王烹醢梁王？」

魯仲連曰：「固也，待吾言之。昔者，鬼侯〔鮑本徐曰，鄴縣有九侯城，「九」一作「鬼」。〕之〔鮑本「鬼侯」下無「之」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記無。〕鄂侯、〔鮑本鄂，屬江夏。正曰：左傳隱六年「納諸鄂」注，晉別邑。路史云，在大夏。世本云，叔虞居鄂。未知即此否？〕文王，紂之三公也。鬼侯有子而好，故入之於紂，紂以為惡，醢鬼侯。鄂侯爭之急，辨之疾，故脯鄂侯。文王聞之，喟然而歎，故拘之於牖里〔鮑本牖里，在蕩陰。〕之車，〔鮑本「車」作「庫」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「庫」。〕百日而欲舍〔姚本錢本添「舍」字。　鮑本「舍」作「令」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「令」。〕之死。曷為與人俱稱帝王，卒就脯醢之地也？齊閔王將之魯，夷維子執策而從，〔鮑本策，馬策也。補曰：索隱云，維，東萊之邑。其居夷也，號夷維子。故晏子為萊之夷維人。愚按，維即維地。志，維水出密州莒縣東北維山，北至今維州昌邑入海。萊夷，即今萊州也。〕謂魯人曰：『子將何以待吾君？』魯人曰：『吾將以十太牢待子之君。』維子〔鮑本「維」上有「夷」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕曰：『子安取禮而來待吾君？彼吾君者，天子也。天子巡狩，諸侯辟舍，納於〔鮑本衍「於」字。補曰：疑衍，史無。〕筦鍵，〔鮑本筦，鑰也。鍵，其牡。避納者，示不敢有其國。〕攝衽抱几，〔鮑本几，所據也。〕視膳於堂下，天子已食，退而聽朝也。』〔鮑本「退」在「聽」下。○　補曰：一本「天子已食，退而聽朝也」。史同，「退」上有「乃」字。〕魯人投其籥，〔鮑本「籥」，「鑰」同，關下牡也。投者，下其牡。〕不果納。不得入於魯，將之薛，假塗於鄒。當是時，鄒君死，閔王欲入弔。夷維子謂鄒之孤曰：『天子弔，主人必將倍殯柩，〔鮑本倍，言背之去。正曰：索隱云，主人不在殯東，將背其殯棺，立西階上，北面哭，是倍也。天子乃於阼階上，南面弔之也。〕設北面於南方，然后天子南面弔也。』鄒之群臣曰：『必若此，吾將伏劍而死。』故不敢入於鄒。鄒、魯之臣，生則不得事養，〔鮑本齊時強，二國不納，必見伐，國人不得養老事幼。正曰：索隱云，謂時君弱臣強，鄒、魯君生時，臣不得盡事養，死不得行賻襚之禮。然齊欲行天子禮於鄒、魯，其臣皆不果納之，是猶秉禮而有大體也。〕死則不得飯含。〔鮑本以珠玉實死者之口曰含。此謂鄒。補曰：飯，扶晚反。含，胡紺反。〕然且欲行天子之禮於鄒、魯之臣，不果納。今秦萬乘之國，梁亦萬乘之國。俱據萬乘之國，〔鮑本無「俱據萬乘之國」六字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕交有稱王之名，賭〔鮑本「賭」作「睹」。○　札記今本「賭」作「睹」。丕烈案：「睹」字是也。〕其一戰而勝，欲從而帝之，是使三晉之大臣不如鄒、魯之僕妾也。且秦無已而帝，〔鮑本無已，言無止之者。正曰：無已，必欲為之而不止也。〕則且變易諸侯之大臣。彼將奪其所謂不肖，而予其所謂〔鮑本補曰：史無兩「謂」字。〕賢；奪其所憎，而與其所愛。彼又將使其子女讒妾為諸侯妃姬，處梁之宮，梁王安得晏然而已乎？而將軍又何以得故寵乎？」

於是，辛垣衍起，再拜謝曰：「始以先生為庸人，吾乃今日而〔姚本曾本無「而」字。〕知先生為天下之士也。吾請去，不敢復言帝秦。」秦將聞之，為郤軍五十里。

適會魏公子無忌〔鮑本無「魏」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕奪晉鄙軍以救趙擊秦，秦軍引而去。〔鮑本補曰：秦將聞仲連之言，為卻軍五十里。說者以為辯士夸辭，愚竊以為信。蓋仲連毅然不肯帝秦，則魏救必至。聲天下之大義，以作三軍之氣，不戰而自倍矣。是時公子無忌且至，連之智，足以知其事之克濟。不然，則且有俶儻非常之畫，以佐趙之急，彼秦將者，必聞其言而憚其謀故爾。不然，豈為虛言卻哉？〕於是平原君欲封魯仲連。魯仲連辭讓者三，終不肯受。平原君乃置酒，酒酣，起前以千金為魯連壽。魯連笑曰：「所〔鮑本「所」作「此」。○　補曰：史作「所」。〕貴於天下之士者，為人排患、釋難、解紛亂而無所取也。即有所取者，是商賈之人也，仲連不忍為也。」遂辭平原君而去，終身不復見。〔鮑本仲連傳有。彪謂：仲連，孔子之所謂逸民，非周衰辯者之囿也。太史公贊之貶矣。夫說人者不可一概，或委而順之若觸讋，或折而服之若仲連，然後濟天下之務。不然，諛且愎矣。正曰：史遷論仲連，謂指意不合大義，固未當。鮑以為孔子所謂逸民，連雖貧賤肆志，然時出而救時，亦非逸也。大事記引蘇氏曰，辯過儀、秦，氣凌髡、衍，從橫之利，不入於口，因事放言，切中機會，排難解紛，不終日而成功，逃避爵賞，脫屣而去，戰國一人而已。斯言蔑以加矣。愚謂，仲連事皆可稱，而不肯帝秦一節尤偉。戰國之士，皆以勢為強弱，而連獨以義為重輕，此其所以異爾。補曰：「請為」、「所為」、「為卻」之「為」，去聲。〕

說張相國

說張相國〔鮑本蓋梁人相趙，嘗懷梁而鄙趙者。正曰：無考。〕曰：「君安能少趙人，而令趙人多君？〔鮑本少多，猶薄厚。〕君安能憎趙人，而令趙人愛君乎？夫膠漆，至䵑也，〔鮑本「䵑」作「黏」。○　補曰：「黏」，一本作「䵑」，女乙反。周禮注，䵑，黏也。〕而不能合遠；鴻毛，至輕也，而不能自舉。夫飄於清風，〔鮑本舉鴻毛以見膠漆。〕則橫行四海。故事有簡而功成者，因也。今趙萬乘之強國也，前漳、滏，〔鮑本後志，滏水，在鄴。　札記今本「滏」作「釜」。丕烈案：此誤涉魏策「釜」字耳。〕右常山，左河間，北有代，帶甲百萬，嘗抑強齊，〔鮑本「齊」作「秦」。○　此言蘇秦從時也。〕四十餘年而秦不能得所欲。〔鮑本正曰：此不可知為何時。考之史，自慎靚王四年，齊敗魏、趙觀津軍二事，在武靈九年。是後，趙伐齊則有之，惠文之世，而不聞齊伐趙也。所謂強齊，當是指閔王。蘇秦約從擯秦，不久而解。趙雖強，非秦敵。不得所欲，亦大言耳。然與抑強齊之言，不能無輕重矣。〕由是觀之，趙之於天下也不輕。今君易萬乘之強趙，而慕思不可得之小梁，〔鮑本不可復得歸也。意者相國以罪亡梁歟？正曰：無考。〕臣竊為君不取也。」君〔鮑本「君」字誤。正曰：相國稱君。〕曰：「善。」自是之後，眾人廣坐之中，未嘗不言趙人之長者也，未嘗不言趙俗之善者也。

鄭同北見趙王

鄭同〔鮑本同，鄭人。鄭在趙之南。〕北見趙王。趙王曰：「子南方之傳士也，〔姚本「傳」，一作「博」。　鮑本「傳」作「博」。○　博士，辯博之士。補曰：秦官有博士。或戰國儒士有此稱。〕何以教之？」鄭同曰：「臣南方草鄙之人也，〔鮑本鄙，猶野。〕何足問？〔札記今本「問」誤「間」。〕雖然，王致之於前，安敢不對乎？臣少之時，親嘗教以兵。」趙王曰：「寡人不好兵。」〔鮑本補曰：故為反辭也。〕鄭同因撫手〔鮑本撫，摩也。〕仰天而笑之曰：「兵固天下之狙喜也，〔鮑本狙，玃屬而狡黠，言兵家如之而可喜。正曰：狙，猶楊雄所謂狙詐也。言此固詐者之所喜。〕臣故〔姚本「故」，一作「固」。　鮑本補曰：「故」，「固」通。〕意大王不好也。臣亦嘗以兵說魏昭王，〔鮑本昔日。〕昭王亦曰：『寡人不喜。』臣曰：『王之行能如許由乎？許由無天下之累，故不受也。〔鮑本「受」作「愛」。○　札記丕烈案：受堯天下也。鮑改誤甚。〕今王既受先王之傳，欲宗廟之安，壤地不削，社稷之血食乎？』王曰：『然。』今〔鮑本此下同對。〕有人操隨侯之珠，持丘之環，〔鮑本「持」下脫一字。「丘之環」，未詳。　札記鮑「持」下云脫一字。丕烈案：非也。「持丘」不可考，二字與上「隋侯」為對文。〕萬金之財，時〔鮑本補曰：一本標作「特」。　札記丕烈案：「特」字當是。特宿，謂獨宿。〕宿於野，內無孟賁之威，荊慶之斷，〔鮑本荊，成荊。范睢傳注，古勇士。又「慶」、「卿」，古字通。道應訓，荊有佽非斬蛟，孔子聞之。博物志以為荊軻，非也。又或是成荊、慶忌二人。說林訓曰，王子慶忌，足躡麋鹿，手博兕虎。補曰：吳越春秋，慶忌，吳王僚子。〕外無弓弩之禦，不出宿夕，〔鮑本一宿一夕。夕，初夜。〕人必危之矣。今有強貪之國，臨王之境，索王之地，告以理則不可，說以義則不聽。王非戰國守圉之具，〔鮑本「圉」作「圄」。○　圄，亦守。〕其將〔鮑本無「將」字。○〕何以當之？王若無兵，鄰國得志矣。」趙王曰：「寡人請奉教。」〔鮑本彪謂：鄭同陳喻甚高，然自春秋至是，天下未嘗無兵。故孔、孟皆以兵為諱。今舍俎豆之事，仁義之說，而專談兵，此益多之論也。〕

