Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Zhou Book 4 Scroll 4 (continued)
The 36th year of King Nan(279 B.C.) (continued)
Tian Dan issued an order for the residents of the city of Jimo to pay homage in the courtyard to their ancestors before every meal. Birds circled and hovered over the city, creating an unusual atmosphere that caught the attention of the Yan soldiers. Tian Dan confidently declared, “A guardian angel from God will guide me.” In response, one of his soldiers playfully teased him, asking if he could be the guardian angel. Unsettled, the soldier attempted to run away after jesting.
Tian Dan promptly called the soldier back. Seating him facing east, Tian Dan assumed a role similar to that of a student with his teacher. The soldier, in protest, exclaimed, “Lord, I was just joking with you.” Tian Dan, however, silenced him, urging him not to say anything. Instead, Tian Dan continued to show reverence to the soldier. Whenever they were in public, Tian Dan referred to the soldier as “Godsend Master,” and the soldier willingly participated in this charade.
Tian Dan, in a strategic move, spread rumors claiming, “The people of Qi fear that all prisoners of war from Qi will have their noses chopped off and be placed in the front row of the phalanx. Jimo stands no chance if they resort to such tactics.” The soldiers of Yan, influenced by this misinformation, adopted the mentioned tactic. The people under siege witnessed the cruel act of captives having their noses chopped off, leading to outrage and heightened vigilance within the city, as they feared falling into captivity.
Employing disinformation once more, Tian Dan stated, “I am deeply concerned that the soldiers of Yan might desecrate the tombs of our ancestors, severely impacting our morale.” In response, the soldiers of Yan indeed dug up the tombs of Qi and burned the corpses. The people of Qi, observing this horrifying act from the ramparts, shed tears and were filled with immense anger. The incident fueled their determination to fight back, and they cried out for a decisive confrontation.
Sensing the readiness of the soldiers of Qi for battle, Tian Dan took charge by picking up a shovel and leading them to prepare for the battlefield. In a remarkable move, he enlisted his wives and concubines into the army and generously shared the fine food from his household to boost the soldiers’ morale. To strategically manage resources, he ordered his armored soldiers to lie low while deploying the old, weak, and women to guard the rampart.
Simultaneously, Tian Dan initiated diplomatic efforts by dispatching envoys to the Yan camp to discuss surrender. The soldiers of Yan, interpreting this as a sign of Qi‘s defeat, jubilantly declared victory. Tian Dan raised thousands of ounces of gold from the residents of Qi. He then appealed to the tycoons of Jimo to distribute the gold among the Yan generals, requesting them to spare their families from pillaging upon capitulation. The Yan army generals, pleased with the gesture, approved the requests, leading to a sense of complacency and laxity within the Yan army.
Tian Dan orchestrated a clever strategy within Jimo city, gathering over a thousand bulls. These bulls were adorned with capes made of crimson silk, featuring painted dragons and characters of various colors. Daggers were fastened to the horns, and the tails were bundled with oil-soaked reed stems. Concurrently, soldiers of Qi dug tens of tunnels around the city walls.
Under the cover of night, the bulls, their tails set ablaze, were released from the city, accompanied by five thousand elite soldiers. Charging toward the troops of Yan, the bulls, with their fiery tails, inflicted severe casualties and created panic among the soldiers of Yan. The population of Jimo city, in unison, banged drums and copper instruments, generating clamors and roars that reverberated through the air, shaking both the ground and the morale of Yan‘s soldiers. Faced with the terrifying sight of characters on the capes and the onslaught of raging bulls, the soldiers of Yan began to flee.
In the ensuing chaos, the troops of Qi captured and killed the Yan army general, Qi Jie. Pursuing the retreating Yan soldiers to the north, every town they passed renounced allegiance to Yan and returned to the kingdom of Qi. Tian Dan‘s forces swelled in size, growing more triumphant each day, while the Yan army fled north of the Yellow River. The kingdom of Qi successfully reclaimed over seventy cities it had lost. As King Xiang of Qi moved from Ju to Linzi, the old capital, the people greeted him warmly. In recognition of Tian Dan‘s contributions, the King of Qi bestowed upon him the title of Lord Anping.
The King of Qi proclaimed the daughter of Taishi Jiao as the queen, and she subsequently gave birth to the crown prince Jian. However, Taishi Jiao disowned his daughter, stating, “She married on her own, without going through a matchmaker. She is not my child, and she tarnished my family’s reputation.” Despite her father’s rejection, the queen continued to show him due respect.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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