孟嘗君列傳

Lord Mengchang's personal name was Wen; his surname was Tian. Wen's father was Lord Jingguo, Tian Ying. Tian Ying was a younger son of King Wei of Qi and a half-brother of King Xuan of Qi. From the time of King Wei, Tian Ying held office and wielded authority. He served alongside the Marquis of Cheng, Zou Ji, and Tian Ji as generals in the campaign to rescue Han and attack Wei. The Marquis of Cheng competed with Tian Ji for favor and slandered him. Tian Ji, fearing for his life, attempted to seize a Qi border town but failed and fled into exile. When King Wei died and King Xuan took the throne, the new king learned that the Marquis of Cheng had slandered Tian Ji, and recalled Tian Ji to serve as general. In the second year of King Xuan, Tian Ji, Sun Bin, and Tian Ying together attacked Wei and defeated them at Maling, capturing Crown Prince Shen of Wei and killing General Pang Juan. In King Xuan's seventh year, Tian Ying was sent as envoy to Han and Wei, and both states submitted to Qi. Ying joined with Marquis Zhao of Han and King Hui of Wei in meeting King Xuan of Qi south of Dong'e, where they swore an oath and departed. The following year, he again met with King Hui of Liang at Zhen. That same year, King Hui of Liang died. In King Xuan's ninth year, Tian Ying became chancellor of Qi. King Xuan of Qi and King Xiang of Wei met at Xuzhou and mutually recognized each other as kings. When King Wei of Chu heard of this, he was furious at Tian Ying. The following year, Chu attacked and defeated the Qi army at Xuzhou and sent men to pursue Tian Ying. Tian Ying dispatched Zhang Chou to persuade King Wei of Chu, who then relented. Tian Ying served as chancellor of Qi for eleven years. King Xuan died and King Min succeeded him. Three years after his accession, King Min enfeoffed Tian Ying at Xue.

Previously, Tian Ying had over forty sons. A lowly concubine bore a son named Wen, who was born on the fifth day of the fifth month. Ying told the boy's mother: "Do not raise him." But his mother secretly kept and raised him. When Wen had grown up, his mother arranged through her brothers for her son to be presented to Tian Ying. Tian Ying was furious at the mother: "I ordered you to get rid of this child — how dare you raise him?" Wen prostrated himself and said: "Why is it, my lord, that you will not raise a child born in the fifth month?" Ying replied: "A child born in the fifth month will grow to the height of the doorframe and will bring harm to his father and mother." Wen said: "Is a person's fate determined by Heaven, or by the doorframe?" Ying was silent. Wen continued: "If fate is determined by Heaven, what is there to worry about? If fate is determined by the doorframe, then simply raise the doorframe higher — who could reach it?" Ying said: "Enough — say no more."

Some time later, Wen found a private moment to ask his father: "What is your son's son called?" "A grandson," Ying replied. "And a grandson's grandson?" "A great-grandson." "And a great-grandson's grandson?" "I cannot say." Wen said: "You have served in power as Qi's chancellor through three kings now, yet Qi's territory has not expanded while your private wealth has accumulated to ten thousand in gold. Among your household, not a single man of worth is to be seen. I have heard that a general's household will produce generals, and a chancellor's household will produce chancellors. Now the women of your inner chambers tread on fine silks while worthy men cannot get coarse cloth; your servants and concubines have surplus grain and meat while worthy men cannot even get chaff. You continue to amass and hoard, intending to leave it to some unknown descendants, while the affairs of the state deteriorate by the day. I find this deeply perplexing."

At this, Ying treated Wen with respect and appointed him to manage the household and receive guests. Guests arrived in increasing numbers, and his reputation spread among the lords. The lords all sent envoys requesting that Lord Xue, Tian Ying, designate Wen as his heir. Ying consented. When Ying died, he was posthumously titled Lord Jingguo. Wen succeeded him at Xue — this was Lord Mengchang.

