魏公子列傳

The Prince of Wei, Wuji, was the youngest son of King Zhao of Wei and a half-brother of King Anxi of Wei, born of a different mother. When King Zhao died and King Anxi took the throne, he enfeoffed the prince as Lord Xinling. At that time, Fan Sui had fled Wei and become chancellor of Qin. Bearing a grudge against Wei Qi, he directed Qin's forces to besiege Daliang, shatter the Wei army below Huayang, and rout Mang Mao. The King of Wei and the prince were deeply alarmed.

The prince was a man of humanity who humbled himself before the worthy. Whether a man was talented or mediocre, the prince treated him with modesty and courtesy, never presuming upon his own wealth and rank to look down on anyone. Because of this, men from thousands of li around competed to join him, and his retainers numbered three thousand. At that time, the lords, knowing the prince's reputation and the size of his following, did not dare to make war on Wei for over ten years.

Once, the prince was playing a board game with the King of Wei when beacon fires were raised on the northern frontier with the report: "Zhao raiders approaching — about to cross the border." The king set aside the game and wanted to summon his ministers for a council. The prince restrained him: "The King of Zhao is merely hunting — there is no invasion." They resumed the game. The king was frightened and could not concentrate. Shortly afterward, another report came from the north: "The King of Zhao was hunting — there was no invasion." The King of Wei was astonished: "How did you know?" The prince replied: "Among my retainers is one who has deep access to the King of Zhao's confidential affairs. Whatever the King of Zhao does, my man reports it to me at once. That is how I knew." After this, the King of Wei was wary of the prince's ability and never again dared entrust him with the government.

In Wei there was a recluse named Hou Ying, seventy years old and poor, who served as gatekeeper at the Yimen gate of Daliang. The prince heard of him, went in person to call on him, and wished to present him with generous gifts. Hou Ying refused: "I have cultivated my character and kept my conduct clean for decades. I will not accept your wealth simply because I am poor as a gatekeeper."

The prince then held a grand banquet for all his guests. When everyone was seated, the prince took his carriage and team, left the seat of honor empty on the left side, and went personally to welcome Hou Ying at the Yimen gate. Hou Ying straightened his shabby cap and worn clothes, climbed straight up to the seat of honor, and did not yield — testing the prince. The prince held the reins with even greater deference. Then Hou Ying said: "I have a friend at the butcher's stall in the market. May I trouble you to drive there?" The prince guided the carriage into the market. Hou Ying got down to see his friend Zhu Hai, deliberately lingering and chatting while watching the prince out of the corner of his eye. The prince's expression only grew more pleasant. At that moment, Wei's generals, ministers, and nobles filled the hall, waiting for the prince to raise the toast. The market crowd all watched the prince holding the reins. His attendant riders cursed Hou Ying under their breath. But Hou Ying saw that the prince's expression never changed, and at last took leave of his friend and got into the carriage.

At the banquet, the prince led Hou Ying to the seat of honor and introduced him to all the guests. Everyone was astonished. When the wine was flowing, the prince rose and toasted Hou Ying. Hou Ying then said: "What I have done for you today is sufficient. I am merely a gatekeeper who watches the latch. Yet you, my prince, personally drove your carriage to welcome me before a crowd of distinguished men. There was no reason for you to make a detour to the market, yet you deliberately did so. I wished to establish your reputation, which is why I kept you standing with your carriage in the market, visited my friend, and observed you — and you only became more courteous. The market crowd all thought me a petty man, and they thought the prince a true gentleman who humbles himself before the worthy." The banquet concluded, and Hou Ying became the prince's most honored guest.

In the twentieth year of King Anxi of Wei, King Zhao of Qin, having destroyed the Zhao army at Changping, advanced to besiege Handan. The prince's elder sister was the wife of Lord Pingyuan, younger brother of King Huiwen of Zhao. She sent repeated letters to the King of Wei and to the prince, begging for rescue. The King of Wei dispatched General Jin Bi with a hundred thousand troops to relieve Zhao. But the King of Qin sent word to the King of Wei: "I will take Zhao any day now. Any lord who dares send rescue — after I have taken Zhao, I will turn my army against him first." The King of Wei was frightened and ordered Jin Bi to halt, encamping at Ye — nominally to rescue Zhao, but in fact hedging his bets and waiting to see which way things went.

Lord Pingyuan's envoys came one after another to Wei, their carriage canopies stretching in an unbroken line, and rebuked the prince: "The reason I allied myself to you through marriage was because of your high principles — because you were a man who rushes to aid those in distress. Now Handan is about to fall to Qin and Wei's rescue has not come. Where is the prince who rushes to aid the distressed? Even if you care nothing for me and would abandon me to Qin's mercy, can you not at least pity your own sister?" The prince was distraught. He pleaded with the King of Wei repeatedly, and his guests and persuaders argued the case from every angle. But the king feared Qin and would not listen. The prince judged that he would never obtain the king's consent. Resolving that he could not survive alone while Zhao perished, he assembled his retainers, gathered over a hundred chariots, and prepared to ride with his men straight into the Qin army and die alongside Zhao.

