魏世家

The ancestors of Wei descended from Bi Gao, Duke of Bi, who shared the same surname as the Zhou royal house. When King Wu conquered the Shang tyrant Zhou, Bi Gao was enfeoffed at Bi, and his line took that as their surname. Later the fief was extinguished and the family fell to commoner status, scattered between the central states and the frontier peoples. A descendant named Bi Wan entered the service of Duke Xian of Jin.

In the sixteenth year of Duke Xian, Zhao Su served as charioteer and Bi Wan as spearman on the right. They campaigned against Huo, Geng, and Wei and destroyed all three. Duke Xian enfeoffed Zhao Su at Geng and Bi Wan at Wei, making them grandees. The diviner Bu Yan said: "Bi Wan's descendants will surely become great. Wan means 'ten thousand,' a full number; Wei means 'great.' To receive one's first reward under such auspices shows that Heaven has opened the way. The Son of Heaven speaks of his 'myriad people' and the feudal lords of their 'ten thousand subjects.' Now he has been given a great name and a full number: he will surely command multitudes." Earlier, when Bi Wan had divined about entering Jin's service, he drew the hexagram Tun changing to Bi. The diviner Xin Liao interpreted it: "Auspicious. Tun signifies solidity, Bi signifies unity; what greater fortune could there be? His line will surely flourish."

Eleven years after Bi Wan's enfeoffment, Duke Xian of Jin died and four of his sons fought for the succession, plunging Jin into chaos. But Bi Wan's house grew ever larger, and they adopted their fief's name as their clan name: Wei. Bi Wan's son was Wu Zi. Wei Wu Zi led the Wei retainers in service to the Jin prince Chong Er. In the twenty-first year of Duke Xian, Wu Zi followed Chong Er into exile. Nineteen years later they returned, and Chong Er was enthroned as Duke Wen of Jin. He ordered Wei Wu Zi to inherit the Wei clan's fief, listed him as a grandee, and gave him governance over Wei. Wu Zi's son was Dao Zi.

Wei Dao Zi moved the clan seat to Huo. His son was Wei Jiang.

Wei Jiang served Duke Dao of Jin. In the duke's third year, a meeting of the feudal lords was convened. The duke's younger brother Yang Gan disrupted the formation, and Wei Jiang publicly humiliated Yang Gan for it. Duke Dao was furious: "I assembled the lords as an honor, and now you disgrace my brother!" He prepared to execute Wei Jiang. Someone persuaded the duke to relent, and in the end he entrusted Wei Jiang with governance. Wei Jiang was sent to make peace with the Rong and Di peoples, who thereafter became loyal allies. In the duke's eleventh year, he declared: "Since I employed Wei Jiang, in eight years I have convened the lords nine times and the Rong and Di have been pacified. This is all your doing." He bestowed musical instruments upon Wei Jiang, who declined three times before accepting. The clan seat was moved to Anyi. When Wei Jiang died, he was given the posthumous name Zhao Zi. His son was Wei Ying, whose son was Wei Xian Zi.

Wei Xian Zi served Duke Zhao of Jin. After Zhao's death, the six ministerial clans grew powerful and the ducal house declined.

In the twelfth year of Duke Qing of Jin, Han Xuan Zi retired and Wei Xian Zi took charge of state affairs. The Jin princely houses of Qi and Yangshe quarreled with each other; the six clans destroyed them both, seized all their lands as ten counties, and each clan appointed its own sons as the counties' administrators. Wei Xian Zi served alongside Zhao Jian Zi, Zhonghang Wen Zi, and Fan Xian Zi as ministers of Jin.

Fourteen years later, Confucius became chancellor of Lu. Four years after that, Zhao Jian Zi used the Jinyang affair as a pretext to attack the Fan and Zhonghang clans in concert with Han and Wei. Wei Xian Zi's son was Wei Chi. Wei Chi joined Zhao Yang in the campaign against Fan and Zhonghang.

Wei Chi's grandson was Wei Huan Zi, who together with Han Kang Zi and Zhao Xiang Zi destroyed Zhi Bo and divided his territory.

