Lord Mengchang Advocated Hezong
孟尝君为从
Lord Mengchang advocated uniting the Six States-Qi, Chu，Yan, Han, Zhao and Wei—-to build a unified battlefront to counterattack the state of Qin. Gongsun Hong told him ‘‘Why not send someone to the west to monitor the king of Qin first? If he really is capable of unifying the world, I have suspect that you would want to work with his regime. How can you attack him if this is the case? If he is an unworthy sovereign, it won7 t be too late to carry out your plan of counterattacking him.” Lord Mengchang said, “Good idea! Please go there to keep an eye on him for me，will you?" Gongsun Hong accepted this task. He then went to Qin with ten carriages.
【原文】
盂尝君为从。公孙弘谓盂尝君曰：“君不以使人先观秦王？意者秦 王帝王之主也，君恐不得为臣，奚暇从以难之？意者秦王不肖之主也， 君从以难之未晚。”孟尝君曰广善，愿因请公往矣。”公孙弘敬诺，以车十 乘之秦。
【今译】
孟尝君主张合纵。公孙弘对孟尝君说：“您不先派人到西方观察一下秦王吗？假如秦王是个能够成就帝王大ik的君主，您恐怕连做他的 臣子都不成，哪里还有时间跟秦国作对呢？假如秦王是个不肖的昏君， 到那时您再合纵、跟他作对也不晚孟尝君说好。那就请您到秦国 走一趟吧公孙弘答应了，于是带着十辆车前往秦国。
When King Zhao of Qin found out this, he decided to humiliate Gongsun Hong to see what kind of person he was. When Gongsun Hong arrived at the court of King Zhao，the king asked him，“How big is the territory of Xue?” Gongsun Hong said，“One hundred square Li,，’ King Zhao laughed and said: “My territory measures several thousand square li. Big as my state is, I do not dare to set myself against others. Nonetheless，Lord Mengchang is going to act against me， hacked by only one hundred square li of land. Do you really think that it is possible?" Gongsun Hong said，“Yes. Because Lord Mengchang values scholars but you don’t." King Zhao asked, u What difference does it make even though Lord Mengchang values scholars?” Gongsun Hong said, " Well, scholars who stick to their values will not be subject to the authority of the Son of Heaven or make friends with sovereigns of other states, and will not feel sorry to replace the Son of Heaven if they can achieve their ambitions or condescend to serve others when they fail to accomplish their goals. Of this kind of people，Lord Mengchang has three- As to the scholars who are capable of governing a state and qualified to act as mentors for people like Guan Zhong and Shang Yang, if their advice is followed，their sovereigns can establish outstanding powers or even unify the world. Of this kind of people，Lord Mengchang has five. He also has seven people like me. As for us, when we are humiliated by sovereigns of the states with ten thousand chariots on diplomatic missions，we will take a step back to commit suicide and contaminate the clothing of these sovereigns with our blood. ” King Zhao laughed and apologized to him. He said，“Why did you say that? I am very friendly towards Lord Mengchang and think highly of him. Please be sure to extend my good intentions to him." Gongsun Hong promised to do so.
【原文】
昭王闻之，而欲愧之以辞。公孙弘见，昭王曰广薛公之地，大小几 何？ ”公孙弘对曰百里。”昭王笑而曰寡人地数千里，犹未敢以有难 也。今孟尝君之地方百里，而因欲难寡人，犹可乎？”公孙弘对曰孟尝 君好人，大王不好人昭王曰孟尝君之好人也，奚如？ ”公孙弘曰：“义 不臣乎天子，不友乎诸侯，得志不惭为人主，不得志不肯为人臣，如此者三人；而治可为管、商之师，说义听行，能致其[主霸王]，如此者五人；万 乘之严主也辱其使者，退而自刎，必以其血绔其衣，如臣者（十）[七] 人。”昭王笑而谢之，曰："客胡为若此？寡人直与客论耳！寡人善盂尝 君，欲客之必谕寡人之志也！”公孙弘“敬诺。”
【今译】
秦昭王听说了此事，就想用言辞羞辱他，来借机观察他。公孙弘拜 见昭王、昭王问：“薛的面积有多大？”公孙弘回答说：“方圓百里。”昭王 笑道我的国土纵横几千里，还不敢凭借它跟别人作对^如今孟尝君 想凭借区区百里见方的土地跟我作对，能行吗？”公孙弘回答说孟尝 君重视士人，而大王您不重视。”昭王说：“孟尝君重视士人又能怎么 样？”公孙弘回答说：“信守节义，不向天子称臣，不跟诸侯结交，得志的时候做君主也不感到惭愧，不得志的时候也不肯做别人的臣子，这样的士人，孟尝君有三位。善于治国，能力足以做管仲、商鞅的老师，主张如 果被听从，就能使君主成就王霸大业，这样的士人，孟尝君有五位。充 任使者，如果遭到拥有一万辆战车的大国的君主的侮辱，就退后自刎， 但却必定用自己的血沾污对方的衣服，像我这样的*孟尝君有七位。”昭 王笑着道歉说您何必这样呢？我对孟尝君很友好，希望您一定要向 他转达我的意思。”公孙弘答应了。
Gongsun Hong really was inviolable. King Zhao was the sovereign of a great state, but Lord Mengchang only had a fief with one thousand chariots. Nevertheless, Gongsun Hong prevented Lord Mengchang ’ s dignity from being compromised by King Zhao, People like him really can be sent to other states on diplomatic missions,
【原文】
公孙弘可谓不侵矣！昭王，大国也；孟尝，千乘也9立千乘之义而 不可陵，可谓足使矣！
【今译】
公孙弘可以称得上是凍然不可侵犯了 ,昭王是大国的国君，而孟 尝君只不过拥有一千辆战车。公孙弘能使孟尝君的尊严免受昭王的凌 辱，可以说是称职的使节了 .