卷三十四·燕召公世家第四
卷三十四·燕召公世家第四
司马迁
召公奭与周同姓，姓姬氏。周武王之灭纣，封召公于北燕。
其在成王时，召王为三公：自陕以西，召公主之；自陕以东，周公主之。成王既幼，周公摄政，当国践祚，召公疑之，作君奭。君奭不说周公。周公乃称“汤时有伊尹，假于皇天；在太戊时，则有若伊陟、臣扈，假于上帝，巫咸治王家；在祖乙时，则有若巫贤；在武丁时，则有若甘般：率维兹有陈，保乂有殷”。于是召公乃说。
召公之治西方，甚得兆民和。召公巡行乡邑，有棠树，决狱政事其下，自侯伯至庶人各得其所，无失职者。召公卒，而民人思召公之政，怀棠树不敢伐，哥咏之，作甘棠之诗。
自召公已下九世至惠侯。燕惠侯当周厉王奔彘，共和之时。
惠侯卒，子釐侯立。是岁，周宣王初即位。釐侯二十一年，郑桓公初封于郑。三十六年，釐侯卒，子顷侯立。
顷侯二十年，周幽王淫乱，为犬戎所弑。秦始列为诸侯。
二十四年，顷侯卒，子哀侯立。哀侯二年卒，子郑侯立。郑侯三十六年卒，子缪侯立。
缪侯七年，而鲁隐公元年也。十八年卒，子宣侯立。宣侯十三年卒，子桓侯立。桓侯七年卒，子庄公立。
庄公十二年，齐桓公始霸。十六年，与宋、卫共伐周惠王，惠王出奔温，立惠王弟穨为周王。十七年，郑执燕仲父而内惠王于周。二十七年，山戎来侵我，齐桓公救燕，遂北伐山戎而还。燕君送齐桓公出境，桓公因割燕所至地予燕，使燕共贡天子，如成周时职；使燕复修召公之法。三十三年卒，子襄公立。
襄公二十六年，晋文公为践土之会，称伯。三十一年，秦师败于殽。三十七年，秦穆公卒。四十年，襄公卒，桓公立。
桓公十六年卒，宣公立。宣公十五年卒，昭公立。昭公十三年卒，武公立。是岁晋灭三郤大夫。
武公十九年卒，文公立。文公六年卒，懿公立。懿公元年，齐崔杼弑其君庄公。四年卒，子惠公立。
惠公元年，齐高止来奔。六年，惠公多宠姬，公欲去诸大夫而立宠姬宋，大夫共诛姬宋，惠公惧，奔齐。四年，齐高偃如晋，请共伐燕，入其君。晋平公许，与齐伐燕，入惠公。惠公至燕而死。燕立悼公。
悼公七年卒，共公立。共公五年卒，平公立。晋公室卑，六卿始强大。平公十八年，吴王阖闾破楚入郢。十九年卒，简公立。简公十二年卒，献公立。晋赵鞅围范、中行于朝歌。献公十二年，齐田常弑其君简公。十四年，孔子卒。二十八年，献公卒，孝公立。
孝公十二年，韩、魏、赵灭知伯，分其地，三晋强。
十五年，孝公卒，成公立。成公十六年卒，湣公立。湣公三十一年卒，釐公立。是岁，三晋列为诸侯。
釐公三十年，伐败齐于林营。釐公卒，桓公立。桓公十一年卒，文公立。是岁，秦献公卒。秦益强。
文公十九年，齐威王卒。二十八年，苏秦始来见，说文公。文公予车马金帛以至赵，赵肃侯用之。因约六国，为从长。秦惠王以其女为燕太子妇。
二十九年，文公卒，太子立，是为易王。
易王初立，齐宣王因燕丧伐我，取十城；苏秦说齐，使复归燕十城。十年，燕君为王。苏秦与燕文公夫人私通，惧诛，乃说王使齐为反间，欲以乱齐。易王立十二年卒，子燕哙立。
燕哙既立，齐人杀苏秦。苏秦之在燕，与其相子之为婚，而苏代与子之交。及苏秦死，而齐宣王复用苏代。燕哙三年，与楚、三晋攻秦，不胜而还。子之相燕，贵重，主断。苏代为齐使于燕，燕王问曰：“齐王奚如？”对曰：“必不霸。”燕王曰：“何也？”对曰：“不信其臣。”苏代欲以激燕王以尊子之也。于是燕王大信子之。子之因遗苏代百金，而听其所使。
鹿毛寿谓燕王：“不如以国让相子之。人之谓尧贤者，以其让天下于许由，许由不受，有让天下之名而实不失天下。今王以国让于子之，子之必不敢受，是王与尧同行也。”燕王因属国于子之，子之大重。或曰：“禹荐益，已而以启人为吏。及老，而以启人为不足任乎天下，传之于益。已而启与交党攻益，夺之。天下谓禹名传天下于益，已而实令启自取之。今王言属国于子之，而吏无非太子人者，是名属子之而实太子用事也。”王因收印自三百石吏已上而效之子之。子之南面行王事，而哙老不听政，顾为臣，国事皆决于子之。