建信君貴於趙

建信君貴於趙。公子魏牟過趙，趙王迎之，顧反至坐，〔鮑本迎客面之，有顧則反。〕前有尺帛，且令工以為冠。工見客來也，因辟。〔鮑本「辟」作「避」。○　補曰：句。〕趙王曰：「公子乃驅後車，幸以臨寡人，願聞所以為天下。」魏牟曰：「王能重王之國若此尺帛，則王之國大治矣。」趙王不說，形於顏色，曰：「先生〔姚本一作「王」。　鮑本「生」作「王」。○〕不知寡人不肖，使奉社稷，豈敢輕國若此？」魏牟曰：「王無怒，請為王說之。」曰：「王有此尺帛，何不令前郎中以為冠？」王曰：「郎中不知為冠。」〔鮑本補曰：郎中，官，不獨秦。〕魏牟曰：「為冠而敗之，奚虧〔鮑本虧，猶損。〕於王之國？而王必待工而后乃使之。今為天下之工，〔鮑本所與治國之人。〕或非也，社稷為虛戾，〔鮑本補曰：虛戾，見秦策。〕先王不血食，而王不以予工，乃與幼艾。〔鮑本趙岐曰，艾，美好。〕且王之先帝，〔鮑本帝、王、皇，人君之尊稱，此與稱秦孝公為先王者同也。〕駕犀首而驂馬服，〔鮑本駕、驂，以御馬喻也。陳軫傳言衍與燕、趙之王有故，蓋衍雖相魏，實趙任之為外相也。〕以與秦角逐。〔鮑本角，有鬥爭意。〕秦當時適其鋒。〔鮑本「適」作「避」。○　補曰：「適」，恐當作「避」。　札記丕烈案：鮑改吳補皆非也。「適」即「敵」字。此以車為喻，或「鋒」字有誤。〕今王憧憧，〔鮑本往來不絕貌。〕乃輦建信以與強秦角逐，臣恐秦折王之椅也。」〔鮑本「椅」作「輢」。○　輢，車旁也。以輦喻，故云。補曰：詩「猗重較兮」。猗，隱綺反。注，依也。此「椅」字雖不同，然義亦當與「輢」通。餘見齊策王斗章。　札記丕烈案：此以「椅」為「輢」字耳。〕　　〔鮑本正曰：舊本衛靈公近癰疽彌子瑕章，在此章之後，下章之前。今按二臣皆衛幸臣，亦建信之類，宜屬上下章，不應自為章也。鮑以其章置之衛，非是。〕

衛靈公近雍疸彌子瑕

衛靈公近雍疸、〔鮑本「雍」作「癰」，「疸」作「疽」。○　孟子有其人，蓋醫之幸者。補曰：癰疽，瘍醫。　札記吳氏補曰，宜屬上下章。丕烈案：此公子牟引衛事以告王，宜連上。衛靈公未入戰國也。〕彌子瑕。〔鮑本補曰：靈公幸臣，其妻與子路之妻兄弟，亦見孟子。〕二人者，專君之勢以蔽左右。復塗偵〔鮑本衛人。補曰：韓非子亦有此文而稍異，云侏儒善假夢以見主道。恐此「復塗偵」字，或「侏儒」之訛。然彼以「癰疽」為「雍鉏」，則誤也。　札記丕烈案：「雍鉏」即「雍疸」，吳以為誤，未是。〕謂君曰：「昔日臣夢見君。」君曰：「子何夢？」曰：「夢見灶君。」君忿然作色曰：「吾聞夢見人君者，夢見日。今子曰夢見灶君而言君也，有說則可，無說則死。」對曰：「日，并燭天下者也，一物不能蔽也。若灶則不然，前之人煬，〔鮑本煬，炙燥也。補曰：煬，餘亮反。莊子，煬者避灶。釋文，炊也，蓋炊而向灶者。〕則後之人無從見也。今臣疑人之有煬於君者也，是以夢見灶君。」君曰：「善。」於是，因廢雍疸、彌子瑕，而立司空狗。〔鮑本元在趙策。正曰：宜從舊，說見趙策。〕

或謂建信君之所以事王者

或謂建信：〔鮑本「建信」下補「君」字。○　正曰：當有缺字。或曰「君」下有「曰」字。　札記丕烈案：鮑補、吳正皆非也。此「謂建信」句絕，「君」下屬。建信即建信君也。上有「建信者，安能以無功惡秦哉」可證。〕「君之所以事王者，色也。葺〔姚本一作「蓇」。　鮑本葺，趙人名。補曰：字書解「葺」字。蓋「葺」，儀禮注，「𦲭」，俗作「〈女咠〉」。晉、唐人書「咠」多作「𦙃」。前章「盛氣胥之」，一本「揖之」。魏策「𦙃中」，一本「咠中」，一「咠亡」，一本「咠云」。韓策「咠夫」，一本「𦙃臣」。蓋「月」、「耳」字易混也。〕之所以事王者，知也。色老而衰，知老而多。以日多之知，而逐衰惡之色，君必困矣。」建信君曰：「奈何？」曰：「並驥而走者，五里而罷；〔鮑本罷，音疲。〕乘驥而御之，不倦而取道多。君令葺乘獨斷之車，〔鮑本不與之分治。〕御獨斷之勢，以居邯鄲；令之內治國事，外刺諸侯，〔鮑本刺，言探候其事。〕則葺之事有不言者矣。〔鮑本所治者多，不暇悉言於上。〕君因言王而重責之，葺之軸今折矣。」〔鮑本不勝多事之任。〕建信君再拜受命，入言於王，厚任葺以事能，〔鮑本「能」作「而」。○　正曰：「能」字句，猶言為。〕重責之。未期年而葺亡走矣。〔鮑本彪謂：奸人之不可知，甚矣！智知所無奈何。彼厚任以事，𦲭以為不世之遇矣，殫力畢慮，恐不給焉，而不知建信之困之也。故國有奸人，賢智之得全者寡矣！〕

苦成常謂建信君

苦〔鮑本「苦」作「晉」。○〕成常〔鮑本未詳。〕謂建信君曰：「天下合從，〔鮑本「合」作「公」。○　公，猶同。補曰：一本「公」作「合」。〕而獨以趙惡秦，〔鮑本言從者皆惡秦也，而世獨言趙。〕何也？魏殺呂遺，〔鮑本「遺」作「遼」。○　元作「遺」，從上文。正曰：上章作「遼」。未知孰是？　札記今本「遺」作「遼」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕而天下交之。〔鮑本天下惡秦，秦重遼，故殺遼而諸國交之。然則秦惡魏深矣。補曰：「交」下當有缺字，即上章衛兵之事。〕今收河間，〔鮑本不封文信。正曰：不韋欲攻趙以廣河間，趙欲收河間。〕於〔姚本一無「於」字。〕是與殺呂遺何以異？〔鮑本文信亦秦所重，今不與地，秦必惡趙。〕君唯釋〔鮑本「釋」作「飾」。○〕虛〔鮑本懼秦覺也。〕偽疾，〔鮑本「疾」作「侯」。○　正曰：一本「侯」作「疾」，亦難通。疑「侯」字當在「文信」下，殽亂。上文從「偽」字句，意明。　札記今本「信」下有「侯」字。丕烈案：吳說未是，此以「疾」字句。文信，即文信侯也，上有「文信不得志」可證。〕文信〔鮑本虛與之河間。〕猶且知之也。〔鮑本如是秦猶知其不善己，況收河間乎？〕從而有功乎，何患不得收河間？從而無功乎，收河間何益也？」〔鮑本正曰：「君唯釋虛偽」，謂合從之國，虛偽難信，君獨釋而不合，則文信侯猶且知之也。上言天下合從，獨以趙惡秦，故此言文信侯知趙之不合，猶可以免攻也。補曰：從，皆七恭反。〕

希寫見建信君

希寫〔鮑本趙人。〕見建信君。建信君曰：「文信侯之於僕也，甚無禮。秦使人來仕，僕官之丞相，〔鮑本使為丞相官屬。〕爵五大夫。〔鮑本補曰：秦武王二年，初置丞相。秦爵，五大夫第九。劉昭曰，軍吏也。據此策，則不特秦官，趙亦有之。戰國改制，遞相效也。〕文信侯之於僕也，甚矣其無禮也。」〔鮑本言己待之厚，彼不宜無禮。〕希寫曰：「臣以為今世用事者，不如商賈。」建信君悖然曰：「足下卑用事者而高商賈乎？」曰：「不然。夫良商不與人爭買賣之賈，而謹司時。〔鮑本「司」，「伺」同。〕時賤而買，雖貴已賤矣；時貴而賣，雖賤已貴矣。昔者，文王之〔鮑本衍「之」字。〕拘於牖里，而武王羈於玉門，〔鮑本項羽紀注，成皋北門名玉門。此事不經見。〕卒斷〔鮑本「斷」作「斬」。○〕紂之頭而縣於太白者，〔鮑本太白，旗名。〕是武王之功也。今君不能與文信侯相伉以權，而責文信侯少禮，臣竊為君不取也。」

魏魀謂建信君

魏魀〔鮑本「魀」作「〈允介〉」。或作鬿。　魀，音介，字書無之。補曰：一本標或作「魀」。楚辭「九魀」，北斗星名。說文「尬」，尲尬，行不正貌。公介、公鎋二反，字亦不從允。〕謂建信君曰：「人有置係蹄者〔鮑本用繩以繫獸蹄。〕而得虎。虎怒，決蹯而去。〔鮑本蹯，獸足。補曰：蹯，音煩。〕虎之情，非不愛其蹯也。然而不以環寸之蹯，害七尺之軀者，權也。今有國，非直七尺軀也。而君之身於王，非環寸之蹯也。〔鮑本言王且以愛國，故去之。〕願公之熟圖之也。」

秦攻趙鼓鐸之音聞於北堂

秦攻趙，鼓鐸之音聞於北堂。希卑〔鮑本趙人。〕曰：「夫秦之攻趙，不宜急如此。此召兵也。〔鮑本兵，趙兵，內應者，蓋以鼓鐸為信。〕必有大臣欲衡者耳。〔鮑本衡即橫。〕王欲知其人，旦日贊〔鮑本贊者，美其事以開說者。〕群臣而訪之，先言橫者，則其人也。」建信君果先言橫。〔鮑本補曰：魏牟謂趙王曰，王之先帝，駕犀首，驂馬服，今王乃輦建信君。則在孝成之時明矣。建信始欲合從，今先言橫，為國召兵，罪不容誅。然以嬖幸小人，委國聽之，罪在王爾。大事記謂，孝成雖有上黨將趙括之失，猶能用頗、牧以持國。李伯之事，猶能駕御豪傑。愚觀其時，秦兵日至，疆宇日蹙，客所謂賊在內者，切中其病。未有內治而國不強者也。〕

