平原君虞卿列傳

Lord Pingyuan, Zhao Sheng, was a prince of the Zhao royal house. Among all the princes, Sheng was the most capable. He was fond of retainers, and guests who gathered around him numbered several thousand. Lord Pingyuan served as chancellor under both King Huiwen and King Xiaocheng of Zhao, was dismissed three times and restored three times, and was enfeoffed at Dongwucheng.

Lord Pingyuan's mansion had an upper story that overlooked a common family's dwelling. In that family lived a lame man who limped and shuffled when he went out to draw water. One of Lord Pingyuan's concubines, looking down from the upper story, saw him and burst out laughing. The next day, the lame man came to Lord Pingyuan's gate and said: "I have heard that you are fond of worthy men, and that men travel a thousand li to come to you because you value men and hold women cheap. I have the misfortune of a crippling illness, and your concubine looked down and laughed at me. I wish to have the head of the woman who laughed." Lord Pingyuan laughed and agreed. After the lame man left, Lord Pingyuan said with a laugh: "Look at this wretch — he wants me to kill my concubine over a single laugh. Is that not absurd?" He did not kill her.

Over the next year and more, his retainers and household men gradually drifted away until more than half had left. Lord Pingyuan was puzzled and said: "I have never failed in courtesy toward you all — why have so many left?" One of his men stepped forward and replied: "Because you did not kill the concubine who laughed at the lame man. They consider you a man who prizes beauty over worthy men, and so the worthy men leave." At this, Lord Pingyuan beheaded the concubine, went in person to the lame man's door, and apologized. After that, his retainers gradually returned. At that time, Qi had Lord Mengchang, Wei had Lord Xinling, and Chu had Lord Chunshen — and they all competed to outdo each other in patronizing the worthy.

When Qin besieged Handan, Zhao sent Lord Pingyuan to seek rescue and forge an alliance with Chu. He agreed to take twenty retainers who possessed both courage and learning. Lord Pingyuan said: "If we can prevail through diplomacy, so much the better. If not, then we will swear a blood oath beneath the painted hall and must return with the alliance secured. We need not look beyond our own household — our retainers will suffice." He selected nineteen men, but could find no one for the twentieth place.

Among his retainers was one Mao Sui, who stepped forward and volunteered: "I have heard that you are going to forge an alliance with Chu and will take twenty men from your household, seeking no one outside. You are still one short. I beg you to include me to fill the number." Lord Pingyuan said: "How many years have you been in my household, sir?" Mao Sui replied: "Three years." Lord Pingyuan said: "A man of true talent in this world is like an awl in a sack — its point shows through at once. You have been in my household for three years, and no one around me has ever spoken your name, nor have I heard anything of you. You have nothing to offer. You cannot go — please stay." Mao Sui replied: "I am asking today to be placed in the sack. Had I been placed in the sack earlier, the entire awl-head would have burst through, not merely the point." Lord Pingyuan took Mao Sui along after all. The other nineteen exchanged glances and smirked, but did not object.

By the time Mao Sui reached Chu, he had debated with the nineteen others along the way, and all nineteen acknowledged his superiority. Lord Pingyuan opened negotiations with the King of Chu on the alliance, laying out the advantages and disadvantages. He began speaking at sunrise, and by noon the matter was still unresolved. The nineteen said to Mao Sui: "Go up, sir." Mao Sui gripped his sword and strode up the steps. He said to Lord Pingyuan: "The merits of the alliance can be decided in two sentences. You have been arguing since sunrise, and at noon it is still unresolved — why?"

The King of Chu said to Lord Pingyuan: "Who is this man?" Lord Pingyuan replied: "He is one of my household retainers." The King of Chu shouted: "Get down! I am speaking with your master — who are you to be here?" Mao Sui gripped his sword and stepped forward: "The reason Your Majesty shouts at me is that you rely on Chu's multitudes. But within ten paces, Your Majesty cannot rely on Chu's multitudes. Your Majesty's life hangs from my hand. My lord stands before you — what cause is there for shouting?

