(八）[六]年谓魏王
During the Sixth Year,Someone Had a Iklk.with Wei’s King
【原文】
(八）[六]年（阙文）谓魏王曰昔曹恃齐而轻晋，齐伐釐、莒而晋人 亡曹。缯恃齐以悍越，齐和子乱而越人亡缯。郑恃魏以轻韩，伐榆关而 韩氏亡郑。原恃秦、翟以轻晋，秦、翟年谷大凶而晋人亡原。中山恃齐、魏以轻赵，齐、魏伐楚而赵亡中山。此五国所以亡者，皆其所恃也。非 独此五国为然而已也，天下之亡国皆然矣。夫国之所以不可恃者多，其 变不可胜数也。或以政教不修、上下不辑而不可恃者，或有诸侯邻国之 虞而不可恃者，或以年谷不登、穑积竭尽而不可恃者；或化于利、比于 患。臣以此知国之不可必恃也。今王恃楚之强，而信春申君之言，以是 质秦，而久不可知。即春申君有变，是王独受秦患也J即王有万乘之国 而以一人之心为命也。臣以此为不完，愿王之熟计之也/’
【今译】
(秦始皇即位第）六年，有人对魏王说广从前曹国倚仗齐国而轻视 晋国，齐国进攻莱国和莒国的时候，晋国人消灭了曹国^缯国倚仗齐国 来抗拒越国，齐国田和作乱的时候，越国人消灭了繒国。郑国倚仗魏国 而轻视韩国，魏国攻打榆关的时候，韩国人消灭了郑国。原国倚仗秦国 和翟国而轻视晋国，秦国和翟国闹饥荒的时候，晋国人消灭了原国。中山国倚仗齐国和魏国而轻视赵国，齐国和魏国进攻楚国的时候，赵国消 灭了中山国。这五个国家之所以灭亡，都是因为倚仗别国的缘故,并不仅仅这五个国家是这样的，天下被消灭的国家都是这样的，别国之 所以不可以倚仗的原因太多了，它们的变化数不过来。有的因为政治 教令不善、君臣上下不和睦而不可以倚仗，有的因为来自别国或邻近国 家的忧患而不可以倚仗，有的因为庄稼收成不好、积蓄用尽而不可以倚 仗，有的被某种利益诱惑而接近了灾祸。我因此知道不可以一定要倚 仗别国。如今大王倚仗楚国的强大，并且相信春申君的话，因此做了秦 国进攻的目标，而且好长时间都不知道。假如春申君有了变故，大王就 得独自遭受秦国入侵的祸患。大王拥有一个有着一万辆战车的国家却 只听从春申君一个人的命令。我认为这么做是不妥的，希望大王仔细 谋划这件事
During the sixth year C after Emperor Qin Shihuang was enthroned)，someone had a talk with the king of the state of Wei and said, ^Previously, the state of Cao relied on the state of Qi and therefore disregarded the state of Jin. When Qi attacked the state of Lai and the state of Ju，the people of Jin destroyed Cao. The state of Zeng relied on the state of Qi to confront the state of Yue. When Tian He stirred up a rebellion in Qi，the state of Qi was in chaos and the people of Yue destroyed Zeng, The state of Zheng relied on the state of Wei and therefore disregarded the state of Han* When the troops of Wei attacked Yuguan, the people of Han destroyed Zheng. The state of Yuan relied on the state of Qin and the Di people，and therefore disregarded the state of Jin. When both Qin and the Di people suffered from severe famine, the people of Jin destroyed Yuan. The state of Zhongshan relied on the state of Qi and the state of Wei, and therefore disregarded the state of Zhao. When Qi and Wei attacked the state of Chu, the people of Zhao destroyed Zhongshan, These five states were destroyed because they relied exclusively on their alliance. Not only were these five states destroyed for this reason. All the states that have been destroyed shared the same experience. So many reasons indicate that a state cannot rely on its allies, as there are numerous uncertain factors within an alliance. Some states cannot be relied on because their policies and edicts are not good, and the relationship between rulers and subjects is not harmonious. Some states cannot be relied on because they are under the threat of foreign aggression or have other problems caused by their neighbouring states. Some states are not dependable because of famine and the exhaustion of all the resources and grain stores. Some states cannot be relied on because they are tempted to take action for some profit but eventually find themselves in trouble. For all these reasons, I know that a state cannot rely exclusively on its alliance. Now you rely on the might of the state of Chu and believe the promises made by Lord Chunshen. Thus you are making yourself a target of the state of Qin, but you haven’t realized this for a long time. If Lord Chunshen changes his mind，you will be the only one suffering Qiny s aggression. You own a state with ten thousand chariots. Why do you need to take orders only from Lord Chunshen? I don’t think it is wise for you to do so，and I hope that you can think about what I said carefully.”