Lord Mengchang, based at Xue, recruited guests and retainers from among the lords, as well as fugitives and criminals — all flocked to Lord Mengchang. Lord Mengchang gave up his own estate income to treat them generously, and by this means drew the best men from across the realm. His retainers numbered several thousand, and whether noble or lowly, he treated them all equally. When Lord Mengchang sat with his guests in conversation, a clerk always sat behind a screen recording what was discussed and noting the whereabouts of each guest's relatives. After a guest departed, Lord Mengchang would already have sent someone to call on and present gifts to the guest's family. Once, when Lord Mengchang was dining with a guest at night, someone blocked the lamplight. The guest, angered — thinking his food was inferior to the lord's — put down his chopsticks and prepared to leave. Lord Mengchang rose, brought his own dish over, and placed it beside the guest's to show they were the same. The guest was ashamed and cut his own throat. After this, men flocked to Lord Mengchang in even greater numbers. Lord Mengchang made no distinctions among his guests, treating all of them well. Every man believed that Lord Mengchang held him personally dear.

King Zhao of Qin heard of Lord Mengchang's reputation and first sent the Lord of Jingyang as a hostage to Qi, requesting to meet Lord Mengchang. Lord Mengchang was preparing to travel to Qin. His retainers all opposed the trip and remonstrated, but he would not listen. Su Dai said to him: "This morning I was coming from outside and saw a wooden figure and a clay figure talking to each other. The wooden figure said: 'When it rains, you will be ruined.' The clay figure replied: 'I was born from earth — if I am ruined, I return to earth. But when the rain comes and washes you away, who knows where you will end up?' Now Qin is a land of tigers and wolves. If you go and cannot return, will you not be laughed at by the clay figure?" Lord Mengchang then called off the trip.

In the twenty-fifth year of King Min of Qi, the king finally compelled Lord Mengchang to enter Qin. King Zhao immediately appointed Lord Mengchang as Qin's chancellor. But someone persuaded King Zhao: "Lord Mengchang is a man of ability, and moreover he is of the Qi royal house. As Qin's chancellor, he will surely put Qi first and Qin second — Qin will be endangered." King Zhao then reversed course, imprisoned Lord Mengchang, and plotted to kill him. Lord Mengchang sent someone to appeal to King Zhao's favorite consort for help. The consort said: "I wish to have the lord's white fox-fur coat." Lord Mengchang had possessed one white fox-fur coat, worth a thousand in gold and without equal in the realm, but he had already presented it to King Zhao upon entering Qin and had no other. Lord Mengchang was greatly distressed and asked all his retainers, but none had a solution. A man seated at the very lowest position said: "I can get the fox-fur coat." That night he disguised himself as a dog, broke into the Qin palace storeroom, stole back the fox-fur coat, and presented it to King Zhao's consort. The consort spoke to King Zhao, and King Zhao released Lord Mengchang.

Once freed, Lord Mengchang galloped away at once, altered the travel documents, changed his name, and headed for the border. He reached Hangu Pass at midnight. The pass regulations required that travelers could only exit at cock-crow. Lord Mengchang feared the pursuit would catch up. Among his retainers in the lowest seats was one who could imitate a rooster's crow. He crowed, and all the real roosters crowed in response. The pass was opened and they passed through. About the time it takes to eat a meal after they had left, the Qin pursuers indeed arrived at the pass — but Lord Mengchang had already gone, and they turned back.

When Lord Mengchang had first ranked these two men among his retainers, the other guests had all been ashamed of them. But when Lord Mengchang was in danger in Qin, it was precisely these two who rescued him. From then on, all the retainers were convinced.

Lord Mengchang passed through Zhao, where Lord Pingyuan received him as a guest. When the people of Zhao heard that Lord Mengchang was a man of renown, they came out to see him. They all laughed and said: "We had imagined Lord Xue to be an imposing figure — now we see he is just a short little man." Lord Mengchang heard this and was enraged. His retainers leapt down and cut and struck, killing several hundred people, then destroyed an entire district before departing.

King Min of Qi was uneasy at having sent Lord Mengchang away. When Lord Mengchang returned, the king made him chancellor of Qi, entrusting him with the government.

