Su Qin talks about King Min of Qi
Summary
As a great strategist and lobbyist of a generation, Su Qin’s wisdom, talent and magnanimity are enough to make people think for thousands of years. The heroes and talents admired and admired him. The principles of building a country and being a human being that he explained to King Qi Min are very profound and effective. Without long-term political experience and clear insight, it would be impossible to come up with such incisive and profound truths. While understanding and pondering these philosophies, we must also understand how Su Qin elaborated and explained these philosophies and how he persuaded the King of Qi.
It is the time to be far away from resentment. Therefore, when a saint does his work, he must borrow power to prosper in the time. If he borrows power, everything will be at his best; and when things are going well, he will be able to do things by doubling the power of the time. There are only a few who can succeed.
"Although there are capable generals now, Mo Xie cannot cut them off unless they have manpower. A strong arrow can sharpen metal, but without the advantage of the bowstring, it will not be able to kill from a distance. The arrow is not good, and the sword is not bad. Why? The power is not there. How do you know this? In the past, the Zhao family attacked the Wei, and the chariots did not abandon the people. The city of Wei was just leveled, and the eight gates of the Wei were in ruins, but two gates fell. This is the shape of the country's subjugation. Wei Jun went off to tell Yu Wei. The King of Wei had a sword on his body and challenged Zhao to fight. There are ducks in Handan, and there is chaos among the rivers and mountains. When Wei was able to borrow this, he also collected the rest of his armor and headed to the north. The ruins were flat and fell into the middle of Mou's country. Wei is not stronger than Zhao. For example, Wei's arrows and Wei's string machine are also strong. With the help of Wei's strength, he has the land east of the river. The Zhao family was afraid, and the Chu people rescued Zhao and attacked Wei. They fought in the west of the state, leaving Liangmen. In the forest of military shelters, horses drank in the river. Zhao De borrowed it and also attacked Wei's Hebei province, burning Jigou and falling into Huangcheng. Therefore, the destruction of Gangping, the fall of Zhongmou, the fall of Huangcheng, and the burning of Jigou are all not what Zhao and Wei wanted. But why did the two countries persuade him to do it? Wei Ming borrowed the power of the time. This is not the case for those who serve the country in this world. When the army is weak, it likes the enemy to be strong; when the country is defeated, it likes the public resentment; when the situation is defeated, it likes to take advantage of it; when the army is weak, it dislikes its subordinates; when the territory is narrow, it likes the enemy to be strong; when the situation is defeated, it likes to cheat. If you do these six things and ask for help, you will be far away.
"When I hear that those who serve the country well will obey the wishes of the people, they will know the capabilities of their troops, and then follow them to the world. Therefore, the covenant will not be resented by others, and the attack will not be frustrated by others. In this way, the troops will not be wasted. The power is not light, the territory can be vast, and the wishes can be achieved. In the past, Qi and Han and Wei attacked Qin and Chu. The battle was not very serious, and the territory was not divided between Han and Wei. However, the world was solely blamed on Qi. Why? Because Han and Wei are the main grievances. Moreover, the whole world uses troops. Qi and Yan fight, while the Zhao family controls Zhongshan. Qin and Chu fight against Han and Wei endlessly, while Song and Yue use their troops exclusively. The ten kingdoms are all interested in enmity, but they are only focused on unity. What is wrong with them? If they like to make an agreement, they will resent each other, and if they want to attack, they will defeat the strong.
"The disaster of being strong is always there." It is the king who cares about others; it is a disaster for the husband to be weak and he often seeks to benefit others. Therefore, a big country is in danger and a small country is destroyed. The best plan for a great country is to rise up from behind and attack unjustly again. If the husband's descendants have many nationalities and a strong army, then the army will be strong and the army will be established. If things do not block the hearts of the world, benefits will surely follow. When a great country does this, its name will come without a rush, and the king will be established without him. There is no better feeling for a small country than to be cautious and distrustful of the princes. If you are cautious and quiet, then your neighbors will not rebel; if the princes are distrustful, then the world will not betray you, if you do not betray externally, and if you do not rebel internally, then the betel will be ruined and rotten without use, and the currency and silk will be corrupted and will not be accepted. If a small country practices this, it will be blessed without ancestral temples, and it will be enough to be seen without lending money. Therefore, it is said: The benevolent ancestor is the king, the righteous uncle is the uncle, and the soldier who is poor will perish. How do you know this? In the past, King Wu Fu Chai thought that he was powerful and was the leader of the world. He attacked Ying and lived in the country. Being strong and rejoicing brings disaster to the world. In the past, Lai and Ju were good at plotting, Chen and Cai were good at deceit. Ju relied on Jin and was destroyed, and Cai relied on Yue and perished. These were all deceitful internally, and they were a disaster for the foreign princes. From this point of view, the disasters of strength and weakness, big and small, can be seen in the past.
