A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Fan Chü
533 Fan Chü 范雎 (T. 叔). 3rd cent. B.C. A native of the Wei State, who began life in a subordinate capacity to an official named 須賈 Hsü Ku. He accompanied his master on a mission to the Ch'i State, and fell under suspicion of receiving bribes to divulge State secrets. Hsü Ku reported this to the Minister, 魏齊 Wei Ch'i, with the result that Fan Chü was severely beaten. He pretended to be dead, and his body was cast into a privy; but he was rescued by a night-watchman, and lived for some time in concealment under the assumed name of 張祿 Chang Lu. Attracting the attention of 王稽 Wang Chi, who had come on a mission to the Wei State, he was taken by the latter to the Ch'in State. As they neared the frontier, they met the great Wei Jan coming out; whereupon Fan Chü hid himself in the carriage, for itinerant politicians were not admitted within the State. "Ah!" cried Fan, when the Minister's cortège had passed, "Wei Jan is a clever man, but he will regret not having examined this carriage more carefully." On arriving at Ch'in, he received no employment for some time; but at length he managed to obtain an interview with King Chao Hsiang and was appointed Foreign Minister. Then he set to work to undermine Wei Jan, urging that no one ever heard of the King of Ch'in, but only of the Marquis of Jang (Wei Jan) and of the queen-dowager. In B.C. 266 Wei Jan fell, and Fan Chü took his place, being ennobled at the same time as Marquis. Shortly afterwards, Hsü Ku was sent on a mission to Ch'in, having no idea that the powerful Minister known as Chang Lu was none other than his old victim. Before receiving him, Fan Chü, dressed in rags, paid him a private visit. "What!" cried Hsü Ku, "Is Fan Chü reduced to this?" Thereupon, in pity, the former took off his own robe and placed it on Fan Chü's shivering body, and otherwise showed him kindness. This saved his life; but Wei Ch'i did not escape so easily. Fan Chü pursued him with such relentless vigour that he was at last driven to cut his own throat. From this time the aggressive policy of the Ch'in State was steadily pursued, and by B.C. 259 all Shansi was annexed. In the same year Fan Chü was beguiled by the King of Chao into making peace, though the Chao State was in extremities, on the ground that Po Ch'i would probably take all power out of his hands. This led to a breach between Po Ch'i and Fan Chü; and in the following year, when another campaign was organised against Chao, the former refused to conduct it, alleging ill-health as his excuse. Serious defeats ensued; a check was given to the designs of Ch'in; and from that time the influence of Fan Chü began to wane. Upon the advice of 蔡澤 Ts'ai Tsê, who succeeded him, he retired into private life, B.C. 255.