楚考烈王无子
King Kaolie of Chu Had No Son
【原文】
楚考烈王无子，舂申君患之，求妇人宜子者进之，甚众，卒无子。
【今译】
楚国的考烈王没有儿子,春申君很担忧，寻找有生育能力的女人进 献给他，找了很多女人，终究还是没有生子。
King Kaolie of the state of Chu had no son. Lord Chunshen was worried about this. So he looked for many women having the potential of giving birth to baby boys and presented them to the king. However, the king still had no son,
【原文】
赵人李园持其女弟，欲进之楚王，闻其不宜子，恐乂无宠。李园求 事春申君为舍人，已而谒归，故失期。还谒，春申君问状。对曰广齐王 遣使求臣女弟，与其使者饮，故失期。”春申君曰聘人乎？ ”对曰：“未 也。”春申君曰:“可得见乎？”曰：“可。”于是园乃进其女弟，即幸于春申 君。知其有身，园乃与其女弟谋。园女弟承间说春申君曰“楚王之贵 幸君，虽兄弟不如。今君相楚王二十余年，而王无子，即百岁后将更立 兄弟。即楚王更立，彼亦各贵其故所亲，君又安得长有宠乎？非徒然也，君用事久，多失礼于王兄弟，兄弟诚立，祸且及身，奈何以保相印、江 东之封乎？今妾自知有身矣，而人莫知。妾之幸君未久，诚以君之重而 进妾于楚王，王必幸妾。妾赖天而有男，则是君之子为王也，楚国封尽 可得，孰与其临不测之罪乎？”春申君大然之，乃出园女弟谨舍，而言之 楚王。楚王召人，幸之。遂生子男，立为太子，以李园女弟立为王后， 楚王贵李园，李园用事。李园既人其女弟为王后，子为太子，恐春申君 语泄而益骄，阴养死士，欲杀春申君以灭口，而国人颇有知之者。
【今译】
赵国人李园想把自己的妹妹进献给考烈王，听说他不能生育，又担 心她不受到宠幸。李园请求侍奉春申君，做了他的舍人，过了 一段时 间，请求回家探亲，故意不按时回来。回来后拜见春申君，春申君问他 怎么回事。李园回答说广齐王派使者来向我的妹妹求婚，我跟他的使 者饮酒，所以耽误了回来的日期春申君问：“聘礼送来了吗？”李园回 答说广没有春申君问可以见见你妹妹吗？”李园说：“可以。”于是李 园就把他的妹妹带来了，立即受到春申君宠幸。知道她怀早了，于是李 园就跟他的妹妹一同谋划。李园的妹妹找个机会游说春申君道楚王 对您的定信，即便是亲生兄弟也比不上。如今您做楚王的相国已二十 多年了，然而大王却没有儿子。假如他去世了，他的兄弟就会被立为王。假如别人做了楚王，他也是安排自己所亲近的人做高官，您又怎能长期受到宠信呢？还不仅仅如此呢。您执政的时间太长了，对大王的 兄弟经常有失礼的地方，如果大王的兄弟即位，灾祸很快就降临到您身 上了，又怎能保住相国这个职位并且保全江东的封地呢？如今我知道 自己已经有身孕了，而别人却不知道。我受您宠幸的时间不长，如果凭 借着您的权势把我进献给楚王，大王一定会宋幸我。假如苍天保佑让 我生下个男孩，那就是您的亲生儿子做楚王了，把楚国全部的土地封给 自己也是可能的，难道不比背负不测的罪名好吗？”春申君认为她说得 非常有道理，于是让李园的妹妹离开自己家，另外给她提供住处，并且 把她介绍给考烈王。考烈王召见她，她受到宠幸。于是生下一个男孩， 被立为太子，把李园的妹妹立为王后。楚王宠信李园，李园执掌楚国大 权。李园把他妹妹弄到宫中做了王后，她的儿子立为太子，恐怕春申君 把这事泄露出去并越来越骄横，他偷偷豢养为他效死的武士，想杀掉春 申君灭口，可是国内有不少人知道了这件事。
Li Yuan，a man from the state of Zhao, was about to present his younger sister to the king. He heard that the king was incapable of making women pregnant, so he feared that the king might not cherish his sister. Li Yuan begged to serve Lord Chunshen as a private officer. After a short time，he asked for Lord Chunshen’s permission to go home to visit his family. He purposedly didn’t come back on time. After he returned, he went to report to Lord Chunshen, The lord asked why he came back late. He replied, “The king of the state of Qi sent emissaries to my home to make a proposal to marry my younger sister, I had a drink with the emissaries. So I missed the deadline, “ Lord Chunshen asked, “Have you received the betrothal money?” Li Yuan replied, “Not yet. ” Lord Chunshen asked, “Can I take a look at your sister?” Li Yuan said, “Yes，you can, ” So Li Yuan introduced his sister to the lord and soon the lord had sex with her. After Li Yuan^s sister became pregnant，Li Yuan made a secret plan with her. She then took the opportunity to speak with Lord Chunshen and said, “His Majesty cherishes you very much and treats you better than his own brothers. Till now you have served as prime minister of the state of Chu for more than twenty years. However，His Majesty still has no son. Therefore, once he passes away，one of his brothers will be enthroned to be