Lord Mengchang, harboring resentment against Qin, planned to use Qi's forces alongside Han and Wei to attack Chu, then with Han and Wei attack Qin, borrowing troops and provisions from Western Zhou. Su Dai, speaking on behalf of Western Zhou, said: "My lord, you have used Qi's forces to help Han and Wei attack Chu for nine years, seizing the territory north of Wan and Ye to strengthen Han and Wei. Now you would attack Qin to benefit them further. If Han and Wei have no Chu threat to the south and no Qin threat to the west, then Qi will be endangered. Han and Wei will certainly take Qi lightly and fear only Qin. I am worried for you. You would do better to have our humble domain form a deep alliance with Qin, while you refrain from attacking and stop borrowing troops and provisions. March to Hangu Pass but do not attack. Have our domain tell King Zhao of Qin on your behalf: 'Lord Xue will certainly not destroy Qin to strengthen Han and Wei. His attack on Qin is meant to make Your Majesty order the King of Chu to cede the eastern territories to Qi, while Qin releases King Huai of Chu as a peace settlement.' If you have our domain present this to Qin, Qin can avoid destruction by using the eastern territories to buy its way out — Qin will certainly agree. If the King of Chu is released, he will be grateful to Qi. Qi will gain the eastern territories and grow stronger, and Xue will be safe for generations. Qin will not be greatly weakened but will remain west of the Three Jin, and the Three Jin will therefore value Qi." Lord Xue said: "Good." He then ordered Han and Wei to congratulate Qin, brought the three states to a truce, and stopped borrowing troops and provisions from Western Zhou. At that time, King Huai of Chu had entered Qin and been detained, which is why Lord Mengchang had wanted to secure his release. But in the end Qin did not release King Huai.

Earlier, Feng Huan had heard that Lord Mengchang was fond of retainers and came to see him wearing straw sandals. Lord Mengchang said: "Sir, you have honored me by coming from far away. What instruction do you have for me?" Feng Huan replied: "I heard that you are fond of worthy men, so I have come, poor as I am, to place myself in your service." Lord Mengchang lodged him in the basic guesthouse. After ten days, Lord Mengchang asked the guesthouse steward: "What has the guest been doing?" The steward answered: "Master Feng is very poor — he has nothing but a sword, and even that has a cord-wrapped hilt. He strums the sword and sings: 'Long sword, let us go home — there is no fish to eat.'" Lord Mengchang moved him to the middle-grade quarters, where there was fish at his meals. After five days, he again asked the steward. The steward answered: "The guest strums his sword again and sings: 'Long sword, let us go home — there is no carriage when I go out.'" Lord Mengchang moved him to the upper quarters, where he had a carriage for coming and going. After five more days, Lord Mengchang again asked the steward. The steward answered: "The gentleman has again been strumming his sword and singing: 'Long sword, let us go home — there is no way to support my family.'" Lord Mengchang was displeased.

After a full year, Feng Huan had said nothing of note. Lord Mengchang was then serving as chancellor of Qi with a fief of ten thousand households at Xue. His three thousand retainers could not be supported from the fief's revenue alone, so he had lent money at interest to the people of Xue. After more than a year, the income had not come in — many borrowers could not pay their interest, and the retainers' provisions were running short. Lord Mengchang was troubled and asked his attendants: "Who can be sent to collect the debts at Xue?" The guesthouse steward said: "The guest Feng, from the upper quarters — his manner and bearing are very capable, he is an elder of good character, and he has no other special skills. He would be suitable for collecting debts." Lord Mengchang summoned Feng Huan and said: "My guests, unaware of my unworthiness, have honored me by gathering here — over three thousand of them. The fief's income is insufficient to support them, which is why I lent money at interest in Xue. The annual income has not been collected, and many of the people are not paying their interest. I fear the guests' provisions will run short. I beg you, sir, to go and collect the debts." Feng Huan said: "Very well."

He took his leave, traveled to Xue, and summoned all those who owed Lord Mengchang money, collecting interest payments totaling a hundred thousand. He then ordered a great quantity of wine brewed and fat oxen purchased, and summoned all the debtors — those who could pay and those who could not alike — telling each to bring his debt tally for verification. He prepared a feast and slaughtered oxen for the gathering. When the wine was flowing freely, he held up the debt tallies and verified them one by one. For those who could pay, he set a schedule. For those who were too poor to pay, he took their tallies and burned them. He declared: "The reason Lord Mengchang lent you money was to give those who had nothing the capital to pursue their livelihoods. The reason he sought interest was to have the means to support his guests. Now the wealthy shall pay on schedule; the poor shall have their debts forgiven. Drink heartily, all of you! With a lord like this, how could you bear to fail him?" Everyone present rose and bowed twice.