Passing the Yimen gate, he stopped to see Hou Ying and told him everything — his plan to die charging the Qin lines. He bid farewell and set out. Hou Ying said: "Good luck, my prince. This old servant cannot follow." The prince rode several li, then felt uneasy: "I have treated Hou Ying with every courtesy — the whole world knows it. Now I am going to my death and Hou Ying has not offered so much as a word of farewell. Have I somehow failed him?" He turned his carriage back and sought out Hou Ying.

Hou Ying laughed: "I knew you would come back." He said: "You are famed throughout the realm as a patron of the worthy. Now in this crisis, with no other recourse, you plan to charge into the Qin army — that is like throwing meat to a starving tiger. What good will it do? What was the point of gathering retainers? But you have treated me generously, and when you left without my seeing you off, I knew your resentment would bring you back."

The prince bowed twice and asked for his counsel. Hou Ying dismissed the attendants and spoke privately: "I have heard that Jin Bi's tiger tally is kept in the king's bedchamber, and that Lady Ru is the king's most favored consort with free access to the bedchamber — she alone has the ability to steal it. I have heard that Lady Ru's father was murdered and that she sought vengeance for three years. From the king down, everyone tried to find the killer, but no one could. Lady Ru wept to the prince, and the prince sent a retainer to cut off the enemy's head and present it to her. Lady Ru would die for the prince without a second thought — she simply has not had the opportunity. If the prince merely opens his mouth and asks, Lady Ru will certainly agree. Then you will have the tiger tally to seize Jin Bi's army, march north to save Zhao and west to drive back Qin — that is an exploit worthy of the Five Hegemons."

The prince followed his plan and asked Lady Ru. She did indeed steal Jin Bi's tiger tally and gave it to the prince.

As the prince was about to depart, Hou Ying said: "A general in the field may refuse his sovereign's orders if it serves the state. But if you match the tallies and Jin Bi still refuses to hand over command and insists on verifying with the king, the plan will be in danger. My friend, the butcher Zhu Hai, should go with you. He is a man of great strength. If Jin Bi complies, all the better. If not, have Zhu Hai strike him down."

At this the prince wept. Hou Ying said: "Are you afraid to die? Why do you weep?" The prince replied: "Jin Bi is a gruff veteran commander. If I go and he does not comply, I will have to kill him — that is why I weep. It is not death I fear."

The prince then went to ask Zhu Hai. Zhu Hai laughed: "I am nothing but a market butcher who chops meat. Yet the prince has personally visited me again and again. The reason I never reciprocated with the usual courtesies is that I considered small gestures beneath notice. Now the prince has a crisis — this is the moment for me to give my life." He went with the prince. The prince stopped to take his leave of Hou Ying. Hou Ying said: "I should go with you, but I am too old. Let me count the days of your march. On the day you reach Jin Bi's army, I will face north and cut my own throat to see you off."

The prince set out. Arriving at Ye, he presented the forged royal order to replace Jin Bi. Jin Bi matched the two halves of the tally — they fitted. But he was suspicious, raised his hand, and looked hard at the prince: "I command a hundred thousand men, encamped on the frontier — this is the weightiest charge in the state. And now you come in a single carriage to take over. What is this?" He was about to refuse. Zhu Hai drew a forty-pound iron mace from his sleeve and struck Jin Bi dead.

The prince took command of Jin Bi's army. He marshaled the troops and issued orders: "Where father and son both serve in the army, the father shall go home. Where brothers both serve, the elder shall go home. Any only son with no brothers shall go home to support his parents." He selected eighty thousand soldiers and advanced to attack the Qin army. The Qin forces withdrew, and Handan was saved — Zhao survived.

The King of Zhao and Lord Pingyuan came in person to welcome the prince at the border. Lord Pingyuan carried the quiver of arrows and walked ahead to escort the prince. The King of Zhao bowed twice and said: "Since ancient times, no worthy man has equaled the prince." At that moment, Lord Pingyuan dared not compare himself to anyone.

When the prince had taken leave of Hou Ying and marched to the army, Hou Ying did indeed face north and cut his own throat.

The King of Wei was furious that the prince had stolen his tally and executed Jin Bi under a forged order. The prince was well aware of this. Having driven back Qin and saved Zhao, he had his officers lead the army back to Wei while he himself remained in Zhao with his retainers.

King Xiaocheng of Zhao, grateful for the prince's seizure of Jin Bi's army to save the state, consulted Lord Pingyuan and proposed to enfeoff the prince with five cities. When the prince heard of this, he grew proud and had an air of self-congratulation. One of his retainers admonished him: "There are things one must not forget, and things one must not fail to forget. When others do you a kindness, you must not forget it. When you do others a kindness, I beg you to forget it. Moreover, you forged the King of Wei's order and seized Jin Bi's army to save Zhao. For Zhao, that is a great service. For Wei, it was not the act of a loyal subject. If you now take pride in it and boast of it, I privately think that is unworthy of you."

