苏秦始将连横
Su Qin Started Suggesting Qin to Unite with the Six States
【原文】
苏秦始将连横说秦惠王曰大王之国，西有巴、蜀、汉中之利，北有 胡貉、代马之用，南有巫山、黔中之限，东有肴、函之闶。田肥美，民殷 富，战车万乘，奋击百万，沃野千里，蓄积饶多，地势形便，此所谓天府， 天下之雄国也。以人王之贤，士民之众，车骑之用，兵法之教，可以并诸 侯，吞天下，称帝而治。愿大王少留意，臣请奏其效。”
【今译】
苏秦开始用连橫的观点游说秦惠王的时候说广大王您的国家，西面有巴、蜀、汉中等富饶的土地，北边有胡地出产的貉皮以及代地出产 的駿马可供使用，南面有巫山、黔中等天然的险隘，东边有崤山、函谷关 等坚固的屏障。土地肥沃，百姓富足，战车达一万辆，勇猛的士兵一百 万人，肥饶的土地上千里，有着丰厚的积蓄，地理环境便于攻守，这就是 所谓的天之库府、天下最为强大的国家。凭借着大王的贤能、士人百姓 的众多、车马的使用、兵法的操练，可以兼并各诸侯国、一呑天下、称帝 而君临天下了。希望大王您稍微留意一下我的诂，请让我陈述我的建 议的好处。“
When Su Qin started persuading King Hui of the state of Qin to take his advice to unite Qin with the Six States, he said, “Regarding Your Majesty? s state, there are fertile places such as Ba, Shu，Hanzhong and so on in the west. In the north, there are furs produced in the Hu area and swift horses produced in the Dai area. There are dangerous places such as Mount Wu and Qianzhong in the south, and natural forts like Mount Xiao and the pass of Hangu Valley in the east. Moreover, the land of your state is very fertile, and the people are rich- You have ten thousand chariots and one million tough soldiers. You own one thousand Li of fecund land and your state has lots of assets. The geographic condition is very good. So your state its the so-called Depot of Heaven and is the most powerful country in the world-Relying on Your Majesty‘s wisdom and capability, the large number of scholars and the masses, the u.se of chariots and horses. find the spreading of the art of war among the officers and men，surely you can annex other sovereigns 9 territory, unify the whole world，become a Di and rule the world. Please pay a little attention to my words, Your Majesty, and allow me lo explain to you the benefit of my advice.“
【原文】
秦王曰寡人闻之：毛羽不丰满者，不可以高飞；文章不成者，不可 以诛罚；道德不厚者，不可以使民；政教不顺者，不可以烦大臣。今先生 俨然不远千里而庭教之，愿以异日。”
【今译】
秦惠王说：“我听说，羽毛不丰满的，不可以展翅高飞；法令不完备 的，不可以施用刑罚；道德不厚,重的，不可以役使百姓；政治教化不昌顺 的，不可以劳烦大臣们。如今先生不远千里来到我的朝廷教诲我，请过 几天再说吧。’’
The king of Qin said, “As far as I know, if a bird's feathers are not well developed? it cannot fly high in ihc sky； if the law is not complete, it should not be used to punish criminals； if one is not virtuous enough, he cannot employ the people； if one's policies and moral education are not successful, he should not trouble his high-ranking court officials. Now you have travelled one thousand li here to my court to give me instructions. Let’s discuss that later. ”
【原文】
苏秦曰广臣固疑大王之不能用也。昔者神农伐补遂，黄帝伐涿鹿 而禽蚩尤，尧伐驩兜，舜伐三苗，禹伐共工，汤伐有夏，文王伐崇，武王伐 纣，齐桓任战而伯天下。由此观之，恶有不战者乎？古者使车毂击驰， 言语相结，天下为一；约从连横，兵革不藏；文士并饬，诸侯乱惑；万端俱 起，不可胜理；科条既备，民多伪态；书策稠浊，百姓不足；上下相愁，民 无所聊；明言章理，兵甲愈起；辩言伟服，战攻不息；繁称文辞，天下不治；舌弊耳聋，不见成功；行义约信，天下不亲。于是，乃废文任武，厚养 死士，缀甲厉兵，效胜于战场。夫徒处而致利，安坐而广地，拫古五帝、 1王、五伯，明主贤君，常欲坐而致之。其势不能，故以战续之。宽则两 平相攻，迫则杖戟相撞，然后可建大功。是故兵胜于外，义强于内；威立于上，民服于下。今欲并天下，凌万乘，诎敌国，制海内，子元元，臣诸侯，非兵不可！今之嗣主，忽于至道，皆惽T教，乱于治，迷于言，惑于 语，沉于辩，溺于辞。以此论之，王固不能行也！”
【今译】
苏秦说广我本来就怀疑大王不能采用我的建议。从前神农讨伐补 遂，黄帝攻打涿鹿并擒获蚩尤，尧进攻驩兜，舜攻打三苗，禹攻打共工， 汤攻打夏朝，文王攻打崇国，武王讨伐商纣，齐桓公通过战争称雄天下。 由此看来，要想一统天下，哪能不用战争呢？古时候使者的车子亙相撞 击，他们通过谈判互相订立盟约，从而天下统一。合纵与连横之说盛行 之际，兵器铠甲继续得到使用。文人辩士巧言繁饰，使得诸侯纷乱疑 惑，各种事端都被挑起，天下不能被有序地治理。法律条文健全了，百 姓就会虚伪地敷衍。文书、简策纷繁杂乱，百姓反而觉得不足，君臣上下互相抱怨，民不聊生。大道理越是讲得名正言顺，征战就越发频繁。说客们的语言越是雄辩，服饰越是华丽，征战就越不能停息。说教越是 繁琐，辞章越是巧妙，天下就越发大乱。舌头磨破了，耳朵磨聋了，他们 的主张也不会被采纳。尽管推行正义，用诚信互相约束，天下人却并不 亲附D于是，统治者们就放弃文教，崇尚武力，豢养不怕死的武士，制作 盔甲，磨砺兵器，以求在战场上夺取胜利,至于无所事事地闲处就能招 致利益，悠闲舒适地稳坐着就能扩大自己的领地，即使是古代的五帝、 三王、五霸，以及其他一些圣贤的君主，也常常向往能够白白得到这样 的好处，但实际上却不能做到，所以就代之以战争.只有通过远距离的 战争，就是两个军队互相攻打，或近距离作战，就是士兵们的武器互相 碰撞磨擦，才可以建立伟大的功业。如果军队在境外的战争中取胜，正 义就能在境内得到伸张，国家的威望就能确立，下面的百姓也就能俯首 听命。如今，假如想呑并天下各国，胜过拥有一万辆战车的诸侯国，让敌对的国家屈服控制海内的领土，为天下百姓之父母，让诸侯称臣，不通过战争就不能做到！当今君主忽略了用兵这个极其关键的道理，他 们的政治教化都非常混乱，国家治理得一团糟，被花言巧语所迷惑，沉 溺于辩说和辞令中。这样说来，统一天下的大也根本就行不通."
