Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Qin Book 1 Scroll 6 (continued)
The 2nd year of King Zhuangxiang(248 B.C.)
There was a solar eclipse in April.
General Meng Ao of Qin raided the Kingdom of Zhao. He quelled the resistance in the city of Taiyuan and captured thirty-seven towns, including larger cities like Yuci and Langmeng.
Lord Chunshen spoke to the King of Chu: “The area to the north of the Huai River shares a border with the Kingdom of Qi and its defense is in crisis. Please establish a prefecture government there and grant the area to the east of the Yangtze River as my fief to supervise.” The King of Chu approved his request. Lord Chunshen built his hometown on the ruins of the Kingdom of Wu’s capital, constructing extravagant palaces.
The 3rd year of King Zhuangxiang(247 B.C.)
General Wang He of Qin attacked several cities in the Shangdang region of Zhao. His troops captured all the cities and established the prefecture of Taiyuan.
General Meng Ao of Qin led a campaign against the kingdom of Wei and captured the cities of Gaodu and Ji. As the troops of Wei faced recurring defeats, the king of Wei grew increasingly distressed. He sent an envoy with a letter to Lord Xinling, who was living in exile in the kingdom of Zhao, asking him to return home. However, Lord Xinling still feared retribution for his previous act of taking over the army of Wei and rescuing the kingdom of Zhao. He ordered his followers: “Death penalty to whoever persuades me or speaks for the envoy from Wei.” No one dared to advise him on this subject, except for Mr. Mao and Mr. Xue. They spoke to Lord Xinling, saying, “Your grace is widely respected by the monarchs only because of the existence of the kingdom of Wei. Now, the kingdom of Wei is in crisis and the prince shows no concern. Once the capital Daliang is destroyed and your ancestral temple is erased, how will the prince hold his head high in the world?”
Lord Xinling blushed before they finished their sentences. He immediately jumped into his carriage and headed back to the kingdom of Wei. When they met again, the king of Wei held Lord Xinling‘s hands and wept. He appointed Lord Xinling as his commander-in-chief. Lord Xinling sent out a plea for help to all the monarchs. When the monarchs saw that Lord Xinling was in command, they sent troops to aid the kingdom of Wei. Lord Xinling led troops from five kingdoms in the region of Hewai and defeated General Meng Ao. Meng Ao and his troops fled, Lord Xinling pursued all the way to Hangu Pass before returning.
A resident of the state of Anling named Suo Gao had a son who worked for the kingdom of Qin. Suo Gao’s son was in charge of the defense of the city of Guan. Lord Xinling could not break into the city of Guan, so he sent an envoy to Lord Anling, the head of state where Suo Gao lived, and said, “If you send Suo Gao to my camp, I will promote him to a high official and a tally-carrying general.”
Lord Anling was non-committal: “Anling is a small state, and we don’t force our people to do things. Your envoy had better go and ask him in person.” He ordered his official to lead the envoy to Suo Gao’s residence. The envoy passed on the message from Lord Xinling. Suo Gao responded, “Lord Xinling gives me too much credit. He asks me to attack the city of Guan. It is absurd for a father to attack a city his son defends. If my son saw me and surrendered, he would betray his lord. Lord Xinling would not like it if a father taught his son to betray his lord. I am sorry, but I cannot oblige.”
The envoy reported back to Lord Xinling, who was furious. He sent someone to the house of Lord Anling with this message: “Anling is a vassal state of Wei. Now I cannot overcome the resistance of the city of Guan. When the troops of Qin come back at me, our state of Wei will be in peril. I hope you deliver Suo Gao tied up to me. If you don’t, I will send one hundred thousand troops to the gate of your city!”
Lord Anling rebutted, “My father, Marquis Cheng, took over the state according to the decree from King Xiang of Wei. He handed the constitutional law from the central government to him. The first part of the law states: ‘Sons killing their fathers and subjects killing their lords are unpardonable crimes. Even a state-wide amnesty would not pardon a soldier who surrendered a besieged city or ran away from the battlefront.’ Now, Suo Gao has declined a high-ranking job to preserve the bond between father and son, and you ask me to tie him up and deliver him to you. You are asking me to break the constitutional law and the decree of King Xiang. This is something I dare not do, even under the threat of the death penalty.”
Suo Gao heard the exchange and sighed, “Lord Xinling is a violent and self-centered person. The rejection from Lord Anling will result in trouble for the state of Anling. I have upheld my principles and my duty to my lord. I do not want disaster to fall upon my lord.”
He went to see the envoy and, in front of him, slit his own throat. When Lord Xinling heard the story, he mourned Suo Gao’s death by donning a mourning gown and moving out of his main residence. He sent an envoy to Lord Anling to beg for forgiveness, saying, “Wuji is an immoral man. I offended Lord Anling because I was troubled by the difficult situation. I apologize for my sins.”
The king of Qin spent ten thousand catties of gold to sow discord in the kingdom of Wei and oust Lord Xinling. He found a former attendant of General Jin Bi to gossip about Lord Xinling in front of the king of Wei: “Prince Wuji spent more than ten years outside the country. Now he is in charge, and all the monarchs answer his call. They all hear about Lord Xinling, and no one cares about the king of Wei.” The king of Qin even sent letters to Lord Xinling, taunting him: “Have you become king of Wei yet?”
As the rumors spread, the king of Wei could not resist their influence. He released Lord Xinling from command and sent others to replace him. Realizing this was the second time he had been dismissed, Lord Xinling stopped attending court, claiming illness. He indulged himself in alcohol and sex, and he died four years later.
The king of Han requested to attend his funeral, and Lord Xinling‘s son felt honored. He mentioned it to Zishun, who advised him, “You should not host the king of Han based on protocol. The protocol states: ‘The king must be the host when a neighboring king comes to mourn.’ The king has not delegated this right to you. Therefore, you should not accept the king of Han.” Following this advice, Lord Xinling‘s son declined the king ‘s request.
On May 23 of the summer, the king of Qin died. His son Zheng was installed as the new king at the age of thirteen. All state affairs were delegated to Marquis Wenxin, whom the new king addressed as “Uncle.”
A riot broke out in the city of Jinyang.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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