平原君虞卿列传

Lord Pingyuan Zhao Sheng was one of the princes of Zhao. Among all the sons of the Zhao house, Sheng was the most worthy, delighting in the company of guests. Several thousand guests came to him over the years. Lord Pingyuan served as prime minister of Zhao under King Huiwen and King Xiaocheng, losing and regaining his office three times, and was enfeoffed at Dongwucheng.

Lord Pingyuan's tower overlooked the home of a commoner. That household had a crippled man who limped unsteadily as he drew water from the well. One of Lord Pingyuan's beautiful women, living on the upper floor, looked down and saw the man, then burst out laughing at him. The following day, the crippled man came to Lord Pingyuan's gate and said: "I have heard that my lord delights in receiving men of worth, and that such men come from a thousand li away because my lord honors worthies and despises concubines. I am unfortunate enough to suffer from a crippling ailment, yet your concubine looked down from the inner chambers and laughed at me. I wish only to obtain the head of the one who laughed at me." Lord Pingyuan smiled and replied, "Very well." When the man had gone, Lord Pingyuan smiled and said, "Look at this wretch—he wants me to kill my beautiful woman over a single laugh. Is this not absurd!" In the end, he did not kill her.

When Qin besieged Handan, the King of Zhao sent Lord Pingyuan to seek aid, planning to form a vertical alliance with Chu. Lord Pingyuan intended to pick twenty bold, strong, and well-rounded retainers from his household guests to accompany him. He said, 'If we can succeed through civil persuasion, that would be ideal. If not, we will smear our mouths with blood beneath the ornate eaves of the Chu palace and not return until the alliance is firmly concluded. There is no need to seek men outside; selecting from my own retainers will suffice.' He found nineteen, but the rest were unworthy, and he could not make up the full twenty. Among the retainers was a man named Mao Sui, who stepped forward and commended himself to Lord Pingyuan, saying, 'I have heard that you, my lord, are going to Chu to form a vertical alliance, agreeing to take twenty retainers from your own household without seeking outside help. Now you are one short. I beg you to count me in and let me go.'

Lord Pingyuan said, 'How many years have you been under my patronage, sir?' Mao Sui replied, 'Three years.' Lord Pingyuan said, 'A worthy man in the world is like an awl placed in a bag—its tip will immediately show. Now you have been under my patronage for three years, and no one around has praised you, nor have I heard anything of your abilities. This shows you possess no special skill. You are not capable; you should stay behind.' Mao Sui said, 'I am only today asking to be placed in the bag. If I had been put in the bag earlier, I would have emerged entirely, not just the tip showing.' Lord Pingyuan finally agreed to take Mao Sui along. The other nineteen men exchanged mocking glances but said nothing. When Mao Sui arrived in Chu, he discussed matters with the nineteen men, and they were all convinced. Lord Pingyuan negotiated an alliance with Chu, explaining the advantages and disadvantages from sunrise until midday, yet no decision was reached.

At that time, Qi had Lord Mengchang, Wei had Lord Xinling, and Chu had Lord Chunshen—all competing to attract worthy men to their courts. When Qin laid siege to Handan, the King of Zhao sent Lord Pingyuan to seek aid. He was to negotiate a vertical alliance with Chu, selecting twenty men from among his guests and retainers who were both courageous and accomplished in letters and arms.

At that time, Qi had Lord Mengchang, Wei had Lord Xinling, and Chu had Lord Chunshen—all competing to attract worthy men to their courts. When Qin laid siege to Handan, the King of Zhao sent Lord Pingyuan to seek aid. He was to negotiate a vertical alliance with Chu, selecting twenty men from among his guests and retainers who were both courageous and accomplished in letters and arms.

At that time, Qi had Lord Mengchang, Wei had Lord Xinling, and Chu had Lord Chunshen—all competing to attract worthy men to their courts. When Qin laid siege to Handan, the King of Zhao sent Lord Pingyuan to seek aid. He was to negotiate a vertical alliance with Chu, selecting twenty men from among his guests and retainers who were both courageous and accomplished in letters and arms.

