Su Qin was from Luoyang. When he was young, he went to Qi to study and also became a student of Guiguzi. Several years later, he traveled around trying to persuade others, but he faced setbacks repeatedly and returned home in poverty. His brothers, sister-in-law, and wife all made fun of him, saying, "Zhou people are all about practicality, you know? Business, making money—that's the way to go. You're just spouting nonsense! So what's surprising about being broke?" Su Qin felt ashamed and self-blamed after hearing this, so he locked himself in, stopped going out, and buried himself in his books. He said to himself, "What's the use of studying all these books if it doesn't get me anywhere?" Later, he found the military book "Zhou Shu - Yinfu" and immersed himself in studying it.
After about a year, he felt that he had enough knowledge and confidently said, "I'm ready to go give it a shot with the king!" So he first went to persuade King Xian of Zhou. However, King Xian's people knew him and thought he was a nobody.
So Su Qin went to the state of Qin. Unfortunately, King Xiaogong of Qin had passed away, so he went to persuade King Hui of Qin instead. He told King Hui, "Qin's got the best geography—mountains all around, the Wei River winding through it, the Yellow River to the east, Hanzhong to the west, Ba and Shu to the south, and the Di and Ma to the north. It's a natural fortress! With the numerous people of Qin and its strong military power, it can completely conquer the world and establish an empire!" King Hui said, "You're not ready to take on the world yet." At that time, Qin was dealing with the aftermath of Shang Yang, and they hated smooth-talking debaters, so Su Qin got nowhere.
Next, Su Qin went to the state of Zhao. The Marquis of Zhao made his brother Zhao Cheng prime minister, Lord Fengyang. However, Lord Fengyang did not listen to Su Qin's advice.
He went to Yan State again, and it was over a year before he saw Marquis Wen of Yan. He said to Marquis Wen of Yan, "To the east of Yan State are Joseon and Liaodong, to the north are Linhu and Loufan, to the west are Yunzhong and Jiuyuan, and to the south are Hutuo and Yishui. The land area is over two thousand li, with an army of hundreds of thousands, six hundred war chariots, six thousand cavalry horses, and enough grain to last for years. In the south, there are rich resources in Jieshi Mountain and Yanmen Pass, and in the north, there are special products such as dates and chestnuts. The people could live off the land even without farming. This is simply the legendary Land of Plenty!"
Our peaceful existence, free from warfare, is entirely due to Yan. Do you know why this is, Your Majesty? The reason why Yan State has not been invaded or suffered from war is because Zhao State serves as a barrier to the south. Qin and Zhao were locked in a bitter struggle, with Qin winning two battles and Zhao winning three. Despite their constant conflict, Your Majesty has been able to preserve Yan State, which is the reason for the peace in Yan State. Furthermore, if Qin were to attack Yan State, they would have to cross Yunzhong and Jiuyuan, pass through Daijun and Shanggu, and travel thousands of li. Even if they capture the city of Yan State, Qin would not be able to hold it. Qin cannot defeat Yan State, a clear advantage. Now if Zhao wants to attack Yan State, with one command, within ten days, hundreds of thousands of troops can reach the eastern wall of Yan State. Crossing the Hutuo River and passing through Yishui, they can reach the capital of Yan State in four or five days. Therefore, if Qin attacks Yan State, they have to fight from a thousand li away; if Zhao attacks Yan State, it is within a hundred li. To fear a distant threat while ignoring the danger close at hand is sheer folly! So, I hope that Your Majesty can form an alliance with Zhao State, unify the world, and then Yan State will no longer have any worries.
Marquis Wen said, "You make sense, but our country is small, bordering the powerful Zhao State to the west and near Qi State to the south. Qi State and Zhao State are both powerful countries. If you truly wish to unite the lords to protect Yan, I would willingly pledge my entire kingdom to the cause."
So they kitted Su Qin out with a carriage, horses, and enough gold and silver to make him rich, sending him off to Zhao. Old Fengyang was dead and gone, and Su Qin took the opportunity to persuade Lord Zhao Su, saying: "Everyone, from top to bottom, thinks you're a top bloke and’ve been dying to work for you. However, in the past, Fengyang was jealous of talents, and you didn’t use them, so yes-men and hangers-on didn’t dare to fully support you. Now Fengyang's kicked the bucket, you're more approachable, so I thought I'd throw my two cents in."
Honestly, what you should do most is to let the common people get on with their lives and not always disturb them. Whether they get a decent life depends on who you pal up with. If you choose the right friends, the common people will be safe; if you choose the wrong friends, they’ll never be at peace in their lifetime. Let's talk about external threats: Qi and Qin are our enemies, and whichever way we jump, the people lose out. Therefore, those who give advice to the monarch, strategize in battles, and seize territories always try to stir things up between countries. Don't be a mug, and don't go blabbing. It's as simple as black and white.
If you listen to me, Yan will be sending you top-notch furs and steeds, Qi'll be piling on the seafood, Chu'll be showering you with oranges and pomelos, and Han, Wei, and Zhongshan will be falling over themselves to pay tribute. Your mates and family will all be lords and ministers. It's the way things have always been done to get ahead. You get all this without lifting a finger – that's my plan for you.
If you ally with the State of Qin, they will definitely weaken the States of Han and Wei; if you ally with the State of Qi, they will definitely weaken the States of Chu and Wei. If Wei is weakened, they will cede territory beyond the river; if Han is weakened, they will give up Yiyang; if Yiyang is lost, Shangjun will be in danger; if territory beyond the river is lost, communication will be cut off; if Chu is weakened, no one will help us. So you gotta weigh these three options carefully.