三年，国大乱，百姓恫恐。将军市被与太子平谋，将攻子之。诸将谓齐湣王曰：“因而赴之，破燕必矣。”齐王因令人谓燕太子平曰：“寡人闻太子之义，将废私而立公，饬君臣之义，明父子之位。寡人之国小，不足以为先后。虽然，则唯太子所以令之。”太子因要党聚众，将军市被围公宫，攻子之，不克。将军市被及百姓反攻太子平，将军市被死，以徇。因构难数月，死者数万，众人恫恐，百姓离志。孟轲谓齐王曰：“今伐燕，此文、武之时，不可失也。”王因令章子将五都之兵，以因北地之众以伐燕。士卒不战，城门不闭，燕君哙死，齐大胜。燕子之亡二年，而燕人共立太子平，是为燕昭王。
燕昭王于破燕之后即位，卑身厚币以招贤者。谓郭隗曰：“齐因孤之国乱而袭破燕，孤极知燕小力少，不足以报。然诚得贤士以共国，以雪先王之耻，孤之愿也。先生视可者，得身事之。”郭隗曰：“王必欲致士，先从隗始。况贤于隗者，岂远千里哉！”于是昭王为隗改筑宫而师事之。乐毅自魏往，邹衍自齐往，剧辛自赵往，士争趋燕。燕王吊死问孤，与百姓同甘苦。
二十八年，燕国殷富，士卒乐轶轻战，于是遂以乐毅为上将军，与秦、楚、三晋合谋以伐齐。齐兵败，湣王出亡于外。燕兵独追北，入至临淄，尽取齐宝，烧其宫室宗庙。齐城之不下者，独唯聊、莒、即墨，其余皆属燕，六岁。
昭王三十三年卒，子惠王立。
惠王为太子时，与乐毅有隙；及即位，疑毅，使骑劫代将。乐毅亡走赵。齐田单以即墨击败燕军，骑劫死，燕兵引归，齐悉复得其故城。湣王死于莒，乃立其子为襄王。
惠王七年卒。韩、魏、楚共伐燕。燕武成王立。
武成王七年，齐田单伐我，拔中阳。十三年，秦败赵于长平四十余万。十四年，武成王卒，子孝王立。
孝王元年，秦围邯郸者解去。三年卒，子今王喜立。
今王喜四年，秦昭王卒。燕王命相栗腹约欢赵，以五百金为赵王酒。还报燕王曰：“赵王壮者皆死长平，其孤未壮，可伐也。”王召昌国君乐间问之。对曰：“赵四战之国，其民习兵，不可伐。”王曰：“吾以五而伐一。”对曰：“不可。”燕王怒，群臣皆以为可。卒起二军，车二千乘，栗腹将而攻鄗，卿秦攻代。唯独大夫将渠谓燕王曰：“与人通关约交，以五百金饮人之王，使者报而反攻之，不祥，兵无成功。”燕王不听，自将偏军随之。将渠引燕王绶止之曰：“王必无自往，往无成功。”王蹴之以足。将渠泣曰：“臣非以自为，为王也！”燕军至宋子，赵使廉颇将，击破栗腹于鄗。乐乘破卿秦于代。乐间奔赵。廉颇逐之五百余里，围其国。燕人请和，赵人不许，必令将渠处和。燕相将渠以处和。赵听将渠，解燕围。
六年，秦灭东周，置三川郡。七年，秦拔赵榆次三十七城，秦置大原郡。九年，秦王政初即位。十年，赵使廉颇将攻繁阳，拔之。赵孝成王卒，悼襄王立。使乐乘代廉颇，廉颇不听，攻乐乘，乐乘走，廉颇奔大梁。十二年，赵使李牧攻燕，拔武遂、方城。剧辛故居赵，与庞暖善，已而亡走燕。燕见赵数困于秦，而廉颇去，令庞暖将也，欲因赵弊攻之。问剧辛，辛曰：“庞暖易与耳。”燕使剧辛将击赵，赵使庞暖击之，取燕军二万，杀剧辛。秦拔魏二十城，置东郡。十九年，秦拔赵之邺九城。赵悼襄王卒。二十三年，太子丹质于秦，亡归燕。二十五年，秦虏灭韩王安，置颍川郡。二十七年，秦虏赵王迁，灭赵。赵公子嘉自立为代王。
燕见秦且灭六国，秦兵临易水，祸且至燕。太子丹阴养壮士二十人，使荆轲献督亢地图于秦，因袭刺秦王。秦王觉，杀轲，使将军王翦击燕。二十九年，秦攻拔我蓟，燕王亡，徙居辽东，斩丹以献秦。三十年，秦灭魏。
三十三年，秦拔辽东，虏燕王喜，卒灭燕。是岁，秦将王贲亦虏代王嘉。
太史公曰：召公奭可谓仁矣！甘棠且思之，况其人乎？燕外迫蛮貉，内措齐、晋，崎岖强国之间，最为弱小，几灭者数矣。然社稷血食者八九百岁，于姬姓独后亡，岂非召公之烈邪！
Volume 34 · The Hereditary House of the Duke of Shao of Yan, Fourth
司马迁
Shi, the Duke of Shao, was of the same surname as Zhou, the surname Ji. When King Wu of Zhou destroyed Zhou the tyrant, he enfeoffed the Duke of Shao in Northern Yan.
