长平之役
The War in Changping
【原文】
长平之役，平都君说魏王曰: “王胡不为从？”魏王曰秦许吾以垣 雍。”平都君曰臣以垣雍为空割也。”魏王曰何谓也？ ”平都君曰： “秦、赵久相持于长平之下而无决。天下合于秦，则无赵；合于赵，则无 秦。秦恐王之变也，故以垣雍饵王也。秦战胜赵，王敢责垣雍之割乎？” (王）曰不敢。”“秦战不胜赵，王能令韩出垣雍之割乎？ ”（王）曰不 能臣故曰垣雍空割也。”魏王曰善
【今译】
长平战役中，平都君游说魏王道广大王为什么不加入合纵呢？ ”魏 王说：“秦国许诺把垣雍归还给我. ”平都君说我认为归还垣雍不过是 句空话。”魏王问广为什么这样说呢？”平都君说广秦国和赵国在长平相 持不下有很长时间了 天下各国跟秦国联合起来，赵国就会灭亡；跟赵 国联合起来，秦国就会芡亡。秦国担心大王会改变主意，所以用垣雍来 诱惑大王。如果秦国战胜了赵国，大王敢要求它割让垣雍吗？”魏王说: “不敢。”“如果秦国不能战胜赵国，大王能让韩国把垣雍割让出来吗？” 魏王说不能。”“所以我说割让垣雍是一句空话啊。”魏王说好
During the war in Changping，Lord Pingdu consulted with the king of the state of Wei and asked him，“Why not join other states in counterattacking the state of Qin?” The king of Wei said, “Qin has promised to cede me the region of Yuanyong (an area that used to belong to the state of Wei but was occupied by the state of Han).” Lord Pingdu said，“I think ceding Yuanyong to us is nothing but an empty promise.” The king asked, “What do you mean?” Lord Pingdu said，“The troops of Qin and those of Zhao have been engaged in a war for a long time and no one knows which side will win. If other states in the world ally with the state of Qin, the state of Zhao will be destroyed. If they ally with the state of Zhao, the state of Qin will be destroyed. The king of Qin is afraid that you might change your mind, so he promised to cede you the region of Yuanyong to appease you. If Qin wins the war against Zhao, dare you demand the region of Yuanyong from Qin?” The king said，“I dare not do that,” “If Qin does not win the war against Zhao, can you persuade the state of Han to cede the region of Yuanyong to you?” The king vSaid, “I cannot, ” “That’s why I said it is nothing but an empty promise.” The king said，“I see. ”