卷四十六·田敬仲完世家第十六
卷四十六·田敬仲完世家第十六
司马迁
陈完者，陈厉公他之子也。完生，周太史过陈，陈厉公使卜完，卦得观之否：“是为观国之光，利用宾于王。此其代陈有国乎？不在此而在异国乎？非此其身也，在其子孙。若在异国，必姜姓。姜姓，四岳之后。物莫能两大，陈衰，此其昌乎？”
厉公者，陈文公少子也，其母蔡女。文公卒，厉公兄鲍立，是为桓公。桓公与他异母。及桓公病，蔡人为他杀桓公鲍及太子免而立他，为厉公。厉公既立，娶蔡女。蔡女淫于蔡人，数归，厉公亦数如蔡。桓公之少子林怨厉公杀其父与兄，乃令蔡人诱厉公而杀之。林自立，是为庄公。故陈完不得立，为陈大夫。厉公之杀，以淫出国，故春秋曰“蔡人杀陈他”，罪之也。
庄公卒，立弟杵臼，是为宣公。宣公二十一年，杀其太子御寇。御寇与完相爱，恐祸及己，完故奔齐。齐桓公欲使为卿，辞曰：“羁旅之臣幸得免负檐，君之惠也，不敢当高位。”桓公使为工正。齐懿仲欲妻完，卜之，占曰：“是谓凤皇于蜚，和鸣锵锵。有妫之后，将育于姜。五世其昌，并于正卿。八世之后，莫之与京。”卒妻完。完之奔齐，齐桓公立十四年矣。
完卒，谥为敬仲。仲生稺孟夷。敬仲之如齐，以陈字为田氏。
田稺孟夷生湣孟庄，田湣孟庄生文子须无。田文子事齐庄公。
晋之大夫栾逞作乱于晋，来奔齐，齐庄公厚客之。晏婴与田文子谏，庄公弗听。
文子卒，生桓子无宇。田桓子无宇有力，事齐庄公，甚有宠。
无宇卒，生武子开与釐子乞。田釐子乞事齐景公为大夫，其收赋税于民以小斗受之，其禀予民以大斗，行阴德于民，而景公弗禁。由此田氏得齐众心，宗族益强，民思田氏。晏子数谏景公，景公弗听。已而使于晋，与叔向私语曰：“齐国之政卒归于田氏矣。”
晏婴卒后，范、中行氏反晋。晋攻之急，范、中行请粟于齐。田乞欲为乱，树党于诸侯，乃说景公曰：“范、中行数有德于齐，齐不可不救。”齐使田乞救之而输之粟。
景公太子死，后有宠姬曰芮子，生子荼。景公病，命其相国惠子与高昭子以子荼为太子。景公卒，两相高、国立荼，是为晏孺子。而田乞不说，欲立景公他子阳生。阳生素与乞欢。晏孺子之立也，阳生奔鲁。田乞伪事高昭子、国惠子者，每朝代参乘，言曰：“始诸大夫不欲立孺子。孺子既立，君相之，大夫皆自危，谋作乱。”又绐大夫曰：“高昭子可畏也，及未发先之。”诸大夫从之。田乞、鲍牧与大夫以兵入公室，攻高昭子。昭子闻之，与国惠子救公。公师败。田乞之众追国惠子，惠子奔莒，遂返杀高昭子。晏圉奔鲁。
田乞使人之鲁，迎阳生。阳生至齐，匿田乞家。请诸大夫曰：“常之母有鱼菽之祭，幸而来会饮。”会饮田氏。田乞盛阳生橐中，置坐中央。发橐，出阳生，曰：“此乃齐君矣。”大夫皆伏谒。将盟立之，田乞诬曰：“吾与鲍牧谋共立阳生也。”鲍牧怒曰：“大夫忘景公之命乎？”诸大夫欲悔，阳生乃顿首曰：“可则立之，不可则已。”鲍牧恐祸及己，乃复曰：“皆景公之子，何为不可！”遂立阳生于田乞之家，是为悼公。乃使人迁晏孺子于骀，而杀孺子荼。悼公既立，田乞为相，专齐政。
四年，田乞卒，子常代立，是为田成子。
鲍牧与齐悼公有郄，弑悼公。齐人共立其子壬，是为简公。田常成子与监止俱为左右相，相简公。田常心害监止，监止幸于简公，权弗能去。于是田常复脩釐子之政，以大斗出贷，以小斗收。齐人歌之曰：“妪乎采芑，归乎田成子！”齐大夫朝，御鞅谏简公曰：“田、监不可并也，君其择焉。”君弗听。
子我者，监止之宗人也，常与田氏有卻。田氏疏族田豹事子我有宠。子我曰：“吾欲尽灭田氏適，以豹代田氏宗。”豹曰：“臣于田氏疏矣。”不听。已而豹谓田氏曰：“子我将诛田氏，田氏弗先，祸及矣。”子我舍公宫，田常兄弟四人乘如公宫，欲杀子我。子我闭门。简公与妇人饮檀台，将欲击田常。太史子余曰：“田常非敢为乱，将除害。”简公乃止。田常出，闻简公怒，恐诛，将出亡。田子行曰：“需，事之贼也。”田常于是击子我。子我率其徒攻田氏，不胜，出亡。田氏之徒追杀子我及监止。
简公出奔，田氏之徒追执简公于徐州。简公曰：“蚤从御鞅之言，不及此难。”田氏之徒恐简公复立而诛己，遂杀简公。简公立四年而杀。于是田常立简公弟骜，是为平公。平公即位，田常为相。
田常既杀简公，惧诸侯共诛己，乃尽归鲁、卫侵地，西约晋、韩、魏、赵氏，南通吴、越之使，脩功行赏，亲于百姓，以故齐复定。
田常言于齐平公曰：“德施人之所欲，君其行之；刑罚人之所恶，臣请行之。”行之五年，齐国之政皆归田常。田常于是尽诛鲍、晏、监止及公族之强者，而割齐自安平以东至琅邪，自为封邑。封邑大于平公之所食。
田常乃选齐国中女子长七尺以上为后宫，后宫以百数，而使宾客舍人出入后宫者不禁。及田常卒，有七十余男。
田常卒，子襄子盘代立，相齐。常谥为成子。
田襄子既相齐宣公，三晋杀知伯，分其地。襄子使其兄弟宗人尽为齐都邑大夫，与三晋通使，且以有齐国。
襄子卒，子庄子白立。田庄子相齐宣公。宣公四十三年，伐晋，毁黄城，围阳狐。明年，伐鲁、葛及安陵。明年，取鲁之一城。
庄子卒，子太公和立。田太公相齐宣公。宣公四十八年，取鲁之郕。明年，宣公与郑人会西城。伐卫，取毌丘。宣公五十一年卒，田会自廪丘反。
宣公卒，子康公贷立。贷立十四年，淫于酒、妇人，不听政。太公乃迁康公于海上，食一城，以奉其先祀。明年，鲁败齐平陆。
三年，太公与魏文侯会浊泽，求为诸侯。魏文侯乃使使言周天子及诸侯，请立齐相田和为诸侯。周天子许之。康公之十九年，田和立为齐侯，列于周室，纪元年。
齐侯太公和立二年，和卒，子桓公午立。桓公午五年，秦、魏攻韩，韩求救于齐。齐桓公召大臣而谋曰：“蚤救之孰与晚救之？”驺忌曰：“不若勿救。”段干朋曰：“不救，则韩且折而入于魏，不若救之。”田臣思曰：“过矣君之谋也！秦、魏攻韩、楚，赵必救之，是天以燕予齐也。”桓公曰：“善”。乃阴告韩使者而遣之。韩自以为得齐之救，因与秦、魏战。楚、赵闻之，果起兵而救之。齐因起兵袭燕国，取桑丘。
六年，救卫。桓公卒，子威王因齐立。是岁，故齐康公卒，绝无后，奉邑皆入田氏。
齐威王元年，三晋因齐丧来伐我灵丘。三年，三晋灭晋后而分其地。六年，鲁伐我，入阳关。晋伐我，至博陵。七年，卫伐我，取薛陵。九年，赵伐我，取甄。
