Zhang Yi was from the State of Wei. Initially, he studied under Guiguzi with Su Qin. After completing his studies, Su Qin felt inferior to Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi then began to persuade the various states. Once, he drank with the Prime Minister of the State of Chu, and after the drink, the Prime Minister's jade bi was lost. The people in the Prime Minister's residence suspected Zhang Yi, saying, "Zhang Yi is down on his luck and not exactly honest; he must have stolen the Prime Minister's jade bi!" So they caught Zhang Yi and gave him a brutal beating. Zhang Yi never admitted to the theft and was eventually imprisoned. His wife said, "Honey, if you hadn't gone off studying and trying to schmooze these big shots, you wouldn't be in this mess!" Zhang Yi asked his wife, "My tongue's still working, right?" His wife smiled and said, "It's still there!" Zhang Yi replied, "That'll do!"
Su Qin had already convinced King Zhao and became the Prime Minister, forming alliances with various states. But he was worried that if the State of Qin attacked other states, the alliance would collapse, and he would be in trouble too. He thought that the only person who could deal with the State of Qin was Zhang Yi. So, Su Qin secretly sent word to Zhang Yi, "You had such a good relationship with Su Qin before; now that the State of Qin is so powerful, why don't you go to Qin and fulfill your ambitions?" Zhang Yi then went to the State of Zhao to request an audience with Su Qin. Su Qin ordered his subordinates not to inform him and deliberately made him wait for several days. Finally, he met him, had him sit on the floor, and only gave him the food meant for his servants. Then Su Qin scolded him, "With your talent, you've ended up like this? I could've made you a rich man! You're a lost cause!" Then he sent Zhang Yi away. Zhang Yi came thinking he would meet an old friend and seek help, but instead, he was humiliated and very angry. He felt that other states were not worth serving, and only the State of Qin could really mess with the State of Zhao, so he went to the State of Qin.
Su Qin later told his advisers, "Zhang Yi is one of the most brilliant minds in the land. I'm lucky to be where I am right now, but the one who can truly control the power of the Qin state is Zhang Yi. However, he's down on his luck and out of work. I worry that he will be tempted by small gains and won't achieve great things, so I deliberately rubbed him the wrong way to light a fire under him. You secretly help me serve him well." So Su Qin told King Zhao, took out a pile of gold and jewels, and sent people to secretly follow Zhang Yi, live with him, and shower him with gifts to slowly win him over. He helped him get whatever he needed, but they were not to tell him who was behind it. As a result, Zhang Yi was able to meet King Hui of Qin, and King Hui appointed him as a minister to plan attacks on other kingdoms.
Su Qin's follower was about to quit. Zhang Yi said, "I owe my success to you, and I was planning to repay your kindness. Why do you want to leave?" The follower replied, "I am not serving you, but Su Qin. Su Qin is worried that if Qin attacks Zhao and fails, it will ruin the previous agreement. He believes that only you can control the power of the Qin state, so he deliberately angered you, allowing me to secretly fund you and follow Su Qin's orders. Now that your plan has been successfully implemented, please allow me to go back and report to Su Qin."
Zhang Yi sighed, "Well, I kinda saw that coming, but I didn't realize my wisdom isn't as good as Su Qin's! I just got the job; how can I plan to attack Zhao? Please thank Su Qin for me. With Su Qin around, I wouldn't dare say a word. Besides, I wouldn't have had a chance if Su Qin was still here!" After becoming the Prime Minister of Qin, Zhang Yi sent a message to the Chu Prime Minister, saying, "When we were drinking together before, I didn't even touch your jade, and you still hit me! If you'd just minded your own business, I would've been happy to take your cities!"
Ju and Shu were at war, both appealing to Qin for aid. King Hui wanted to attack Shu, but the treacherous Shu roads daunted him. Han was also attacking Qin, leaving King Hui paralyzed by indecision: attack Han first, then Shu? Or vice versa? Neither option felt safe. Sima Cuo and Zhang Yi clashed before King Hui; Cuo favored attacking Shu, while Zhang Yi argued for Han. King Hui said, "I want to hear your reasons."
Zhang Yi replied, "We'll cozy up to Wei, appease Chu, then mass our troops in Sanchuan. We'll choke off Shigu Pass, seize the Tunliu road, crippling Wei's hold on Nanyang and threatening Chu's Nanzheng. Then, we hit Xincheng and Yiyang, pushing right to the Zhou capital's outskirts. This gives us the pretext to punish Zhou's king and grab Chu and Wei's land. Zhou's king, knowing he's helpless, will hand over the Nine Cauldrons. With the Nine Cauldrons in hand, we'll consult the classics, control the emperor, and rule the land. That's how emperors do it!
As for Shu? It's a backwater, a barbarian land in the west. Wasting our troops and people on it won't bring glory, and the land itself might not be worth the trouble. Look, prestige is won in court, profit in the marketplace. Sanchuan and the Zhou court are *the* marketplace and court – that's where we should be playing, not chasing some backwater barbarians! This whole Shu thing is small-time stuff."