Su Qin said, “I did doubt that Your Majesty might take my advice. Previously, Shen Nong attacked Bu Sui. The Yellow Emperor launched military operations in Zhuolu to attack Chi You and held him captive. Yao attacked Huan Dou. Shun attacked San Miao. Yu attacked Gang Gong. Tang attacked the Xia Dynasty. King Wen attacked the state of Chong. King Wu attacked Zhou, the last king of the Shang Dynasty. Duke Huan of Qi established one of the most powerful states through military actions. By this token，how can military forces be pul into disuse? In ancient times, numerous diplomats travelled all over the world and their carriages almost bumped into each other on the road. They made agreements after disciKssions and negotiations. Thus the world was unified. At present, propositions of Liariheng (referring to Qin ? s tactics of uniting with other states to consolidate its own power and unify the world) and Hezong (referring to the tactics of allying the six eastern states to counteract Qin) prevail. Armour and weapons are taken out and used again. Scholars and eloquent people try to extend their well prepared arguments. Sovereigns of all the states arc confused. Various problems arc provoked and cannot be settled correctly. If the law and all the related regulations arc complete, the people will simply comply with them faLsely. There are numerous documents, but the people still don’t feel satisfied. Sovereigns and officials blame each other for the problems，and the common people don't have any means to support themselves. The more rational and warranted the arguments seem to be, the more frequently military actions occur. The more skillful the persuaders are，and the more luxurious their clothes are, the less hope there is for a ccasefire. The more sophisticated and deliberate the viewpoints are, the more disordered the world is. Even though the persuaders try their best to persuade the sovereigns, their ideas are still not accepted. Even though the sovereigns try to extend righteousness and advocate honesty， people all over the world don ? t feel close to them. As a result? culture and education go into disuse and military operations are undertaken. Suicide warriors are trained at great cost. Armour is made and weapons are sharpened. Soldiers are sent to the battlcfront to win every possible victory. Even wise sovereigns of ancient times such as the Five Di-ancestors, the Three King-ancestors and the Five Lord-protectors wanted to obtain great benefit and enlarge their territory without effort. But in fact, they could nol do that. So they had to resort to military action to gain what they wanted. Great achievements can only be made either by troops fighting each other fiercely or by soldiers fighting lo death in a close battle. Thus, if the troops win every war outside the state, righteousness will be extended inside, and if the state establishes a high prestige，the people will be obedient. Nowadays, if you want to unify the whole world, outdo those states which possess ten thousand chariots, make enemy states yield to your authority, take firm control over the world, govern the people succuessfully and put other sovereigns at your service，you can do nothing but take military action! Contemporary sovereigns often overlook this crucial fact. Moral education makes them muddle-headed. Their states are in disorder. They are confused by some sophisticated debates and arguments. No wonder none of them is able to unify the world. ”
