樗里子甘茂列傳

Chulizi, personal name Ji, was a younger brother of King Hui of Qin, born of a different mother. His mother was a woman from Han. Chulizi was witty and resourceful, and the people of Qin called him the 'Bag of Wits.'

In King Hui's eighth year, Chulizi was granted the rank of Right Geng and sent as commanding general to attack Quwo. He expelled all its inhabitants, seized the city, and its territory was absorbed into Qin. In King Hui's twenty-fifth year, Chulizi was sent as general to attack Zhao; he captured the Zhao general Zhuang Bao and took Lin. The following year, he assisted Wei Zhang in attacking Chu, defeating the Chu general Qu Gai and taking the Hanzhong region. Qin enfeoffed Chulizi with the title Lord of Yan.

King Hui of Qin died and Crown Prince Wu ascended the throne. He expelled Zhang Yi and Wei Zhang and appointed Chulizi and Gan Mao as Left and Right Chancellors. Qin sent Gan Mao to attack Han and take Yiyang. Chulizi was sent with a hundred chariots to enter the Zhou royal domain. Zhou received him with troops drawn up in welcome, showing great respect. The King of Chu was angry and reproached Zhou for according such weight to a Qin guest. You Teng addressed the King of Chu on Zhou's behalf: "When Zhi Bo attacked Chouyou, he first sent them a large cart as a gift, then followed it with troops — Chouyou was destroyed. Why? Because they had no defenses. When Duke Huan of Qi attacked Cai, he announced he was punishing Chu, but in fact he was raiding Cai. Now Qin is a predatory state, and it sends Chulizi with a hundred chariots into Zhou. Zhou took the lessons of Chouyou and Cai to heart, so it placed long halberds in front and powerful crossbows behind — calling it 'guarding Ji' while in reality holding him hostage. How could Zhou not worry about its altars of soil and grain? It fears that one day its state will be destroyed, to Your Majesty's own distress." The King of Chu was then satisfied.

When King Wu of Qin died and King Zhao was installed, Chulizi's status grew even more exalted.

In King Zhao's first year, Chulizi led a campaign against Pu. The governor of Pu was afraid and sought out Hu Yan. Hu Yan addressed Chulizi on Pu's behalf: "In attacking Pu, are you acting for Qin or for Wei? If for Wei, that is well and good. If for Qin, it brings no benefit. The reason Wey remains Wey is because of Pu. If you take Pu and give it to Wei, Wey will inevitably submit to Wei. Wei has been unable to recover its former territory west of the Yellow River because its army is weak. Now if you annex Wey into Wei, Wei will grow strong. The day Wei is strong, Qin's territory west of the River will be endangered. Moreover, the King of Qin will be watching your actions — if they harm Qin and benefit Wei, the king will certainly punish you." Chulizi said: "Then what should I do?" Hu Yan said: "Withdraw from Pu and do not attack it. Let me go in and speak on your behalf, to earn the gratitude of the Lord of Wey." Chulizi said: "Good." Hu Yan entered Pu and told the governor: "Chulizi knows Pu's weaknesses. He says he will certainly take it. But I can persuade him to withdraw." The governor was terrified, bowed twice, and said: "Please do so." He offered 300 jin of gold and said: "If Qin's troops withdraw, I will certainly recommend you to the Lord of Wey and ensure you receive a position of authority." Thus Hu Yan received gold from Pu and advanced his own standing in Wey. The siege was lifted, and Chulizi departed. He went on to attack Pishi, but Pishi did not surrender, and he departed again.

In King Zhao's seventh year, Chulizi died and was buried east of the Zhangtai on the south bank of the Wei River. He said: "A hundred years from now, a Son of Heaven's palace will flank my tomb." Chulizi's residence was at Chuli village in the Yin district south of the Wei, west of King Zhao's ancestral temple, which is why people called him Chulizi. When the Han dynasty arose, the Changle Palace stood to the east of his tomb, the Weiyang Palace to its west, and the Arsenal stood directly opposite his grave. A Qin proverb said: "For strength, there is Ren Bi; for wits, there is Chulizi."

Gan Mao was a man of Xiacai. He studied under Master Shi Ju of Xiacai, learning the arts of the Hundred Schools. Through Zhang Yi and Chulizi, he obtained an audience with King Hui of Qin. The king was pleased upon meeting him, gave him a command, and he assisted Wei Zhang in conquering the Hanzhong region.

King Hui died and King Wu succeeded. Zhang Yi and Wei Zhang departed eastward for Wei. The Marquis of Shu, Hui, and his minister Zhuang rebelled, and Qin sent Gan Mao to pacify Shu. Upon his return, Gan Mao was made Left Chancellor and Chulizi Right Chancellor.