Sima Cuo said: "No. I have heard that a rich country needs a big territory; a strong army needs a wealthy populace; and to become king, you need to be generous. Then kingship is a sure thing. Currently, our territory is small and the people are poor, so I suggest starting with something easier. Shu, a remote western kingdom ruled by the Rongdi, is in utter chaos, like the reigns of Jie and Zhou. Taking Shu will be like picking low-hanging fruit. Conquering Shu territory can expand our land, obtain its wealth to enrich our people, strengthen the army, with minimal casualties, and Shu will surrender on its own. No one will call us cruel for destroying them, or greedy for taking land all the way to the Western Sea. We'll gain both glory and riches, and be praised for putting down a rebellion. Attacking Han, and thus threatening the Emperor, is a bad idea. It'll bring us a bad name, and it's too risky; everyone's against it! Zhou, having lost the Nine Cauldrons, and Han, having lost the Three Rivers, will likely team up, get help from Qi and Zhao, and give the cauldrons to Chu and the land to Wei. Your Majesty won't be able to stop them. That's why attacking Shu first is the safer bet." King Hui of Qin said: "Sounds good. Let's do it." So he sent troops to attack Shu, and after ten months, he conquered it, completely subduing the region. The Shu king was demoted to marquis, and Chen Zhuang was appointed Shu's prime minister. With Shu under Qin's control, Qin grew even stronger and wealthier, and began to scorn the other states.
In the tenth year of King Hui of Qin, he sent Prince Hua and Zhang Yi to besiege Puyang, which surrendered. Zhang Yi took the opportunity to propose that Qin and Wei become allies and sent Prince Yao as a hostage to Wei. Zhang Yi also persuaded the King of Wei, saying, "The King of Qin treats Wei very well; Wei cannot be disrespectful." Wei then ceded Shangjun and Shaoliang to Qin to show their gratitude. King Hui of Qin then appointed Zhang Yi as Prime Minister and renamed Shaoliang to Xiayang. Zhang Yi served as Prime Minister of Qin for four years and helped King Hui ascend the throne. A year later, Zhang Yi led troops to conquer the Shan region and built defenses in Shangjun. Two years later, Zhang Yi was ordered to meet the Prime Ministers of Qi and Chu in Niesang. On his return, he left his post in Wei and went to Qin. Zhang Yi wanted Wei to become subservient to Qin first, hoping other vassal states would follow suit. However, the King of Wei did not listen to him. King Hui of Qin was very angry and attacked Wei, capturing Quwo and Pingzhou, and secretly promoted Zhang Yi. Ashamed, Zhang Yi could not return to Qin. He stayed in Wei for four years, until King Xiang's death and King Ai's accession. Zhang Yi tried to persuade King Ai of Wei, but he also did not listen. As a result, Zhang Yi secretly goaded Qin into attacking Wei, leading to a war between the two states, which ended in defeat for Wei.
In the second year, the state of Qi defeated the state of Wei again at Guanjin. The state of Qin also wanted to attack Wei, first defeating the Han army under General Shen, beheading eighty thousand, frightening all the warring states. At this time, Zhang Yi went to persuade the King of Wei, saying: "The territory of Wei is less than a thousand square miles, with only three hundred thousand soldiers. Its flat terrain is bordered on all sides by other states, without mountainous barriers as defenses. From Zheng to Liang (the capital of Wei) is only over two hundred miles. War chariots can speed along, and soldiers and horses can rush there with little effort. Liang borders Chu to the south, Han to the west, Zhao to the north, and Qi to the east, with soldiers stationed on all sides, guarding the passes with no less than one hundred thousand troops. The geographical location of Liang is inherently a battlefield!
If Wei only befriended Chu and not Qi, then Qi would attack its east; if it only befriended Qi and not Zhao, then Zhao would attack its north; if it did not befriend Han, then Han would attack its west; if it did not draw close to Chu, then Chu would attack its south: this is the principle of being torn apart! Furthermore, the reason the warring states form alliances is to stabilize the country, strengthen the ruler's authority, bolster their forces, and make a name for themselves. Now the warring states have formed an alliance, calling themselves brothers, swearing an oath on the Huan River, sacrificing white horses to Heaven, to show their determination to each other. But even brothers still fight over money, let alone trying to rely on deception and fickleness to use Su Qin's old strategies, which is impossible to succeed!"