In King Cheng's time the Duke of Shao was one of the Three Dukes: from Shan westward the Duke of Shao had charge, from Shan eastward the Duke of Zhou had charge. King Cheng being still a child, the Duke of Zhou acted as regent, took the state in hand and mounted the throne; and the Duke of Shao was doubtful of him, and "Lord Shi" was composed. Lord Shi was not pleased with the Duke of Zhou. The Duke of Zhou then declared: "In Tang's time there was Yi Yin, who reached to august Heaven; in Taiwu's time there were such men as Yi Zhi and Chen Hu, who reached to the Lord on High, and Wu Xian who ordered the royal house; in Zuyi's time there was such a man as Wu Xian the Worthy; in Wuding's time there was such a man as Gan Pan: it was through these that there was an ordered succession, and that Yin was preserved and governed." Thereupon the Duke of Shao was pleased.
When the Duke of Shao governed the western region, he won the concord of the people in great measure. The Duke of Shao went on circuit through the villages and towns; there was a pear tree, and beneath it he decided lawsuits and matters of government, and from the marquises and earls down to the common people each got his due, and none lost his proper station. When the Duke of Shao died, the people thought back on the Duke of Shao's government, and cherishing the pear tree they did not dare to cut it down, and sang of it, and made the poem "The Sweet Pear-Tree."
From the Duke of Shao down, in the ninth generation, came Marquis Hui. Marquis Hui of Yan was contemporary with King Li of Zhou's flight to Zhi and with the time of the Gonghe.
