张仪说秦王
Zhang Yi Reasoned with Qin's King
【原文】
张仪说秦王曰:"广臣闻之：弗知而言为不智，知而不言为不忠。为人 臣，不忠当死，言不审亦当死。虽然，臣愿悉言所闻，大王裁其罪。臣闻 天下叨燕阳魏，连荆固齐，收馀韩成从，将西（南）[面]以与强秦为难。 臣窃笑之。肚有H亡，而天下得之，咒此之谓乎！臣闻之曰:‘以乩攻治 者亡，以邪攻正者亡，以逆攻顺者亡."今天下之府库不盈，闲仓空虚，悉其士民，张军数千百万，白刃在前，斧质在后，而皆去走不能死。（罪) [非]其百姓不能死也，其上不能（杀）也。言赏则不与，言罚则不行。赏 罚不行，故民不死也。 “
【今译】
张仪游说秦王说广我听说，谈论自己不知道的东西是不明智的，自 己清楚地知道一些东西却不说是不忠。作为臣子，不忠就应当被处死， 说出的话不当也应该被处死。尽管如此，我愿意把自己听到的都说出 来，请大王裁决我的罪过。我听说天下各国暗地里结交燕国，明确地联 合魏国，伙同楚国，拉拢齐国，收拾韩国的残局，来形成合纵的策略，将 向西来跟强大的秦国作对。我私下里觉得他们这么做很好笑。世上有 三种情形可以导致国家灭亡，而天下各国都占全了，说的大概就是这种 情形吧.我听说：4混乱的国家进攻一个治琿得很好的国家，自身就会 灭亡；邪恶的国家进攻正义的国家，自身就会灭亡；政治乖戾的国家进 攻政令昌顺的国家，自身就会灭亡/如今天下各国府库中没有多少积蓄，粮仓空虚，他们全部的士民百姓都加起来，召集起的军队的数目号 称是千百万，锋利的武器横在前面，大斧头挡在后面，就都撤退、逃跑而 不能死战。不是百姓不能为国家效死，而是做君主的自身无能啊。说 了要进行奖赏却不给奖品，说了要施加惩罚却不予惩处。赏罚不能贯 彻执行，所以百姓不会效死。
Zhang Yi reasoned with the king of the state of Qin. He said “I heard that it is unwise to talk about something one doesn’t know abaul. If one knows something but doesn’t inform his sovereign about it, he is disloyal. If a court official serving the sovereign is disloyal，he should be sentenced to death. If one expresses something unsuitable# he should he sentenced to death too. Although it is the case，I still want to tell you all that I have heard. Then you can decide to what extent I am guilty. I have heard that other states in the world are secretly uniting with the state of Yan and openly affiliating with the state of Wei. They are also allying with the state of Chu, strengthening their relationship with the state of Qi and dealing with the aftermath of the debacle of the state of Han, Thus they will build up a concerted front to thwart the state of Qin in the west. I personally find this quite ridiculous. In the world, there are three situations leading to the defeat of a state. And don’t these states have all the three of them? I have heard, ' If a chaotic state attacks a state that is in good order, that state itself will be ruined. If a wicked state attacks a righteous state ^ that state itself will be ruined. If a tyrannical state attacks a state following correct edicts and moral education. that state ilself will be ruined. ’ As for these aforementioned states , their treasuries are short of savings, and their granaries are empty. If they summoned all the people together，they could build an army with millions and tens of millions of soldiers. However，when there arc sharp weapons in front of them and axes positoned behind them (lhat is, when these soldiers are sent to the battleground to confronl iheir enemies), all of them will retreat or escape, and no one would be likely to fight to death. It is not that the people won’t devote their lives to their states, but lhat the sovereigns themselves arc incapable of commanding them. Why? Although they might declare thnl they will reward the people, in reality they never present the people with any rewards. Although they might announce lhat they will punish some people，in fact they never execute any punishments. Thus rewards and punishments are not carried out properly, so people won’t fight to death on behalf of their sovereigns.
