Shiji 85 - Biography of Lü Buwei

史 記 卷 八 十 五 -- 呂 不 韋 列 傳 第 二 十 五
Shiji-Chapter 85 – Twenty fifth biography –Lü Buwei

呂 不 韋 者 ， 陽 翟 大 賈 人 也 。 往 來 販 賤 賣 貴 ， 家 累 千 金 。
Lü Buwei was a great merchant of Yangdi. He travelled back and forth, buying at low prices, and selling at high prices. His family had accumulated more than one thousand talents of gold.　 　

秦 昭 王 四 十年 ， 太 子 死 。 其 四 十 二 年 ， 以 其 次 子 安 國 君 為 太 子 。 安 國 君 有 子 二 十 餘 人 。 安 國 君 有 所 甚 愛姬 ， 立 以 為 正 夫 人 ， 號 曰 華 陽 夫 人 。 華 陽 夫 人 無子 。 安 國 君 中 男 名 子 楚 ， 子 楚 母 曰 夏 姬 ， 毋 愛 。子 楚 為 秦 質 子 於 趙 。 秦 數 攻 趙 ， 趙 不 甚 禮 子 楚。
In the fortieth year of king Zhao of Qin, the crown prince died. The forty second year, his next son, the Lord of Anguo, became the new heir. He had more than twenty sons. His favourite concubine, who had become his first spouse, had assumed the title of Dame Huayang. She had no son. One of the younger sons of the Lord of Anguo was named Zichu. His mother was called Dame Xia. She was no favourite, and Zichu had become a hostage of Qin in Zhao. As Qin had attacked Zhao several times, the king of Zhao did not treat Zichu well.　 　

子 楚 ， 秦 諸庶 孽 孫 ， 質 於 諸 侯 ， 車 乘 進 用 不 饒 ， 居 處 困 ， 不 得 意 。 呂 不 韋 賈 邯 鄲 ， 見 而 憐 之 ， 曰 「 此 奇貨 可 居 」 。 乃 往 見 子 楚 ， 說 曰 ： 「吾 能 大 子 之 門 。 」 子 楚 笑 曰 ： 「 且 自 大 君 之 門 ， 而 乃 大 吾 門！ 」 呂 不 韋 曰 ： 「 子 不 知 也 ， 吾 門 待 子 門 而 大 。 」子 楚 心 知 所 謂 ， 乃 引 與 坐 ， 深 語 。 呂 不 韋 曰： 「秦 王 老 矣 ， 安 國 君 得 為 太 子 。 竊 聞 安 國 君 愛 幸 華 陽 夫 人， 華 陽 夫 人 無 子 ， 能 立 適 嗣 者 獨 華陽 夫 人 耳 。 今 子 兄 弟 二 十 餘 人 ， 子 又 居 中 ， 不 甚 見 幸 ， 久 質 諸 侯 。 即 大 王 薨 ， 安 國 君 立 為 王， 則 子 毋 幾 得 與 長 子 及 諸 子 旦 暮 在 前 者 爭 為 太 子 矣 。 」 子 楚 曰 ： 「 然 。 為 之 柰 何？ 」 呂 不 韋 曰： 「 子 貧 ， 客 於 此 ， 非 有 以 奉 獻 於 親 及 結 賓 客 也 。 不 韋 雖 貧 ， 請 以 千 金 為 子 西 游 ， 事 安 國 君及 華 陽 夫 人 ， 立 子 為 適 嗣 。 」 子 楚 乃 頓 首 曰 ：「 必 如 君 策 ， 請 得 分 秦 國 與 君 共 之 。 」
Zichu was a grandson of the King of Qin, from a low rank concubine. He was a hostage to another feudal prince. His carriage, his horses and his living were modest, his house was dilapidated, and he entertained little hope. As Lü Buwei was trading in Handan, he saw him and wanted to help him, saying to himself : "This is a rare object, one shall keep it". He therefore called on Zichu, and told him: "I can make your house greater." Zichu laughed and said: "First make your house greater, then you will see after mine!" Lü Buwei said : "You do not know yet, but my house will wait for yours to grow." Zichu secretly understood what he meant, and invited him to sit inside his house, for a serious discussion. Lü Buwei said: "The King of Qin is old, and the Lord of Anguo was made crown prince. I have come to know that Anguo has a favourite named dame Huayang, who has no son. His successor will be chosen by Dame Huayang alone. Now, you have more than twenty brothers, when you lived in the capital, you held little favour, and you have been for long a hostage among feudal princes. When our Great Monarch dies, the Lord of Anguo will be King. And then you will have no hope, with the oldest sons and the other princes spending their days and nights pushing themselves forward, to become the crown prince." Zichu said : "This is so. What should do about it?" Lü Buwei said: "You are poor, and a foreigner here. You are in no position to offer presents to your family, or attract retainers. Even though, I, Lü Buwei, am poor, allow me to take a thousand talents of gold, and travel west on your behalf. I will serve the Lord of Anguo and Dame Huayang, and establish you as their heir." Zichu bowed his head and said : "Should your plan succeed, mylord, allow me to have the kingdom of Qin split, and half of it bestowed upon you."　 　

