齊策二

Han and Qi were allied states. Zhang Yi led Qin and Wei in an attack on Han. The King of Qi said: "Han is our ally. If Qin attacks it, I should rescue it."

Tian Chensi said: "Your Majesty's plan is mistaken. Better to let events unfold. King Kuai of Yan gave his state to Zizhi — the people do not support them and the lords refuse to recognize them. If Qin attacks Han, Chu and Zhao will certainly rush to rescue it. That means All-Under-Heaven is handing us Yan as a gift."

The king said: "Excellent." He reassured the Han envoy and sent him home.

Han, believing it had secured Qi's alliance, went to war with Qin. Chu and Zhao did indeed quickly dispatch armies to rescue Han. Qi then raised its army and attacked Yan — conquering the entire state in thirty days.

Zhang Yi served King Hui of Qin. King Hui died, and King Wu succeeded him. Those around the new king spoke ill of Zhang Yi, saying: "Zhang Yi was disloyal to the late king." Before they had finished, complaints from Qi also arrived.

Zhang Yi heard of this and addressed King Wu: "I have a humble plan I wish to present to Your Majesty."

"What is it?"

"For the sake of the state: if a great upheaval occurs in the east, then Your Majesty can extract much territory. The King of Qi deeply hates Zhang Yi — wherever I go, he will certainly raise an army to attack. Therefore I beg to take my worthless self to Wei. Qi will certainly raise an army to attack Wei. While the armies of Qi and Wei are locked in combat beneath the walls and unable to disengage, Your Majesty can use the interval to attack Han, enter the Three Rivers region, march troops out of Hangu Pass unopposed, advance on Zhou, seize the ritual vessels, hold the Son of Heaven, and control the maps and registers — this is the foundation of imperial power."

The king said: "Excellent." He prepared thirty leather-covered chariots and sent Zhang Yi to Wei.

Qi did indeed raise an army to attack Wei. The King of Wei was furious.

Zhang Yi said: "Do not worry, Your Majesty. Allow me to make Qi withdraw."

He sent his retainer Feng Xi to Chu, and from there arranged an envoy to Qi. Once the Qi-Chu matter was settled, the envoy addressed the King of Qi: "Your Majesty deeply hates Zhang Yi. Even so, you have done Zhang Yi a great favor with the King of Qin."

The King of Qi said: "I deeply hate Zhang Yi — wherever he is, I raise an army to attack. How have I done him a favor?"

"That is precisely the favor. When Zhang Yi left Qin, he made a pact with the King of Qin: 'For the sake of the state, a great upheaval is needed in the east so Your Majesty can extract territory. The King of Qi hates me — wherever I go, he will attack. So I will go to Wei. Qi will attack Wei. While their armies are locked in combat, Your Majesty attacks Han, enters the Three Rivers, marches out of Hangu unopposed, advances on Zhou, seizes the ritual vessels, holds the Son of Heaven, and controls the registers — imperial power.' The King of Qin agreed and sent him to Wei with thirty chariots. And you did attack — which means you exhausted yourself attacking an allied state, expanded your neighbor's threat against yourself, and confirmed Zhang Yi's credibility with the King of Qin. That is what I mean by doing him a favor."

The king said: "I see." He called off the attack.

Xishou fought at Chengkuang for Wei against Qi and did not win. Zhang Yi told the King of Wei that the king had not heeded his advice and had endangered the state. The King of Wei thereupon appointed Zhang Yi as chancellor. Zhang Yi used the Qin-Wei relationship to draw Qi into the east-west alignment.

Xishou wished to sabotage this. He told the lord of Wei: "I bear no grudge against Zhang Yi — we simply differ on how to serve our states. I beg you to reconcile us."

The lord of Wei conveyed this to Zhang Yi, who agreed. They sat together at a three-way audience before the lord of Wei. Xishou knelt and walked on his knees, offering Zhang Yi a toast of ten thousand years.

The next day Zhang Yi departed, and Xishou escorted him all the way to the Qi border. When the King of Qi heard of this, he was furious with Zhang Yi: "Xishou is my enemy, and Zhang Yi traveled with him — they must be conspiring to sell out my state." He refused to listen to Zhang Yi.

Zhao Yang attacked Wei on Chu's behalf, destroying its army, killing its general, and taking eight cities. He then moved his forces to attack Qi.

