Chen Wan is the son of Chen Ligong. When Chen Wan was born, a Zhou court historian passed by the state of Chen. Chen Ligong asked the historian to divine for Chen Wan. The divination yielded the *Fu* hexagram from the *I Ching*, which signifies the radiance of the state. You can use your guests to support your ruler. Will he supplant Chen and found a new state? Will this be elsewhere, not in Chen? Not himself, but his descendants. If elsewhere, it will be among the Jiang clan, descendants of the Four Mountains. Things cannot all be strong at once. If Chen declines, will he rise?
Chen Ligong is the youngest son of Chen Wengong; his mother is a woman from the state of Cai. After Chen Wengong died, Ligong's half-brother, Bao, who became Chen Huanguo, succeeded to the throne. When Huanguo fell ill, to secure Ligong's succession, the Cai people assassinated Huanguo and Crown Prince Mian, enthroning Ligong as the lord. After Ligong ascended to the throne, he married a woman from the state of Cai. This woman had affairs with several Cai men, often returned to her mother's home, and Ligong frequently visited the state of Cai. The youngest son of Huanguo, Lin, resented Ligong for killing his father and elder brother, so he let the people of Cai lure and kill Ligong. Lin seized the throne, known as Chen Zhuangong. Therefore, Chen Wan did not inherit the throne, only becoming a minister of Chen. Ligong was killed because of his affair with the woman from the state of Cai, so the *Spring and Autumn Annals* blamed Chen Ligong's death on the Cai people, a condemnation of his actions.
After the death of Duke Zhuang of Chen, his younger brother Chu Ju succeeded him and became Duke Xuan of Chen. Duke Xuan reigned for twenty-one years and killed his crown prince, Yu Kou. Yu Kou had a close relationship with Chen Wan, and fearing for his own safety, Chen Wan fled to the state of Qi. Duke Huan of Qi wanted to appoint him as a minister, but Chen Wan declined, saying, "As an exiled subject who has escaped the hardships of displacement, this is already a great favor from you; I dare not accept a cushy job and a fat paycheck." Duke Huan then appointed him as the head craftsman. Duke Yi Zhong wanted to marry his daughter to Chen Wan, so he divined, and the result was: "It foretells a phoenix's flight, its song echoing clear. A Gui will wed a Jiang. Five generations hence, great prosperity and a high ministerial post. Eight generations hence, the capital shall remain secure." In the end, Chen Wan married Duke Yi Zhong's daughter. When Chen Wan fled to the state of Qi, Duke Huan had already been in power for fourteen years.
After Chen Wan's death, he was posthumously honored as Jing Zhong. Jing Zhong's son was named Mengyi. Upon arriving in Qi, Jing Zhong adopted the surname Tian, abandoning Chen.
Mengyi had a son named Min Mengzhuang, who had a son named Wenzi Xuwu. Wenzi served Duke Zhuang of Qi.
Luan Cheng, a Jin noble, rebelled in the state of Jin and fled to Qi, where Duke Zhuang warmly welcomed him. Yan Ying and Wenzi advised Duke Zhuang, but he did not listen.
After Wenzi's death, he had a son named Huanzi Wuyu. Capable and favored by Duke Zhuang, Huanzi Wuyu served him well.
In the Tian clan, there was a man named Lord Wu Zi Kai and another named Lord Li Qi. This Lord Li Qi, under Duke Jing of Qi, held a high position and was in charge of tax collection. When he collected taxes, he used a small measuring container, but when distributing food to the people, he used a large one, underhandedly enriching himself while appearing benevolent. The people were grateful to him, but Duke Jing pretended not to notice his actions. As a result, the Tian family gained more power in Qi, with more and more people hoping for them to take control. Yan Ying repeatedly advised Duke Jing, but he refused to listen. Later, Yan Ying went on a mission to the state of Jin and privately told Duke Xiang of Jin, "The political power in Qi will eventually fall into the hands of the Tian family!" After Yan Ying's death, the Fan family and Zhonghang family in Jin rebelled. With Jin in crisis, the Fan and Zhonghang clans turned to Qi for aid. Lord Li Qi had been plotting a rebellion, building alliances across the various states, so he said to Duke Jing, "The Fan and Zhonghang families have previously helped Qi; we cannot stand by and watch them suffer!" As a result, Qi sent Lord Li Qi to help them and provided them with food. Duke Jing's crown prince died, and later, Duke Jing favored a woman named Rui Zi and had a son named Tu. When Duke Jing fell ill, he ordered his prime minister Hui Zi and Gao Zhao Zi to appoint Tu as the crown prince. After Duke Jing's death, Gao Zhao Zi and Hui Zi supported Tu as the ruler, who later became known as Lord Yan. However, Lord Li Qi was not pleased, as he wanted to support another son of Duke Jing, Yang Sheng, who had a good relationship with him. After Lord Yan became the ruler, Yang Sheng fled to the state of Lu. Lord Li Qi feigned loyalty to Gao Zhao Zi and Hui Zi, sitting next to their carriage every day and saying, "Initially, all the ministers did not want Lord Yan to be the ruler. Now that he has become the ruler, you are assisting him, and the ministers all feel in danger, thinking of rebelling!" He warned the other ministers, "Gao Zhao Zi is dangerous. We must act now!" They readily believed him.