"There is a saying: 'The decline of Qi Ji was preceded by the slave horse; the fatigue of Meng Ben was preceded by the women.' The husband, the slave horse, and the women have strong muscles and bones, so they are not as good as Qi Ji and Meng Ben." What's the reason? It's borrowed from those who rise later. Today, the relationship between the world and the enemy will not be destroyed at the same time. If there is a case and the army rises later, if you complain but don't punish directly, if you use the army slightly but rely on righteousness, the world will be destroyed. It's enough but necessary. Those who understand the principles of the princes and observe the principles of the terrain will not make an appointment to get married; they will not be mutually exclusive but solid; they will not move toward each other but will be quick; they will not oppose each other; they will communicate without hating each other; and they will be close to each other in fear of strength. What is the form? How do you know this because of the same worries? In the past, Qi and Yan fought in Huanzhi, and Yan was defeated. The Hu people attacked several counties in Yanlou and captured their cattle and horses. They are not close friends with Qi, and the use of troops is not to make an agreement but to seek benefits from Yan. However, why should they be more like each other? How can the same shape cause worries but the troops tend to gain advantage? From this point of view, if they are of the same shape, they will benefit. , then the princes will be able to join forces.
"Therefore, if the master of the Ming Dynasty observes the situation and sincerely wants to take the king as his ambition, then the battle will not be the first. Those who fight are the ruin of the country and the cost of the capital and counties. The remaining expenses have been paid first, but there are few who can follow the princes. Those who fight are disabled. When soldiers hear about the battle, they will lose their personal wealth and enrich the army. They will lose food and drink and wait for the dead soldiers. They will break the shafts and cook them. Kill the cattle and drink the soldiers. This is the way of the king of Lu. The people in the middle pray to see, the king is in the shade, and the small counties of the general capital are set up with communes. In the towns with cities, all the towns do not only serve the king, but also serve the king. This is a false plan. On the day of the battle tomorrow, the dead body will be tended to the wounded. Even if it is a meritorious service and the army pays for it, crying in the middle will hurt the heart of the master. The dead were buried with their homes broken, the injured were buried with empty money and medicine, and the dead were buried with Chinese music, so the expenses were equal to those of the dead and injured. Therefore, the people's expenses are not repaid for ten years of farmland.
When the army came out, the spears and halberds were broken, the strings were cut off, the crossbows were damaged, the chariots were broken, the horses were stopped, and most of the arrows were killed. The weapons and equipment of soldiers are stolen by officials, hidden by scholar-bureaucrats, stolen by servants and servants, and the land for ten years is not repaid. There are only a few people in the world who can waste money like this and follow the princes. When it came to the cost of attacking the city, the common people were responsible for concealing it, lifting oars, and miscellaneous family members. As for the soldiers who are good at soil skills, they will not be able to release their armor. Those who can capture the city after several periods are Ji Er. The superiors are tired of teaching, and the soldiers are tired of fighting. Therefore, there are only a few who can defeat the enemy after going down to the city three times. Therefore, it is said: Those who attack in battle are not the first. How do you know this? In the past, Zhi Boyao attacked the Fan and Zhongxing clans, killed their kings, and destroyed their country. He also besieged Jinyang in the west, swallowed up two countries, and worried about one master. This is how the use of troops flourished. However, when Zhibo dies and his country dies, what does it mean to be the one who laughs at the world? The soldiers attack first and then destroy the others before they are in trouble. In the past, Zhongshan rose up to meet Yan and Zhao. They fought in the south against the eldest son and defeated the Zhao family. They fought in the north at Zhongshan, defeated the Yan army and killed its generals. Hu Zhongshan is a country with thousands of chariots, and the enemy is a country with ten thousand chariots. If we fight again and win, this is the best way to use troops. However, when the country is destroyed, why should the ruler and his ministers remain in Qi? They should not be afraid of the dangers of war and attack. From this point of view, the defeat of the battle can be seen in the previous events.