威王初即位以来，不治，委政卿大夫，九年之间，诸侯并伐，国人不治。于是威王召即墨大夫而语之曰：“自子之居即墨也，毁言日至。然吾使人视即墨，田野辟，民人给，官无留事，东方以宁。是子不事吾左右以求誉也。”封之万家。召阿大夫语曰：“自子之守阿，誉言日闻。然使使视阿，田野不辟，民贫苦。昔日赵攻甄，子弗能救。卫取薛陵，子弗知。是子以币厚吾左右以求誉也。”是日，烹阿大夫，及左右尝誉者皆并烹之。遂起兵西击赵、卫，败魏于浊泽而围惠王。惠王请献观以和解，赵人归我长城。于是齐国震惧，人人不敢饰非，务尽其诚。齐国大治。诸侯闻之，莫敢致兵于齐二十余年。
驺忌子以鼓琴见威王，威王说而舍之右室。须臾，王鼓琴，驺忌子推户入曰：“善哉鼓琴！”王勃然不说，去琴按剑曰：“夫子见容未察，何以知其善也？”驺忌子曰：“夫大弦浊以春温者，君也；小弦廉折以清者，相也；攫之深，醳之愉者，政令也；钧谐以鸣，大小相益，回邪而不相害者，四时也：吾是以知其善也。”王曰：“善语音。”驺忌子曰：“何独语音，夫治国家而弭人民皆在其中。”王又勃然不说曰：“若夫语五音之纪，信未有如夫子者也。若夫治国家而弭人民，又何为乎丝桐之间？”驺忌子曰：“夫大弦浊以春温者，君也；小弦廉折以清者，相也；攫之深而舍之愉者，政令也；钧谐以鸣，大小相益，回邪而不相害者，四时也。夫复而不乱者，所以治昌也；连而径者，所以存亡也：故曰琴音调而天下治。夫治国家而弭人民者，无若乎五音者。”王曰：“善。”
驺忌子见三月而受相印。淳于髡见之曰：“善说哉！髡有愚志，愿陈诸前。”驺忌子曰：“谨受教。”淳于髡曰：“得全全昌，失全全亡。”驺忌子曰：“谨受令，请谨毋离前。”淳于髡曰：“狶膏棘轴，所以为滑也，然而不能运方穿。”驺忌子曰：“谨受令，请谨事左右。”淳于髡曰：“弓胶昔幹，所以为合也，然而不能傅合疏罅。”驺忌子曰：“谨受令，请谨自附于万民。”淳于髡曰：“狐裘虽敝，不可补以黄狗之皮。”驺忌子曰：“谨受令，请谨择君子，毋杂小人其间。”淳于髡曰：“大车不较，不能载其常任；琴瑟不较，不能成其五音。”驺忌子曰：“谨受令，请谨脩法律而督奸吏。”淳于髡说毕，趋出，至门，而面其仆曰：“是人者，吾语之微言五，其应我若响之应声，是人必封不久矣。”居期年，封以下邳，号曰成侯。
威王二十三年，与赵王会平陆。二十四年，与魏王会田于郊。魏王问曰：“王亦有宝乎？”威王曰：“无有。”梁王曰：“若寡人国小也，尚有径寸之珠照车前后各十二乘者十枚，奈何以万乘之国而无宝乎？”威王曰：“寡人之所以为宝与王异。吾臣有檀子者，使守南城，则楚人不敢为寇东取，泗上十二诸侯皆来朝。吾臣有朌子者，使守高唐，则赵人不敢东渔于河。吾吏有黔夫者，使守徐州，则燕人祭北门，赵人祭西门，徙而从者七千余家。吾臣有种首者，使备盗贼，则道不拾遗。将以照千里，岂特十二乘哉！”梁惠王惭，不怿而去。
二十六年，魏惠王围邯郸，赵求救于齐。齐威王召大臣而谋曰：“救赵孰与勿救？”驺忌子曰：“不如勿救。”段干朋曰：“不救则不义，且不利。”威王曰：“何也？”对曰：“夫魏氏并邯郸，其于齐何利哉？且夫救赵而军其郊，是赵不伐而魏全也。故不如南攻襄陵以弊魏，邯郸拔而乘魏之弊。”威王从其计。
其后成侯驺忌与田忌不善，公孙阅谓成侯忌曰：“公何不谋伐魏，田忌必将。战胜有功，则公之谋中也；战不胜，非前死则后北，而命在公矣。”于是成侯言威王，使田忌南攻襄陵。十月，邯郸拔，齐因起兵击魏，大败之桂陵。于是齐最强于诸侯，自称为王，以令天下。
三十三年，杀其大夫牟辛。
三十五年，公孙阅又谓成侯忌曰：“公何不令人操十金卜于市，曰‘我田忌之人也。吾三战而三胜，声威天下。欲为大事，亦吉乎不吉乎’？”卜者出，因令人捕为之卜者，验其辞于王之所。田忌闻之，因率其徒袭攻临淄，求成侯，不胜而奔。
三十六年，威王卒，子宣王辟强立。
宣王元年，秦用商鞅。周致伯于秦孝公。
二年，魏伐赵。赵与韩亲，共击魏。赵不利，战于南梁。宣王召田忌复故位。韩氏请救于齐。宣王召大臣而谋曰：“蚤救孰与晚救？”驺忌子曰：“不如勿救。”田忌曰：“弗救，则韩且折而入于魏，不如蚤救之。”孙子曰：“夫韩、魏之兵未弊而救之，是吾代韩受魏之兵，顾反听命于韩也。且魏有破国之志，韩见亡，必东面而愬于齐矣。吾因深结韩之亲而晚承魏之弊，则可重利而得尊名也。”宣王曰：“善。”乃阴告韩之使者而遣之。韩因恃齐，五战不胜，而东委国于齐。齐因起兵，使田忌、田婴将，孙子为师，救韩、赵以击魏，大败之马陵，杀其将庞涓，虏魏太子申。其后三晋之王皆因田婴朝齐王于博望，盟而去。
七年，与魏王会平阿南。明年，复会甄。魏惠王卒。明年，与魏襄王会徐州，诸侯相王也。十年，楚围我徐州。十一年，与魏伐赵，赵决河水灌齐、魏，兵罢。十八年，秦惠王称王。
宣王喜文学游说之士，自如驺衍、淳于髡、田骈、接予、慎到、环渊之徒七十六人，皆赐列第，为上大夫，不治而议论。是以齐稷下学士复盛，且数百千人。
十九年，宣王卒，子湣王地立。
湣王元年，秦使张仪与诸侯执政会于齧桑。三年，封田婴于薛。四年，迎妇于秦。七年，与宋攻魏，败之观泽。
十二年，攻魏。楚围雍氏，秦败屈丐。苏代谓田轸曰：“臣愿有谒于公，其为事甚完，使楚利公，成为福，不成亦为福。今者臣立于门，客有言曰魏王谓韩冯、张仪曰：‘煮枣将拔，齐兵又进，子来救寡人则可矣；不救寡人，寡人弗能拔。’此特转辞也。秦、韩之兵毋东，旬余，则魏氏转韩从秦，秦逐张仪，交臂而事齐楚，此公之事成也。”田轸曰：“柰何使无东？”对曰：“韩冯之救魏之辞，必不谓韩王曰‘冯以为魏’，必曰‘冯将以秦韩之兵东卻齐宋，冯因抟三国之兵，乘屈丐之弊，南割于楚，故地必尽得之矣’。张仪救魏之辞，必不谓秦王曰‘仪以为魏’，必曰‘仪且以秦韩之兵东距齐宋，仪将抟三国之兵，乘屈丐之弊，南割于楚，名存亡国，实伐三川而归，此王业也’。公令楚王与韩氏地，使秦制和，谓秦王曰‘请与韩地，而王以施三川，韩氏之兵不用而得地于楚’。韩冯之东兵之辞且谓秦何？曰‘秦兵不用而得三川，伐楚韩以窘魏，魏氏不敢东，是孤齐也’。张仪之东兵之辞且谓何？曰‘秦韩欲地而兵有案，声威发于魏，魏氏之欲不失齐楚者有资矣’。魏氏转秦韩争事齐楚，楚王欲而无与地，公令秦韩之兵不用而得地，有一大德也。秦韩之王劫于韩冯、张仪而东兵以徇服魏，公常执左券以责于秦韩，此其善于公而恶张子多资矣。”
十三年，秦惠王卒。二十三年，与秦击败楚于重丘。二十四年，秦使泾阳君质于齐。二十五年，归泾阳君于秦。孟尝君薛文入秦，即相秦。文亡去。二十六年，齐与韩魏共攻秦，至函谷军焉。二十八年，秦与韩河外以和，兵罢。二十九年，赵杀其主父。齐佐赵灭中山。