呂 不 韋 乃 以五 百 金 與 子 楚 ， 為 進 用 ， 結 賓 客 ； 而 復 以 五 百 金 買 奇 物 玩 好 ， 自 奉 而 西 游 秦 ， 求 見 華 陽 夫 人姊 ， 而 皆 以 其 物 獻 華 陽 夫 人 。 因 言 子 楚 賢 智 ， 結 諸 侯 賓 客 遍 天 下 ， 常 曰 「 楚 也 以 夫 人 為 天 ，日 夜 泣 思 太 子 及 夫 人 」 。 夫 人 大 喜 。 不 韋 因 使 其 姊 說 夫 人 曰 ： 「 吾 聞 之 ， 以 色 事 人 者 ， 色 衰而 愛 弛 。 今 夫 人 事 太 子 ， 甚 愛 而 無 子 ， 不 以 此 時 蚤 自 結 於 諸 子 中 賢 孝 者 ， 舉 立 以 為 適 而 子 之， 夫 在 則 重 尊 ， 夫 百 歲 之 後 ， 所 子 者 為 王， 終 不 失 勢 ， 此 所 謂 一 言 而 萬 世 之 利 也 。 不 以 繁 華 時樹本 ， 即 色 衰 愛 弛 後 ， 雖 欲 開 一 語 ， 尚 可 得 乎 ？ 今 子 楚 賢， 而 自 知 中 男 也 ， 次 不 得 為 適 ， 其 母又 不 得 幸 ， 自 附 夫 人 ， 夫 人 誠 以 此 時 拔 以 為 適 ， 夫 人 則 竟 世 有 寵 於 秦 矣 。」 華 陽 夫 人 以 為 然 ，承 太 子 閒 ， 從 容 言 子 楚 質 於 趙 者 絕 賢 ， 來 往 者 皆 稱 譽 之 。 乃 因 涕 泣 曰 ： 「 妾 幸 得 充 後 宮 ， 不幸 無 子 ， 願 得 子 楚 立 以 為 適 嗣 ， 以 託 妾 身 。 」安 國 君 許 之 ， 乃 與 夫 人 刻 玉 符 ， 約 以 為 適 嗣 。 安國 君 及 夫 人 因 厚 餽 遺 子 楚 ， 而 請 呂 不 韋 傅 之 ， 子 楚 以 此 名 譽 益 盛 於 諸 侯 。
Then Lü Buwei gave Zichu five hundred talents of gold, which he would spend on his style and on his retainers. He then used the other five hundred to buy precious and amusing objects, which he took with him as he travelled west, to Qin. There he called upon the elder sister of Dame Huayang, and, together with her, proceed to offer all his presents to Dame Huayang. He then told her that Zichu was wise and intelligent, that feudal lords and retainers from everywhere came to him. He used to repeat: "To Zichu, your Ladyship is like Heaven. He spends his days and nights weeping over the Prince and yourself." The princess was very pleased. Lü Buwei then had her sister tell Dame Huayang: "I am told that those who owe their position to their beauty will lose the former when the latter declines. Your Ladyship is now in the service of the crown prince, she enjoys his favour, but she has no son. She should hasten and seize this opportunity to weave links with the wisest and most pious of princes, and make him her adoptive son. Thus, so long your husband will live, you shall be respected. But when one hundred years have past, the one you will have chosen for son will become king, and your power will not fade away. Truly, this one word of you would benefit for ten thousand generations. If you do not take advantage of your blooming to sow, after your beauty has faded and your favour has waned, you will still wish to give orders, but will you be obeyed? Zichu is wise, he knows he is no elder son, that the younger never become heirs, and that his mother never was a favourite. He is endeared to your Ladyship. If you hasten, seize this occasion, and make him your heir, you will keep you favour in Qin, even after this generation." Dame Huayang agreed. One day, as she was with the crown prince, she calmly told him that Zichu, who was a hostage in Zhao, was quite wise, and that all those who had come and seen him spoke very highly of him. Then, crying, she said: "your servant had the great fortune of being granted an imperial palace, but she had great misfortune of bearing no son. I wish Zichu is made the heir apparent, so that my fate can depend upon him." The Lord of Anguo agreed, and gave his wife a carved jade tablet, by which he acknowledged him as his heir. Then both of them sent rich presents to Zichu, and invited Lü Buwei to become his tutor. As a result, the name and fame of Zichu grew among the feudal princes.　 　