齊人李伯見孝成王

齊人李伯見孝成王。成王說之，以為代郡守。而居無幾何，人告之反。孝成王方饋，〔鮑本「饋」，「餽」同。〕不墮食。〔鮑本方食而祭，不墮失匕筯，異矣。正曰：大事記，不驚，故食不墮也。愚謂，墮祭食，猶放下也，見儀禮。墮，許規反。〕無幾何，告者復至，孝成王不應。已，乃使使者〔鮑本伯之使。〕言：「齊舉兵擊燕，恐其以擊燕為名，而以兵襲趙，故發兵自備。今燕、齊已合，臣請要其敝，〔鮑本兩國戰，必有一疲，因以兵邀擊之。〕而地可多割。」自是之後，為孝成王從事於外者，無自疑於中者。

趙策 四

為齊獻書趙王

為齊獻書趙王，使臣與復丑〔姚本曾無此以上五字。　鮑本無「使臣與復丑」五字。○　補曰：愚按，其文未詳，恐他簡脫誤。〕曰：「臣一見，而能令王坐而天下致名寶。〔鮑本「寶」作「實」。○　即下「致地」。〕而臣竊怪王之不試見臣，而窮〔鮑本窮，猶困也。困於不得見。〕臣也。群臣必多以臣為不能者，故王重〔鮑本重，猶難。〕見臣也。以臣為不能者非〔鮑本非，若無也。〕他，欲用王之兵，成其私〔鮑本無「成其私」三字。○〕者也。非然，〔鮑本無「非然」二字。○〕則交有所偏者也；〔鮑本言賣趙與諸國，焉私？〕非然，則知不足者也；非然，則欲以天下之重恐王，而取行於王〔鮑本無「於王」二字。○　補曰：姚本云，「欲用王之兵，成其私者也。非然，則交有所偏者也；非然，則知不足者也；非然，則欲以天下之重恐王，而取行於王者也」。愚按，此文為是。〕者也。〔鮑本王畏懼之，必行其說。〕臣以齊循〔姚本曾作「脩」。〕事王，王能亡燕，能亡韓、魏，能攻秦，能孤秦。臣以為〔鮑本衍「為」字。〕齊致尊名於王，天下孰敢不致尊名於王？臣以齊致地於王，天下孰敢不致地於王？臣以齊為王求名於燕及韓、魏，孰敢辭之？臣之能也，其前可見已。〔鮑本言可見於未效之前。〕齊先重王，故天下盡重王；〔鮑本「王」下復有「重王」二字，原注「衍重字」。○〕無齊，天下必盡輕王也。秦之彊，以無齊之〔鮑本無「之」字。○〕故重王，燕、〔鮑本「燕」下補「韓」字。○〕魏自以無齊故重王。〔鮑本趙得齊，故四國無齊。〕今王無齊獨安得無重天下？〔鮑本猶四國重趙。〕故勸王無齊者，非知不足也，〔鮑本無「也」字。○〕則不忠者也。非然，則欲用王之兵成其私者也；非然，則欲輕王以天下之重，取行於王者也；非然，則位尊而能卑者也。〔鮑本補曰：能卑者，才能卑下也。〕願王之熟慮無齊之利害也。」〔鮑本此策時不可考。〕

齊欲攻宋

齊欲攻宋，〔鮑本閔三十八年，此十三年。正曰：閔二十八年。〕秦令起賈〔鮑本人姓名。〕禁之。齊乃捄〔姚本一作「收」。　鮑本「捄」作「援」。○　補曰：姚云，「捄」一作「收」，大事記取。〕趙以伐宋。〔鮑本以趙自助。補曰：齊欲攻宋，乃收趙以助己，實未伐也，故趙李兌合五國以伐秦。大事記，赧王二十九年，先書趙李兌約五國伐秦，後書齊滅宋。解題云，此大事也，見於策者，前後非一章。史遺略不載，策亦不載伐秦之年，然兵端起於秦怨趙助齊伐宋，故附齊滅宋年。〕秦王〔鮑本昭。〕怒，屬怨於趙。李兌約五國〔鮑本韓、趙、魏、燕、齊也。史不書，獨趙策見之。補曰：大事記書楚、齊、趙、韓、魏。按魏策「五國約而攻秦，楚王為從長，不能傷秦，兵罷而留成皋」，與此李兌約五國攻秦無功，留天下兵於成皋語合。又謂兌雖主謀，楚猶以大國為從長，據此故也。按楚王為從長，乃懷王十一年，蘇秦約楚、齊、趙、韓、魏、燕伐秦也。秦紀無楚，年表無齊，故以五國稱。楚世家書特詳。諸侯至函谷關，擊秦不勝而歸，其事又相類。兵罷留成皋一語，記者遂誤附之，非李兌合從時也。按兌伐秦時，當楚頃襄王十二年，十年楚迎婦于秦，十四年與秦昭王好會于宛，中間未嘗搆兵。大事記據下章書楚、齊、趙、韓、魏，又據魏策，因遂長楚。考之下章，雖有楚而不明言在五國之數，後亦屢言燕，是時固有燕矣。又此章勸齊劫天下，未及秦而後楚。下章云，齊將攻宋，秦、楚禁之，可見秦、楚方睦，必無楚伐秦之事矣。鮑以五國為韓、趙、魏、燕、齊者得之，然趙當首書。〕以伐秦，無功，留天下之兵於成皋，而陰構〔姚本曾作「講」字。　鮑本「搆」作「講」。○　補曰：大事記同，以下有「已講」字故也。〕於秦。又欲與秦攻魏，以解其怨〔鮑本解秦怨。〕而取封〔鮑本自封之封，非封地。正曰：下文言取陰定封。〕焉。

魏王〔鮑本昭。〕不說。之齊，〔鮑本「齊」下補「人」字。○　正曰：大事記，魏王不說，齊人謂王云云。愚謂，「之齊」上有缺文，當是人姓名。〕謂齊王曰：「臣為足下謂魏王曰：『三晉皆有秦患。今之攻秦也，為趙也。〔鮑本本以秦屬怨於趙故。〕五國伐趙，趙必亡矣。〔鮑本此設辭也。言趙初約伐秦，今乃與秦講，若同伐趙，趙可亡也。〕秦逐李兌，〔鮑本「秦」作「齊」。○　講秦、背齊、不伐宋者，兌也。正曰：姚本作「秦逐」。大事記取。〕李兌必死。今之伐秦也，以救李子之死也。今趙留天下之甲於成皋，而陰鬻之於秦，已講，則令秦攻魏以成其私封，王之事趙也何得矣？且王嘗濟於漳，而身朝於邯鄲，抱陰、成，〔鮑本成屬涿郡。又孔子世家注，太山鉅平有武城。正曰：陰、成未詳，鮑注皆非魏地。〕負蒿、〔鮑本地缺。〕葛、薜，〔鮑本「薜」作「薛」，又改作「孽」。○　趙記注，在馬丘。又葛城在高陰，屬涿郡。補曰：當作「孽」。正曰：抱、負言其勢。按魏策，葉陽君約魏，魏王將封其子，謂魏王曰，「王嘗身濟漳，朝邯鄲，抱葛、薛、陰、成以為趙養邑」。據此文，則「蒿」字因「葛」而誤衍。四邑皆魏地。趙世家，「遇于葛孽」，則知此文「薛」字誤也。徐廣云者，在馬丘。正義引括地志云也□□□□□魏縣西南。　札記丕烈案：「薛」即「孽」字也。〕以〔鮑本無「以」字。○〕為趙蔽，而趙無為王行也。今又以何〔鮑本「何」作「河」。○　屬河內。　札記今本「何」作「河」。〕陽、姑密〔鮑本「密」，「蔑」同。魯卜縣有姑蔑城，地未詳。〕封其子，〔鮑本兌子。正曰：說見後。〕而乃令秦攻王，以便取陰。〔鮑本正曰：以下三章俱有。三其文，則時欲文木而取此乃宋地也。傳昭十九年，公尹赤遷陰于下陰，乃襄之□□□□□非此所指也。齊策，三子說齊王伐宋之三曰，有大平陸則梁門不啟。□□□□南陽則亦指在六成者誤矣。史記作陶、平陸。蓋平陸，兗州縣；定陶，今會州。皆大梁之東，時皆有宋也之定□□□□□□也。濟陰之名後出，抑□□□□□歟？按史□□□封陶，徐廣曰，「陶」一作□□□□□曰「陰必亡」，史作「陶邑必亡」。魏策「陰啟」，史作「陶人」。是云「陶」、「陰」字易惑。定陶見有魏冉冢。作陰者誤。是直以□字誤，此說是也。劉歆七略云，古文□□以陶為陰，然則陰之為陶信矣。　〕人比然而後如〔鮑本「如」作「知」。○　言人必以類比乃可知。〕賢不，如王〔鮑本言如今王者。正曰：下有「若」字，「如王若用」不成語，當以「王」字句。言人類相比，知賢以如王。　札記丕烈案：吳說未是。此「如」、「若」二字，當衍其一。〕若用所以事趙之半收齊，天下有敢謀王者乎？王之事齊也，無入朝之辱，無割地之費。齊為王之故，虛國〔鮑本虛國，謂悉出兵。〕於燕、趙之前，用兵於二千里之外，故攻城野戰，未嘗不為王先被矢石也。得二都，割河東，盡效之於王。自是之後，秦攻魏，齊甲〔鮑本無「甲」字。○　補曰：一本「齊甲」。〕未〔姚本曾、劉作「不」。〕嘗不歲至於王之境也。請問王之所以報齊者可乎？韓呡〔姚本劉「呡」一作「岷」。　鮑本「呡」作「珉」。○　從韓策，後並同。正曰：「珉」、「呡」未知孰訛，且當各依本文。〕處於趙，〔姚本劉「趙」作「楚」。　鮑本珉下皆齊人之去齊者。正曰：韓呡必韓人。韓策云，呡相齊。趙將有韓徐，趙世家惠文十三年。虞商無見。除薛公為齊人，餘無考。〕去齊三千里，王以此疑齊，〔鮑本珉處趙，意別有謂。以其相趙，疑齊親趙。〕曰有秦陰。〔鮑本疑齊親趙，因私於秦，以趙嘗講秦也。〕今王又挾故薛公以為相，〔鮑本史稱文去齊如魏，在閔王三十八年後。按此，則其如魏，以齊王驕也。伐宋前，已去齊矣。正曰：大事記，孟嘗君去齊相魏，在赧王二十九年齊滅宋前，說見東周策。〕善韓徐以為上交，尊虞商以為大〔姚本劉「大」作「一」。〕客，王固可以反疑〔鮑本「固」作「顧」，「疑」下有「於」字。○〕齊乎？』〔鮑本用齊之所不善，失在魏也，安可疑齊？補曰：此語大事記取。〕於〔鮑本補曰：此下恐當有「是」字。　札記丕烈案：此當是「疑」下有「於」字，錯在「乎」下。〕魏王聽此言也甚詘，〔鮑本此下，此士自陳其說魏之效。詘，猶順。正曰：韻書，詘，辭塞也。〕其欲事王〔鮑本齊王。〕也甚循。〔姚本曾「循」作「脩」。〕其怨於趙。〔鮑本言其事齊，比於怨趙則又順也。正曰：「循」，姚云曾作「脩」，則當屬上文。愚謂，以「甚循」句，文勢順。「於趙」下有缺文，或「其怨於趙」句因下文衍。　札記丕烈案：吳說非也。此「其」字乃「甚」字之誤，四字為一句。〕臣願王〔鮑本「臣願王」之「王」，謂齊王。下並同。〕之曰〔鮑本「曰」作「亟」。○　補曰：一本作「重」，是。〕聞魏〔鮑本與魏相聞。〕而無庸見惡也，臣請為王推其怨於趙，〔鮑本推，猶移。怨，魏怨。〕願王之陰重〔鮑本元作「曰」，又改作「重」。○　補曰：上例，字當是「重」。〕趙，而無使秦之見王之重趙也。秦見之且亦重趙。〔鮑本天下得趙則強。使秦知齊重趙，恐齊強，亦必重之。〕齊、秦交重趙，臣必見燕與韓、魏亦且重趙也，皆且無敢與趙治。〔鮑本治，猶校。〕五〔鮑本「五」作「三」。○〕國事趙，趙從親以合於秦，必為王高矣。〔鮑本言趙居齊上。〕臣故欲王之偏劫天下，而皆私甘之也。〔鮑本「偏」作「遍」。○　私，則所謂無使見也。甘，言說之。補曰：遍劫者，眾脅之以威。私甘者，獨說之以言。〕王使臣以韓、魏與燕劫趙，使丹〔鮑本丹、順皆人名。〕也甘之；以趙劫韓、魏，〔鮑本此下皆且甘且劫。〕使臣〔姚本一作「甘」。〕也甘之；以三晉劫秦，使順也甘之；以天下劫楚，使呡也甘之。則天下皆偪秦以事王，〔鮑本自以見偪於秦也。秦於天下，有偪而已，不如齊之有劫有甘也。正曰：相與偪秦也。偪者，侵迫也。〕而不敢相私也。交定，然〔鮑本「然」作「而」。○〕後王擇焉。」〔鮑本此章亦可為齊，姑因舊。〕

