春申君列传 — Shiji

Lord Chunshen was a native of Chu. His given name was Xie, and he bore the surname Huang. He traveled extensively to broaden his learning, and he served King Qingxiang of Chu. The king considered Xie eloquent and sent him as an envoy to Qin. King Zhaoxiang of Qin had by then dispatched Bai Qi to attack Han and Wei, defeating their forces at Huayang and capturing their general Mang Mao. Han and Wei submitted and became vassals of Qin. King Zhaoxiang was about to order Bai Qi to join with Han and Wei in a joint campaign against Chu, but before this could begin, Chu's envoy Huang Xie arrived in Qin and learned of these plans.

At that time, Qin had already sent Bai Qi to attack Chu, seizing the commanderies of Wu and Qianzhong and capturing Yanying. Their forces had advanced east as far as Jingling. King Qingxiang of Chu had moved his capital eastward to the county of Chen. Huang Xie recalled how King Huaixiang of Chu had been lured by Qin into a state visit and then deceived, dying in captivity in Qin. King Qingxiang was Huaixiang's son, and Qin held him in contempt, fearing that a single military campaign would destroy Chu.

Xie therefore presented a memorial to persuade King Zhaoxiang of Qin. He wrote: "Among all the realm, none is mightier than Qin and Chu. Now I hear that Your Majesty intends to attack Chu—this is like two tigers fighting each other. When two tigers fight, the mangy dogs benefit from the aftermath. It would be better to treat Chu kindly. Allow me to explain my reasoning: I have heard that things reach an extreme and then reverse, as winter gives way to summer. When they reach their ultimate limit, danger follows, as with a stack of dishes. Now Your Majesty's territories span two-thirds of the realm. Since the creation of humanity, no ruler has possessed such a vast domain of ten thousand chariots. Your illustrious predecessors, Kings Wen and Zhuang, over three generations never failed to extend their borders by connecting with Qi, thereby cutting off the pillar of the alliance between the eastern states.

"Now Your Majesty sent Sheng Qiao to administer Han, and Sheng Qiao brought that territory into Qin. Thus Your Majesty gained a hundred li of land without employing troops or displaying might. One might say Your Majesty showed great ability. Your Majesty then raised arms against Wei, blocking the gates of Daliang, capturing Yan, Suanzao, Xu, and Tao, entering Xing. Wei's armies wandered about but dared not come to their rescue. Your Majesty's achievements have indeed been many.

"Your Majesty's prestige would be fully established. If Your Majesty can preserve these achievements, maintain this prestige, abandon the mindset of conquest, and cultivate benevolent righteousness, thereby removing future troubles, then surpassing the Three Dynasties and Five Hegemons would be well within reach.

"But if Your Majesty, relying on great numbers of subjects, the strength of weapons and armor, and the power derived from Wei's destruction, seeks to coerce the rulers of the realm by force, I fear grave consequences will follow. As the ode says: 'All things have a beginning, but few see it through.' The Book of Changes says: 'The fox wades through water, getting his tail wet.' These words speak of how easy it is to begin, how difficult to finish.

"Zhi Bozhi trusted the states of Han and Wei, and so attacked Zhao, laying siege to Jinyang. Victory seemed imminent, but Han and Wei turned against him, and Zhi Boyao was murdered beneath the lathe platform.

"Now Your Majesty envies Chu's downfall but forgets that destroying Chu would only strengthen Han and Wei. I implore Your Majesty not to adopt such a strategy. As the ode says: 'The great warrior does not cross his threshold to attack.' From this we can see: Chu is an ally; neighboring states are adversaries.

"The spirits of their ancestors wander in solitude, with no one to offer them blood sacrifices. The people have no livelihood, families have scattered, and refugees filling the realm as servants and concubines stream across every road. Therefore, the survival of Han and Wei remains a matter of grave concern to Qin's state. Now Your Majesty would fund an attack on Chu using such states—is this not a grave error?

"Furthermore, on the day Your Majesty attacks Chu, the four other states will certainly mobilize their forces in response. The armies of Qin and Chu will become entangled and unable to disengage. Wei will send forces to attack Liu, Fangyu, Zhi, Huling, Dang, Xiao, and Xiang—so the former Song territories will certainly be completely taken. Qi to the south will attack Chu, and the region of the Si River will surely fall. These are all fertile, well-watered lands with easy access in every direction. Yet Your Majesty would have Chu bear this attack alone.

"If Your Majesty defeats Chu, you would strengthen Han and Wei while making Qi formidable. Han and Wei, grown strong, could then stand as equals to Qin. Qi, with the Si River as its southern boundary, the sea to the east, and the Yellow River to the north, would have no rear vulnerabilities. Among all the states, none would be mightier than Qi and Wei. With their territory secured and their advantages consolidated, these states need only govern their affairs diligently for a year—they would not immediately claim imperial titles, but they would possess more than sufficient strength to rival Your Majesty's claim to empire.

"In summary, despite Your Majesty's vast dominions, numerous subjects, and powerful military, a single campaign that arouses Chu's resentment while forcing Han and Wei to accord greater importance to Qi's emperor than to Your Majesty would constitute a grave miscalculation.

"I implore Your Majesty: treat Chu with kindness. If Qin and Chu unite to face Han, Han will certainly submit. Your Majesty may then control the strategic heights of the eastern mountains and the advantageous bends of the rivers. Han will become a border lord of Qin. If Your Majesty stations a force of one hundred thousand at Zheng, the Liang family will be seized with fear. The cities of Xu and Yanling will be besieged, and communication with Shangcai and Zhaoling will cease. In this way, Wei too will become a border lord.

"Once Your Majesty has won Chu's goodwill, the two lords of the realm's ten thousand chariots within the passes will pledge their territories to Qi. The Qi territories to the east of the capital may be seized with folded hands. Your Majesty's domain will span two seas, bound by treaties to the realm. Then Yan and Zhao will be isolated from Qi, and Qi and Chu will be isolated from Yan and Zhao. Afterward, by threatening Yan and Zhao while directly undermining Qi and Chu, these four states will submit without needing to be coerced."

When King Qingxiang of Chu fell gravely ill, the Crown Prince was unable to return. The Crown Prince of Chu had been on good terms with the Prime Minister of Qin, Fan Wei. Accordingly, Huang Xie addressed Fan Wei: "Does the Prime Minister genuinely wish well for the Crown Prince of Chu?" Fan Wei replied, "Indeed." Xie said, "Now the King of Chu's recovery is uncertain. Qin should return his Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will serve Qin faithfully and repay the Prime Minister's kindness endlessly. This would cement a friendly alliance while preserving a heir apparent of ten thousand chariots. If the Prince is not returned, he is merely a commoner in Xianyang. Chu will surely install another Crown Prince who will not serve Qin. To lose a friendly state and sever relations with a heir apparent of ten thousand chariots—this is no wise strategy. I implore the Prime Minister to consider this carefully."