Now Qin issues decrees and enforces rewards and punishments, distinguishing clearly between those with merit and those without.
Many of its people have grown up in their parents’ care and have never seen enemies since birth. Yet when they hear of war, they stamp their feet, bare their bodies, charge against sharp blades, and brave perils as if walking over fire and charcoal – all are ready to fight and die in the vanguard.
To choose death in battle is far different from clinging to life, yet the people willingly do so, because the state honors and inspires heroic sacrifice.
One warrior fighting with resolve can stand against ten foes; ten against a hundred, a hundred against a thousand, a thousand against ten thousand, and ten thousand can conquer the whole realm.
Qin’s territory, measured by adjusting irregular borders, stretches several thousand li, with elite troops numbering hundreds of thousands.
No other state under heaven can match Qin in its strict decrees, credible reward and punishment, or advantageous terrain. With such strengths to contend against all realms, conquering the whole world would be effortless.
Thus Qin has never failed to win a battle, never failed to capture a city, and never failed to defeat any opponent it faced. It has expanded its territory by thousands of li, a tremendous achievement.
Nevertheless, its weapons and armor are worn out, its soldiers and people weary, its reserves exhausted, farmlands laid waste, granaries emptied, and neighboring feudal states remain unsubdued. It cannot attain the fame of a hegemon.
There is no special reason for this: its strategic ministers simply do not offer their full loyalty to the state.
Note
This paragraph embodies Han Fei’s political view: Institutions and terrain create national strength, but loyal, dedicated ministers are indispensable to turn strength into lasting hegemony.
State of Qin
The most powerful state in the late Warring States Period, known for adopting Legalist reforms to enforce strict laws, clear reward and punishment, and mobilize the whole people for warfare. It laid the foundation for unifying China.
Han Fei
The core representative of Legalism. He admired Qin’s institutional and military strengths, but also criticized its political flaws, holding that a strong state still requires loyal and far-sighted ministers to complete hegemony.
Strategic Ministers
Refers to high-ranking counselors and officials in ancient vassal states, responsible for national strategy, diplomacy and governance. Han Fei blames them for being disloyal and short-sighted.
Legalist Reward and Punishment System
Legalists believed transparent, credible rewards and punishments are the root of governing a state and motivating soldiers. Fair incentives can turn ordinary people into fearless warriors.
Warfare Ethos of Qin
Qin implemented military merit system: soldiers gained rank and honor by cutting down enemies, forming a national culture of valuing bravery and sacrifice in battle.
Hegemony Thought in Warring States
To become a hegemon required not only military victory and territorial expansion, but also stable livelihood, full reserves, granaries, and submission from neighboring states – mere martial triumph was not enough.
今秦出號令而行賞罰，有功無功相事也。出其父母懷衽之中，生未嘗見寇耳。聞戰，頓足徒裼，犯白刃，蹈鑪炭，斷死於前者皆是也。夫斷死與斷生者不同，而民為之者，是貴奮死也。夫一人奮死可以對十，十可以對百，百可以對千，千可以對萬，萬可以剋天下矣。今秦地折長補短，方數千里，名師數十百萬。秦之號令賞罰、地形利害，天下莫若也。以此與天下，天下不足兼而有也。是故秦戰未嘗不剋，攻未嘗不取，所當未嘗不破，開地數千里，此其大功也。然而兵甲頓，士民病，蓄積索，田疇荒，囷倉虛，四鄰諸侯不服，霸王之名不成，此無異故，其謀臣皆不盡其忠也。
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