齊將攻宋而秦楚禁之

齊將攻宋，而秦、楚〔姚本一作「陰」。〕禁之。齊因欲與趙，趙不聽。齊乃令公孫衍說李兌〔鮑本正曰：下「李兌」二字必誤。下云「使公孫衍說奉陽君」，即述上文「令公孫衍說李兌」也。其下豈得為兌言乎？又後有「循燕觀趙」語，以為兌言，則不通。　札記丕烈案：吳氏定奉陽君為李兌，其說最確。元和顧氏廣圻曰，「此下皆當為蘇代謂齊王語，當是李兌下有缺文也」。說詳其所著思適齋筆記。〕以攻宋而定封焉。李兌乃謂齊王〔鮑本閔。〕曰：「臣之所以堅三晉以攻秦者，非以為齊得利秦之毀也，〔鮑本不以毀秦為齊之利。〕欲以使攻宋也。而宋置太子以為王，下親其上而守堅，臣是以欲足下之速歸休士民也。今太子走，諸善太子者，皆有死心。〔鮑本太子為王及走，史不書。太子為王矣，而走，必王之黨逐之，故太子之人，以死報之。〕若復攻之，其國必有亂，而太子在外，此亦舉宋之時也。

「臣為足下使公孫衍說奉陽君〔鮑本蘇秦從時，已言奉陽死，豈或襲稱如馬服者乎？補曰：按史蘇秦傳，趙肅侯令其弟成為相，號奉陽君。弗說秦，秦去之燕。奉陽君死，秦復說肅侯稱奉陽君捐館舍。而張儀之說武靈王，亦謂先王時奉陽君相，專權擅勢，蔽晦先王。然武靈胡服，請於公叔成，而成與李兌弒主父，則是肅侯之世，成未亡，何其前後相戾邪？故大事記從古史，定以奉陽君為公子成，而削去「捐館」之語。考之策，屢言奉陽君，而趙策尤著，見於李兌約五國伐秦後謀取宋之時。蘇秦說趙，當肅侯十六年，而五國伐秦，在惠文十三年，相去五十年，公子成執國柄何久也！史、策明言捐館舍，豈得皆誤？武靈易服之請，猶惓惓敬事其答，張儀豈得公言其罪而無所諱哉？荀子以奉陽君為篡臣，而楊倞注，亦疑非公子成，蘇秦所值者，必別一奉陽君，非公子成明矣。然則奉陽君果公子成乎？曰，謂奉陽君為公子成，亦史遷之言，而策無明文也。五國攻秦時，成、兌方並用，以成為奉陽君，其時則可矣。愚嘗反覆策文而有疑焉。趙策言「李兌約伐秦，無功，陰講於秦，欲與秦攻魏以解怨，取陰以定封」。又云「齊令公孫衍說李兌以攻宋定封」。又云「公孫衍說奉陽君，封地莫善於宋，莫如於陰」。又「蘇代謂齊王，臣為足下說奉陽君，天下散而爭秦，陰必不可得」。既言李兌取陰，又言奉陽君取陰，不應為二人事。竊以為李兌即奉陽君也。何以明之？趙策，說魏之辭曰「李兌留天下之甲於成皋，令秦攻魏，以成其私，王嘗身朝邯鄲，抱陰、成，負葛、櫱，為趙蔽，今又以河陽、姑密封其子」。魏策則曰「葉陽君約魏，魏王將封其子，謂魏王曰」云云，正與前同。則知「葉陽」者「奉陽」之訛。奉陽君之為李兌，其徵一也。趙策，蘇代說奉陽之辭曰「五國願得趙，與韓氏大吏東勉，齊王必無召（原作『名』，有說，見本條）呡」。燕策，蘇代舉奉陽君之辭曰「齊王使公王曰命說曰，必不反韓呡，今召之矣」。其事亦同。奉陽自稱說，「說」者「兌」之訛。奉陽君之為李兌，其徵二也。燕策又有「奉陽君李兌甚不取蘇秦」之言，奉陽君李兌者，並舉其封邑姓名言之也。其下誤以蘇代為蘇秦，則亦因蘇秦所云而然，說見本條。奉陽君之為李兌，其徵三也。按趙世家，公子成、李兌既殺公子章、田不禮而定王室，公子成為相，號安平君，則安平乃成之封。史表「安平屬涿郡」，後志「青州有安平縣，原屬定州」，皆趙地也。奉陽則未有考而非奉陽矣。史遷不明奉陽君為二人，又誤以為公子成，是以紛紜殽舛，論者莫知所從。今以策文考之，而得其說如此。餘見各章，可參觀也。〕曰：『君之身老矣，封不可不早〔鮑本「早」上有「可」字。○〕定也。為君慮封，莫若於宋，他國莫可。夫秦人貪，韓、魏危，〔鮑本近秦故。〕燕、楚辟，〔鮑本「辟」作「僻」。○　札記丕烈案：「辟」、「僻」同字，鮑改非。〕中山〔鮑本補曰：時中山已滅，此言其故地爾。〕之地薄，莫如於陰。失今之時，不可復得已。宋之罪重，齊之怒深，殘亂宋，得〔鮑本「得」作「德」。○　補曰：「得」字訛。〕大齊，定身封，此百代之一時也。』以〔鮑本「以」作「已」。○〕奉陽君甚食〔鮑本「食」作「貪」。○　補曰：恐「貪」字訛。〕之，唯〔姚本曾作「雖」。〕得大封，齊無大異。〔鮑本言奉陽欲得陰以大其封，而齊待之未有異數，不可。〕臣願足下之大發攻宋之舉，而無庸致兵，姑待已耕，〔鮑本無「姑待已耕」四字。○〕以觀奉陽君之應足下也。縣〔鮑本許之而未與，故曰「縣」。〕陰以甘之，循〔鮑本循，言與燕順；臨，猶制也。不徒甘之，必或制之。〕有燕以臨之，而臣待忠之封，〔鮑本待，猶將。忠，猶實也。王待之封而己實之。正曰：勸之定封，故曰臣且將忠之以封。〕事必大成。臣又願足下有地效於襄安君〔鮑本蓋趙人。正曰：無考。〕以資臣也。足下果殘宋，此兩地〔鮑本言有齊又得宋。正曰：兩地，言齊與趙可並得宋地。此謂齊王言，豈得言有齊乎？〕之時也，足下何愛焉？若足下不得志於宋，與國何敢望也。〔鮑本與國，趙也。言奉陽、襄安不敢望封。正曰：上言兩得地，此言齊不得志，則趙不敢望。〕足下以此資臣也，臣循燕觀〔鮑本觀，言其無所事。〕趙，則足下擊潰而決天下矣」。〔鮑本潰，潰癰也。蓋喻其制天下之易也。決，猶制。正曰：潰，壞也。此喻宋。擊潰壞之宋，而決制天下矣。〕　　〔鮑本補曰：公孫衍為秦相而逐，在秦武王四年，武靈王之十九年也。後為魏所殺，雖不知何年，然去李兌合從時已遠，此公孫衍恐非犀首也。考之秦策，亦有「宋罪重，此百世之一時已」數語，彼以為穰侯之言，亦此時事也。說見後。「為足」、「為君」之「為」，去聲。〕

