Zhongshan Ce — the Strategies of Zhongshan, a single book
The Strategies of the Warring States (Zhanguo Ce) is Liu Xiang's Han-dynasty compilation, arranged by state, of the persuasions, stratagems, and anecdotes that Warring States wandering counselors used to move the courts of their age. Zhongshan was a small state, repeatedly threatened and finally destroyed by its larger neighbors, and its single book gathers a correspondingly compact set of episodes: Marquis Wen of Wei's early design to destroy it, turned aside by marrying a Zhao princess into its ruling house; the diplomat Zhang Deng's maneuvering between Qi, Zhao, and Wei to preserve Zhongshan's royal title when Qi moved to strip it away; the chancellor Sima Xi's long and repeated hold on power, including his engineering of a contest between two royal consorts, Lady Yin and Lady Jiang, by praising Lady Yin's beauty to the king of Zhao in order to frighten his own ruler into making her queen; the lord of Zhongshan's loss of his state after a single bowl of mutton broth failed to reach a resentful guest, and the two retainers who died for him anyway out of gratitude for a single pot of food given their starving father years before; and, in the book's closing pages, the debate between King Zhao of Qin and his general the Lord of Wu'an over whether to press the attack on Zhao in the aftermath of the great victory at Changping.
Each persuasion or anecdote stands under its own heading drawn from the episode it records; 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. The Ruler-Father (主父) is King Wuling of Zhao after he had ceded the throne to his son but kept command of the state's armies, a title kept here as the source gives it rather than resolved to his personal name.
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 Zhongshan (中山策)
- Marquis Wen of Wei Wished to Destroy Zhongshan (魏文侯欲殘中山)
- Xishou Set Up Five Kings (犀首立五王)
- Zhongshan Took the Royal Title with Yan and Zhao (中山與燕趙為王)
- Sima Xi Was Sent to Zhao (司馬憙使趙)
- Sima Xi Was Three Times Chancellor of Zhongshan (司馬憙三相中山)
- Lady Yin and Lady Jiang Contended to Be Queen (陰姬與江姬爭為后)
- The Ruler-Father Wished to Attack Zhongshan (主父欲伐中山)
- The Lord of Zhongshan Feasted the Officers of the Capital (中山君饗都士)
- Yue Yang Was a General of Wei (樂羊為魏將)
- King Zhao Had Rested the People and Repaired His Weapons (昭王既息民繕兵)
Translation
Strategies of Zhongshan (中山策)
Marquis Wen of Wei Wished to Destroy Zhongshan (魏文侯欲殘中山)
Marquis Wen of Wei (魏文侯) wished to destroy Zhongshan (中山). Chang Zhuangtan (常莊談) said to Xiangzi of Zhao (趙襄子): "If Wei annexes Zhongshan, there will be no Zhao. Why do you not ask for Princess Qing (公子傾) as your principal wife, and thereupon enfeoff her in Zhongshan? Then Zhongshan will stand again."
Xishou Set Up Five Kings (犀首立五王)
Xishou (犀首) set up five kings, and Zhongshan hung back to the last. Qi said to Zhao and Wei: "I am ashamed to be a king alongside Zhongshan. I wish to join with your great states in attacking it and abolishing its kingship."
Zhongshan heard of this and was greatly afraid. Its lord summoned Zhang Deng (張登) and told him: "I am about to take the royal title. Qi has said to Zhao and Wei that it is ashamed to be a king alongside me, and it means to attack me. I fear the loss of my state; the royal title is not what I am after. None but you can save me."
Deng replied: "Let my lord give me many carriages and heavy gifts, and I beg leave to see Tian Ying (田嬰)."
The lord of Zhongshan sent him to Qi. He had audience with Master Ying and said: "Your servant hears that you wish to abolish the kingship of Zhongshan, and that you are about to join Zhao and Wei in attacking it. This is a mistake. Zhongshan is small; if three states attack it, then even were more than its kingship taken away, it would still simply obey. Moreover Zhongshan in its fear will give up its kingship for the sake of Zhao and Wei and set itself to attach to them. That is you driving sheep for Zhao and Wei, and it is no profit to Qi. How much better that Zhongshan give up its kingship and serve Qi!"
Tian Ying said: "How is it to be done?"
Zhang Deng said: "Let you now summon Zhongshan, meet with its lord and grant him the royal title. Zhongshan will surely be delighted and will break with Zhao and Wei. Zhao and Wei will be angry and will attack Zhongshan; and Zhongshan, hard pressed, will for your sake hold its own kingship a burden. Then Zhongshan will be afraid, and for your sake will abolish its kingship and serve Qi. What it dreads is the loss of its state; so it is you who will have abolished its kingship while its state still stands — better than driving sheep for Zhao and Wei."
Tian Ying said: "Agreed."
Zhang Chou (張丑) said: "It will not do. Your servant has heard that those who want the same thing hate one another, and those who fear the same thing draw close. Now the five states are joining one another in taking the royal title, and the state that backs on the sea has no part in it. Here their desire is all in being kings, while their fear lies in the sea-backed state. If you now summon Zhongshan, meet with its lord and grant him the royal title, that is to take from the five states and add to the sea-backed state. To draw Zhongshan over and shut out the four states will chill the hearts of the four states. They will be first to grant Zhongshan the royal title and will deliberately make friends with it; so you will preside over Zhongshan and lose the four states. And as for the sort of man Zhang Deng is, he has long been skilled at advancing the lord of Zhongshan by small stratagems. He is hard to trust for your profit."
Tian Ying did not listen. He duly summoned the lord of Zhongshan and granted him the royal title.
Zhang Deng thereupon said to Zhao and Wei: "Qi wishes to attack Hedong. How do I know it? Qi's shame at being a king alongside Zhongshan is extreme; yet now it summons Zhongshan, meets with its lord and grants him the royal title. This is because it means to use Zhongshan's troops. How much better for your great states to grant him the royal title first, and so stop that meeting!"
Zhao and Wei consented, and duly granted Zhongshan the royal title and made friends with it. Zhongshan duly broke with Qi and followed Zhao and Wei.
Zhongshan Took the Royal Title with Yan and Zhao (中山與燕趙為王)
Zhongshan took the royal title together with Yan and Zhao. Qi closed its passes and would not let Zhongshan's envoys through, saying: "We are a state of ten thousand chariots; Zhongshan is a state of a thousand chariots. How should it match titles with us?" Qi wished to cede Pingyi (平邑) as a bribe to Yan and Zhao and to send out troops to attack Zhongshan.
The Lord of Lanzhu (藍諸君) was troubled by it. Zhang Deng said to the Lord of Lanzhu: "What troubles you about Qi?"
The Lord of Lanzhu said: "Qi is strong, a state of ten thousand chariots. It is ashamed to share a title with Zhongshan, and does not shrink from ceding land to bribe Yan and Zhao and sending out troops to attack Zhongshan. Yan and Zhao love their standing and covet land, and I fear they will not hold by us. At the worst it means danger to the state; short of that, the abolishing of our kingship. How should I not be troubled?"