If Qin opens up the Zhi Road, Nanyang will be in danger; if Qin attacks Han, surrounding Zhou territory, Zhao's gonna have to train up its army to defend itself; if Qin occupies the State of Wei, seizing Juandi, Qi'll be kissing Qin's ass. If Qin wants to completely take over Shandong, then they will definitely attack the State of Zhao. Once Qin crosses the Yellow and Zhang Rivers and takes Fanwu, then war will definitely break out in Handan. These are all my concerns for you.
Now, in the Shandong region, the strongest is the State of Zhao. Zhao's got a huge territory – over two thousand li – plus a massive army: hundreds of thousands of soldiers, a thousand chariots, ten thousand cavalry, and enough food to last years. To the west is Changshan as a barrier, to the south are the Yellow River and Zhang River, to the east is Qinghe, and to the north is the State of Yan. Yan's weak, so don't worry about them. The State of Qin's ultimate goal is to eliminate Zhao among all the states, but they dare not attack Zhao directly. Why is that? They're scared Han and Wei will stab them in the back! Therefore, the States of Han and Wei are the southern barrier of Zhao. If Qin goes after Han and Wei, nothing's stopping them from slowly eating away at them until they reach the capital. Han and Wei can't stand up to Qin; they'll end up bowing down. If Qin no longer has the restraint of Han and Wei, then Zhao's screwed. That's what keeps me up at night, Your Majesty.
I heard that Emperor Yao did not have a fixed territory at the beginning, and Emperor Shun did not have a single inch of his own land, yet they were able to rule the land; King Yu initially had a mere few hundred men under his command, yet he could command the neighboring kingdoms; Kings Tang and Wu, with armies of at most three thousand men, three hundred chariots, and thirty thousand soldiers, were able to establish the position of the emperor: the key lies in their mastery of the correct way of governing! Therefore, a wise monarch should measure the strength of the enemy externally and assess the quality of his own soldiers internally. Even before the two armies face each other, the situation of victory or defeat is already in his mind. How could he be misled by others' words and make decisions blindly?
I privately calculated on a map that the combined land of the neighboring kingdoms is five times that of the Qin state, and their armies are ten times larger. If the six states unite and attack Qin from the west, Qin will definitely be defeated! But now we are serving Qin to the west, turning ourselves into subjects of Qin. Is being defeated and becoming a subject the same thing?!
Those who surrender to Qin are all thinking of ceding the land of the neighboring kingdoms to Qin. Once Qin becomes powerful, they will construct lavish palaces and pleasure gardens, listening to elegant music all day long, with towering palaces in front and beautiful concubines behind. The country will be harmed by Qin, but they are not worried at all. So those who surrender to Qin use Qin's power day and night to intimidate and threaten the neighboring kingdoms in order to achieve the goal of selling out for personal gain. So, Your Majesty, think carefully about this!
They say a wise king never worries about superstitions, ignores gossips, and keeps his distance from backstabbers. Therefore, on strengthening the nation and expanding its borders, Your Majesty's ministers can speak freely. I believe Your Majesty's best course of action is to unite Han, Wei, Qi, Chu, Yan, and Zhao against Qin. Let's get the generals of the six states together by the Huanshui River, share intel, and swear an oath. The alliance will be as follows: "If Qin attacks Chu, Qi and Wei support Chu, Han cuts off supplies, Zhao crosses the Yellow and Zhang Rivers, and Yan defends north of Changshan. If Qin attacks Han and Wei, Chu cuts off the Qin army's retreat, Qi supports Han and Wei, Zhao crosses the Yellow and Zhang Rivers, and Yan defends Yunzhong. If Qin attacks Qi, Chu cuts off the Qin army's retreat, Han defends Chenggao, Wei intercepts the Qin army, Zhao crosses the Yellow and Zhang Rivers and Bogan, and Yan supports Qi. If Qin attacks Yan, Zhao defends Changshan, Chu's army is stationed at Wuguan, Qi crosses Bo Sea, and Han and Wei support Yan. If Qin attacks Zhao, Han's army is stationed at Yiyang, Chu's army is at Wuguan, Wei's army is stationed outside the river, Qi crosses Qinghe, and Yan supports Zhao. If any of the princes violate the alliance, the other five countries will jointly attack it." With the six states united against Qin, they'll never dare cross Hangu Pass and invade Shandong. Then we'll rule the world!
King Zhao said, "I am young and my country is newly founded. I have never heard of long-term strategies for national development before. Now this important visitor is wholeheartedly thinking about stabilizing the world and protecting the vassals. I am willing to lead my country to join your alliance." So, King Zhao prepared a hundred war chariots, a thousand gold ingots, hundreds of jade bi discs, and a thousand pieces of brocade to form an alliance with the vassals.
At that time, King Zhou was sending sacrificial meat to King Hui of Qin. King Hui of Qin sent Xi Shou to attack the state of Wei, capturing the great general Long Jia of Wei, seizing the city of Diao Yin, and planning to continue advancing eastward. Su Qin feared that the Qin army would attack Zhao, so he deliberately provoked Zhang Yi and sent him to Qin.