When Lord Mengchang heard that Feng Huan had burned the debt tallies, he was furious and sent a messenger to summon him. When Feng Huan arrived, Lord Mengchang said: "I feed three thousand guests and therefore lent money in Xue. My fief's income is small, and many people still will not pay their interest on time — I feared the guests' food would run short, which is why I asked you to collect the debts. I hear that you took the money, used it all to buy oxen and wine for a feast, and then burned the tallies. What is the meaning of this?" Feng Huan replied: "Just so. Without a lavish feast of oxen and wine, I could not have assembled all the debtors and had no way to distinguish those who could pay from those who could not. Those who can pay have been given a schedule. As for those who cannot — even if you hound them for ten years, the interest will only mount, and in desperation they will simply flee and abandon the debt. If you press them and they can never repay, you will gain above a reputation for greed and indifference to your people, and below a name for driving men to disloyalty and default. That is no way to encourage your people or enhance your reputation. By burning the worthless tallies of uncollectable phantom debts, I have made the people of Xue love you and spread your good name. What is there to doubt?" Lord Mengchang clapped his hands and thanked him.

The King of Qi, misled by slanders from Qin and Chu, concluded that Lord Mengchang's reputation overshadowed his own and that Mengchang had monopolized the power of Qi. He dismissed Lord Mengchang. When the guests saw that Lord Mengchang had been dismissed, they all left. Feng Huan said: "Lend me a single carriage that can reach Qin, and I will certainly restore your standing in the state and expand your fief. Will you allow it?" Lord Mengchang prepared a carriage and gifts and dispatched him.

Feng Huan traveled west and addressed the King of Qin: "Every traveling scholar who grips the crossbar and hitches the traces to go west to Qin wishes to strengthen Qin and weaken Qi; every one who goes east to Qi wishes to strengthen Qi and weaken Qin. These are the two contending powers — they cannot both be dominant, and the dominant one will win the realm." The King of Qin knelt forward and asked: "How can Qin avoid being the weaker?" Feng Huan said: "Does Your Majesty know that Qi has dismissed Lord Mengchang?" The king said: "I have heard so." Feng Huan continued: "The man who made Qi powerful in the realm was Lord Mengchang. Now the King of Qi has dismissed him on slander. His heart is full of resentment, and he will certainly turn against Qi. If he turns against Qi and enters Qin, then Qi's state secrets and the true disposition of its affairs will all be delivered to Qin. You can take the territory of Qi — it goes beyond merely being the dominant power! Your Majesty should urgently send envoys with gifts to secretly welcome Lord Mengchang. Do not miss this opportunity. If Qi realizes its mistake and restores Lord Mengchang, then which state will be dominant is anyone's guess."

The King of Qin was greatly pleased. He dispatched ten chariots loaded with a hundred measures of gold to welcome Lord Mengchang. Feng Huan took his leave and raced ahead to Qi, where he said to the King of Qi: "Every traveling scholar who goes east to Qi wishes to strengthen Qi and weaken Qin; every one who goes west to Qin wishes to strengthen Qin and weaken Qi. Qin and Qi are the two contending powers. If Qin is strong, Qi is weak — the two cannot both be dominant. Now I have learned in secret that Qin has dispatched ten chariots loaded with a hundred measures of gold to welcome Lord Mengchang. If Lord Mengchang does not go west, that is the end of it. But if he enters Qin and becomes its chancellor, All-Under-Heaven will follow Qin. Qin will be dominant and Qi will be subordinate — and then Linzi and Jimo will be in danger. Would it not be better for Your Majesty, before the Qin envoys arrive, to restore Lord Mengchang and grant him additional towns as an apology? Lord Mengchang will surely be pleased and accept. Though Qin is a powerful state, can it really request another state's chancellor and take him away? This will break Qin's stratagem and cut off its hegemonic designs." The King of Qi said: "Good." He sent men to the border to watch for the Qin envoys. The moment the Qin chariots crossed into Qi's territory, the scouts galloped back to report. The king summoned Lord Mengchang, restored his chancellorship, returned his original fief, and added a thousand households. When the Qin envoys heard that Lord Mengchang had been restored as chancellor of Qi, they turned their chariots around and left.