"Moreover, I have heard that Tang became king of All-Under-Heaven with a domain of seventy li, and King Wen made the lords his subjects with a territory of a hundred li. Was that because their soldiers were numerous? It was because they seized their advantage and wielded their authority. Now Chu's territory stretches five thousand li and its troops number a million — this is the patrimony of a hegemon-king. With Chu's strength, nothing in the realm can stand against it. And yet Bai Qi, that worthless whelp, led a mere few tens of thousands, raised an army to fight Chu, took Yan and Ying in the first battle, burned Yiling in the second, and humiliated Your Majesty's ancestors in the third. This is a grudge for a hundred generations and a shame that even Zhao feels on your behalf — yet Your Majesty does not resent it? This alliance serves Chu, not Zhao. My lord stands before you — what cause is there for shouting?"

The King of Chu said: "Yes, yes — it is truly as you say, sir. I reverently pledge the state to the alliance." Mao Sui said: "Is the alliance settled?" The king said: "It is settled." Mao Sui called to the king's attendants: "Bring the blood of chicken, dog, and horse." Mao Sui presented a bronze basin and knelt to offer it to the King of Chu: "Your Majesty shall smear the blood and seal the alliance. Next shall be my lord, and next shall be me." The alliance was thus sealed in the hall. Mao Sui held the basin of blood in his left hand and beckoned the nineteen with his right: "Gentlemen, smear this blood here below the hall. You are the sort who accomplish things by riding on the efforts of others."

Lord Pingyuan, having secured the alliance, returned to Zhao and said: "I will never again presume to judge men. I have judged men by the thousand, by the hundred at least, and thought I had missed no worthy man in the realm — yet I missed Master Mao. Master Mao's single visit to Chu made Zhao weightier than the Nine Cauldrons or the Great Lü Bell. Master Mao's three inches of tongue proved mightier than a million troops. I will never again presume to judge men." He made Mao Sui his most honored guest.

After Lord Pingyuan returned to Zhao, Chu sent Lord Chunshen to lead troops to Zhao's rescue, and Lord Xinling of Wei also commandeered Jin Bi's army to march to Zhao's aid — but neither had yet arrived. Qin pressed the siege of Handan. The city was desperate, on the verge of surrender, and Lord Pingyuan was deeply troubled. Li Tong, the son of a guesthouse clerk in Handan, said to Lord Pingyuan: "Are you not worried about Zhao's destruction?" Lord Pingyuan replied: "If Zhao falls, I become a captive — of course I worry." Li Tong said: "The people of Handan are burning bones for fuel and exchanging children to eat — that is how desperate things are. Yet your inner chambers hold women by the hundreds, your maids and concubines wear fine silks and have surplus grain and meat, while the common people cannot cover themselves in coarse cloth or fill their stomachs with chaff. The people are exhausted and the soldiers spent — some are sharpening sticks into spears and arrows — while your possessions, your bells and chimes, remain just as they were. If Qin destroys Zhao, how will you keep any of this? If Zhao survives, what worry is there that you will lack anything? If you would truly order all the women of your household down to the rank of servant to stand in the lines alongside the soldiers, share the labor, and distribute everything you own to feed the troops — in their time of danger and suffering, gratitude comes easily."

Lord Pingyuan followed his advice and raised three thousand men willing to die. Li Tong led these three thousand against the Qin army and drove it back thirty li. At the same time, the Chu and Wei relief forces arrived. The Qin army withdrew, and Handan was saved. Li Tong died in battle. His father was ennobled as Marquis Li.

Yu Qing was a traveling persuader. He came in straw sandals carrying a rain-parasol to address King Xiaocheng of Zhao. At the first audience he was given a hundred measures of gold and a pair of white jade discs; at the second he was made Senior Minister of Zhao — hence his title "Yu Qing."

When Qin and Zhao fought at Changping, Zhao did not prevail and lost a commandant. The King of Zhao summoned Lou Chang and Yu Qing, saying: "The army has been defeated and the commandant is dead. Should I order the troops to press forward in full armor?" Lou Chang said: "That would be useless. Better to send a senior envoy to negotiate peace." Yu Qing said: "Lou Chang recommends peace because he assumes that without peace the army will be destroyed. But the power to set the terms of peace lies with Qin. Consider this, Your Majesty: does Qin intend to destroy the Zhao army, or not?" The king said: "Qin is holding nothing back — they certainly intend to destroy our army." Yu Qing said: "If Your Majesty will listen to me, send envoys bearing great treasures to win over Chu and Wei. Chu and Wei will want Your Majesty's treasures and will certainly receive our envoys. Once Zhao's envoys have entered Chu and Wei, Qin will suspect an alliance forming and grow fearful. Then, and only then, can peace be negotiated."

