Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 2 Scroll 10 (continued)
The 4th year of the Emperor Gaozu(203 B.C. continued)
Scholar Kuai Che, seeing that Han Xin held the key to the outcome of the war, approached Han Xin with an elaborate analogy disguised as physiognomy: “When I observe your face, I see the fortune of a marquis, which is insecure and perilous. But when I look at your back, I see a great destiny indescribable.”
Han Xin, puzzled, asked, “What are you talking about?”
Kuai Che explained, “At the outset of the rebellion the goal was to overthrow the Qin Empire. Now, the conflict between Chu and Han has devastated the central region of the country. The dead litter the land, and the bones of fathers and sons lie exposed in the fields. The people of Chu, from their uprising in Pengcheng, battled as they pursued the retreating enemy, took advantage of their victories to sweep forward, and shook the world with their might. But now, the Chu army is stuck between Jing County and Suocheng town, pressing against the western mountains but unable to advance for three years. While the King of Han, commanding hundreds of thousands, holds the defensive positions of Gong County and the Luo River, protected by natural barriers of mountains and rivers, fights multiple battles daily but gains not an inch of land, retreating to the north barely saving themself. The courageous and the shrewd are caught in a stalemate.”
“The common people are exhausted and resentful, with no one to rely on. In my estimation, under such circumstances, it is not possible for anyone but a truly wise and holy person to bring an end to the calamities of the world. The fate of both rulers now hangs on your decision: if you support Han, Han will win; if you side with Chu, Chu will win. If you heed my advice, it would be best to ensure mutual benefit and preserve both. By dividing the world into three, standing like the legs of a tripod, no one will dare to make the first move. With your wisdom and virtue, the armed forces under your command, the stronghold of Qi, and alliances with Zhao and Yan, you could advance through the vulnerable regions and control the rear, responding to the people’s desires by marching west to demand justice for them. The entire world would rally behind you—who would dare not listen?”
“By weakening the strong and strengthening the weak, you could establish vassal lords. Once the vassal lords are established, the world will submit, and Qi will receive their loyalty. Given Qi‘s historical influence over the lands of Jiao River and Si River, if you humbly bow and yield to other lords, the kings of the world will follow suit and come to pay tribute to Qi.”
“Remember the saying: ‘Heaven offers but is not taken, one will instead incur its blame; the time arrives but action is not taken, one will instead suffer its misfortune.’ The time has come, and if you don’t act now, you might regret it forever.”
However, Han Xin remained unmoved and replied, “The King of Han has treated me with immense kindness. How could I betray him for my own gain?”
Kuai Che pressed further: “Look at the King of Changshan (Zhang Er) and Lord Cheng’an (Chen Yu). They were once close friends, but after the incident involving Zhan Yan and Chen Ze, they fell out. In the end, Zhang Er killed Chen Yu near the Zhi River and severed his head. Their friendship was once the best in the world, yet they became enemies. Why? Human nature and ambition are unpredictable. You may think your loyalty to the King of Han will protect you, but it might not.”
“Consider the case of Wen Zhong, the minister who saved the Kingdom of Yue and helped King Gou Jian become a hegemon. After his achievements, Wen Zhong was put to death. As the saying goes, ‘The hunting dogs are cooked when all the prey are caught.’ In terms of trust, your relationship with the King of Han is not as deep as the friendship between Zhang Er and Chen Yu. In terms of loyalty, you are not as close to the King of Han as Wen Zhong was to King Gou Jian. These are clear signs.”
“I urge you to think carefully. There’s another saying: ‘A man’s power becomes dangerous when it overshadows his lord’s, and his merits bring no reward when they surpass all others.’ You are now so powerful that you make your lord feel small, and your achievements are unmatched. The people of Chu won’t trust you if you go to Chu, and the people of Han will fear you if you stay with Han. With so much at stake, where will you go?”
Han Xin thanked Kuai Che, “Professor, there’s no need to say more. I will think about it.”
Kuai Che returned a few days later and said: “Listening to advice shows you what comes next; making a plan tells you when to act. It’s rare for someone who refuses to listen or plan to last long. Understanding leads to swift decisions; hesitation brings mishaps. Being caught up in minor pros and cons while missing the bigger picture, or delaying action when you already foresee the future, are common pitfalls. Execution is difficult and prone to failure; opportunities are rare and easily missed. A chance is here, it won’t come again!”
Han Xin was still indecisive. He couldn’t bear to turn his back on the King of Han. He believed his merits were so significant that the king would not take the Kingdom of Qi from him. Ultimately, he ignored Kuai Che‘s advice. After that, Kuai Che left Han Xin. He pretended to be insane and made a living as a shaman.
In July of that autumn, the King of Han granted the title of King of Huainan to Ying Bu.
In August, the northern tribe of Beihe and the Kingdom of Yan sent cavalry to support the King of Han.
The King of Han issued an edict requiring local officials to inter the remains of fallen soldiers and ensure their coffins return home. This edict received widespread accolades throughout the country.
The King of Han promoted Zhou Chang from his position as court security chief to the role of grand master of censorate. Zhou Chang was a cousin of Zhou Ke.
Xiang Yu sensed his isolation. His troops were facing food shortages and attacks from Han Xin, and he was deeply concerned. The King of Han sent his envoy, Hou Gong, to Xiang Yu, requesting the return of his father. Xiang Yu agreed to a treaty with the King of Han, dividing the country into two: the land west of Honggou (Great Gulch, a canal dug in the Qin dynasty) would belong to the Kingdom of Han, while the land to the east would belong to the Kingdom of Chu.In September, Xiang Yu sent back King of Han‘s father and Queen Lü. He withdrew his troops and retreated to the east. The King of Han was preparing to return to the west when Zhang Liang and Chen Ping advised against it: “The Kingdom of Han controls more than half of the country and has the support of other monarchs. The Chu troops are exhausted and starving. This is a rare opportunity. If we don’t strike now, it will be like feeding a tiger back to full strength and leaving a threat for the future.” The King of Han followed their advice.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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