During the Warring States Period, there were many famous generals, and the Qin State and the Zhao State were victorious, and the four famous generals of the Warring States Period, each of the two countries ranked second. "The Biography of Lian Po Lin Xiangru" records the deeds of Lin Xiangru, a famous minister of Zhao State, and the famous generals Lian Po, Zhao Hao, Li Mu and others. This book selects Lian Po and Lin Xiangru as representatives.
Lian Po (year of birth and death unknown), surnamed Ying, Lian Shi, name Po, word Hongye, was a native of Kucheng County, Zhongshan County, Zhao State (now Dingzhou City, Hebei Province) at the end of the Warring States Period. He was an ancient military strategist in China and one of the four famous generals of the Warring States.
In 283 BC, Lian Po led the Zhao army to attack the state of Qi, returned with a great victory, and was named Shangqing by King Zhao Huiwen.
Lin Xiangru was also a famous politician and diplomat in Zhao State. At first, he was a guest at the home of Miao Xian, the eunuch of King Zhao Huiwen, and was valued by Miao Xian because of his outstanding talent.
One year, King Zhao Huiwen got the world's heavy treasure and the clan, and after King Qin Zhao heard about it, he proposed to exchange fifteen cities for the Heshi Bi. At that time, Qin was strong and Zhao was weak, and Zhao Guo did not give He's Bi, for fear of offending Qin, and he was afraid that he would not be able to receive the city, so he couldn't find a suitable person to envoy Qin for a while, so Miao Xian recommended Lin Xiangru.
King Zhao Huiwen immediately summoned Lin Xiangru, and after talking, King Zhao Huiwen recognized Lin Xiangru and asked him to send an envoy to Qin, and Lin Xiangru promised that King Zhao would return to Zhao completely.
Lin Xiangru came to Qin with He's Bi, and King Qin Zhao summoned him. Lin Xiangru saw that King Qin Zhao only cared about seeing He's bi with his ministers, and never submitted the matter of cutting the city, knowing that he didn't mean it, he stepped forward and said: "He's bi is flawed, let the ministers show it to the king." ”
King Qin Zhao gave him He's Bi, Lin Xiangru held He's Bi in his hand, leaned against the pillar, and said solemnly: "The minister sees that the king only cares about appreciating jade, and has no sincerity to deliver the city”
King Qin Zhao was afraid that he would really smash He's Bi, so he hurriedly summoned ** and specified the delivery of such and such a city. Lin Xiangru said: "Before King Zhao sent He's Bi, he deliberately fasted for five days, and asked the king to fast for five days before the ministers dared to offer He's Bi." King Qin Zhao agreed, and Lin Xiangru bought five days to let his subordinates secretly return to Zhao with He's Bi.
Five days later, King Qin Zhao received Lin Xiangru. Lin Xiangru said: "The tradition of the Qin State is not to keep the integrity, and the ministers are afraid of being deceived by the king, so they sent someone to send He's Bi back to the Zhao State. If the king really wants to be He's Bi, please hand over the city first, and then send an envoy to Zhao, and he will naturally get He's Bi!”
King Qin Zhao and the ministers looked at each other, and someone suggested killing Lin Xiangru, but King Qin Zhao refused, and after feasting Lin Xiangru, he let him return to China.
Zhao Huiwen Wang was overjoyed, and Feng Lin Xiangru was the doctor. A few years later, King Zhao of Qin invited King Zhao Huiwen to join the alliance at Miǎn Chi (present-day Sanmenxia, Henan Province), and Lin Xiangru followed King Zhao Huiwen there.
King Qin Zhao drank until he was half-drunk, and asked King Zhao to play the serpent through the wine, but King Zhao Huiwen did not dare to refuse, so he got up and played the serpent. The historian of the Qin State on the side immediately recorded: On a certain day, a certain month, King Zhao played for the King of Qin.
Lin Xiangru stepped forward and said, "King Zhao heard that King Qin is good at striking the reins, so the ministers presented the basin and asked the king to play." King Qin Zhao was furious and disagreed. Lin Xiangru stepped forward with a basin in his hand, and asked King Qin Zhao to play again, but King Qin Zhao still refused, Lin Xiangru said: "The minister is only five steps away from the king, and the minister will splash his neck blood on the king!."After speaking, his eyes widened angrily, and he shouted resolutely, and the attendants beside King Qin were so frightened that they took a few steps back.