Huan Zi's grandson was Marquis Wen, who established his capital. The first year of Marquis Wen of Wei coincided with the first year of Duke Ling of Qin. He was contemporary with Wu Zi of Han, Huan Zi of Zhao, and King Wei of Zhou.

In his sixth year, he fortified Shaoliang. In his thirteenth year, he sent his heir Zi Ji to besiege Fan and Pang, and evacuated their populations. In his sixteenth year, he attacked Qin and built the fortifications at Linjin and Yuanli.

In his seventeenth year, he conquered Zhongshan and assigned Zi Ji to garrison it, with Zhao Cangtang as tutor. On the road at Zhaoge, Zi Ji encountered Marquis Wen's teacher Tian Zifang. He pulled his chariot aside and dismounted to pay his respects. Tian Zifang did not return the courtesy. Zi Ji then asked: "Is it the rich and noble who are entitled to be haughty, or the poor and lowly?" Tian Zifang replied: "Only the poor and lowly. If a feudal lord is haughty, he loses his state. If a grandee is haughty, he loses his house. But a poor man whose conduct is rejected and whose words go unheeded can simply leave for Chu or Yue, shedding his ties like a bird molting its feathers. How can the two be compared?" Zi Ji departed unhappily. He then campaigned west against Qin, reached Zheng, and returned, building fortifications at Luoyin and Heyang.

In his twenty-second year, Wei, Zhao, and Han were formally listed as feudal lords.

In his twenty-fourth year, Qin attacked Wei, reaching Yanghu.

In his twenty-fifth year, Zi Ji had a son.

Marquis Wen studied the classics under Zixia and hosted Duan Ganmu as a guest. Whenever his carriage passed Duan Ganmu's gate, he would lean forward on the crossbar as a mark of respect. Once, when Qin planned to attack Wei, someone said: "The lord of Wei honors worthy men, his people praise his benevolence, and the court is harmonious from top to bottom. This is not a state that can be taken." Through this, Marquis Wen earned a reputation among all the lords.

He appointed Ximen Bao to govern Ye, and the entire Henei region was considered well-administered.

Marquis Wen said to Li Ke: "You once taught me: 'When a family is poor, one thinks of a good wife; when a state is in disorder, one thinks of a good chancellor.' Now I must choose between Cheng and Huang. What is your opinion of the two?" Li Ke replied: "I have heard that those of low rank should not counsel on matters above their station, and outsiders should not meddle in a family's affairs. I stand outside the palace gates and dare not accept such a charge." The marquis said: "When the matter is urgent, do not demur." Li Ke said: "Your lordship has not observed closely enough. In leisure, observe whom a man keeps close. In wealth, observe to whom he gives. In high office, observe whom he promotes. In adversity, observe what he refuses to do. In poverty, observe what he refuses to take. These five tests are sufficient to decide. Why wait for me?" The marquis said: "Return to your lodging, sir. My chancellor is decided."

Li Ke hurried out and passed by the house of Di Huang. Di Huang said: "I hear the marquis summoned you to advise on the chancellorship. Who was chosen?" Li Ke said: "Wei Chengzi will be chancellor." Di Huang flushed with anger: "By everything I have seen and heard, how have I fallen short of Wei Chengzi? The governorship of Xihe was my recommendation. When the marquis was troubled about Ye, I recommended Ximen Bao. When he planned to conquer Zhongshan, I recommended Yue Yang. After Zhongshan was taken and needed a governor, I recommended you. When the heir lacked a tutor, I recommended Qu Houfu. How have I fallen short of Wei Chengzi?" Li Ke said: "When you spoke to the marquis on my behalf, was it to form a faction and seek high office? The marquis asked me about the chancellorship and I replied: observe a man's associations, his generosity, his appointments, his limits, and his integrity. That is how I know Wei Chengzi will be chancellor. And how can you compare yourself to him? Wei Chengzi receives a salary of a thousand zhong, but nine-tenths goes to others and only one-tenth to himself. With this, he attracted Bu Zixia, Tian Zifang, and Duan Ganmu from the east. The marquis treats all three as his own teachers. The five men you recommended? The marquis treats them all as his servants. How can you compare yourself to Wei Chengzi?" Di Huang stepped back, bowed twice, and said: "Huang is a shallow man. I spoke amiss. I beg to become your disciple henceforth."

