Ancient China · Political intermediary of the Warring States

Lou Huan 樓緩

Lóu Huǎn

Attested c. BC 300 - BC 256

Passages: 14
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

Lou Huan was a Political intermediary of the Warring States.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Alternate name	Lou Zi	樓子	Lóu Zǐ

Life and dates

Attested activity

c. BC 300 戰國時期
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 170
BC 300 昭王七年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passages 15-16
BC 256 秦既解邯鄲圍
Derived from the source · Records of the Grand Historian 76, passages 122, 157

Key source chapters

Career and standing

chancellor of Qin 相秦
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 16
chancellor of Qin 相秦
Dismissed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 23

Places and affiliations

Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 16
Polity Zhao 趙 · Relation From
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 16
At Zhao 趙 · Relation Native of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 72, passage 16

Works and attributed material

Political counsel · Speaker · Addressed to King Xiaocheng of Zhao (趙孝成王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 76, passages 158, 160-171, 177-186

Events and relationships

Argued for ceding land to Qin
Political advice · Advisor
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 76, passages 157, 177, 186
Communicated the intentions of the six states
Diplomacy · Intermediary
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 170
Relation Advisor of · Person King Xiaocheng of Zhao (趙孝成王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 76, passages 157, 160

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 1 passage

於是六國之士有甯越、徐尚、蘇秦、杜赫之屬為之謀，齊明、周聚、陳軫、邵滑、樓緩、翟景、蘇厲、樂毅之徒通其意，吳起、孫臏、帶他、兒良、王廖、田忌、廉頗、趙奢之倫制其兵。 The six states thus had men like Ning Yue, Xu Shang, Su Qin, and Du He to devise their strategies; Qi Ming, Zhou Ju, Chen Zhen, Shao Hua, Lou Huan, Di Jing, Su Li, and Yue Yi to serve as their intermediaries; and Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Dai Tuo, Ni Liang, Wang Liao, Tian Ji, Lian Po, and Zhao She to command their armies.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 72Biography of the Marquis of Rang · 5 passages

趙人樓緩來相秦，趙不利，乃使仇液之秦，請以魏冉為秦相。 The Zhao man Lou Huan came to serve as chancellor of Qin. This disadvantaged Zhao, so they dispatched Qiu Ye to Qin to petition for Wei Ran to become chancellor of Qin.

仇液將行，其客宋公謂液曰：「秦不聽公，樓緩必怨公。 As Qiu Ye was about to depart, his guest Song Gong advised him, "If Qin does not listen to you, Lou Huan will certainly resent you.

公不若謂樓緩曰『請為公毋急秦』。 You should tell Lou Huan, 'Please do not hurry Qin on my behalf.'

公言而事不成，以德樓子； If you speak up and the plan fails, Lou Huan will feel indebted to you;

而秦果免樓緩而魏冉相秦。 Qin did in fact remove Lou Huan and make Wei Ran its chancellor.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 76Biographies of Lord Pingyuan and Yu Qing · 8 passages

趙王計未定，樓緩從秦來，趙王與樓緩計之，曰：「予秦地（何）如毋予，孰吉？」 King Zhao's plans were not yet decided when Lou Huan arrived from Qin. The king consulted with Lou Huan, asking: "Which is better—to cede territory to Qin or not to cede it?"

緩辭讓曰：「此非臣之所能知也。」 Lou Huan politely declined, saying: "This is not something this minister can presume to know."

樓緩對曰：「王亦聞夫公甫文伯母乎？ Lou Huan replied: "Has Your Majesty also heard about the mother of Gongfu Wenbo?

樓緩聞之，往見王。 When Lou Huan heard of this, he went to see the King.

王又以虞卿之言告樓緩。 The King again shared Yu Qing's arguments with Lou Huan.

樓緩對曰：「不然。 Lou Huan replied: "Not so.

虞卿聞之，往見王曰：「危哉樓子之所以為秦者，是愈疑天下，而何慰秦之心哉？ When Yu Qing heard this, he went to see the king, saying: "How dangerous! The way Lou Zi acts for Qin only increases the world's suspicions. How can this soothe Qin's heart?

樓緩聞之，亡去。 When Lou Huan learned of it, he fled Zhao.