公仲数不信于诸侯
Gongzhong Often Broke His Word with the Sovereigns of Other States
【原文】
公仲数不信于诸侯，诸侯锢之。南委国于楚，楚王弗听。苏代为谓 楚王曰不若听而备于其反也。（明）[朋]之反也，常仗赵而畔楚，仗齐 而畔秦。今四国锢之而无所入矣，亦甚患之,此方其为尾生之时也。”
【今译】
公仲跟各国诸侯打交道的时候屡次不守信用，诸侯们都拒绝听从 他的建议。向南投靠楚国，楚王不听他的。苏代为他对楚王说：“不如 听他的并且防备他的反复无常。公仲的反复，常常是倚仗赵国而背叛 楚国，倚仗齐国而背叛秦国。如今这四个国家都不听从他的意见，他没 有办法了，也非常担心这种情形。这正是他做一个讲信用的人的时候了。”
Gongzhong often broke his word with the sovereigns of other states, and therefore no other state would take his advice again. Gongzhong wanted to establish ties with the state of Chu in the south，but the king of Chu would not listen to him. On Gongzhong9s behalf，Su Dai had a talk with the king of Chu and said, “It would be better if you take his advice this time and at the same time be prepared in case he might break his word again. With regard to Han Peng’s treachery, he often relies on the state of Zhao to turn against the state of Chu, or turns to the state of Qi to betray the state of Qin. Now all these four states refuse to take his advice, and therefore he does not have arty allies. This also worries him very much. This is the right time for him to be an honest man. ”