呂 不 韋 取 邯鄲 諸 姬 絕 好 善 舞 者 與 居 ， 知 有 身 。 子 楚 從 不 韋 飲 ， 見 而 說 之 ， 因 起 為 壽 ， 請 之 。 呂 不韋 怒 ， 念業 已 破 家 為 子 楚 ， 欲 以 釣 奇 ， 乃 遂 獻 其 姬 。 姬 自 匿 有 身 ， 至 大 期 時 ， 生 子 政 。 子 楚 遂 立 姬 為夫 人 。
Lü Buwei had, among his concubines in Handan, a very beautiful and gracious dancer. He lived with her, and knew she was expecting. One day, as Zichu had followed Lü Buwei to a banquet, he saw her and admired her. As she rose to wish him a long life, Zichu asked for her. Lü Buwei was incensed, but he pondered that he had already ruined his house on behalf of Zichu, in order to capture a rare thing. So he offered her his concubine, who hid her pregnancy. After a long time, she gave birth to a son named Zheng. Zichu then made the concubine his first spouse.　 　

秦 昭 王 五 十年 ， 使 王 齮 圍 邯 鄲 ， 急 ， 趙 欲 殺 子 楚。 子 楚 與 呂 不 韋 謀 ， 行 金 六 百 斤 予 守 者 吏 ， 得 脫 ， 亡 赴 秦軍 ， 遂 以 得 歸 。 趙 欲 殺 子 楚 妻 子 ， 子 楚 夫 人 趙 豪 家 女也 ， 得 匿 ， 以 故 母 子 竟 得 活 。 秦 昭 王 五 十六 年 ， 薨 ， 太子 安 國 君 立 為 王 ， 華 陽 夫 人 為 王 后 ， 子 楚 為 太 子 。 趙 亦 奉 子 楚 夫 人 及 子 政 歸 秦 。
In his fiftieth year, King Zhao of Qin sent Wang Yi besiege Handan, which was about to fall. The king of Zhao intended to have Zichu killed, and Zichu took advice fromLü Buwei. He took six hundred talents of gold, and offered them to the officer who guarded him. Thus, he managed to escape, fled as fast as he could towards the troops of Qin, and could return home. The king of Zhao then wanted to have his wife and son killed, but she was the daughter of a famous family of Zhao, who hid her. Thus, the wife and son of Zichu were both spared. In the fifty sixth years of his reign, king Zhao of Qin died. His crown prince, the Lord of Anguo, succeeded him on the throne, Dame Huayang became queen, and Zichu was the crown prince. The king of Zhao then allowed the wife of Zichu and her son, Zheng, to come back to Qin.　 　

