张仪列传 — Shiji

His wife said, "Ah! If you hadn't spent your time on books and rhetoric, how could you have suffered this indignity?"

Zhang Yi asked her, "Is my tongue still there?"

His wife laughed. "Yes, it's still there."

"That's all I need."

Su Qin had already persuaded the King of Zhao and obtained the position of prime minister, establishing an alliance of the six states to resist Qin. But Su Qin feared that if Qin attacked the allied states, the coalition would collapse, and all his efforts would come to nothing. He cast about for someone who could work in Qin on his behalf.

He sent a secret message to Zhang Yi: "You and I were once close. Now that I have risen to prominence, why don't you come see me and advance your own career?"

Zhang Yi therefore traveled to Zhao, requested an audience with Su Qin, but Su Qin ordered his gatekeepers not to grant him access. For several days he prevented Zhang Yi from leaving. Finally, he received him—but seated him in the servants' hall and served him food meant for servants and attendants. Then he repeatedly reproached him, saying, "With your talents, you've reduced yourself to this wretched humiliation. It's not that I can't speak on your behalf and secure you wealth and honor—it's simply that you're not worth my trouble." With that, he sent Zhang Yi away.

Su Qin later told his retainer: "Zhang Yi is one of the most capable men in the world; I am certainly no match for him. I was fortunate enough to gain prominence first, but the only one who can wield influence in Qin is Zhang Yi. Yet he is poor, with no way to get ahead. I feared he would settle for small gains and never amount to anything, so I humiliated him to stir his ambition. Please give him secret support."

Zhang Yi was thus able to meet King Hui of Qin, who made him a minister and consulted with him on attacking the other states.

Su Qin's retainer then took his leave. Zhang Yi said, "I have just gained a high position and was about to repay your kindness. Why are you leaving?"

Zhang Yi exclaimed, "Alas! This was all laid out in Su Qin's strategy, yet I did not see through it. Clearly I am no match for Su Qin! I have only just taken office in Qin—how could I possibly plot against Zhao? Please convey my thanks to Su Qin. As long as Su Qin is alive, I would not dare speak of attacking Zhao. Besides, since Su Qin holds power, how could I possibly succeed against him?"

Zhang Yi had now become Qin's prime minister. He composed a formal proclamation addressed to the Prime Minister of Chu: "When I first drank with you, I did not steal your disc. Yet you beat me. If you govern your state well, I shall indeed steal your city!"

The states of Shu and Ba were at war with each other, each sending urgent appeals to Qin for help. King Hui of Qin considered sending troops to conquer Shu, but the route was dangerous and difficult, and Han might attack from behind. He hesitated between conquering Shu first or attacking Han first, uncertain which was wiser.

Zhang Yi replied, "Form alliances with Wei and Chu, then dispatch troops to the Three Rivers region. Block the strategic passes, command the roads through Tunliu. This will sever Wei's access to the south and bring Chu's forces to Nanzheng. Then Qin attacks Xincheng and Yiyang, advancing on the eastern Zhou territories. We punish the Zhou king for his crimes and seize territory from Chu and Wei. The Zhou king knows he cannot save himself, so the nine cauldrons and precious vessels will surely come to us. We hold the cauldrons, examine the maps and records, and using the emperor's authority, command the world. No one in all the realm would dare disobey—this is the foundation of empire."

"But Shu is a western frontier state, populated by barbarians. Attacking it would exhaust our troops without gaining us fame. Its territory is worthless. I have heard that those who compete for glory seek it at court; those who compete for profit seek it at market. The Three Rivers region and the Zhou court are the courts and markets of the realm. Yet the king ignores these to compete with barbarians—he strays far from the path of empire."

Sima Cuo said, "Not so. I have heard that those who wish to enrich the state must expand its territory; those who wish to strengthen the army must enrich the people; those who wish to rule must cultivate virtue. When these three conditions are met, the empire follows. Now the king's territory is small and his people are poor, so I propose we begin with what is easiest. Shu is a western frontier state, the leader of the barbarian tribes. It is troubled by internal strife like Jie and Zhou. If Qin attacks it, it would be like wolves driving off sheep. We would gain territory to expand the state, acquire wealth to enrich the people and equip the army, without harming many while the enemy submits. If we conquer one state, the world does not call it brutality; if we gain the western territories, the world does not call it greed. This single stroke would bring us both fame and substance, along with the reputation for quelling rebellion and restoring order."

"But attacking Han—kidnapping the Zhou king—this is a wicked reputation, and the gains are uncertain. It is an act of bad faith, attacking what the world does not wish to see. This is dangerous. Let me explain: Zhou is the ancestor temple of the realm; Qi is Han's close ally. When Zhou realizes it has lost the cauldrons and Han knows it has lost the Three Rivers, these two states will unite and conspire. They will turn to Qi and Zhao for aid and appeal to Chu and Wei. Han will offer the cauldrons to Chu; Zhou will offer territory to Wei. The king will be unable to stop them. This is what I call danger. Far better to conquer Shu in peace."

The king said, "Well spoken. I shall follow your counsel." He raised an army and attacked Shu. Within ten months, he captured it and pacified the kingdom. He demoted the King of Shu, changing his title to Marquis, and appointed Chen Zhuang as minister of Shu. With Shu now belonging to Qin, the state grew stronger and wealthier, and began to look down on the other princes.

In the tenth year of King Hui of Qin, he sent Prince Hua and Zhang Yi to attack Puyang, which surrendered. Zhang Yi then proposed that Qin restore friendly relations with Wei, and sent Prince Yao to serve as a hostage in Wei. Zhang Yi also addressed the King of Wei: "The King of Qin has treated Wei with great generosity. Wei cannot afford to be discourteous." Wei thereupon surrendered Shangwang and Xialiang and expressed gratitude to King Hui. King Hui appointed Zhang Yi as prime minister and renamed Xialiang to Xiayang.

Zhang Yi served as Qin's prime minister for four years, during which he helped King Hui assume the title of King. A year later, as a Qin general, he captured the region of Xian and built fortifications along the Shang commandery. Two years later, he met with the prime ministers of Qi and Chu at Nie Sang. Upon returning eastward, he was removed from his Qin post and sent to serve as prime minister of Wei, tasked with getting Wei to submit to Qin and induce the other states to follow suit. The King of Wei refused to listen. The King of Qin, enraged, attacked Wei and captured Quwo and Pingzhou, then increased his favors to Zhang Yi even more.

Zhang Yi felt ashamed and had nothing to report. He remained in Wei for four years until the death of King Xiang of Wei, who was succeeded by King Ai. Zhang Yi again attempted to persuade King Ai, who also refused to listen. Thereupon Zhang Yi secretly instructed Qin to attack Wei. Wei fought but was defeated. The following year, Qi again defeated Wei at Guanjin. Qin then prepared to attack Wei, first defeating the Han forces under Shen Cha and killing eighty thousand men. The other states were terrified.

Zhang Yi again addressed the King of Wei: "Wei is a small state, with no more than three hundred thousand troops. Its territory is level on all sides, and the feudal lords converge upon it from all directions. It has no great mountains or rivers to serve as boundaries. From Zheng to Liang is just over two hundred li—chariots can race and men can run there without effort. Liang borders Chu to the south, Han to the west, Zhao to the north, and Qi to the east. Tens of thousands of soldiers must guard its frontiers at every point."

"Liang's geography condemns it to be a battlefield. If it allies with Chu but not with Qi, Qi will attack from the east. If it allies with Qi but not with Zhao, Zhao will attack from the north. If it falls out with Han, Han will attack from the west. If it estranges Chu, Chu will attack from the south. This is the fate of a state divided and torn apart."

"If Your Majesty does not submit to Qin, Qin will send troops to attack the region beyond the Yellow River, seize Juan, Yan, and Suansui, threaten Wei, and capture Yangu. Then Zhao cannot march south, Zhao cannot march south means Liang cannot march north, Liang cannot march north means the alliance is severed, and with the alliance severed, Your Majesty's state will face destruction."

"My advice for the king is this: submit to Qin. If you submit to Qin, Chu and Han will surely not dare to act. Without the threat from Chu and Han, Your Majesty may sleep peacefully with no concerns for the state."

"What Qin desires above all is to weaken Chu, and the state best able to weaken Chu is Wei. Although Chu has a reputation for wealth and greatness, it is actually hollow. Its troops are numerous but quick to flee and unable to fight hard. If Wei deploys its entire army to attack Chu in the south, victory is certain. Taking territory from Chu to enlarge Wei, depleting Chu to benefit Qin, transferring the trouble to preserve our state—this is an excellent strategy. If Your Majesty refuses my counsel, Qin will send troops eastward, and even if you wish to submit to Qin, you will not be able to."