Oh, King Xuan of Han, think about how good the territory of our Han state is! North of Han lie the strong cities of Gong and Cheng Gao; to the west are the natural defenses of Yi Yang and Shang Ban; to the east are Wan and Rang, along with the Wei River; and to the south is Xing Mountain—a total of over nine hundred miles, with tens of thousands of well-equipped soldiers. The best arbalests in the world are produced in our Han state! Those skilled archers, like Xi Zi and Shao Fu, can shoot six hundred steps away! Our Han soldiers have precise archery skills, hitting the target every time, shooting far enough to pierce the chest and close enough to hit the heart. Our weapons, swords and halberds, come from famous mountains and rivers like Ming Shan, Tang Xi, Mo Yang, He Gu, Deng Shi, Wan Feng, Long Yuan, and Tai A; they can cut through anything on the battlefield, well-equipped and complete in every way. Every Han soldier is brave and skilled in battle, wearing sturdy armor, wielding powerful arbalests, and carrying sharp swords. A single soldier could take on a hundred enemies!
Think about it, with the strong power of our Han state and your wise leadership, it is simply humiliating to serve the Qin state submissively, becoming the laughingstock of the world! Is there anything more embarrassing than this? Therefore, I hope that Your Majesty will consider it carefully! If you serve the Qin state, they will definitely demand Yiyang and Chenggao first. Give them land this year, and next year they'll demand more. Give in, and you'll have nothing left; refuse, and you'll face even greater disaster. Your land is limited, while the demands of the Qin state are endless. Using limited land to resist endless demands is like asking for trouble; even before the war begins, your territory has already been reduced. I have heard a saying: "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox." Now, serving the Qin state submissively, what's the difference between that and being a slave? You are so wise, and you command the powerful Han army, yet you risk earning the reputation of being a "cow's tail." I am ashamed for you, Your Majesty!
Upon hearing this, the King of Han's face changed drastically, he pushed back his sleeves, widened his eyes, held his sword, looked up at the sky, and sighed, saying, "Although I am not great, I will never serve the Qin state! Now I accept your advice; I will follow the example of the King of Zhao and defend our kingdom to the death!"
King Wei Xiang, your kingdom's huge—south to Honggou, Chen, Runan, Xuchang, Yancheng, Kunyang, Zhaoling, Wuyang, Xindu, and Xinkou; west to the Great Wall; north to He Wai, Juan, Yan, and Suanzao, covering thousands of square miles! Yeah, those place names might not sound fancy, but there are countless fields and houses, so no worries about space for livestock. Your kingdom's booming—people everywhere, carts and horses all day and night—it's like you've got three armies! I'd say you're as strong as Chu, if not stronger. But your ministers are scared of the powerful Qin invading, and now you're worrying about Qin too, without thinking of the consequences. Using Qin to scare you is a major no-no! Wei is a powerhouse, and you're a wise king, but now you're thinking of serving Qin in the west, calling yourself a vassal, building yourself a fancy palace, and accepting Qin's clothing and rituals. Seriously, I'm ashamed for you!
I heard that King Goujian of Yue, with only three thousand surviving troops, defeated King Fucha of Wu at the Battle of Kuaisu; King Wu only used three thousand soldiers and three hundred chariots to defeat King Zhou of Shang at the Battle of Muye. They were able to win not because they had many soldiers, but because they were brave and fought hard! Now I hear that Your Majesty has two hundred thousand warriors, two hundred thousand servants, two hundred thousand conscripted laborers, one hundred thousand commoners, six hundred chariots, and five thousand war horses. This military force is much larger than that of King Goujian and King Wu! But now you are listening to those ministers and want to serve the state of Qin. Serving Qin will definitely lead to ceding territory and paying tribute, so the country has suffered heavy losses even before going to war! Those ministers who advise you to serve Qin are all treacherous; they are not loyal officials! These ministers, by ceding land to appease a foreign power, prioritize short-term gains over long-term stability, sacrificing national interests for personal advancement. They leverage Qin's might to intimidate Your Majesty into submission, hoping to profit from the territorial concessions. Please consider this carefully, Your Majesty!
The *Book of Zhou* warns: "Uncontrolled growth leads to ruin. Untamed branches, however lush, will eventually be felled." If we don't make good plans now, there will be great disasters in the future; what should we do? If Your Majesty can listen to me, be friendly with the other six states, work together, and unite against the enemy, then the threat of strong Qin will naturally be eliminated. Therefore, King Zhao sent me to offer my humble opinion and bring the alliance; please give your command, Your Majesty!
King Wei said: "I have been remiss; I have never had the chance to hear your wise words before. Now you come to advise me on behalf of King Zhao, and I humbly accept your advice and will heed it."
King Xuan of Qi listened and said to Su Qin, "Qi is naturally protected by its geography, with Mount Tai to the south, Langya Mountain to the east, Qinghe to the west, and Bo Sea to the north. Qi has a land area of over two thousand li (approximately 800 kilometers), with well-equipped soldiers numbering in the tens of thousands, and food piled up like mountains. The army is elite, with military service being commonplace; they attack swiftly like sharp arrows, fight fiercely like thunder, and retreat quickly like the wind and rain. Even during military actions, they have never crossed Mount Tai, crossed Qinghe, or crossed Bo Sea. There are seventy thousand households in Linzi City, and I estimate that each household has at least three men. Three times seventy equals two hundred and ten thousand. Without needing to call soldiers from distant counties, there are already two hundred and ten thousand soldiers in Linzi City. Linzi is very wealthy, with people enjoying leisure activities such as playing musical instruments, raising fighting cocks, walking dogs, playing games, and kicking balls. In the bustling streets of Linzi, wheels clattered together, people moved shoulder to shoulder, sleeves brushed together in a sea of movement, and sweat poured down like a summer downpour, with every household prosperous, everyone wealthy, and spirits high. With your wisdom and Qi's strength, no one in the world can compete. But now you want to submit to the Qin state in the west? I think that’s a real disgrace, Your Majesty!"