The King of Zhao did not listen. He had Lord Pingyang negotiate the peace and sent Zheng Zhu to Qin. Qin received him. The King of Zhao summoned Yu Qing and said: "I have had Lord Pingyang negotiate with Qin, and Qin has already received Zheng Zhu. What do you say now?" Yu Qing replied: "Your Majesty will not obtain peace, and the army will certainly be destroyed. All who congratulate the victorious in battle are now in Qin's camp. Zheng Zhu is a man of high rank. Once he enters Qin, the King of Qin and the Marquis of Ying will certainly parade him prominently to show the realm. Chu and Wei, seeing that Zhao has sued for peace, will certainly not come to Your Majesty's rescue. When Qin knows that no one in the realm will rescue Your Majesty, it will be impossible to reach a settlement." The Marquis of Ying did indeed display Zheng Zhu prominently to all who came to congratulate Qin on its victory, and in the end refused to make peace. The catastrophe at Changping followed, then the siege of Handan — and Zhao became a laughingstock.

After Qin lifted the siege of Handan and the King of Zhao went to court, he sent Zhao Hao to negotiate with Qin, proposing to cede six counties for peace. Yu Qing said to the King of Zhao: "When Qin attacked Your Majesty, did it withdraw because it was exhausted? Or does Your Majesty believe that Qin still had the strength to press forward but refrained out of affection?" The king said: "Qin attacked with everything it had. It must have withdrawn from exhaustion." Yu Qing said: "If Qin attacked with all its strength but could not take those lands, and then withdrew from exhaustion — and now Your Majesty hands over the very lands that Qin's full strength could not take — that is helping Qin attack yourself. Next year when Qin attacks again, Your Majesty will have no recourse."

The king relayed Yu Qing's words to Zhao Hao. Zhao Hao said: "Can Yu Qing truly determine the limit of Qin's strength? If he truly knows what Qin cannot take by force, then refusing to give these scraps of territory means that when Qin attacks again next year, will Your Majesty not have to cede interior territory for peace?" The king asked: "I will follow your plan and cede the land — but can you guarantee that Qin will not attack again next year?" Zhao Hao replied: "That is not something I dare guarantee."

The king told Yu Qing of this. Yu Qing replied: "Zhao Hao says: 'Without peace, Qin will attack again next year — will Your Majesty not have to cede interior territory then?' But even with peace, Zhao Hao admits he cannot guarantee Qin will not attack again. So even if we cede six cities now, what is the benefit? Next year Qin attacks again, and we cede more territory that its forces could not take — this is a strategy for self-destruction. Better no peace at all. However good Qin is at attacking, it cannot take six counties; however poor Zhao is at defending, it will not ultimately lose six cities. When Qin withdraws from exhaustion, its army will be spent. We can use those six cities to rally the realm against an exhausted Qin — we lose standing in the world but gain compensation from Qin. Our state still profits. How does that compare with sitting still, ceding territory, weakening ourselves, and strengthening Qin?

"Now Zhao Hao says: 'The reason Qin is friendly to Han and Wei while attacking Zhao is that Your Majesty's service to Qin falls short of Han's and Wei's.' This means Your Majesty would have to cede six cities to Qin every year until every city is gone. If next year Qin demands more territory, will you give it? If you refuse, you throw away the previous concession and invite Qin's wrath. If you give it, there will be no territory left to give. The saying goes: 'The strong are good at attacking; the weak cannot defend.' By sitting and submitting to Qin, Qin's army suffers no attrition while gaining territory — you strengthen Qin and weaken Zhao. The stronger Qin grows while the weaker Zhao becomes, its appetite will never stop. Moreover, Your Majesty's territory is finite, but Qin's demands are without end. To meet demands without end with territory that has an end — the logic leads inevitably to the annihilation of Zhao."