三十六年，王为东帝，秦昭王为西帝。苏代自燕来，入齐，见于章华东门。齐王曰：“嘻，善，子来！秦使魏冉致帝，子以为何如？”对曰：“王之问臣也卒，而患之所从来微，愿王受之而勿备称也。秦称之，天下安之，王乃称之，无后也。且让争帝名，无伤也。秦称之，天下恶之，王因勿称，以收天下，此大资也。且天下立两帝，王以天下为尊齐乎？尊秦乎？”王曰：“尊秦。”曰：“释帝，天下爱齐乎？爱秦乎？”王曰：“爱齐而憎秦。”曰：“两帝立约伐赵，孰与伐桀宋之利？”王曰：“伐桀宋利。”对曰：“夫约钧，然与秦为帝而天下独尊秦而轻齐，释帝则天下爱齐而憎秦，伐赵不如伐桀宋之利，故愿王明释帝以收天下，倍约宾秦，无争重，而王以其间举宋。夫有宋，卫之阳地危；有济西，赵之阿东国危；有淮北，楚之东国危；有陶、平陆，梁门不开。释帝而贷之以伐桀宋之事，国重而名尊，燕楚所以形服，天下莫敢不听，此汤武之举也。敬秦以为名，而后使天下憎之，此所谓以卑为尊者也。愿王孰虑之。”于是齐去帝复为王，秦亦去帝位。
三十八年，伐宋。秦昭王怒曰：“吾爱宋与爱新城、阳晋同。韩聂与吾友也，而攻吾所爱，何也？”苏代为齐谓秦王曰：“韩聂之攻宋，所以为王也。齐强，辅之以宋，楚魏必恐，恐必西事秦，是王不烦一兵，不伤一士，无事而割安邑也，此韩聂之所祷于王也。”秦王曰：“吾患齐之难知。一从一衡，其说何也？”对曰：“天下国令齐可知乎？齐以攻宋，其知事秦以万乘之国自辅，不西事秦则宋治不安。中国白头游敖之士皆积智欲离齐秦之交，伏式结轶西驰者，未有一人言善齐者也，伏式结轶东驰者，未有一人言善秦者也。何则？皆不欲齐秦之合也。何晋楚之智而齐秦之愚也！晋楚合必议齐秦，齐秦合必图晋楚，请以此决事。”秦王曰：“诺。”于是齐遂伐宋，宋王出亡，死于温。齐南割楚之淮北，西侵三晋，欲以并周室，为天子。泗上诸侯邹鲁之君皆称臣，诸侯恐惧。
三十九年，秦来伐，拔我列城九。
四十年，燕、秦、楚、三晋合谋，各出锐师以伐，败我济西。王解而卻。燕将乐毅遂入临淄，尽取齐之宝藏器。湣王出亡，之卫。卫君辟宫舍之，称臣而共具。湣王不逊卫人侵之。湣王去，走邹、鲁，有骄色，邹、鲁君弗内，遂走莒。楚使淖齿将兵救齐，因相齐湣王。淖齿遂杀湣王而与燕共分齐之侵地卤器。
湣王之遇杀，其子法章变名姓为莒太史敫家庸。太史敫女奇法章状貌，以为非恒人，怜而常窃衣食之，而与私通焉。淖齿既以去莒，莒中人及齐亡臣相聚求湣王子，欲立之。法章惧其诛己也，久之，乃敢自言“我湣王子也”。于是莒人共立法章，是为襄王。以保莒城而布告齐国中：“王已立在莒矣。”
襄王既立，立太史氏女为王后，是为君王后，生子建。太史敫曰：“女不取媒因自嫁，非吾种也，汙吾世。”终身不睹君王后。君王后贤，不以不睹故失人子之礼。
襄王在莒五年，田单以即墨攻破燕军，迎襄王于莒，入临菑。齐故地尽复属齐。齐封田单为安平君。
十四年，秦击我刚寿。十九年，襄王卒，子建立。
王建立六年，秦攻赵，齐楚救之。秦计曰：“齐楚救赵，亲则退兵，不亲遂攻之。”赵无食，请粟于齐，齐不听。周子曰：“不如听之以退秦兵，不听则秦兵不卻，是秦之计中而齐楚之计过也。且赵之于齐楚，扞蔽也，犹齿之有唇也，唇亡则齿寒。今日亡赵，明日患及齐楚。且救赵之务，宜若奉漏瓮沃焦釜也。夫救赵，高义也；卻秦兵，显名也。义救亡国，威卻强秦之兵，不务为此而务爱粟，为国计者过矣。”齐王弗听。秦破赵于长平四十余万，遂围邯郸。
十六年，秦灭周。君王后卒。二十三年，秦置东郡。二十八年，王入朝秦，秦王政置酒咸阳。三十五年，秦灭韩。三十七年，秦灭赵。三十八年，燕使荆轲刺秦王，秦王觉，杀轲。明年，秦破燕，燕王亡走辽东。明年，秦灭魏，秦兵次于历下。四十二年，秦灭楚。明年，虏代王嘉，灭燕王喜。
四十四年，秦兵击齐。齐王听相后胜计，不战，以兵降秦。秦虏王建，迁之共。遂灭齐为郡。天下壹并于秦，秦王政立号为皇帝。始，君王后贤，事秦谨，与诸侯信，齐亦东边海上，秦日夜攻三晋、燕、楚，五国各自救于秦，以故王建立四十余年不受兵。君王后死，后胜相齐，多受秦间金，多使宾客入秦，秦又多予金，客皆为反间，劝王去从朝秦，不脩攻战之备，不助五国攻秦，秦以故得灭五国。五国已亡，秦兵卒入临淄，民莫敢格者。王建遂降，迁于共。故齐人怨王建不蚤与诸侯合从攻秦，听奸臣宾客以亡其国，歌之曰：“松耶柏耶？住建共者客耶？”疾建用客之不详也。
太史公曰：盖孔子晚而喜《易》。《易》之为术，幽明远矣，非通人达才孰能注意焉！故周太史之卦田敬仲完，占至十世之后；及完奔齐，懿仲卜之亦云。田乞及常所以比犯二君，专齐国之政，非必事势之渐然也，盖若遵厌兆祥云。
Volume 46 · The Hereditary House of Tian Jingzhong Wan, Sixteenth
司马迁
Chen Wan was a son of Duke Li of Chen, Tuo. When Wan was born, the Grand Scribe of Zhou passed through Chen, and Duke Li of Chen had him divine about Wan. The hexagram came out as Guan changing into Pi: "This is 'he beholds the glory of the state; it is well to be a guest of the king.' Will he then take Chen's place and have a state? Or not here but in another state? Not in his own person, but among his sons and grandsons. And if in another state, it must be one of the Jiang surname. The Jiang surname are the posterity of the Four Peaks. Things cannot both be great; as Chen declines, will this line then flourish?"