秦 王 立 一 年， 薨 ， 謚 為 孝 文 王 。 太 子 子 楚 代 立 ，是 為 莊 襄 王 。 莊 襄 王 所 母 華 陽 后 為 華 陽 太 后 ， 真 母 夏 姬 尊以 為 夏 太 后 。 莊 襄 王 元 年 ， 以 呂 不 韋 為 丞 相 ， 封 為 文 信 侯 ， 食 河 南 雒 陽 十 萬 戶 。
The king of Qin died during the first year of his reign. He was bestowed the posthumous title of King Xiaowen. The crown prince, Zichu, succeded him on the throne, and became king Zhuangxiang. The mother of king Zhuangxiang, Dame Huayang, became Queen Huayang, and his natural mother, Dame Xia, was granted the title of Queen Xia. In the first year of his reign, King Zhuangxiang made Lü Buwei his first minister, and enfiefed him Marquis of Wenxin. The king granted him an estate of ten thousand households, in Luoyang, south of the Yellow River.

莊 襄 王 即 位三 年 ， 薨 ， 太 子 政 立 為 王 ， 尊 呂 不 韋 為 相 國 ， 號 稱 「 仲 父 」 。 秦 王 年 少 ， 太 后 時 時 竊 私 通 呂不 韋 。 不 韋 家 僮 萬 人 。
King Zhuangxiang died in the third year of his reign, and the crown prince Zheng became king. He then bestowed upon Lü Buwei the title of State Minister, and referred to him as “Uncle”. When the king of Qi was young, the queen dowager often entertained secret relations with Lü Buwei, whose household was strong of ten thousand servants.　 　

當 是 時 ， 魏有 信 陵 君 ， 楚 有 春 申 君 ， 趙 有平 原 君 ， 齊 有 孟 嘗 君 ， 皆 下 士 喜 賓 客 以 相 傾 。 呂不 韋 以 秦 之 彊 ，羞 不 如 ， 亦 招 致 士 ， 厚 遇 之 ， 至 食 客 三千 人 。 是 時 諸 侯 多 辯 士 ， 如 荀 卿 之 徒 ， 著 書 布 天 下 。 呂不韋 乃 使 其 客 人 人 著 所 聞 ， 集 論 以 為 八 覽 、 六 論 、 十 二 紀 ， 二 十 餘 萬 言 。 以 為 備 天 地 萬 物 古 今之 事 ， 號 曰 呂 氏 春 秋 。 布 咸 陽 市 門 ， 懸 千 金 其 上 ， 延 諸 侯 游 士 賓 客 有 能 增 損 一 字 者 予 千 金 。
In that time, the Lord of Xinling was in Wei. Chu had the Lord of Chunsheng, Zhao the Lord of Pingyuan and Qi the Lord of Mengchang. All were very fond of men of talent, liked to have retainers, and vied with one another. As Qin was strong, Lü Buwei was ashamed not to be worthy of them. Therefore, he summoned braves, whom he treated liberally. Soon, he had more than three thousand retainers. At that time, among the feudal princes, there were many scholars, such as the followers of Xun Qing, who published books everywhere. Lü Buwei ordered all of his clients to write all that they knew. Their explanations were compiled into eight descriptions, six treatises and twelve memoirs, more than two hundred thousand characters long. As he considered they embraced Heaven and Earth, all creatures, and all events past or present, he had them called the Springs and Autumns of Master Lü. He had them displayed over the doors of the marketplace of Xianyang, and had one thousand talents of gold hung over them. He offered to all feudal princes, travelling philosophers and their clients a reward one thousand talents of gold to whom could add or take out one word from it.　 　