Han and Wei are so afraid of Qin because they share a border. War with Qin is a ten-day fight to the death—no ifs, ands, or buts. If Han and Wei win, they'd lose half their army and still lose the border; lose, and they're done. But attacking Qi is a different story. To get at Qi, Qin has to go through Han and Wei, then slog through miles of rough country—narrow mountain passes where chariots can't even move abreast, let alone a whole army. A hundred men can hold a pass against a thousand. And even if they did break through, Han and Wei would be right behind them. So Qin just postures, too scared to actually attack. It's pretty clear they can't hurt Qi. Ignoring how helpless Qin is against Qi, and suggesting we surrender anyway—that's just dumb. We don't need to bow to Qin, and we're strong enough to stand up to them. So, Your Majesty, give my plan a look.
The King of Qi said, "Look, I'm not exactly a genius, and we're just a small, poor country out here on the edge of nowhere. I've never heard of you before. So the King of Zhao sent you? Okay, I'll listen."
Next, he ran to King Chu Wei and persuaded him like this: "Chu State is the most powerful country under heaven; you are the wisest king in the world. To the west, there are Qianzhong and Wu prefectures; to the east, there are Xia Prefecture and Haiyang; to the south, there are Dongting Lake and Cangwu; to the north, there are Xingsai and Xunyang. The country covers over five thousand *li* (a Chinese unit of length), the army has a million soldiers, a thousand war chariots, ten thousand cavalry, and enough food reserves for ten years. This is more than enough to conquer the world! With the strength of Chu State and your wisdom, no one can compete with you. Now you want to submit to Qin in the west, then other vassals will all run to Xianyang to pay homage to the King of Qin."
"Qin's biggest fear is Chu. Chu's strength is Qin's weakness, and vice versa. Therefore, for your sake, the best way is to form an alliance with Qi and isolate Qin. If you ignore my advice, Qin will attack from both Wuguan and Qianzhong, putting Yanjing (the capital of Chu State) in danger!"
"Good rulers prevent problems before they arise. If you worry when disaster strikes, it will be too late. So, I hope you will consider this seriously."
"Listen to me, and the Shandong lords will pay tribute. They'll follow your orders, support your rule, and help you prepare for war. If you truly accept my humble advice, then the beauties of Han, Wei, Qi, Yan, Zhao, and Wei will enrich your harem, and the camels and fine horses of Yan and Dai will fill your stables. Join forces with me, and you'll rule all of Chu. Agree to this, and Qin will only be emperor. Giving up this chance to rule the world to become someone's subject? That's a terrible deal!"
The State of Qin is a wolf in tiger's clothing, intent on swallowing the world; it is the enemy of all! Everyone wants to cede land to please Qin; this is simply courting disaster! Those who act as subjects, in order to please the powerful State of Qin, actually cede their own country's land, colluding with the enemy, only to invite Qin's wrath, yet they do not consider the consequences. Using Qin's power to extort land concessions is the height of treachery! Therefore, getting close to the State of Chu, the vassals cede land to please Chu; forming an alliance with Qin, Chu cedes land to please Qin. The difference between these two strategies is too great. Your Majesty, what do you really want to do? King Zhao sent me to present this humble suggestion. We await your command and remain committed to our alliance.
King Chu said: "My country borders Qin to the west, and Qin has always wanted to swallow Ba and Shu and Hanzhong. Qin is a ferocious state; we cannot get close to them! Han and Wei are both being pressured by Qin; we can't afford to get too close to them. If we become entangled with them, we'd be in danger before we even begin. I have weighed it myself; Chu cannot beat Qin head-on, and the ministers in the country are also unreliable. I'm plagued by sleepless nights and anxieties, unsure of what course to take. Now, if you want to unify the country, subdue the vassals, and save our nation, I will do my best to support it!"
Therefore, the six states united and jointly resisted Qin. Su Qin led the alliance and served as Chancellor to all six states.
Su Qin sent a letter to King Zhao, saying that he would pass through Luoyang. His entourage was grand, with many carriages and horses, and full of supplies. Officials from various states came to see him off; it was a kingly welcome. When King Xian of Zhou heard about this, he was so frightened that he quickly sent people to clear the roads and went out to meet Su Qin on the outskirts. Su Qin's brother, wife, and sister-in-law were too scared to look up at him; they served him in silence, heads bowed. Su Qin smiled and asked his sister-in-law, "You used to be so indifferent to me; why are you so respectful now?" His sister-in-law, ashamed, prostrated herself and said, "I didn't realize how powerful and wealthy you'd become!" Su Qin sighed and said, "When a person is wealthy and noble, relatives and friends are afraid of him; when he is poor and humble, relatives and friends look down on him, let alone an ordinary person! If I only had a couple of acres outside Luoyang, how could I be holding the seals of six states?" So he took out a lot of money to reward his relatives and friends. When Su Qin went to Yan State, he even borrowed a hundred coins for travel expenses, but now that he had become successful, he repaid the hundred coins with a hundred gold pieces and repaid everyone who had helped him. One of his attendants, who did not receive any rewards, voluntarily stepped forward to explain the situation. Su Qin said, "I have not forgotten about you. When we were in Yan, by the Yi River, you almost left me several times. At that time, I was in a difficult situation, so I had a deep impression of you; that's why I didn't pay attention to you. Now you have also received a reward."