【原文J
说秦王书十上，而说不行。黑貂之裘弊，黄金瓦斤尽。资用乏绝, 去秦而归。羸滕履踽，负书担棄，形容枯槁，面目犁黑，状有归色。归至 家，妻不下姙，嫂不为炊，父母不与言，苏秦喟[然]叹曰妻不以我为 火，嫂不以我为叔，父母不以我为子，是皆秦之罪也！ ”乃夜发书，陈篋数 十，得《太公阴符》之谋，伏而诵之，简练以为揣摩。读书欲睡，引锥向刺 其股，血流至足。曰：”安有说人主不能出其金玉锦绣，取卿相之尊者 乎？”期年，揣摩成，曰此真可以说当世之君矣！”
【今译】
苏秦游说秦惠王，十次上书，他的主张都没有被采纳。他的黑貂皮 大衣穿破了，一百斤黄金也花光了，盘缠全用完了，只好离幵秦国回到 家乡，他缠着裹腿，穿着草鞋，背负书籍，肩挑行囊，模样极其憔悴，脸 色黝黑，显得十分惭愧。回到家里，正在织布的妻子不停了织机下来迎 接他，嫂子不给他做饭，父母不搭理他。苏秦感慨地说广妻子不拿我当 丈夫，嫂子不拿我当小叔，父母不拿我当儿子，这都是我自己的过措 啊。”于是夜里发奋读书，把几十个书箱都打开，得到了太公所著妁兵书 《太公阴符》，伏案苦读，挑选出书中的要旨仔细揣摩。读书读到昏昏欲 瞌的时候，就用椎子刺自己的大腿，鲜血一直流到他的脚上。他说：“哪 有游说一国之主而不能让他拿出黄金、美玉和华丽的衣锦供养自己，并 取得上卿、相国之类尊责的职位的？’’过了 一年，他完全揣摩透了书中的 道理，说这些道理真的可以用来游说当今的君主啊！”
Su Qin wrote ten letters to persuade the king of Qin, but all his efforts resulted in failure. His black marten coat was worn，his one hundred jin of gold was used up，ht ran out of money, and finally he had to leave Qin and return home. He wore leg wrappings and a pair of straw sandals，carrying his books on his back and shouldering his luggage. He looked exhausted and his face was tanned by the sun. He also appeared ashamed. When he arrived home, his wife was weaving and didn’t stop to welcome him. His sister-in-law didn’t cook anything for him to eat. And his parents didn? t talk to him. Su Qin groaned，“My wife does not regard me as her husband. My sister-in-law does not regard me as her brother-in-law. My parents do not regard me as their son. This is my own fault. ” Then he studied very hard every night. He opened scorcs of book cases and found Yin Fu written by Duke Tai. He read it very carefully and studied its keystone carefully. Every time he felt too tired and sleepy, he would .stab his thigh with h wimble. As a result，blood flowed to his feet. He said, “If one persuades the sovereign of a stale, he will surely be presented with gold，jade and fine silk fabric and be appointed to a position as powerful a.s the highest-ranking court official or the prime minister.，’ One year later, he mastered the main ideas of the book very well. He said ，“These ideas are the right ones for advising contemporary sovereign's!“
【原文】
于是乃摩燕乌集阙，见说赵王于华屋之下，抵掌而谈。赵王大悦， 封为武安君，受相印。革车百乘，（绵）[锦]绣千纯，白壁百双，黄金万 溢，以随其后，约从散横，以抑强秦。故苏秦相于赵而关不通。
【今译】
于是他走进燕乌集宫阙，在富丽堂皇的大殿中拜见赵王，谈得非常 融洽^赵王十分高兴，封他为武安君，授予他相国的大印g他带着一百 辆战车、一千纯华美的衣料、一百对白玉、一万镒黄金到各诸侯国，来联 合六国破坏合纵的计划，以此来抵御强大的秦国。所以，苏秦在赵国做 相国的时候，各国都断绝了跟秦国的邦交。
Then he went through the Yan-Wu-Ji Gate and met and advised the king of the state of Zhao in a luxurious hall. The king of Zhao was very satisfied with hi's ideas, conferred upon him the title of “Lord of Wu’an" and appointed him to be prime minister of Zhao. Su Qin was presented with one hundred chariots, one thousand chun of fine silk fabric, one hundred pairs of white jade and ten thousand yi of gold. Then he started to travel across the world with these things to persuade the sovereigns of the Six States to unite with each other and counteract the powerful state of Qin together. During the time when Su Qin was prime minister of Zhao, every slate cut its ties with Qin.