始 皇 帝 益 壯， 太 后 淫 不 止 。 呂 不 韋 恐 覺 禍 及 己 ，乃 私 求 大 陰 人 嫪 毐 以 為 舍 人 ， 時 縱 倡 樂 ， 使 毐 以 其 陰 關 桐輪 而 行 ， 令 太 后 聞 之 ， 以 啗 太 后 。 太 后 聞 ， 果 欲 私 得 之 。 呂 不 韋 乃 進 嫪 毐 ， 詐 令 人 以 腐 罪 告之。 不 韋 又 陰 謂 太 后 曰 ： 「 可 事 詐 腐 ， 則 得 給 事 中 。 」 太 后 乃 陰 厚 賜 主 腐 者 吏 ， 詐 論 之 ， 拔 其鬚 眉 為 宦 者 ， 遂 得侍 太 后 。 太 后 私 與 通 ， 絕 愛 之 。 有 身 ， 太 后 恐 人 知 之 ，詐 卜 當 避 時 ， 徙 宮 居雍 。 嫪 毐 常 從 ， 賞 賜 甚 厚 ，事 皆 決 於 嫪 毐 。 嫪 毐 家 僮 數 千 人 ， 諸 客 求 宦 為 嫪 毐 舍 人千 餘 人 。
After the First Emperor came to age, the empress dowager did not cease her depravation. Lü Buwei feared that it would be exposed and bring his demise. Therefore, he secretly fetched a man named Lao Ai, who had a huge organ, and made him one of his clients. One day, as they were playing with musicians, he ordered Lao Ai to stick his member in the hub of a wooden carriage wheel and walk with it. He arranged that the empress heard of it, in order to draw her toward him. The empress saw him, and, as a resulted, wanted Lao Ai for her alone. Lü Buwei then introduced Lao Ai to her, and ordered someone to accuse him of a crime punished by castration. Then, he told the empress in secret: “You shall order that he pretends to have been castrated, therefore, he can serve in your palace.” The Dowager thus secretly gave large rewards to the officer in charge of his punishment, who pretended to execute the sentence, removed his beard and hair, and made him a eunuch, who entered the service of the dowager. She had secret relations with him, and became extremely fond of him. When she became pregnant, the empress feared that it would be known. Therefore, she pretended to have received an omen, demanding her to make retreat, and moved here residence to her palace in Yong. Lao Ai was always with her, and received lavish rewards. He decided on all her affairs. His household had several thousand servants. His retainers and those who tried to obtain commissions from him were more than a thousand.　 　

始 皇 七 年 ，莊 襄 王 母 夏 太 后 薨 。 孝 文 王 后 曰 華 陽太 后 ， 與 孝 文 王 會 葬 壽 陵 。 夏 太 后 子 莊 襄 王 葬 芷 陽 ， 故 夏太 后 獨 別 葬 杜 東 ， 曰 「 東 望 吾 子， 西 望 吾 夫 。 後 百 年 ， 旁 當 有 萬 家 邑 」 。
In the seventh year of the First Emperor, the mother of King Zhuangxian, Empress Xia, died. The first spouse of King Xiaowen was empress Huayang. She had been buried with king Xiaowen in Shouling. The son of empress Xia, king Zuangxiang, had been buried in Zhiyang. Therefore, Empress Xia was buried alone, to the east of Du. On her tomb was written: “To the east, I see my son. To the west, I see my husband. And in one hundred years, cities of ten thousand households will extend around.”　 　

始 皇 九 年 ，有 告 嫪 毐 實 非 宦 者 ， 常 與 太 后 私 亂 ，生 子 二 人 ， 皆 匿 之 。 與 太 后 謀 曰 「 王 即 薨 ， 以 子 為 後 」。於 是 秦 王 下 吏 治 ， 具 得 情 實 ， 事 連 相 國 呂 不 韋。 九 月 ， 夷 嫪 毐 三 族 ， 殺 太 后 所 生 兩 子 ， 而 遂 遷太 后 於雍 。 諸 嫪 毐 舍 人 皆 沒 其 家 而 遷 之 蜀 。 王 欲 誅 相 國 ， 為 其 奉 先 王 功 大 ， 及 賓 客 辯 士 為 游 說者 眾 ， 王不 忍 致 法 。
In the ninth year of the First Emperor, someone exposed Lao Ai for not being a eunuch, and having indecent relations with the empress, who had borne him two sons. But all of this was hushed. Lao Ai then plotted with the empress, saying: “when the king dies, our son will succeed him.” Then, the king of Qin sent guard arrest him, and the truth was exposed. The case went up to the State Minister, Lü Buwei. In the ninth month, Lao Ai was executed, together with his whole family. The two sons he had with the empress were killed, and the empress was exiled to Yong. Members of the household of Lao Ai had their houses confiscated, and were exiled to Shu. The king intended to have the State Minister executed, but because he had rendered great service to the previous monarchs, and because many sophists among his retainers came forward to defend him, the king did not resolve to have the sentence carried out.　 　