Chen Zhen, as envoy for the King of Qi, met with Zhao Yang. He bowed twice in congratulation on the victory, then rose and asked: "Under Chu's system, what are the rank and title for one who destroys an army and kills its general?"

Zhao Yang said: "The office is Supreme Pillar of the State; the title is Supreme Holder of the Jade Tablet."

Chen Zhen said: "Is there anything higher than that?"

"Only the Chancellor."

Chen Zhen said: "The Chancellor is a high position indeed! But the king does not appoint two chancellors. Allow me a parable, if I may.

"In Chu there was a man who performed a sacrifice and gave his retainers a goblet of wine. The retainers said to each other: 'If several of us drink it, there is not enough. If one of us drinks it, there is plenty. Let us draw snakes on the ground — the first to finish drinks the wine.' One man finished his snake first and reached for the wine. But holding the goblet in his left hand, he drew with his right, saying: 'I can add feet to it.' Before he finished, another man completed his snake, snatched the goblet, and said: 'A snake has no feet — how can you add feet to one?' And he drank the wine. The man who drew feet on the snake lost his wine.

"Now you serve as Chu's general and attacked Wei — destroying the army, killing the general, taking eight cities. Without resting your forces, you wish to attack Qi. Qi fears you greatly. Your reputation from this is sufficient; there is no higher office to be gained. One who wins every battle but does not know when to stop will find his life in danger and his rank bestowed on another. This is drawing feet on a snake."

Zhao Yang agreed and withdrew his army.

Qin attacked Zhao. Zhao ordered Lou Huan to offer five cities to make peace with Qin and join Qin in attacking Qi. The ruler of Qi was alarmed and sent someone to offer ten cities to make peace with Qin.

Lou Huan grew alarmed in turn and offered the King of Qin twenty-four counties of Shangdang.

Zhao Zu went to Qi and said to the King of Qi: "Does Your Majesty wish Qin and Zhao to settle their conflict? Better to form a north-south coalition with Zhao — Zhao will certainly break with Qin. Once Zhao breaks with Qin, Qi has nothing to fear."

During the crisis at Quan, Qi and Yan fought. Qin sent Wei Ran to Zhao to arrange for Zhao to dispatch troops to assist Yan against Qi.

The Lord of Xue sent Wei Chu to Zhao, who addressed Li Xiang: "If you assist Yan and strike Qi, Qi will be desperate. In its desperation, it will cede territory to make peace with Yan and then turn to fight Zhao. In that case, you will have served as Yan's vanguard and won territory for Yan, not for yourself.

"The better plan is to keep your army in reserve and not move. Without Zhao's intervention, Qi will relax and resume fighting Yan. If Qi wins, its army will be exhausted — Zhao can take Tang and Quni. If Qi loses, its fate hangs on Zhao's favor. Either way, you remain neutral while carving up an exhausted Qi and a depleted Yan. The strategic balance between the two states will rest in your hands."

Qin attacked Zhao at Changping. Qi and Chu sent troops to rescue Zhao. Qin calculated: "If Qi and Chu are truly committed to rescuing Zhao, we will withdraw. If they are not committed, we will press the attack."

Zhao had no food and requested grain from Qi, but Qi refused. Su Qin addressed the King of Qi:

"Better to grant the grain and force Qin to withdraw. If you refuse, Qin's army will not withdraw — Qin's calculation will have been correct, and Qi and Yan's calculation will have been wrong.

"Moreover, Zhao serves as a shield for Yan and Qi — as lips are to teeth: when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. If Zhao falls today, Qi and Chu are next tomorrow.

"The urgency of rescuing Zhao is like plugging a leak or dousing a burning pot. To rescue Zhao is noble duty; to repel Qin's army is a glorious reputation. To perform the righteous act of saving a doomed Zhao and the mighty act of driving back Qin's forces — and instead to cling to grain — this is a grave miscalculation for the state."

Someone said to the King of Qi: "Zhou and Han have strong Qin to their west and Zhao and Wei to their east. When Qin attacks the western borders of Zhou and Han, Zhao and Wei do not intervene — so Zhou and Han must cede territory. When Han and Zhou are forced to cede, Zhao and Wei will also inevitably face trouble with Qin.

"Now if Qi joins Qin in attacking Zhao and Wei, the result will be the same as when Zhao and Wei failed to help Zhou and Han against Qin. If Qi enters into Qin's service and attacks Zhao and Wei, once Zhao and Wei are destroyed, Qin will face east and attack Qi. How then will Qi be able to save All-Under-Heaven?"