While the King of Zhao's plan remained undecided, Lou Huan arrived from Qin. The king consulted him: "Is it better to give Qin the territory or not?" Lou Huan demurred: "That is beyond my ability to judge." The king said: "Even so, tell me your private opinion." Lou Huan replied: "Has Your Majesty heard of the mother of Gongfu Wenbo? Gongfu Wenbo served in Lu and died of illness. Two women killed themselves in his chamber. His mother heard of it and did not weep. Her housekeeper said: 'How can a mother not weep for her dead son?' The mother replied: 'Confucius is a worthy man. He was driven from Lu, and this man did not follow him. Yet now that he is dead, two women have killed themselves for him. A man like that must have been thin toward his elders and thick toward women.' From the mother's perspective, she was a wise mother; from the wives' perspective, she would be called a jealous wife. The same facts, but the speaker's position changes how people judge. Now I have just come from Qin. If I say 'do not give,' it would be poor counsel; if I say 'give,' I fear Your Majesty will think I am working for Qin. Therefore I dare not answer. But if I may advise Your Majesty — better to give."

Yu Qing heard this, went in to see the king, and said: "This is specious rhetoric — Your Majesty must not give!" Lou Huan heard this, came to see the king, and the king relayed Yu Qing's argument. Lou Huan replied: "Not so. Yu Qing sees one side but not the other. When Qin and Zhao are locked in conflict, the whole realm is delighted — why? Because they say: 'We will side with the strong and exploit the weak.' Now that Zhao's army has been broken by Qin, the world's congratulations all go to Qin. Better to quickly cede territory for peace, creating doubt in the realm and soothing Qin's heart. Otherwise, the world will exploit Qin's anger and Zhao's weakness to carve Zhao up. If Zhao is about to perish, what use is scheming against Qin?"

Yu Qing heard this, went to see the king, and said: "Dangerous indeed is Lou Huan's counsel for Qin! This will only deepen the world's suspicion of Zhao — how will it soothe Qin's heart? Does he not see that it shows the world Zhao's weakness? Moreover, when I say 'do not give,' I do not mean merely to refuse and stop there. Qin demands six cities from Your Majesty — give those six cities to Qi instead. Qi is Qin's bitter enemy. With Your Majesty's six cities in hand, Qi will join forces to strike Qin from the west. Qi will agree before you finish speaking. Thus Your Majesty loses territory to Qi but gains compensation from Qin. The deep enmity between Qi and Zhao can be avenged, and the world will see that Zhao can act. If Your Majesty makes this known — before a single soldier crosses the border, I predict that Qin's envoys will arrive in Zhao bearing lavish gifts, suing for peace on your terms. Once Qin sues for peace with Zhao, Han and Wei will hear of it and value Your Majesty greatly; they will send their own treasures to win your favor first. Thus in one move Your Majesty binds three states in alliance and reverses the balance with Qin."

The King of Zhao said: "Good." He sent Yu Qing east to see the King of Qi and plan jointly against Qin. Before Yu Qing returned, Qin's envoys were already in Zhao. Lou Huan heard of this and fled. Zhao enfeoffed Yu Qing with one city.

Lord Pingyuan died in the fifteenth year of King Xiaocheng of Zhao. His descendants succeeded him, but in the end they perished together with Zhao.

As for Yu Qing, because of his loyalty to Wei Qi, he did not value the seal of a marquis with ten thousand households or the position of minister. He traveled in secret with Wei Qi, ultimately left Zhao, and ended up destitute in Daliang. After Wei Qi died, Yu Qing, frustrated in his ambitions, wrote a book drawing on the Spring and Autumn Annals above and observing recent history below, covering topics such as integrity, titles, strategic assessment, and political counsel — eight chapters in all. It criticized the gains and losses of states and was transmitted to later generations as Yu's Spring and Autumn.

The Grand Historian remarks: Lord Pingyuan was an elegant prince in a turbid age, yet he failed to see the larger picture. As the common saying goes: "Profit makes wisdom dim." Lord Pingyuan was greedy for Feng Ting's treacherous advice and thereby led Zhao to bury over four hundred thousand troops at Changping and nearly lose Handan. Yu Qing assessed situations and read intentions with brilliance — what superb strategy he devised for Zhao! Yet when it came to Wei Qi, he could not bear to abandon him, and in the end was trapped in Daliang. Even an ordinary man would know that was folly — how much more a man of wisdom? Still, had Yu Qing not been reduced to poverty and frustration, he could never have written a book to make his name known to later generations.