In the twenty-sixth year, Mount Guo collapsed and dammed the Yellow River.

In the thirty-second year, Marquis Wen attacked Zheng, fortified Suanzao, and defeated Qin at Zhu. In the thirty-fifth year, Qi attacked and took Xiangling. In the thirty-sixth year, Qin raided Yinjin.

In the thirty-eighth year, Wei attacked Qin but was defeated at Wuxia; Qin captured a Wei general named Shi. That year, Marquis Wen died and Zi Ji succeeded him as Marquis Wu.

In the first year of Marquis Wu, Duke Jing of Zhao had just acceded. Prince Shuo rebelled but failed and fled to Wei. He and Wei forces raided Handan, but the attack failed and they withdrew.

In the second year, the walls of Anyi and Wangyuan were strengthened.

In the seventh year, Wei attacked Qi, reaching Sangqiu. In the ninth year, the Di defeated Wei at Hui. Wu Qi was sent to attack Qi, reaching Lingqiu. King Wei of Qi had just acceded.

In the eleventh year, Wei, Han, and Zhao formally partitioned the remaining Jin lands and abolished the Jin ruling line.

In the thirteenth year, Duke Xian of Qin made Yueyang a county seat. In the fifteenth year, Wei defeated Zhao at Beilin.

In the sixteenth year, Wei attacked Chu and took Luyang. Marquis Wu died, and his son succeeded as King Hui.

In the first year of King Hui, when Marquis Wu had died, the heir and Gongzhong Huan contested the succession. Gongsun Qi traveled from Song to Zhao and then to Han, where he told Marquis Yi of Han: "The Wei heir and Gongzhong Huan are fighting for the throne. Have you heard? If we strike now while Wei holds Wang Cuo and controls Shangdang, that is half the state. Eliminate them and Wei will surely be destroyed. This opportunity must not be lost." Marquis Yi was pleased and joined Marquis Cheng of Zhao in a combined assault on Wei. They fought at Zhuoze, where Wei suffered a catastrophic defeat and the Wei ruler was surrounded. Zhao said to Han: "Let us kill the Wei ruler, install Gongzhong Huan, take territory, and withdraw. We will profit." Han replied: "No. Kill the Wei ruler, and people will call us cruel. Take territory and withdraw, and people will call us greedy. Better to split Wei in two. If Wei becomes two states, neither stronger than Song or Wey, we need never fear Wei again." Zhao refused to listen. Han, displeased, withdrew its forces in the night. The reason King Hui survived and Wei was not partitioned was that the two allies could not agree on their scheme. Had they followed either plan, Wei would certainly have been split. Hence the saying: "When a ruler has no legitimate heir, his state can be destroyed."

In the second year, Wei defeated Han at Maling and defeated Zhao at Huai. In the third year, Qi defeated Wei at Guan. In the fifth year, Wei met Han at Zhaiyang, fortified Wudu, and was defeated by Qin. In the sixth year, Wei conquered the Yitai district of Song. In the ninth year, Wei defeated Han at Hui, but fighting Qin at Shaoliang, Qin captured Wei's general Gongsun Cuo and took Pang. Duke Xian of Qin died and his son Duke Xiao succeeded.

In the tenth year, Wei took Pilao from Zhao. A comet appeared. In the twelfth year, a star fell in daylight with a great noise.

In the fourteenth year, Wei met Zhao at Hao. In the fifteenth year, the rulers of Lu, Wey, Song, and Zheng came to pay court. In the sixteenth year, Wei met Duke Xiao of Qin at Duping. Wei raided Huangchi from Song, but Song retook it.

In the seventeenth year, Wei fought Qin at Yuanli, and Qin took Shaoliang. Wei besieged Handan. In the eighteenth year, Handan fell. Zhao appealed to Qi for aid, and Qi sent Tian Ji and Sun Bin to rescue Zhao. They defeated Wei at Guiling.

