Ku Chengchang Had a Talk with Lord Jianxin
苦成常谓建信君
Ku Chengchang had a talk with Lord Jianxin and said， “All the states in the world are now joining in Hezong (referring to the tactics of allying with each other to confront the state of Qin). However, people only mention that the state of Zhao is against the state of Qin. Why? When the state of Wei sentenced Lii Liao to death, people all over the world derided it. Now if you reoccupy the area of Hejian, what’ s the difference between this decision and Wei’s beheading of Lu Liao? Even if you declare that you will give up reoccupying Hejian due to your illness, Marquis Wenxin can still see through you. If Hezong results in success, why do you need to worry about not being able to reoccupy Hejian? If Hezong results in failure，will it be of any use to reoccupy Hejian?”
【原文】
苦成常谓建信君曰广天下合从，而独以赵恶秦，何也？魏杀吕遗而天下交之。今收河间，（于〉是与杀吕遗何以异？君唯释虚伪疾，文信犹 且知之也。从而有功乎，何患不得收河间？从而无功乎，收河间何益也？”
【今译】
苦成常对建信君说天下各国合纵，而大家唯独说赵国跟秦国关系不好，为什么呢？魏国杀死吕辽，天下人都笑话这件事。如今收复河 间，这么做跟杀死吕辽有什么分别？即便您表面上放弃这一想法并且 伪称自己有病在身，文信侯还是会知道的。假使合纵能够成功，还担心 不能收复河间吗？假使合纵不能成功，收复河间又有什么用？”