the new sovereign. After his successor comes into power，he will also employ people he loves. If this is the case, how can you maintain your power thereafter? Moreover, you have been in power for a long time, and you often offend His Majesty’s brothers. If one of his brothers will be enthroned as expected，you will soon be in trouble. Under such circumstances, how can you maintain your position as prime minister and keep youf fief located east of the Yangzi River? I know that I am now pregnant, but no one else knows this. Since we have been lovers for only a short time, you should present me to His Majesty through your power. He is sure to fall in love with me. If God blesses me and I am fortunate enough to give birth to a baby boy, it means that your own son will become king. You can obtain all the territory of the state of Chu, Isn’t this much better than facing unknown punishments?” Lord Chunshen totally agreed with her. Then he sent her away and arranged for her to live in another building. After that，he introduced her to King Kaolie. The king called for her and fell in love with her. Then she gave birth to a baby boy and the boy was nominated crown prince. Li Yuan’s sister was appointed to be queen of Chu. King Kaolie cherished Li Yuan, and Li Yuan became very powerful and governed the state. After Li Yuan’s sister was appointed to be queen and her son to be crown prince, Li Yuan feared that Lord Chunshen might divulge the secret. He also became more and more arrogant. He decided to kill his accomplice—Lord Chunshen, so he .secretly supported warriors who would fight to the death on his behalf. However, some people in the state of Chu guessed at Li Yuan's scheme.
【原文】
春申君相楚二十五年，考烈王病，朱英谓春申君曰世有无妄之 福，又有无妄之祸。今君处无妄之世，以事无妄之主，安不有无妄之人 乎？ ”春申君曰何谓无妄之福？ ”曰君相楚二十余年矣，虽名为相国, 实楚王也。五子皆相诸侯^今王疾甚，旦暮且崩，太子衰弱。疾而不 起，而君相少主，因而代立当国，如伊尹、周公，王长而反政。不即，遂南 面称孤，因而有楚国。此所谓无妄之福也。”春申君曰“何谓无妄之 祸？”曰：“李园不治国，王之舅也；不为兵将，而阴养死士之日久矣。楚 王崩，李园必先人，据本议制断君命，秉权而杀君以灭口。此所谓无妄之祸.也。”舂申君曰何谓无妄之人？ ”曰君先仕臣为郎中，君王崩，李园 先人，臣请为君釗其胸，杀之。此所谓无妄之人也。”春申君曰广先生置 之，勿复言巳！李园，软弱人也，仆乂善之，又何至此？”朱英恐，乃亡去。
【今译】
春申君做楚国相国的第二十五年，考烈王病重。朱英对春申君说: “世上有不可顸料的福分，也有不可预料的灾祸。如今您处在不可预料 的世道，侍奉不可预料的国君，怎能没有不可预料的人呢？ ”春申君问： “什么叫不可预料的福分？”朱英说您做楚国相国二十多年了，虽然名 义上是相国，实际上却跟楚王一样。您五个儿子都做各国诸侯的重臣，如今大王病重，随时都会去世，太子弱小。假如大王不能康复，您就会 辅佐年幼的君主，因而代他独断处理国家大事，如同伊尹和周公那样， 大王长大后把政权交还给他。否则，就自己南面称王，从而占有楚国。 这就是所谓的不可预料的福分。”春申君问什么叫不可预料的灾祸？” 朱英说李园不主持国家大事，却是大王的亲舅；不做军中将领，却偷 偷豢养为他效死的武士好长时间了。楚王去世了,李园一定会枪先下手，按他本来的意思操纵您的性命，掌握大权并且杀掉您来灭口，这就是所谓的不可预料的灾祸。”春申君说什么叫不可预料的人？”朱英 说：“您先安排我做郎中，大王去世后，李园抢先入宫，就请让我为您刺 他的胸膛，把他杀了。这就是所谓的不可预料的人。’’春申君说：“先生 把这个想法放下吧，不要再说了 ^李园是个软弱的人，我待他又很好, 他又怎么会做这种事呢？”朱英害怕了，于是就逃亡了。
