廉颇蔺相如列传 — Shiji

Lian Po was a distinguished general of Zhao. In the sixteenth year of King Huiwen of Zhao, Lian Po led Zhao forces in an attack on Qi and achieved a decisive victory, capturing Yangjin. He was appointed Senior Counselor (Shangqing) and became renowned throughout the realm for his valor.

Lin Xiangru was a native of Zhao who served as a household attendant to Miao Xian, the Director of the Imperial Palace. During the reign of King Huiwen of Zhao, the kingdom obtained the jade disc of He Shi. When King Zhaoxiang of Qin learned of this, he sent a letter to the King of Zhao proposing to exchange fifteen cities for the jade. The King of Zhao consulted with the Grand General Lian Po and his ministers: "If we give Qin the jade, we may not receive their cities—we would only be deceived. But if we refuse, we risk military attack." No decision was reached, and they searched for someone capable of delivering a reply to Qin, but found no suitable candidate.

Miao Xian, the Director of the Imperial Palace, said: "My household attendant Lin Xiangru is fit for the task." The king asked: "How do you know?" He replied: "I once committed an offense and planned to flee to Yan. My attendant Xiangru stopped me, asking, 'How do you come to know the King of Yan?' I told him, 'When I once accompanied Your Majesty to a meeting at the border, the King of Yan privately grasped my hand and said he wished to befriend me.' From this, Xiangru knew him. So I decided to go. But Xiangru said, 'Zhao is strong and Yan is weak. Because you have received the king's favor, the King of Yan wishes to befriend you. But now you flee Zhao for Yan—Yan fears Zhao, so he will certainly not detain you but instead bind you and return you to Zhao. Better to bare your back and kneel on an executioner's block to beg for forgiveness.' I followed his counsel, and Your Majesty was graciously pleased to pardon me. I believe this man is courageous and wise—he is suitable for the mission."

The king thereupon summoned Lin Xiangru in audience and asked: "King Zhaoxiang of Qin proposes to exchange fifteen cities for my jade. Should I grant it?" Xiangru replied: "Qin is strong and Zhao is weak—we cannot refuse." The king said: "But if they take the jade and do not give us the cities, what then?" Xiangru said: "If Qin demands the jade in exchange for cities and Zhao refuses, Zhao is in the wrong. If Zhao gives the jade and Qin does not give the cities, Qin is in the wrong. Weighing the two options, it is better to agree and place the fault on Qin." The king asked: "Who can be sent?" Xiangru said: "If Your Majesty truly has no one else, I am willing to carry the jade and go. If the cities are handed over to Zhao, the jade stays in Qin; if the cities are not given, I will return the jade intact to Zhao."

Xiangru held the jade and glanced at the pillar, as if to strike it. The King of Qin, fearing the jade would be broken, apologized and earnestly entreated him. He summoned his officials to consult maps, pointing to fifteen cities that would be given to Zhao. Xiangru judged that the King of Qin was merely using deception to pretend to cede the cities but could not actually deliver them. So he said: "The He Shi jade is a treasure known throughout the world. The King of Zhao, fearing Your Majesty, dared not withhold it. When the King of Zhao sent the jade, he fasted for five days. Now Your Majesty should also fast for five days and arrange the nine-row banquet in the court—only then will I dare present the jade."

The King of Qin considered this and realized he could not forcibly take the jade. He agreed to fast for five days and lodged Xiangru in the Guangcheng inn. Xiangru judged that even if the King of Qin fasted, he would certainly break his promise and not cede the cities. So he had his attendant dress as a commoner, hide the jade, and flee by a back road, returning the jade to Zhao.

After the five days, the King of Qin arranged the nine-row banquet in the court and presented the Zhao envoy Lin Xiangru. Upon arrival, Xiangru said: "Since Duke Mu of Qin, more than twenty kings of Qin have never honored their commitments. I feared being deceived by Your Majesty and bringing shame to Zhao, so I had the jade sent back—it should already be in Zhao by now. Moreover, Qin is strong and Zhao is weak. If Your Majesty sends a single messenger to Zhao, Zhao will immediately send the jade. Given Qin's strength, if you first ceded the fifteen cities, would Zhao dare detain the jade and offend Your Majesty? I know that deceiving Your Majesty is a capital offense. I am prepared to face the cauldron—but I ask that Your Majesty and your ministers consider this carefully."

The King of Qin and his ministers looked at each other in frustration. Some advisors wished to seize Xiangru, but the King of Qin said: "Executing Xiangru will not get us the jade, and will only end the friendship between Qin and Zhao. Better to treat him well and send him back to Zhao. Would the King of Zhao really deceive Qin over a single jade?" In the end, the King of Qin received Xiangru in court with full ceremony and sent him home with honor.

Upon Xiangru's return, the King of Zhao regarded him as a wise and capable minister who had completed his mission without disgrace. He was appointed Senior Official (Shangdaifu). Qin never ceded the cities to Zhao, and Zhao never gave up the jade.

