Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Qin Book 1 Scroll 6
Duration of 28 years
The 52nd year of King Zhaoxiang(255 B.C.)
The governor of the province of Hedong in Qin, Wang Ji, had been secretly communicating with other kingdoms and was publicly executed for his betrayal. Marquis Ying, who had been helped by Wang Ji during his escape to Qin, had been feeling uneasy these days. One day, the king of Qin sighed in court. Marquis Ying inquired about the reason. The king lamented, “Lord Wu’an is dead, and Zheng Anping and Wang Ji have defected. I am so worried that we lack excellent commanders in the court while facing many enemies from around the world.” Marquis Ying was frightened and did not know what to say.
There was a scholar named Cai Ze from Yan who heard about the awkward position of Marquis Ying. He traveled westward to the kingdom of Qin. Before his arrival, he sent word to Marquis Ying: “Mr. Cai Ze is a world-renowned debater. When he sees the king of Qin, he will challenge you in front of the king, and take over your job.” Marquis Ying was offended and summoned Cai Ze. When they met, Cai Ze was haughty and rude. Marquis Ying, displeased, admonished him, “You announced that you would replace me as the prime minister. Let me hear what you have to say.”
Cai Ze retorted, “Ah! Your idea is so outdated. Just like the four seasons come and go, a winner should leave when the mission is accomplished. Have you learned about Lord Shang of Qin, Wu Qi of Chu, and Wen Zhong of Yue? Do you wish to end your career like them?”
Marquis Ying taunted him, “Why not follow them? The three persons you mentioned maintained the utmost integrity and complete loyalty. A nobleman gains fame by giving his life. They died with no regret.”
Cai Ze countered, “Why wouldn’t an overachiever want a perfect ending? A winner with both fame and a happy life is the top choice; winning the admiration of posterity by giving away his life is the second choice; being humiliated and assaulted but staying alive is the lowest choice. Lord Shang, Wu Qi, and Wen Zhong were loyal officers to their lords and they were exemplary. But what about Hong Yao and the Duke of Zhou? They were loyal and also respected as saints. Are these three gentlemen on the same level as Hong Yao and the Duke of Zhou?”
Marquis Ying replied, “You are right.”
Cai Ze continued, “Is your lord kind and magnanimous towards veterans, who has never turned his back on high achievers, compared to Duke Xiao of Qin, the King of Chu, or the King of Yue?”
Marquis Ying said, “I don’t know.”
Cai Ze posed another question, “How are your achievements compared to those three gentlemen?”
Marquis Ying conceded, “Mine are not as great.”
Cai Ze concluded, “Then your troubles might be greater than theirs if you don’t retire soon. There is a saying: ‘The sun goes to the meridian only to decline; the moon becomes full only to wane.’ Things rise and fall, expand and contract—the sages know this way. Now you have avenged your hatred and repaid the kindness that you owed. I am starting to worry about your well-being if you don’t change your course.”
Marquis Ying invited Cai Ze to be his top adviser and recommended him to the king of Qin. The king had conversations with Cai Ze and was very impressed. He appointed Cai Ze as his guest adviser. Marquis Ying resigned due to illness, and the king of Qin, intrigued by Cai Ze‘s new strategies, appointed him as prime minister. However, Cai Ze was dismissed after several months on the job.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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