秦 王 十 年 十月 ， 免 相 國 呂 不 韋 。 及 齊 人 茅 焦 說 秦 王 ， 秦 王 乃 迎 太 后 於 雍 ， 歸 復 咸 陽 ， 而 出 文 信 侯 就 國 河南 。
In the tenth month of the tenth year of the king of Qin, State Minister Lü Buwei was demised. Then, Mao Jiao, a native of Qi, persuaded the king of Qin to go fetch the empress in Yong, and bring her back to Xianyang. And the Marquis of Wenxin was sent off, and returned to his estate, south of the Yellow River.　 　

歲 餘 ， 諸 侯賓 客 使 者 相 望 於 道 ， 請 文 信 侯 。 秦 王 恐 其 為 變 ， 乃 賜 文 信 侯 書 曰 ： 「 君 何 功 於 秦 ？ 秦 封 君 河南 ， 食 十 萬 戶 。 君 何 親 於 秦 ？ 號 稱 仲 父 。 其 與 家 屬 徙 處 蜀 ！ 」 呂 不 韋 自 度 稍 侵 ， 恐 誅 ， 乃 飲酖 而 死 。 秦 王 所 加 怒 呂 不 韋 、 嫪 毐 皆 已 死 ， 乃 皆 復 歸 嫪 毐 舍 人 遷 蜀者 。
More than a year later, when envoys or clients of the feudal princes met on the road, they still asked each other about the marquis of Wenxin. The king of Qin feared that he would betray him. He therefore sent a letter to the Marquis, which said: “Is this how you serve Qin? We made you a Lord, south of the River, granted you an estate of ten thousand household. Is this how you treasure Qin? Its prince used to call you Uncle. Please leave this place at once with your family, and go settle in Shu!” Lü Buwei understood that his position was slowly crumbling, and feared that he be put to death. He therefore drank poison and died. As the main causes of anger of the king of Qin, Lü Buwei and Lao Ai, had died, he summoned back the members of the household of Lao Ai, whom he had banned to Shu.　 　

始 皇 十 九 年， 太 后 薨 ， 謚 為 帝 太 后 ， 與 莊 襄 王 會 葬 茞 陽 。
In the nineteenth year of the reign of the First Emperor, the empress died. She was bestowed the posthumous name Empress Dowager. She was buried next to king Zhuangxiang, in Chenyang.　 　

太 史 公 曰 ：不 韋 及 嫪 毐 貴 ， 封 號 文 信 侯 。 人 之 告 嫪 毐 ， 毐 聞 之 。 秦 王 驗 左 右 ， 未 發 。 上 之 雍 郊 ，毐 恐 禍 起， 乃 與 黨 謀 ， 矯 太 后 璽 發 卒 以 反 蘄 年 宮 。 發 吏 攻 毐 ， 毐 敗 亡 走 ， 追 斬 之 好 畤 ， 遂 滅 其 宗。 而 呂不 韋 由 此 絀 矣 。 孔 子 之 所 謂 「 聞 」 者 ， 其 呂 子 乎？
Commentary by Sima Qian. Lü Buwei made Lao Ai a noble. He himself was granted the title of Marquis of Wenxin. When Lao Ai was exposed, he heard of it in advance. The king of Qin investigated his relatives, yet did not send out for him. But when the Monarch travelled in the territories of Yong, Lao Ai was afraid that harm would befall. Together with his party, he plotted to counterfeit the seal of the Empress and sent troops to attack the Palace of Qinian. Guards were sent to attack Lao Ai, who was defeated and had to flee. He was captured and beheaded in Haozhi, and all his clan was exterminated. Because of this, Lü Buwei met his doom. What Confucius calls “hearsay”, isn’t it what happened to Master Lü.