Tian Qi stormed the palace, weapons drawn, and attacked Gao Zhaozi, followed by their ministers. Upon hearing the news, Gao Zhaozi and Guo Huizi protected the king together. The king's forces were routed. His men pursued Guo Huizi, who escaped to the state of Ju, while they returned to kill Gao Zhaozi. Yan Yu also fled to the state of Lu. Tian Qi sent people to bring Yang Sheng to the state of Qi. Upon arriving in Qi, Yang Sheng hid in Tian Qi's house. Tian Qi said to the officials of Qi, "Mom's having a feast today – fish and beans, plenty of booze, come on over if you're free!" The officials all came to Tian's house for the feast. Tian Qi hid Yang Sheng in a large bag and placed it in the center of the seat. Then he flung open the sack, revealing Yang Sheng, and declared, "Behold, your new king!" The officials prostrated themselves. They were about to crown him when Tian Qi falsely accused, "I conspired with Bao Mu to enthrone Yang Sheng." Bao Mu exploded, "Haven't you forgotten what Duke Jing wanted?!" The officials had second thoughts. At this point, Yang Sheng quickly knelt down and said, "Make me king, or forget it." Bao Mu, fearing for his own safety, changed his tune and said, "They're all Duke Jing's sons; what's the problem?" Therefore, Yang Sheng was crowned king in Tian Qi's house, becoming Duke Dao of Qi. Tian Qi then exiled Yan Ruzi to Dai and had Ruzi Tu executed. Once Duke Dao was king, Tian Qi became prime minister and seized control of Qi.
Four years later, Tian Qi died, and his son Tian Chengzi succeeded him. Bao Mu killed Duke Dao of Qi after falling out with him. The people of Qi then made Duke Dao's son Ren the new ruler, Duke Jian. Tian Chengzi and Jian Zhi served as the Left and Right Prime Ministers, assisting Duke Jian. Tian Chengzi resented Jian Zhi, but the Duke favored him, leaving Tian Chengzi temporarily stymied. Therefore, Tian Chengzi resorted to his previous tactics, lending grain using big scoops and collecting it with small ones. The common people of Qi mocked him in songs, saying, "Old lady, go pick wild vegetables and then give them to Tian Chengzi!" At court, Yu Yang warned Duke Jian, "You can't keep both Tian Chengzi and Jian Zhi; you gotta pick one!" But Duke Jian did not listen to him.
A relative of Jian Zhi, who had long feuded with the Tian clan, had a distant relative in the Tian family named Tian Bao, with whom he had a good relationship. He told Tian Bao, "I plan to wipe out the Tian clan and put you in charge." Tian Bao replied, "I'm not close to the Tians." He did not listen to his advice. Later, Tian Bao went and told the Tian family, "I'm going to wipe you out. If you don't act first, you're doomed!"
I am currently residing in the palace of the ruler. Tian Chang's four brothers stormed the palace, a whole army at their backs, aiming to kill me. I quickly closed the door. Duke Jian of Qi was drinking with his concubine at the Tan Terrace at that time and wanted to order an attack on Tian Chang. Grand Historian Zi Yu said, "Tian Chang does not really want to rebel; he just wants to get rid of me as a dangerous element." Duke Jian then stopped. After Tian Chang came out and heard that Duke Jian was angry, he was afraid of being killed and wanted to escape. Tian Zixing snapped, "Hesitation'll get you killed!" Tian Chang then led his men to attack me. I led my men to fight back against the Tian clan, but we couldn't win, so I fled. The Tian clan hunted me and the Jianzhi down.
Duke Jian of Qi also fled, and the Tian clan's men caught him in Xuzhou. Duke Jian said, "I shoulda listened to Yuyang! This is all my fault." The Tian clan's men were afraid of retaliation from Duke Jian if he were to be restored to power, so they killed him. Duke Jian was killed after reigning for four years. So Tian Chang made Jian Gong's brother Ao the new Duke—Duke Ping of Qi. After Duke Ping ascended the throne, Tian Chang became the prime minister.
