Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 9

...spect the waterworks. He remarked that the Fen RiverA major river in modern-day Shanxi province. could be used to flood AnyiThe capital city of the Wei clan., and the Jiang RiverA tributary of the Fen River. could be used to flood PingyangThe capital city of the Han clan.. Chi CiAn astute advisor to the Earl of Zhi. said to the Earl of Zhi: "The Han and Wei clans will surely rebel against you."

The Earl of Zhi asked: "How do you know this?"

[Chi Ci] replied: "I know it by observing human affairs. When the Han and Wei clans joined you to attack the Zhao, they knew that once the Zhao were destroyed, calamity would surely fall upon them next. Now, we have an agreement that upon defeating Zhao, the land will be divided into three parts. The city's surrender is expected any day now, yet those two lords Referring to the leaders of the Han and Wei clans. show no joy in their hearts; instead, they have looks of worry. If this is not a sign of rebellion, then what else could it be?"

The next day, the Earl of Zhi took these words and told them to the two lords.

The two lords said: "This is merely a slanderous ministeroriginal: 讒臣 (chánchén) who wishes to lobbyoriginal: 游說 (yóushuì); a term for traveling political persuaders. on behalf of the Zhao family. He wants to make you, our Master, suspicious of our two houses so that you will become lax in your attack on Zhao. Otherwise, why would our two houses not look forward to the morning and evening when we can divide the Zhao family's fields? Why would we instead wish to pursue this dangerous and difficult task of rebellion that can never be achieved?"

The two lords left, and Chi Ci entered. He asked: "My Lord, why did you tell those two lords what I said?"

The Earl of Zhi asked: "How did you know [I told them]?"

[Chi Ci] replied: