史记（四：列传）

Biography of the Prince of Wei: Wuji, Prince¹ of Wei, was the youngest son of King Zhao of Wei and the half-brother of King Anxi of Wei. When King Zhao died and King Anxi came to the throne, he enfeoffed the Prince as Lord Xinling. At this time Fan Ju had fled from Wei and become Chancellor of Qin, and because of his grudge against Wei Qi the Qin troops besieged Daliang, defeated the Wei army below Huayang, and put Mang Mao to flight. The King of Wei and the Prince were troubled by this.

The Prince was by nature humane and humbled himself before gentlemen; whether a gentleman was worthy or unworthy, he met him with modesty and courtesy, and never dared to lord it over gentlemen on account of his wealth and rank. For this reason gentlemen from thousands of li around vied to go over to him, until he had three thousand retainers. At that time the Lords, because the Prince was worthy and had many retainers, dared not raise troops or plot against Wei for more than ten years.

The Prince was playing at bo² with the King of Wei when from the northern border beacons were passed along, with word that "Zhao raiders have come and are about to cross the border". The King of Wei put down the game and wished to summon the great ministers to take counsel. The Prince stopped the King: "The King of Zhao is only out hunting; it is no raid." And he went on with the game as before. The King was afraid, and his mind was not on the game. After a while word came again from the north: "The King of Zhao was only hunting; it was no raid." The King of Wei was greatly startled and said: "How did the Prince know it?" The Prince said: "Among your servant's retainers is one who can get at the King of Zhao's secret doings; whatever the King of Zhao does, the retainer at once reports to your servant, and that is how I knew it." After this the King of Wei stood in fear of the Prince's worth and ability, and dared not entrust the Prince with the government of the state.

In Wei there was a recluse called Hou Ying, seventy years old and poor, who was the keeper of the Yi Gate of Daliang. The Prince heard of him, went to call on him, and wished to make him a rich gift. He would not accept it, saying: "For some tens of years your servant has cultivated his person and kept his conduct clean; I will not, because of the hardship of keeping a gate, accept the Prince's wealth." The Prince thereupon set out wine and called a great gathering of his guests. When they were seated, the Prince went out with his carriage and horsemen, leaving the left-hand seat empty, to fetch Master Hou of the Yi Gate in person. Master Hou gathered up his worn robe and cap, went straight up and took the upper seat in the Prince's carriage without demurring, meaning to observe the Prince. The Prince held the reins with ever greater respect. Master Hou then said to the Prince: "I have a friend among the butchers of the market; I would have you trouble your carriage and horsemen to go round by him." The Prince drove the carriage into the market³. Master Hou got down to see his friend Zhu Hai, and, glancing sidelong, stood there on purpose a long while, talking with his friend and covertly watching the Prince. The Prince's expression grew ever milder. At that moment the generals, ministers, royal kinsmen and guests of Wei filled the hall, waiting for the Prince to raise the wine. The people of the market all watched the Prince holding the reins, and the attendant horsemen all cursed Master Hou under their breath. When Master Hou saw that the Prince's expression never changed, he took leave of his friend and got into the carriage. On reaching the house the Prince led Master Hou to the upper seat and presented him to the guests one by one, and the guests were all astonished. When the wine was flowing the Prince rose and drank Master Hou's health before him. Master Hou then said to the Prince: "What Ying has done for the Prince today is enough. Ying is a mere keeper of the bar at the Yi Gate, yet the Prince in person troubled his carriage and horsemen to fetch Ying himself, before a great company of men. It was not fitting to go out of the way for anyone, yet today the Prince went out of his way on purpose. Still, Ying wished to make the Prince's reputation complete, and so he kept the Prince's carriage and horsemen standing a long while in the market, calling on a friend in order to observe the Prince; and the Prince grew ever more respectful. The people of the market all take Ying for a petty man, and the Prince for an elder who can humble himself before gentlemen." With that the drinking ended, and Master Hou became the chief guest.

Master Hou said to the Prince: "The butcher Zhu Hai, on whom I called, is a worthy man whom the world has not been able to recognise, and so he hides himself among the butchers." The Prince went several times to call on him, but Zhu Hai purposely never returned the courtesy, and the Prince thought it strange.

In the twentieth year of King Anxi of Wei⁴, King Zhao of Qin, having already destroyed the Zhao army at Changping, advanced his troops again and besieged Handan. The Prince's elder sister was the wife of Lord Pingyuan, the younger brother of King Huiwen of Zhao, and she sent letter after letter to the King of Wei and the Prince asking for relief from Wei. The King of Wei sent General Jin Bi at the head of a hundred thousand men to relieve Zhao. The King of Qin sent an envoy to tell the King of Wei: "I am attacking Zhao, and it will fall any day; should any of the Lords dare to relieve it, once I have taken Zhao I shall certainly move my troops and strike him first." The King of Wei was afraid and sent men to halt Jin Bi, who kept his army encamped at Ye, relieving Zhao in name but in fact holding to both sides and watching how things went. Lord Pingyuan's envoys came to Wei one after another, cap after canopy, and he reproached the Prince of Wei: "The reason Sheng⁵ attached himself to you by marriage was that the Prince's lofty sense of right could hasten to a man in his extremity. Now Handan may surrender to Qin any day and Wei's relief does not come — where is the Prince's hastening to a man in his extremity! And even if the Prince thinks nothing of Sheng and abandons him to surrender to Qin, has he no pity for his own sister?" The Prince was troubled; he pleaded with the King of Wei again and again, and his guests and disputants argued with the King in ten thousand ways. The King of Wei feared Qin and in the end would not listen to the Prince. The Prince judged that in the end he would never obtain it from the King, and resolved not to live on alone while Zhao perished; so he called on his guests, mustered a hundred-odd carriages and horsemen, and meant to go with his guests and fling himself on the Qin army, to die together with Zhao.

On his way he passed the Yi Gate and saw Master Hou, and told him in full how he meant to die against the Qin army. He took his leave and set off, and Master Hou said: "May the Prince do his utmost; your old servant cannot follow." The Prince had gone several li when he grew uneasy at heart and said: "The way I have treated Master Hou was complete, and none under Heaven has not heard of it; now I am going to my death and Master Hou has not a word or half a phrase to send me off with — have I failed in something?" He turned the carriage back and questioned Master Hou. Master Hou laughed and said: "I knew, of course, that the Prince would come back." He said: "The Prince delights in gentlemen, and his name is heard throughout all under Heaven. Now there is trouble, and with no other plan you mean to fling yourself on the Qin army; that is like throwing meat to a starving tiger — what good can it do? And what use then are your retainers? Yet the Prince has treated me generously, and when the Prince went and I did not see him off, I knew by that that the Prince would resent it and come back." The Prince bowed twice and asked his counsel. Master Hou then sent the others away and spoke with him privately: "Ying has heard that the tally for Jin Bi's army is always kept in the King's bedchamber, and that Lady Ru is the most favoured and goes in and out of the King's bedchamber; it is in her power to steal it. Ying has heard that Lady Ru's father was killed by someone, and that Lady Ru nursed the grievance three years; from the King downward they sought to avenge her father, and none could. Lady Ru wept before the Prince, and the Prince had a retainer cut off her enemy's head and present it respectfully to Lady Ru. Lady Ru's wish to die for the Prince is one she would not refuse; only she has had no way to do it. If the Prince will but open his mouth once and ask Lady Ru, Lady Ru will surely consent; then you will have the tiger tally and can seize Jin Bi's army, go north to relieve Zhao and westward drive back Qin — that is a feat of the Five Hegemons." The Prince followed his plan and asked Lady Ru. Lady Ru did indeed steal Jin Bi's army tally and give it to the Prince.

As the Prince set out, Master Hou said: "When a general is in the field, there are commands of his ruler that he does not accept, for the good of the state. If the Prince matches the tallies and Jin Bi does not hand the army over to the Prince but sends to ask the King again, the affair will surely be in danger. My friend the butcher Zhu Hai can go with you; he is a man of strength. If Jin Bi listens, very good; if he does not, you can have him strike him down." At this the Prince wept. Master Hou said: "Is the Prince afraid to die? Why do you weep?" The Prince said: "Jin Bi is a blustering old general; I fear that when I go he will not listen, and then I must kill him. That is why I weep — how could I be afraid to die?" The Prince then asked Zhu Hai. Zhu Hai laughed and said: "I am a butcher who plies the knife in the market-place, yet the Prince has in person called on me several times. The reason I did not return the courtesy was that I thought small civilities of no use. Now the Prince is in urgent need; this is the season for me to give my life." So he went with the Prince. The Prince went by to take leave of Master Hou. Master Hou said: "I ought to follow you, but I am old and cannot. Let me count the days of the Prince's journey, and on the day you reach Jin Bi's army I shall face north and cut my throat, to send the Prince off." The Prince then set out.

He reached Ye and, feigning a command of the King of Wei, took over from Jin Bi. Jin Bi matched the tallies but doubted him; raising his hand, he looked at the Prince and said: "I now hold a host of a hundred thousand, camped on the border — a weighty charge of the state. Now you come in a single carriage to replace me; how is this?" He meant not to obey. Zhu Hai, with an iron mace of forty jin in his sleeve, struck Jin Bi dead, and the Prince took command of Jin Bi's army. He drew up the troops and gave orders throughout the army: "Where father and son are both in the army, let the father go home; where elder and younger brother are both in the army, let the elder go home; an only son with no brothers, let him go home and support his parents." He obtained eighty thousand picked men and advanced to attack the Qin army. The Qin army broke off and withdrew, and so he relieved Handan and preserved Zhao. The King of Zhao and Lord Pingyuan came in person to meet the Prince at the border, Lord Pingyuan carrying quiver and arrows on his back to lead the way for the Prince. The King of Zhao bowed twice and said: "Since antiquity no man of worth has come up to the Prince." At this time Lord Pingyuan dared not compare himself with others. When the Prince had parted from Master Hou and reached the army, Master Hou did indeed face north and cut his throat.

The King of Wei was angry that the Prince had stolen his army tally and killed Jin Bi under a feigned command, and the Prince knew it himself. Having driven back Qin and preserved Zhao, he had a general lead his army back to Wei, while the Prince alone stayed in Zhao with his retainers. King Xiaocheng of Zhao, grateful to the Prince for seizing Jin Bi's army under a feigned command and preserving Zhao, planned with Lord Pingyuan to enfeoff the Prince with five Fortresses. When the Prince heard of it, his mind grew proud and he wore the look of one who takes credit for his deed. One of his retainers said to the Prince: "There are things that must not be forgotten, and things that must not be remembered. When another has done the Prince a kindness, the Prince must not forget it; when the Prince has done another a kindness, I would have the Prince forget it. Moreover, to feign the King of Wei's command and seize Jin Bi's army to relieve Zhao was a service to Zhao, but towards Wei it was not the act of a loyal subject. For the Prince to grow proud and take credit for it — I privately think the Prince should not." At this the Prince at once reproached himself, as if there were nowhere he could hide. The King of Zhao swept the way and came to meet him in person, performed the rites of a host, and led the Prince towards the western steps. The Prince stepped aside in refusal and went up by the eastern steps. He declared his own fault: he had failed Wei and done no service to Zhao. The King of Zhao kept him at wine until dusk, and could not bring himself to offer the five Fortresses, because of the Prince's self-abasement. In the end the Prince stayed in Zhao. The King of Zhao gave the Prince Hao as his private estate, and Wei too restored Xinling for the Prince's support. The Prince remained in Zhao.

The Prince heard that in Zhao there were gentlemen in retirement: Master Mao, hidden among the gamblers, and Master Xue, hidden in the house of a seller of drinks. The Prince wished to see the two men, but the two hid themselves and would not see the Prince. When the Prince learned where they were, he went secretly on foot to keep company with the two, and they were very happy together. When Lord Pingyuan heard of it, he said to his wife: "At first I heard that your brother the Prince had no equal under Heaven; now I hear that he recklessly keeps company with gamblers and sellers of drinks — the Prince is a reckless man, that is all." His wife told the Prince. The Prince then took leave of his sister to go, saying: "At first I heard that Lord Pingyuan was a man of worth, and so I betrayed the King of Wei to relieve Zhao, to answer Lord Pingyuan's expectations. But Lord Pingyuan's company is only a grand display; he does not seek gentlemen. When Wuji was still in Daliang he often heard that these two were worthy men, and on coming to Zhao he feared he would not get to see them. With Wuji keeping their company, I still feared they would not want me; now Lord Pingyuan thinks it a disgrace — he is not worth keeping company with." And he packed to leave. His wife told Lord Pingyuan everything. Lord Pingyuan then took off his cap, apologised, and insisted that the Prince stay. When Lord Pingyuan's household heard of it, half of them left Lord Pingyuan and went over to the Prince, and the gentlemen of all under Heaven went over to the Prince once more; the Prince drew away Lord Pingyuan's retainers.

The Prince stayed in Zhao ten years without returning. Qin, hearing that the Prince was in Zhao, sent troops east day and night to attack Wei. The King of Wei was troubled by this and sent envoys to ask the Prince back. The Prince, fearing that the King was angry with him, warned his household: "Whoever dares to carry word for the King of Wei's envoys dies." His guests had all turned their backs on Wei for Zhao, and none dared urge the Prince to return. The two men Master Mao and Master Xue went to see the Prince and said: "The reason the Prince weighs heavily in Zhao and his name is heard among the Lords is solely that there is a Wei. Now Qin attacks Wei; Wei is in extremity and the Prince does not care. Should Qin destroy Daliang and level the ancestral temple of the former kings, with what face could the Prince stand before all under Heaven?" Before they had finished speaking the Prince's colour changed at once; he called for his carriage and hurried home to relieve Wei.

The King of Wei saw the Prince, and they wept together; and he gave the seal of Supreme General to the Prince, and the Prince took command. In the thirtieth year of King Anxi of Wei⁶ the Prince sent envoys to inform all the Lords. When the Lords heard that the Prince was in command, each sent generals with troops to relieve Wei. The Prince led the troops of five states and defeated the Qin army at Hewai, putting Meng Ao to flight. Then, following up the victory, he pursued the Qin army to Hangu Pass and held the Qin troops in check, so that the Qin troops dared not come out. At this time the Prince's majesty shook all under Heaven, and the retainers of the Lords presented methods of war, to all of which the Prince gave his name; hence the world at large calls them the Prince of Wei's Methods of War.

The King of Qin was troubled by this, and sent ten thousand jin of gold into Wei to seek out Jin Bi's former retainers and have them slander the Prince to the King of Wei: "The Prince was ten years in exile abroad; now he is Wei's general, and the generals of the Lords are all under him; the Lords hear only of the Prince of Wei and not of the King of Wei. The Prince also wishes to seize this moment to face south and make himself king; the Lords, in awe of the Prince's majesty, are about to set him up together." Qin several times sent agents of discord, feigning to congratulate the Prince on whether he had yet been set up as King of Wei. The King of Wei heard the slander daily and could not help believing it, and afterwards did indeed send someone to replace the Prince in command. The Prince, knowing that he had a second time been cast aside through slander, pleaded illness and did not attend court; with his guests he drank the night through, drinking strong wine and keeping much company with women. Day and night he made merry with drink for four years, and in the end died of drink. That same year King Anxi of Wei also died.

When Qin heard that the Prince was dead, it sent Meng Ao to attack Wei; he took twenty Fortresses, and Dong Commandery was first established. Thereafter Qin ate away at Wei little by little, as a silkworm eats a leaf, and in eighteen years it captured the King of Wei and slaughtered Daliang.

When Gaozu was still young and humble, he often heard of the Prince's worth. After he ascended the throne as Son of Heaven, whenever he passed Daliang he always sacrificed to the Prince. In the twelfth year of Gaozu, returning from the attack on Qing Bu, he established five tomb-keeping households for the Prince, to sacrifice to the Prince at the four seasons every year, generation after generation.

The Grand Historian says: I passed the ruins of Daliang and sought out what is called the Yi Gate. The Yi Gate was the eastern gate of the Fortress. Among the princes of all under Heaven there have been others who delighted in gentlemen, but that Lord Xinling received recluses of the caves and cliffs, and was not ashamed to associate with those beneath him, had its reason. That his name stood first among the Lords was no empty thing. And Gaozu, whenever he passed, had the people sacrifice to him without cease.

Biography of Fan Ju and Cai Ze: Some days later⁷ he went in to court and said to King Zhao of Qin: "Among the visitors there is one newly come from east of the mountains called Cai Ze, a man of eloquence, clear on the affairs of the Three Kings, the achievements of the Five Hegemons and the changes of the age — well able to be entrusted with the government of the state of Qin. Your servant has seen a great many men, and none comes up to him; your servant is not his equal. Your servant ventures to report it." King Zhao of Qin summoned him and spoke with him, was greatly pleased, and appointed him Guest Minister. Marquis Ying⁸ thereupon pleaded illness and asked to return the seal of Chancellor. King Zhao pressed Marquis Ying to rise, but Marquis Ying then declared himself gravely ill. Fan Ju was dismissed as Chancellor; King Zhao, newly pleased with Cai Ze's plans, then appointed him Chancellor of Qin, and eastward took in the house of Zhou.

Cai Ze had been Chancellor of Qin for some months when someone spoke ill of him; fearing execution, he pleaded illness and returned the seal of Chancellor, and was styled Lord Gangcheng. He lived in Qin more than ten years, serving King Zhao, King Xiaowen and King Zhuangxiang. Last he served the First Emperor, and went as Qin's envoy to Yan; after three years Yan sent Heir Apparent Dan as a hostage to Qin.

Biography of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru:
The next year⁹ the Qin troops went on to besiege Handan, and for more than a year it barely escaped. Thanks to the Lords of Chu and Wei coming to its relief, the siege of Handan was lifted. The King of Zhao, too, because Kuo's mother had spoken beforehand, in the end did not put her to death.