"In this world, the so-called good use of military force is to fight hard and win, but to defend it with impunity. The world is called good. If a country gains it and protects it, it is not in the country's benefit. I heard that there is a great victory in the battle, If many of his soldiers die, his army will become weaker; if he cannot defend himself, his people will be defeated and his city will be exposed. If his soldiers die outside, the people will be disabled inside, and his city will be exposed, this is not the king's fault. If you sin against someone, you will draw the crossbow and shoot it. If you hit it, you will be good. If you don't hit it, you will be ashamed. If you are young, old, noble, or humble, then what's the point? If you hate it, it will show others that it is difficult to win. But if you don't pull out, it is not just to show others difficulty, but also to harm others. However, the world will surely enmity. If the soldiers are weak, then there will be nothing to do. If the wise king watches the situation, the five soldiers will not move, but the princes will follow, and they will give in and bribe the enemy. If the border city is not used, the soldiers and the people will not know it, but the king's business is over. The wise king is doing things with little money, and it is for the benefit of the elders. Therefore, it is said: "When the army rises, the princes can join forces." p>
"I have heard that those who are not masters in the way of attacking and fighting, even though there are millions of troops in the north hall; even though there are generals like Helu and Wu Qi, they are still in the house; a city thousands of feet long can be plundered. Between the two of you, a hundred feet of rush, folded on the quilt. Therefore, if the sound of bells, drums, yu, and harp is endless, the land can be expanded and desires can be achieved; if the dwarfs do not laugh at the harmonious music, the princes can achieve it in the same day. Therefore, if the name matches the heaven and the earth, it will not be respected, and if it is beneficial to control the sea, it will not be beneficial. My old husband is good at being a king. If I work hard for the world, I will lose it. If I make trouble for the world, I will be at peace. If I am not able to govern, if I work hard and cause chaos for the world, this is the way of a king. When the sharp soldiers come, reject them. It's hard to get into trouble. If the princes have no plans, then the country will have no worries. How do you know this? In the past, the king of Wei had thousands of soldiers and 360,000 soldiers. He was so strong that he conquered Handan and surrounded Dingyang in the west. He also attacked the emperor from the twelve princes and plotted against Qin in the west. The King of Qin was so afraid that he could not sleep or eat well, so he ordered all the battlements within the territory to be used as weapons of war, but instead to serve as guards, and to prepare generals for the dead soldiers to wait for the Wei family. Wei Yang conspired with the King of Qin and said: "The Wei family has great merits and orders throughout the world. There are twelve princes who come to the emperor, and they will definitely join the crowd." Therefore, if one Qin is to attack the great Wei, it may not be as good as it is. Why doesn't the king send his ministers to see the King of Wei? Then the ministers will be invited to the Northern Wei Dynasty. ’ King Qin promised. Wei Yang met the King of Wei and said, "Your Majesty's merits are great, and his orders are carried out throughout the world." Today, the twelve princes that the king comes from are not Song and Wei, but Zou, Lu, Chen, and Cai. This is because the reason why the king is whipping envoys is not enough to rule the world. Your Majesty, if you take Yan from the north and attack Qi from the east, then Zhao will definitely follow; if you take Qin from the west and attack Chu from the south, then Han will definitely follow. The king has the intention to attack Qi and Chu, and if he follows the ambition of the world, then the king's cause will be seen. Your Majesty, it is better to first serve as a king, and then to conquer Qi and Chu. ’ The king of Wei said what Wei Yang said, so he stayed in Guanggong Palace, made red clothes, and built nine banners, from the seven stars. This position of emperor is also occupied by the king of Wei. So Qi and Chu were angry, and the princes rushed to Qi. Qi people attacked Wei, killed its prince, and overthrew its army of one hundred thousand. The king of Wei was so frightened that he marched with troops to the country, and went east to Qi, and then the whole world was abandoned. At that time, the King of Qin bowed his head and accepted the West River, but did not treat the King of Wei. At the beginning of Wei Yang's plan with the king, they made an appointment without leaving the table. They made the agreement between the lords and servants, and the plan was made in the hall, and the Wei generals would keep the birds in Qi. The oars were not used, but they entered Qin outside the Xihe River. This minister said that in the northern hall, the generals were in the house, pulled out the city between the dignitaries, and rushed to the banquet. "
Translation
Su Qin lobbied King Qi Min and said: "I heard that the first person to provoke a war will have endless troubles. Regardless of the hatred of others, he takes the lead in concluding an alliance to attack other countries. Eventually fell into isolation. If you strike later, you can rely on it, and if you follow the trend, you can stay away from hatred. Therefore, when sages do things, they always take advantage of the situation and act in accordance with nature. Taking advantage of the situation is helpful to carry out the steps; relying on the right timing is the key to success. Therefore, if you don't know how to take advantage of the situation and follow the principles of nature, the chance of achieving great things is very slim.