Zhang Deng said: "Suppose I make Yan and Zhao firmly support Zhongshan and complete its kingship, so that the matter is settled. Would you wish that?"
The Lord of Lanzhu said: "That is what I wish."
He said: "Let me take you for the king of Qi, and let Deng try his persuasion on you. If it will serve, then let us carry it out."
The Lord of Lanzhu said: "I should like to hear the persuasion."
Deng said: "The reason your majesty does not shrink from ceding land to bribe Yan and Zhao and sending out troops to attack Zhongshan is in truth that you wish to abolish Zhongshan's kingship. — Your majesty says: 'It is so.' — Then what your majesty is doing is costly and dangerous. To cede land as a bribe to Yan and Zhao is to strengthen your enemies; to send out troops against Zhongshan is to be the first to open hostilities. If your majesty does these two things, what you seek of Zhongshan is still not certainly got. If your majesty uses your servant's method, your land will not be diminished and your troops will not be used, and Zhongshan's kingship can be abolished. Your majesty will surely say: 'What is your method?'"
The Lord of Lanzhu said: "Then what is your method?"
Zhang Deng said: "Your majesty sends out an envoy of weight to tell the lord of Zhongshan: 'The reason I closed my passes and would not let envoys through is that Zhongshan alone took the royal title with Yan and Zhao, and I had no part in the hearing of it; and that is why I have shut it out. If your majesty will but lift your foot and come to see me, I beg to support you as well.' Zhongshan, fearing that Yan and Zhao will not hold by it, and hearing that Qi's words now say 'I will support your majesty at once,' will surely slip away from Yan and Zhao and come to meet with your majesty. When Yan and Zhao hear of it they will be angry and will break with Zhongshan; and your majesty will break with it too. Then Zhongshan is alone; and being alone, how can it fail to be stripped of its kingship? — Persuading the king of Qi in this way, would the king of Qi listen?"
The Lord of Lanzhu said: "He would certainly listen. But this is the way to abolish our kingship. Where in it is the preserving of it?"
Zhang Deng said: "This is the very thing by which our king is preserved. When Qi comes with these words, we take the words and report them to Yan and Zhao and do not go; and so we pile up our good faith with Yan and Zhao. Yan and Zhao will surely say: 'Qi's wish to cede Pingyi as a bribe to us was not a wish to abolish Zhongshan's kingship; it was merely to part us from Zhongshan and make itself Zhongshan's friend.' Then though there were a hundred Pingyis, Yan and Zhao would surely not accept them."
The Lord of Lanzhu said: "Good."
They sent Zhang Deng, and Qi duly came with those very words. Zhongshan accordingly reported them to Yan and Zhao and did not go; and Yan and Zhao duly both supported Zhongshan and let its lord be king. The matter was thus settled.
Sima Xi Was Sent to Zhao (司馬憙使趙)
Sima Xi (司馬憙) was sent to Zhao, and there sought for himself the chancellorship of Zhongshan. Gongsun Hong (公孫弘) secretly learned of it. The lord of Zhongshan went out; Sima Xi drove, and Gongsun Hong rode third on the chariot.
Hong said: "A man who, being a subject, calls in the weight of a great state to seek the chancellorship for himself — what would my lord say to that?"
The lord said: "I would eat his flesh and share none of it out."
Sima Xi bowed his head against the chariot rail and said: "Your servant knows that death has come upon him."
The lord said: "Why?"
"Your servant stands charged with it."
The lord said: "Drive on. I understand."
Not long after, an envoy from Zhao came seeking the chancellorship for Sima Xi. The lord of Zhongshan greatly suspected Gongsun Hong, and Gongsun Hong fled the state.
Sima Xi Was Three Times Chancellor of Zhongshan (司馬憙三相中山)
Sima Xi was three times chancellor of Zhongshan, and Yin Jian (陰簡) was hostile to him. Tian Jian (田簡) said to Sima Xi: "The envoy of Zhao has come, and his ear is close at hand. Might you not speak of Yin Jian's beauty? Zhao will surely ask for her. If our lord gives her up, then you have no trouble within the palace. If our lord will not give her to Zhao, then you may urge our lord to set her up as his principal wife. Yin Jian's gratitude to you will then have no end."
So Zhao was duly brought to ask for her, and the lord would not give her. Sima Xi said: "If my lord will not give her to Zhao, the king of Zhao will surely be greatly angered; and if he is greatly angered, my lord will surely be in danger. In that case, set her up as your wife; for no man has ever asked for another's wife, failed to get her, and borne a grudge for it."
Tian Jian said of himself that in taking hold of the envoy he had been able to act for Sima Xi, able to act for Yin Jian, and able to make Zhao ask no more for her.
Lady Yin and Lady Jiang Contended to Be Queen (陰姬與江姬爭為后)
Lady Yin and Lady Jiang contended to be queen. Sima Xi said to the father of Lady Yin: "If the business succeeds, you will hold land and have a people for your children; if it fails, I fear you will not keep your own person. If you wish it to succeed, why do you not come and see your servant?"
The father of Lady Yin bowed his head to the ground and said: "It is truly as you say. But how can such a business be spoken of beforehand?"
Sima Xi thereupon submitted a memorial to the king of Zhongshan, saying: "Your servant has heard how Zhao may be weakened and Zhongshan strengthened."
The king of Zhongshan was pleased and gave him audience, saying: "I should like to hear this argument for weakening Zhao and strengthening Zhongshan."
Sima Xi said: "Your servant would go to Zhao, to observe the hazards and barriers of its terrain, the poverty or wealth of its people, the worth or unworthiness of its ruler and ministers, and to weigh the enemy as our resource. It cannot be set out beforehand."
The king of Zhongshan sent him.
He saw the king of Zhao and said: "Your servant has heard that Zhao is the finest in the world at making music, and the place from which tall and lovely women come. Now, having come to your border and entered your cities and towns, and having observed the songs and customs of the people, their faces and their complexions, I found none of any great beauty at all. Your servant has travelled much, and has gone round everywhere without exception, and I have never seen anyone like Lady Yin of Zhongshan. One who did not know her would simply take her for a spirit; strain as one may in speech, words cannot reach her. Her face and complexion are already beyond all others. And as for her brows and eyes, the tip and bridge of her nose, her cheekbones and the line of her brow, the horn-ridge of her head and the crescent moon of her forehead — she is a queen for an emperor or a king, not a consort for a feudal lord."
The king of Zhao's mind was moved, and in great delight he said: "I should like to ask for her. What of it?"
Sima Xi said: "Your servant privately saw her beauty and his mouth could not help speaking of it, that is all. As for wishing to ask for her, that is not a thing your servant dares to discuss. I beg your majesty to let nothing of this out."
Sima Xi took his leave and went home to report to the king of Zhongshan: "The king of Zhao is no worthy king. He does not love the Way and virtue, but loves music and women; he does not love benevolence and righteousness, but loves daring and force. Your servant has heard that he means to ask for the one called Lady Yin."
The king of Zhongshan changed color and was displeased. Sima Xi said: "Zhao is a strong state, and that it will ask for her is certain. If your majesty does not give her, the altars of soil and grain are in danger; if you give her, you become the laughing-stock of the feudal lords."
