Cai Ze had been expelled from Zhao and wandered through Han and Wei, where he was robbed of his cooking pots on the road. Hearing that the Marquis of Ying's protégés Zheng Anping and Wang Ji had both incurred serious crimes, and that the Marquis was inwardly ashamed, Cai Ze entered Qin from the west.
Intending to see King Zhao, he first had rumors spread to provoke the Marquis of Ying: "The visitor from Yan, Cai Ze, is the most brilliant and eloquent man in the world. Once he sees the King of Qin, the king will certainly make him chancellor and take your position."
The Marquis of Ying heard this and sent for Cai Ze. Cai Ze entered and gave the Marquis a casual bow. The Marquis was already displeased. Meeting him face to face, Cai Ze was insolent. The Marquis rebuked him: "You have been spreading word that you will replace me as Qin's chancellor. Is there any truth to it?"
Cai Ze said: "There is."
The Marquis said: "Let me hear your argument."
Cai Ze said: "Why are you so late in seeing this? The four seasons proceed in order — what has accomplished its purpose departs. A man born with strong limbs, keen ears and eyes, and a wise mind — is this not what every gentleman desires?"
The Marquis said: "It is."
"To embody benevolence and uphold righteousness, to practice the Way and extend virtue throughout the world, so that all cherish, respect, and love you and wish to make you their ruler — is this not the goal of wisdom and eloquence?"
"It is."
"Wealth, honor, and glory; to put all things in order, each finding its proper place; a long life, dying at the end of one's natural span without untimely harm; the world inheriting one's legacy, maintaining one's work, passing it on without end; pure in name and substance, beneficence flowing for a thousand ages, praise never ceasing, enduring as long as All-Under-Heaven. Is this not the blessing of the Way, what the sages call the highest good fortune?"
"It is."
Cai Ze said: "And the end of Qin's Lord Shang, Chu's Wu Qi, and Yue's Grand Steward Zhong — was that also something to wish for?"
The Marquis of Ying, seeing that Cai Ze meant to corner him with his argument, countered: "Why not? Gongsun Yang served Duke Xiao with total devotion, served the public without regard for self, enforced rewards and punishments to achieve order, exhausted his talents, showed his true nature, endured resentment, betrayed old friends, captured a Wei prince, conquered generals, destroyed armies, and expanded territory by a thousand li. Wu Qi served King Dao, ensured that death did not harm the public interest, slander did not obscure loyalty, speech did not seek easy agreement, conduct did not seek easy accommodation — he pursued righteousness without caring about praise or blame, insisted on creating a hegemonic ruler and a strong state, and did not shrink from calamity. Grand Steward Zhong served the King of Yue — when his lord was in captivity and disgrace, he was utterly loyal and did not slacken. Even when his lord was exiled and cut off, he gave his utmost without leaving. He achieved great merit without boasting, was wealthy and honored without arrogance. These three were righteousness at its peak, loyalty at its purest. A gentleman sacrifices his life to establish his name — where righteousness lies, even death holds no regret. What is wrong with that?"
Cai Ze replied: "When the ruler is holy and the minister worthy, that is the world's good fortune. When the ruler is wise and the minister loyal, that is the state's good fortune. When the father is kind and the son filial, the husband faithful and the wife chaste, that is the family's good fortune.
"Yet Bi Gan was loyal and could not save Yin. Wu Zixu was wise and could not save Wu. Shen Sheng was filial and Jin was thrown into turmoil. There were loyal ministers and filial sons, yet states were destroyed and thrown into chaos. Why? Because there were no wise rulers or worthy fathers to listen to them.
"The world pities the ministers and sons and condemns the rulers and fathers. If one must wait until after death to establish loyalty and achieve fame, then Weizi was not benevolent enough, Confucius was not sage enough, and Guan Zhong was not great enough."
The Marquis of Ying agreed.
Seizing the opening, Cai Ze continued: "Lord Shang, Wu Qi, and Grand Steward Zhong — as ministers who gave their utmost loyalty and achieved great merit, they were indeed admirable. But Hong Yao served King Wen, and the Duke of Zhou assisted King Cheng — were they not also loyal? Comparing ministers and rulers: Lord Shang, Wu Qi, and Grand Steward Zhong — are their fates more desirable than Hong Yao's and the Duke of Zhou's?"
The Marquis said: "Lord Shang, Wu Qi, and Grand Steward Zhong do not compare."
Cai Ze said: "Then is your current sovereign — in kindness, benevolence, trust in loyal ministers, and refusal to betray old friends — superior to Duke Xiao of Qin, King Dao of Chu, or King Goujian of Yue?"
The Marquis said: "I do not know."