In King Wu's third year, the king told Gan Mao: "I wish to open a chariot road to the Three Rivers region to cast my gaze upon the Zhou royal domain — then I would die without regret." Gan Mao said: "Allow me to go to Wei and arrange a joint attack on Han, with Xiang Shou as my escort." When Gan Mao arrived, he told Xiang Shou: "Return and tell the king: 'Wei has agreed to my terms, but I ask the king not to attack.' If the mission succeeds, the credit will all be yours." Xiang Shou returned and reported this. The king went to meet Gan Mao at Xirang. When Gan Mao arrived, the king asked the reason. He replied: "Yiyang is a major county. Shangdang and Nanyang have been accumulating there for a long time. It is called a county but is really a commandery. Now to cross several mountain barriers and march a thousand li to attack it is difficult. In the past, when Zeng Shen was living at Fei, a man of Lu with the same name killed someone. Someone told his mother: 'Zeng Shen has killed a man.' His mother went on weaving as before. Shortly after, another person told her: 'Zeng Shen has killed a man.' His mother still wove on. When a third person told her: 'Zeng Shen has killed a man,' his mother threw down her shuttle, left the loom, and fled over the wall. Now, given Zeng Shen's virtue and his mother's trust in him, three people's allegations still frightened her. My virtue is not equal to Zeng Shen's, and Your Majesty's trust in me is not equal to Zeng Shen's mother's trust in her son — and those who doubt me are not merely three. I fear Your Majesty may throw down the shuttle. When Zhang Yi annexed Ba and Shu to the west, opened the territory beyond the Western River to the north, and took Shangyong to the south, the world did not credit Zhang Yi but praised the late king. When Marquis Wen of Wei ordered Yue Yang to command the attack on Zhongshan, it took three years to take it. When Yue Yang returned to receive his reward, Marquis Wen showed him a chest full of slander letters. Yue Yang bowed twice to the ground and said: 'This was not my achievement — it was my lord's strength.' Now I am a minister far from home. Chulizi and Gongsun Shi, those two, will side with Han and argue against the campaign. The king will certainly listen to them, and then the king will have deceived the King of Wei while I bear the resentment of Gongzhong Chi." The king said: "I will not listen to them. Let me make a covenant with you." He ultimately sent Chancellor Gan Mao with troops to attack Yiyang. After five months without taking it, Chulizi and Gongsun Shi indeed objected. King Wu recalled Gan Mao, intending to withdraw the troops. Gan Mao said: "Xirang is right there" — meaning the covenant. The king said: "So it is." He thereupon mobilized the full army and sent Gan Mao to press the attack. They beheaded 60,000 and finally took Yiyang. King Xiang of Han sent Gongzhong Chi to submit and make peace with Qin.

King Wu ultimately did reach the Zhou domain, but died there. His younger brother succeeded as King Zhao, whose mother, Queen Dowager Xuan, was a woman of Chu. King Huai of Chu bore a grudge because Qin had previously defeated Chu at Danyang and Han had not come to the rescue, so he besieged the Han city of Yongshi. Han sent Gongzhong Chi to appeal urgently to Qin. King Zhao had just taken the throne and his mother was from Chu, so Qin was unwilling to help. Gongzhong Chi turned to Gan Mao, who argued Han's case before King Zhao: "Gongzhong Chi was counting on Qin's rescue when he dared resist Chu. Now Yongshi is besieged and Qin's army has not come down from the Xiao pass. Gongzhong Chi will soon look away and stop attending your court, and Gongshu will take the whole state south to join Chu. If Chu and Han unite, Wei will not dare stand apart — and then the formation for an attack on Qin is complete. Which is more advantageous: sitting and waiting to be attacked, or attacking others?" The king said: "Good." He dispatched an army down the Xiao pass to rescue Han, and the Chu troops withdrew.

Gan Mao eventually persuaded King Zhao to return the town of Wusui to Han. Xiang Shou and Gongsun Shi objected but could not prevail. Bearing a grudge, they slandered Gan Mao. Fearful, Mao abandoned his campaign against Wei's Puban and fled. Chulizi negotiated with Wei and withdrew the troops.

Fleeing Qin for Qi, Gan Mao encountered Su Dai, who was serving as Qi's envoy to Qin. Gan Mao said: "I have offended Qin and fled in fear, with nowhere to shelter. I have heard of a poor girl who joined a spinning circle with rich girls. The poor girl said: 'I have no money for a candle, but your candle has light to spare. Could you share your surplus glow? It costs you nothing and gives me this small convenience.' Now I am in difficulty while you are on mission to Qin and in a position of influence. My wife and children are there — I ask you to share your surplus glow and look after them." Su Dai agreed. He completed his embassy to Qin, then persuaded the King of Qin: "Gan Mao is no ordinary man. His roots in Qin go back generations. He knows every pass from Xiao to the Valley of Ghosts, every terrain's strengths and weaknesses. If he uses Qi to ally with Han and Wei and turns on Qin, that is not in Qin's interest." The king asked what to do. Su Dai said: "You should offer rich gifts and generous salary to lure him back. Once he comes, confine him in the Valley of Ghosts and never let him leave." The king agreed and sent the rank of Senior Minister with the chancellor's seal to fetch him from Qi. Gan Mao did not go. Su Dai then told King Min of Qi: "Gan Mao is a man of talent. Qin has just offered him the rank of Senior Minister with the chancellor's seal to bring him back. But Gan Mao, grateful for Your Majesty's kindness and willing to serve as your minister, has refused. How will Your Majesty honor him?" The King of Qi said: "Good," and appointed him Senior Minister. Qin thereupon returned Gan Mao's family property to curry favor with Qi.