Later, Qin attacked Zhao and captured Shicheng. The following year, Qin attacked again, killing twenty thousand Zhao soldiers. The King of Qin sent envoys to inform the King of Zhao, requesting a friendly meeting at Mianchi beyond the Western River. The King of Zhao, fearing Qin, considered refusing. Lian Po and Lin Xiangru counseled: "If Your Majesty does not go, it will show Zhao as weak and timid." The King of Zhao went, with Xiangru accompanying him.

Lian Po escorted the king to the border and bade him farewell: "Your Majesty's journey—with the distance, the meeting ceremonies, and the return—should take no more than thirty days. If you do not return within thirty days, I shall recommend installing the Crown Prince as king to cut off Qin's schemes." The king agreed.

At the meeting with the King of Qin at Mianchi, wine was served. The King of Qin said: "I have heard that Your Majesty is skilled at music—please play the zither." The King of Zhao played. The Qin historian stepped forward and recorded: "On such a date, the King of Qin and the King of Zhao drank together. The King of Zhao played the zither." Lin Xiangru stepped forward and said: "I have heard that Your Majesty is skilled at Qin's music. Please play the fou drum to entertain us both." The King of Qin refused angrily. Xiangru then pressed forward with the fou, kneeling to request that the king play. When the king still refused, Xiangru said: "Within five paces, I can splash my blood on Your Majesty!" The attendants raised their weapons, but Xiangru glared and shouted, and they all retreated. The King of Qin, displeased, struck the fou once. Xiangru turned and summoned the Zhao historian to record: "On such a date, the King of Qin struck the fou for the King of Zhao."

The Qin ministers proposed: "Let us offer Zhao's fifteen cities as a birthday gift to the King of Qin." Lin Xiangru replied: "Let us offer Qin's Xianyang as a birthday gift to the King of Zhao." The banquet ended with Qin unable to gain advantage over Zhao. Zhao had deployed strong forces along the border, and Qin dared not make any move.

Upon returning to Zhao, Xiangru was promoted to Senior Counselor (Shangqing) for his great achievements, ranking above Lian Po. Lian Po declared: "I am a general of Zhao with great achievements in siege warfare and battles. Lin Xiangru achieved his position merely through eloquence, yet ranks above me. And Xiangru was originally a lowly man—I am ashamed and cannot bear to be beneath him." He announced publicly: "When I see Xiangru, I will humiliate him."

When Lian Po heard this, he bared his back and carried brambles, and through intermediaries came to Xiangru's door to apologize. "A base man like me did not know the general's tolerance reached such heights." They became sworn brothers, bonded unto death.

The following year, Zhao She defeated the Qin army at Yan Yi. Zhao She was a Zhao official in the Land Tax Bureau. When collecting rent and taxes, the family of Lord Pingyuan refused to pay. Zhao She enforced the law and executed nine of Lord Pingyuan's stewards. Lord Pingyuan was furious and planned to execute Zhao She. Zhao She argued: "Your Lordship is a noble son of Zhao. If you, who should uphold public duty, allow your household to evade taxes, the law weakens. When the law weakens, the state grows weak. When the state is weak, other lords will attack. When they attack, Zhao will cease to exist—and how can you maintain your wealth? Through noble status, if you uphold public duty, then high and low are treated equally. When all are equal, the state is strong. When the state is strong, Zhao endures. And you, as a noble relative, how could you be less important than all under heaven?"

Lord Pingyuan recognized Zhao She's ability and recommended him to the king. The king employed Zhao She to manage the national taxation. Tax revenues were balanced, the people grew prosperous, and the treasury was full.

Qin attacked Han, encamping at Yan Yi. The King of Zhao summoned Lian Po and asked: "Can we relieve it?" Lian Po replied: "The route is long and dangerous—difficult to rescue." The king then asked Le Cheng, who gave the same answer. He also asked Zhao She, who said: "The route is long and passes through narrow, dangerous terrain. It is like two mice fighting in a burrow—the bold one wins." The king then ordered Zhao She to lead the relief force.

Zhao She advanced thirty li from Handan and then ordered the army: "Anyone who speaks of rescuing Wuan shall be executed." The Qin army was encamped west of Wuan. When the Qin soldiers shouted and drilled, the tiles of Wuan's houses shook. A military officer suggested rescuing Wuan—Zhao She executed him on the spot. He then fortified his position and did not move for twenty-eight days, even adding to the defensive walls.

A soldier named Xu Li requested to give military counsel. Zhao She said: "Speak." He said: "The Qin soldiers did not expect the Zhao army to arrive here. They are confident and their forces will be densely concentrated. The general must mass our forces to meet them, or we shall be defeated." Zhao She said: "I accept your counsel." Xu Li said: "I ask to face execution." Zhao She said: "We shall settle accounts later at Handan."

Xu Li counseled further: "Whoever seizes the northern hill first will win; whoever arrives second will lose." Zhao She agreed. He dispatched ten thousand men to take the hill. Qin forces arrived later and fought for the hill but could not ascend. Zhao She then released his forces to attack. The Qin army was completely routed and fled. The siege of Yan Yi was lifted, and Zhao She returned in triumph.