After killing Duke Jian, Tian Chang feared that the vassals would unite to attack him, so he quickly returned the lands occupied by the states of Lu and Wei and mended relations with the western states of Jin, Han, Wei, and Zhao. He also engaged in diplomacy with the southern states of Wu and Yue, launched a massive building program, rewarded those who had merit, and cultivated popular support, stabilizing the state of Qi quickly.
Tian Chang told Duke Ping of Qi, "Let's focus on policies that the people love, Your Highness. Leave the unpopular punishments to me." After doing this for five years, all the affairs of Qi were under Tian Chang's control. Tian Chang then wiped out the Bao, Yan, Jianzhi, and other powerful noble clans, and then assigned the land from Anping to Langye in the east of Qi as his fief. His fiefdom dwarfed even the Duke's own.
Tian Chang also selected women who were at least seven feet tall from the state of Qi to fill his harem. His harem boasted hundreds of beauties, and anyone could come and go as they pleased. When Tian Chang died, he left behind more than seventy sons.
After Tian Chang's death, his son Tian Xiangzi succeeded him as prime minister. Tian Chang received the posthumous title of Chengzi.
Tian Xiangzi became the prime minister of Duke Xuan of Qi. The three Jin states (Jin, Han, and Wei) destroyed the state of Zhibo and divided his land. Tian Xiangzi appointed his brothers and clan members as high-ranking officials in Qi, maintained close ties with the three Jin states, and held Qi in his grasp.
After Xiangzi's death, his son Zhuangzi Bai succeeded him. Tian Zhuangzi became the prime minister of Duke Xuan of Qi. During his 43-year reign, Duke Xuan attacked Jin, destroying Huangcheng and besieging Yanghu. The following years saw campaigns against Lu, Ge, and Anling, culminating in the capture of a Lu city.
After Zhuangzi's death, his son Taigong succeeded him. Tian Taigong continued to serve as the prime minister of Duke Xuan of Qi. During Duke Xuan's forty-eight years in power, he took the city of Cheng from the state of Lu. The following year, Duke Xuan met with the people of Zheng in Xicheng. He then attacked Wei and captured Wuqiu. Duke Xuan died after fifty-one years in power, and Tian Hui launched a rebellion from Lingqiu.
After Duke Xuan's death, his son Kanggong Dai succeeded him. Kanggong Dai ruled for fourteen years, drowned in debauchery and neglected his duties. Tian Taigong then moved Kanggong Dai to the seaside, giving him the revenues of a city to support his ancestral rites. The following year, the state of Lu defeated the army of Qi in Pinglu.
Three years later, Tian Taigong met with Marquis Wen of Wei at Zhuoze, requesting to be enfeoffed as a vassal. Marquis Wen of Wei sent envoys to discuss with King Zhou and other vassals, requesting to enfeoff Tian He as a vassal for Qi. King Zhou agreed. In the nineteenth year of Kanggong's reign, Tian He was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Qi, added to the ranks of Zhou's vassals, marking the beginning of his era.
Duke Qi Taihou died after ruling for two years, and his son Duke Huan Wu succeeded to the throne. During Duke Huan Wu's five-year reign, Qin and Wei attacked Han, which sought help from Qi. Duke Huan of Qi convened his ministers to discuss whether to help Han early or late. Zou Ji said, "Let's not get involved." Duangan Peng said, "If we don't help, Han will be attacked and submit to Wei. It's better to help them." Tian Chensi said, "I disagree! If Qin and Wei attack Han and Chu, Zhao will definitely come to help. This is a gift from the heavens – a chance to attack Yan!" Duke Huan said, "Okay!" He secretly assured the Han envoy and dismissed him. Han thought they had received help from Qi, so they went to war with Qin and Wei. When Chu and Zhao heard about this, they indeed raised troops to help. Qi took the opportunity to attack Yan and captured Sangqiu.
Six years later, Qi went to help Wei. Duke Huan died, and his son King Wei succeeded to the throne of Qi. That year, the former Duke Kang of Qi also died without leaving descendants, and all his fiefs were given to the Tian family.
In the first year of King Wei of Qi, the Three Jin took advantage of Qi's mourning to attack our Lingqiu. Three years later, the Three Jin destroyed Jin and divided its territory. Six years later, Lu attacked us and reached Yangguan. Jin attacked us and reached Boling. Seven years later, Wei attacked us and occupied Xueling. Nine years later, Zhao attacked us and occupied Zhen.
In his early years, King Wei largely neglected governance, leaving matters to his ministers. As a result, after nine years, all the other vassal states came to attack Qi, and the kingdom descended into chaos, and the people suffered greatly.
Then King Wei summoned the official from Jimo and said to him, "Since you took office in Jimo, I have been hearing people speak ill of you every day. However, I sent people to investigate Jimo and found that the fields were well cultivated, the people lived in prosperity, the government had no backlog of cases, and the eastern region was very stable. It seems that you have not tried to flatter those around me or sought rewards!" So, King Wei made him lord of ten thousand households.