If Your Majesty does not ally with Qin, Qin will send troops to attack the area west of the Yellow River, occupy Juan, Yan, and Suanzao, plunder Wei, and seize Yangjin. Then, Zhao will not move south; if Zhao does not move south, Liang will not move north, and the key transportation routes of Wei will be cut off. If the transportation routes are cut off, there is no way your country can avoid danger. Qin will first defeat Han before attacking Wei. Han is afraid of Qin; if Qin and Han unite, the downfall of Wei is only a matter of time. This is what I worry about for Your Majesty. For your own good, the best way is to get cozy with Qin. As long as we cooperate with Qin, Chu and Han will not dare to act rashly. This way, you can rest easy, and the country will be peaceful. Furthermore, Qin's main target is Chu, and the best way to weaken Chu is through Wei. Although Chu appears wealthy and powerful, it is actually very weak; despite having many soldiers, their combat capabilities are lacking. If we move all of Wei's troops to the south to attack Chu, we will surely win! Then, we can take land from Chu, weaken them, strengthen Qin, and pin the blame on someone else to keep our hands clean. If you don't listen to me, and Qin advances east, it will be too late to cooperate with them! Those smooth-talking con men are just waiting to pounce on any gullible ruler. If the ruler is swayed by their words, it will be dangerous. I have heard a saying: "A little bit of damage here and there can eventually sink a great ship, just like a bunch of small things can break a wagon wheel. Too many people talking can make a lie sound true, and constant criticism can destroy a good reputation." So, Your Majesty, please give my advice some thought, and then let me go home.
King Ai ultimately broke his word and followed Zhang Yi's advice to make a deal with Qin. Zhang Yi went back and became Qin's prime minister. Three years later, Wei double-crossed Qin and teamed up with Chu again. Qin invaded Wei and took Quwo. The following year, Wei bowed to Qin again.
Qin wanted to attack Qi, but since Qi had a good relationship with Chu, Zhang Yi went to Chu to sweet-talk them. When King Huai heard Zhang Yi was in town, he personally went to the inn to greet him and said, "We're a backwater, what could you possibly teach us?" Zhang Yi replied, "Your Majesty, listen to me. Break with Qi, and I guarantee you Shangyu—six hundred li of it!—plus some of Qin's finest ladies as your concubines. Qin and Chu will be brothers forever. That weakens Qi and strengthens us. What's not to like?" King Huai was thrilled and agreed. The other ministers were celebrating, but Chen Zhen looked worried sick.
King Huai angrily said, "I can obtain six hundred miles of land without fighting; everyone is happy, why are you the only one unhappy?" Chen Zhen replied, "No, I don't think we're getting Shangyu at all, and if Qi and Qin team up, we're doomed." King Huai asked, "What is your suggestion?" Chen Zhen said, "The reason Qin values Chu is because Chu and Qi are allies. Now that you have severed ties with Qi, Chu is isolated. Why would Qin give us an inch if we're all alone? After Zhang Yi returns to Qin, he will deceive the king. As a result, we will have cut ties with the north and Qi, and offended Qin in the west; both countries' armies may come. The king should secretly stay friendly with Qi, while pretending to cut ties, and send someone to keep an eye on Zhang Yi. If Qin really gives us the land, it's not too late to sever ties with Qi; if Qin doesn't give us the land, we can secretly discuss countermeasures with Qi."
King Huai said, "I hope Mr. Chen will stop talking and wait for me to get the land before speaking!" Then, he handed the seal to Zhang Yi and gave him many gifts. So, Chu cut ties with Qi and sent a general with Zhang Yi to Qin.
In Qin, Zhang Yi played possum—lost luggage, broken carriage—and stayed away from the king for three months. When King Huai heard about this, he thought to himself, "Does Zhang Yi think I haven't done enough to ditch Qi?" So he sent a tough guy to Song, borrowed their seal, and went to Qi to give the king a piece of his mind.
King Qi was furious, and immediately switched gears, starting to suck up to Qin. After the relationship between Qin and Qi improved, Zhang Yi went to meet the King of Qin and said to the envoy of Chu, "I've got this tiny little fief, six li, and I'd like to gift it to someone close to you, Your Majesty." The envoy of Chu said, "I'm here on the orders of the King of Chu to discuss the matter of Chu ceding six hundred li of land to Qin. What's this six-li land nonsense?" The envoy got back, told the Chu king, who blew his top and immediately marched on Qin.
Chen Zhen said, "Can I say something? Instead of attacking Qin, how about we give them some land, bribe them, and team up to take on Qi?" That way, yeah, we lose some land to Qin, but we get something back from Qi, and Chu stays strong. The Chu king ignored him and sent General Qu Mai to attack Qin anyway.
So, Qin and Qi teamed up against Chu, wiping out eighty thousand soldiers, including General Qu Mai. Qin grabbed Danyang and Hanzhong. Chu tried a surprise attack on Qin, got all the way to Lantian before getting their butts kicked. Finally, Chu had to give up two cities to make peace.
The state of Qin wanted the state of Chu to give up the Qianzhong region and wanted to exchange it for the land beyond Wuguan Pass. The King of Chu said, "Forget the land swap, I'll give you Qianzhong if you just give me Zhang Yi." The King of Qin wanted to send Zhang Yi but hesitated. Zhang Yi volunteered to go. King Huai of Chu said, "The King's still furious about you swindling us out of Shangyu—he's not gonna trust you now, is he?" Zhang Yi said, "Qin's strong, Chu's weak. I'm good with Jin Shang, and he's got the ear of Queen Zheng Xiu. Zheng Xiu has the King's ear. Sent by the Qin King, they wouldn't dare kill me, would they? Even if they do kill me, getting Qianzhong for Qin would be worth it." So he went to Chu.