【原文】
今秦出号令而行赏罚，不攻无攻相事也。出其父母怀衽之中，生 未尝见寇也，闻战，―足徒裼，犯内刃，蹈煨炭，断死于前者，比是也.夫断死与断生也不同g而民为之者，是贵奋也。一可以胜十，十可以胜 百，万可以胜千，千可以胜万，万可以胜天下矣。今秦地形，断长续短， 方数千早.，名师数百万。秦之号令赏罚，地形利害，天下莫如也。以此 与天下，天下不足兼而有也。是知秦战未尝不胜，攻未尝不取，所当未 尝不破也D开地数千里，此甚大功也。然而甲兵顿，士民病，蓄积索，田 畴荒，闲仓虚，四邻诸侯不服，伯王之名不成，此无异故，，谋臣皆不尽其 忠也。
【今译】
“如今秦国发号施令，赏罚分明，不进攻不该攻打的国家，一切严格 按照实际情况作出决定。人民自从离开父母亲的怀抱，就没有见到过 敌寇6 —听说要打仗，跺着脚，露出胳膊，冒着锋利的武器，踏着炽热的 炭火，奋勇向前效死的，到处都是。决死跟决生不同，但人民却这么做，是崇尚男武的缘故啊，一个可以打败敌人十个，十个可以打败敌人一 百个，一^百个可以打败敌人一千个，一千个可以打敗敌人一万个，一万 个就可以打敗天下全部的兵力了。如今秦国的国土，截长补短，方圆几 千里，著名的大军队几百万。秦国号令能够执行，赏罚分明，地形有利， 天下没有哪个国家能够比得上，其他国家都不能兼有这些有利条件。 显然秦国军队能够战无不胜，攻无不克，所向披靡。扩展几千里猹土， 这是非常伟大的功绩，然而我们的铠甲不坚固，兵器不锋利，士卒与百 姓困顿，积蓄精光，田野荒芜，粮仓空虚，四方邻近的国家不服从，不能 成就霸主或称王的美名，这没有别的原因，是因为出谋划策的大臣没有 竭尽忠心的缘故。
“Now in our staic, Qin, all the orders and edicts are carried out, and rewards and punishments are dispensed correctly. We don’t attack other states unnecessarily but objectively and carefully observe the real situation. The people of our state haven’t witnessed any invader's since they were born. When they hear lhat they are going to engage in a war, they all stamp their feet and show their bare arms to exhibit their bravery. Although they might march through sharp blades or walk over burning coals, they will not hesitate to advance and fight to death. In this respect, they arc all the same. Normally it is very hard to choose to fight to death. However, our people don’t hesitate to do so because courage is highly cherished and honoured in our state. So one soldier on our side can defeat ten enemy soldiers, ten can defeat one hundred，one hundred can defeat one thousand， one thousand can defeat ten thousand, and ten thousand can defeat the troops of all other states combined together. Now the territory of the state of Qin amounts to several thousand square Our army with millions of soldiers is well-known. Our orders are carried out. Rewards and punishments are dispensed justly. Our geographical condition is also extremely advantageous. Taking all these advantages into consideration, no other state can match us. No other .state possesses all these strong points. So，obviously the troops of Qin will win any war, seize any place and defeat any enemy if they want. They are capable of enlarging our territory by several thousand square IL That should be a great achievement. However, our armour is weak, our weapens are blunt, and our soldiers and people are exhausted. We are short of savings. Our fields are deserted and our granaries are empty. Our neighbouring states don't submit to us. The high reputation of ' King ’ or s Lord-protcctor? cannot be gained. All these aforementioned facts can be attributed to nothing but the disloyalty of the advisors of our state.