King Qin Zhao had no choice but to strike, Lin Xiangru greeted the historian of Zhao behind him, and recorded: On a certain day, a certain month, King Qin struck a rope for King Zhao. Seeing that King Qin was humiliated, the ministers of Qin came out to make things difficult for King Zhao, and Lin Xiangru resolved them one by one, successfully maintaining the dignity of Zhao State.
After the end of the alliance, King Zhao Huiwen made Lin Xiangru the secretary of state, ranking above Lian Po. Lian Po was very angry and said: "I am the general of Zhao State, and I have great military achievements. If you see him, you must humiliate him severely!”
Lian Po's words reached Lin Xiangru's ears, and Lin Xiangru excused himself not to go to court, went out to meet Lian Po's car, and turned the head of the car to avoid.
Lin Xiangru's doorman was very angry and persuaded him not to be so afraid of Lian Po. Lin Xiangru said: "Compared with Lian Po and King Qin, who is more powerful?."The doormen replied in unison: "Of course, King Qin is powerful." Lin Xiangru said: "I sent an envoy to the Qin State, and even the King of Qin dared to scold, how could I be afraid of Lian Po?"The reason why I tolerated it was because I considered that the Qin State did not dare to use troops against the Zhao State, because the Zhao State had me and Lian Po, and if we fought with each other, there would inevitably be damage, which would be unfavorable to the Zhao State!”
When Lian Po heard these words, he was greatly moved, exposed his upper body, carried the thorn strip on his back, and came to Lin Xiangru's house to plead guilty, saying: "I am a reckless man who fights on the battlefield, I didn't think about it, I didn't expect you to be so generous!."Lin Xiangru hurriedly helped him up, and the two became friends of life and death.
In 266 BC, King Zhao Xiaocheng ascended the throne, and Lian Po and Lin Xiangru continued to assist the new monarch wholeheartedly. Soon, the Battle of Changping broke out between Qin and Zhao, and Lian Po served as the commander of the Zhao army.
In the face of the powerful Qin army, which was in high morale, Lian Po adopted the combat policy of building fortifications, exhausting the enemy army, and attacking the enemy. After holding the camp for three years, the Qin army was never able to break through the defenses of the Zhao army.
The State of Qin sent spies to the State of Zhao to spread rumors: "Lian Po is old, and he only dares to defend. What Qin Jun was really afraid of was Zhao Kuo, the son of Ma Fujun Zhao Hao. King Zhao Xiaocheng listened to the rumors and decided to replace Lian with Zhao Kuo.
Lin Xiangru, who was seriously ill, resolutely objected, saying: "This is a trick of the Qin State. The king only heard about Zhao Kuo's reputation, but he didn't know his actual skills. Zhao Kuo only knew how to read his father's military books, and did not know how to be flexible. King Zhao Xiaocheng insisted on appointing Zhao Kuo, which led to a fiasco, and Zhao was almost destroyed. Lin Xiangru died of grief.
A few years later, Lian Po led a small number of Zhao troops to defeat the Yan army that took advantage of the fire to rob, and was named Xinping Jun and served as a false appearance. King Zhao Mianxiang ascended the throne, listened to slander, and deprived Lian Po of his military power. Angered by Lian Po, he sent troops to drive away those who had taken over the military power and fled to Wei. The king of Wei took him in, but did not reuse it.
Later, the Qin State repeatedly attacked the Zhao State, and the King of Zhao Mourning Xiang wanted to ask Hui Lian Po to continue to lead the troops and sent envoys to the Wei State to offer condolences. The traitor Guo Kai was afraid that Lian Po would not be good for him after he returned, so he secretly bribed the envoy to make him speak ill of Lian Po.
Lian Po also wanted to serve Zhao Guo, and after seeing the envoy, he ate a bucket of rice and ten catties of meat in front of him, and put on his armor and got on his horse, saying that he was still useful. The envoy reported back to King Zhao, saying that Lian Po was too old and weak to lead the army, and King Zhao Mourning Xiang gave up the idea of inviting Lian Po back.
Later, Lian Po was invited by the state of Chu to serve as a general, and he did not make any contributions. He said: "I just want to serve Zhao Guo. "In the end, he died of old age in the state of Chu.
This article is excerpted from "Twenty-four Histories Read Now, Language and History Are Progressing" - the second volume of "Historical Records", which is officially authorized to be published, welcome to continue to pay attention.