In the nineteenth year, a coalition besieged Wei's Xiangling. Wei built a long wall and blocked Guyang.

In the twentieth year, Wei returned Handan to Zhao and the two swore a covenant on the Zhang River. In the twenty-first year, Wei met Qin at Tong. Marquis Cheng of Zhao died. In the twenty-eighth year, King Wei of Qi died. The lord of Zhongshan served as Wei's chancellor.

In the thirtieth year, Wei attacked Zhao, and Zhao urgently appealed to Qi. King Xuan of Qi employed Sun Bin's stratagem to rescue Zhao by striking Wei. Wei raised a great army, appointing Pang Juan as commander and Crown Prince Shen as supreme general. Passing through Waihuang, the scholar Xu Zi of Waihuang said to the crown prince: "I have a strategy that wins every battle." The prince asked: "May I hear it?" The man replied: "I shall demonstrate it. If Your Highness personally leads the attack on Qi and wins a great victory, conquering as far as Ju, your wealth will still not exceed possessing Wei, and your rank will still not exceed being king. But if you fail to defeat Qi, then for ten thousand generations there will be no Wei. This is my strategy of a hundred battles and a hundred victories." The crown prince said: "Very well. I shall certainly follow your advice and turn back." The man said: "Even if Your Highness wishes to turn back, you will not be able to. Those who urged you to go to war, hoping to drink the broth of victory, are too many. Even if you wish to turn back, I fear you cannot." The prince tried to turn back, but his charioteer said: "To march out and then retreat is the same as defeat." In the end, the prince fought the Qi army and was routed at Maling. Qi captured Crown Prince Shen and killed General Pang Juan, and the Wei army was utterly destroyed.

In the thirty-first year, Qin, Zhao, and Qi jointly attacked Wei. The Qin commander Shang Yang tricked Wei's general Prince Ang into a meeting and ambushed his army, destroying it. Qin, empowered by Shang Yang's reforms, extended its eastern border to the Yellow River. Meanwhile Qi and Zhao repeatedly defeated Wei. Since the old capital Anyi was dangerously close to Qin, Wei moved its seat of government to Daliang. Prince He was designated crown prince.

In the thirty-third year, Duke Xiao of Qin died and Shang Yang fled Qin, seeking refuge in Wei. Wei, furious at his past treachery, refused to admit him. In the thirty-fifth year, King Hui met King Xuan of Qi south of Ping'e.

Having suffered repeated military disasters, King Hui humbled himself and offered generous gifts to attract men of talent. Zou Yan, Chunyu Kun, and Mencius all came to Liang. King Hui of Liang said: "I am an unworthy ruler. My armies have been broken three times abroad, my crown prince was captured, my supreme general killed, and my state left empty and exhausted. I have shamed my ancestors, their altars, and their temples. I am deeply ashamed of this. Elder, you have not considered a thousand li too far and have honored my poor court with your presence. How will you profit my state?" Mencius replied: "Your Majesty should not speak of profit in such terms. If the ruler desires profit, then the grandees will desire profit. If the grandees desire profit, then the common people will desire profit. When those above and those below compete for profit, the state is in danger. For a ruler, benevolence and righteousness are all that matter. What need is there for profit?"

In the thirty-sixth year, he again met the King of Qi at Zhen. That year, King Hui died and his son King Xiang succeeded.

In King Xiang's first year, the lords met at Xuzhou and conferred royal titles upon each other. Xiang posthumously honored his father King Hui as a king.

In the fifth year, Qin destroyed Wei's army of forty-five thousand under Long Jia at Diaoyin, and besieged Jiao and Quwo. Wei ceded the lands west of the Yellow River to Qin.

In the sixth year, Wei met Qin at Ying. Qin took Fenyin, Pishi, and Jiao from Wei. Wei attacked Chu and defeated it at Xingshan. In the seventh year, Wei surrendered the entire Shangjun commandery to Qin. Qin reduced Puyang. In the eighth year, Qin returned Jiao and Quwo.