For example, even if there are swords such as Gan Jiang and Mo Xie, if no human power is exerted, they cannot be damaged; and no matter how hard the arrows are, if they cannot use a crossbow, they cannot kill people at a distance. enemy. The arrows are not not sharp, and the swords are not blunt and weak. What's the reason? It's just that something is missing. Why do you say this? In the past, the Zhao people attacked the Wei State, without stopping their vehicles or taking a breath. They immediately surrounded the capital of Wei State and built an earthen city in Gangping (Wei Di) to control it. At that time, all eight gates of the capital were blocked, two gates were destroyed, and the disaster of national subjugation was imminent. When the situation was urgent and there was no time to escape, the king of Wei State fled barefoot to Wei State for help.
Marquis Wu of Wei personally wore armor and sword, stood up for the defense of the country and challenged Zhao. There was great chaos in Handan, and the relationship between the Yellow River and the Taihang Mountains was also out of control. Weiguo took the opportunity to regroup, attacked Zhao northward, captured Gangping, and captured the outer city of Zhongmu in Zhaoyi.
Weiguo is not stronger than Zhao, but it has the support of Wei. If Wei is compared to an arrow, Wei is like a crossbow string, thus using Wei to occupy the land east of the river. At this time, the State of Zhao was very frightened, so the State of Chu rescued Zhao and attacked the State of Wei. The two sides fought a big battle in the west of the state. The State of Chu passed through the gate of Daliang City, the capital of Wei, and garrisoned in the forest to drink from the Yellow River. With the help of the Chu State, the Zhao people also attacked the Hebei area of ??the Wei State, set fire to Jigou and captured Huangcheng. Destroying Gangping, defeating Zhongmou, falling into Huangcheng, and burning Jigou was not the original intention of Zhao and Wei. However, they worked so hard at the beginning, but the final result was like this? This is because of Wei Guo. He Zhao Guo is good at taking advantage of opportunities and understands that to capture a decisive victory, he must take advantage of the situation at the right time. This is not the case for those who govern the country today. Their army is weak but they like to challenge strong enemies. When the country is tired, they still want to provoke public anger. They are sure to lose but they still insist on going their own way. They don’t have considerable strength, but they cannot bend their ambitions to be inferior. They have a small territory and few people, but they still insist on going their own way. However, he contends with the great powers and becomes his enemy; he does not change his deceitful heart when things fail. Making six mistakes and trying to establish hegemony is actually getting further and further away from hegemony.
I heard that a monarch who is good at governing the country should comply with the people's will and realistically estimate his own military strength, and only then can he unite the princes to realize his ambitions. Therefore, when making a contract, one should not bear the grievances on oneself as the main one, and when fighting, one should not defend others against a powerful enemy. In this way, you can preserve your own troops to control the overall situation, and realize your desire to expand your territory. In the past, the King of Qi united Han and Wei to conquer Qin and Chu, but they did not work particularly hard, and they did not get more land than Han and Wei. However, the world only blamed Qi for the war. Why? Because Qi was the first to advocate the crusade against Qin and Chu. Chu, offended the public. Besides, at that time, the world was at war, Qi and Yan were fighting, and Zhao was plotting against Zhongshan. Qin, Chu, and Han and Wei were constantly at war, while Song and Yue were specializing in attacking. These ten countries are scheming and competing with each other, but the world only complains about Qi. What's the reason? Because Qi likes to be the leader when making treaties, and likes to attack strong enemies when the two armies meet.