Duke Li was a younger son of Duke Wen of Chen, and his mother was a woman of Cai. Duke Wen died, and Duke Li's elder brother Bao was set up: this was Duke Huan. Duke Huan and Tuo had different mothers. And when Duke Huan fell ill, the men of Cai for Tuo's sake killed Duke Huan, Bao, and the heir apparent Mian, and set up Tuo, who became Duke Li. Duke Li being set up, he married a woman of Cai. The Cai woman was licentious with a man of Cai and repeatedly went home, and Duke Li too repeatedly went to Cai. Duke Huan's youngest son Lin resented Duke Li for killing his father and elder brother, and so had the men of Cai lure Duke Li out and kill him. Lin set himself up: this was Duke Zhuang. Therefore Chen Wan could not be set up, and was a grandee of Chen. Duke Li's being killed, having gone out of his state through licentiousness, is why the Spring and Autumn says "the men of Cai killed Tuo of Chen" — holding him at fault.
Duke Zhuang died, and they set up his younger brother Chujiu: this was Duke Xuan. In Duke Xuan's twenty-first year he killed his heir apparent Yukou. Yukou and Wan loved each other, and fearing the disaster would reach him, Wan therefore fled to Qi. Duke Huan of Qi wished to make him a minister, and he declined, saying: "A sojourning subject who is fortunate enough to be spared the carrying-pole — that is my lord's kindness; I dare not take a high place." Duke Huan made him Director of Artisans. Yizhong of Qi wished to give him a daughter to wife and divined about it, and the reading said: "This is called 'the phoenix in flight, its paired cry ringing clear.' The posterity of the Gui will be reared among the Jiang. In five generations it will flourish and rank with the chief minister; after eight generations none will be greater." And in the end he gave him the daughter. At Wan's flight to Qi, Duke Huan of Qi had been in his place fourteen years.
Wan died, with the posthumous title Jingzhong. Zhong begot Zhi Mengyi. Jingzhong, on going to Qi, made the character Chen into the Tian clan name.
Tian Zhi Mengyi begot Min Mengzhuang, and Tian Min Mengzhuang begot Wenzi Xuwu. Tian Wenzi served Duke Zhuang of Qi.
The Jin grandee Luan Ying made a rebellion in Jin and came here as a fugitive to Qi, and Duke Zhuang of Qi treated him generously as a guest. Yan Ying and Tian Wenzi remonstrated, and Duke Zhuang would not listen.
Wenzi died, having begotten Huanzi Wuyu. Tian Huanzi Wuyu was strong, served Duke Zhuang of Qi, and was much favoured.
Wuyu died, having begotten Wuzi Kai and Lizi Qi. Tian Lizi Qi served Duke Jing of Qi as a grandee; in collecting taxes from the people he took them with a small measure, and in doling out to the people he used a large measure; he practised hidden virtue toward the people, and Duke Jing did not forbid it. By this the Tian clan won the hearts of the multitude of Qi, and the clan grew ever stronger, and the people were drawn to the Tian. Yanzi repeatedly remonstrated with Duke Jing, and Duke Jing would not listen. Afterwards, going on a mission to Jin, he said privately to Shuxiang: "The government of the state of Qi will in the end go to the Tian clan."
After Yan Ying died, the Fan and Zhonghang clans rebelled against Jin. Jin attacked them hard, and the Fan and Zhonghang asked grain of Qi. Tian Qi wished to make a rebellion and to plant a party among the feudal lords, and so urged Duke Jing: "The Fan and the Zhonghang have repeatedly done Qi kindnesses; Qi cannot but rescue them." Qi sent Tian Qi to rescue them and sent them grain.
Duke Jing's heir apparent died, and afterwards he had a favoured concubine called Ruizi, who bore the son Tu. Duke Jing fell ill and ordered his chancellor of state Huizi and Gao Zhaozi to make the son Tu heir apparent. Duke Jing died, and the two chancellors Gao and Guo set up Tu: this was the Young Lord Yan. And Tian Qi was displeased, and wished to set up Duke Jing's other son Yangsheng. Yangsheng had always been on good terms with Qi. At the Young Lord Yan's being set up, Yangsheng fled to Lu. Tian Qi pretended to serve Gao Zhaozi and Guo Huizi, riding as third in their chariot at each court in turn, and said: "At first the several grandees did not wish the Young Lord set up. Now the Young Lord is set up and you are his chancellors, and the grandees all feel themselves in danger and plot a rebellion." And he also deceived the grandees, saying: "Gao Zhaozi is to be feared; get in before he acts." The several grandees followed him. Tian Qi, Bao Mu and the grandees entered the ducal house with troops and attacked Gao Zhaozi. Zhaozi heard of it, and with Guo Huizi went to rescue the duke. The duke's host was defeated. Tian Qi's followers pursued Guo Huizi, and Huizi fled to Ju, and they then turned back and killed Gao Zhaozi. Yan Yu fled to Lu.
Tian Qi sent men to Lu to fetch Yangsheng. Yangsheng reached Qi and was hidden in Tian Qi's house. He invited the several grandees, saying: "Chang's mother has a sacrifice of fish and beans; be so good as to come and drink together." They drank together at the Tian's. Tian Qi put Yangsheng in a sack and set it in the middle of the company. He opened the sack and brought Yangsheng out, saying: "This is the lord of Qi." The grandees all bowed low in homage. They were about to covenant and set him up, and Tian Qi falsely said: "I plotted with Bao Mu to set up Yangsheng together." Bao Mu was angry and said: "Have the grandees forgotten Duke Jing's command?" The several grandees wished to go back on it, and Yangsheng thereupon knocked his head on the ground and said: "If it can be, set me up; if not, let it be." Bao Mu, fearing the disaster would reach him, then said again: "They are all Duke Jing's sons; why should it not be!" And so they set up Yangsheng in Tian Qi's house: this was Duke Dao. Then he sent men to move the Young Lord Yan to Tai, and killed the Young Lord Tu. Duke Dao being set up, Tian Qi was chancellor and engrossed the government of Qi.
In the fourth year Tian Qi died, and his son Chang took his place: this was Tian Chengzi.
Bao Mu had a rift with Duke Dao of Qi, and murdered Duke Dao. The men of Qi together set up his son Ren: this was Duke Jian. Tian Chang Chengzi and Jian Zhi were both chancellors of the left and right, chancellors to Duke Jian. Tian Chang was inwardly set on injuring Jian Zhi; Jian Zhi was favoured by Duke Jian, and his power could not be taken from him. Thereupon Tian Chang again took up Lizi's policy: he lent out with a large measure and collected with a small one. The men of Qi sang of it: "Old woman, gathering the millet — go home to Tian Chengzi!" The Qi grandees being at court, the charioteer Yang remonstrated with Duke Jian: "Tian and Jian cannot both be kept; let my lord choose between them." The lord would not listen.