Lord Pingyuan said, "If diplomacy can secure victory, well and good. If it cannot, we shall spill blood in the great hall and be certain to return with the alliance settled. There is no need to search beyond our own household—our guests and retainers will provide all we need." Nineteen men were found, but the remaining candidates were unsuitable; there was no way to complete the number of twenty.

Among the retainers was a man named Mao Sui, who stepped forward and recommended himself to Lord Pingyuan: "I have heard that my lord is to negotiate a vertical alliance with Chu, taking twenty guests and retainers along. There is no need to look beyond your household. Now you lack one man. I ask that Your Lordship take me as a makeweight."

Among the retainers was a man named Mao Sui, who stepped forward and recommended himself to Lord Pingyuan: "I have heard that my lord is to negotiate a vertical alliance with Chu, taking twenty guests and retainers along. There is no need to look beyond your household. Now you lack one man. I ask that Your Lordship take me as a makeweight."

Lord Pingyuan said, "How many years has my master been in my household?"

Lord Pingyuan said, "How many years has my master been in my household?"

Mao Sui said, "I only ask today to be placed in the sack. If I had been in the sack from the start, my point would have emerged long ago—not merely its tip!"

Lord Pingyuan finally took Mao Sui along. The nineteen men exchanged knowing glances and smiled, but said nothing against it.

Lord Pingyuan finally took Mao Sui along. The nineteen men exchanged knowing glances and smiled, but said nothing against it.

Lord Pingyuan finally took Mao Sui along. The nineteen men exchanged knowing glances and smiled, but said nothing against it.

When Mao Sui arrived in Chu with the nineteen men, he discussed the issues with them, and all nineteen came to respect his arguments. Lord Pingyuan began negotiating the alliance with the King of Chu, explaining its advantages and disadvantages. They argued from sunrise until midday but could not reach a decision.

When Mao Sui arrived in Chu with the nineteen men, he discussed the issues with them, and all nineteen came to respect his arguments. Lord Pingyuan began negotiating the alliance with the King of Chu, explaining its advantages and disadvantages. They argued from sunrise until midday but could not reach a decision.

When Mao Sui arrived in Chu with the nineteen men, he discussed the issues with them, and all nineteen came to respect his arguments. Lord Pingyuan began negotiating the alliance with the King of Chu, explaining its advantages and disadvantages. They argued from sunrise until midday but could not reach a decision.

The nineteen men said to Mao Sui, "Master, please go up."

The nineteen men said to Mao Sui, "Master, please go up."

Mao Sui drew his sword and ascended the steps, saying to Lord Pingyuan, "The advantages and disadvantages of the alliance can be decided in two words. You have been speaking of alliance since sunrise and still cannot decide at midday—what is the problem?"

Mao Sui drew his sword and ascended the steps, saying to Lord Pingyuan, "The advantages and disadvantages of the alliance can be decided in two words. You have been speaking of alliance since sunrise and still cannot decide at midday—what is the problem?"

The King of Chu shouted, "Why do you not descend! I am speaking with your lord—what are you?"

Mao Sui drew his sword and stepped forward. "The King shouts at me because of Chu's multitude. But here, within ten paces, the King cannot rely on Chu's multitude—his life hangs by my hand. My lord stands here; why should anyone shout?"

Mao Sui continued, "I have heard that Tang rose to rule all under heaven with merely seventy li of territory, and King Wen brought the feudal lords under his sway with a hundred li. Was it their soldiers they relied upon? No—it was their power and prestige. Now Chu possesses five thousand li of territory and a million soldiers with halberds. This is the foundation for hegemony. With Chu's strength, nothing in the realm can withstand her. Yet Bai QiBai QiThe Greatest General of QinHe destroyed more enemy armies than any general in Chinese history — and was executed by his own emperor for refusing to fight one last campaign.View profile →—a mere lad—led tens of thousands and marched against Chu. In one battle he captured Yan and Ying; in a second he burned Yiling; in a third he humiliated your ancestors. This is an ancient grudge that Zhao deeply resents, yet Your Majesty does not seem troubled. The vertical alliance benefits Chu, not Zhao. My lord stands here—why should anyone shout?"

The King of Chu said, "Yes, yes—if things are truly as you say, I shall faithfully commit our state to the alliance."

The King of Chu said, "Yes, yes—if things are truly as you say, I shall faithfully commit our state to the alliance."