In the twelfth year, Chu defeated Wei at Xiangling. The chief ministers of the states met with Qin's chancellor Zhang Yi at Niesang. In the thirteenth year, Zhang Yi became chancellor of Wei. A woman in Wei was reported to have transformed into a man. Qin took Quwo and Pingzhou.

In the sixteenth year, King Xiang died and his son King Ai succeeded. Zhang Yi returned to Qin.

In the first year of King Ai, five states jointly attacked Qin but failed and withdrew.

In the second year, Qi defeated Wei at Guanjin. In the fifth year, Qin sent Chuli Zi to capture Quwo and routed Xishou at Anmen. In the sixth year, Qin installed Prince Zheng as Wei's crown prince and met Wei at Linjin. In the seventh year, Wei attacked Qi and joined Qin in attacking Yan.

In the eighth year, Wei attacked Wey and took two walled cities. The diplomat Ru Er told the lord of Wey: "If Wei withdraws its troops, will you dismiss Lord Chengling?" The lord of Wey said: "If you can truly accomplish this, Wey will serve you for generations." Ru Er then told Lord Chengling: "In the past, when Wei attacked Zhao, it cut through Yangchang Pass and took Yuyu, intending to destroy Zhao. The reason Zhao survived was that Wei led the vertical alliance. Now Wey faces destruction and will turn west to serve Qin. Rather than letting Qin save Wey, better that Wei save Wey; Wey's gratitude toward Wei would be endless." Lord Chengling agreed. Ru Er then told the King of Wei: "I have made contact with Wey. Wey is a branch of the Zhou royal house; though it calls itself a small state, it possesses many treasures. The reason it has not surrendered its treasures despite its peril is that it believes whoever attacks and then rescues Wey controls the outcome, so the treasures will not go to Your Majesty. By my calculation, whoever first offers to rescue Wey will gain Wey's allegiance." Ru Er left, and Lord Chengling entered the court and presented the same argument to the king. The king accepted the reasoning, withdrew the troops, and dismissed Lord Chengling, never granting him an audience again.

In the ninth year, Wei met the King of Qin at Linjin. Zhang Yi and Wei Zhang both returned to Wei. Wei's chancellor Tian Xu died, and Chu feared that Zhang Yi, Xishou, or Lord Xue would become Wei's next chancellor. Chu's chancellor Zhao Yu told Su Dai: "Tian Xu is dead. I fear one of those three will become Wei's chancellor." Su Dai asked: "Who would you prefer, and how can I help?" Zhao Yu said: "I want the crown prince to serve as his own chancellor." Su Dai said: "Allow me to go north. I will see it done." He then explained his plan: he would tell the King of Wei that Zhao Yu was worried about the three candidates, and argue that since Zhang Yi would favor Qin, Xishou would favor Han, and Lord Xue would favor Qi, the king, being an experienced ruler, would see that none of them served Wei's interests. The best course was for the crown prince to serve as chancellor himself, since all three would then compete to win the chancellorship by having their home states serve Wei's interests. Su Dai traveled north and presented this argument to the King of Liang. The crown prince was indeed made chancellor.

In the tenth year, Zhang Yi died. In the eleventh year, Wei met King Wu of Qin at Ying. In the twelfth year, the crown prince visited Qin. Qin attacked Pishi but withdrew before taking it. In the fourteenth year, Qin returned King Wu's widow. In the sixteenth year, Qin captured Pufan, Yangjin, and Fengling. In the seventeenth year, Wei met Qin at Linjin, and Qin returned Pufan. In the eighteenth year, Wei joined Qin in attacking Chu. In the twenty-first year, Wei, Qi, and Han together defeated the Qin army at Hangu Pass.

In the twenty-third year, Qin returned the lands beyond the river and Fengling to Wei as a peace settlement. King Ai died and his son King Zhao succeeded.

In King Zhao's first year, Qin captured Xiangcheng. In the second year, Wei fought Qin and lost. In the third year, Wei assisted Han in attacking Qin, but Qin's general Bai Qi destroyed a combined Wei army of two hundred forty thousand at Yique. In the sixth year, Wei ceded four hundred li of territory east of the Yellow River to Qin. Mang Mao gained influence through deception. In the seventh year, Qin captured sixty-one Wei cities, large and small. In the eighth year, King Zhao of Qin proclaimed himself Western Emperor and King Min of Qi proclaimed himself Eastern Emperor, but after little more than a month both renounced the title and reverted to calling themselves kings. In the ninth year, Qin captured Xinyuan and Quyang.

