Is "the perfect jade returned to Zhao" a joke? Is Lin Xiangru just seeking death? Just good luck

“The perfect jade returned to Zhao” comes from Sima Qian’s "Historical Records". The story tells that during the Warring States Period, Lin Xiangru of Zhao State went to Qin State. Under the oppression of King Qin, with great wisdom and courage, he returned the He family intact. Bi was brought back from Qin to Zhao. This story became an interpretation of Lin Xiangru's wisdom and bravery and was widely circulated. However, upon closer inspection, "returning the complete jade to Zhao" is a joke and cannot stand up to scrutiny.

Is Heshibi really worth fifteen cities? You must know that the He's Bi at that time was just a good piece of jade, and it was not the jade seal that would later be passed down to the country. The King of Qin wanted to exchange fifteen cities for the He's Bi. He only used the He's Bi as a superficial symbol. He wanted to cooperate with the State of Zhao in the name of fifteen cities to prevent Qin from attacking Chu. Being interfered with by others.

Since it is about cooperation, it is very important who takes the lead. The King of Qin asked Zhao to present He's Bi just to take the lead. Lin Xiangru took the He's Bi on a mission to Qin. If he directly gave the He's Bi to the King of Qin, and the King of Qin did not give Zhao the fifteen cities, then the King of Qin would be in the wrong. In this case, it would be difficult for the King of Qin to get angry and cause trouble for Zhao. However, in fact, on the contrary, Lin Xiangru secretly sent He's Bi back to Zhao. When the King of Qin fasted for five days and received Lin Xiangru with the courtesy of "nine guests", and was about to exchange the city for He's Bi, Lin Xiangru unexpectedly It is said that the monarchs of the Qin State have always been untrustworthy, so they sent He's Bi back to the State of Zhao first. In this way, the State of Zhao suffered a loss. Isn't this a suicide attempt?

The reason why Lin Xiangru preserved He's Bi was actually just because King Huiwen of Zhao liked He's Bi. Lin Xiangru was just a villain who wanted to please the king and did not care about the country's overall plans. What about having both wisdom and courage, that is, having a good fortune and meeting the good-tempered King Qin Zhaoxiang? What if it were replaced by Qin Shihuang Ying Zheng? Lin Xiangru was just a talker. Even if he later became the Prime Minister of Zhao, his political performance was mediocre and he was not even a qualified Prime Minister. Moreover, so what if "the jade is returned to Zhao intact", the war between Qin and Zhao is inevitable after all. The Battle of Changping twenty years later brought Zhao to the brink of destruction, and the Heshi Bi was eventually owned by Qin. , became the later national jade seal.

"Lin Xiangru's success is all in the jade, and it is heaven. If it is strong, soft and honest, the more it comes out, the better it will be in its use. Therefore, whoever can complete Zhao, it is the heaven that is solid and complete!" "——Wang Shizhen's "On the Return of Lin Xiangru to Zhao Completed"