Day 9

            On the middle of page 179, Kuai Tong notes the role of proper listening in relation to political and strategic undertakings. Kuai Tong notes: "Listening to advice is the basis of an undertaking, and planning is the key to success" (179M). To some extent, Shi Jin 92: The Biography of The Marquis of Huaiyin is a reflection on the art of listening. Wherein good listeners find success, while those unable to listen "with a sense of logic" ultimately fail. (179M) Throughout Shi Jin 92, Sima Qian subtly acknowledges the role of listening to advice. Early on in Shi Ji 92, Sima Qian recounts an exchange between Han Xin and the king of Han. After being asked a directed question by Han Xin regarding his leadership, Sima Qian notes, "The king of Han was silent for a while and then he said, 'I am inferior to Xiang Yu." (165B). Gaozu's silence reflects his ability to listen to the question with a sense of logic. This moment mirrors an earlier exchange between Emperor Gaozu and Zhang Liang in Shi Ji 55, reinforcing for the reader the notion that Emperor Gaozu is a leader who can meaningfully listen to his advisors. Han Xin posits listening as a key factor in his decision to side with the king of Han over Xiang Yu. Han Xin notes Xiang Yu, "did not listen to my counsels," whereas the king of Han "listened to my words, and used my counsels" (176T). For Han Xin, the art of listening is paramount when selecting which leader to follow and advice.

Additionally, there are a couple of occasions in Shi Ji 92 where leaders are unwilling to listen or do not listen "with a sense of logic." On the bottom of page 167, Sima Qian notes that Bao, the king of Wei, refused to listen to the king of Han's overture regarding their alliance. Sima Qian writes, "The king of Han dispatched Master Li in an attempt to dissuade him, but he refused to listen" (167B). Soon afterward, the king of Wei was defeated by Han Xin and taken prisoner. Chen Yu, overconfident in his position, "refused to listen to the lord of Guangwu's plan, and the suggestion went unheeded" (169T). Not long after, Chen Yu was defeated and executed. In both instances (Bao and Chen Yu), Sima Qian points to a leader's inability to listen to their advisor moments before they are defeated.   

 

Day 10

At the bottom of page 202, in his remarks on Shi Ji 94, the Grand Historian notes, "Kuai Tong was skilled at persuading people of the advantages and disadvantages…" (202B). I find it interesting that Sima Qian comments on Kuai Tong in Shi Ji 94, a chapter in which he does not appear, rather than in Shi Ji 92, where he plays a predominant role. The odd placement of Sima Qian's assessment of Kuai Tong brings about the question: Why does Sima Qian comment on Kuai Tong in Shi Ji 94 and not in Shi Ji 92? Individuals like Kuai Tong bring about a problematic issue for Sima Qian. On the one hand, political advisors served an essential role throughout the Waring States periods; thus, Sima Qian cannot simply edit out cunning rhetorician advisors/strategists from his historical account. Nevertheless, political advisors like Kuai Tong sometimes seem to be little more than agents of chaos that advocate treacherous behavior. It is important to note that Kuai Tong was a key advisor to Han Xin, and thus, Kuai Tong played a role in Han's rise to power. 

Furthermore, Sima Qian concludes Shi Ji 92 with a vignette wherein Emperor Gaozu interrogates Kuai Tong, only to excuse Kuai Tong's treasonous behavior. Sima Qian writes, "' Free him!" said the emperor, and he absolved Kuai Tong of his guilt" (183B). One possible reason why Sima Qian delays his assessment of Kuai Tong to Shi Ji 94 is that Sima Qian wants to avoid placing his critique of Kuai Tong immediately after a scene wherein Kuai Tong uses his rhetorical flourishes to dissuade Emperor Gaozu from boiling him alive. A critical assessment of Kuai Tong so close to Emperor Gaozu absolving Kuai Tong could be misconstrued as framing the first emperor as being easily persuaded by a theoretician's tricks and somewhat naive.    

Another reason I think Sima Qian delays his assessment of Kuai Tong to Shi Ji 94 is because his assessment of Kuai Tong is not reducible to a mere critique of Kuai Tong. Rather, Sima Qian is assessing the role of plotting advisors and strategists who intentionally bring about terrible confusion. Shi Ji 89-95 are biographies of individuals who became dissatisfied with their place in the Han Empire and started to plot against the emperor. Each individual in this section of the Record of the Grand Historian overreaches and ultimately falls from power. In his final line of Shi Ji 95, Sima Qian notes, "Yet since they were all supposedly good at laying plans, why, I wonder, was there none of who could think of a way to save the situation" (202B). Sima Qian's text seems to warn future leaders: Be on guard against rhetoricians and strategists, men like Kuai Tong, who write works about obtaining power— for their strategies may inadvertently bring about one's own demise.

 

 

 

 

            

 

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