The king of Zhongshan said: "What then is to be done?"
Sima Xi said: "Let your majesty set her up as queen, and so cut off the design of the king of Zhao. It has never been in this world that a man asked for another's queen. Though he wished to ask for her, the neighboring states would not allow it."
The king of Zhongshan thereupon set her up as queen, and the king of Zhao said nothing of asking for her.
The Ruler-Father Wished to Attack Zhongshan (主父欲伐中山)
The Ruler-Father (主父) wished to attack Zhongshan, and sent Li Ci (李疵) to observe it. Li Ci said: "It can be attacked. If my lord does not strike, I fear he will be behind the rest of the world."
The Ruler-Father said: "On what ground?"
He answered: "The lord of Zhongshan has tilted his canopy and shared his carriage, and has paid court to officers of poor lanes and narrow alleys, to the number of seventy households."
The Ruler-Father said: "Then he is a worthy ruler. How can he be attacked?"
Li Ci said: "Not so. When officers are raised up, the people strive after reputation and do not attend to the root; when the worthy are given court honor, ploughmen grow idle and fighting men grow soft. That a state like this should not perish has never yet happened."
The Lord of Zhongshan Feasted the Officers of the Capital (中山君饗都士)
The lord of Zhongshan feasted the officers of the capital, and the grandee Sima Ziqi (司馬子期) was among them. The mutton broth did not go round to all; and Sima Ziqi in anger fled to Chu, persuaded the king of Chu to attack Zhongshan, and the lord of Zhongshan fled his state.
There were two men who carried halberds and followed behind him. The lord of Zhongshan turned and said to the two: "What are you doing here?"
The two answered: "Your servants had a father who once was starving and near death, and my lord sent down a pot of cooked food and fed him with it. When our father was about to die he said: 'If Zhongshan has trouble, you must die for it.' Therefore we have come to die for our lord."
The lord of Zhongshan sighed deeply, looked up, and lamented: "Giving is not measured by much or little, but by whether it comes in a man's extremity; resentment is not measured by deep or shallow, but by whether it wounds the heart. With one cup of mutton broth I lost my state; with one pot of cooked food I have gained two officers."
Yue Yang Was a General of Wei (樂羊為魏將)
Yue Yang (樂羊) was a general of Wei and attacked Zhongshan. His son was at that time in Zhongshan, and the lord of Zhongshan boiled him, made a broth of him, and sent it to Yue Yang. Yue Yang ate it. Ancient and modern times alike have spoken of it thus: Yue Yang ate his son to make himself trusted, and openly wronged the bond of a father in order to seek a rule for others.
King Zhao Had Rested the People and Repaired His Weapons (昭王既息民繕兵)
King Zhao, having rested the people and repaired his weapons, wished again to attack Zhao. The Lord of Wu'an (武安君) said: "It cannot be done."
The king said: "In a former year the state was empty and the people hungry, and you did not weigh the strength of the hundred families, but asked for more provisions for the army in order to destroy Zhao. Now I have rested the people in order to nourish my officers, and have stored up grain and food, and the pay of the three armies is double what it was before; and yet you say, 'It cannot be done.' What is your reason?"
The Lord of Wu'an said: "In the affair at Changping (長平) the army of Qin had a great victory and the army of Zhao was greatly broken. The men of Qin rejoiced; the men of Zhao were afraid. Qin's dead were richly buried, its wounded richly tended, its weary feasted one another; in drinking and eating and setting out food they wasted their wealth. Zhao's dead could not be gathered in, its wounded could not be treated; they wept and mourned together, joined their strength and shared one grief, ploughed their fields and worked hard, and so brought their wealth to life. Now if your majesty sends out an army, though it be double the former one, I reckon Zhao's defenses will be tenfold. Since Changping, ruler and ministers in Zhao have been anxious and afraid; they come early to court and withdraw late, they use humble words and heavy gifts, they send out daughters in marriage on all four sides, binding kinship with Yan and Wei and joining friendship with Qi and Chu. They pile up their plans and unite their hearts, and make readiness against Qin their whole business. Within, their state is solid; without, their alliances are complete. At the present time Zhao cannot be attacked."
The king said: "I have already raised the army." He then sent Wang Ling (王陵), grandee of the five camps, to command an attack on Zhao. Ling fought without advantage and lost five camps. The king wished to send the Lord of Wu'an, but the Lord of Wu'an pleaded illness and would not go.
The king then sent the Marquis of Ying (應侯) to go and see the Lord of Wu'an and reproach him, saying: "Chu is a land five thousand li square, with a million men bearing halberds. Formerly you led a host of some tens of thousands into Chu, took Yan and Ying, burned their ancestral temples, and reached Jingling in the east. The men of Chu were struck with terror, moved eastward, and did not dare face west. Han and Wei led out their troops together in great numbers; what you commanded was not half of theirs, yet you fought them at Yique (伊闕), greatly broke the armies of the two states, made blood flow until it floated the great shields, and took two hundred and forty thousand heads. For this reason Han and Wei to this day call themselves the eastern screen. This is your achievement, and there is no one in the world who has not heard of it. Now of the soldiers of Zhao, seven or eight in ten have already died at Changping; their state is empty and weak. Therefore I have raised a great army, in numbers double the host of the state of Zhao, and I wish to have you command it, being resolved to destroy them. You have struck the many with the few before now and taken victory as if by divine power; how much more when the strong strikes the weak, and the many strike the few!"
The Lord of Wu'an said: "At that time the king of Chu relied on the greatness of his state and did not attend to its government. His many ministers were jealous of one another over merit, flatterers held affairs in their hands, good ministers were driven off and kept at a distance, the hearts of the hundred families were estranged, and the walls and moats were not kept up. Having neither good ministers nor defenses, Chu was therefore such that Qi could lead troops deep in, leaving many of their cities and towns behind him, breaking up the bridges and burning the boats so that the men should be single-minded, and plundering the open country to make the army's food enough. At that time the officers and men in the Qin ranks took the camp for their home and their commanders for father and mother; without covenant they were close, without plotting they trusted one another, they were of one heart in a shared work, and would die without turning their heels. The men of Chu were fighting on their own ground, and every one of them looked back to his own house; each had a scattered heart, and none had the will to fight. That is why we could achieve something.
"In the battle at Yique, Han stood isolated and looked to Wei, not wishing to be first to use its own host, while Wei relied on Han's sharpness and wished to push Han forward as the point. The two armies each sought their own advantage and their strength was not one; therefore your servant was able to set out a feint force to hold the Han line, then to concentrate his army and mass his best troops and strike Wei where it did not look for it. Once the Wei army was beaten, the Han army broke up of itself; we rode the victory and pursued the routed, and for this reason we could establish merit. All of it was reckoning of advantage and of the shape of the ground, the natural principle of things. What was divine in it?