Next, King Wei summoned the official from Ayi and said to him, "Since you have been in charge of Ayi, I have been hearing people praise you every day. However, I sent people to inspect Ayi and found that the fields were barren, and the people were down on their luck. When Zhao attacked Zhenyi, you did not send help; when Wei occupied Xueling, you were unaware. You were paying people off to make you look good!" That day, King Wei had the official from Ayi killed, and those who had praised him were also executed.
After that, King Wei personally led a large army to attack Zhao and Wei, defeated Wei at Zhuoze, and besieged King Wei of Wei. King Wei of Wei quickly sent treasures to seek peace, and Zhao returned a section of the Great Wall to Qi. This made everyone in Qi fearful, and no one dared to cover up mistakes anymore. They all worked diligently and honestly for the country. Qi was quickly running smoothly, and the other vassals, hearing of this, did not dare to attack Qi for over twenty years.
There was a man named Zou Ji Zi who went to see the King of Wei with a guqin. The King of Wei liked him and arranged for him to stay in a side hall. Not long after, the King of Wei began to play the guqin himself. Zou Ji Zi pushed open the door and said, "You play the guqin really well!" The King of Wei became unhappy and set down the guqin, picking up a sword, saying, "We just met, you don't know anything about me, so how can you judge my playing?"
Zou Jizi said, "In the sound of the qin, the rich, resonant tones are like a warm spring, representing the king; the crisp, clear tones are like honest ministers. The deep, steady vibrations represent your decrees. Various tones harmonize and resonate, and this harmony mirrors the seasons. I base my judgment on these." The King of Wei said, "You understand music very well!" Zou Jizi replied, "It's not just about understanding music; governing well and keeping the people happy—it's all in the music." The King of Wei bristled and said, "You may understand music better than I do, but what does governing a country and stabilizing the people have to do with playing the qin?" Zou Jizi explained again, "The rich, resonant tones are like a warm spring, representing the king; the crisp, clear tones are like honest ministers. The deep, steady vibrations represent your decrees; various tones harmonize and resonate, and this harmony mirrors the seasons. If the qin sound is not chaotic, the country will prosper; if the qin sound is continuous and smooth, the country will be stable for a long time. Therefore, when the qin sound is harmonious, the world will be peaceful. Good governance and a happy populace depend on harmony, just like the five notes of the qin!" Only then did the King of Wei say, "Okay!"
Zou Jizi was appointed as the prime minister in March. Chunyu Kun saw him and said, "You're quite the bigwig! I have a foolish idea I'd like to share." Zou Jizi replied, "Lay it on me." Chunyu Kun continued, "Success leads to prosperity, failure leads to ruin." Zou Jizi responded, "I understand, I won't stray from your teachings." Chunyu Kun said, "Wild boar grease might lube a thorny axle, but it won't haul square timber." Zou Jizi replied, "I understand, I'll be cautious with the officials around me." Chunyu Kun added, "The glue that binds the bowstring to the bow may make it tight, but it won't fill in the gaps." Zou Jizi said, "I understand, I'll keep the people close." Chunyu Kun remarked, "Even if a fox's fur is worn out, you can't patch it with a yellow dog's skin." Zou Jizi replied, "I understand, I'll make sure the good guys are in charge and keep the bad guys out." Chunyu Kun concluded, "If the axle of a large cart isn't level, it can't bear its proper weight; if the strings of a musical instrument aren't tuned, it can't play harmonious music." Zou Jizi said, "I understand, I'll overhaul the legal system and punish those crooked officials." After Chunyu Kun finished speaking, he quickly walked out of the gate and told his servant, "I just said five cryptic sentences to that guy, and he bought it all. This person won't stay in the position of prime minister for long." A year later, Zou Jizi was made Marquis of Xiapei (Chenghou).
In the twenty-third year of King Wei of Qi, he met with King Zhao in Pinglu. The following year, he met with King Wei of Wei outside the city. King Wei asked him, "Do you have any treasures, Great King?" King Wei replied, "No." King Hui of Liang said, "As a monarch of a small state like me, I have a night pearl with a diameter of one inch that can illuminate ten chariots in either direction. How come you, the monarch of a powerful kingdom, have no treasures?" King Wei said, "The treasures I speak of are different from what you mentioned. My minister Tan Zi guards the southern city, so the people of Chu dare not invade from the east; the twelve states tributary to the Sishui River all come to pay tribute. My minister Song Zi guards Gaotang, so the people of Zhao dare not fish on the east side of the Yellow River. My official Qian Fu guards Xuzhou; people from Yan worship at the north gate, and those from Zhao at the west gate. Over seven thousand households migrated to Qi. My minister Zhong Shou is in charge of preventing thieves, so there are no lost items on the road. These achievements are far more illuminating than any mere night pearl!" King Hui of Liang was mortified and stormed off.