The prince immediately reproached himself and looked as though he wished the ground would swallow him. When the King of Zhao swept the path and came personally to receive him with the full rites of a host, guiding the prince to the western staircase, the prince sidestepped and declined, ascending by the eastern staircase instead. He spoke of his own transgressions, said he had betrayed Wei and deserved no credit from Zhao. The King of Zhao attended him at wine until evening but could not bring himself to present the five cities, since the prince's self-effacement made it impossible. The prince remained in Zhao. The King of Zhao gave him the city of Hao as a private estate, and Wei also continued to maintain his fief of Xinling.

The prince heard that in Zhao there were two recluses: Master Mao, hiding among gamblers, and Master Xue, hiding in a beverage-seller's household. The prince wished to meet them, but the two men concealed themselves and refused. When the prince learned where they were, he went on foot privately to befriend them, and they became close. Lord Pingyuan heard of this and told his wife: "At first I heard your brother the prince was without peer in the realm. Now I hear he goes about freely with gamblers and drink-sellers. The prince is a fool." The wife told the prince. The prince took his leave of her and prepared to depart, saying: "At first I heard Lord Pingyuan was a worthy man, and so I betrayed the King of Wei and saved Zhao to uphold Lord Pingyuan's name. But Lord Pingyuan's socializing is mere ostentation — he does not truly seek worthy men. When I was in Daliang, I always heard that these two men were men of talent. When I came to Zhao, I feared I would not be able to meet them. That I personally seek their company, and still worry they might not accept me — and now Lord Pingyuan considers it shameful? He is not worth associating with." He prepared his baggage to leave. His sister relayed everything to Lord Pingyuan. Lord Pingyuan removed his cap, bowed in apology, and begged the prince to stay. Half of Lord Pingyuan's retainers left him and went over to the prince. Men of worth from across the realm flocked to the prince, and the prince eclipsed Lord Pingyuan's following entirely.

The prince remained in Zhao for ten years without returning. Qin, knowing the prince was in Zhao, launched unceasing attacks eastward against Wei day and night. The King of Wei was distressed and sent envoys to request the prince's return. The prince, fearing the king's anger, warned his household: "Anyone who communicates with the King of Wei's envoys will be put to death." His retainers all sided with him against Wei, and none dared urge him to go home.

Master Mao and Master Xue went to see the prince and said: "The reason you are valued in Zhao and your name is known among the lords is solely because Wei exists. Now Qin is attacking Wei, Wei is in desperate straits, and you show no concern. If Qin destroys Daliang and razes your ancestors' ancestral temples, with what face will you stand before the world?" Before they had finished speaking, the prince's expression changed instantly. He ordered his carriage prepared and raced home to save Wei.

The King of Wei received the prince, and the two wept together. The king presented the prince with the seal of Supreme Commander. In the thirtieth year of King Anxi of Wei, the prince sent envoys to all the lords. When the lords heard that the prince was in command, each dispatched a general with troops to aid Wei. The prince led the combined armies of five states, shattered the Qin army beyond the Yellow River, and routed Meng Ao. He then pressed the pursuit all the way to Hangu Pass, pinning down the Qin forces so they dared not emerge. At that time, the prince's prestige shook the entire realm. Retainers of the various lords presented military texts to the prince, and he put his name on all of them — hence the common title "Military Methods of the Prince of Wei."

The King of Qin was alarmed. He spent ten thousand catties of gold in Wei, sought out former associates of Jin Bi, and had them slander the prince to the King of Wei: "The prince has been abroad for ten years. Now as Wei's general, all the lords' generals are under his command. The lords know only the Prince of Wei — they have never heard of the King of Wei. The prince is looking for an opportunity to declare himself king. The lords, in awe of his power, are preparing to jointly install him." Qin repeatedly sent agents to sow discord, feigning congratulations that the prince had become King of Wei. The King of Wei heard these slanders daily and could not help but believe them. In the end he sent someone to replace the prince as commander.

The prince knew that he had been brought down by slander for the second time. He pleaded illness and stopped attending court. He spent his days and nights in long drinking bouts with his retainers, consuming strong wine and keeping the company of women. He continued this debauchery for four years and died of drink. That same year, King Anxi of Wei also died.

When Qin heard that the prince was dead, it sent Meng Ao to attack Wei. He took twenty cities, and Qin established the Eastern Commandery for the first time. Afterward, Qin gradually devoured Wei. Eighteen years later, Qin captured the King of Wei and sacked Daliang.

Emperor Gaozu of Han, when he was still a young man of no account, had often heard of the prince's virtue. After he became Son of Heaven, whenever he passed through Daliang he would sacrifice at the prince's tomb. In the twelfth year of his reign, returning from the campaign against Qing Bu, he assigned five households to maintain the prince's tomb, with orders that offerings be made in every season of every year for all time.

The Grand Historian remarks: I passed by the ruins of Daliang and inquired about what they called the Yimen gate. The Yimen was the eastern gate of the city. Among the princes of the realm, there have been others who were fond of worthy men. But Lord Xinling went to recluses in their cliff-dwellings and hiding places and was not ashamed to associate with men far below his station — there was good reason for it. His name stood above all the lords, and that was no empty reputation. Emperor Gaozu, whenever he passed by, ordered the people to make offerings without ceasing.