Marquis Hui died, and his son Marquis Xi was set up. In that year King Xuan of Zhou first came to the throne. In Marquis Xi's twenty-first year, Duke Huan of Zheng was first enfeoffed in Zheng. In the thirty-sixth year Marquis Xi died, and his son Marquis Qing was set up.
In Marquis Qing's twentieth year King You of Zhou was licentious and disorderly, and was killed by the Quanrong. Qin was for the first time ranked among the feudal lords.
In the twenty-fourth year Marquis Qing died, and his son Marquis Ai was set up. Marquis Ai died in his second year, and his son Marquis Zheng was set up. Marquis Zheng died in his thirty-sixth year, and his son Marquis Mu was set up.
Marquis Mu's seventh year was Duke Yin of Lu's first year. He died in the eighteenth year, and his son Marquis Xuan was set up. Marquis Xuan died in his thirteenth year, and his son Marquis Huan was set up. Marquis Huan died in his seventh year, and his son Duke Zhuang was set up.
In Duke Zhuang's twelfth year Duke Huan of Qi first became hegemon. In the sixteenth year he joined Song and Wei in attacking King Hui of Zhou; King Hui fled out to Wen, and King Hui's younger brother Tui was set up as king of Zhou. In the seventeenth year Zheng seized Zhongfu of Yan and brought King Hui back into Zhou. In the twenty-seventh year the Mountain Rong came and invaded us, and Duke Huan of Qi rescued Yan, and went on to attack the Mountain Rong in the north and then turned back. The lord of Yan escorted Duke Huan of Qi beyond his borders, and Duke Huan accordingly cut off the land as far as Yan's lord had come and gave it to Yan, and had Yan render tribute to the Son of Heaven as had been its duty in the time of Chengzhou, and had Yan restore the laws of the Duke of Shao. He died in the thirty-third year, and his son Duke Xiang was set up.
In Duke Xiang's twenty-sixth year Duke Wen of Jin held the assembly at Jiantu and was styled chief. In the thirty-first year the army of Qin was defeated at Yao. In the thirty-seventh year Duke Mu of Qin died. In the fortieth year Duke Xiang died, and Duke Huan was set up.
Duke Huan died in his sixteenth year, and Duke Xuan was set up. Duke Xuan died in his fifteenth year, and Duke Zhao was set up. Duke Zhao died in his thirteenth year, and Duke Wu was set up. In that year Jin destroyed the three Xi grandees.
Duke Wu died in his nineteenth year, and Duke Wen was set up. Duke Wen died in his sixth year, and Duke Yi was set up. In Duke Yi's first year Cui Zhu of Qi killed his lord Duke Zhuang. He died in the fourth year, and his son Duke Hui was set up.
In Duke Hui's first year Gao Zhi of Qi came as a fugitive. In the sixth year Duke Hui had many favoured concubines, and the duke wished to get rid of the several grandees and set up his favourite Song; the grandees together put the concubine Song to death, and Duke Hui was afraid and fled to Qi. In the fourth year Gao Yan of Qi went to Jin and asked that they join in attacking Yan and bringing its lord back in. Duke Ping of Jin agreed, and with Qi attacked Yan and brought in Duke Hui. Duke Hui reached Yan and died. Yan set up Duke Dao.
Duke Dao died in his seventh year, and Duke Gong was set up. Duke Gong died in his fifth year, and Duke Ping was set up. The ducal house of Jin was lowly, and the six ministers first grew great and strong. In Duke Ping's eighteenth year King Helü of Wu broke Chu and entered Ying. He died in the nineteenth year, and Duke Jian was set up. Duke Jian died in his twelfth year, and Duke Xian was set up. Zhao Yang of Jin besieged the Fan and Zhonghang families at Zhaoge. In Duke Xian's twelfth year Tian Chang of Qi killed his lord Duke Jian. In the fourteenth year Confucius died. In the twenty-eighth year Duke Xian died, and Duke Xiao was set up.
In Duke Xiao's twelfth year Han, Wei and Zhao destroyed the Earl of Zhi and divided his land, and the Three Jin were strong.