Ziwo was a clansman of Jian Zhi, and had always had a rift with the Tian clan. A distant kinsman of the Tian, Tian Bao, served Ziwo and was favoured. Ziwo said: "I mean to destroy every one of the Tian's rightful line, and put Bao in place of the Tian as clan head." Bao said: "Your servant is distant in the Tian clan." He would not listen. Afterwards Bao said to the Tian clan: "Ziwo is going to put the Tian clan to death; if the Tian do not act first, the disaster will come." Ziwo was lodging in the ducal palace, and Tian Chang and his brothers, four men, rode to the ducal palace meaning to kill Ziwo. Ziwo shut the gates. Duke Jian was drinking with women at the Tan Terrace, and was going to strike at Tian Chang. The Grand Scribe Ziyu said: "Tian Chang does not dare make a rebellion; he is going to get rid of a harm." Duke Jian then stopped. Tian Chang came out and heard that Duke Jian was angry, and fearing to be put to death, was going to flee abroad. Tian Zixing said: "Hesitation is the ruin of business." Tian Chang thereupon struck at Ziwo. Ziwo led his followers in attacking the Tian clan, and not prevailing, fled abroad. The Tian clan's followers pursued and killed Ziwo and Jian Zhi.
Duke Jian fled out, and the Tian clan's followers pursued and seized Duke Jian at Xuzhou. Duke Jian said: "Had I early followed the charioteer Yang's words, I should not have come to this trouble." The Tian clan's followers, fearing that Duke Jian would be set up again and put them to death, thereupon killed Duke Jian. Duke Jian had been in his place four years when he was killed. Thereupon Tian Chang set up Duke Jian's younger brother Ao: this was Duke Ping. Duke Ping came to his place, and Tian Chang was chancellor.
Tian Chang, having killed Duke Jian, feared that the feudal lords would join in putting him to death, and so gave back all the lands encroached on from Lu and Wei, made agreements westward with the Jin clans of Han, Wei and Zhao, and opened communication southward with the envoys of Wu and Yue; he set merit in order and gave out rewards, and was close to the hundred families; and for this reason Qi was settled again.
Tian Chang said to Duke Ping of Qi: "Virtue's bestowal is what men desire; let my lord practise it. Punishment is what men hate; let your servant practise it." This being practised five years, the government of the state of Qi all went to Tian Chang. Tian Chang thereupon put to death all the strong men of the Bao, the Yan, Jian Zhi and the ducal kin, and carved off from Qi the country from Anping eastward to Langye to make his own endowment town. His endowment town was larger than what Duke Ping ate from.
Tian Chang then chose from within the state of Qi women seven feet and more in height for his rear palace; the rear palace was counted in hundreds, and he did not forbid guests and retainers to go in and out of the rear palace. By the time Tian Chang died he had seventy sons and more.
Tian Chang died, and his son Xiangzi Pan took his place and was chancellor of Qi. Chang's posthumous title was Chengzi.
Tian Xiangzi being chancellor to Duke Xuan of Qi, the Three Jin killed the Earl of Zhi and divided his lands. Xiangzi had all his brothers and clansmen made grandees of the capital towns of Qi, and opened exchange of envoys with the Three Jin, and was about to have the state of Qi.
Xiangzi died, and his son Zhuangzi Bai was set up. Tian Zhuangzi was chancellor to Duke Xuan of Qi. In Duke Xuan's forty-third year he attacked Jin, destroyed Huangcheng and besieged Yanghu. The next year he attacked Lu, Ge and Anling. The next year he took one city of Lu.
Zhuangzi died, and his son the Grand Duke He was set up. Tian, the Grand Duke, was chancellor to Duke Xuan of Qi. In Duke Xuan's forty-eighth year he took Lu's Cheng. The next year Duke Xuan met the men of Zheng at Xicheng. He attacked Wei and took Guanqiu. Duke Xuan died in his fifty-first year. Tian Hui rebelled from Linqiu.
Duke Xuan died, and his son Duke Kang, Dai, was set up. Dai had been in his place fourteen years when he gave himself to drink and women and would not attend to the government. The Grand Duke thereupon moved Duke Kang to the seashore, with one city to eat from, so as to keep up the sacrifices to his ancestors. The next year Lu defeated Qi at Pinglu.
In the third year the Grand Duke met Marquis Wen of Wei at Zhuoze and asked to be made a feudal lord. Marquis Wen of Wei then sent envoys to speak to the Son of Heaven of Zhou and to the feudal lords, asking that the Qi chancellor Tian He be set up as a feudal lord. The Son of Heaven of Zhou granted it. In Duke Kang's nineteenth year Tian He was set up as Marquis of Qi and ranked in the house of Zhou, and reckoned his first year.
The Marquis of Qi, the Grand Duke He, having been set up two years, He died, and his son Duke Huan, Wu, was set up. In Duke Huan Wu's fifth year Qin and Wei attacked Han, and Han asked rescue of Qi. Duke Huan of Qi summoned his great ministers and took counsel: "Which is better, to rescue them early or late?" Zou Ji said: "Better not to rescue them." Duan Ganpeng said: "If we do not rescue them, Han will bend and go over to Wei; better to rescue them." Tian Chensi said: "My lord's plan is mistaken! With Qin and Wei attacking Han and Chu, Zhao will surely rescue them, and this is Heaven giving Yan to Qi." Duke Huan said: "Good." And he secretly told the Han envoy so and sent him off. Han, taking itself to have got Qi's rescue, thereupon fought with Qin and Wei. Chu and Zhao heard of it and did indeed raise troops to rescue them. Qi thereupon raised troops and made a surprise attack on the state of Yan, and took Sangqiu.
In the sixth year he rescued Wei. Duke Huan died, and his son King Wei, Yinqi, was set up. In that year the former Duke Kang of Qi died, cut off without posterity, and his endowment town all went in to the Tian clan.
In King Wei of Qi's first year the Three Jin, on occasion of Qi's mourning, came and attacked our Lingqiu. In the third year the Three Jin destroyed the posterity of Jin and divided its lands. In the sixth year Lu attacked us and entered Yangguan. Jin attacked us and reached Boling. In the seventh year Wei attacked us and took Xueling. In the ninth year Zhao attacked us and took Zhen.
From King Wei's first accession onward he did not govern but committed the government to his ministers and grandees, and in nine years the feudal lords all attacked, and the people of the state were ungoverned. Thereupon King Wei summoned the grandee of Jimo and said to him: "Since you have dwelt at Jimo, slanderous words have come daily. Yet I sent men to look at Jimo, and the fields were cleared, the people supplied, the offices had no business left undone, and the east was thereby at peace. This is because you do not serve those about me in order to seek praise." And he enfeoffed him with ten thousand households. He summoned the grandee of E and said: "Since you have held E, words of praise have been heard daily. Yet I sent envoys to look at E, and the fields were not cleared and the people poor and suffering. In former days Zhao attacked Zhen and you could not rescue it; Wei took Xueling and you did not know of it. This is because you have made those about me rich with gifts in order to seek praise." That day he had the grandee of E boiled, and those about him who had ever praised him were all boiled along with him. Thereupon he raised troops and struck westward at Zhao and Wei, defeated Wei at Zhuoze and besieged King Hui. King Hui asked to present Guan for a settlement, and the men of Zhao gave us back our long wall. Thereupon the state of Qi was shaken with awe, and every man dared not gloss over his faults but strove to give his whole sincerity. The state of Qi was greatly well governed. The feudal lords heard of it, and for twenty years and more none dared bring arms against Qi.