【原文】
敢言往昔。昔者，齐南破荆，中破宋，西服秦，北破燕，中使韩、魏之君；地广而兵强，战胜攻取，诏令天下；济清河浊，足以为限，长城巨 坊，足以为塞。齐，五战之国也。一战不胜而无齐。故由此观之，夫战 者，万乘之存亡也。
【今译】
“我斗胆谈谈以前的事情。从前，齐国向南攻破了楚国，在中部攻破了宋国，向西制服了秦国，向北击敗了燕国，在中部还调遣、支配着韩国和魏国的君主。齐国囯土广大，兵力强大，战无不胜，攻无不克，号令 通行于天下口济水清清，河水浑浊，足以作为险阻；长城与巨防，足以作 为要塞。齐国曾经五战五胜，却因为在一次战争中失利而亡过国。所 以，由此看来，战争胜负是关系到一个拥有一万辆战车的国家存亡的关 键。
“I would venture my opinion on some things that happened in the past. Previously, the state of Qi defeated the state of Chu in the south，ruined the state of Song in the central part of China, conquered the state of Qin in the west, overthrew the state of Yan in the north，and also managed to dominale the sovereigns of the states of Han and Wei, Its territory was vast, and its army was powerful. It could defeat every enemy and take control over every place. Orders issued by Qi used to be carried out all over the world. The Ji River is clear and the Yellow River is turbid. They both served as nalural barriers. Both the Great Wall (referring to the Great Wall built by the state of Qi in ancient times) and the Ju Fang (referring to a huge dike) served as impregnable fortresses. Qi won five large-scale wars but was ruined due to one debaclc. By this token，military action is a crucial factor in deciding whether a state with as many as ten thousand chariots will survive or perish.
【原文】
“且臣闻之曰：‘削株掘根，无与祸邻，祸乃不存。’秦与荆人战，大破 荆，袭郢，取洞庭、五都、江南。荆王亡奔走，东伏于陈.当是之时，随荆 以兵，则荆可举；举荆，则其民足贪也，地足利也。东以（强）[弱]齐、燕， 中（陵）[凌]二晋。然则是一举而伯王之名可成也，四邻诸侯可朝也。而谋臣不为，引军而退，与荆人和。今荆人收亡同，聚散民，立社主，置 宗庙，令帅天下西面以与秦为难，此固已无伯王之道一矣。天下有比志 而军华下，大王以诈破之，兵至梁郭。围梁数旬，则梁可拔；拔梁，则魏 可举；举魏，则荆、赵之志绝；荆、赵之志绝，则赵危；赵危，而荆孤。东以 (强）[弱]齐、燕，中（陵）[凌]三晋。然则是一举而伯王之名可成也，四邻诸侯可朝也。而谋臣不为，引军而退，与魏氏和。（令）[今]魏氏收亡 国，聚散民，立社主，置宗庙，此固已无伯王之道二矣。前者穣侯之治秦 也，用-国之兵，而欲以成两国之功，是故兵终身暴灵于外，士民潞病于 内，伯王之名不成。此固已无伯王之道三矣。
【今译】
“而且我听说：‘斩草除根.不要接近祸患，祸患就不存在了。’秦国跟楚国作战的时候，大败楚国军队，袭击郢都，夺取了洞庭、五都和江 南。楚王逃亡，向东隐藏在陈国。正当这个时候，如果继续派兵进攻楚 国，楚国就可以攻下了 ；攻下楚国，则那里的民众足以满足秦囯争夺人 民的贪欲，土地足以谋利；向东可以削弱齐国和燕国，在中部可以压制韩国、赵国和魏国。这样一来，一举就可以成就霸主或一统天下的美名，四方邻近国家的诸侯也会前来朝拜。然而出谋划策的大臣却没有 这么做，而是指挥军队撤退，跟楚国人讲和。如今楚国人收拾国家的残 局，召集离散的百姓，重新祭祀社稷之神，重建祖庙，并下令率领天下各 国向西跟秦国作对。这是第一次丧失成就王霸大ik的机会。天下有共 同目标的国家派兵挺进华阳城下，大王用诡计攻破了他们，派兵逼近了 魏国都城大梁。如果将大梁围困几十天，就可以攻下大梁；攻克大梁， 魏国就可以攻下了；攻下魏国，楚国和赵国的联系就被切断了 ；楚国和 赵国的联系被切断后，赵国就会危险了 ；赵国危险了 1楚国就会孤立了 ； 向东可以削弱齐国和燕国，在中部可以压制住韩国、赵国和魏国。这样 一来，一举就可以成就霸主或一统天下的美名，四方邻近国家的诸侯也会来朝拜。然而出谋划策的大臣却没有这么做，而是指挥军队撤退，跟 魏国人讲和。如今魏囯人收拾国家的残局，召集离散的百姓，重新祭祀 社獲之神，重建祖庙。这是第二次丧失成就王霸大业的机会。从前穣 候治理秦国的时候，利用一个国家的军队，却想在两个国家同时取得成 功-因此让士卒终生在外面征战，国内的士民百姓疲惫不堪，不能成就 王霸美名,这便是第三次丧失成就王霸大业的机会。
“Moreover，I have heard that ' Remove the source of danger and keep away from trouble, and you will be free from problems’，Previously, the troops of the state of Qin were engaged in a war with the state of Chu. They badly defeated the troops of Chu, attacked the capital of Ying and seized the area around the Dongting Lake, Wu Du and Jiangnan. The king of Chu escaped towards the east and took shelter in the state of Chen. Al that time，if Qin had continued the military action against Chu, Chu would have been ruined. If Chu had been ruined，Qin could have taken control of Chu ^ s people and also benifited from various advantages provided by its land. Moreover, Qtn could have weakened the states of Qi and Yan in the cast and