In the fifteenth year Duke Xiao died, and Duke Cheng was set up. Duke Cheng died in his sixteenth year, and Duke Min was set up. Duke Min died in his thirty-first year, and Duke Xi was set up. In that year the Three Jin were ranked among the feudal lords.
In Duke Xi's thirtieth year he attacked and defeated Qi at Linying. Duke Xi died, and Duke Huan was set up. Duke Huan died in his eleventh year, and Duke Wen was set up. In that year Duke Xian of Qin died. Qin grew ever stronger.
In Duke Wen's nineteenth year King Wei of Qi died. In the twenty-eighth year Su Qin first came to see him and argued with Duke Wen. Duke Wen gave him carriages, horses, gold and silk, so that he reached Zhao, and Marquis Su of Zhao employed him. Accordingly he bound the six states in alliance and became chief of the Vertical league. King Hui of Qin made his daughter the wife of the heir apparent of Yan.
In the twenty-ninth year Duke Wen died, and the heir apparent was set up: this was King Yi.
When King Yi was first set up, King Xuan of Qi took advantage of Yan's mourning to attack us and took ten cities; Su Qin argued with Qi and had the ten cities given back to Yan. In the tenth year the lord of Yan became king. Su Qin had an intrigue with the consort of Duke Wen of Yan, and fearing to be put to death he argued that the king should send him to Qi as a double agent, meaning to throw Qi into disorder. King Yi had been on the throne twelve years when he died, and his son Kuai of Yan was set up.
When Kuai of Yan had been set up, the men of Qi killed Su Qin. While Su Qin was in Yan he had made a marriage tie with the chancellor Zizhi, and Su Dai was on good terms with Zizhi. When Su Qin died, King Xuan of Qi again employed Su Dai. In Kuai of Yan's third year he joined Chu and the Three Jin in attacking Qin, and came back without prevailing. Zizhi was chancellor of Yan, honoured and weighty, and made the decisions himself. Su Dai came as envoy from Qi to Yan, and the king of Yan asked him: "What is the king of Qi like?" He answered: "He will certainly not be hegemon." The king of Yan said: "Why?" He answered: "He does not trust his ministers." Su Dai meant by this to spur the king of Yan into honouring Zizhi. Thereupon the king of Yan greatly trusted Zizhi. Zizhi accordingly sent Su Dai a hundred catties of gold, and let him use it as he would.
Lu Maoshou said to the king of Yan: "Better yield the state to the chancellor Zizhi. The reason men call Yao worthy is that he yielded the empire to Xu You; Xu You did not accept it, and so Yao had the name of yielding the empire and in fact did not lose the empire. Now if Your Majesty yields the state to Zizhi, Zizhi will certainly not dare to accept it, and Your Majesty will be doing as Yao did." The king of Yan thereupon made over the state to Zizhi, and Zizhi grew greatly weighty. Someone said: "Yu recommended Yi, and then made Qi's men the officials. When he grew old, holding that Qi's men were not fit to be entrusted with the empire, he handed it on to Yi. Afterwards Qi and his party attacked Yi and seized it from him. The empire says that Yu in name handed the empire to Yi, but in fact had Qi take it for himself. Now Your Majesty says he has made over the state to Zizhi, but not one of the officials is other than the heir apparent's man; this is making it over to Zizhi in name while in fact the heir apparent manages affairs." The king thereupon took in the seals of all officials of three hundred dan and upward and delivered them to Zizhi. Zizhi faced south and carried out the business of a king, while Kuai, being old, did not attend to the government, and instead became the subject; and the affairs of state were all decided by Zizhi.