五國伐秦無功

五國伐秦無功，罷於成皋。趙欲搆〔鮑本「搆」作「講」。○　原從扌從冓。下同。正曰：本文惟「堅約而講」、「君必無講」二處作「講」字，今當悉從舊。〕於秦，楚與魏、韓將應之，秦〔鮑本「秦」作「齊」。○〕弗欲。蘇代謂齊王〔鮑本閔。〕曰：「臣以〔鮑本「以」作「已」。○〕為足下見奉陽君矣。臣謂奉陽君曰：『天下散而事〔鮑本「事」作「爭」。○　「爭」一作「事」，爭先事之。〕秦，秦必據宋。魏冉必妒君之有陰也。秦王貪，魏冉妒，則陰不可得已矣。君無搆，齊必攻宋。齊攻宋，則楚必攻宋，魏必攻宋，燕、趙助之。五國據宋，不至一二月，陰必得矣。得陰而搆，秦雖有變，則〔鮑本無「則」字。○〕君無患矣。〔鮑本趙非不可以與秦講，而不可獨講，獨講則示秦弱，秦必輕之。今助四國攻宋而得陰，是五國為一也，不懼秦矣。〕若不得已而必搆，〔鮑本據此時，趙可以無講，故云。正曰：不得已而必講，非可以無講也。疑此句「已」字誤，上句「得陰而講」，此句當云「不得陰而必講」，乃順。〕則願五國復堅約。〔鮑本同伐秦也，先伐後講，則不示弱。〕願〔鮑本「願」上補「五國」二字。○〕得趙，〔鮑本時趙強故。〕足下雄〔鮑本雄者，眾雌所從。〕飛，與韓氏大吏東免，〔鮑本「免」作「勉」。○　補曰：「勉」即「免」，通。〕齊王必無召〔鮑本「召」作「名」，「名」下補「禁」字。○　正曰：姚本「必無召呡也」，此「名」字訛，當作「召」。〕呡〔鮑本「呡」作「珉」。○　下同。前齊嘗使韓珉處趙，有秦私也。今五國約講秦，勉齊同之，諸國必無辭止珉，使無私秦。正曰：燕策，蘇代說燕之辭曰「奉陽君告朱讙與趙足曰，齊王」云云，「必不反韓呡，今召之矣」。此「名」字，當作「召」無疑。前策言韓呡處趙，魏疑齊有秦私。韓策，秦王曰「韓呡與我交」，又云「韓呡相齊」。此下文云，「天下爭秦，秦內韓呡於齊」。呡，蓋韓人之善於齊、秦者。今代勸奉陽君合諸侯，與韓氏大吏勉齊王共合從，則齊必不召呡也。〕也。使臣守約，若與〔鮑本「與」下有「國」字。○　秦本非與，今講必使之如與也。正曰：與國，言五國也。故云有倍約者，則四國攻之；無倍約者，而秦侵敗約，則五國復堅擯之。　札記今本「與」下有「國」字。〕有倍〔鮑本倍，並音背。〕約者，以四國攻之。無倍約者，而秦侵約，五國復堅而賓〔鮑本「賓」作「儐」。○　補曰：「擯」通。莊子「賓於鄉里」。〕之。今韓、魏與齊相疑也，若復不堅〔姚本曾無「堅」字。〕約而講，〔鮑本此因舊。〕臣恐與國之大亂也。齊、秦非復合也，必有踦重者矣。〔鮑本「踦」作「觭」。○　下同。角一俯一仰曰觭，言有一重。正曰：公羊傳「踦閭」，何休說，開一扇，閉一扇，一人在內，一人在外，曰「踦」。說苑「切踦」即「倚」字。義皆訓偏。〕後合〔鮑本補曰：「後合」，即上「復合」。　札記丕烈案：「後」乃「復」形近之訛耳。〕與踦重者，皆非趙之利也。且天下散而事秦，是秦制天下也。秦制天下，將何以天下為？〔鮑本天下自為秦用，趙無所用之也。〕臣願君之蚤計也。

「『天下爭秦〔鮑本補曰：「爭秦」，一本此下皆作「事秦」。〕有六舉，皆不利趙矣。天下爭秦，秦王〔鮑本昭。〕受負海內之國，〔鮑本衍「內」字。山東皆負海。正曰：三晉非負海也，恐「負」字因下文衍。〕合負親之交，〔鮑本天下嘗橫而親秦矣。已而負之，今復合之。〕以據中國，而求利於三晉，是秦之一舉也。秦行是計，不利於趙，而君終不得陰，一矣。天下爭秦，秦王內韓珉〔札記「珉」，鮑本作「呡」，改為「珉」。〕於齊，內成陽君於韓，相魏懷於魏，〔鮑本此皆其國人之與秦事者，故秦納之。正曰：韓呡非齊人。〕復合衍〔姚本劉作「術」。　鮑本公孫衍時相魏，雅不善秦。今相懷，因使合之。正曰：公孫衍非犀首，說見前。〕交兩王，〔鮑本秦、魏。正曰：上言齊、韓、魏，此兩王謂燕、趙也。〕王賁、韓他〔鮑本此皆秦人。正曰：韓他恐韓人，餘無考。〕之曹，〔鮑本「曹」作「楚」。○　正曰：曹，輩也。下有「皆」字，文勢宜然。五國必無楚。〕皆起而行事，是秦之一舉也。秦行是計也，不利於趙，而君又〔鮑本無「又」字。○〕不得陰，二矣。天下爭秦，秦王受齊受趙，三疆三親，〔鮑本「疆」作「強」。○　此三皆強國自相親。　札記今本「疆」作「彊」。〕以據〔鮑本據，猶臨之。〕魏而求〔鮑本秦求之。〕安邑，是秦之一舉也。秦行是計，齊、趙應之，魏不待伐，抱安邑而信〔鮑本「信」作「倍」。○　此倍益也。〕秦，秦〔姚本劉無下「秦」字。〕得安邑之饒，魏為上交，韓必入朝秦，過趙已安邑矣，〔鮑本過，猶勝也。言秦行此策，不論其他，止得安邑，已勝於趙矣。補曰：「已」，「以」通。言秦之勝趙，以得魏之安邑。按，魏獻安邑，在赧王二十九年。大事記書於五國伐秦之前。據此策，則伐秦後事也。〕是秦之一舉也。〔姚本一本無上六字。　鮑本無「是秦之一舉也」六字。○〕秦行是計，不利於趙，而君必不得陰，三矣。天下爭秦，秦堅燕、趙之交，以伐齊收楚，與韓呡而攻魏，〔鮑本伐齊得之，則呡為用。正曰：前言內韓呡於齊者，謀如此也。呡自善於秦者，前時魏疑有秦私，必不合於魏，故使之攻魏。〕是秦之一舉也。秦行是計，而燕、趙應之。燕、趙伐齊，兵始用，〔鮑本交鋒之初。〕秦因收楚而攻魏，〔鮑本三國交鋒，勢不得解，故得以此時收攻二國。〕不至一二月，魏必破矣。秦舉安邑而塞女戟，〔鮑本地缺。正曰：女戟，地名，在太行西。〕韓之太原絕，〔鮑本補曰：太原，正義以為太行，當是，說見燕策。　札記今本「絕」上誤衍「之」字。〕下軹〔鮑本「軹」作「咫」，又改為「軹」。○　補曰：說見前。　札記「軹」，鮑本作「咫」，改為「軹」。〕道、南陽、高，〔鮑本「高」作「而」。○　補曰：疑字有誤。　札記今本「高」作「而」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕伐魏，絕韓，包二周，即趙自消爍〔姚本劉本無「爍」字。〕矣。國燥〔姚本一作「爍」。　鮑本燥，猶爍。〕於秦，兵分〔姚本一作「孤」。〕於齊，非趙之利也。而君終身不得陰，四矣。天下爭秦，秦堅三晉之交攻齊，國破曹〔鮑本「曹」作「財」。○　補曰：一本作「財」。　札記今本「曹」作「財」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕屈，〔鮑本三晉破屈也。〕而兵東分〔鮑本兵分謂魏。正曰：謂三晉。〕於齊，秦桉兵攻魏，取安邑，〔鮑本「桉」作「按」，下同。○　此與上始用兵而攻收同。正曰：不同。〕是秦之一舉也。秦行是計也，君桉〔鮑本按，謂安然。正曰：即上文「按兵」之「按」。〕救魏，是以攻齊之已弊，救〔鮑本「救」下補「之而」二字。○　補曰：一本無「救」字。「救」即「敝」字訛衍。　札記今本「救」下有「之而」二字，乃誤涉鮑也。〕與秦爭戰也；君不救也，韓、魏焉免西合？〔鮑本合，合秦。補曰：焉，於虔切。〕國在謀之中，〔鮑本在秦謀中。〕而君有〔姚本劉作「又」。　鮑本有，猶又。〕終身不得陰，五矣。天下爭〔姚本一作「事」。〕秦，秦按為義，存亡繼絕，固危扶弱，定無罪之君，必起中山與勝〔鮑本勝，中山之後。正曰：無據。〕焉。秦起中山與勝，而趙、宋同命，〔鮑本此時宋小弱。言趙失中山，聽命於秦，與宋同也。〕何暇言陰？六矣。故曰君必無講，則陰必得矣。』

「奉陽君曰：『善。』乃絕和於秦，而收齊、魏以成取陰。」〔鮑本補曰：蘇代為燕反間，勸齊伐宋，將以敝齊，其勸趙之共攻者，恐趙之合秦，而齊、秦方惡爾。然趙卒不合齊伐宋者，害齊之驕而止歟？抑別有故也？按燕策，蘇代說燕於趙以伐齊，奉陽君不聽，乃入齊惡趙，令齊絕於趙。又代謂燕昭王曰，「臣離齊、趙，齊、趙已孤矣」。趙之不合齊，其後竟合燕以破齊，殆以此歟？　大事記，齊湣王與魏、楚滅宋，三分其地，魏得其梁、陳留；齊得其濟陰、東平；楚得其沛。考之史年表、齊、魏世家，皆止言齊滅宋。獨宋世家稱與楚、魏伐宋，三分其地。此大事記所據也。按蘇代說燕之辭曰，「齊王南攻楚，西困秦，又以其餘兵舉五千乘之勁宋」。謂秦之辭曰，「攻宋所以為王也，齊強輔之以宋，楚、魏必恐，恐必西事秦」。使當時齊與楚、魏合，其言豈若是乎！史稱齊既滅宋，南割楚之淮北，西侵三晉，是其乘滅宋之強，併奪楚、魏地，而謂與之分宋地，豈其實哉？樂毅勸燕昭王約趙、楚、魏伐齊，其言曰，「主若欲攻齊，莫若結於趙，且又淮北、宋地，楚、魏之所欲也」。年表，燕破齊之年，書楚、趙取齊淮北。大事記因之。按此言則楚、魏分地，當是樂毅破齊後事，宋世家所記者，豈非誤邪？〕