From the time the King of Qi had slandered and dismissed Lord Mengchang, all his guests had left. When the king later recalled and restored him, Feng Huan went out to welcome him. Before they had met, Lord Mengchang heaved a great sigh and said: "I have always been fond of my guests and have never dared slight any of them. I have fed over three thousand men, as you well know. Yet the moment they saw me dismissed, every one of them turned their backs and left — not one looked back. Now, thanks to you, I have recovered my position. But what face do any of these guests have to come see me again? If any of them dares show his face, I will spit on him and heap abuse on him."

Feng Huan reined in his horse and dismounted to bow. Lord Mengchang stepped down from his carriage to receive him and said: "Are you apologizing on behalf of the guests?" Feng Huan replied: "I am not apologizing for the guests — I am correcting your words. There are things that must come to pass, and there are things that are naturally so. Do you understand? Lord Mengchang said: "I am too foolish to grasp your meaning." Feng Huan said: "The living must die — that is what must come to pass. The rich and powerful attract many followers; the poor and lowly have few friends — that is what is naturally so. Have you not seen those who flock to the market? In the morning they press shoulder to shoulder, fighting to get through the gate. After sunset, those who pass the marketplace swing their arms and do not even glance inside. It is not that they love morning and hate evening — what they came for is simply no longer there. Now you have lost your position and your guests have all left. That is no reason to resent them and thereby close the door to future guests. I beg you to treat your guests as before."

Lord Mengchang bowed twice and said: "I respectfully obey. Having heard your words, how could I not follow your teaching?"

While Lord Mengchang was chancellor of Qi, his household manager Wei Zi went to collect the fief income three times but returned without a single payment. Lord Mengchang asked why, and Wei Zi replied: "There was a worthy man there, and I secretly lent the income to him. That is why I brought nothing back." Lord Mengchang was angry and dismissed Wei Zi. Some years later, someone slandered Lord Mengchang to King Min of Qi, saying he planned a revolt. When Tian Jia seized King Min, the king suspected Lord Mengchang, and Lord Mengchang fled. The worthy man to whom Wei Zi had given the grain heard of this, submitted a memorial declaring that Lord Mengchang was not plotting rebellion, pledged his own life as surety, and then cut his own throat at the palace gate to prove Lord Mengchang's innocence. King Min was shocked. He investigated and verified that Lord Mengchang had indeed planned no revolt, and recalled him. Lord Mengchang then pleaded illness and retired to Xue. King Min consented.

Afterward, the renegade Qin general Lü Li became chancellor of Qi and sought to undermine Su Dai. Su Dai told Lord Mengchang of a counter-strategy involving Zhou Zui, the balance of Qi and Qin, and the manipulation of the Marquis of Rang, Wei Ran, Qin's chancellor. Lord Mengchang wrote to Wei Ran proposing that Qin attack Qi — and offering Wei Ran territory from the conquered lands in return. His argument was that if Qi allied with Qin, Lü Li would gain power at Wei Ran's expense, whereas if Qi were broken, Wei Ran would be indispensable to both Qin and the Three Jin.

Later, King Min of Qi destroyed Song and grew increasingly arrogant, wishing to remove Lord Mengchang. Lord Mengchang, fearing for his life, went to Wei. King Zhao of Wei appointed him chancellor. From Wei, he allied westward with Qin and Zhao, and together with Yan they invaded and shattered Qi. King Min fled to Ju, where he was killed. King Xiang of Qi took the throne, but Lord Mengchang stood neutral among the lords, belonging to no state. The newly enthroned King Xiang, fearing Lord Mengchang, formed an alliance with him and renewed ties with Lord Xue. When Wen died, he was posthumously titled Lord Mengchang. His sons fought over the succession, and Qi and Wei together destroyed Xue. Lord Mengchang's line was extinguished and had no heirs.

The Grand Historian remarks: I once passed through Xue. The local customs are rough — the neighborhoods are full of violent and unruly young men, quite unlike neighboring Zou and Lu. When I asked why, the people said: "Lord Mengchang recruited knights-errant and outlaws from across the realm — some sixty thousand households of such people settled in Xue." The tradition that Lord Mengchang took pride in his love of guests is indeed no empty reputation.