In the third year the state was in great disorder and the hundred families were in dread. The general Shi Bei plotted with the heir apparent Ping to attack Zizhi. The generals of Qi said to King Min of Qi: "Take the occasion and fall upon them, and Yan will surely be broken." The king of Qi accordingly sent a man to say to Ping, heir apparent of Yan: "I have heard of the heir apparent's righteousness, that he will set aside the private and establish the public, and put in order the duties of lord and minister and make plain the stations of father and son. My state is small and not fit to go before you or follow you. Even so, it is for the heir apparent to give his commands to it." The heir apparent accordingly gathered his party and mustered a host, and the general Shi Bei surrounded the ducal palace and attacked Zizhi, and did not prevail. The general Shi Bei and the hundred families turned about and attacked the heir apparent Ping, and the general Shi Bei died, and his body was exposed as a warning. So the trouble went on for several months, and the dead were some tens of thousands; the multitude were in dread, and the hundred families were divided in heart. Meng Ke said to the king of Qi: "To attack Yan now — this is the moment of Wen and Wu, and it must not be lost." The king accordingly ordered Zhangzi to lead the troops of the five metropolitan districts, and with the host of the northern region to attack Yan. The soldiers did not fight and the city gates were not shut; Kuai the lord of Yan died, and Qi won a great victory. Two years after Zizhi of Yan perished, the men of Yan together set up the heir apparent Ping: this was King Zhao of Yan.
King Zhao of Yan came to the throne after Yan had been broken, and humbled himself and offered rich gifts to attract men of worth. He said to Guo Wei: "Qi took advantage of my state's disorder and made a surprise attack and broke Yan. I know very well that Yan is small and its strength slight, and not enough to take revenge. Yet truly to get worthy men to share the state with me, and so to wipe out the shame of my former king, is my wish. Look out for one who will do, sir, and I will serve him in person." Guo Wei said: "If Your Majesty is determined to bring in men, begin with Wei. Then how much more will those worthier than Wei count a thousand li too far to come!" Thereupon King Zhao rebuilt a palace for Wei and served him as his teacher. Yue Yi came from Wei, Zou Yan came from Qi, Ju Xin came from Zhao, and gentlemen vied in hastening to Yan. The king of Yan condoled with the bereaved and asked after the orphaned, and shared bitter and sweet with the hundred families.
In the twenty-eighth year the state of Yan was rich and full, and the soldiers were content and took battle lightly; and thereupon he made Yue Yi Senior General, and plotted with Qin, Chu and the Three Jin to attack Qi. The troops of Qi were defeated, and King Min fled abroad. The troops of Yan alone pursued the fleeing, and entered as far as Linzi; they took all the treasures of Qi and burned its palaces and ancestral temples. Of the cities of Qi, the only ones not taken were Liao, Ju and Jimo; all the rest belonged to Yan for six years.
King Zhao died in his thirty-third year, and his son King Hui was set up.
When King Hui was heir apparent he had had a rift with Yue Yi; and when he came to the throne he was suspicious of Yi and sent Qi Jie to replace him in command. Yue Yi fled to Zhao. Tian Dan of Qi from Jimo struck and defeated the army of Yan; Qi Jie died, and the troops of Yan drew off home, and Qi recovered all its former cities. King Min had died at Ju, and so they set up his son as King Xiang.
King Hui died in his seventh year. Han, Wei and Chu together attacked Yan. King Wucheng of Yan was set up.
In King Wucheng's seventh year Tian Dan of Qi attacked us and took Zhongyang. In the thirteenth year Qin defeated Zhao at Changping, more than four hundred thousand men. In the fourteenth year King Wucheng died, and his son King Xiao was set up.
In King Xiao's first year the Qin besiegers of Handan broke off and went away. He died in the third year, and his son the present king, Xi, was set up.
