魯仲連鄒陽列傳

Lu Zhonglian was a man of Qi. He delighted in bold and extraordinary stratagems and refused to serve in office or hold any appointment, preferring to maintain his lofty principles. He was traveling in Zhao.

During the reign of King Xiaocheng of Zhao, the King of Qin sent Bai Qi to destroy Zhao's army at Changping — over 400,000 troops in all. Qin's forces then moved east to besiege Handan. The King of Zhao was terrified, and none of the rescue forces from the other states dared engage the Qin army. King Anxi of Wei sent General Jin Bi to rescue Zhao, but fearing Qin, he halted at Dangyin and would not advance. The King of Wei sent his guest general Xinyuan Yan to slip into Handan, where he told the King of Zhao through Lord Pingyuan: "The reason Qin is pressing the siege of Zhao is not necessarily that it covets Handan — previously Qin contended with King Min of Qi for the title of Emperor, then gave it up; now Qi has grown weaker and only Qin dominates all under Heaven; its true aim is to once again seek the imperial title. If Zhao would sincerely send an envoy to honor King Zhao of Qin as Emperor, Qin would certainly be pleased and withdraw its troops." Lord Pingyuan was undecided.

At this time Lu Zhonglian happened to be traveling in Zhao. Meeting the Qin siege, he heard that the Wei general wanted Zhao to acknowledge Qin as emperor. He went to see Lord Pingyuan and asked: "What will happen?" Lord Pingyuan said: "How dare I speak of what will happen! We lost 400,000 troops abroad, and now we are besieged in Handan and cannot break free. The King of Wei has sent his guest general Xinyuan Yan to order Zhao to honor Qin as emperor, and he is here now. How dare I speak of it!" Lu Zhonglian said: "I had thought you were the most worthy lord in all the realm. Now I see you are not. Where is this Wei guest, Xinyuan Yan? Let me rebuke him and send him packing on your behalf."

Lu Zhonglian met Xinyuan Yan but said nothing at first. Xinyuan Yan said: "As I see it, everyone living in this besieged city has something to ask of Lord Pingyuan. But observing your distinguished countenance, sir, you do not seem to be someone with requests for Lord Pingyuan. Why do you remain in this besieged city and not leave?" Lu Zhonglian said: "The world thinks Bao Jiao died because he had no one who appreciated him. They are all wrong. It is simply that ordinary people do not understand — they think only of themselves. Qin is a state that has cast away ritual propriety and righteousness, valuing only headcounts of the slain. It manipulates its officers through coercion and treats its people like slaves. If Qin arrogantly assumes the imperial title and extends its governance over all under Heaven, then I, Zhonglian, would rather wade into the Eastern Sea and drown. I will not endure being its subject. My reason for seeing you, General, is that I wish to help Zhao."

Xinyuan Yan said: "How does the Master propose to help?" Lu Zhonglian said: "I will make Liang and Yan assist Zhao. Qi and Chu will assist of their own accord." Xinyuan Yan said: "I can accept that Yan might follow along; but Liang — I am myself a man of Liang — how could you make Liang help?" Lu Zhonglian said: "Liang has simply not yet seen the harm of Qin assuming the imperial title. Once Liang sees that harm, it will certainly help Zhao."

Xinyuan Yan said: "What harm would Qin's taking the imperial title cause?" Lu Zhonglian said: "In former times, King Wei of Qi once practiced benevolence and righteousness, leading all the lords to pay court to Zhou. Zhou was poor and insignificant — none of the lords paid court, yet Qi alone did so. A year later, King Lie of Zhou died. Qi arrived late for the mourning. Zhou was furious and sent word to Qi: 'Heaven has fallen and earth has split. The Son of Heaven has descended from his seat. The Eastern Shield-vassal Qi was late in arriving — he shall be executed.' King Wei of Qi flew into a rage and said: 'Bah! Your mother was a slave!' He ended up being laughed at by all under Heaven. Thus while the Zhou king was alive, Qi paid court; when he died, Qi cursed him — he truly could not bear the demands placed on him. That is the nature of a Son of Heaven. There should be nothing surprising about it."