Qi sent Gan Mao as envoy to Chu. King Huai of Chu had recently formed a marriage alliance with Qin and was on friendly terms. When Qin learned that Gan Mao was in Chu, it asked the King of Chu to send Gan Mao to Qin. The King of Chu consulted Fan Xuan about whom to install as Qin's chancellor. Fan Xuan recommended against Gan Mao, advising instead that the malleable Xiang Shou be made chancellor. An envoy was sent to request Qin install Xiang Shou. Qin ultimately made Xiang Shou chancellor. Gan Mao never managed to return to Qin and died in Wei.

Gan Mao had a grandson named Gan Luo.

Gan Luo, grandson of Gan Mao, was twelve years old when, after his grandfather's death, he entered the service of Qin's chancellor, the Marquis of Wenxin, Lu Buwei.

The First Emperor of Qin had sent Lord Gangcheng, Cai Ze, to Yan for three years, after which King Xi of Yan sent Crown Prince Dan to Qin as a hostage. Qin then sent Zhang Tang to serve as chancellor of Yan, planning to ally with Yan to attack Zhao and expand the Hejian territory. Zhang Tang told Lu Buwei: "I once attacked Zhao on behalf of King Zhao of Qin. Zhao bears a grudge and has said: 'Give us a hundred li of land for anyone who delivers Tang.' To reach Yan I must pass through Zhao. I cannot go." Lu Buwei was displeased but had no way to compel him. Gan Luo said: "Why is my lord so unhappy?" Lu Buwei said: "I had Lord Gangcheng work on Yan for three years. Crown Prince Dan is already hostage in Qin. I personally asked Minister Zhang to go serve as chancellor of Yan, and he refuses." Gan Luo said: "Allow me to make him go." Lu Buwei snapped: "Away with you! I asked him personally and he refused — how could you make him go?" Gan Luo said: "Xiang Tuo was seven years old when he served as Confucius's teacher. I am now twelve. My lord might at least try me — why shout?" Gan Luo then went to see Zhang Tang: "How do your achievements compare with Lord Wuan's?" Zhang Tang said: "Lord Wuan defeated mighty Chu in the south, overawed Yan and Zhao in the north, won battles and conquered cities beyond counting. My achievements do not compare." Gan Luo said: "And was the Marquis of Ying's authority in Qin as absolute as the Marquis of Wenxin's?" Zhang Tang said: "The Marquis of Ying was not as absolute." Gan Luo said: "You are certain of this?" Zhang Tang said: "I am." Gan Luo said: "The Marquis of Ying wanted to attack Zhao. Lord Wuan objected, and he was executed at Duyu, seven li from Xianyang. Now the Marquis of Wenxin personally asks you to serve as chancellor of Yan and you refuse. I do not know where you will be executed." Zhang Tang said: "I shall go, at the young man's urging." He ordered his baggage prepared.

A date for departure was set. Gan Luo told Lu Buwei: "Lend me five chariots. Allow me to go ahead to Zhao on Zhang Tang's behalf." Lu Buwei reported this to the First Emperor, who granted Gan Luo an audience and sent him to Zhao. King Xiang of Zhao came out to the suburbs to welcome him. Gan Luo addressed the king: "Has Your Majesty heard that Crown Prince Dan of Yan has entered Qin as a hostage?" The king said: "I have." "And that Zhang Tang is to serve as chancellor of Yan?" "I have." "That Prince Dan entered Qin means Yan will not deceive Qin. That Zhang Tang is to be chancellor means Qin will not deceive Yan. If Yan and Qin do not deceive each other, they will attack Zhao — and you are in danger. The reason Yan and Qin trust each other is precisely that they wish to attack Zhao and expand the Hejian territory. Rather than wait, Your Majesty should give me five cities to expand Hejian. I will arrange for the return of the Yan crown prince, and you can then ally with a strengthened Zhao to attack weakened Yan." The King of Zhao immediately ceded five cities to expand Hejian. Qin returned the crown prince of Yan. Zhao attacked Yan and took thirty cities of Shanggu, giving eleven to Qin.

Gan Luo returned to report. He was enfeoffed as Senior Minister, and Gan Mao's original fields and residence were restored to him.

The Grand Historian remarks: That Chulizi was valued for his blood ties to the royal house was natural enough, but the people of Qin also acclaimed his intellect, which is why I have included a fair selection of his deeds. Gan Mao rose from the alleyways of Xiacai to make his name among the feudal lords, carrying weight with mighty Qi and Chu. Gan Luo was young, yet produced a single brilliant stratagem that echoed through later ages. Though none of these men could be called gentlemen of steadfast conduct, they were nonetheless the strategic minds of the Warring States era. When Qin was at the height of its power, all under Heaven pursued cunning and deception above all else.