Qin then sent Li Si as an envoy to the State of Han.
Li Si went to seek an audience with the King of Han but was not admitted. He therefore submitted a memorial, stating:
“In former times, Qin and Han united with one heart and agreed not to invade each other. No state under heaven dared to assault them, and this peaceful alliance lasted for generations.
Once the five feudal lords joined forces to attack Han, and Qin dispatched troops to rescue it. Lying in the Central Plains, Han’s territory was less than a thousand li in extent. Yet it could stand side by side with other states and keep its ruler and ministers safe, solely because it had served Qin faithfully for generations.
Later, the five feudal lords campaigned against Qin together. Han even took the lead among the allies, marching toward the Qin border pass. When the allied armies grew exhausted and helpless, they finally withdrew.
When Ducang served as prime minister of Qin, he raised troops and appointed generals to avenge the grievances of Qin against the world, planning to attack Chu first. The Prime Minister of Chu worried and said:
‘Han condemns Qin as unrighteous, yet once stood with Qin like brothers to share the troubles of the realm. Then it betrayed Qin and led the allied advance to the border pass. Dwelling in the Central Plains, Han is fickle and unpredictable.’
Subsequently, all the states jointly ceded ten cities from Han to apologize to Qin, persuading Qin to halt its military campaign.
Because of this single betrayal of Qin, Han fell into peril, lost territory, and its military remained weak to this day. This misfortune came from heeding the empty words of treacherous ministers and failing to weigh actual circumstances. Even executing those corrupt ministers afterward could never restore Han’s former strength.”
Note
This letter uses historical facts to warn the King of Han: Fickle diplomacy and trusting corrupt ministers bring ruin; only stable submission to Qin can preserve Han’s existence. It is both persuasion and veiled political pressure.
Li Si
Prime Minister of Qin, renowned Legalist statesman. Sent by Qin as an envoy to Han, he wrote this letter to persuade and pressure the King of Han into submitting to Qin.
King of Han
Ruler of the weak Central Plains state Han, hesitant in foreign policy and easily influenced by court ministers.
Ducang
A prime minister of Qin during the late Warring States period, who advocated military retaliation against the allied feudal states.
Prime Minister of Chu (Lingyin)
The highest official in the State of Chu, in charge of state affairs and foreign strategy, who criticized Han’s inconsistent diplomatic stance.
Alliance and Betrayal in Warring States Diplomacy
States frequently formed temporary alliances and broke promises for self-interest. Han’s shifting allegiance between Qin and the coalition made it distrusted by all sides.
Central Plains Geopolitics
Small states located in the Central Plains were sandwiched between powerful rivals, forced to rely on stronger powers for survival yet vulnerable to retaliation if they switched sides.
Ceding Cities as Apology
A common diplomatic practice in the Warring States: weaker states or wrongdoers would offer cities and land to a powerful state to end conflict and make peace.
秦遂遣斯使韩也。
李斯往诏韩王，未得见，因上书曰：“昔秦、韩戮力一意，以不相侵，天下莫敢犯，如此者数世矣。前时五诸侯尝相与共伐韩，秦发兵以救之。韩居中国，地不能满千里，而所以得与诸侯班位于天下，君臣相保者，以世世相教事秦之力也。先时五诸侯共伐秦，韩反与诸侯先为雁行以向秦军于阙下矣。诸侯兵困力极，无奈何，诸侯兵罢。杜仓相秦，起兵发将以报天下之怨而先攻荆。荆令尹患之，曰：‘夫韩以秦为不义，而与秦兄弟共苦天下。已又背秦，先为雁行以攻关。韩则居中国，展转不可知。’天下共割韩上地十城以谢秦，解其兵。夫韩尝一背秦而国迫地侵，兵弱至今，所以然者，听奸臣之浮说，不权事实，故虽杀戮奸臣，不能使韩复强。
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