In 283 BCE, the mighty state of Qin, under King Zhaoxiang, repeatedly attacked Zhao – only to be repelled by the formidable general Lian Po. Frustrated, Qin shifted tactics: instead of war, it would use deception and diplomacy.
A precious treasure, a perilous offer
Word reached King Zhaoxiang of Qin that King Huiwen of Zhao now possessed the legendary He Shi Bi – the sacred jade disc once lost by Chu, whose disappearance had wrongly implicated Zhang Yi decades earlier. Seizing the opportunity, Qin dispatched envoys with a bold proposal:
“We offer fifteen cities in exchange for the He Shi Bi.”
The Zhao court was paralyzed. To refuse risked provoking Qin; to accept invited betrayal. No minister dared volunteer as envoy – until Miao Xian, a eunuch official, recommended his retainer: Lin Xiangru, a man of keen judgment and quiet resolve.
Summoned before the king, Lin Xiangru declared:
“Qin is strong, Zhao weak – we must appear reasonable. If we refuse, the fault is ours. If we send the jade and Qin reneges, the shame falls on them. I will go. If Qin honors its word, the jade stays. If not – I swear to return it intact to Zhao.”
Thus, Lin Xiangru was appointed Minister and sent to Xianyang, the Qin capital, carrying the fate of Zhao’s dignity in his hands.
The Jade in the Lion’s Den
At court, King Zhaoxiang received the jade with delight – but treated it as a mere curiosity. He passed it among his ministers, then to his concubines, laughing and celebrating, never mentioning the promised cities.
Lin Xiangru saw the truth: this was no exchange – only theft disguised as diplomacy.
Thinking fast, he approached the throne:
“This jade has a flaw – only I can show it.”
Once the jade was back in his hands, Lin Xiangru stepped back, pressed against a pillar, and thundered:
“You pledged fifteen cities! Yet you treat this treasure like a toy! If you force me, I’ll shatter it – and my skull – against this pillar!”
Terrified of losing the jade forever, King Zhaoxiang apologized profusely and ordered maps brought forth, pointing to fifteen cities.
But Lin Xiangru knew better. He demanded:
“Zhao observed five days of fasting before sending the jade. You must do the same – and hold a formal ceremony.”
The king agreed, assuming Lin Xiangru couldn’t escape.
The Secret Return
That night, Lin Xiangru sent a trusted aide disguised as a merchant, who smuggled the He Shi Bi out of Qin via back roads and returned it safely to Zhao.
Five days later, at the grand ceremony, Lin Xiangru stood empty-handed before the assembled envoys of all states. When challenged, he declared boldly:
“From Duke Mu to the present, not one of Qin’s more than twenty rulers has ever acted in good faith. Meng Mingshi deceived the state of Jin; Shang Yang deceived the state of Wei; Zhang Yi deceived the state of Chu… Past events stand as clear proof. Fearing I too might be deceived and betray the King of Zhao, I have already returned the ‘Heshi Bi’ to the state of Zhao. “
He then offered his life:
“Kill me if you wish. But know this: if you truly want the jade, first hand over the cities, then send envoys to Zhao. Only then will Zhao surrender it.”
His words stunned the court. To execute him would expose Qin as a bully – before the entire diplomatic world.
After a tense silence, King Zhaoxiang relented:
“A jade is but a trifle. Let us not harm friendship over it.”
Lin Xiangru returned home a hero. The He Shi Bi was whole – and so was Zhao’s honor.
The Meeting at Mianchi: Music as Warfare
Yet Qin did not forget. In 279 BCE, King Zhaoxiang invited King Huiwen to a summit at Mianchi, claiming goodwill.
Zhao’s court feared a trap. But Lin Xiangru and Lian Po insisted: refusal would signal weakness.
Preparations were made:
- 5,000 elite guards accompanied the king,
- General Li Mu led the vanguard,
- Lord Pingyuan commanded a reserve army nearby,
- Lian Po stayed behind with the crown prince, ready to declare him king if the monarch didn’t return within 30 days.
At Mianchi, the two kings feasted. But after wine, King Zhaoxiang of Qin smirked:
“I hear Your Majesty plays the se (Chinese zither). Please grace us with a tune.”
Humiliated but helpless, King Huiwen of Zhao played. Qin’s historian immediately recorded:
“The King of Qin commanded the King of Zhao to play the se.”
It was a deliberate insult – treating Zhao as a vassal.
Striking Back with a Clay Pot
Instantly, Lin Xiangru seized a humble earthenware pot (fou), knelt before King Zhaoxiang, and said:
“Your Majesty is famed for Qin music. Please strike this pot for our joy!”
When the king refused, Lin Xiangru leaned forward, eyes blazing:
“Within five paces, I will splatter your robes with my blood!”
Thus, the Qin king tapped the pot once.
Lin Xiangru turned and ordered Zhao’s historian to record:
“The King of Qin struck a pot for the King of Zhao.”
The tables had turned.
When Qin ministers shouted,
“Let Zhao cede fifteen cities as tribute!”
Lin Xiangru shot back:
“Then let Qin cede Xianyang to Zhao!”
At that moment, Qin received intelligence: Zhao’s armies were poised to strike. Realizing force would fail, King Zhaoxiang laughed it off:
“Today is for friendship – not demands.”
The meeting ended in apparent harmony – but both sides knew the truth: Zhao had stood firm, thanks to one man’s courage.
Legacy of Integrity and Resolve
Lin Xiangru’s actions – “Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao” and defending royal dignity at Mianchi – became immortal symbols of diplomatic bravery and moral clarity in Chinese history. Paired with Lian Po’s military might, they formed the twin pillars that preserved Zhao’s sovereignty against Qin’s rising tide.
Though Qin would eventually conquer all, these moments proved that even the weakest state could defy tyranny – with wisdom, nerve, and unbroken principle.
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