Right, so it's 334 BC. Wei's top dog, King Hui, besieged the city of Handan in the Zhao Kingdom with his troops. Zhao was in a right pickle, so they hotfooted it to Qi for help. King Wei of Qi summoned his ministers for a meeting to discuss and asked, "Should we lend Zhao a hand?" One minister named Zou Ji said, "Nah, let's not." Another minister named Duangan Peng, however, said, "If we don't, we'll look like a bunch of cowards, and it won't do us any good." King Wei asked him why, and Duangan Peng explained, "What's in it for us if Wei grabs Handan? Furthermore, if we go to help Zhao and fight against the Wei army outside Handan, it's like handing Wei a free win. So, let's hit their southern city, Xiangling, first. We'll wear them down, and once Handan falls, we'll mop them up." King Wei loved the idea and went for it.
Later, Zou Ji and Tian Ji didn't see eye to eye, and Gong Sun Yue secretly said to Zou Ji, "Why not tell the King to go after Wei? Tian Ji will definitely lead the troops into battle. If we win, you're a genius. If not, Tian Ji's either dead or toast, and you're in the clear!" So Zou Ji told the King to send Tian Ji after Xiangling. By October, Handan was done for, and Qi pounced, smashing Wei at Guilin. From then on, Qi was top dog, and King Wei even started calling himself 'King', bossing everyone around.
Then, in 328 BC, King Wei offed his minister, Mou Xin.
In 326 BC, Gong Sunyue said to Zou Ji, "Why don't you let someone take a hefty sum of gold to the market to have their fortune told, saying 'I'm with Tian Ji's camp. My general, Tian Ji, has won three battles and is a celebrated victor. Now, I want to do something big, but I don't know whether it'll be successful?'" After the fortune teller finished, they arrested him and told King Wei of Qi what he'd said. When Tian Ji found out about this, he attacked Linzi to capture Zou Ji, but failed and fled.
In 325 BC, King Wei of Qi died, and his son Piqiang succeeded him, becoming King Xuan of Qi.
In the first year of King Xuan's reign, the state of Qin implemented the reforms of Shang Yang, and the state of Zhou sent Bo Qin as an envoy to Duke Xiao of Qin.
In 320 BC, the state of Wei attacked the state of Zhao. Zhao and Han were allies, so the two states joined forces against Wei. However, Zhao was defeated in battle at Nanliang. King Xuan of Qi quickly called Tian Ji back to lead the army. Han sent a request for aid to Qi. King Xuan gathered his ministers to discuss, "Should we help Han now, or wait?" Zou Ji's son said, "I'd say no." However, Tian Ji said, "If we don't help, Han will be defeated by Wei. We should help them now." Sun Bin analyzed, "Han and Wei haven't worn each other down yet. If we jump in now, we're just fighting Wei's battles for them and taking orders from Han. And Wei wants to wipe out all the other states. If Han is in dire straits, they will surely come to Qi for help. Let's secretly get closer to Han first, wait for Wei to tire out, and then intervene. That way, we win big and look good doing it." King Xuan of Qi agreed with Sun Bin's reasoning and told the Han envoys to hold off.
Han, relying on Qi to come to their rescue, lost five battles in a row and eventually became a vassal state of Qi. Qi then sent troops, with Tian Ji and Tian Ying as generals and Sun Bin as military adviser, to rescue Han and Zhao, and together they attacked Wei. The result was a decisive defeat of the Wei army at the Battle of Maling, killing the Wei general Pang Juan and capturing the Wei crown prince Shen. Later, the rulers of the three Jin states (Han, Zhao, Wei) all came to Qi to meet the Qi king, and only left after holding a meeting at Bowang.
In 317 BC (Before Christ), Qi Xuan Wang held talks with Wei Wang in Ping'an South to negotiate peace. The following year, they conferred again in Zhendi. Wei Hui Wang died. A year later, Qi Xuan Wang met with Wei Xiang Wang in Xuzhou, where many vassals gathered for a meeting. In 315 BC, Chu surrounded Xuzhou in Qi. In 314 BC, Qi and Wei together attacked Zhao, but Zhao breached the dam and flooded the Qi-Wei coalition army, forcing both countries to retreat. In 308 BC, Qin Hui Wang proclaimed himself king.
Qi Xuan Wang greatly favored scholars and persuaders like Zou Yan, Chunyu Kun, Tian Pian, Jie Yu, Shen Dao, Huan Yuan, and others—a total of seventy-six individuals—granting them official titles and positions as senior officials, allowing them to focus on discussing academic matters without worrying about political affairs. As a result, the Jixia Academy in Qi flourished once again, with hundreds or even thousands of scholars.