surpressed Han，Zhao and Wei, the three states that used to belong to the former state of Jin，in the central part of China. As a result，you could have been entitled 4 King’ or Lord-protector，，and the neighbouring states on all four sides would have submitted to your authority. However, the advisors didn’t tell you to do so. On the contrary, they ordered the troops to retreat and made peace with the people of Chu. Thus the people of Chu could managed to recover from the situation after the debacle of their state. They called the scattered people together and made sacrifices to worship the god of 丨and and the god of grain again. Besides, they united with other states to attack Qin westwards. Thus you lost the first chance to unify the world (to become a King) or establish one of the most powerful states and therefore bccomc a Lord-protector. When other slates launched a concerted attack against our state and stationed their allied troops near the city of Huayang, you defeated them by using trickery* Then you dispatchod troops to approach Liang, the capital of the state of Wei. If your troops had besieged Liang for scores of days,Liang could have been occupied. If Liang had been occupied，the state of Wei could have been conquered. If the state of Wei had been conquered，the relalionship between the states of Chu and Zhao would be broken. If the relationship between Chu and Zhao had been cut off，Zhao would have been in danger. If Zhao had been in danger, Chu would have been isolated. Thus you could have weakened the states of Qi and Yan in the east and supressecl Han, Zhao and Wei，the three ^states that belonged to the former state of Jin，in the central part of China. As a result, you could have been entitled ‘King，or ‘ Lord-protector ’，and the neighbouring states on all four sides would have submitted to your authority. However, the advisors didn’t tell you to do so. On the contrary, they ordered the troops to retreat and made peace with the people of the state of Wei. Thus the people of Wei could manage to recover from the situation after the debaclc of their state. They have called the scattered people together and made sacrifices lo worship the god of land and the god of grain again. Thus you lost the 'second chance to unify the world (to become a King) or establish one of the most powerful states and therefore become a Lord-protector, Previously, when Marquis Rang was in charge of government affairs of the state of Qin，he tried to manipulate the military forces of Qin to make contributions in two states and put both of them in order (according to Gao You’s commentary, Marquis Rang hoped to put both the state of Qin and the ^tate of Wei in order. However, according to Bao Biao, Marquis Rang aimed al putting both the state of Qin and his own private fief in order). But as a matter of fact, officers and men were forced to endure the hardships of many arduous marches during their service. Both the scholars and ordinary people of Qin were exhausted. Moreover，you couldn’t unify the world or at least build one of the most powerful states. Thus you lost the third chancc to become a King or a Lord-protector,