樓緩將使伏事辭行

樓緩將使，伏事，辭行，〔鮑本伏，猶隱也。將出使，恐王疑之，於辭曰以隱伏之事要王，使信己也。正曰：「伏事」句，隱秘之事也。〕謂趙王曰：「臣雖盡力竭知，死不復見於王矣。」王曰：「是何言也？固且為書而厚寄卿。」樓子曰：「王不聞公子牟夷〔鮑本宋公子。〕之於宋乎？非肉不食。〔鮑本言其貴。莊十年注，肉食，在位者。〕文張〔鮑本他國人。正曰：無考。〕善宋，〔鮑本宋王善之。正曰：此引前事。〕惡公子牟夷，寅然。〔鮑本「寅」作「宋」，「然」下補「之」字。○〕今臣之於王非宋之於公子牟夷也，而惡臣者過文張。故臣死不復見於王矣。」〔鮑本言牟夷之親，而文張以遊客能使宋聽其說，況己乎？正曰：「寅然」上下有缺誤。〕王曰：「子勉行矣，寡人與子有誓言矣。」樓子遂行。

後以中牟反，入梁。〔鮑本史不書。補曰：中牟，趙邑也，見前策。趙敗長平後欲割地搆秦，樓緩自秦來，趙王與之計云云。此章時不可考。以中牟反，入梁，或者秘謀之事歟？〕候者來言，而王弗聽，曰：「吾已與樓子有言矣。」〔鮑本此言姦人不可盡信。〕

虞卿請趙王

虞卿請〔姚本一作「謂」。　鮑本「請」作「謂」。○〕趙王〔鮑本惠文。〕曰：「人之情，寧朝人乎？寧朝於人也？」〔姚本曾作「乎」。〕趙王曰：「人亦寧朝人耳，何故寧朝於人？」虞卿曰：「夫魏為從主，而違者范座〔鮑本「座」作「痤」，下同。○　魏相。補曰：一本作「座」，史與此同。　札記丕烈案：古今人表中下亦作「座」。〕也。今王能以百里之地，若萬戶之都，請殺范座於魏。范座死，則從事可移於趙。」〔鮑本趙主從也。〕趙王曰：「善。」乃使人以百里之地，請殺范座於魏。魏王許諾，使司徒〔姚本曾、劉作「空」。　鮑本周卿，此時主徒隸者耳。〕執范座，而未殺也。

范座獻書魏王曰：「臣聞趙王以百里之地，請殺座之身。夫殺無罪范座，座〔姚本劉無下「座」字。　鮑本衍「痤」字。補曰：字衍。〕薄故也；〔鮑本猶細事。〕而得百里之地，大利也。臣竊為大王美之。雖然，而有一焉，百里之地不可得，而死者不可復生也，則主〔鮑本「主」作「王」。○　札記今本「主」作「王」。〕必為天下笑矣！臣竊以為與其以死人市，不若以生人市使〔姚本一本無「使」字。　鮑本「使」作「便」。○　補曰：史同。〕也。」

又遺其後相信陵君書曰：「夫趙、魏，敵戰之國也。趙王以咫尺之書來，而魏王輕為之殺無罪之座，座雖不肖，故魏之免相望〔姚本劉作「室」。　鮑本衍「望」字。補曰：姚云劉作「室」，史無。〕也。嘗以魏之故，得罪於趙。夫國內〔鮑本無「內」字。○〕無用臣，〔鮑本用，言可任者。補曰：一本「國內無用」，是。〕外雖得地，勢不能守。然今能守魏者，莫如君矣。王聽趙殺座之後，強秦襲〔鮑本襲，言猶因趙之故態。〕趙之欲，〔姚本劉作「俗」。〕倍趙之割，則君將何以止之？此君之累也。」信陵君曰：「善。」遽言之王而出之。〔鮑本十一年有。「與其以死市」下，原在趙策。補曰：從舊在趙可。〕

燕封宋人榮蚡為高陽君

燕封宋人榮蚡〔鮑本補曰：蚡，符分反。〕為高陽君，使將而攻趙。趙王因割濟東三城令〔鮑本「令」作「合」。○　下同。〕盧、〔鮑本屬太山。〕高唐、〔鮑本屬平原。〕平原〔鮑本平原屬青州。〕陵〔姚本一本無「陵」字。〕地城邑市〔鮑本「邑市」作「市邑」。○〕五十七，命以與齊，而以求安平君而將之。馬服君謂平原君曰：「國奚無人甚哉！君致安平君而將之，乃割濟東三令〔姚本一本無「令」字。　鮑本「三」下補「城」字，「令」作「合」。○　補曰：大事記去「令」字。〕城市邑五十七以與齊，此夫〔鮑本夫，辭也。謂三城。〕子〔鮑本「子」原作「予」，又改為「子」。○　補曰：字誤。大事記並刪「夫予」二字。〕與敵國戰，覆軍殺將之所取、割地於敵國者也。〔鮑本此取之，彼割之也。〕今君以此與齊，而求安平君而將之，國奚無人甚也！〔鮑本「也」作「哉」。○　補曰：一本此作「甚也」，應上「甚哉」，蓋反復嘆惜之辭。〕且君奚不將奢也？奢嘗抵罪居燕，燕以奢為上谷守，燕之通谷要塞，奢習知之。百日之內，天下之兵未聚，奢已舉燕矣。然則君奚求安平君而為將〔姚本劉本添「將」字。〕乎？」平原君曰：「將軍釋之矣，僕已言之僕主矣。僕主幸以〔鮑本「以」作「已」。〕聽僕也。將軍無言已。」馬服君曰：「君過矣！君之所以求安平君者，以齊之於燕也，茹肝涉血之仇耶。〔鮑本謂即墨之役。〕其於奢〔鮑本「奢」下有「也」字。○〕不然。〔鮑本奢於燕非仇。正曰：奢以為不然。〕使安平君愚，固不能當榮蚡；使安平君知，又不肯與燕人戰。此兩言者，安平君必處一焉。雖然，兩〔姚本曾、劉作「然」。〕者有一也。使安平君知，則奚以趙之強為？趙強則齊不復霸矣。今得強趙之兵，以杜〔鮑本杜，猶拒。〕燕將，曠日持久〔鮑本兵相持日久。〕數歲，令士大夫餘子之力，盡於溝壘，車甲羽毛𧙷敝，〔鮑本羽毛，謂箭。𧙷，即裂字。正曰：羽毛，即羽旄。〕府庫倉廩虛，兩國交以習〔姚本曾、劉作「交敝」。　鮑本習，言玩其兵。〕之，乃引其兵而歸。夫盡兩國之兵，無明此者矣。」夏，〔鮑本「夏」作「是」。○　補曰：未詳，恐上下文有缺誤。　札記今本「夏」作「是」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕軍也縣釜而炊。〔鮑本懸釜而炊，前章圍晉陽云。此時或有水害。大事記無「夏」至「炊」七字，云「已而得三城」。〕得三城也，〔鮑本衍「也」字。〕城大無能過百雉者。〔鮑本隱元年注，方丈曰堵，三堵為雉。〕果如馬服之言也。〔鮑本彪謂：馬服之請將，自知明也；其策安平，知彼明也。夫安平，齊宗也，其不強趙以奪齊之霸，人之情也。此言若易聽而不見聽，孰謂平原君智乎？〕

三國攻秦趙攻中山

三國攻秦，〔鮑本魏哀二十一年，與齊、韓共攻秦，此元年。正曰：襄。〕趙攻中山，取扶柳，〔鮑本屬信都。補曰：漢志，其地有扶澤，澤中多柳，故名。〕五年以擅〔鮑本擅，言固有之。〕呼沲。齊人戎郭、宋突〔鮑本雖齊人而倍齊。〕謂仇郝〔鮑本「郝」作「赫」。○〕曰：「不如盡歸中山之新埊。〔姚本續云：新唐史、集韻皆以為武后所製字。竇苹作唐史釋音，乃云古「地」字，見戰國策，抑別有所據？今國策中「地」字甚多，間作「埊」字，安知非自武后時傳寫相承，如「臣」作「𢘑」？以謂曾、劉所校，亦未所喻。然古文「地」字乃作「坔」。又鶡冠子、亢倉子皆有「埊」字，姑存之，以俟博識。　鮑本「埊」作「地」。○　「埊」，武后時字耳，今並從古。地，謂扶柳。正曰：愚按鄭氏書略，籀文「地」作「坔」，武后蓋有所本。意本書「坔」而後轉從「埊」歟？後多此字，以義通，不復出。〕中山案〔鮑本案，猶據。〕此言於齊曰，四國〔鮑本趙與上三。〕將假道於衛，以過章子之路。〔鮑本地缺。蓋章子以齊軍守此。正曰：無考。〕齊聞此，必效〔姚本曾、劉作「放」。〕鼓。」〔鮑本莒鼓里是也。齊南又有二鼓。〕

趙使趙莊合從

趙使趙莊合從，欲伐齊。齊請效地，趙因賤趙莊。齊明為〔姚本劉本無「為」字。〕謂趙王曰：「齊畏從人〔姚本劉本無「人」字。〕之合也，故效地。今聞趙莊賤，張懃〔姚本劉「懃」作「漢」。　鮑本懃，蓋敗從者。〕貴，齊必不效地矣。」趙王曰：「善。」乃召趙莊〔姚本劉「莊」作「庀」。〕而貴之。〔鮑本正曰：按史年表，「武靈王十三年，秦拔我藺，虜將趙莊。」此策必未虜之前，豈得為孝成王將哉？〕

翟章從梁來

翟章從梁來，甚善趙王。趙王三延之以相，翟章辭不受。田駟謂柱國〔鮑本柱國，楚官。蓋趙亦有。〕韓向曰：「臣請為卿刺之。客〔鮑本客，謂章。〕若死，則王必怒而誅建信君。〔鮑本疑其殺章，欲以專事。〕建信君死，則卿必為相矣。建信君不死，以為交，〔鮑本以殺章故，建信交之。〕終身不敝，卿因以德建信君矣。」

馮忌為廬陵君謂趙王

馮忌〔姚本一本作「〈上弔下心〉」，曾本無此注。〕為廬陵君〔鮑本孝成母弟。見趙記。正曰：趙記未見。〕謂趙王曰：「王之逐廬陵君，為燕也。」王曰：「吾所以重者，無燕、秦也。」〔鮑本無如二國。正曰：言不畏之也。〕對曰：「秦三〔鮑本「三」作「王」。○　昭。正曰：一本「秦三以」。以下文「一以」字推之，當是「王」字誤。〕以虞卿為言，而王不逐也。〔鮑本前事爾，非今。〕今燕一以廬陵君為言，而王逐之。是王輕強秦而重弱燕也。」王曰：「吾非為燕也，吾固將逐之。」「然則王逐廬陵君，又不為燕也。行〔鮑本行，卉行。〕逐愛弟，又兼無燕、秦，臣竊為大王不取也。」