Cai Ze said: "Your current sovereign's affection for loyal ministers does not exceed that of Duke Xiao, King Goujian, or King Dao. Your own achievements — restoring order, resolving crises, overcoming obstacles, expanding territory, increasing harvests, strengthening the state and enriching its households, empowering the ruler until his prestige covers all within the seas and his fame extends beyond ten thousand li — do not exceed Lord Shang's, Wu Qi's, or Grand Steward Zhong's.
"Yet your salary, rank, and private wealth surpass all three, and you have not retired. I fear for you.
"The saying goes: 'When the sun reaches its zenith, it declines. When the moon is full, it wanes.' All things wax and then wane — this is heaven's constant pattern. Advance and retreat, expansion and contraction, transformation and change — this is the sage's constant way.
"Duke Huan of Qi united the feudal lords nine times and set All-Under-Heaven to rights. At the meeting of Kuiqiu, he showed an arrogant air — and nine states deserted him. King Fuchai of Wu was invincible under heaven, scorned the feudal lords, humiliated Qi and Jin — and ended by killing himself and destroying his state. Xia Yu and Grand Scribe Qi could rout three armies with a shout — yet they died at the hands of ordinary men. All of these rode their peak without understanding the Way's principles.
"Lord Shang standardized weights and measures, opened up the fields, taught the people to farm and fight. When his army moved, territory expanded; when it rested, the state grew rich. Qin was invincible, and its authority stood over the feudal lords. His work was done — and he was torn apart by chariots.
"Bai Qi led a force of tens of thousands against Chu's million, took Yan and Ying in one battle, burned Yiling in the next, annexed Shu and Han in the south, then crossed Han and Wei to attack mighty Zhao in the north, buried Ma Fu's army, slaughtered four hundred thousand, rivers of blood and thunder of screams, bringing Qin to the threshold of empire. After that, Zhao and Chu were cowed — for forty years none dared attack Qin, all because of Bai Qi's power. He personally conquered seventy-odd cities. His work was done — and he was forced to die at Duyu.
"Wu Qi dismissed the incompetent, abolished the useless, cut unnecessary offices, blocked private petitions, unified Chu's customs, attacked the Yang Yue in the south, annexed Chen and Cai in the north, broke the east-west alignment, scattered the north-south coalition, silenced the traveling persuaders. His work was done — and he was dismembered.
"Grand Steward Zhong cleared wasteland, founded cities, opened fields, grew grain, marshaled the talents of the four quarters, concentrated the state's resources, captured mighty Wu, and achieved the hegemonic enterprise. Goujian ultimately betrayed and killed him.
"These four men accomplished their work but did not depart, and disaster came to this. They are what the saying means: 'Trusted, but unable to bend; going forward, but unable to turn back.' Fan Li understood this — he transcended the world and became forever the rich merchant Tao Zhu.
"Have you not watched men at dice? Some want the big throw, others prefer to split the stakes. These are things you know well.
"Now you serve as Qin's chancellor. Your plans never leave your couch; your strategies never leave the court. Seated, you control the feudal lords. Your benefits extend to Sanchuan, filling Yiyang. You have breached the Yangchang Pass, sealed the Taihang roads, cut the paths of Fan and Zhonghang, and built plank roads for a thousand li through Shu and Han — making the whole world fear Qin.
"Qin has obtained what it desired, and your achievements are at their peak. This is also the time for Qin to split the stakes!
"If you do not withdraw now, you are Lord Shang, Bai Qi, Wu Qi, and Grand Steward Zhong. Why not take this moment to return the chancellor's seal, yield it to a worthy successor — earning the reputation of a Bo Yi — remain forever the Marquis of Ying, be honored as a lord for all generations, and enjoy the longevity of Qiao and Song? Which is better: that, or ending in disaster?
"What will you choose?"
The Marquis of Ying said: "Excellent." He invited Cai Ze in to sit as his most honored guest.
Several days later, Fan Sui entered court and said to King Zhao: "A new visitor has arrived from east of the mountains — Cai Ze of Yan. He is a remarkable debater. Of the many men I have met, none equals him. He is my superior."
King Zhao summoned Cai Ze and spoke with him. He was greatly pleased and appointed him guest minister.
The Marquis of Ying then pleaded illness and asked to return the chancellor's seal. King Zhao pressed him to continue, but the Marquis claimed his illness was severe, and was relieved of the chancellorship.
King Zhao, newly impressed by Cai Ze's plans, appointed him chancellor of Qin. Cai Ze's first act was to annex the Zhou royal domain to the east.
Cai Ze served as Qin's chancellor for only a few months. When people spoke against him and he feared execution, he pleaded illness and returned the seal, receiving the title Lord of Gangcheng. He remained in Qin for over a decade, through the reigns of King Zhao, King Xiaowen, and King Zhuangxiang, and ultimately served the First Emperor.
As Qin's envoy to Yan, he spent three years there — after which Yan sent Crown Prince Dan to Qin as a hostage.