Su Qin successfully urged the six states to form a united front against Qin. After returning to Zhao State, Marquis Su of Zhao made him Marquis of Wu'an, and he handed over the alliance treaty to the Qin State. The Qin army stayed away from Hangu Pass for fifteen years. Later, Qin sent Xīshǒu to deceive Qi and Wei, and together they attacked Zhao, trying to destroy the united alliance. Qi and Wei attacked Zhao, and King Zhao blamed Su Qin. Afraid, Su Qin requested to be sent to Yan State to repay the favor to Qi. With Su Qin gone, the alliance crumbled.
King Hui of Qin married his daughter to the Crown Prince of Yan. That year, Prince Wen of Yan passed away, and the Crown Prince succeeded to the throne, becoming King Yi of Yan. As soon as King Yi took the throne, King Xuan of Qi took advantage of Yan's mourning period to attack and seize ten cities. King Yi of Yan said to Su Qin, "When you first came to Yan, the late king supported you to go to Zhao, which led to the alliance of the six states. Now Qi has attacked Zhao and then Yan, all because of you, making a laughingstock of himself. Can you help Yan regain the lost land?" Su Qin felt extremely ashamed and said, "Let me get those lands back for you, Your Majesty."
Su Qin paid a visit to the King of Qi, first bowing deeply, then prostrating himself as if in celebration, only to suddenly rise and wail as if in mourning. The King of Qi asked in confusion, "What's with the sudden celebration and mourning?"
Su Qin explained, "I've heard tell that a starving man would sooner die than eat from a crow's beak—a full belly's no guarantee against starvation. Yan, though weak, is the King of Qin's brother-in-law. For ten measly cities, you'd risk a long war with mighty Qin. Using weak Yan as a pawn against Qin, hoping to cripple them and then draw in every army in the land... that's like eating from a crow's beak, a recipe for disaster!" The color drained from King Xuan's face. "So what do we do?" he stammered.
Su Qin continued, "I have heard that in ancient times, those who were masters of playing politics could resolve crises, turn danger into safety, and turn failure into success. If Your Majesty is willing to listen to my plan, then return the ten cities of Yan to them. Yan will be pleased to receive the ten cities back for no reason, and the King of Qin will also be pleased to know that it was because of him that Yan regained the cities. This is what we call killing two birds with one stone and forming a strong friendship! If both Yan and Qin submit to Qi, then Your Majesty will be able to call the shots, and no one will dare to disobey. In this way, Your Majesty will have pacified Qin with a few kind words and exchanged the ten cities for the submission of the world, laying the foundation for ruling the world!"
The King of Qi said, "Excellent!" and ordered the return of the ten cities of Yan.
Some people spoke ill of Su Qin, calling him a double-dealer who was likely to start a rebellion in the future. Fearing to offend anyone, Su Qin returned to his country, and the King of Yan no longer gave him an official position.
Su Qin found the King of Yan and said, "Your Majesty, I, Su Qin, am just a nobody from the Eastern Zhou, yet you honored me with a personal audience in the temple and treated me with great respect in the court. Now that I have repelled the army of Qi for Your Majesty and regained the ten cities, I should be more involved in your affairs. However, you do not give me an official position, which will surely make others suspect me of lying to you. I am not trusted, which is actually beneficial to you! I have heard that loyalty and trustworthiness are for self-preservation, while initiative is for serving others. Besides, when I advised the King of Qi, I was not deceiving him. I left my elderly mother in the Eastern Zhou to protect myself and strive for success. Even if I were as good as Zeng Can, Boyi, and Wei Sheng combined, how about using these three to serve you?" The King of Yan said, "Sounds good."
Su Qin said, "Someone as filial as Zeng Can, who doesn't even leave his parents for one night, how can you make him come from afar to serve you, the unpredictable King of Yan? Someone as upright as Boyi would rather starve to death on Mount Shouyang than become the heir of Gu Zhu Jun or a subject of King Wu, refusing any titles or rewards. How can you make such an upright person travel far to work for you in the Qi state? Someone as trustworthy as Wei Sheng waits under a bridge for a woman he promised to meet, even when the woman doesn't show up and the water rises; he refuses to leave and ends up drowning while holding onto the bridge pillar. How can you make such a trustworthy person go far to resist the strong army of the Qi state? My offense stems from my loyalty and trustworthiness!" The King of Yan said, "If it wasn't for loyalty and trustworthiness, how could one offend others because of loyalty and trustworthiness?" Su Qin replied, "It's not like that. I heard of a man who was working as an official in a distant place, and his wife was having an affair with her lover. When the husband was about to return, her lover was worried. The wife said, 'Don't worry, I have prepared wine laced with poison for him.' After three days, the husband indeed returned, and the wife asked a maid to bring the wine laced with poison. The maid wanted to warn that the wine was poisoned, but she was afraid of offending the mistress; if she didn't say anything, she was afraid of offending the master. So she pretended to trip and spilled the wine. The master got angry and whipped her fifty times. The maid, by pretending to trip and spill the wine, tried to protect both the master and mistress, but she still ended up being punished. How is this not a mistake in loyalty and trustworthiness? My mistake is similar to that of this maid!" The King of Yan said, "Sir, you should return to your original position." And he treated him even more generously.