【原文】
当此之时，天下之大，万民之众，王侯之威，谋K之权，皆欲决于苏 秦之策。不费斗粮，未烦一兵，未战一士，未绝一弦，未折一矢，诸侯相 亲，贤于兄弟。夫贤人在而天下服，一人用而天下从。故曰式于政, 不式于勇；式于廊庙之内，不式于四境之外。”当秦之隆，黄金万溢为用，转毂连骑，炫燠于道，山东之国，从风而服，使赵大重。且夫苏秦特穷巷 掘门、桑户棬枢之士耳，伏轼撙衔，横历天下，廷说诸侯之王，杜左右之 口，天下莫之能伉。
【今译】
在这个时候，天下如此之大，百姓如此众多，王侯如此威严，谋臣如 此有权谋，全都要听从苏秦的计策。苏秦没有耗费一斗粮食，没有烦劳 一兵一卒，没有让一位勇士参战，没有弄断一根弓弦，没有弄折一支箭， 就使得诸侯互相亲善，关系胜过亲兄弟。有贤人在，天下人就会折服, 一人用事，天下人都会听从。所以说广要使用政治，而不要使用武力； 要在朝廷内决策大事，不要在四境之外决胜负。”在苏秦最为飞黄腾达 的时候，他手头支配着一万镒黄金，车马队伍浩大，显赫无比地往来于大路上。山东各个国家如风吹草伏一般听命，使得赵国受到无限的尊 重，至于说苏秦，不过是穷巷中用桑木板做门窗、用树枝弯曲成门轴的 一介书生而已，现在却伏在车前的横木上，拉着马的缋绳，游历天下，在 朝堂上游说各国诸侯，堵住周围所有人的口，天下没有一个人能跟他相 比.
At that time，everything was decided by Su Qin even though the world was big, the people were numerous, sovereigns and marquises were powerful，and advisors were experienced and astute. Without using one dou of provender, bothering one soldier or officer, breaking one bowstring or wasting one arrow，Su Qin made all the sovereigns be friendly to each other like brothers. If a person is wise and capable, he will win over people all over the world. If a wise and capable person is appointed to the right position，people all over the world will follow his orders. So it is said，“Instead of resorting to military forces, you should resort to policy. Instead of taking action outside your own territory, you should make the right decisions at the court. ” When Su Qin?y power reached its summit, he owned ten thousand jin of gold, administrated numerous carriages and horses, and travelled with splendor. The states located east of the mountain range yielded to his authority like grass bending to the wind. As a result, Zhao becamc the most powerful state of that time. As for Su Qin, he used to be a poor scholar living in a shanty. Now he travelled across the world by carriage to persuade sovereigns of all other states at their courts. No one dared to argue with him and his power was matchless.
【原文】
将说楚王，路过洛阳。父母闻之，清宫除道，张乐设饮，郊迎三十 里。妻侧目而视，倾耳而听；嫂蛇行匍伏，四拜自跪而谢。苏秦“嫂 何前倨而后卑也？”嫂曰广以季子之位尊而多金。”苏秦曰：”嗟乎！贫穷 则父母不子，富贵则亲戚畏惧。人生世上，势位富贵，盖可忽乎哉！”
【今译】
苏秦即将游说楚王的时候，路过洛阳。父母听说后，收拾房屋，清 担街道，吹奏音乐，摆下宴席招待他，并且亲自到三十里之外的地方迎 接他，妻子不敢正视他，侧耳倾听他的话。嫂子像蛇一般爬行着出来 见他，向他拜了四次，并且跪下谢罪。苏秦说广嫂子为什么以前对我那 么傲慢，而现在如此谦卑呢？”嫂子回答说：“因为小叔子现在职位尊贵 而且很富有。”苏秦说：“嗳！贫穷落魄的时候，父母也不把我当儿子。 在我富贵的时候，家人也惧怕我。人生在世，怎么能够忽视权势与富责 呢？”
When he was on the way to persuade the king of Chu, he passed by Luoyang, When his parents heard this, they cleaned the house and the street, arranged a concert and a banquet to greet him. And they also walked thirty Li to the suburbs to welcome him. His wife dared not look at him directly in the eye，and paid much attention to listening to every word he said. His .sister-in-law crawled out like a snake to pay her respect. She bowed four times before him and knelt down to beg him to forgive her former inhospitality. Su Qin asked, “My sister-in-law, why were you so arrogant before but so humble now?” His sister-in-law replied, uBccause now you are powerful and rich. ” Su Qin said, “Oh! When I was poor, my parents would not regard me as their son. But if I am rich and powerful, even my relatives will be afraid of me. How can one simply overlook power and wealth when he is alive?”