Master Zou Ji got audience with King Wei through playing the zither, and the king was pleased and lodged him in the right chamber. Presently the king was playing the zither, and Master Zou Ji pushed the door open and came in, saying: "How well you play the zither!" The king, flushing with displeasure, put the zither aside and laid hand on his sword and said: "You have seen no more than my bearing and have not examined it; how do you know that it is good?" Master Zou Ji said: "The great string, thick with the warmth of spring, is the lord; the small string, sharp-edged and clear, is the chancellor; the deep grip and the pleasing release are the orders of government; the tuning and sounding together, great and small enlarging each other, the winding and turning without doing each other harm, are the four seasons: by these I know it is good." The king said: "You speak well of tones." Master Zou Ji said: "Why of tones alone? Governing a state and settling the people are all in it too." The king again flushed with displeasure and said: "As for discoursing on the rules of the five tones, truly there is none like you. But as for governing a state and settling the people — what have they to do with silk and paulownia wood?" Master Zou Ji said: "The great string, thick with the warmth of spring, is the lord; the small string, sharp-edged and clear, is the chancellor; the deep grip and the pleasing letting-go are the orders of government; the tuning and sounding together, great and small enlarging each other, the winding and turning without doing each other harm, are the four seasons. That it returns and yet is not confused is how governing flourishes; that it runs on and holds its course is how the perishing is preserved: therefore it is said that when the zither's tones are in tune the empire is well governed. For governing a state and settling the people there is nothing like the five tones." The king said: "Good."
Master Zou Ji, three months after his audience, received the chancellor's seal. Chunyu Kun saw him and said: "You argue well! Kun has a foolish thought and should like to set it before you." Master Zou Ji said: "I receive your teaching respectfully." Chunyu Kun said: "Keep the whole, and the whole flourishes; lose the whole, and the whole perishes." Master Zou Ji said: "I respectfully receive the command; I beg to be careful never to leave your presence." Chunyu Kun said: "Pig's grease on a thorn-wood axle is for making it run smooth; yet it cannot turn in a square socket." Master Zou Ji said: "I respectfully receive the command; I beg to be careful in serving those about the lord." Chunyu Kun said: "Bow-glue on seasoned stock is for making them join; yet it cannot make loose gaps stick together." Master Zou Ji said: "I respectfully receive the command; I beg to be careful to attach myself to the myriad people." Chunyu Kun said: "A fox-fur coat, though worn out, may not be patched with yellow dog's hide." Master Zou Ji said: "I respectfully receive the command; I beg to be careful in choosing gentlemen and not mixing small men among them." Chunyu Kun said: "A great cart untrued cannot carry its usual load; zithers untuned cannot complete their five tones." Master Zou Ji said: "I respectfully receive the command; I beg to be careful to put the laws in order and to oversee corrupt officials." Chunyu Kun, having finished his sayings, hurried out; and reaching the gate he turned to his servant and said: "This man — I spoke to him five subtle sayings, and he answered me as an echo answers a sound. This man will surely be enfeoffed before long." A full year later he was enfeoffed with Xiapi, styled Marquis Cheng.
In King Wei's twenty-third year he met the King of Zhao at Pinglu. In the twenty-fourth year he met the King of Wei to hunt in the outskirts. The King of Wei asked: "Has my lord treasures too?" King Wei said: "I have none." The King of Liang said: "Small as my state is, I still have ten pearls an inch across that light up a carriage twelve lengths before and behind; how is it that a state of ten thousand chariots has no treasures?" King Wei said: "What I take for treasure is different from what my lord does. Among my subjects there is Tanzi; if I have him hold Nancheng, then the men of Chu dare not raid us and take eastward, and the twelve feudal lords on the Si all come to court. Among my subjects there is Fenzi; if I have him hold Gaotang, then the men of Zhao dare not fish eastward in the He. Among my officers there is Qian Fu; if I have him hold Xuzhou, then the men of Yan sacrifice at their north gate and the men of Zhao at their west gate, and those who move here and follow us are seven thousand households and more. Among my subjects there is Zhong Shou; if I have him provide against thieves and brigands, then what is dropped on the road is not picked up. These will light a thousand li — how should it be only twelve carriage-lengths!" King Hui of Liang was ashamed, and went away out of humour.
In the twenty-sixth year King Hui of Wei besieged Handan, and Zhao asked rescue of Qi. King Wei of Qi summoned his great ministers and took counsel: "Which is better, to rescue Zhao or not to rescue?" Master Zou Ji said: "Better not to rescue." Duan Ganpeng said: "Not to rescue is unrighteous, and moreover unprofitable." King Wei said: "Why?" He answered: "For the Wei clan to annex Handan — what profit is that to Qi? And to rescue Zhao and encamp on its outskirts is to have Zhao unattacked and Wei whole. So it is better to attack Xiangling in the south so as to wear Wei out, and when Handan is taken, to take advantage of Wei's exhaustion." King Wei followed his plan.
Afterwards Marquis Cheng Zou Ji and Tian Ji were on bad terms, and Gongsun Yue said to Marquis Cheng Ji: "Why do you not plan the attack on Wei? Tian Ji will surely be the general. If he conquers in battle and has merit, then your plan has hit its mark; if he does not conquer, then either he dies in front or is routed behind, and his fate is in your hands." Thereupon Marquis Cheng spoke to King Wei, and he sent Tian Ji to attack Xiangling in the south. In the tenth month Handan was taken, and Qi thereupon raised troops and struck at Wei and greatly defeated it at Guiling. Thereupon Qi was strongest among the feudal lords and called itself king, so as to give commands to the empire.
In the thirty-third year he killed his grandee Mou Xin.
In the thirty-fifth year Gongsun Yue again said to Marquis Cheng Ji: "Why do you not have a man take ten catties of gold and divine in the marketplace, saying, 'I am Tian Ji's man. I have fought three times and won three times, and my fame overawes the empire. I mean to do a great thing — is it auspicious or not auspicious?'" When the diviner came out, he accordingly had men arrest the one who had divined for him and verify his words before the king. Tian Ji heard of it, and thereupon led his followers in a surprise attack on Linzi, seeking Marquis Cheng; and not prevailing, he fled.
In the thirty-sixth year King Wei died, and his son King Xuan, Biqiang, was set up.
In King Xuan's first year Qin employed Shang Yang. Zhou conferred the title of count on Duke Xiao of Qin.
In the second year Wei attacked Zhao. Zhao being friendly with Han, they struck at Wei together. Zhao fared ill, and they fought at Nanliang. King Xuan summoned Tian Ji back to his old position. The Han clan asked rescue of Qi. King Xuan summoned his great ministers and took counsel: "Which is better, to rescue early or to rescue late?" Master Zou Ji said: "Better not to rescue." Tian Ji said: "If we do not rescue, Han will bend and go over to Wei; better to rescue early." Master Sun said: "To rescue them while the troops of Han and Wei are not yet worn out is for us to take Han's place in receiving Wei's arms, and to end by taking our orders from Han instead. Moreover Wei has set its mind on breaking the state, and Han, seeing itself perishing, will surely turn east and appeal to Qi. Let us take the chance to bind Han's friendship close and only later take up Wei's exhaustion; then we may get heavy profit and win an honoured name." King Xuan said: "Good." And he secretly told Han's envoy so and sent him off. Han accordingly relied on Qi; in five battles it did not conquer, and turned east and committed its state to Qi. Qi thereupon raised troops, sent Tian Ji and Tian Ying to command with Master Sun as strategist, and rescued Han and Zhao by striking at Wei, and greatly defeated it at Maling, killed its general Pang Juan and took the Wei heir apparent Shen prisoner. Afterwards the kings of the Three Jin all through Tian Ying came to court before the King of Qi at Bowang, and covenanted and went away.