"Now Qin broke the army of Zhao at Changping, and did not go on to seize the moment and ride their terror to destroy them; we took fright and let them go, so that they were able to plough and sow and increase their stores, to rear the orphaned and bring up the young and increase their numbers, to repair their arms and armor and increase their strength, to raise their walls and deepen their moats and increase their firmness. Their ruler bends his dignity to go below his ministers, and the ministers give their whole bodies to go below the men who will die for them. Down to such as the Lord of Pingyuan (平原君), all have their wives and concubines sew and mend among the ranks. Subject and man are of one heart, high and low of one strength, as in Goujian's time of hardship at Kuaiji. To attack them with our joined force — Zhao will surely hold fast. Challenge their army to battle: they will surely not come out. Besiege their capital: it surely cannot be overcome. Attack their walled cities in line: they surely cannot be taken. Plunder their open country: there will surely be nothing to get. The troops will go out and gain nothing, the feudal lords will conceive designs, and rescue from outside will certainly come. Your servant sees the harm in it and has not seen the profit. And I am ill besides, and cannot go."
The Marquis of Ying withdrew in shame and reported his words to the king. The king said: "Without Bai Qi (白起), am I unable to destroy Zhao?" He raised still more troops and sent Wang He (王齕) in place of Wang Ling to attack Zhao. They besieged Handan (邯鄲) eight or nine months; the dead and wounded were many, and it did not fall. The king of Zhao sent out light picked troops to harry their rear, and Qin repeatedly had the worse of it.
The Lord of Wu'an said: "They did not listen to your servant's plan; and now, what has come of it?"
The king heard of this and was angry, and thereupon went to see the Lord of Wu'an and pressed him to rise, saying: "Though you are ill, force yourself for my sake and command lying down. If there is success, it is what I desire, and I shall lay still greater honor upon you. If you will not go, I shall bear you a grudge."
The Lord of Wu'an bowed his head to the ground and said: "Your servant knows that if he goes, then even without success he will be spared punishment, and that if he does not go, then even without guilt he will not be spared execution. Yet I only wish that your great majesty would look into your servant's foolish plan: release Zhao, nourish the people, and so await the changes among the feudal lords. Soothe those that are afraid, punish those that are arrogant, put to death the ones without the Way, and so give commands to the feudal lords: the world can be settled. Why must Zhao be first? This is what is called bending to one subject and winning the world. If your great majesty does not examine your servant's foolish plan, but is resolved to gratify his heart upon Zhao and to bring your servant to punishment for