Word got out that Su Qin was having an affair with Queen Yi, the wife of Duke Wen.
When the King of Yan found out, he showered Su Qin with even greater favors. Su Qin feared punishment, so he said to the King of Yan, "Remaining in Yan, I cannot strengthen it; however, by going to Qi, I can ensure Yan's strength."
The King of Yan, knowing this, treated Su Qin even better. Su Qin, fearing for his life, said to the King of Yan: "Staying in Yan does not benefit Yan. If I go to Qi, Yan will gain more status." The King of Yan replied, "Do as you wish." Following the King's instructions, Su Qin deliberately offended him and then fled to Qi, where King Xuan of Qi treated him as an honored guest.
After the death of King Xuan of Qi, King Min succeeded to the throne. He urged King Min to hold a lavish funeral to show off his piety and to build huge palaces and sprawling gardens to boast about his success, intending to undermine Qi to help Yan. After the death of King Yi of Yan, King Kui ascended to the throne.
Later, lots of Qi bigwigs were jealous of Su Qin and sent someone to assassinate him. Su Qin got away, though badly hurt. The King of Qi sent people to find the assassin, but they were unsuccessful.
As Su Qin was about to die, he said to the King of Qi: "If I die, have me chopped up and put on display in the marketplace, saying 'Su Qin caused trouble for Yan in Qi,' then my enemies will be found." Following his words, the killer of Su Qin was revealed and executed by King of Qi. When Yan heard of this, they said: "Wow, Qi really got revenge for Su Qin!"
Su Qin was near death, so he said to King Qi, "If I die, have me dismembered and displayed in the market, announcing I was a Yan spy. By doing so, my murderer will be revealed." As he said, the killer who murdered Su Qin indeed appeared, and King Qi had the killer executed. When the State of Yan heard about this, they exclaimed, "Wow, Qi really went all out for Su Qin!"
After Su Qin's death, all his dirty laundry was aired. The Queen of Qi was livid and wanted Yan's blood. The State of Yan was greatly frightened. Su Qin's brothers, Su Dai and Su Li, saw how well their brother Su Qin had done and picked up the game of power politics. After Su Qin's death, Su Dai wanted to meet with the King of Yan to continue his brother's work. He said to the king, "Your Majesty, I'm just a nobody from the Eastern Zhou. I hear you're a man of your word, Your Majesty. Though I'm not much, I dropped everything to see you. My trip from Handan showed me things aren't as rosy as they sound back in the Eastern Zhou. I've been biting my tongue. Since I got here, I've seen your officials, and you're one smart cookie, Your Majesty!" The King of Yan asked him, "What makes a good ruler?" Su Dai replied, "I hear good rulers listen to criticism, not just flattery. Therefore, I would like to point out your shortcomings. Qi and Zhao are enemies of Yan, while Chu and Wei are allies of Yan. Yet, Your Majesty is attacking allies and pleasing enemies, which is damaging to the interests of Yan. Your Majesty, think about it, this strategy is flawed, and no one dares to tell you the truth. That ain't loyal, Your Majesty!"
The King of Yan said, "Qi has always been my enemy, and I've long wanted to attack it, but I'm just too weak. If you can help me defeat Qi, I'll give the whole country to you!" Su Dai said, "Right now, seven states are at war with each other, and Yan is the weakest. Fighting alone is definitely not an option; we need to find a powerful ally. If we buddy up with Chu down south, they'll get stronger; if we team up with Qin to the west, they'll get stronger; and if we align with Han and Wei in the middle, they'll get stronger. As long as the allied country is strong, Yan will naturally become strong. Currently, the Qi king is full of himself. They've been attacking Chu to the south for five years, cleaning out their coffers; fighting with Qin to the west for three years, wearing their troops down; and battling Yan to the north, losing three battles and two top generals. Despite this, they can still mobilize their remaining troops to attack Song to the south while also controlling twelve vassal states. So the Qi king's greedy, and his people are totally wiped out. Is that really a fight we *want*? Furthermore, I've heard that too many wars wear people down, and long campaigns wreck armies."
King Yan asked, "I heard that the Qi State has the Qingji River and the Muddy River as natural barriers, as well as the Great Wall and Jufang as defense fortifications. Is this true?" Su Dai replied, "If luck's not on their side, even with the Qingji River and the Muddy River, they won't be effective! If the people are worn out, even with the Great Wall and Jufang, they can't be defended! Furthermore, in the past, the Qi State did not station troops in the western Ji region to guard against the Zhao State and did not station troops in the northern Hebei region to guard against the Yan State. Now troops have been sent to both areas, and the national strength of the Qi State has weakened. An arrogant king always chases his own interests. Ministers who ruin their country are always greedy. If you, the king, can put aside your pride, send your son, mother, and brother as hostages to the Qi State, and bribe the Qi State's ministers with treasures and jewels, they will take a shine to the Yan State, scoff at the Song State, and conquering Qi will be a piece of cake." King Yan said, "I will ultimately follow your plan; it's meant to be!" Therefore, the Yan State sent a prince to the Qi State as a hostage. While the Yan prince was held hostage in Qi, Su Li went to visit the Qi King. The Qi King loathed Su Qin and wanted to nab Su Li. The Yan State prince stepped in, and eventually, Su Li became a man of Qi.