In the seventh year he met the King of Wei south of Ping'e. The next year he met him again at Zhen. King Hui of Wei died. The next year he met King Xiang of Wei at Xuzhou, the feudal lords styling one another king. In the tenth year Chu besieged our Xuzhou. In the eleventh year with Wei he attacked Zhao, and Zhao cut the waters of the He and flooded Qi and Wei, and the troops broke off. In the eighteenth year King Hui of Qin styled himself king.
King Xuan delighted in men of letters and travelling persuaders, and such as Zou Yan, Chunyu Kun, Tian Pian, Jie Yu, Shen Dao and Huan Yuan, seventy-six men in all, were all given ranked mansions and made senior grandees, not governing but discoursing. By this the scholars of Jixia in Qi flourished again, numbering several hundreds and thousands.
In the nineteenth year King Xuan died, and his son King Min, Di, was set up.
In King Min's first year Qin sent Zhang Yi to meet the feudal lords' ministers in office at Niesang. In the third year he enfeoffed Tian Ying at Xue. In the fourth year he fetched a bride from Qin. In the seventh year with Song he attacked Wei and defeated it at Guanze.
In the twelfth year he attacked Wei. Chu besieged Yongshi, and Qin defeated Qu Gai. Su Dai said to Tian Zhen: "Your servant should like to lay something before you; it makes the business quite complete and lets Chu profit you, so that if it succeeds it is your good fortune and if it does not succeed it is your good fortune too. Just now your servant was standing at the gate, and a guest said that the King of Wei had told Han Ping and Zhang Yi: 'Zhuzao is about to be taken and the Qi troops are advancing besides; if you come and rescue me it will do; if you do not rescue me, I cannot hold out.' This is only a turning phrase. Let the troops of Qin and Han not go east, and in a little over ten days the Wei clan will turn from Han and follow Qin, Qin will drive out Zhang Yi, and folding their arms they will serve Qi and Chu: and your business is accomplished." Tian Zhen said: "How is one to keep them from going east?" He answered: "Han Ping's words in rescuing Wei will surely not be to say to the King of Han, 'Ping does it for Wei'; he will surely say, 'Ping will with the troops of Qin and Han push back Qi and Song in the east; Ping will thereby gather the troops of three states, take advantage of Qu Gai's exhaustion and carve off land from Chu in the south, and the old lands must all be got.' Zhang Yi's words in rescuing Wei will surely not be to say to the King of Qin, 'Yi does it for Wei'; he will surely say, 'Yi will with the troops of Qin and Han hold off Qi and Song in the east; Yi will gather the troops of three states, take advantage of Qu Gai's exhaustion and carve off land from Chu in the south — in name preserving a perishing state, in fact attacking the Three Chuan and going home: this is a king's work.' Have the King of Chu give land to the Han clan and let Qin arrange the peace, saying to the King of Qin: 'I beg that land be given to Han, and my lord will thereby spread out over the Three Chuan, and the Han clan's troops will not be used and yet it gets land from Chu.' Then what will Han Ping say for taking his troops east? He will say: 'Qin's troops are not used and it gets the Three Chuan; to attack Chu and Han so as to press Wei hard, so that the Wei clan dare not go east, is to leave Qi alone.' And what will Zhang Yi say for taking his troops east? He will say: 'Qin and Han want land and their troops are at rest; our fame and awe go forth from Wei, and the Wei clan's wish not to lose Qi and Chu has something to rest on.' The Wei clan turns, Qin and Han contend to serve Qi and Chu, the King of Chu gets his wish without giving land, and you make it so that Qin's and Han's troops are not used and they get land: this is one great merit. The kings of Qin and Han, coerced by Han Ping and Zhang Yi into taking their troops east to bring Wei to heel, and you all the while holding the left tally to hold Qin and Han to account — this gives you much to work with in favouring yourself and hurting Master Zhang."
In the thirteenth year King Hui of Qin died. In the twenty-third year with Qin he struck and defeated Chu at Chongqiu. In the twenty-fourth year Qin sent the Lord of Jingyang as hostage to Qi. In the twenty-fifth year he sent the Lord of Jingyang home to Qin. The Lord of Mengchang, Xue Wen, entered Qin and forthwith became chancellor of Qin. Wen fled away. In the twenty-sixth year Qi with Han and Wei together attacked Qin, reached Hangu and encamped there. In the twenty-eighth year Qin gave Han the lands beyond the He for peace, and the troops broke off. In the twenty-ninth year Zhao killed its Lord Father. Qi helped Zhao to destroy Zhongshan.
In the thirty-sixth year the king became Eastern Emperor and King Zhao of Qin Western Emperor. Su Dai came from Yan, entered Qi and had audience at the eastern gate of Zhanghua. The King of Qi said: "Ah, good, you have come! Qin has sent Wei Ran to confer the title of Emperor; what do you think of it?" He answered: "My lord's question to your servant is sudden, and the peril comes from something slight; I should like my lord to accept it but not make ready to use the style. If Qin uses it and the empire is content with it, then my lord may use it, and there is no harm done. And to yield the contest over the name of Emperor does no injury. If Qin uses it and the empire hates it, then my lord may refrain from using it and so gather the empire in: this is a great asset. And with two Emperors set up in the empire, does my lord suppose the empire will honour Qi, or honour Qin?" The king said: "It will honour Qin." He said: "And if you give up the title of Emperor, will the empire love Qi, or love Qin?" The king said: "Love Qi and hate Qin." He said: "Which is more profitable, the two Emperors agreeing to attack Zhao, or attacking the tyrant Song?" The king said: "Attacking the tyrant Song is more profitable." He answered: "Then the agreements being equal, yet to be Emperor with Qin means the empire honours Qin alone and makes light of Qi, while to give up the title means the empire loves Qi and hates Qin; and attacking Zhao is less profitable than attacking the tyrant Song. Therefore I should like my lord plainly to give up the title of Emperor so as to gather the empire in, to turn his back on the agreement and keep Qin at arm's length, not contending for weight, and meanwhile take Song. Have Song, and Wei's Yang country is in peril; have the country west of the Ji, and Zhao's eastern country about E is in peril; have the north of the Huai, and Chu's eastern country is in peril; have Tao and Pinglu, and Liang's gates do not open. Give up the title of Emperor and take in exchange the business of attacking the tyrant Song: the state grows weighty and the name honoured, Yan and Chu submit by the shape of things, and none in the empire dares not obey — this is the deed of Tang and Wu. To honour Qin in name, and afterwards make the empire hate it — this is what is called making the low into the high. I should like my lord to think it over carefully." Thereupon Qi gave up the title of Emperor and was king again, and Qin too gave up the position of Emperor.