In 307 BC, Qi Xuan Wang died, and his son, King Min, succeeded to the throne.
In the first year of King Min's reign, Qin sent Zhang Yi to meet with the leading officials of various states at Nie Sang. Three years later, Qi made Tian Ying the lord of Xue. Four years later, King Min of Qi took a Qin princess as his wife. Seven years later, Qi and Song together attacked Wei, defeating Wei at Guanze.
Twelve years ago, Chu attacked Wei. The Chu besieged Yongshi while Qin defeated Qu Gai. Su Dai said to Tian Zhen, "I want to report something to you. Either way, this works in your favor. I just heard someone at the door saying that the King of Wei told Han, Feng, and Zhang Yi, 'The situation is critical, and the army of Qi is coming to attack again. If you come to rescue me, that’s possible; if you don’t, I won’t be able to hold on.' That's just Wei's way of saying it. If the armies of Qin and Han don’t advance eastward, in about ten days, Wei will turn to Han and Qin, and Qin will abandon Zhang Yi to cooperate with Qi and Chu. That’s how you win."
Lord Tian asked, "How can we keep them from going east?" Master Su replied, "Han and Feng will tell the King of Wei that we should unite the armies of Qin and Han to push eastward and repel Qi and Song. Then, using their combined strength, we can take advantage of Qu Gai's defeat to attack the Kingdom of Chu from the south and reclaim all lost territory." Zhang Yi will advise the King of Qin similarly, saying, "Let us first use the armies of Qin and Han to resist Qi and Song to the east. Then, with our combined forces, we can take advantage of Qu Gai's defeat to attack the Kingdom of Chu from the south. It's ostensibly to help Wei, but really to grab the Three Rivers region, and then we will return victorious. That's how you secure your kingdom!" You should order the King of Chu to cede some land to Han, involve Qin in mediating, and then tell the King of Qin, "Please accept the land from Han, and then use this land to attack the Three Rivers region. This way, Han's army won't need to move and can still acquire land from the Kingdom of Chu." What will Han and Feng tell Qin about persuading the King of Wei to send troops eastward? They would say, "Qin gets the Three Rivers without lifting a finger, and we can attack Chu and Han to weaken Wei, causing Wei to refrain from advancing eastward and isolating the Kingdom of Qi." How would Zhang Yi explain the reasons for persuading the King of Qin to send troops eastward? He would say, "Qin and Han both desire land, and their forces are ready. Wei will be terrified of their might, and if Wei does not want to be swallowed by Qi and Chu, they must rely on us." In this way, the Kingdom of Wei will turn towards Qin and Han, eager to align with them and distance itself from Qi and Chu.
King Chu craved land, but nobody was handing it over. Yet, you snagged that land without Qin or Han lifting a finger. Now that's what I call a coup! Han, Feng, and Zhang Yi were stringing Qin and Han along, pushing them east to curry favor with Wei. But you kept the upper hand, controlling Qin and Han, blowing Zhang Yi's schemes out of the water!
King Hui of Qin died after thirteen years on the throne. Ten years later, in the twenty-third year of King Zhao of Qin's reign, Qin defeated Chu at Chóngqiū. In the twenty-fourth year, Qin sent Jingyang to Qi as a hostage. In the twenty-fifth year, Jingyang returned to Qin. Meng Changjun Xue Wen briefly served as Qin's prime minister before fleeing. In the twenty-sixth year, a combined force from Qi, Han, and Wei attacked Qin, pushing as far as Hangu Pass. In the twenty-eighth year, Qin and Han made peace west of the Yellow River, bringing the war to an end. Zhao killed their king, Zhao Zhufu. With Qi's help, Zhao conquered Zhongshan.