Yan Xiangzi wanted to seize power in Yan, so he had Su Dai accompany the crown prince to the Qi State as a hostage. The Qi State sent Su Dai back to the Yan State, and King Yan asked him, "Is the Qi King going to be the big dog?" Su Dai said, "No." King Yan asked, "Why not?" Su Dai said, "He's got no faith in his own ministers." As a result, King Yan bought Xiangzi's story hook, line, and sinker, and later handed over the throne to him, causing chaos in the Yan State. Jumping at the chance, the Qi State attacked the Yan State, killing King Yan and Xiangzi. King Zhao was established as the new king of the Yan State, and Su Dai and Su Li, terrified, did not dare to return to the Yan State and remained in the Qi State, where they were treated well.
Later, Su Dai arrived in Wei, and he was detained due to Yan's actions. Qi sent someone to the King of Wei saying, "We'll give Jingyang Jun Song's land, and Qin definitely won't accept it. Qin doesn't want Song because of Qi; they don't trust King Qi or Su Dai. With Qi and Wei at odds, Qi wouldn't risk deceiving Qin. If Qin believes Qi, with the alliance of Qi and Qin, Jingyang Jun will get Song's land, and there will be no benefit for Wei. Therefore, it's better for the king to release Su Dai; Qin will definitely suspect Qi and won't trust Su Dai. If Qi and Qin don't unite, things'll be peaceful, and the plan to attack Qi is toast." So Wei released Su Dai. Su Dai arrived in Song, and Song treated him very well.
Qi attacked Song, and Song was in danger. Su Dai wrote a letter to King Zhao of Yan: Stuck serving Qi, a nobody with no real power; helping Qi attack Song bankrupted the people. Conquering Song, hitting Chu hard, and making Qi richer—all bad for Yan. Three ways to screw up a country. But he did it to win Qi's trust. If Qi doesn't trust you and suspects Yan even more, you're cooked. Adding Song to the north of the Huai makes Qi even stronger. The Northern Barbarians are seven hundred li away; adding Lu and Wei to it makes Qi even stronger. Qi alone is tough; three Qis? Yan's doomed.
Smart guys turn bad luck into good. Qi's purple dye started as a defeat, but it made them ten times richer. Goujian of Yue, hiding in Kuaiji, eventually beat Wu and ruled all of China. That's turning lemons into lemonade.
Long story short, a power-hungry minister from Yan used Su Dai as a pawn in his power grab, sending him to Qi as a hostage, which ultimately led to Qi wiping out Yan. Later, Su Dai wandered through Wei and Song, and finally wrote a letter to King Zhao of Yan, weighing the risks and urging him not to trust Qi blindly, warning him to be prepared for the worst. In the letter, he gave examples of Qi's annexation of other countries to strengthen its power, indicating that if Yan continued to help Qi, they’d pay the price. Su Dai also used the examples of others who'd risen from the ashes to show that even in the direst straits, one could turn things around.
Now, if the king wants to take advantage of this disaster to turn the tide and change the course of events, the best way is to support Qi, allowing it to become the dominant power, and then form an alliance with the Zhou dynasty, reneging on the alliance with Qin, and declaring to the outside world: "This is the best strategy; it can defeat Qin and ensure that Qi remains subservient to us for a long time." Qin is using Qi to deal with us, and the king of Qin will definitely worry. The five generations of kings of Qin have been attacking the vassals, but now they have to be subordinate to Qi. If the king of Qin can completely conquer Qi, he will do so at any cost. Wouldn't it be wise for the king to send a skilled diplomat to convey this to the king of Qin? "The states of Yan and Zhao attacked Song, which has strengthened Qi, not because Yan and Zhao benefited from it. They did so because they do not trust the king of Qin. So why not send a trustworthy person to secure the loyalty of Yan and Zhao? Let Lord Jingyang and Lord Gaoling go to Yan and Zhao first; if there is any change in Qin, hold them as guarantees of good faith, so that Yan and Zhao will trust Qin. Qin is called the Western Emperor, Yan is the Northern Emperor, and Zhao is the Central Emperor; let these three states rule the world. If Han and Wei do not obey, send Qin to attack; if Qi does not obey, send Yan and Zhao to attack. Who else would dare to defy us? If the world obeys, then unite with Han and Wei to attack Qi, declaring to the outside world, 'We must reclaim the land of Song and return the territory north of the Huai River to Chu.' Reclaiming Song's land and returning the land north of the Huai River to Chu is what Yan and Zhao desire; establishing the three emperors is what they have always wanted. Once they receive what they want, fulfilling their wishes, Yan and Zhao will abandon Qi without hesitation. If Yan and Zhao are not cultivated now, Qi will certainly succeed. If all the vassals support Qi, and the king does not follow, the country faces attack; if all the vassals support Qi and the king does follow, the reputation will be damaged. Cultivating relationships with Yan and Zhao now will bring peace and enhance the nation's glory; failing to do so will lead to ruin and disgrace. Choosing ruin and disgrace over peace and glory is not a choice wise people would make." When the king of Qin hears these words, he will surely feel deeply offended. So why doesn't the king send a skilled diplomat to convey this to the king of Qin? Qin will definitely agree, and Qi will certainly be attacked.
Attacking the State of Qin strengthens friendships; attacking the State of Qi looks out for interests. A good king strengthens friendships and looks out for his own interests.
King Zhao of Yan liked this plan very much and said, "My ancestors once had grace with the Su clan. During the Zhi rebellion, the Su clan left Yan. To get back at Qi, Yan needs Su Dai." So he summoned Su Dai, showed him friendship again, and together they planned to attack the State of Qi. In the end, they defeated Qi, and King Min of Qi fled.