In the thirty-eighth year he attacked Song. King Zhao of Qin was angry and said: "I love Song as I love Xincheng and Yangjin. Han Nie is my friend, and he attacks what I love — why?" Su Dai on Qi's behalf said to the King of Qin: "Han Nie's attacking Song is done for my lord. Qi being strong, with Song to support it, Chu and Wei will surely take fright, and taking fright they will surely turn west and serve Qin; and thus my lord without troubling one soldier or wounding one officer, and without any business at all, carves off Anyi. This is what Han Nie prays to my lord for." The King of Qin said: "I am troubled that Qi is hard to know. Now the Alliance, now the League — what account is there of it?" He answered: "Can the states of the empire make Qi knowable? Qi in attacking Song knows that in serving Qin it supports itself with a state of ten thousand chariots, and that if it does not turn west and serve Qin its rule of Song will not be secure. The white-headed roving persuaders of the central states all store up their wits wanting to part Qi and Qin; those who bend over their carriage-bars and link their wheel-tracks galloping west — not one of them has ever spoken of being good to Qi; those who bend over their carriage-bars and link their wheel-tracks galloping east — not one of them has ever spoken of being good to Qin. Why? Because none of them wishes Qi and Qin to join. How clever Jin and Chu are and how stupid Qi and Qin! If Jin and Chu join they will surely deliberate against Qi and Qin; if Qi and Qin join they will surely scheme against Jin and Chu. Let the matter be decided by this." The King of Qin said: "Agreed." Thereupon Qi went on and attacked Song; the King of Song fled out and died at Wen. Qi carved off Chu's north of the Huai in the south, encroached on the Three Jin in the west, and wished thereby to annex the house of Zhou and become Son of Heaven. The feudal lords on the Si, the lords of Zou and Lu, all called themselves subjects, and the feudal lords were in dread.
In the thirty-ninth year Qin came and attacked, and took nine towns of our line of walls.
In the fortieth year Yan, Qin, Chu and the Three Jin plotted together, and each sent out picked troops to attack, and defeated us west of the Ji. The king broke off and withdrew. The Yan general Yue Yi thereupon entered Linzi and took all the treasures and stored vessels of Qi. King Min fled out and went to Wei. The lord of Wei vacated his palace and lodged him, and called himself subject and furnished him supplies. King Min was not deferential, and the men of Wei encroached on him. King Min left and ran to Zou and Lu, wearing a proud look, and the lords of Zou and Lu would not take him in, and so he ran to Ju. Chu sent Nao Chi with troops to rescue Qi, and he accordingly became chancellor to King Min of Qi. Nao Chi thereupon killed King Min and with Yan divided up the lands encroached on from Qi and the vessels taken as spoil.
When King Min met with his killing, his son Fazhang changed his surname and given name and became a hired man in the household of the Grand Scribe Jiao of Ju. The Grand Scribe Jiao's daughter wondered at Fazhang's looks and bearing and took him for no ordinary man, and pitied him and constantly gave him clothes and food in secret, and had private relations with him. Nao Chi having gone from Ju, the men within Ju and the fugitive ministers of Qi gathered and sought King Min's son, wishing to set him up. Fazhang feared they would put him to death, and it was long before he dared say of himself, "I am King Min's son." Thereupon the men of Ju together set up Fazhang: this was King Xiang. They held the city of Ju and proclaimed throughout the state of Qi: "A king is already set up, at Ju."
King Xiang being set up, he set up the daughter of the Grand Scribe's clan as queen: this was the Queen Junwang, who bore the son Jian. The Grand Scribe Jiao said: "My daughter took no go-between and married herself off; she is no seed of mine, and has befouled my line." To the end of his life he did not look upon the Queen Junwang. The Queen Junwang was worthy, and did not, because she was not looked upon, fail in the rites of a daughter.
King Xiang was in Ju five years, and Tian Dan with Jimo attacked and broke the Yan army, and welcomed King Xiang from Ju and entered Linzi. The old lands of Qi all reverted to Qi. Qi enfeoffed Tian Dan as Lord of Anping.
In the fourteenth year Qin struck at our Gang and Shou. In the nineteenth year King Xiang died, and his son Jian was set up.
In King Jian's sixth year Qin attacked Zhao, and Qi and Chu rescued it. Qin reckoned: "Qi and Chu rescue Zhao; if they are close, we withdraw the troops; if not close, we go on and attack them." Zhao had no food and asked grain of Qi, and Qi would not listen. Zhou Zi said: "Better to listen to them, so as to make the Qin troops withdraw; if we do not listen, then the Qin troops will not draw back, and that is Qin's plan hitting its mark and the plan of Qi and Chu going wrong. Moreover Zhao is to Qi and Chu a shield and screen, as the teeth have lips: when the lips are gone the teeth are cold. Lose Zhao today, and tomorrow the trouble comes to Qi and Chu. And the business of rescuing Zhao should be like holding up a leaking jar to douse a scorched pot. To rescue Zhao is high righteousness; to make the Qin troops draw back is a famous name. Not to strive for this, in righteousness to rescue a perishing state and with awe to drive back the troops of a strong Qin, but to strive to be sparing of grain — whoever plans thus for the state is mistaken." The King of Qi would not listen. Qin broke Zhao at Changping, four hundred thousand and more, and thereupon besieged Handan.
In the sixteenth year Qin destroyed Zhou. The Queen Junwang died. In the twenty-third year Qin set up its Eastern Commandery. In the twenty-eighth year the king went to court in Qin, and the King of Qin, Zheng, set out drink at Xianyang. In the thirty-fifth year Qin destroyed Han. In the thirty-seventh year Qin destroyed Zhao. In the thirty-eighth year Yan sent Jing Ke to stab the King of Qin; the King of Qin found him out and killed Ke. The next year Qin broke Yan, and the King of Yan fled and ran to Liaodong. The next year Qin destroyed Wei, and the Qin troops halted below Lixia. In the forty-second year Qin destroyed Chu. The next year it took King Jia of Dai prisoner and destroyed King Xi of Yan.
In the forty-fourth year the Qin troops struck at Qi. The King of Qi listened to the plan of his chancellor Hou Sheng, and without fighting surrendered his troops to Qin. Qin took King Jian prisoner and moved him to Gong. And so it destroyed Qi and made it a commandery. The empire was made one under Qin, and the King of Qin, Zheng, set up the title of Emperor. At first the Queen Junwang was worthy and served Qin carefully and kept faith with the feudal lords, and Qi too was on the eastern seaboard, and Qin day and night attacked the Three Jin, Yan and Chu, and the five states each rescued themselves against Qin; and for this reason King Jian was in his place forty years and more without suffering war. When the Queen Junwang died, Hou Sheng became chancellor of Qi and took much bribe-gold from Qin's agents, and sent many guests and retainers into Qin, and Qin gave them much gold besides, and the guests all acted as double agents and urged the king to abandon the Alliance and go to court in Qin, not to put his preparations for attack and defence in order and not to help the five states attack Qin; and by this Qin was able to destroy the five states. The five states having perished, the Qin troops at last entered Linzi, and none of the people dared oppose them. King Jian thereupon surrendered and was moved to Gong. Therefore the men of Qi resented King Jian for not early joining the feudal lords in the Alliance to attack Qin, and for listening to treacherous ministers and retainers so as to lose his state, and sang of it: "Is it the pine? Is it the cypress? Was it the retainers who lodged Jian at Gong?" — deploring Jian's unwariness in his use of retainers.
The Lord Grand Astrologer says: It would seem that Confucius in his later years delighted in the Changes. The Changes as an art is deep and far-reaching in the hidden and the manifest; who but a man of thorough understanding and reaching talent could give his mind to it! Thus the Grand Scribe of Zhou's casting of the hexagram for Tian Jingzhong Wan foretold down to the tenth generation; and when Wan fled to Qi, Yizhong's divination said the same. That Tian Qi and Chang thus twice offended against two lords and engrossed the government of the state of Qi was not necessarily a mere gradual working of circumstance; it was rather, it seems, as though they were following out the pressings of a foretold sign.