Besides, when a strong country causes disasters, it is often because it wants to dominate the princes; when a weak country suffers disasters, it is often because it wants to gain benefits by scheming others. Therefore, strong countries are inevitably in danger, and small countries are inevitably destroyed. It is better to strike later and resolutely attack those unjust countries than to be plotted by big countries. You can rely on attacking later. There are many allies and strong troops, which creates an advantageous situation in which strength in numbers is used against weakness and weakness, and the war is bound to win. If you act in a fair manner, you will gain benefits. If a powerful country acts in this way, its title will naturally be obtained without fighting, and its hegemony can be achieved with little effort.
As for the best strategy for small countries, it is to be cautious and not to trust the princes easily. If you are cautious, the neighboring countries will have no excuse to seek revenge and commit crimes; if you are not gullible, you will not be betrayed by the princes and become a victim of interests. If you are not betrayed externally and do not fight internally, you will be able to stay away from disasters and be conducive to the accumulation and growth of domestic strength. If a small country could do this, it would be able to enjoy blessings without praying and become rich without borrowing money. Therefore, it is said that one can become a king by practicing benevolent government, and one can become a hegemon by establishing integrity, but going militarily will only lead to destruction. Why do you say this? In the past, King Wu Fu Chai relied on the country's strong military force to lead the princes to fight in all directions, attack the Chu Kingdom, occupy the Yue Kingdom, and issue orders to the princes, as if he ruled the world, but in the end he ended up dead and the country was destroyed, and he was condemned by the world. Laughing. Why did this result occur? The reason is that Fu Chai always wants to be the master of the world and takes the lead in provoking wars by relying on his strong national power. In the past, Lai and Ju were fond of conspiracy, while Chen and Cai were specialized in deceit. As a result, Ju perished because it relied on Jin, and Cai perished because it relied on Yue. These are all misfortunes caused by using deception internally and trusting the princes externally. From this point of view, countries, no matter how big or small, have their own disasters, and the lessons learned from the past have been confirmed in history.
As the saying goes: Once a thousand-mile horse gets old, it cannot outrun an inferior horse; once Meng Ben is weak, it cannot beat a woman. The strength of muscles and bones of inferior horses and women is far inferior to that of thousand-mile horses and warrior Meng Ben, but why does this result occur? This is because we have something to rely on to strike later. Nowadays, the princes in the world rely on each other to contain each other, and the confrontation will last for a long time. If any country can hold its troops still and strike later, and at the same time be good at transferring grudges, concealing the true intention of using troops, and attacking the unjust in the name of justice, then annexation It will be just around the corner for the princes to take over the world. Understand the national conditions of the princes, understand the geographical situation of the world, do not form alliances, and do not take hostages to each other, and the relationship will be stronger; do not rush into haste, and things will progress more smoothly. We can stick to our promises when we work together, and we can suffer together without blaming each other. The stronger we become, the closer we will become. How can this be achieved? The situation is that they have the same worries and interests. What facts can be used as evidence? Earlier, Qi and Yan fought in Huanqu, and the Yan army was defeated. One hundred thousand soldiers and many horses failed to return. The Hu people took advantage of the situation to attack Yan Guoloufan and other places, and plundered cattle and horses. What is the reason why the Hu people and the Qi State are neither relatives nor friends, and have not made any alliance, but they try their best to cooperate with the Qi State? It is because they share the same worries and have related interests! From this we can see that uniting countries with the same situation can achieve the greatest success Obtaining benefits to a certain extent and taking advantage of the situation later can make the princes surrender and use them.
"So if a wise monarch and a far-sighted prime minister are committed to the cause of kingship, they should not put the use of force first. War not only consumes national power, but also disturbs people's livelihood. The vitality of the country has suffered. When the soldiers were exhausted, they could no longer command the princes. The depletion of the war on the country was obvious. When the scholars heard that there was going to be a war, they donated their property for military purposes, while the merchants sent wine, meat and food to reward the soldiers. The shafts of chariots were used as firewood, and cattle were killed and banquets were held to entertain soldiers. In fact, these were practices that defrauded the people and harmed the country. The people prayed, the kings held sacrifices, and temples were set up in big cities and small counties. All cities with markets closed their businesses to serve in the war. , In fact, this is a waste of the country.
