The Lord of Xue Consulted with Wei Ran on Behalf of the State of Wei
薛公为魏谓魏冉
Tian Wen, the lord of Xue, conferred with Wei Ran，the prime minister of Qin，on behalf of the state of Wei and said, “I heard that Qin's king is going to send Lli Li to unite with Qi to rule the whole world together. If this is the ease? your power will be greatly weakened. If Qi and Qin dispatch troops to approach the states of Han, Zhao and Wei, Lli Li will definitely bccomc ihe prime minister of both slates (referring to the states of Qi and Qin). As a result, Lti Li will become more powerful and influential if you are for uniting with Qi. Even though Qi might not be attacked by troops of other stales, it will still hate you deeply. You f d better persuade thu king of Qin to allow the troops of our stale to attack Qi. If Qi is defeated, I will ask our sovereign to confer on you all the land we obtain from Qi. Thus our state of Wei will become strong, and the king of Qin will be afraid of our power. So he will value you and ask you to build good relations with Wei. Even if we obtain Xue from Qi，we are still not able to counteract Qin, Thus Wei too will value you in establishing diplomatic relations with Qin. Therefore, not only will you become meritorious because of defeating Qi ,but you will also become more powerful and influential since you will take control over Wei. Not only is Qi defeated and you are conferred some land，but also the two sovereigns of Qi and Qin will pay much attention to you. However, if we don’t defeat Qi and Lu Li is appointed to a powerful position again，you will find yourself at an impasse,"
【原文】
薛公为魏谓魏冉曰文闻秦王欲以吕礼收齐，以济天下，君必轻 矣。齐、秦相聚以临三晋，礼必并相之，是君收齐以重吕礼也。齐免于 天下之兵，其仇君必深。君不如劝秦王令弊邑卒攻齐之事。齐破，文请 以所得封君。齐破晋强，秦王畏晋之强也，必重君以取晋；齐予晋弊邑， 而不能支秦，晋必重君以事秦。是君破齐以为功，操晋以为重也。破齐定封，而秦、晋皆重君；若齐不破，吕礼复用，子必大穷矣。”
【今译】
薛公田文站在魏国的立场上对秦国的相囯魏冉说：“我听说秦王打 算让吕礼去联合齐国，一同平定天下，那样一来，您的权势一定会减轻 了。如果齐国和秦国联合对付韩、赵、魏三国，吕礼肯定会同时做齐、秦 两国的相国，这样一来，您就是在联合齐国来抬高吕礼的地位。齐国免 于别的国家的进攻，定会深深地仇视您，您不如劝说秦王让我国出兵 攻打齐国。齐国战敗以后，我请求将从齐国夺得的土地赏賜给您。齐 国战败后，魏国就会强大，秦王害怕魏国的强大，一定会重用您来争取 魏国。齐国把薛邑割让给魏国，而魏国不能与秦国抗衡，一定会重用您来结交秦国。这样一来，您就会因打敗齐国而立功，因控制魏国而握有重权。打敗齐国，享有封地，秦国和魏国的国君都会重用您。如果不打 敗齐国，让吕礼重新得到任用，您就会落到穷途末路的地步了 。”