Several years passed, and it was the thirty-sixth year. King Qi called himself the Eastern Emperor, while King Zhao of Qin called himself the Western Emperor. Su Dai, a man from the state of Yan, came to the state of Qi and paid a visit to King Qi at the east gate of Zhanghua Terrace. King Qi joyfully said, "Great to see you! Qin has sent Wei Ran to assume the imperial title. What do you think?" Su Dai replied, "When Your Majesty asked me this question, the worst was over. I hope that Your Majesty accepts this title, but do not publicize it too much. If Qin becomes emperor and brings peace to the realm, then you taking the title would not be beneficial. Moreover, there is no advantage in fighting for the title of Emperor. If Qin claims the title and the people despise it, then if you do not claim it at that time, you can win the people over, which is a huge benefit. With two emperors, do you think the people will respect Qi or Qin?" King Qi said, "They will respect Qin." Su Dai said, "And if you were to give up the title of Emperor, would the people love Qi or hate Qin?" King Qi said, "They would love Qi and hate Qin." Su Dai said, "If two emperors form an alliance to attack the state of Zhao, compared to attacking the weaker states of Jie and Song, which is more advantageous?" King Qi said, "Attacking Jie and Song is more advantageous." Su Dai said, "You see, this alliance is already fragile. If you and Qin both take the imperial title, the people will only respect Qin and think less of Qi. If you give up the title of Emperor, the people will love Qi and hate Qin. Attacking Zhao is not as advantageous as attacking Jie and Song, so I hope that Your Majesty wisely gives up the title of Emperor, gains popular support, outwardly obeys Qin, avoids being overly competitive, and in the process, you can conveniently eliminate the state of Song. Without Song, Wei's southern border would be vulnerable. Jixi's loss would expose Zhao's east. Huaibei's fall would threaten Chu's east. And losing Tao and Pinglu would leave Liang wide open. If you give up the title of Emperor and use the excuse of attacking Jie and Song, Qi will be strong, renowned, and Yan and Chu will naturally submit. No one would dare defy them, just like what King Tang and King Wu did in the past. Respect Qin on the surface to build a reputation, then let the people hate Qin; this is what is known as 'humility is strength'! I hope Your Majesty will seriously consider this." As a result, King Qi, following Su Dai's advice, relinquished the imperial title. Qin did the same.
In the thirty-eighth year, the State of Qin attacked the State of Song. King Zhao of Qin exploded with rage and said, "I value Song as much as Xincheng and Yangjin! Han Nie is my friend, yet he attacked the country I cherish. Why is that?" Su Dai, representing the State of Qi, explained to the King of Qin, "Han Nie attacked Song to curry favor with you! With Qi's strength, if we add Song, the States of Chu and Wei will surely be afraid. When they are afraid, they will definitely come to serve Qin in the west. In this way, without losing a single soldier, you can easily obtain Anyi. This is the strategy that Han Nie presented to you." The King of Qin asked, "I am worried about Qi's unpredictable motives. What does it mean?" Su Dai replied, "Among the countries in the world, which one is as easy to see through as Qi? Qi attacked Song to let the powerful State of Qin know that if Qi does not submit to Qin in the west, Song will not be stable. The Central Plains' elder statesmen are all scheming to drive a wedge between Qi and Qin. Those who rush to the west have nothing good to say about Qi; those who rush to the east have nothing good to say about Qin. Why is that? Because everyone hopes that Qi and Qin will not unite. Jin and Chu are so clever, while Qi and Qin are so foolish! If Jin and Chu unite, they will definitely deal with Qi and Qin; if Qi and Qin unite, they will definitely deal with Jin and Chu. Please judge this matter based on this!" The King of Qin said, "Alright!" So Qi attacked Song, the King of Song fled, and eventually died in Wendi. Qi seized the northern part of Chu to the south, invaded the Three Jins to the west, and wanted to annex the land of the Zhou Dynasty to proclaim itself emperor. The rulers of Zou and Lu, along with other vassals of the Sishui River basin, submitted to Qi, while the other vassals were very afraid. In the thirty-ninth year, Qin attacked Qi, capturing nine of its cities.
After forty years of conflict, the states of Yan, Qin, Chu, and the Three Jins—Zhao, Wei, and Han—united and each sent elite troops to attack Qi, crushing us at the Battle of Ji Xi. The King of Qi had no choice but to retreat. Yan's general Le Yi pursued the victory and attacked Linzi, seizing all the treasures and artifacts of Qi. The King of Qi fled to the state of Wei. The king of Wei gave him a palace, swore fealty, and looked after him. However, the King of Qi was arrogant towards the Wei people, which led to trouble. He left Wei and fled to the states of Zou and Lu, acting just as high and mighty, but the rulers of Zou and Lu did not accept him, so he fled to the state of Ju. Chu general Nao Chi was sent to rescue Qi, but he ended up becoming the prime minister of the King of Qi. Nao Chi eventually killed the King of Qi and then carved up Qi's territory, treasure, and weapons with Yan.
After the King of Qi was killed, his son, Fa Zhang, changed his name and fled to Ju, disguising himself as an ordinary servant in Lord Tai Shi's household. Tai Shi's daughter noticed that Fa Zhang looked extraordinary and not like an ordinary person, so she'd sneak him food and drink, and the two of them started a secret affair. Later, when Nao Chi withdrew from Ju, the people of Ju, along with some loyalist Qi officials, searched for the king's son to put him on the throne. Fa Zhang, fearing for his life, finally came forward and said, "I am the son of the King of Qi!" So the people of Ju made him king—King Xiang of Qi. After establishing himself in Ju, King Xiang spread the message throughout Qi: "The King of Qi's back in business, ruling from Ju!"