In the place of the decisive battle, corpses were everywhere, and mourners were everywhere. People supported the injured soldiers. On the surface, it seemed that the soldiers had done meritorious service and the country had won the war. But in fact, The amount of money lost and the people crying were enough to make the king extremely worried. The families of the fallen soldiers spent all their wealth to bury their fathers and brothers, and the wounded soldiers also spent their savings seeking medical treatment. Those soldiers who were lucky enough to return home unharmed. A large banquet was held at home to celebrate, and the war cost the people a lot of money. The harvest of ten years of farming could not be compensated. The losses caused by being stolen and hidden could not be compensated by ten years of farming. The country was already exhausted to bear these two expenses, so how could it still give orders to the princes? When the city was attacked and the land was evacuated, the people were exhausted. As rear support, he mended the soldiers' tattered uniforms, transported siege equipment, carried grass on their heads, dug tunnels, and was tired of the corvee labor. He oversaw the battle day and night, and even if he could capture the city in a few months, he did not care about the soldiers' fatigue. Soon. The soldiers were tired and defeated three cities, and they believed that they would no longer be able to defeat the enemy.
Therefore, there is no precedent in history for wise kings and wise ministers to plan for the world. . In the past, Zhibo defeated the Fan and Zhongxing clans, then led his troops westward, besieging Jinyang, and annexed the two countries, and forced Zhao Xiangzi to despair. His military power was at its peak. However, Zhibo later died. His fate was ridiculed by the people of the world. What was the reason for this? It was because Zhibo provoked the disaster and threatened the two monarchs of Han and Wei. In the past, Zhongshan State mobilized the army of the whole country to attack the two countries of Yan and Zhao. The eldest son defeated the Zhao army in the south, defeated the Yan army within the country, and killed the general who led the army. Zhongshan was just a small country of thousands of times, and it was the enemy of two powerful countries of ten thousand times. It won two decisive victories in a row. A great victory has become a model for the use of military force. However, such a warlike country will inevitably perish, and the king will become a minister. What is the reason? It is because it does not consider the disasters of war, and wars occur one after another. From this point of view, the disadvantages of war are recorded in the history books.
"Nowadays, people who are good at using soldiers, who win many battles, gain when they attack, and defend when they are strong, are highly praised by people all over the world, and everyone in the country relies on it like the Great Wall. In fact, this It is not a good thing for the country. I heard that the war was a great victory, the soldiers suffered heavy casualties, the people were exhausted from the defense, and the city walls would be damaged beyond recognition. If soldiers die in battle, the people are exhausted, and the city is in ruins, the king will not be happy. Taking the archery target as a metaphor, it has no grudges against others, but everyone will treat it with a strong bow and a strong crossbow. Those who hit it will be happy, and those who missed it will be ashamed. No matter old or young, no matter how high or low they are, everyone takes one shot as a reward. quick. The reason? People hate being seen as incapable of archery. Nowadays, some countries are victorious after repeated battles. This not only shows others difficulties, but also hinders the interests of other countries, making other countries more hostile. A sage monarch would not do something like this that would tire the people, harm the country, and become a target of public criticism.
A wise king and wise minister with foresight and foresight will not use weapons rashly, resulting in the loss of troops and generals, and a great loss of vitality. A wise king and a wise prime minister always strive to submit to the princes without attacking, and to obtain more wealth and land with humility and resignation. Because a wise king is good at war, he can defeat the enemy without using weapons, he can plunder the land without using force, and the king's business can be completed without others noticing. A wise king does things without spending financial resources, and obtains permanent benefits through long-term planning. Therefore, it can be said that striking later can make the princes surrender and drive them.
According to what I know: "The way of war does not depend on the size of the army." Even if there are millions of enemy troops, they can still be defeated by the curtains above the court; even if they encounter the likes of Helu and Wu Qi, A general can capture him by planning indoors; even if there is a city thousands of feet high, he can still be destroyed in the midst of a banquet; even though there is a chariot a hundred feet high, he can still be destroyed while sitting or lying down. Therefore, while the sound of silk pipes was heard in the court hall, and the actors and dwarfs laughed and danced, the country had expanded and the princes came to surrender. For such a king, it is not considered noble if his name is equal to that of heaven and earth, and his power to control the sea is not considered huge.