In the tenth year, Qi destroyed Song. The King of Song died at Wei's city of Wen. In the twelfth year, Wei joined Qin, Zhao, Han, and Yan in attacking Qi, defeating it at Jixi. King Min fled. Yan alone entered Linzi. Wei met the King of Qin at the Western Zhou court.

In the thirteenth year, Qin captured Ancheng. Its army reached the walls of Daliang, then withdrew. In the eighteenth year, Qin captured Ying, the Chu capital, and the King of Chu relocated to Chen.

In the nineteenth year, King Zhao died and his son King Anxi succeeded.

In the first year of King Anxi, Qin captured two Wei cities. In the second year, Qin took two more and camped beneath the walls of Daliang. Han came to Wei's aid, and Wei ceded Wen to Qin as the price of peace. In the third year, Qin took four more cities and killed forty thousand. In the fourth year, Qin defeated Wei, Han, and Zhao, killing one hundred fifty thousand and routing Wei's general Mang Mao. Wei's general Duan Ganzi proposed ceding Nanyang to Qin for peace. Su Dai told the King of Wei: "The one who wants the chancellor's seal is Duan Ganzi; the one who wants territory is Qin. Now Your Majesty lets the one who wants territory control the seal, and the one who wants the seal control the territory. Wei's lands will not be exhausted until they stop. To serve Qin with territory is like carrying firewood to put out a fire: so long as the fuel lasts, the fire will not go out." The king said: "That may be so. But the matter is already in motion and cannot be changed." Su Dai replied: "Has Your Majesty not seen how a gambler values the owl throw? When the move is favorable, he plays it; when unfavorable, he stops. Now Your Majesty says 'the matter is in motion and cannot be changed.' How is it that Your Majesty's wisdom is less than that of a gambler's dice?"

In the ninth year, Qin captured Huai. In the tenth year, Qin's crown prince, who had been held hostage in Wei, died. In the eleventh year, Qin captured Qiqiu.

King Zhao of Qin asked his courtiers: "Are Han and Wei now as strong as they once were?" They replied: "They are not as strong as before." He asked: "Are Ru Er and Wei Qi as capable as Lord Mengchang and Mang Mao?" They replied: "They are not." He said: "Even with Lord Mengchang and Mang Mao leading a strong Han and Wei against me, they could do nothing. Now that the incompetent Ru Er and Wei Qi lead a weakened Han and Wei, obviously they can do nothing either." The courtiers all agreed: "Indeed." But Zhongqi, leaning on his zither, replied: "Your Majesty's assessment of the realm is mistaken. In the time of Jin's six ministerial clans, the Zhi clan was the strongest. After destroying Fan and Zhonghang, Zhi Bo led Han and Wei's armies to besiege Zhao Xiangzi at Jinyang, diverting the Jin River to flood the city until only three courses of bricks remained above water. Zhi Bo inspected the floodwaters from his chariot, with Wei Huanzi driving and Han Kangzi riding beside him. Zhi Bo said: 'I never knew that water could destroy a state. Now I know.' He noted that the Fen River could flood Anyi and the Jiang River could flood Pingyang. At that, Wei Huanzi nudged Han Kangzi with his elbow and Han Kangzi trod on Wei Huanzi's foot. Elbows and feet touched in the chariot, and soon Zhi Bo's lands were divided, his body killed, his state destroyed, and he became the laughingstock of the realm. Now Qin's armies, though strong, are not stronger than Zhi Bo's, and Han and Wei, though weak, are better off than when they sat beneath Jinyang. This is precisely the moment for elbows and feet. I beg Your Majesty not to take them lightly!" The King of Qin was alarmed.