it, this too is what is called winning over one subject and bending to the world. Which is greater — the sternness of prevailing over a single subject, or the majesty of prevailing over the world? Your servant has heard that an enlightened ruler loves his state and a loyal minister loves his name. A broken state cannot be made whole again; dead soldiers cannot live again. Your servant would rather bow to a heavy punishment and die than bear to be the general of a shamed army. I beg your great majesty to consider it."
The king did not answer, and went away.
Colophon
This file was prepared for the Chinese shelf of the Good Works Library, translated independently from the classical Chinese text printed below. Each persuasion and anecdote keeps its own heading as the 士禮居叢書 text divides it, and speeches are rendered as continuous direct discourse rather than broken into summary. Only the main text is translated; the interlinear commentary of Bao Biao and Yao Hong, together with the collation notes set in 〔 〕, are printed in the source layer but not rendered into English.
J. I. Crump's Chan-kuo Ts'e (1970; revised 1996) is a complete published English translation of the Zhanguo Ce and is named here as a control-in-existence; it was not fetched or consulted in preparing this file, and no claim of firstness is made for this translation.
A note on one recurring figure: the general Yue Yang, who ate a broth made of his own son's flesh rather than break off his siege of Zhongshan, appears in this book as he does in the Strategies of Wei, since his campaign against Zhongshan was fought in Wei's service; both books keep the anecdote as the source states it, without softening its judgment of him.
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 中山策
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.
中山策
〔鮑本中山 漢為國，有盧奴、北平、北新城、唐、深澤、苦陘、安國、曲逆、望都、新市。補曰：索隱云，中山，故鮮虞國，姬姓也。路史，杜佑云，常山靈壽，中山國，有故城，城中有山，故號中山。漢中山王靖始移居盧奴。大事記，威烈王十二年，中山武公初立。又按左傳，昭公十二年，晉荀吳假道於鮮虞，滅肥。是冬，晉復伐鮮虞。杜預云，鮮虞，白狄別種，在中山新市縣。中山名始見定公四年。晉合諸侯召陵，謀為蔡伐楚，荀寅曰，諸侯方貳，中山不服，無損於楚，而失中山，不如辭蔡侯。則是時勢已漸強，能為晉之輕重矣。史趙世家是年書中山武公初立。意者其國益強，遂建國備諸侯之制，與中夏伉歟？〕
魏文侯欲殘中山
魏文侯〔姚本文侯，魏桓子之孫也。〕欲殘〔姚本殘，滅之也。〕中山。常莊談〔姚本襄子臣也。 鮑本趙人。〕謂趙襄子〔鮑本「襄」作「桓」。○ 正曰：按大事記，威烈王元年，趙襄子卒，以兄伯魯之孫獻子浣為後。襄子之弟桓子逐浣自立。二年，桓子卒，獻子復位。魏桓子卒，子斯立，亦在威烈王元年。十七年獻子卒，子籍立，是年文侯使樂羊伐中山，克之。此策云文侯欲殘中山，必在前，恐是獻子之時，桓子止下年，未可定為其時也。〕曰：「魏并中山，必無趙矣。〔姚本并，兼也。兼有中山，必復以次取趙。〕公何不請公子傾以為正妻，因封之中山，是中山復立也。」〔姚本公子傾，魏君之女，封之於中山以為邑，是則中山不殘也。故云「中山復立」，猶存也。〕
犀首立五王
犀首立五王，〔姚本立五國使稱王，齊、趙、魏、燕、中山也。 鮑本秦、韓、燕、宋、中山也。楚，春秋時王。齊宣、魏惠，顯王三十五年王。趙武靈獨不王。其後秦惠十二年，韓宣惠、燕易王王。明年，秦惠始王。秦惠改元之七年，宋偃始王。故武靈八年書五國相王，即秦七年也。正曰：大事記，周顯王四十六年，韓、燕、中山皆稱王，趙獨稱君，其後亦稱王。解題按，戰國策犀首立五王，高氏以為齊、趙、魏、燕、中山，鮑氏以為秦、韓、燕、宋、中山，二家之說皆非也。齊、魏王已久，秦之王出於張儀，宋、中山俱小國。使宋是時稱王，齊何為獨怒中山？況偃之稱王，又在慎靚之三年乎？然則犀首所立五王，其可考者，韓、燕、趙、中山，其一則不可考也。趙武靈王初稱君，世家十一年書王召公子職於韓，則是時已稱王矣。七國惟楚僭王，遠在春秋之世。其餘六國，魏最先，趙最後。又顯王三十五年，齊宣王、魏惠王與諸侯會于徐州以相王。解題云齊、魏之王，以國策考之，蓋在魏拔邯鄲之歲，顯王十六年。而秦紀今年又書齊、魏為王，未知孰是？然策所載，似得其實。蓋魏以邯鄲之勝，齊以桂陵之勝，各僭稱王。若今歲魏方衰弱，齊亦未有大功，何為驟稱王乎？今年書相王者，齊、魏僭王已久，至是共會諸侯，欲其皆王，以同己之僭也。秦紀所書，或者齊、魏前此稱王於其國，至此名號始通於諸侯乎？又顯王四十四年，秦初稱王，解題云，張儀之請也。秦紀書魏君稱王，衍一「魏」字。