King Huai had Zhang Yi arrested, intending to kill him. Jin Shang said to Zheng Xiu, "You know how little sway you have with the King, right?" Zheng Xiu asked, "Why?" Jin Shang said, "The Qin King's really fond of Zhang Yi and doesn't want to lose him. He's offering six Shangyong counties, plus a bunch of beautiful women and palace dancers, as a wedding gift for the King. The King loves land, respects Qin, so Qin women will be all the rage, leaving you in the shade. You gotta convince the King to let Zhang Yi go." So Zheng Xiu spoke to King Huai of Chu day and night, "Every minister serves his king. Qin hasn't got the land yet, and they sent Zhang Yi—that shows how much they value the King. If the King kills him without a second thought, Qin will be furious and attack. Tell the King to get his family and move to Jiangnan before Qin slaughters us all like fish!" King Huai of Chu regretted, pardoned Zhang Yi, and treated him as before.
When Zhang Yi left the state of Chu, he had not gone far when he heard that Su Qin had died. So he advised King Huai of Chu again, saying, "Qin controls half the land in the empire, and their army could take on four countries at once. They are surrounded by mountains and rivers, with strategic terrain and defenses on all sides. They have tens of thousands of elite soldiers, a thousand war chariots, ten thousand cavalry, and enough food to feed an army for years. Their laws are clear. Their soldiers are accustomed to hardship and willing to sacrifice for the country. The king is wise and decisive. The generals are resourceful and skilled in warfare. Even if they don't go to war, they can still dominate the strategic areas of Changshan and will surely crush the backbone of the world. Any country that later submitted was conquered first. Moreover, following them is like leading sheep against a tiger—a hopeless fight. Now, Your Majesty is not allying with the fierce tiger but joining forces with a group of sheep. I believe Your Majesty is making a mistake."
The strongest countries in the world are either Qin or Chu. If these two countries go to war, it will be a fight to the death. If Your Majesty goes against Qin, they will send troops to occupy Yiyang, cutting off the northern transportation line of Han. If Qin takes Hedong and Chenggao, Han will surely surrender, and Liang will follow suit. If Qin attacks Chu from the west, while Han and Liang attack from the north, can Chu's territory be protected?
Additionally, those countries that blindly follow others are weak nations banding together to attack a powerful country without considering the enemy's strength. These countries are already poor and constantly at war. Isn't that a recipe for disaster? I have heard that a country with inferior military strength should not provoke others, and a country with insufficient food supply should not engage in prolonged warfare. Those who flatter will only speak pleasing words, exaggerate the positives, and ignore the risks. When Qin truly attacks, it will be too late to remedy the situation. So, Your Majesty, please think this over carefully.
West of Qin lies Ba Shu, where a large amount of grain is stored. Grain from the Wen Mountains is shipped down the Yangtze to Chu—a three-thousand-li journey. Big boats carry fifty men and three months' rations apiece. Downstream, they cover over three hundred li a day. Although the journey is long, it does not require the strength of oxen and horses, and they can reach Hangu Pass within ten days. If Hangu Pass falls, the whole eastern region will be fortified; Qianzhong and Wujun will be lost. A Qin attack on Chu would last only three months, while it'd take Chu and its allies at least six months to respond – no contest. Smaller states count on others, forgetting the Qin's might. This is what worries me about Your Majesty.
Your Majesty fought Wu five times, winning three, but your armies were depleted and the people suffered defending Xin Cheng. They say great victories bring great risks, and a disgruntled populace. You need to protect your hard-won gains *and* face Qin. Frankly, Your Majesty's in a precarious position.
For fifteen years, Qin hasn't attacked Qi or Zhao from Hangu Pass – they're biding their time, aiming for unification. Chu clashed with Qin in Hanzhong, lost badly, and lost the territory itself. It's like two tigers fighting – both are wounded, while Han and Wei watch and wait. That's the biggest danger of all. Please give this serious thought, Your Majesty.
If Qin attacks Wei and Yang Jin, chaos will surely ensue. Your Highness, if you concentrate your forces on attacking Song, you will be able to take it in just a few months. After taking Song, you can advance eastward, and all twelve smaller kingdoms in the Sishui River basin will submit to you.
Su Qin, relying on his eloquence and alliances, was eventually appointed as the Marquis of Wu'an and became the prime minister of Yan. Secretly, he conspired with the King of Yan to attack and divide the territory of Qi; then, pretending to have committed a crime, he fled to Qi, where the King of Qi appointed him as prime minister. After two years, the King of Qi discovered the truth and, in great anger, had Su Qin torn apart. With someone like Su Qin, who relies on trickery, wanting to control the world and unify the vassal states is simply impossible; this truth couldn't be clearer.
Now that Qin and Chu are neighboring and traditionally friendly states, Your Highness, if you are willing to listen to me, I suggest that the Prince of Qin be sent to Chu as a hostage, the Prince of Chu be sent to Qin as a hostage, and the Princess of Qin be married to you as a concubine. The prosperous cities of Qin will be designated as tax-exempt territories for Chu, and the two countries will become brotherly nations, never attacking each other again. I believe there is no better solution than this.