Qi and Chu made a pact and attacked Wei. Wei sent envoys to beg Qin for rescue, one carriage after another filling the road, but Qin's armies did not come. A Wei man named Tang Ju, over ninety years old, said to the King of Wei: "Allow this old minister to go west and persuade the King of Qin. His troops will march before I return." The king bowed twice and dispatched him. Tang Ju arrived and was admitted to see the King of Qin. The king said: "Elder, you have traveled far in your confusion. It must have been exhausting. Wei has begged for rescue many times; I am well aware of Wei's predicament." Tang Ju replied: "If Your Majesty is well aware of Wei's predicament yet has not dispatched rescue, I venture to say your advisors have failed you. Wei is a state of ten thousand chariots. The reason it faces west to serve Qin, calling itself your eastern vassal, accepting your court dress, and sending seasonal tributes, is that Qin's strength made it a worthy ally. Now Qi and Chu's armies have already converged on Wei's borders, yet Qin has not sent relief, presumably because the situation is not yet desperate. But if it becomes truly desperate, Wei will cede territory and join the vertical alliance, and then what will Your Majesty rescue? If you wait until it is desperate, you will lose an eastern vassal in Wei and strengthen two enemies in Qi and Chu. What does Your Majesty gain from that?" King Zhao of Qin immediately dispatched troops to rescue Wei. Wei was stabilized.

Zhao sent word to the King of Wei: "Kill Fan Cuo for us, and we will cede seventy li of territory." The king agreed and sent officials to arrest Fan Cuo. They surrounded him but had not yet killed him. Fan Cuo climbed to the roof ridge and called down to the officials: "Rather than bargain with a dead Fan Cuo, better to bargain with a living one. If I die and Zhao does not cede the land, what will the king do? Better to settle the land transfer first, then kill me." The king said: "Fair enough." Fan Cuo then sent a letter to the Lord of Xinling: "I am a former dismissed chancellor of Wei. Zhao offers territory for my death and the king agrees. If mighty Qin should adopt Zhao's approach, what would become of you, my lord?" The Lord of Xinling spoke to the king and secured Fan Cuo's release.

Because Qin had rescued Wei, the king wanted to ally with Qin and attack Han to recover lost territory. Lord Xinling addressed the king:

"Qin shares the customs of the Rong and Di. It has the heart of a tiger or wolf: greedy, cruel, profit-seeking, faithless, ignorant of ritual, righteousness, and virtue. Where there is gain, it disregards kinsmen and brothers alike, like a beast. All the world knows this; Qin has never accumulated goodwill. Its own Queen Dowager was a mother, yet she died of grief. The Marquis of Rang was an uncle whose accomplishments were unmatched, yet he was banished. Two royal brothers had committed no crime, yet their domains were taken twice. If Qin treats its own kin this way, how much worse for enemy states? Now Your Majesty wishes to join Qin in attacking Han and thereby bring Qin's threat closer. I am deeply perplexed. If the king does not see this, he lacks discernment; if his ministers do not speak of it, they lack loyalty.

"Han is ruled by a woman regent serving a weak young lord. It faces internal turmoil and external assault by Qin and Wei. Does Your Majesty suppose it can survive? If Han falls, Qin will hold the Zheng lands, adjacent to Daliang and Ye. Will Your Majesty feel safe then?

"Qin is not a state that rests idle. After Han falls, it will seek its next target, and it will choose what is easy and profitable. It will certainly not attack Chu or Zhao. Why? To cross mountains and rivers, bypass Shangdang, and strike powerful Zhao would repeat the Yuyu debacle; Qin will not do it. To march through Henei past Ye and Zhaoge, cross the Zhang and Fu rivers, and fight Zhao at Handan would repeat Zhi Bo's catastrophe; Qin dares not. To attack Chu means a march of three thousand li through Shegu to assault the fortress of Minge; too far and too difficult. To march past Daliang with Shangcai and Zhaoling on the right and fight Chu at Chen; Qin dares not. Therefore after Han falls, Qin will not attack Chu or Zhao, nor will it attack Wey or Qi.