愚按，趙世家武靈王十年，五國相王，趙獨否曰，無其實，敢處其名乎？令國人謂己曰君。十一年始云王召公子職也。然則云五國相王者，謂五國皆稱王，非謂在此年也。鮑誤。〕而中山後持。〔姚本持中山小，故後立之。 鮑本持，猶疑也，立之後而復疑。〕齊謂趙、魏曰：「寡人羞與中山並為王，願與大國伐之，以廢其王。」中山聞之，大恐。召張登〔姚本張登，中山臣也。〕而告之曰：「寡人且王，齊謂趙、魏曰，羞與寡人並為王，而欲伐寡人。恐亡其國，不在索王。〔鮑本今所謀者救亡爾，不求為王。〕非子莫能吾救。」登對曰：「君為臣多車重幣，臣請見田嬰。」中山之君遣之齊。見嬰子曰：「臣聞君欲廢中山之王，將與趙、魏伐之，過矣。以中山之小，而三國伐之，中山雖益廢王，猶且聽也。〔姚本益，大也。猶，尚也。雖大，廢之，尚且聽命，不敢貳也。 鮑本益，猶甚也，言事有甚於此者。〕且中山恐，必為趙、魏廢其王而務附焉。〔姚本務附，親也。必為趙、魏不敢稱王，而親附趙、魏以自昵也。 鮑本附趙、魏也。主廢者齊，故不附之。〕是君為趙、魏驅羊也，〔姚本言君以趙、魏伐中山，中山恐亡，必受命於趙、魏，是君為趙、魏驅羊，而使得食之。〕非齊之利也。豈若中山廢其王而事齊哉？」
田嬰曰：「柰何？」張登曰：「今君召中山，與之遇而許之王，中山必喜而絕趙、魏。趙、魏怒而攻中山，中山急而為君難其王，〔鮑本難，則所謂「羞與為王」。〕則中山必恐，為君廢王事齊。〔鮑本不王中山，齊志也。今為廢之，所以事齊。〕彼患亡其國，是君廢其王而亡〔鮑本「亡」作「立」。○〕其國，賢於為趙、魏驅羊也。」田嬰曰：「諾。」張丑曰：「不可。臣聞之，同欲者相憎，同憂者相親。今五國相與王也，負海不與焉。〔姚本負海，齊也。五國之中，齊不欲與之同王也。 鮑本負海，齊也，先已王。補曰：高註「齊不欲與之同王」，則「與」如字。〕此是欲皆在為王。而憂在負海。〔鮑本憂齊廢之。〕今召中山，與之遇而許之王，是奪五〔鮑本「五」作「四」。○ 下同。正曰：一本下三處作「四」，姚同。疑此有誤。〕國而益負海也。〔鮑本中山與四國同欲，今與齊遇，是奪彼而益我也。〕致中山而塞四國，四國寒心。必先與之王而故親之，是君臨中山而失四國也。且張登之為人也，善以微計薦中山之君久矣，〔姚本薦，進也。張登善以微計進其君也。〕難信以為利。」〔姚本不可信其言以為己利也。〕
田嬰不聽。〔姚本不聽張丑之言也。〕果召中山君而許之王。張登因謂趙、魏曰：「齊欲伐河東。〔鮑本河東，魏地。〕何以知之？齊羞與中山之〔鮑本「之」作「並」。○〕為王甚矣，今召中山，與之遇而許之王，是欲用其兵也。豈若令大國先與之王，以止其遇哉？」趙、魏許諾，果與中山王而親之。中山果絕齊而從趙、魏。
中山與燕趙為王
中山與燕、趙為王，齊閉關不通中山之使，其言曰：「我萬乘之國也，中山千〔鮑本「千」作「百」。○ 補曰：一本作「千」。〕乘之國也，何侔〔姚本侔，等。〕名於我？」欲割平邑〔姚本平邑，燕邑。 鮑本屬代郡。正曰：正義引括地志，平邑故城在魏州昌樂縣東北。見趙世家。〕以賂燕、趙，出兵以攻中山。
藍諸君〔鮑本中山相也。補曰：索隱云，戰國策「望諸」作「藍諸」。愚按，燕策，「望諸相中山」，恐即此人，與樂毅同號者。索隱指為毅，則誤矣。〕患之。張登謂藍諸君曰：「公何患於齊？」藍諸君曰：「齊強，萬乘之國，恥與中山侔名，不憚割地以賂燕、趙，出兵以攻中山。燕、趙好位〔姚本一作「倍」。曾作「位」。 鮑本「位」作「倍」。○ 倍，謂背約。〕而貪地，吾恐其不吾據也。大者危國，次者廢王，柰何吾弗患也？」張登曰：「請令燕、趙固〔鮑本固，言輔之堅。〕輔中山而成其王，事遂定。公欲之乎？」藍諸君曰：「此所欲也。」曰：「請以公為齊王〔鮑本閔。〕而登試說公。可，乃行之。」藍諸君曰：「願聞其說。」
登曰：「王之所以不憚割地以賂燕、趙，出兵以攻中山者，其實欲廢中山之王也。王曰：『然。』然則王之為費且危。夫割地以賂燕、趙，是強敵也；出兵以攻中山，首〔姚本首，始也。 鮑本首為攻伐之難。〕難也。王行二者，所求中山未必得。王如用臣之道，地不虧而兵不用，中山可廢也。王必曰：『子之道柰何？』」藍諸君曰：「然則子之道柰何？」張登曰：「王發重使，使告中山君曰：『寡人所以閉關不通使者，為中山之獨與燕、趙為王，而寡人不與聞焉，〔鮑本此王此君皆中山。正曰：「王發重使」之王，指齊王。〕是以隘〔鮑本隘，亦不通也。補曰：隘，當讀作「阨」。〕之。王苟舉趾〔鮑本「趾」上補「玉」字。○〕以見寡人，請亦佐君。』中山恐燕、趙之不己據也，今齊之辭云『即佐王』，中山必遁燕、趙，與王相見。〔鮑本此并齊王。補曰：「王苟舉趾」與「即佐王」之王，指中山王。〕燕、趙聞之，怒絕之，〔姚本絕中山也。 鮑本「怒」上有「必」字。○〕王亦絕之，是中山孤，孤何得無廢。以此說齊王，齊王聽乎？」藍諸君曰︰「是則必聽矣，此所以廢之，何在其所存之矣。」〔姚本言以此說齊，齊必從。然適足廢其王耳，何所以存之利。 鮑本「所」下有「以」字。○ 札記今本「所」下有「以」字。〕張登曰：「此王〔鮑本此王，中山。〕所以存者也。齊以是辭來，因言告燕、趙而無往，〔鮑本以齊王言告之，而不往齊。〕以積厚於燕、趙。燕、趙必曰：『齊之欲割平邑以賂我者，非欲廢中山之王也；徒欲以離我於中山，而己親之也。』雖百平邑，燕、趙必不受也。」藍諸君曰：「善。」
遣張登往，果以是辭來。中山因告燕、趙而不往，燕、趙果俱輔中山而使其王。事遂定。〔鮑本彪謂：張登億則屢中，言之必可行者也。雖其用智有捭闔風氣，而文無害，亦狡獪可喜，非君子之所排也。正曰：捭闔狡獪，豈非君子之所排者？因其文之可喜，而謂其術之無害，悖矣！〕
司馬憙使趙
司馬憙使趙，為己求相中山。〔姚本憙，中山臣也。使於趙為之求相於中山也。鮑本「憙」作「喜」。○ 札記丕烈案：「憙」、「喜」同字。吳氏補引徐廣注史記及鄒陽書作「喜」字也。〕公孫弘陰知之。〔姚本知其因趙求為相也。〕中山君出，司馬憙御，公孫弘參乘。弘曰：「為人臣，招大國之威，以為己求相，於君何如？」君曰：「吾食其肉，不以分人。」司馬憙頓首於軾曰：「臣自知死至矣！」君曰：「何也？」「臣〔鮑本「臣」上補「曰」字。○ 補曰：恐缺「曰」字。〕抵罪。」〔姚本抵，當也。〕君曰：「行，吾知之矣。」〔鮑本行，使之行車。二人雅不相善，弘無故云然，似欲中喜者，故知。〕居頃之，趙使來，為司馬憙求相。中山君大疑公孫弘，公孫弘走出。〔鮑本補曰：太史公自序，司馬氏其在衛者，相中山。徐廣云，名喜。鄒陽書，司馬喜臏於宋而相中山。按戰國有兩公孫弘，一在齊，為孟嘗君見秦昭王，一即此人。與漢平津為三。韓子云，公孫弘斷髮而為越王騎，又一人也。〕
司馬憙三相中山
司馬憙三相中山，陰簡難之。〔姚本陰簡，中山君美人也。難，惡也。 鮑本陰簡，姬名也。難，謂忌之。〕田簡謂司馬憙曰：「趙使者來屬耳，〔鮑本霍光傳注，屬，近也。正曰：詩，「屬耳于垣」。史記注，屬，猶注也。言趙使屬耳中山之事。〕獨不可語陰簡之美乎？〔鮑本趙使近至宜有報，可因報使言之趙也。〕趙必請之，君與之，即公無內難矣。君弗與趙，公因勸君立之以為正妻。陰簡之德公，無所窮矣。」果令趙請，〔鮑本「請」下補「之」字。○ 札記今本「請」下有「之」字，乃誤涉鮑也。〕君弗與。司馬憙曰：「君弗與趙，趙王〔鮑本武靈。〕必大怒；大怒則君必危矣。然則立以為妻，固無請人之妻不得而怨人者也。」