In the present king Xi's fourth year King Zhao of Qin died. The king of Yan ordered his chancellor Li Fu to make a friendly compact with Zhao, and with five hundred catties of gold to drink to the king of Zhao. On his return he reported to the king of Yan, saying: "The grown men of Zhao all died at Changping, and their orphans are not yet grown; Zhao may be attacked." The king summoned Yue Jian, Lord of Changguo, and asked him. He answered: "Zhao is a state fought over on four sides, and its people are practised in arms; it may not be attacked." The king said: "I shall attack one with five." He answered: "It cannot be done." The king of Yan was angry, and the body of ministers all held that it could be done. In the end he raised two armies and two thousand chariots; Li Fu commanded and attacked Hao, and Qing Qin attacked Dai. Only the grandee Jiang Qu said to the king of Yan: "To open the passes with a man and make a compact of friendship, and with five hundred catties of gold to drink to his king, and then, when the envoy has made his report, to turn and attack him — this is not auspicious, and the arms will have no success." The king of Yan would not listen, and himself led a detached force to follow them. Jiang Qu took hold of the king of Yan's seal-cord to stop him, saying: "Your Majesty must not go in person; going, there will be no success." The king kicked him away with his foot. Jiang Qu wept and said: "It is not for myself that I do this, but for Your Majesty!" The army of Yan reached Songzi, and Zhao sent Lian Po in command, who broke Li Fu at Hao. Yue Cheng broke Qing Qin at Dai. Yue Jian fled to Zhao. Lian Po pursued them more than five hundred li and besieged their state. The men of Yan asked for peace, and the men of Zhao would not allow it, insisting that Jiang Qu should conduct the peace. Yan made Jiang Qu chancellor to conduct the peace. Zhao heeded Jiang Qu and raised the siege of Yan.
In the sixth year Qin destroyed the Eastern Zhou and set up the commandery of Sanchuan. In the seventh year Qin took thirty-seven cities of Yuci in Zhao, and Qin set up the commandery of Taiyuan. In the ninth year the king of Qin, Zheng, first came to the throne. In the tenth year Zhao sent Lian Po to attack Fanyang, and took it. King Xiaocheng of Zhao died, and King Daoxiang was set up. He sent Yue Cheng to replace Lian Po; Lian Po would not have it and attacked Yue Cheng, and Yue Cheng fled, and Lian Po fled to Daliang. In the twelfth year Zhao sent Li Mu to attack Yan, and took Wusui and Fangcheng. Ju Xin had formerly lived in Zhao and been on good terms with Pang Nuan, and afterwards had fled to Yan. Yan, seeing that Zhao had repeatedly been hard pressed by Qin and that Lian Po had gone and Pang Nuan had been put in command, wished to take advantage of Zhao's exhaustion and attack it. He asked Ju Xin, and Xin said: "Pang Nuan is easy to deal with." Yan sent Ju Xin in command to strike at Zhao, and Zhao sent Pang Nuan to strike at him; he took twenty thousand of the Yan army and killed Ju Xin. Qin took twenty cities of Wei and set up the commandery of Dongjun. In the nineteenth year Qin took nine cities of Ye in Zhao. King Daoxiang of Zhao died. In the twenty-third year the heir apparent Dan, a hostage in Qin, escaped home to Yan. In the twenty-fifth year Qin took King An of Han prisoner and destroyed him, and set up the commandery of Yingchuan. In the twenty-seventh year Qin took King Qian of Zhao prisoner and destroyed Zhao. Prince Jia of Zhao set himself up as king of Dai.
Yan saw that Qin was about to destroy the six states, that the troops of Qin were at the Yi River, and that disaster was about to reach Yan. The heir apparent Dan secretly maintained twenty stout men, and sent Jing Ke to present the map of Dukang to Qin, and with it to make a surprise attempt to stab the king of Qin. The king of Qin became aware of it and killed Ke, and sent the general Wang Jian to strike at Yan. In the twenty-ninth year Qin attacked and took our Ji; the king of Yan fled and moved his seat to Liaodong, and beheaded Dan and presented his head to Qin. In the thirtieth year Qin destroyed Wei.
In the thirty-third year Qin took Liaodong and captured King Xi of Yan, and in the end destroyed Yan. In that year the Qin general Wang Ben also took King Jia of Dai prisoner.
The Lord Grand Astrologer says: Shi, the Duke of Shao, may be called humane indeed! They thought back even upon the sweet pear-tree — how much more upon the man himself! Yan was pressed without by the Man and the Mo, and hemmed in within by Qi and Jin; rugged and cramped between strong states, it was the weakest and smallest of all, and several times all but destroyed. Yet its altars of soil and grain received blood offerings for eight or nine hundred years, and among those of the Ji surname it alone perished last: was this not the enduring work of the Duke of Shao!