"After Han falls, on the day Qin marches, there will be no one to attack but Wei. Qin already holds Huai, Mao, and Xingqiu, and has fortified Guijin overlooking Henei. The cities of Gong and Ji will be in peril. With the Zheng lands, Qin can seize Yuanyong, breach the Xingze reservoir, and flood Daliang. Daliang will certainly be destroyed.

"In former days, Qin was at Hexi in Jin territory, a thousand li from Liang, with the river and mountains as barriers and Zhou and Han as buffers. Yet from the Battle of Linxiang to the present, Qin has attacked Wei seven times, entered the royal park five times, captured every border city, toppled the Wen Terrace, burned the Chui capital, felled the forests, and exterminated the game, and then besieged the state. It drove north of Liang, east to the borders of Tao and Wey, north to Pingjian. What Wei has lost to Qin: south of the mountains and north of the mountains, beyond the river and within the river, dozens of large counties, hundreds of famous towns. Qin was then a thousand li from Liang, yet the damage was this severe. How much worse when Qin has no Han to block it, holds the Zheng lands, has no river or mountains as barriers, no Zhou or Han as buffers, and stands just a hundred li from Daliang? Disaster will surely follow.

"In the past, the vertical alliance failed because Chu and Wei were suspicious and Han could not be won over. Now Han has endured three years of Qin's attacks. Qin has tried to lure it into peace, but Han, knowing it faces annihilation, has refused. It has sent hostages to Zhao and volunteered to lead the charge. Chu and Zhao will surely gather their forces, for all now recognize that Qin's ambitions are limitless; it will not rest until every state is destroyed and all within the seas are its subjects. Therefore I urge Your Majesty to accept Chu and Zhao's alliance, hold Han's hostages to preserve Han, and demand the return of our lost territory. Han will surely comply.

"To preserve Han, secure Wei, and benefit all under Heaven: this is Your Majesty's moment ordained by Heaven."

In the twentieth year, Qin besieged Handan. The Lord of Xinling, Wei Wuji, forged the king's seal to commandeer General Jin Bi's army and rescue Zhao. Zhao was saved. Wuji remained in Zhao. In the twenty-sixth year, King Zhao of Qin died.

In the thirtieth year, Wuji returned to Wei and led the armies of five states against Qin, defeating it beyond the river and routing the general Meng Ao. Wei's crown prince Zeng was a hostage in Qin. Qin, furious, wanted to imprison him. Someone said to the King of Qin on Zeng's behalf: "Gongsun Xi told the Wei chancellor: 'Let Wei attack Qin aggressively. The King of Qin will be enraged and imprison Zeng. The King of Wei will be enraged in turn and attack Qin, and Qin will suffer.' If Your Majesty imprisons Zeng, you play right into Gongsun Xi's hands. Better to honor Zeng and reconcile with Wei, thereby driving a wedge between Wei and Qi and Han." Qin relented.

In the thirty-first year, King Zheng of Qin first took the throne.

In the thirty-fourth year, King Anxi died. Crown Prince Zeng succeeded as King Jingmin. The Lord of Xinling, Wei Wuji, also died.

In the first year of King Jingmin, Qin captured twenty Wei cities and formed them into Qin's Eastern Commandery. In the second year, Qin took Zhaoge.

The court moved to Yewang. In the third year, Qin took Ji. In the fifth year, Qin took Yuan, Puyang, and Yan. In the fifteenth year, King Jingmin died and his son King Jia succeeded.

In the first year of King Jia, Crown Prince Dan of Yan sent Jing Ke to assassinate the King of Qin, but the king detected the plot.

In the third year, Qin flooded Daliang, captured King Jia, and thus destroyed Wei, converting it into commanderies and counties.

The Grand Historian remarks: I visited the ruins of old Daliang. The people of the ruins told me: "When Qin destroyed Liang, it diverted the river channels to flood Daliang. After three months the walls collapsed, the king asked to surrender, and Wei was extinguished." Commentators all say that Wei declined to the point of destruction because it failed to employ the Lord of Xinling. I disagree. Heaven had ordained that Qin should pacify all within the seas, and that task was not yet complete. Even if Wei had obtained a minister of the caliber of Yi Yin, what difference would it have made?