Twenty-five years after Lord Chunshen was installed as prime minister of the state of Chu, King Kaolie became severely ill. Zhu Ying had a talk with Lord Chunshen and said, “In the world，there are unexpected fortunes as well as unexpected misfortunes. Now you are living in an unexpectable time and serving an unexpectable sovereign. How can you not have unexpected people?” Lord Chunshen asked，“What are unexpected fortunes?” Zhu Ying replied, “You have been prime minister of the state of Chu for more than twenty years. Although you are nominally prime ministert in fact you are the real king of Chu, Your five sons all hold powerful positions in other states* Now the king is very ill and might pass away at any time. However, the crown prince is young and weak. If His Majesty does not recover, you will be the one to assist the young successor. Thus you can govern the state for him and become as powerful as Yi Yin and Duke Zhou used to be. After the king grows up，you can devolve the authority of the state to him. therwise, you can declare yourself king of Chu and thus totally control the state of Chu. This can be called an unexpected fortune.”Lord Chunshen asked further, “What are unexpected misfortunes?” Zhu Ying replied, “Li Yuan is not in charge of government affairs, however, he is the new king’s uncle. He holds no position in the military force, however, he has for a long time been secretly paying warriors ready to fight to the death for him. After His Majesty passes away, Lt Yuan will be the first one to come to the palace. He will kill you to keep that secret as he has designed by right of his power. This can be considered as an unexpected misfortune. ” Lord Chunshen asked again， “ Who are unexpected people?” Zhu Ying said，“You can appoint me as Langzhong in advance. After His Majesty passes away, if Li Yuan enters the palace first, I will stab him in the chest and kill him for you. A person like me can be called an unexpected person,” Lord Chunshen said，“Give this up! Don’t mention it again, Li Yuan is a weak person，and I am very friendly with him. How can he do things like this?” Zhu Ying became frightened and fled.
【原文】
后十七日，楚考烈王崩，李园果先人，置死士止于棘门之内。春申 君后人，止棘门。园死士夹刺春申君，斩其头，投之棘门外，于是使吏尽 灭舂申君之家。而李园女弟初幸春申君有身，而人之王所生子者，遂立 为楚幽王也。
【今译】
过了十七天，楚考烈王去世，李园果然抢先入宫，把为他效死的武 士安置在棘门内。春申君后进宫，在棟门被拦截。李园的武士夹击春 申君，砍下他的头，扔到棘门外，于是派官兵把春申君的家人全部杀死 了。而当初受到春申君宠幸的李园妹妹被进献到考烈王宫中后生下的 儿子就被立为楚幽王。
Seventeen days later, King Kaolie died. As expected, Li Yuan went to the palace first. He deployed his warriors within the Ji Gate, Lord Chunshen went to the palace later and was intercepted at the Ji Gate, Li Yuan’ s warriors stabbed him from both sides, beheaded him and threw his head out of the Ji Gate. Then Li Yuan sent officers to uproot Lord Chunshen y s clan. The son of Li Yuan ^ s sister, who became pregnant by Lord Chunshen and then entered the palace，was enthroned as the new sovereign of Chu and addressed as King You. During the same year—the ninth year after Emperor Qin Shihuang’s enthronement, Lao Aiy s love affair with Qin Shihuang’s mother was discovered. Emperor Qin Shihuang uprooted Lao Ai\s relatives and clan and dismissed Lu Buwei,
【原文】
是岁，秦始皇立九年矣，缪毐亦为乱于秦。觉，夷三族，而吕不节 废。
【今译】
这一年是秦始皇即位的第九年，谬毐也在秦国作乱。秦始皇察觉 了，诛灭其三族，而吕不韦也被免职。