King Huai has already bribed Zhang Yi and given the Qianzhong region to Qin to fulfill Zhang Yi's request. Qu Yuan said, "In the past, Your Highness was deceived by Zhang Yi. Now that he has come, I believe you should kill him; even if you can't bear to kill him, you should not listen to his poisonous lies." King Huai said, "Agreeing to Zhang Yi's request for the Qianzhong region is a great advantage. It would be bad to go back on it later." So, they swallowed their concerns and allied with Qin.
Zhang Yi went to the State of Chu and then to the State of Han. He said to the ruler of Han: "The terrain of Han is rough, with mostly mountainous areas. The only crops that can be grown are mostly beans and greens. The common people mainly eat bean dishes and vegetable soup. If there's a bad harvest one year, they can't even get enough bran to eat. The land area is only about nine hundred li (approximately 300 miles), and there’s barely two years' worth of food. The total number of soldiers under the king is no more than three hundred thousand, including lots of support troops. Excluding the soldiers guarding the border passes, the front-line troops are at most two hundred thousand.
As for the State of Qin, they boast over a million soldiers, a thousand chariots, and ten thousand cavalry. And their elite troops? Countless. The war horses of Qin are strong and numerous. When they gallop, their hooves kick up dust three feet high. Shandong soldiers fought in full armor, but Qin soldiers could shed theirs and pursue the enemy, capturing heads with their left hand and holding prisoners with their right.
Compared to the soldiers of Shandong, Qin soldiers are like lions to lambs. Qin uses powerful forces to oppress the enemy, like a hawk to a baby. Sending brave warriors like Meng Ben to attack weak nations that are easy to defeat is like dropping a boulder on an eggshell; it’s not going to end well."
The king's advisors and nobles, blinded to the country's poverty, have been swayed by empty promises and back-slapping, boasting, "Follow my plan, and we'll rule the world!" They ignore the long-term interests of the country, only believing in short-term gains, misleading the ruler. You couldn't make a bigger mistake. If the king doesn't side with Qin, they will invade Yiyang (a strategic location), cut off the Han state's Shangjun (the upper command), then advance east to occupy Chenggao (another important area) and Xingyang (a key city), and the Hongtai Palace and Sanglin Park will no longer be yours. Once Chenggao is occupied and Shangjun is cut off, your country will be divided. Allying with Qin keeps us safe; otherwise, we're in big trouble. That's a recipe for disaster! Trying to please Chu while defying Qin? That's a death wish. Therefore, for the king's sake, we need to side with Qin. Qin's biggest goal is weakening Chu, and that means using us. It's not that we're stronger, but our location makes us key. If we team up with Qin against Chu, the Qin king will be thrilled. Let's hit Chu, grab their land, and win Qin's favor. That's our best bet.
King Han took Zhang Yi's advice. After Zhang Yi returned, King Hui of Qin granted him five cities and honored him as Lord Wuxin (a title signifying military trustworthiness). Zhang Yi then went to the state of Qi to persuade King Min of Qi, saying, "There’s no country stronger than Qi. Every official's rolling in it, and the people are living the good life. However, those who advise the king only think about immediate benefits and ignore long-term plans. The flatterers will say, 'To the west of Qi is the powerful state of Zhao, and to the south are Han and Wei. Qi is a land of abundant resources, strong soldiers, and brave generals. Even if a hundred Qin states came, they couldn't harm Qi.' The king accepts these claims without looking into the actual situation. Those who form factions believe that flattery is the best approach.
I’ve heard that Qi and Lu fought three times, and Lu won all three. Yet, Lu was eventually destroyed because it was weaker than Qi. Now, the relationship between Qin and Qi mirrors that of Qi and Lu in the past. Qin and Zhao have clashed at Hezhang twice, with Zhao winning both times; they also fought at Fanwu twice, and Zhao won both of those battles as well. After four major battles, Zhao lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and the city of Handan was nearly lost. Although they seemed to win the war, the country was actually in ruins. Why? It’s a classic case of a seemingly victorious war leading to national ruin because of the underlying power imbalance.
Now the states of Qin and Chu are now brothers-in-law; the state of Han has handed over Yiyang; the state of Wei has given up the land west of the Yellow River; and the state of Zhao met with the King of Qin at Mianchi and ceded the Hejian region to please Qin. Look, if you don't play ball with Qin, they will team up with Han and Wei to attack the southern region of Qi, while letting Zhao's army cross the Qing River and advance to Boguan. At that point, Linzi and Jimo will no longer belong to you. Once the country is attacked, even if you want to serve Qin, it will be too late. So I hope you will think this over carefully."
King Min of Qi said, "Qi is located in a remote area, tucked away by the East Sea, and has never heard of any big plan for the future in any country." So he agreed to Zhang Yi's request.
Zhang Yi left Qi and went to the state of Zhao to persuade the King of Zhao, saying, "My king sent me over with a bit of a dumb idea. If you can command the vassals of the world to submit to Qin, then Qin's army won't pass through the Hangu Pass for fifteen years. Your reputation has spread throughout Shandong, and we're really scared, so we're frantically preparing for war, stockpiling supplies, and generally freaking out."