After King Xiang became king, he made the daughter of Tai Shi Jiao his queen, who would later become queen dowager. She gave birth to a son named Jian for King Xiang. Tai Shi Jiao was very stubborn; because his daughter married King Xiang without going through the proper channels, he said, "She eloped; she's not a proper Tai Shi daughter-in-law; it shames our family!" So he never saw his daughter, who was the queen dowager, for his entire life. However, the queen dowager was a virtuous person. Although her father-in-law did not recognize her, she still took care of her in-laws, respected her father-in-law, and looked after her son.
King Xiang lived in the state of Ju for five years. Tian Dan defeated the Yan army in Ji Mo and then welcomed King Xiang back to Linzi from Ju. Qi's lost lands were recovered. Qi made Tian Dan the Lord of Anping to commend his achievements.
Fourteen years later, the state of Qin attacked our territory of Gangshou. Five years later, in the nineteenth year of King Xiang's reign, he died, and his son Jian succeeded to the throne.
Six years into King Jian's reign, the state of Qin attacked the state of Zhao, and Qi and Chu sent reinforcements. The Qin strategists devised a plan: their strategy was to retreat if Qi and Chu were allied, but to attack them if they weren't. At that time, Zhao, facing famine, appealed to Qi for grain, but King Qi refused. A man named Zhou Zi advised, "It is better to agree to Zhao's request and let the Qin army retreat. If we do not agree, the Qin army will not withdraw, and Qin's plan will succeed while Qi and Chu's plan will fail. Furthermore, for Qi and Chu, Zhao is a barrier against external enemies, like lips and teeth; if one falls, the other suffers. If Zhao is destroyed today, danger will come to Qi and Chu tomorrow. Moreover, aiding Zhao should be as quick and effective as extinguishing a fire. Aiding Zhao was the just course, and defeating Qin would bring glory. King Qi's refusal to provide grain was incredibly shortsighted!" However, the King of Qi did not listen to him. As a result, in the Battle of Changping, the state of Qin annihilated more than 400,000 troops of Zhao and then surrounded Handan.
In his sixteenth year, Qin destroyed the Zhou dynasty. King Qi died sometime later.
Twenty-three years later, the state of Qin established the Eastern County. Five years later, King Qi went to Xianyang to pay respects to the King of Qin, who hosted a banquet for him in Xianyang. Afterwards, Qin conquered Han in the 35th year and Zhao in the 37th. In the thirty-eighth year, the state of Yan sent Jing Ke to assassinate the King of Qin, but the King of Qin discovered it, and Jing Ke was killed. The following year, Qin swiftly crushed Yan, and the King of Yan fled to Liaodong. Immediately after, Qin marched on Wei, and the Qin army's forces reached Li Xia. In the forty-second year, Qin destroyed the state of Chu. The following year, Qin captured King Jia of Dai and eliminated King Xi of Yan.
Forty-four years later, the state of Qin attacked the state of Qi. The King of Qi believed the strategy of Prime Minister Housheng and surrendered directly to Qin without resistance. Qin captured King Qi Jian and exiled him to Gongdi. In this way, the state of Qi was also destroyed and became a county of Qin. China was unified under Qin rule, and the King of Qin declared himself emperor. Initially, Qi's kings were smart and wary of Qin, maintaining good relationships with other vassal states. Qi was located along the coast of the East Sea, while Qin was constantly at war with Jin, Yan, and Chu. These five states held off Qin's advances, so King Qi Jian remained unharmed during his forty-year reign. However, after the king's death, Prime Minister Housheng took over and accepted many bribes from Qin, sending many guests to Qin who then betrayed Qi, persuading King Qi to visit the King of Qin in Xianyang and not prepare for war or help other states attack Qin. This allowed Qin to conquer the other five states. After the five states were destroyed, Qin troops entered Linzi, and the people did not dare to resist. King Qi Jian eventually surrendered and was exiled to Gongdi. Therefore, the people of Qi resented King Qi Jian for not uniting with other vassal states earlier to attack Qin, listening to traitors and guests, leading to the destruction of the country. They sang a song saying, "Pine or cypress? Are we guests in Gongdi now?" They cursed King Jian for his terrible choices in advisors.
Historian Sima Qian said: In his later years, Confucius liked the *Yi Jing*. The *Yi Jing*'s wisdom is deep and hard to grasp. Only those who are truly enlightened can understand it! Therefore, during the Zhou Dynasty, the Grand Historian Tian Jingzhong was able to predict accurately up to ten generations later. When Tian Jingzhong fled to the state of Qi, Yi Zhong divined for him, and the result was the same. The reason why Tian Qi and the brothers of the Chang clan were able to rebel and seize control of the political power in Qi was not only due to the circumstances but also perhaps guided by auspicious omens.