馮忌請見趙王

馮忌請見趙王，行人見之。馮忌接手〔鮑本交兩手。〕免〔鮑本「免」作「俛」。○　補曰：此書「俛」、「免」通。　札記今本「免」作「俛」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕首，欲言而不敢。王問其故，對曰：「客有見人於服子者，〔鮑本未詳。〕已而請其罪。服子曰：『公之客獨有三罪：望我而笑，是狎也；談語而不稱師，是倍〔鮑本倍，言背其師。〕也；交淺而言深，是亂也。』客曰：『不然。夫望人而笑，是和也；言而〔鮑本「而」作「是」。○〕不稱師，是庸說也；〔鮑本言之常者，人所同稱，非必師矣。〕交淺而言深，是忠也。昔者堯見舜於草茅之中，席〔鮑本席，設席。〕隴畝而廕庇桑，〔鮑本桑之能庇人者，於之取蔭。〕陰移而授〔鮑本「授」作「受」。○　札記丕烈案：「受」字是也。〕天下傳。〔姚本劉去「傳」字。　札記丕烈案：「傳」、「禪」同字。〕伊尹負鼎俎而干湯，姓名未著而受三公。〔鮑本補曰：伊尹負鼎俎干湯，孟子集注所謂戰國時有為此說者，指此。說苑，堯、舜相見，不違桑陰。亦此類。〕使夫交淺者不可以深談，則天下不傳，而三公不得也。』」趙王曰：〔鮑本衍「趙王曰」三字。〕「甚善。」馮忌曰：〔姚本一本無此以上五字。〕「今外臣交淺而欲深談可乎？」王曰：「請奉教。」於是馮忌乃談。〔鮑本此忌初見之談也，應在平原謂馮忌之上，然亦得為此，史本其初言之，故因舊。〕

客見趙王

客見趙王曰：「臣聞王之使人買馬也，有之乎？」王曰：「有之。」「何故至今不遣？」王曰：「未得相〔鮑本「相」作「買」。○　補曰：一本「相馬」。〕馬之工也。」對曰：「王何不遣建信君乎？」王曰：「建信君有國事，又不知相馬。」曰：「王何不遣紀姬乎？」王曰：「紀姬婦人也，不知相馬。」對曰：「買馬而善，何補於國？」王曰：「無補於國。」「買馬而惡，何危於國？」王曰：「無危於國。」對曰：「然則買馬善而若惡，皆無危補於國。然而王之買馬也，必將待工。今治〔鮑本「治」作「將」。○〕天下，舉錯〔鮑本舉置也，有舉有置。〕非也，國家為虛戾，而社稷不血食，然而王不待工，而與建信君，何也？」趙王未之應也。客曰：「燕郭之法，〔姚本劉作「法」，曾作「郭偃之淫」。　鮑本補曰：晉掌卜大夫郭偃，乃卜偃也。〕有所謂桑〔姚本曾作「柔」。〕雍〔鮑本「雍」，「癰」同。桑中有蠹，則外碨磈，如人之癰。正曰：桑中有蠹，以膏腋流於外，如癰潰然。姚云，曾、劉並作「柔雍」，下同。〕者，王知之乎？」王曰：「未之聞也。」「所謂桑雍〔姚本劉作「柔癰」。〕者，便辟左右之近者，〔鮑本「近者」作「人」。○　補曰：一本「便辟左右之近者」。〕及夫人優〔鮑本優，饒也，言愛之甚。一曰倡。〕愛孺子〔鮑本孺子，見秦、齊策。〕也。此皆能乘王之醉昏，而求所欲於王者也。是能得之乎〔鮑本「乎」作「於」。○〕內，則大臣為之枉法於外矣。故日月暉於外，〔姚本續云：東坡本「日月彫暉於外」。　鮑本說林訓，「月照天下，食於蟾蠩」。補曰：朱子云，「晦朔而日月之合，東西同度，南北同道，則月揜日而日食；望而日月之對，同度同道，則月亢日而月食」。又謂，「蟾兔桂樹之說，其惑久矣」。然策政以此為喻。〕其賊在於內，謹備其所憎，而禍在於所愛。」〔鮑本彪謂：王斗、魏牟及此三士，其言若出一口，所謂理義人心之所同然者歟？至於此章肆直而慈惠，尤可喜可愛。有國有家者，宜寘之座右。〕

秦攻魏取寧邑

秦攻魏，取寧邑，〔鮑本秦昭五十年拔寧，魏地邑，徐以為趙，非也。後志，朝歌有寧鄉。蓋秦圍邯鄲，魏信陵救之，秦怒，故解邯鄲而取寧。此九年。正曰：按秦紀，王齕取邯鄲，不拔，還奔汾，軍攻汾城。即從唐拔寧新中。寧新中更名安陽。正義云，今相州外城。年表止書「新中」，大事記因之。又書「韓、魏、楚救趙新中」。此策「秦攻魏，取寧邑」，非寧新中也。寧鄉在朝歌，屬魏，或如鮑所云。然以策文稱趙豹、平原君為母弟推之，知為惠文之世，而與孝成邯鄲圍後取寧新中事，不相涉也。秦昭王少，而魏冉為政，葉陽、涇陽貴。四十一年，冉免而二貴衰。趙惠文王元年，平原始封。二十七年，豹封平陽君，此策不稱豹封，則在其未封之前。按魏策「秦拔寧邑，魏冉曰」云云，此策正冉用事時也。鮑誤次於孝成之世，而不察母弟之云，何也？〕諸侯皆賀。趙王使往〔鮑本無「往」字。○〕賀，三反不得通。趙王憂之，謂左右曰：「以秦之強，得寧邑，以制齊、趙。諸侯皆賀，吾往賀而獨不得通，此必加兵我，為之奈何？」左右曰：「使者三往不得通者，必所使者非其人也。曰〔鮑本曰，猶有。〕諒毅者，辨士也，大王可試使之。」

諒毅親〔姚本一本無「親」字。〕受命而往。至秦，獻書秦王〔鮑本昭。〕曰：「大王廣地寧邑，諸侯皆賀，敝邑寡君亦竊嘉之，不敢寧居，使下臣奉其幣物三至王廷，而使不得通。使若無罪，願大王無絕其歡；若使〔鮑本「使」下有「者」字。○〕有罪，願得請之。」秦王使使者報曰：「吾所使趙國者，小大皆聽吾言，則受書幣。若不從吾言，則使者歸矣。」諒毅對曰：「下臣之來，固願承大國之意也，豈敢有難？大王若有以令之，請奉而西〔鮑本衍「西」字。補曰：疑「西」字訛或衍。〕行之，無所敢疑。」

於是秦王乃見使者，曰：「趙豹、平原君，數欺弄寡人。趙能殺此二人，則可。若不能殺，請今率諸侯受命邯鄲城下。」〔鮑本欲戰而言受命，謙辭也。〕諒毅曰：「趙豹、平原君，親寡君之〔札記今本脫「之」字。〕母弟也，猶大王之有葉陽、涇陽君也。〔鮑本史注，「葉陽」一作「華陽」。華陽，羋戎也。此言葉陽為主之母弟，則非戎矣。「葉」不可作「華」。補曰：葉陽，公子悝；涇陽，公子市。大事記謂范睢論四貴，王弟二人，曰高陵，曰涇陽，獨無所謂葉陽者。高陵或其別名。又按趙惠文王元年封公子勝為平原君，二十七年封趙豹為平陽君。魏公子傳稱勝為惠文王弟，而豹無紀，其為王弟，以策知之也。武靈王元年，陽文君趙豹相，彼又一趙豹歟？不然，則有舛誤也。大事記解題引此，而止云平原君親寡君之母弟，豈有所疑而則之歟？〕大王以孝治聞於天下，衣服使〔姚本劉本無「使」字。　鮑本衍「使」字。正曰：姚本「膳啗」下亦有「使」字。〕之便於體，膳啗使〔姚本劉本無「使」字。　鮑本無「使」字。○〕之嗛於口，〔鮑本啗，食也。膳之可食者。集韻，慊，愜也。補曰：嗛，口簞反，口有所啣也。烏獸頰貯食，通作慊。〕未嘗不分於葉陽、涇陽君。葉陽君、涇陽君之車馬衣服，無非大王之服御者。臣聞之：『有覆巢毀卵，而鳳皇不翔；刳胎焚夭，〔鮑本「夭」，「么」同，小兒。正曰：王制「不殀夭」注，殀，斷殺，少長曰夭。夭，烏老反。少，詩照反。又「毋殺胎夭」疏，胎，腹中未出者；夭，胎已出者。正曰：麟鳳兩語，史孔子世家「將西見趙簡子，聞竇鳴櫝、舜華之死」亦云。梅福書「䳒鵲遭害，則仁鳥增逝」，類此。〕而騏驎〔鮑本「騏驎」作「麒麟」。○〕不至。』今使臣受大王之令以還報，敝邑之君，畏懼不敢不行，無乃傷葉陽君、涇陽君之心乎？」

秦王曰：「諾。勿使從政。」諒毅曰：「敝邑之君，有母弟不能教誨，以惡大國，請黜之，勿使與政事，以稱大國。」秦王乃喜，受其弊〔鮑本「弊」作「幣」，無「其」字。○〕而厚遇之。〔鮑本彪謂：諒毅可謂有專對之材矣。觀其辭令，如見晉叔向、鄭子產相與周旋於一堂之上，而折論豹、勝之事，何甚似蕭同叔子也。毅其深於春秋者乎？是舉也，不辱君命，不失秦之心，與觸讋同傳可也。正曰：惠文王之世，趙勢尚強，秦雖屢奪趙地，而趙亦屢伐秦。閼與之敗，秦終不能逞志於趙。當時之臣，外則廉頗、趙奢為之禦侮，內則藺相如之徒，一璧之微，一鼓瑟之恥，為之死爭。今而告其使曰，「必殺而二母弟以聽命」，則雖垂亡之國，猶有所不受，而秦豈能必趙之從哉？特大言以虛喝之耳！諒毅之對，婉而不迫，稱譬當於人心。秦知其不可奪，故轉而言曰，「勿使從政」，其情亦窮矣。毅因而順其意，則未免失辭。使毅應之曰，「敝邑之君之有母弟而授之以政也，亦惟先王之故，以共衛社稷。大國馮恃其威，日尋于兵，是以二子大懼殄滅之及，以與寡君周旋。其獲戾于大國，則職此之由。忠而不貳，臣之職也。討貳勸忠，大國之義也。今將討二子之忠，而使之釋敝邑之政，其何以為勸？雖大國亦將有不利焉！臣不知所命」。以是告之，庶幾不失其對矣。蕭同叔子云云，此傳語。「所使」、「試使」、「王使」，「所使」、「今使」、「勿使」之「使」，如字。〕