Long ago, the State of Qin wanted to summon the King of Yan. The King of Yan was preparing to go, but Su Dai quickly advised him, saying, "Chu fell because of Zhi, Qi because of Song. The reason Qi and Chu won't serve Qin is the deep enmity Qin has towards them! Qin's conquering the world isn't about being nice; it's about brute force. That's the message to everyone."
The State of Qin told the State of Chu, "Shu's army'll be in Yingdu in five days, sailing down the Yangtze from Wenshui. Hanzhong's army will reach Wuzhu in four days, sailing down the Han River from Badi. Our Qin army is gathering in Wandong, ready to move south to attack Suidi. Smart guys won't even have time to think, let alone brave warriors to get mad. I'm that fast! Waiting for the others to attack Hangu Pass? Too late!" Because of this speech from the State of Qin, the King of Chu obediently served the State of Qin for seventeen years.
The State of Qin directly told the State of Han, "Shaoqu to Daxing? One day. Yiyang to Pingyang? Two days, and they'll completely submit. Bypassing Zheng? Five days to conquer the whole State of Zheng." The State of Han believed the State of Qin was right, so they also served the State of Qin.
The State of Qin directly told the State of Wei: "If we capture Anyi and block the Nuji Pass, the Taiyuan region of the State of Han will be drawn into the conflict. We will take Zhicheng, then attack Nanyang, block the Jide area, and surround the surrounding areas. Exploiting the summer floods, we will advance rapidly in light boats, with strong crossbows in front and spears behind. Breaching the river embankment at Yingyang would leave Daliang vulnerable; breaching it at Baima would leave Waihuang and Jiyang vulnerable; and breaching it at Suxu would leave Xuqiu and Dunqiu vulnerable. If we attack by land, we will target Henei; if we attack by water, we will destroy Daliang." Wei agreed and became Qin's vassal.
The State of Qin wanted to attack Anyi, fearing that the State of Qi would come to its rescue, so they used the State of Song to confuse Qi. Qin said: "The King of Song is a tyrant, using wooden dummies to mock me, then shooting them in the face. My forces are stretched too thin to attack Song; Anyi is too far away to support such an operation. If the King can conquer Song and occupy it, it will be as if I did it myself." After capturing Anyi and blocking the Nuji Pass, Qin used this as an excuse to shift the blame for attacking Song to Qi.
The State of Qin wanted to attack the State of Han, fearing that the other states would come to its rescue, so they used the State of Qi to confuse them. Qin said: "The King of Qi has deceived me four times in our agreements; he will definitely lead the other powers to attack me. It's Qin or Qi; one must fall." After capturing Yiyang and Shaoqu, occupying Lin and Lishi, Qin used this as an excuse to shift the blame for attacking Qi to the other states.
The state of Qin wanted to attack the states of Wei and Chu, so they gave the Nanyang region to Chu, essentially claiming: "I have already severed ties with the state of Han. Occupying Junling and blocking the Mèng Pass—benefiting Chu is as good as benefiting Qin." Wei abandoned its alliance with Chu and sided with Qin, and then Qin used this as an excuse to shift the blame for blocking the Mèng Pass onto Chu.
The Qin army suffered military defeats in the forest, and then tried to win over the states of Yan and Zhao by giving the Jiaodong region to Yan and the Jixi region to Zhao. After reaching an agreement with Wei, Qin sent Prince Yan and Xishi to attack Zhao.
After being defeated at Qiaoshi and Yangma, the Qin army tried to win over Wei by giving the Ye and Cai regions to Wei. After negotiating terms with Zhao, Qin threatened Wei again, but Wei refused to cede territory. When Qin was trapped, they sent the younger brother of the Queen Mother, Ranghou, to negotiate peace, and would deceive their uncle and mother to claim victory if they won.
Qin offered Jiaodong to Yan, Jixi to Zhao, Ye and Cai to Wei, Mèng Pass to Chu, and Song to Qi. This was a whirlwind of empty promises and shifting alliances; the mother could not control it, and the uncle could not restrain it.
In the battles of Longjia, Anmen, Fengling, Gaoshang, and Zhaozhuang, Qin killed countless lives in the Sanjin region, and those who are still alive were orphaned by Qin's actions. Beyond Xihe, in the Shangluo and Sanchuan regions, the disaster of Jin state—half of the calamities in the Sanjin region were caused by Qin. The calamity of Qin is so great! Those who sided with Qin in Yan and Zhao were all vying for credit and slandering their monarchs; this reckless expansionism and betrayal are my greatest concerns.
King Zhao of Yan did not accept Su Qin's advice. Su Qin returned to Yan, and that's what I'm most worried about.
The State of Yan sent people to unite with other princes, imitating Su Qin's original approach. Some princes agreed, some did not, but from then on, the world respected the Su family's strategy of vertical alliance. Both Su Dai and Su Li died of old age, their reputation renowned among the princes.
Historian Sima Qian said: The three brothers Su Qin all lobbied princes for fame and fortune, skilled in adapting their strategies. Su Qin was later killed by a dirty trick, and people mocked him, and no one dared copy his methods. However, there are many legends about Su Qin, and any similar feat was attributed to him. Su Qin, born a commoner, was able to unite six states to resist Qin, demonstrating exceptional intelligence. Therefore, I have recorded his deeds, arranged in chronological order, to set the record straight.