Now, relying on your strength, you have already taken over Bashu, controlled Hanzhong, taken over most of the old Zhou lands, brought in the Nine Tripods, and are guarding the Bai Ma Jin Fortress. Although Qin is in a remote location, they have been holding a grudge for a long time. Although Qin's armor is worn out and the soldiers are exhausted, the army is already stationed in Mianchi, ready to cross the Yellow River, cross the Zhang River, occupy Fanwu, and then meet under the city of Handan. They're planning a showdown on Jiazi to settle the score for Shang's fall, so they sent word.
In short, Your Majesty, the Su Qin you trust and rely on has confused the princes, distorted right and wrong, and tried to incite rebellion in Qi State, but ended up being ripped apart by five horses in the bustling market. It is clear that unifying the world is difficult. Currently, Chu State and Qin State are close allies, Han State and Wei State claim to be vassals in the east, and Qi State contributes the lucrative fish and salt region, which is like cutting off the right arm of Zhao State. How can we fight a war, crippled and alone, and expect to survive?
Now Qin State has sent out three armies: one to seal off the Wu Pass, while telling Qi State to send troops to cross the Qing River and camp east of Handan; one stationed in Chenggao, forcing the armies of Han and Wei to retreat to the other side of the Yellow River; one stationed in Mianchi. Qin State plans to unite these four countries to attack Zhao State. Once Zhao State is conquered, they will divide our land. Therefore, I'm reporting this to you, Your Majesty, because I can't keep it to myself. I urge you to meet King Qin at Mianchi, negotiate a ceasefire, and avoid war. I hope you will carefully consider my suggestion.
King Zhao said: "When the late king was in power, Lord Yang was a tyrant and a deceiver, misleading the late king and monopolizing power. At that time, I was still a low-ranking official and could not participate in state affairs. The late king abandoned his ministers, and as I was young and had just ascended the throne, I have always been suspicious, feeling that ignoring Qin for so long hasn't been good for us. Therefore, I planned to change my mind, cede land and make reparations to please Qin State. Just as I was about to send out the carriages and horses, I heard the official decree from the envoy." Only then did Zhang Yi leave, satisfied with King Zhao's agreement.
So, there's this guy named Bei in Yan, who said to King Zhao of Yan, "Your Majesty, Zhao's your best bet, right? Back in the day, when King Zhao of Zhao wanted to annex the State of Dai, he married his sister to the King of Dai and arranged to meet at Juzhuse. He had a golden wine jug custom-made – a real beauty, but with a wickedly long handle, perfect for a little… persuasion. While drinking with the King of Dai, he secretly instructed the cook, 'When we’re drunk and happy, serve hot soup, then use the golden jug to take him out!' As a result, when they were drunk and the hot soup arrived, the cook took the opportunity to use the golden jug, and bam! The King of Dai was a goner. Upon hearing this, the King of Dai's sister committed suicide with a hairpin, hence the place now known as 'Mo Ji Mountain.' That story's famous, Your Majesty."
Furthermore, Bei continued, "That Zhao guy's a real snake in the grass. You know it as well as I do. Do you still think King Zhao is trustworthy? Zhao's invaded us twice before, Your Majesty, besieging the capital and even holding you hostage, forcing you to cede ten cities. And now? He's just buttered up the Qin King, handing over Hejian like it's nothing! If you don’t serve Qin now, when the Qin army arrives at Yunzhong and Jiuyuan, they’ll use Zhao to attack Yan, and then the Yishui River and the Great Wall won't be able to hold.
Qin sees Zhao as just another county, so they don’t dare to fight back. If you serve Qin, the King of Qin will be pleased, and Zhao will not dare to act rashly. In this way, with the powerful state of Qin as a support in the west, you won’t have to worry about threats from Qi and Zhao in the south. So, Your Majesty, think about it. What do you say?"
King Zhao of Yan said, "As the ruler of this barbaric little country, although I may look big and burly, in reality, my thoughts are as simple as a child's, and the words I speak cannot determine any great plans. Now, since you, my honored guest, are willing to guide me, I will listen to you and align ourselves with Qin to the west, offering the five cities in the Hengshan region to Qin!" King Zhao of Yan then followed Zhang Yi's advice. Zhang Yi returned to report, but before he reached Xianyang, King Hui of Qin had already passed away, and King Wu succeeded to the throne. When King Wu of Qin was still the crown prince, he did not like Zhang Yi. After he ascended the throne, many courtiers badmouthed Zhang Yi, saying that he was untrustworthy and willing to sell out his country for personal gain. If Qin were to use him again, everyone would mock Qin. Upon hearing that King Wu of Qin had distanced himself from Zhang Yi, all the vassal states rebelled against Qin and returned to their former allies. In the first year of King Wu of Qin's reign, the ministers hated Zhang Yi's guts, and before things calmed down, envoys from Qi came to question him. Scared of getting his head chopped off, Zhang Yi took the initiative to say to King Wu of Qin, "I've got a dumb idea that I would like to offer you." King Wu of Qin asked, "What idea?" Zhang Yi said, "To help Qin, we must first create chaos in the east so that you, Your Majesty, can grab more land. It is said that the King of Qi has it in for me, and wherever I go, Qi will definitely send troops to attack. Therefore, I would like to request that you let this nobody go to Wei. Qi will surely send troops to attack Wei. When Wei and Qi are locked in a brutal fight outside the city walls and cannot break free, Your Majesty can grab the chance to attack Han, take control of the land of Sanchuan, and then march on Hangu Pass. Without lifting a finger, you can go directly to the Zhou Dynasty, and the Zhou royal family will hand over their sacrificial stuff. In this way, you can use the emperor to control the other states, retake our lost lands, just like the map says, and really cement your place in history!"
