Chapter 43 Chapter 9 Mencius on Civil Rights

Su Qin came to Yan State during the period of Yan Wengong.After the death of Duke Wen of Yan, King Yan Yi came to the throne, and King Qi Wei took advantage of the funeral of Yan State to send troops to attack Yan State and seized ten cities at once. If it was in the Spring and Autumn Period, this kind of behavior of taking advantage of people's danger would be condemned by the people of the world. However, in the Warring States Period, rituals collapsed and music deteriorated to a new level. King Qi Wei did this, and people have long seen it as no surprise. King Yan Yi was unwilling to lose ten cities like this, but he didn't dare to challenge King Qi Wei, so he called Su Qin and said, "Since you came to Yan State, the former king has respected you very much and funded you to meet King Zhao. Initiating the alliance of six countries, you became famous all over the world. Later, when the alliance split, you were not tolerated in Zhao, but the former king still respected you as always, and let you continue to live a comfortable life in Yan. Now Qi ignores shame and takes advantage of Let us attack at the funeral and seize ten cities, can you get these lands back for the widow?"

King Yan Yi spoke politely, but actually implied accusations: You are pampered and have been idle for so many years, so it's time to do some work!Su Qin was ashamed and said quickly, "Please let me go to Qi State." In fact, Su Qin is not idle. During these years in Yan State, he seemed to have nothing to do, but he was actually very busy.What are you busy with?Busy with Yan Wengong's wife, the mother of King Yan Yi.With his witty words, with his graceful demeanor, with his jade tree facing the wind, he brought endless joy to the harem of Yan State.Regarding this point, King Yan Yi had noticed it a long time ago, but he kept opening and closing his eyes, pretending not to see it.

Su Qin came to Linzi and successfully met King Qi Wei.He saluted King Qi Wei twice, once bowing his head to express congratulations, and once raising his head to express condolences.King Qi Wei was surprised: "It's too fast for your celebration to come one after another!" Su Qin said: "I heard that even if people are extremely hungry, they will not eat aconitum (a kind of plant, which is highly poisonous), because although this stuff can temporarily fill the stomach, it will kill people soon, and Starving to death makes no difference." King Qi Wei nodded and said, "But what does this have to do with me?"

Su Qin said: "Your Majesty, do you know who the current wife of King Yan is?" "have no idea." "It's the daughter of the current King Qin." Su Qin paused for a moment, watching King Qi Wei's reaction, only to see that his brows were wrinkled, and a trace of uneasiness flashed in his eyes, but he quickly covered it up.King Qin Hui's marriage of his daughter to King Yan Yi was still a matter of Yan Wengong's time, because King Yan Yi was only a son at that time, and this matter did not attract attention among the princes.Su Qin went on to say: "Although the State of Yan is weak, the King of Yan is also the son-in-law of the King of Qin! Is it worthwhile for you to offend the mighty State of Qin just for the sake of petty profits? The King of Qin was so angry that he ordered the State of Yan to be the vanguard and mobilized The army conquered Qi from the north, what is the difference between you and eating aconitum when you are hungry?"

Su Qin even frightened and lied, but Qi Wei Wang was stunned and asked: "Then what should I do?" "Then what else can we do, return the city to Yan State! Think about it, King Yan will be happy to take back ten cities without trouble, and will be closer to Qi State; and King Qin knows that you are looking at him for his sake You must be very happy to return the ten cities of the Yan Kingdom, this is a way to turn an enemy into a friend, and it is also a good opportunity to win the hearts of the world!" King Qi Wei was fooled in this way and returned ten cities to the country of Yan.

After completing his mission, Su Qin hummed a little tune and returned to the country of Yan. He thought that King Yan Yi would reward him greatly, but he was greeted with a frosty face. It turned out that when he went to Qi, someone said to King Yanyi: "Su Qin is a villain who does not keep his word." He also hinted that Su Qin might have had an affair with the queen mother and had cuckolded the former king.For King Yanyi, the former king's green hat was not a big deal, but when someone told him about it, he couldn't bear it.He sealed the visitor's mouth with a sentence of "Hugh nonsense", but left a lump in his heart.When Su Qin came back, he didn't show a good face, and asked someone to tell Su Qin: "From now on, you can rest at home!"

Su Qin came to the door with a shameless face, and said to King Yanyi: "I was originally a commoner in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, without any credit, but you met me in the ancestral temple and treated me with courtesy in the court. Now I have recovered ten for you. Chengchi, you should have gotten closer to me, but let me sit on the bench, someone must have said that I am an untrustworthy villain in front of you, right?" King Yanyi responded, noncommittal. "Actually, what they said is right, I am a person who does not keep my word." Su Qin said suddenly, "But I am not keeping my word, it is your blessing! The so-called faithfulness just means that a person is pure and self-respecting, but For the benefit of the country, it is impossible to speak so much of loyalty. Am I not deceiving him when I lobby the King of Qi? Am I not filial if I leave my old mother in Luoyi? If someone is as filial as Zeng Shen, Boyi and How would you feel if someone as honest as Shuqi and as trustworthy as Wei Sheng came to serve you?"

Zeng Shen was a filial son; Boyi and Shuqi were the sons of the Guzhu King at the end of the Shang Dynasty. He was the great love saint in ancient times. He was dating his girlfriend under the bridge. The girl didn't come, but the flood came. Wei Sheng hugged the bridge pillar and refused to leave, so he was drowned. King Yanyi said: "Such a person is something I can only wish for." Su Qin sneered: "A person like Zeng Shen doesn't even leave his parents to live outside for a night, how can you let him travel thousands of miles to serve the country of Yan? A person like Boyi would rather die than live a week." Su, can he go to Qi State to deceive you? A person like Wei Sheng, who kept his word to death for a woman, do you think he can persuade King Qi to return ten cities to you? It's a false loyalty, but I'm just greedy for my own good reputation. And my loyalty is true loyalty, so I offend you."

King Yanyi said: "No, no, how can anyone in this world be punished for being faithful?" Su Qin said: "There was a man who went to a distant place to be an official, and his wife had an affair with others at home. When the man was about to return, his wife and his concubine discussed poisoning him with poisoned wine. His concubine heard the two men Conspired, but dared not speak out, so he pretended to overturn the jug and spilled the wine on the ground. The man was furious and beat the concubine fifty lashes. You said, this woman protected the master, yes I didn’t reveal the mistress’s secret, but I was whipped myself, isn’t it because of my faithfulness? Isn’t my current situation the same as that concubine’s situation?”

King Yanyi said: "Then you should return to your original post!" Su Qin hurriedly thanked him. King Yan Yi asked again: "The example you just gave, if it happened in the palace, what would be the result?" When Su Qin heard this, his face was ashen, and he dared not answer.One day not long after, Su Qin quietly left the country of Yan.He left a letter to King Yan Yi, saying: "Your servants in Yan State cannot improve the status of Yan State; if you work in Qi State, it will make Yan State be valued by the princes of the world." After seeing it, King Yanyi sighed softly, and said to himself, "You can do whatever you want!"

Su Qin came to Qi State in this way and settled down in Qi State.