Xinyuan Yan rose and bowed twice in gratitude: "At first I took you for an ordinary man, sir. Today I know you to be one of the great men of the realm. I shall withdraw and will never again speak of honoring Qin as emperor." When the Qin generals heard of this, they pulled their army back fifty li. Just then, Lord Xinling of Wei stole Jin Bi's army to rescue Zhao and struck the Qin forces, which thereupon retreated entirely.

Lord Pingyuan wished to enfeoff Lu Zhonglian, but Zhonglian declined three times and absolutely refused to accept. Lord Pingyuan then held a banquet. When the wine was flowing, he rose and presented a thousand jin of gold to honor Lu Zhonglian. Zhonglian laughed and said: "What is valued in a great man of the realm is that he resolves others' troubles, removes their difficulties, and untangles their disputes — without taking anything in return. If he takes something, that is the business of merchants and traders, and I, Zhonglian, will not stoop to it." He took his leave of Lord Pingyuan and departed, never seeing him again.

More than twenty years later, a Yan general had captured Liaocheng, but people from Liaocheng slandered him to the Yan court. The general feared execution and therefore held Liaocheng in defiance, not daring to return to Yan. Qi's Tian Dan attacked Liaocheng for over a year; many soldiers died but Liaocheng would not fall. Lu Zhonglian then composed a letter, tied it to an arrow, and shot it into the city, addressing the Yan general. The letter said:

"I have heard that the wise man does not reject the times and throw away advantage; the brave man does not shrink from death and destroy his reputation; the loyal minister does not put himself before his lord. Now you act upon a moment's anger, heedless that the King of Yan will be left without a minister — this is not loyalty. You will die and lose Liaocheng, yet your authority will gain no credence in Qi — this is not bravery. Your achievements will fail and your name will perish, with no one in later generations to speak of you — this is not wisdom. A man who fails in all three will be disowned by rulers and ignored by persuaders. The wise do not calculate twice; the brave do not flinch from death. Life and death, glory and shame, honor and baseness — this moment will not come again. I ask you to consider carefully and not follow the common path."

The Yan general read Lu Zhonglian's letter and wept for three days, unable to decide. He wanted to return to Yan, but a rift already existed and he feared execution. He wanted to surrender to Qi, but he had killed and captured so many Qi people that he feared being humiliated after surrendering. With a deep sigh he said: "Rather than let another man's blade kill me, I shall use my own." He killed himself. Liaocheng fell into chaos, and Tian Dan slaughtered the city. Upon returning, Tian Dan spoke of Lu Zhonglian and wished to grant him a title. Lu Zhonglian fled and hid by the sea, saying: "I would rather be poor and humble, making light of the world and following my will, than be rich and noble yet beholden to others."

Zou Yang was a man of Qi. He traveled to Liang, where he associated with Zhuang Ji the Master (formerly of Wu) and Mei Sheng of Huaiyin and their circle. He submitted memorials and positioned himself between Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui. But Yang Sheng and his allies grew jealous of Zou Yang and slandered him to King Xiao of Liang. The king was furious and had him arrested, intending to execute him. Zou Yang, a guest traveler who had been imprisoned on false charges, feared dying under unjust accusations. From prison he submitted a memorial: "I have heard that loyalty always receives its reward and that trust is never met with suspicion. I once believed this, but they are just empty words. In the past, Jing Ke admired Prince Dan of Yan's righteousness — a white rainbow pierced the sun — yet the prince feared him. Master Wei devised the Changping strategy for Qin — Venus eclipsed the Pleiades — yet King Zhao doubted him. Their very sincerity moved heaven and earth, yet it could not convince two rulers. Is this not tragic? Now I have exhausted my loyalty and sincerity, offered every counsel I know, yet those at court are unenlightened. I have been handed over to judicial interrogation, suspected by the world. It is as if Jing Ke and Master Wei were to rise again, and Yan and Qin would still fail to understand. I beg Your Majesty to examine the matter carefully."

When the memorial was presented to King Xiao of Liang, the king had Zou Yang released and ultimately made him a premier guest.

The Grand Historian remarks: Though Lu Zhonglian's principles may not have fully accorded with the highest righteousness, I greatly admire how he, holding the position of a mere commoner, freely followed his will without yielding to the feudal lords, spoke his mind to the rulers of his day, and broke the power of ministers and chancellors. Though Zou Yang's rhetoric was sometimes intemperate, his comparisons and analogies are deeply moving. He may well be called unyielding and forthright. That is why I have appended his account to this biography.