田簡自謂取使，〔鮑本「謂」作「為」。○ 取，請為使也。正曰：自謂可以取趙使。此書取字如此者，多為與之善，而得其心之義。〕可以為司馬憙，可以為陰簡，可以令趙勿請也。〔鮑本簡請使耳，實喜自使。見下。正曰：此章以為語趙使，下章以為司馬喜使說趙王，此正記所傳之異。兩「可以為」之「為」，去聲。〕
陰姬與江姬爭為后
陰姬與江姬爭為后。司馬憙謂陰姬公〔鮑本姬父也。〕曰：「事成，則有土子民；〔鮑本「子」作「得」。○ 言公得封。補曰：一本「子民」。姚同。〕不成，則恐無身。欲成之，何不見臣乎？」〔鮑本怪其不來謀。〕陰姬公稽首〔鮑本首至地也。〕曰：「誠如君言，事何可豫道者。」〔鮑本言將厚報之，未可先言。〕司馬憙即奏書中山王〔鮑本補「王」字。○〕曰：「臣聞弱趙強中山。」中山王悅而見之曰：「願聞弱趙強中山之說。」司馬憙曰：「臣願之趙，觀其地形險阻，人民貧富，君臣賢不肖，商〔鮑本商，較之。〕敵為資，未可豫陳也。」中山王遣之。
見趙王〔鮑本武靈。〕曰：「臣聞趙，天下善為音，佳麗〔姚本佳，大。麗，美。〕人之所出也。今者，臣來至境，入都邑，觀人民謠俗，〔鮑本徒歌曰謠。〕容貌顏色，殊無佳麗好美者。以臣所行多矣，周流無所不通，〔鮑本「通」作「至」。○〕未嘗見人如中山陰姬者也。不知者，特以為神，力〔鮑本「力」作「人」。○ 正曰：盡力言之。 札記今本「力」作「人」，乃誤涉鮑也。丕烈案：「神」字句絕。楚策「非知而見之者以為神」，可證。〕言不能及也。其容貌顏色，固已過絕人矣。若乃其眉目准頞權衡，〔鮑本准，鼻。頞，鼻莖。權，輔骨，當作顴。衡，眉上。正曰：准，鼻頭。頞，額也。見孟子「蹙額」註。蔡澤傳「蹙齃」，索隱云，鼻蹙眉。〕犀角偃月，〔鮑本犀角，首骨。偃月，額骨。〕彼乃帝王之后，非諸侯之姬也。」趙王意移，大悅曰：「吾願請之，何如？」司馬憙曰：「臣竊見其佳麗，口不能無道爾。即欲請之，是非臣所敢議，願王無泄也。」
司馬憙辭去，歸報中山王曰：「趙王非賢王也。不好道德，而好聲色；不好仁義，而好勇力。臣聞其乃欲請所謂陰姬者。」中山王作色不悅。司馬喜曰：「趙強國也，其請之必矣。王如不與，即社稷危矣；與之，即為諸侯笑。」中山王曰：「為將奈何？」司馬憙曰：「王立為后，以絕趙王之意。世無請后者。雖欲得請之，鄰國不與也。」〔姚本禮無請后之義，鄰國必責之而不與。〕中山王遂立以為后，趙王亦無請言也。〔鮑本此兩章一事爾，而曲折小差。著書者，自以所聞駁異也。然則此書之作，亦至慎矣。補曰：司馬喜繩陰姬以語趙王，而脅君以行詐取寵，視張儀於鄭袖，其惡尤甚。記者好夸，何慎之有。〕
主父欲伐中山
主父〔姚本主父，趙武靈王也。〕欲伐中山，使李疵〔姚本疵，趙臣也。〕觀之。李疵曰：「可伐也。君弗攻，恐後天下。」主父曰：「何以？」對曰：「中山之君，所傾蓋與車〔鮑本「車」下有「者」字。○ 傾者，卻不御也。與之同車。皆所尊禮者。補曰：一本「車」下無「者」字。〕而朝窮閭隘巷之士者，〔鮑本君而朝士，亦尊禮也。〕七十家。」主父曰：「是賢君也，安可伐？」李疵曰：「不然。舉士，則民務名不存本；〔鮑本本，謂農業。〕朝賢，則耕者惰而戰士懦。〔鮑本皆不強力也，以賢者不耕戰故。〕若此不亡者，未之有也。」〔鮑本彪謂：李疵小人也，乃欲使人君廢賢而置士。夫賢者在位，將使耕者愈力，戰士愈奮，而誰敢惰懦？且不賢而耕且戰，民之分也，何敢與賢者並。民惟不務名耳，豈有務名而不趨於善者乎？若疵者，小人之無忌憚者也。補曰：韓非子有，末云，舉兵而伐中山，遂滅也。嘗讀商君之言曰，國之所以興者，農戰也。民求官爵不以農戰，而巧言虛道者，其國必削。詩、書、禮、樂、善、修、仁、廉、辯、慧，國有十者，上無使守戰，敵至必削，下民必貧。此商君所以遺禮義，上首功，而富國強兵之術也。武靈胡服騎射，一反先王之教，其桀驁之志，使卒不死而獲逞，有以異於秦乎？李疵者，窺見其所大欲，故以舍士急耕戰之說導之。當時風聲氣習，不約而合，其悖繆固不足辨也。抑其所稱中山之事者，殆未必然。大事記據呂氏春秋，「晉太史屠黍謂周威公曰，天生民而令有別。有別，人之義也，所以異於禽獸麋鹿也，君臣上下之所以立也。中山之俗，以晝為夜，以夜繼日，男女切倚，固無休息，其主弗之惡，此亡國之風也。居二休，中山果亡」。其亡之故可考矣。使賢俊盛多，尊禮無失，則當時風俗，安得至此乎。〕
中山君饗都士
中山君〔鮑本史不出，不名謚。正曰：中山武公。見世家、年表。此策則時不可考。〕饗都士，〔鮑本霍光傳「都士」注，都，試也。此言已試而饗之。正曰：按光傳「都肄郎羽林」，孟康云，都，試也；師古，謂總閱試習。此都邑之都，與彼義不類。〕大夫司馬子期〔鮑本中山人，後為楚昭卿。正曰：左氏定四年昭王出走，「子期似王」注，「昭王兄，公子結也」。後為司馬。惠王時，白公殺之。說苑屢稱司馬子期。「司馬」，官名。此自一人，「司馬」則姓也。〕在焉。羊羹不遍，司馬子期怒而走於楚，說楚王〔鮑本昭，正曰：妄引。〕伐中山，中山君亡。〔姚本亡，走也。 鮑本亡，去國也。〕有二人挈戈而隨其後者，中山君顧謂二人：「子奚為者也？」二人對曰：「臣有父，嘗餓且死，君下壺飡〔鮑本下，以與之。飡，小食。〕餌之。〔鮑本「餌之」作「臣父」。○ 補曰：一本「壺飡餌之」，「臣父」字不重出。姚同。〕臣父且死，曰︰『中山有事，〔鮑本戎事。〕汝必死之。』故來死君〔鮑本將為君死。〕也。」中山君喟然而仰歎曰：「與不期眾少，其於當厄；〔姚本言人之施與，不期多少，當其厄之時而惠及之，必厚德己也。一飡之施，而有二子之報。 鮑本其，指物辭，猶在也。言施與當在厄時。〕怨不期深淺，其於傷心。〔姚本人之相怨，不在深淺也。苟傷其心，則怨重也。羊羹不遍，而有出亡之患也。 鮑本傷人之心雖淺，怨也。〕吾以一杯羊羹亡國，以一壺飡得士二人。」〔姚本詩云，「無言不讎，無德不報」，此之謂也。 鮑本補曰：此章與左傳華元饗士、趙宣子食翳桑餓人事類，似合為一也。集韻，「飱」亦作「飡」，蘇昆反。熟食曰「飱」。〕
樂羊為魏將
樂羊為魏將，攻中山。其子時在中山，中山君烹之，作羹致於樂羊。樂羊〔鮑本「樂」下無「羊」字。○〕食之。古今稱之：〔鮑本「稱之」下補「曰」字。○〕樂羊食子以自信，明害父以求法。〔鮑本此害於父道，而羊為之，求為殉國之法也。補曰，說見趙策。〕
昭王既息民繕兵
昭王既息民繕兵，復欲伐趙。〔鮑本圍邯鄲也。〕武安君曰：「不可。」王曰：「前年國虛民飢，君不量百姓之力，求益軍糧以滅趙。今寡人息民以養士，蓄積糧食，〔鮑本「食」作「實」。○〕三軍之俸〔鮑本集韻，俸，秩祿也。〕有倍於前，而曰『不可』，其說何也？」
武安君曰：「長平〔鮑本後志，泫氏有長平亭，在上黨郡南山中百二十里。事在此四十七年。補曰：正義云，長平，在澤州高平縣西。〕之事，秦軍大剋，〔鮑本「剋」作「克」。○ 徐鉉曰，勝此物謂之克；若剋，則殺也。正曰：「克」、「剋」字通。〕趙軍大破；秦人歡喜，趙人畏懼。秦民之死者厚葬，傷者厚養，勞者相饗，〔鮑本鄉人飲酒也。〕飲食餔餽，〔姚本吳謂食為餽，祭鬼亦為餽。古文通用，讀與「饋」同。 鮑本餔，申時食。正曰：以食食之曰餔餽，即餽餉也。祭鬼本高注，非。〕以靡〔姚本靡，猶濃麗也。若靡依之比。 鮑本集韻，「靡」，「糜」通，壞也。〕其財；趙人之死者不得收，傷者不得療，〔鮑本治也。〕涕泣相哀，戮力〔姚本戮力，勉力也。其字從力。 鮑本戮，并力。〕同憂，耕田疾作，以生其財。今王發軍，雖倍其前，臣料趙國守備，亦以十倍矣。趙自長平已來，君臣憂懼，早朝晏退，〔鮑本「退」作「罷。」○〕卑辭重幣，四面出嫁，結親燕、魏，連好齊、楚，積慮并心，備秦為務。其國內實，其交外成。當今之時，趙未可伐也。」