"Moreover, those who advocate alliance are full of grand promises but lack credibility. When they persuade a single prince, they hope to become a lord with an estate. Thus itinerant diplomats throughout the realm speak day and night of the advantages of alliance, urging rulers on with passion. Rulers are swayed by their eloquence and cannot see clearly."

"I have heard that even a feather, heaped together, can sink a ship; a light load, gathered, can break an axle; many voices together can melt metal; repeated slander can destroy bone. I ask Your Majesty to consider this carefully and allow me to retire."

Zhang Yi returned and once again served as prime minister of Qin. Three years later, Wei again abandoned Qin and rejoined the alliance. Qin attacked Wei and captured Quwo. The following year, Wei again submitted to Qin.

Qin now wished to attack Qi, but Qi and Chu had formed an alliance. Thereupon Zhang Yi traveled to Chu to serve as prime minister. King Xiang of Chu, hearing of Zhang Yi's arrival, prepared guest quarters and personally lodged him. "Our state is remote and backward," he said. "What wisdom can you offer us?"

Chen Zhen answered, "Qin values Chu above all because of its alliance with Qi. If Chu severs ties with Qi, Chu becomes isolated. Why should Qin, an isolated state, give away six hundred li of Shangyu to Chu? When Zhang Yi reaches Qin, he will certainly deceive Your Majesty. This would sever our alliance with Qi in the north and create disaster with Qin in the west. The armies of both states would surely attack us."

"The wisest course would be to maintain our alliance with Qi while secretly cooperating with Zhang Yi. Send someone to follow Zhang Yi—if Qin offers territory, we can sever ties with Qi at our leisure; if Qin does not offer territory, we can plan with them in secret."

The King of Chu said, "I ask Chen Zhen to be silent and wait for me to gain the territory." He gave his prime ministerial seal to Zhang Yi and richly rewarded him.

Thereupon Chu closed its borders and severed the alliance with Qi, sending a general to accompany Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi returned to Qin, but deliberately feigned an accident, falling from his carriage and refusing to appear at court for three months. The King of Chu, hearing of this, thought, "Zhang Yi must be upset because I have not yet sufficiently severed ties with Qi." He sent a brave officer to Song, borrowing Song's credentials, and northward he cursed the King of Qi.

The Chu envoy said, "I received orders from the king regarding six hundred li of Shangyu—I have heard nothing of six li." He returned and reported to the King of Chu, who was furious and prepared to attack Qin.

Chen Zhen said, "May I speak? It would be better to cede territory and present it to Qin, then unite our forces with Qin to attack Qi. In this way, we would lose territory to Qin but gain compensation from Qi, and our state might yet survive."

Qin demanded the Qianzhong region from Chu, offering to exchange eastern territory. The King of Chu said, "I do not wish to exchange—I wish to obtain Zhang Yi and give you the Qianzhong region."

The King of Qin was reluctant to give up Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi himself volunteered to go.

Thus Zhang Yi offered himself to serve Chu.

Zhang Yi then set out for Chu. Upon his arrival, King Huai of Chu had him thrown in prison and prepared to put him to death. Jin Shang said to Zheng Xiu: "Do you know how insignificant you have become in the king's eyes?" Zheng Xiu asked: "Why do you say that?" Jin Shang replied: "The King of Qin dotes on Zhang Yi and does not wish to release him. Now he intends to offer six counties of the Shangyong region to Chu as a bribe, along with beautiful women—chosen from those most skilled in song and music at court to be sent as a retinue. Chu values territory and respects Qin, so these Qin women will surely be honored while you will be cast aside. You would do better to speak on Zhang Yi's behalf and secure his release."

Thereupon Zheng Xiu spoke to King Huai day and night: "Every minister serves his own lord. As yet the territory has not been ceded to Qin, but Qin sends Zhang Yi here—this is a great honor to Your Majesty. If you kill him without just cause, Qin will be outraged and surely attack Chu. I beg you, let us flee together to the south of the Yangtze. Do not let us fall victim to Qin's machinations."

"Those who advocate alliance against Qin are no different from driving a flock of sheep to attack a fierce tiger. Everyone knows a tiger can easily overcome sheep. Yet Your Majesty sides not with the tiger but with the sheep—I fear Your Majesty's judgment is flawed."