秦伐魏
Qin Attacked Wei
【原文】
秦伐魏，陈轸合三晋，而东谓齐王曰广古之王者之伐也，欲以正天 下而立功名，以为后世也。今齐、楚、燕、赵、韩、梁六国之递甚也，不足 以立功名，适足以强秦而自弱也，非山东之上计也。能危山东者，强秦 也。不忧强秦，而递相罢弱，而两归其国于秦，此臣之所以为山东之患。 大下为秦相割，秦曾不出力；天下为秦相烹，秦曾不出薪。何秦之智而 山东之愚耶？愿大王之察也。
【今译】
秦国攻打魏国，陈轸撮合韩国、赵国和魏国联合，并且向东对齐王说古代的君主攻打别国，是为了匡正夭下、建立功名，来为后世做好 事。如今齐国、楚国、燕国、赵国、韩国和魏国六个国家之间互相进攻， 不仅不足以建立功名，反而足以增强秦国的力量，并且自行削弱自己的 实力。这不是山东各国的上策啊，能够危害山东各国的，是强大的秦 国。不担心强大的秦国所造成的祸患，反而互相削弱，而且双方都把自 己的国土奉送给秦国，这就是我为山东各国感到忧虑的原因啊。天下 各国为秦国割削土地，秦国却不曾花费一点力气；天下各国为秦国互相 烹煮，秦国却连柴禾也不贡献出来。怎么秦国这么聪明而山东各国却 如此愚蠢？希望大王明察这一情况。
The troops of the state of Qin attacked the state of Wei. With Chen Zhen y s endeavours, three states——Han, Zhao and Wei —built an alliance to resist the state of Qin. Then Chen Zhen went to the east to advise the king of the state of Qi and said，“In ancient times, when sovereigns attacked other stares, they aimed at either putting the world in order or accomplishing great achievements and therefore gaining a high reputation. They did so to benefit later ages. Now the Six States -Qi ? Chu, Yan, Zhao? Han and Wei—are engaged in attacking each other. Thus not only are they incapable of accomplishing great achievements and gaining high reputations t but they will strengthen the powerful Qin and weaken themselves in the meantime. This is not a correct vStrategy for the states located east of Mount Xiao, The oaly state that can pose a threat to the stales east of Mount Xiao is the powerful Qin. However, the states don’t worry about the problems that might be caused by Qin, but try to weaken each other. As a result, Qin will take advantage of both sides to benefit itself. That，s why I am worrying about the problems of the states east of Mount Xiao! States in the world are fighting each other to make their enemy states cede land to Qin, although Qin doesn’t exert any effort itself. Other states in the world are vying with each other to cook their enemy states alive for the sake of the state of Qin, although Qin doesn’t provide them with any firewood. The state of Qin is very clever，but the states located east of Mount Xiao are very stupid! I hope that Your Majesty will consider this.
【原文】
“古之五帝、三王、五伯之伐也，伐不道者。今秦之伐天下不然—必欲反之：主必死辱，民必死虏。今韩、梁之y未尝干，而齐民独不也9非 齐亲而韩、梁疏也，齐远秦而韩、梁近。今齐将近矣！今秦欲攻梁绛、安 邑，秦得绛、安邑以东下河，必表里河而东攻齐。举齐，属之海，南面而 孤楚、韩、梁，北向而孤燕、赵，齐无所出其计矣。愿王熟虑之！
【今译】
“古代五帝、三王、五霸所进攻的，都是无道的君主，如今秦国进攻天下各国却不是这样的，而且一定要恰恰相反：被进攻国家的君主必定 会被杀死或者遭受侮辱，百姓必定会被杀死或者被俘虏。如今韩国和 魏国百姓眼里的泪水还没有干，而唯独齐国没有遭受这种不幸，并非由 于齐国跟秦国亲近而韩国和魏国跟秦国疏远、齐国距离秦国遥远而韩 国和魏国距秦太近。如今齐国也将邻近秦国了！现在秦国要进攻魏国 的绛与安邑，秦国夺得绛和安邑后将沿着黄河东下，一定会占领黄河内 外并且向东进攻齐国a占领齐国后，秦国的领土就会扩展到大海，就可 以在南面孤立楚国、韩国和魏国，向北孤立燕国和赵国，齐国就没有任 何办法了。希望大王仔细考虑这件事啊！
“In ancient times，when the Five Di Ancestors, the Three King Ancestors and the Five Lord-protectors attacked other states, they would only attack those under the rule of tyrannical sovereigns. Nowadays, regarding Qin s aggression against other states in the world? it is exactly the opposite： sovereigns of those states being attacked will be either killed or humiliated and the people will either lose their lives or be captured. The tears on the faces of the people of the states of Han and Wei have not yet been dry. Only the people of the state of Qi haven’t experienced Qin’s aggression. Nonetheless, it is not because the relationship between Qi and Qin is good and that between Qin, Han and Wei is bad. Similarly, it is not because Qi is far away from Qin but Han and Wei are nearby, Qin will extend its territory to Qi soon! Now the troops of Qin will invade Jiang and Anyi of the state of Wei. After Qin's troops occupy Jiang and Anyi, they will march eastwards along the bank of the Yellow River. They will definitely conquer these areas and then invade the state of Qi eastwards. If Qi is defeated, Qin will extend its border to the sea. Thus it will block off the states of Chu, Han and Wei’s ties with their alliance in the south, and isolate the states of Yan and Zhao in the north. If this is the case, Qi will have no options. I hope that Your Majesty consider this,
【原文】
“今三晋已合矣，复为兄弟，约而出锐师以戍梁绛、安邑，此万世之 计也。齐非急以锐师合三晋，必有后忧。三晋合，秦必不敢攻梁，必南攻楚。楚、秦构难，三晋怒齐不与己也，必东攻齐。此臣之所谓齐必有 大忧，不如急以兵合于晋 ."
【今译】
“如今韩国、赵国和魏国已经联合起来了，又重新成为兄弟国，相约 派出精锐部队来守卫绛和安邑，这是有利于子孙万代的大计。如果齐 国不赶紧派出精锐部队跟这三个国家的军队会合，必定会有后患，这
三个国家联合起来了，秦国就一定不敢进攻魏国，必定会向南进攻楚国。楚国和秦国交战，韩国、赵国和魏国恼火齐国不跟自己联合，一定 会向东攻击齐崮。这就是我所说的齐国一定有巨大的忧患。不如赶紧 派兵跟韩国、赵国和魏国的军队联合。”
“Now the states of Han，Zhao and Wei have already concluded an alliance and therefore become brother states again. They made an agreement together to dispatch selected soldiers to safeguard Jiang and Anyi of the state of Wei. This is a sound strategy, which will benefit tens of thousands of future generations. If the state of Qi doesn’t send selected troops to assist these three states, it will be in trouble in future. As long as these three states—Han，Zhao and Wei—build an alliance to resist Qin，the troops of Qin certainly won’t dare invade the state of Wei. So it will definitely attack the state of Chu in the south. If Chu and Qin engage in warfare, the three states—Han, Zhao and Wei - will launch a concerted assault on your state in the east, since they are angry with you because you refused to join them in resisting Qin. That’s why I said that your stale would have trouble in future. So youM better send your troops to join those of the three states. ”
【原文】
齐王敬诺.果以兵合于三晋。
【今译】
齐王恭敬地应允了，果然派兵跟韩国、赵国和魏国的军队联合。
The king of Qi listened to him with reverence. He dispatched his troops to assist the alliance built by the states of Han, Zhao and Wei as expected.