趙使姚賈約韓魏

趙使姚賈約韓、魏，〔鮑本正曰：姚賈，說見秦策。此章時不可考。〕韓、魏以〔鮑本衍「以」字。〕友〔姚本劉作「反」。〕之。舉茅〔鮑本「舉茅」作「茅舉」。○　趙人。　札記今本「舉茅」作「茅舉」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕為姚賈謂趙王曰：「賈也，王之忠臣也。韓、魏欲得之，故友〔姚本劉作「反」。〕之，將使王逐之，而己因受之。今王逐之，是韓、魏之欲得，而王之忠臣有罪也。故王不如勿逐，以明王之賢，而折韓、魏招之。」〔姚本劉點此二字。曾作「之招」。　鮑本「招之」作「之招」。○〕

魏敗楚於陘山

魏敗楚於陘山，禽唐明。〔鮑本楚威十一年，魏敗我陘山，時武靈未立。懷二十八年，秦、齊、韓、魏攻楚，殺唐昧，此三十五年。「明」豈「昧」之訛邪？〕楚王懼，令昭應奉太子以委和於薛公。〔鮑本懷二十九年，使太子質於齊。〕主父欲敗之，乃結秦連楚、〔姚本曾去「楚」。〕宋之交，令仇郝〔鮑本「郝」作「赫」。○　下章同。補曰：即「赫」。〕相宋，樓緩相秦。楚王禽〔鮑本「禽」作「合」。○　補曰：字恐訛。　札記今本「禽」作「合」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕趙、宋，〔鮑本楚與二國合。正曰，無據。〕魏〔鮑本「魏」作「齊」。○〕之和卒敗。〔鮑本楚得二國之援，故不與齊和。正曰：「楚王禽」以下有缺誤。〕

秦召春平侯

秦召春平侯，〔鮑本及平都皆趙人。正曰：徐廣引年表云，太子從質秦歸。正義云，太子即春平君也。〕因留之。世〔鮑本「世」作「泄」。○　補曰：史作「泄」。　札記今本「世」作「泄」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：「世」、「泄」同字。韓非子云，「衛嗣君重如耳，愛世姬」。楊倞注荀子引作「泄姬」，可證也。鮑改誤。〕鈞〔鮑本秦人。〕為之謂〔姚本一作「請」。〕文信侯曰：「春平侯者，趙王之所甚愛也，而郎中甚妒之，故相與謀曰：『春平侯入秦，秦必留之。』故謀而入之秦。今君留之，是空絕趙，而郎中之計中也。故君不如遣春平侯而留平都侯。春平侯者言行於趙王，必厚割趙以事君，而贖平都侯。」文信侯曰：「善。」因與接意而遣之。〔鮑本趙記二年有。〕

趙太后新用事

趙太后〔鮑本惠文王威后。〕新用事，秦急攻之。趙氏求救於齊。齊曰：「必以長安〔鮑本長安，孝成母弟。補曰：索隱云，趙亦有長安，今地缺。按趙世家，封長安君以饒。正義云，即饒陽也。明長安是號。　札記今本「長」誤「趙」。〕君為質，兵乃出。」太后不肯，大臣強諫。太后明謂左右：「有復言令長安君為質者，老婦必唾其面。」

左師〔鮑本官名。〕觸讋〔姚本一本無「言」字。　鮑本補曰：史亦作「龍」。按說苑，「魯哀公問孔子，夏桀之臣，有左師觸龍者，諂諛不正」。人名或有同者。此當從「讋」以別之。　札記丕烈案：吳說非也，當作「龍」。古今人表中下云「左師觸龍」，即此。「言」字本下屬「願見」讀，誤合二字為一。史記云「觸龍言願見」，不誤。〕願見太后。太后〔鮑本「太后」二字不重。○　補曰：姚本復有「太后」字。史同。〕盛氣而揖〔鮑本補曰：史云「胥之入，徐趨而坐」，「胥」字當是。〕之。入〔札記丕烈案：「入」字句。〕而〔姚本一本無「而」字。〕徐趨，至而自謝，曰：「老臣病足，曾不能疾走，不得見久矣。竊自恕，〔鮑本久不見，宜得罪。今自寬，而求見。〕而〔鮑本無「而」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕恐太后玉體之有所郄〔鮑本「郄」，「郤」同。以己病足，因恐後不能前，亦自恕以及人也。〕也，故願望見太后。」太后〔鮑本「太后」二字不重。○　補曰：「望見太后」，姚本復有「太后」字。史同。〕曰：「老婦恃輦而行。」曰：「日食飲得無衰乎？」曰：「恃鬻〔姚本一本去「鬲」字。　鮑本「鬻」，「粥」同。〕耳。」曰：「老臣今者殊不欲食，乃自強步，日三四里，少益耆〔鮑本「耆」作「嗜」。○〕食，和於身也。」太后〔鮑本無「也太后」三字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕曰：「老婦不能。」太后之色少解。

左師公曰：「老臣賤息舒祺，〔鮑本息，其子。舒祺，名也。〕最少，不肖。而臣衰，竊愛憐之。願令得〔鮑本無「得」字。○　補曰：「願令」，一本「願得」。　札記丕烈案：史記作「願得」。〕補黑衣〔鮑本屍祝之服，所謂袨服。又蕭望之傳注，「朝時皆著皂衣」。正曰：袨服，韻書，好衣也。按晉輿服志，秦人以袀玄為祭服。鮑其誤以「袀」為「袨」乎？增韻，黑衣，戎服。左氏，均服振振。「均」即「袀」。以下文「衛王官」推之，戎服是也。〕之數，〔鮑本補曰：「數」，史作「缺」。〕以衛王官，〔鮑本「官」作「宮」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「宮」。〕沒〔鮑本沒者，沈溺之辭。補曰：「沒」，史作「昧」。〕死以聞。」太后曰：「敬諾。年幾何矣？」對曰：「十五歲矣。雖少，願及未填溝壑〔鮑本死則填壑。〕而託之。」太后曰：「丈夫亦愛憐其少子乎？」對曰：「甚於婦人。」太后笑〔鮑本無「笑」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕曰：「婦人異甚。」〔鮑本異於丈夫而有甚焉。〕對曰：「老臣竊以為媼〔鮑本媼，女老稱。后，太后女。補曰：一本標「媼」，一本作「太后」。「太后」稱「媼」非也。春秋後語並作「太后」。媼，烏老反。　札記丕烈案：吳說非也。史記並作「媼」。考高祖紀云，「母曰劉媼」。漢書孟康注引此，又云，禮樂志，地神曰「媼」。媼，母別名也。最為得之。小司馬云，「近有人云母溫氏」，此不達「媼」字義耳。其所云班固泗水亭長古碑，必出膺造。不然，固既云爾，何其撰漢書乃仍云「媼」也。〕之愛燕后賢於長安君。」曰：「君過矣，不若長安君之甚。」左師公曰：「父母之愛子，則為之計深遠。媼之送燕后也，持其踵為之泣，念悲其遠也，〔姚本劉作「而泣之甚」。悲念其遠也。　鮑本念且悲。〕亦哀之矣。已行，非弗思也，祭祀必祝之，祝〔札記今本「祝」誤「甚」。〕曰：『必勿使反。』〔鮑本失意於燕乃反爾。〕豈非計久長，有〔姚本曾作「為」。〕子孫相繼為王也哉？」太后曰：「然。」左師公曰：「今三世以前，至於趙之為趙，趙主〔鮑本「主」作「王」。○　札記丕烈案：史記作「主」。〕之子孫侯者，其繼有在者乎？」曰：「無有。」曰：「微〔鮑本微，猶非。〕獨趙，諸侯有在者乎？」曰：「老婦不聞也。」〔鮑本此下左師對。補曰：史此下有「曰」字。〕「此其近者禍及身，遠者及其子孫。豈人主之子孫〔鮑本「孫」作「侯」。○　補曰：一本作「孫」。　札記丕烈案：史記作「侯」。〕則必不善哉？位尊而無功，奉厚而無勞，而挾重器〔鮑本重器，謂名位金玉。正曰：「位」字上下文可考。〕多也。今媼尊長安君〔鮑本無「君」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕之位，而封之〔鮑本無「之」字。○　札記丕烈案：史記有。〕以膏腴之地，多予之重器，而不及今令有功於國。一旦山陵崩，長安君何以自託於趙？老臣以媼為長安君計短也，故以為其愛不若燕后。」太后曰：「諾。恣君之所使之。」於是為長安君約車百乘質於齊，齊兵乃出。

子義〔鮑本趙之賢士。〕聞之曰：「人主之子也，骨肉之親也，猶不能恃無功之尊，無勞之奉，而守金玉之重也，而況人臣乎？」〔鮑本趙記元年有。彪謂：觸讋、諒毅，皆以從容納說而取成功，與夫強諫於廷，怒罵於坐，髮上衝冠，自待必死者，力少而功倍矣。元帝謂張猛曰，「曉人不當如是邪」？二士有焉。補曰：程子釋易「納約自牖」曰，「左師觸讋因其明而導之，故其聽也如響」，謂張良招四皓輔太子亦然。愚謂二事同傳可也。燕策陳翠說太后章與觸讋類，亦可並觀。諒毅事不同，後亦失對，辨說見後。〕

秦使王翦攻趙

秦使王翦攻趙，趙使李牧、司馬尚禦〔鮑本原作「御」，又改作「禦」。○　補曰：「禦」通。詩「亦以禦冬」。〕之。李牧數破走秦軍，殺秦將桓齮。〔鮑本補曰：齮，音蟻。〕王翦惡之，乃多與趙王寵臣郭開等金，使為反間，曰：「李牧、司馬尚欲與秦反趙，以多取封於秦。」趙王疑之，使趙䓗〔鮑本「䓗」作「葱」。○　補曰：一本「葱」作「思」。注，一作「忩」。　札記丕烈案：世家作「忽」，列傳作「葱」。〕及顏冣〔鮑本史作「聚」。　札記今本「冣」誤「最」。丕烈案：史記世家、列傳，皆作「聚」。「聚」、「冣」同字也。〕代將，斬李牧，廢司馬尚。後三月，〔鮑本「三」作「五」。○　補曰：據司空馬云云，則當作「五」。　札記丕烈案：鮑改吳補皆誤也。列傳亦云「後三月」，不得專據秦策。〕王翦因急擊，大破趙，殺趙軍，〔鮑本補曰：史作「趙葱」。〕虜趙王遷及其將顏聚，遂滅趙。〔鮑本牧傳有。〕

Source Colophon

The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the Strategies of the Warring States (articles 戰國策 (士禮居叢書本)/趙/一, 戰國策 (士禮居叢書本)/趙/二, 戰國策 (士禮居叢書本)/趙/三, 戰國策 (士禮居叢書本)/趙/四, revisions of 7 October 2024 to 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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