Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Zhou Book 5 Scroll 5 (continued)
The 57th year of King Nan(258 B.C. continued)
After the passing of King Wucheng of Yan, his son, King Xiao of Yan, ascended to the throne.
Wei Wuji, a prince of Wei renowned for his reverence towards scholars, employed up to three thousand dependents in his household. Among them was a hermit named Hou Ying, who, at the age of seventy, served as the gatekeeper of the Yi Gate in Daliang, Wei‘s capital city.
One day, Prince Wuji hosted a grand banquet and invited numerous esteemed guests. As the guests were seated, the prince personally drove his carriage to pick up Professor Hou, reserving the left seat for him. Without hesitation, Hou Ying donned his humble attire and took his place beside the prince. The prince, showing deference, held the reins of the carriage as they set off.
During the journey, Hou Ying requested a detour to visit a friend working in the market. The prince complied, and upon arriving, Hou Ying engaged in a lengthy conversation with his friend Zhu Hai, surreptitiously observing the prince’s reaction. Witnessing the prince’s expression became even more gracious, Hou Ying eventually concluded the conversation and returned to the carriage.
Upon reaching the prince’s residence, Wuji invited Hou Ying to sit beside him and praised him highly to all the guests. The unexpected display of admiration left the guests astonished and impressed by the prince’s unexpected humility and respect for Hou Ying.
Lord Ping’yuan‘s wife is Prince Wuji‘s elder sister. As the Qin troops besieged the capital of Zhao, wagons carrying messages from Lord Ping’yuan arrived one after another at Prince Wuji‘s residence. Lord Pingyuan‘s messages were poignant: “I was honored to be part of your sister’s marriage due to your noble morality and empathy, which considers others’ suffering as your own. Now, as the city of Handan is on the brink of surrender with no relief from Wei in sight, even if you disregard me, can you ignore the plight of your own sister?”
Deeply troubled, Prince Wuji made repeated appeals to the king of Wei, urging him to command General Jin Bi to come to the rescue of the people of Zhao. Despite the efforts of his dependents and other scholars to advocate for Zhao, the king of Wei remained unmoved. Frustrated by the lack of action, Prince Wuji assembled his dependents, equipped with over a hundred chariots, and led them to the front lines, prepared to fight to the death.
During their passage through the Yi Gate, they encountered Hou Ying. Observing Prince Wuji‘s determined efforts, Hou Ying remarked, “The prince is making a valiant effort. However, I am too old for such endeavors.” Prince Wuji, feeling disheartened by the encounter, turned back and approached Hou Ying once more.
Anticipating the prince’s return, Hou Ying chuckled, “I knew you would come back. Your only idea seems to be seeking death on the battlefield. But what do you hope to achieve by throwing yourself into the jaws of hungry tigers?” Prince Wuji humbly bowed to Hou Ying again, seeking guidance.
Dismissing the prince’s attendants, Hou Ying shared a plan with Prince Wuji: he revealed that half of General Jin Bi’s command tally was kept in the king’s bedroom, accessible to Ruji, the king’s favored concubine. Knowing that Prince Wuji had previously avenged the murder of Ruji’s father and that she would do anything for him, Hou Ying suggested that Prince Wuji enlist Ruji’s help to acquire the command tally, “I learned that half of General Jin Bi’s command tally is kept in the king’s bedroom. Ruji, the king’s favorite concubine, has access to steal it from him. Furthermore, I am aware that the prince avenged the murderer of Ruji’s father, and she holds deep loyalty and affection towards you. If the prince requests her assistance, she will undoubtedly obtain the commander’s tally for you. With it in your possession, you can assume command from Jin Bi, lead his troops northward, and then westward to expel the Qin army. This achievement would be on par with the feats of the five legendary hegemons.” Embracing this plan, Prince Wuji obtained the command tally as advised by Hou Ying.
Before the Prince departed, Hou Ying offered him advice: “A commander on the battlefield is not obliged to follow the king’s direct orders. If Jin Bi verifies the two halves of the tally and still refuses to relinquish command, trouble will arise when he consults the king. My associate, Zhu Hai, is a strong man. He can accompany you. If Jin Bi cooperates, excellent. If not, let Zhu Hai deal with him!”
Upon hearing this, Prince Wuji invited Zhu Hai to accompany him to the city of Ye. When General Jin Bi assembled the two halves of the commander’s tally and found them to fit perfectly, he remained suspicious. Clutching the tally tightly, he scrutinized it, questioning the Prince’s sudden assumption of command with just a single chariot.
In response, Zhu Hai swiftly produced a hefty awl weighing twenty kilograms from his sleeve and struck Jin Bi, causing his demise. With Jin Bi eliminated, Prince Wuji swiftly rallied all the troops under his command, issuing orders: “Those with family members in the army may return home. Likewise, those with siblings serving alongside them may also depart. If you are the sole son of your family, return home to tend to your household affairs.” With eighty thousand soldiers under his command, Prince Wuji set out for the city of Handan.
Wang He, the Qin general, faced insurmountable resistance at Handan. Despite his efforts, the reinforcements from neighboring kingdoms closed in on Handan, thwarting Wang He’s advances multiple times. Upon hearing this news, Lord Wu’an expressed his dissatisfaction: “Your Majesty chose not to heed my counsel. What course of action do you plan to take now?”
Infuriated by Lord Wu’an‘s remarks, the king of Qin attempted to compel him to assume command. However, Lord Wu’an declined the appointment, citing a worsening illness as his reason.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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