King Wu of Qin loved the plan, so he prepared a whole convoy of war chariots and sent him to Wei. Qi indeed sent troops to attack Wei. King Ai of Wei was very frightened. Zhang Yi said, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will make Qi withdraw its troops." He sent his subordinate Feng Xi to Chu, and then from Chu to Qi, telling the King of Qi, "Your Majesty, while you hate Zhang Yi, entrusting him to Qin is a strange sort of compliment, isn't it?" The King of Qi replied, "I hate Zhang Yi so much; wherever he goes, I will attack. How can it be considered entrusting him?" Feng Xi responded, "This is exactly what Your Majesty entrusted him to do! When I left Qin, I had already agreed with the King of Qin: 'For Your Majesty's sake, we must first create chaos in the east, so that Your Majesty can seize more territory. Now I hear that the King of Qi especially hates me. Wherever I go, Qi will definitely send troops to attack. So I want to request that this useless person go to Wei. Qi will surely attack Wei. When Wei and Qi are fighting fiercely under the city and cannot get away, Your Majesty can then seize Han's Sanchuan region, march on Hangu Pass, and claim the Zhou royal treasures without a fight. In this way, you can use the emperor to command the vassals and recover lost territories according to the records in the atlas; this is the way of the king!' King Wu of Qin thought this was a good idea, so he prepared thirty war chariots to send me to Wei. Now that I have arrived in Wei, you have indeed sent troops to attack, which shows that your country is in chaos internally while you are using force externally, expanding conflicts with neighboring countries, and putting yourself in a dangerous situation, yet you still believe in Zhang Yi's promises to the King of Qin. That's what I mean by 'entrusting' him – using him to stir up trouble for your benefit." King Qi said, "Good!" and then ordered the troops to withdraw.
Zhang Yi served as Wei's prime minister for a year, then died there.
Chen Zhen is a smooth-talking diplomat who flitted between different kingdoms. He and Zhang Yi both worked under King Hui of Qin and were favored, but they started vying for the king's favor. Zhang Yi spoke ill of Chen Zhen in front of King Hui of Qin: "Chen Zhen is shuttling between Qin and Chu, lining his pockets, claiming to promote friendship between the two countries. However, Chu did not treat Qin better because of Chen Zhen; instead, they treated Chen Zhen kindly. This shows he's only looking out for himself, and ignoring you, Your Majesty! Besides, Chen Zhen wants to leave Qin for Chu. Shouldn't you at least hear him out?"
Upon hearing this, King Hui of Qin asked Chen Zhen, "I heard that you want to leave Qin for Chu, is that true?" Chen Zhen replied, "Yes." King Hui of Qin said, "Zhang Yi's got a point." Chen Zhen responded, "Not only Zhang Yi knows, but everyone on the road knows! Loyal ministers always attract followers. Filial sons always win admiration. So, unsold servants are considered undesirable; unmarried women are seen as lacking. If I am not loyal to Qin now, why would Chu think I am loyal? If loyalty is abandoned, where else can I go if not to Chu?" King Hui, convinced by Chen Zhen's argument, decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
After staying in the state of Qin for a year, King Hui of Qin ultimately took Zhang Yi back into his favor. Chen Zhen had no choice but to flee to the state of Chu. Initially, Chu largely ignored him at first, but then sent him on a mission to Qin. When passing through the state of Liang, he wanted to meet the Prime Minister, but was initially refused. Chen Zhen said, "I’m here to discuss important matters. If you don’t see me, I’ll have to leave. I haven't got time to wait around." The Prime Minister then agreed to see him. Chen Zhen asked the Prime Minister, "What do you usually drink?" The Prime Minister replied, "Nothing in particular." Chen Zhen said, "How about I give you something to do?" The Prime Minister asked, "What is it?" Chen Zhen replied, "Tian Xu and the feudal lords have agreed to form alliances. The King of Chu is doubtful and hasn’t believed it yet. You should tell the King of Chu, 'I’m close to the kings of Yan and Zhao; they’ve been hinting we should get together. I’d like to pay them a visit—with your permission, Your Majesty.' Even if the King agrees, don’t bring too many carriages and horses. Just bring thirty carriages, make a show of force at court, and explain directly to the people of Yan and Zhao." Yan and Zhao immediately sent word to their kings and dispatched welcoming parties. Upon hearing this, the King of Chu was furious, saying, "Tian Xu agreed to form an alliance with me, but the Prime Minister went to Yan and Zhao. This is a trick!" He was so angry that he ignored the matter. When the state of Qi heard that the Prime Minister had gone north, they entrusted him with their affairs. The Prime Minister then went, handling the affairs of the three countries. Finally, Chen Zhen arrived in Qin.