Therefore, a monarch who is good at creating a royal empire is one who can make the princes work hard while he is at ease, and can make the world chaotic but his own country peaceful. Ease and peace are in our country, while fatigue and chaos are in other countries. This is the way of a king. If he accumulates national strength to wait for the enemy to come and eliminate military disasters, then his country will not have to worry about it overnight. What facts are there to support it? In the past, King Hui of Wei had a territory of thousands of miles and 360,000 soldiers. Relying on his own strength, he captured Handan and surrounded Dingyang in the west. He also invited twelve princes to pay homage to the Emperor of Zhou in order to plot against the Qin Kingdom. Make all kinds of preparations. When Qin Xiaogong heard the report, he was worried, had trouble sleeping and eating, and was not satisfied with the food. He mobilized the whole country, repaired the equipment of war and defense, strictly defended the territory, recruited dead soldiers, and appointed generals to prepare for the coming enemy.
Wei Yang proposed advice to Qin Xiaogong and said: "The King of Wei has helped the Zhou Dynasty, and his orders can be implemented in the world. He can invite twelve princes to meet the emperor, and there are many followers." As a mere Qin State, I am afraid that it cannot compete with it. Can your Majesty use me as an envoy to see the King of Wei? I am sure to defeat Wei State. ’ King Qin agreed to his request, and Wei Yang went to see King Hui and praised him: ‘I heard that the king worked hard and achieved great results, and he was able to command the world. But now the twelve princes led by the king are either Song and Wei, or Zou, Lu, Chen, and Cai. Although the king can control them at will, these powers alone are not enough to rule the world. Your Majesty, it is better to unite with the Yan people in the north and attack Qi in the east, and Zhao will obey; and then unite with Qin in the west and attack Chu in the south, and South Korea will obey. If the king has the desire to conquer Qi and Chu and acts in a righteous manner, the day when the king's cause will be realized is not far away. The king can obey the will of the world, add the emperor's clothes and crown, and then seek Qi and Chu. ’ King Hui was very happy after hearing this, so he built a palace according to the emperor’s system, made red clothes and nine Shi and seven-star flags. The monarchs of Qi and Chu were greatly angered by King Hui's arrogance and disrespect for etiquette, and all the princes also voted under the banner of Qi to attack Chu. The people of Qi attacked Wei and killed Prince Shen of Wei, wiping out 100,000 troops. King Hui was frightened and hurriedly ordered his troops to withdraw, and then surrendered to Qi in the east. The princes then stopped using force to impose sanctions. At that time, Qin Xiaogong took the opportunity to obtain the Hexi area of ??Wei State, and showed no gratitude to King Hui. Therefore, when Wei Yang was discussing countermeasures with Duke Xiao, he made the agreement at the table, planned it between the banquets, and made the plan in the high hall. However, the Wei general Pang Juan had been captured by Qi, and he had collected all the troops outside the Xihe River without moving his sword. place. This is what I said: "Defeat the enemy in the hall, capture the enemy behind the curtains, capture the enemy's city at the banquet, and break the enemy's chariot on the pillow." '"
Commentary
Su Qin cited many examples to cite his political insights and philosophy. His main point is:
1. Preemptive measures and adapt to the current situation. Those who take the lead in provoking wars and attacking other countries will have endless troubles and will be isolated. They can rely on the latter to follow the current situation and stay away from hatred.
2 Beili should attack those countries that are unethical. In this way, you can gain both fame and fortune and achieve hegemony. Small countries should be cautious, not trust others, and gradually increase their strength.
Su Qin used a lot of these 4 concepts. When using examples to demonstrate, you usually state your point of view first, and then cite events that have happened at that time to support it. Some comments are also mixed in with the examples. Overall, the combination of facts and theory is very convincing and truthful.
Su Qin’s advice to the king contained both opposition and establishment, and the opposition was greater than the establishment. The central purpose of the opposition was the same, that is, in the national political and military struggle, we should try our best to possess morality and try to "not fight". "Soldiers who subjugate others" must not be belligerent or aggressive. The above principles are also suitable for interpersonal relationships in peacetime. We must make our own development strategies according to our own circumstances, and treat friends and competitors accordingly. Be wise and strategic, and you must skillfully apply the above-mentioned laws in the field of international relations to interpersonal relationships. After all, there is great comparability between people and between countries as a subject of interests.