王曰：「寡人既以興師矣。」乃使五校〔姚本五校，軍營也。校，音明孝反。 鮑本衍「五」字。集韻，校，木為欄格也。軍部及養馬用之。故軍尉、馬官以為號。 札記鮑衍「五」字。丕烈案：此誤甚也，當衍「校」字。秦本紀云，「五大夫陵攻趙邯鄲」。白起傳云，「使五大夫王陵攻趙邯鄲」。是其證矣。五大夫，秦爵。下「亡五校」云云，今誤截其半入此句下。〕大夫王陵將而伐趙。陵戰失利，亡五校。〔姚本蓋亡其營校之部也。〕王欲使武安君，武安君稱疾不行。王乃使應侯往見武安君，責之曰：「楚，地方五千里，持戟百萬。君前率數萬之眾入楚，拔鄢、郢，焚其廟，東至竟陵，〔鮑本後志，屬江夏。起此二十八年取鄢，二十九年取郢。補曰：竟陵在郢州長壽縣南，今復州亦其地。焚其廟，即所謂燒夷陵先王之墓也。〕楚人震恐，〔鮑本震，劈靂震動也，故為恐。〕東徙〔鮑本徙陳。〕而不敢西向。韓、魏相率，興兵甚眾，君所將之〔鮑本「之」下補「卒」字。○ 補曰：當有「卒」字。大事記補。〕不能半之，而與戰之〔鮑本補曰：當是「之戰」。〕於伊闕，〔鮑本十四年。〕大破二國之軍，流血漂鹵，〔姚本鹵，大漂也。言殺人多而流血漂浮鹵也。 鮑本「鹵」，「櫓」同，大盾也。〕斬首二十四萬。韓、魏以故至今〔鮑本無「至今」二字。○〕稱東藩。此君之功，天下莫不聞。今趙卒之死於長平者已十七、八，〔姚本言十分死其七、八分也。〕其國虛弱，是以寡人〔鮑本睢稱王命，故云。〕大發軍，人數倍〔鮑本「倍」作「君」，又改為「倍」。○〕於趙國之眾，願使君將，必欲滅之矣。君嘗以寡擊眾，取勝如神，況以彊擊弱，以眾擊寡乎？」
武安君曰：「是時楚王〔鮑本頃襄。〕恃其國大，不恤其政，而群臣相妒以功，諂諛〔鮑本「諂諛」作「諛諂」。○〕用事，良臣斥疏，〔鮑本集韻，斥亦疏。〕百姓心離，城池不修，既無良臣，又無守備。故起所以得引兵深入，多倍城邑，〔鮑本兵深入，城邑在後，故言倍。「倍」，「背」同。正曰：倍，如字。言深入所過城邑多也。〕發梁焚舟以專民，〔鮑本梁，橋也。此皆示以不還，使民專於戰也。下衍「以」字。補曰：大事記去此作「心」字。札記今本「以」作「心」。丕烈案：吳氏補曰，大事記去此作「心」字，今本乃因吳說而誤改也。〕以掠〔鮑本掠，奪取。〕於郊野，以足軍食。當此之時，秦中士卒，以軍中為家，將帥為父母，不約而親，不謀而信，一心同功，死不旋踵。〔姚本戰亡必死，無還踵者。 鮑本不反走也。〕楚人自戰其地，咸顧其家，各有散心，〔姚本諸侯自戰其地，為散地也。〕莫有鬥志。是以能有功也。伊闕之戰，韓孤〔鮑本時韓僖侯立三年耳，故稱曰孤。正曰：韓勢孤也。〕顧魏，不欲先用其眾。魏恃韓之銳，〔鮑本時韓主兵，故韓記言率周、魏攻秦，魏記言佐韓也。〕欲推以為鋒。〔鮑本鋒，軍之先。〕二軍爭便之力不同，是以臣得設疑兵，以待〔鮑本「待」作「持」。○ 札記今本「待」作「持」，乃誤涉鮑也。〕韓陣，〔鮑本持不決戰也。〕專軍并銳，觸魏之不意。魏軍既敗，韓軍自潰，乘勝逐北，〔鮑本戰敗曰北。〕以是之故能立功。皆計利形勢，〔鮑本謂人謀、地利、軍之形勢。〕自然之理，何神之有哉！今秦破趙軍於長平，不遂以時乘其振懼而滅之，畏而釋之，〔鮑本「振」，「震」同。以趙畏服，遂釋攻。〕使得耕稼以益蓄積，養孤長幼〔鮑本補曰：長其幼小者。〕以益其眾，繕治兵甲以益其強，增城浚池以益其固。主折節〔鮑本屈折肢節。〕以下其臣，臣推體〔鮑本推體，猶委質。正曰：推體，猶委身，謂以身與之也。〕以下死士。至於平原君〔鮑本「平原」下無「君」字。○〕之屬，皆令妻妾補縫於行伍之間。臣人一心，上下同力，猶勾踐困於會稽之時〔姚本越王勾踐為吳所逼，棲于會稽，卒成霸功。〕也。以合〔鮑本「合」作「今」。○ 札記今本「合」作「今」。〕伐之，趙必固守。挑其軍戰，〔鮑本挑，摧撓也，撓敵求戰。正曰：漢書，擿挑敵以求戰。左傳謂之致師。〕必不肯出。圍其國都，必不可剋。攻其列城，必未可拔。掠其郊野，必無所得。兵出無功，諸侯生心，外救必至。臣見其害，未睹其利。又病，未能行。」
應侯慚而退，以言於王。王曰：「微白起，吾不能滅趙乎？」復益發軍，更使王齕代王陵伐趙。圍邯鄲八、九月，死傷者眾，而弗下。趙王〔鮑本孝成。〕出輕銳以寇其後，秦數不利。武安君曰：「不聽臣計，今果何如？」〔鮑本「何如」作「如何」。○ 札記丕烈案：史記作「今如何矣」。〕王聞之怒，因見武安君，彊起之，曰：「君雖病，彊為寡人臥而將之。有功，寡人之願，將加重於君。如君不行，寡人恨君。」武安君頓首曰：「臣知行雖無功，得免於罪。雖不行無罪，不免於誅。然惟願大王覽臣愚計，釋趙養民，以〔鮑本補曰：「以」字下疑有缺。〕諸侯之變。撫其恐懼，伐其憍慢，誅滅無道，以令諸侯，天下可定，何必以趙為先乎？此所謂為一臣屈而勝天下也。大王若不察臣愚計，必欲快心於趙，以致臣罪，此亦所謂勝一臣而為天下屈者也。夫勝一臣之嚴〔鮑本嚴，猶威。〕焉，孰若勝天下之威大耶？〔姚本言不能為起屈，欲以勝為嚴，則不若屈于起之言，而以勝天下為威之大。〕臣聞明主愛其國，忠臣愛其名。破國不可復完，死卒不可復生。臣寧伏受重誅而死，不忍為辱軍之將。〔鮑本軍敗則辱，此所謂愛名。〕願大王察之。」王不答而去。 〔姚本子由古史云戰國策文并收入。 鮑本事在四十八年及五十年。元在中山策之末。彪謂：起之策秦、楚、三晉，可謂明切。然人臣無以有己，故孔子不俟駕行矣。長平之敗屬耳，趙何遽能益強？以起之材智，知己知彼而得筭多，不幸至於無功極矣，何破國辱軍之有？三請不行，此自抽杜郵之劍也。正曰：應侯納蘇之說，許韓、趙割地以和，由是起與之有隙。不從伐趙者為此也。大事記謂，起之死，皆睢之力。鮑可謂不探其心者矣。所引孔子不俟駕行，蓋當仕有官職而以其官召之，此不類也。〕
Source Colophon
The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the Strategies of the Warring States (article 戰國策 (士禮居叢書本)/中山, revision of 7 October 2024), inspected from a witness copy captured on 22 August 2026. Chinese Wikisource transcriptions are published under CC BY-SA 4.0 and the GFDL; the text itself is ancient and in the public domain. The wiki header, navigation links, license templates, and modern contributors' footnotes have been removed; the text is otherwise complete and unaltered.
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