Han and Wei have been slugging it out for a year, and neither side's winning. King Hui of Qin wanted to help and asked those around him for advice. Some said to help them, while others said not to. King Hui was stumped. Then Chen Zhen shows up in Qin. King Hui said, "You ditched Qin for Chu – still loyal, are ya?" Chen Zhen replied, "Ever heard of this guy, Zhuang Xi, from Yue?" Hui said, "I haven't." Chen Zhen said, "Zhuang Xi, a Yue guy, was a big shot in Chu. When he got sick, the Chu king asked him, 'You were a nobody from Yue, now you're a big cheese in my court, rich and powerful. Still think about Yue?' Zhuang Xi replied, 'Regular folks only miss home when they're sick. If he's missing Yue, he's still with Yue; if not, he's all Chu.' The Chu king had him watched, and sure enough, Zhuang Xi was still mooning over Yue! Even though Chu kicked me out, you think I'd forget about Qin?"
King Hui of Qin said: "That's right. Han and Wei have been at war for a year now and it hasn't ended yet. Some say we should help them, some say we shouldn't. I can't make up my mind. I hope you can help me decide." Chen Zhen said: "Have you heard the story of Bian Zhuangzi stabbing the tiger? Bian Zhuangzi wanted to stab a tiger, but a gatekeeper stopped him and said: 'Two tigers are eating a cow. When they taste something delicious, they will fight over it. Fighting will lead to injuries and death. You should wait for them to be injured and then strike, killing both tigers in one move.' Bian Zhuangzi thought it made sense and waited. After a while, the two tigers indeed started fighting, the larger one got injured, and the smaller one died. Bian Zhuangzi seized the opportunity to stab the injured tiger and killed both tigers. Now, Han and Wei have been at war for a year without resolution. It's just like the two tigers fighting. The powerful nation will be injured, and the weaker one will perish. If we wait for them to be exhausted and battered and then attack, we can easily defeat them, just like Bian Zhuangzi stabbing the tiger. What difference does it make whether I advise you or myself?" King Hui of Qin said: "Good!" In the end, they did not intervene. As expected, the powerful nation was severely injured, and the weaker one was destroyed. Qin launched an attack and won a resounding victory. This was Chen Zhen's strategy.
Meanwhile, Xi Shou, a man from the Yinjin region of Wei named Yan of the Gongsun clan, were bitter rivals with Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi served as a diplomat for the State of Qin, and the King of Wei treated him as a VIP. However, Xishi (a minister of Wei) disapproved of Zhang Yi and sent someone to tell Gongshu, a minister of the State of Han: "Zhang Yi has forged an alliance between Qin and Wei. He proposed a plan where Wei would attack Nanyang while Qin attacked Sanchuan. The reason the King of Wei values Zhang Yi so much is that he wants to acquire Han land. Furthermore, Han's Nanyang is almost taken by Wei. Why not throw him a bone and let him take the credit? In this way, the alliance between Qin and Wei will be broken. In the future, Wei will definitely confront Qin, abandon Zhang Yi, reclaim Han's territory, and you'll profit from it." Gongshu thought this was a good idea and followed Xishi's advice, giving the territory of Nanyang to Wei to earn merit. As a result, he became the prime minister of Wei, and Zhang Yi left Wei.
Lord Yiqu went to Wei to meet the King of Wei. When Xishi heard that Zhang Yi had become the prime minister of Qin again, he felt jealous. Xishi said to Lord Yiqu: "It's a long trip, and you might not get another chance to come back. I have to tell you something from the bottom of my heart." Xishi said: "If there is peace in the country, Qin will devastate your country; if there is war in the country, Qin will use contempt and bribes to buy off your country." Later, five warring states attacked Qin together. At this time, Chen Zhen said to the King of Qin: "Lord Yiqu is a powerful leader. Why not send some gifts to win him over?" The King of Qin agreed and sent thousands of bolts of silk and a hundred beauties to Lord Yiqu. Lord Yiqu gathered his ministers and discussed: "Was this Zhang Yi's doing?" So Lord Yiqu led the troops to attack Qin and defeated the Qin army under Li Bo.
After Zhang Yi's death, Xishi became the prime minister of Qin. He once served as the prime minister of five countries at the same time, with great power and high status.
Sima Qian said: In the Three Jin area, there are many masters of political intrigue. Most of those who advocated for allying with Qin were from the Three Jin states. Zhang Yi was even more ruthless than Su Qin, but people disliked Su Qin, even though he died young, while Zhang Yi used Su Qin's shortcomings to elevate himself, consolidate his position, and successfully implement his strategy of shifting alliances. So, these two were real bad news!
