In 279 BCE, after the State of Qin defeated the State of Zhao in battle, the King of Qin sought to concentrate his forces on attacking the State of Chu. He therefore sent an envoy to inform King of Zhao that he wished to cease hostilities, restore friendly relations, and proposed a meeting at Mianchi (present-day Mianchi County, Henan Province).
During the banquet, when the King of Qin was in high spirits from drinking, he said, “I have heard that the King of Zhao is fond of music. Please play the Se (a string instrument) for me!” The King of Zhao then played the Se. The Qin court historian stepped forward and recorded: “On a certain day, the King of Qin and the King of Zhao met for a alliance banquet, and the King of Qin ordered the King of Zhao to play the Se.”
Lin Xiangru stepped forward and said to the King of Qin, “The King of Zhao has heard that the you are skilled in the music of the Qin region. Please allow me to present this Fou (a clay percussion instrument) to you, so that we may entertain each other!” The King of Qin grew angry and refused to strike the Fou. At this, Lin Xiangru stepped forward, knelt to presented the earthenware Fou to the King of Qin to strike it. The King still refused. Lin Xiangru said, “If Your Majesty refuses to strike the Fou, within the distance of just five steps, I am able to splash the blood from my neck all over Your Majesty!” The attendants at the King Qin’s side drew their swords to kill Lin Xiangru, but he glared at them and shouted them down, and they all cowered back. Reluctantly, the King of Qin struck the Fou once. Lin Xiangru then turned and summoned the Zhao court historian to record: “On a certain day, the King of Qin struck the Fou for the King of Zhao.”
The ministers of Qin then said, “Please ask the King of Zhao to present fifteen cities of Zhao as a gift to the King of Qin on his birthday.” Lin Xiangru countered, “Please allow the King of Zhao to present the Qin capital of Xianyang as a gift to the King of Qin on his birthday.” Until the banquet ended, the King of Qin was never able to gain the upper hand over Zhao. In addition, Zhao massed troops along its borders in preparation against any Qin invasion, so the Qin army dared not act rashly.
After the Mianchi meeting, the King of Zhao appointed Lin Xiangru Senior Minister, ranking above Lian Po—which later gave rise to the famous story of “Carrying a Cane to Beg Forgiveness”*.
Origin: “The Records of the Grand Historian: The Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru”
* https://mandarinandculture.com/carrying-a-cane-to-beg-forgiveness
#44 渑池之会
公元前279年，秦王伐赵取胜后，为了集中力量攻打楚国，派出使者告知赵王，表示要与赵王停战，重修旧好，并相约于渑池（今河南渑池县）会面。
在宴会上，秦王喝酒喝得高兴时说：“我 听说赵王喜好音乐，请赵王弹弹瑟吧!” 赵王就弹起瑟来。秦国的史官走上前来写道：“某年某月某日，秦王与赵王会盟饮酒，命令赵王弹瑟。“
蔺相如走向前去说：“赵王听说秦王善于演奏秦地的乐曲，请允许我献盆缶给秦王，请秦王敲一敲，借此互相娱乐吧!” 秦王发怒，不肯敲缶。这时蔺相如走上前去献上一个瓦缶，趁势跪下请求秦王敲击。秦王不肯敲击瓦缶。蔺相如说：“如大王不肯敲缶，在五步距离内，我能够把自己颈项里的血溅在大王身上!” 秦王身边的侍从要用刀杀蔺相如，蔺相如瞪着眼睛呵斥他们，他们都被吓退了。于是秦王很不情愿地敲了一下瓦缶。蔺相如回头召唤赵国史官写道：“某年某月某日，秦王为赵王击缶。”
秦国的众大臣又说：“请赵王用赵国的十五座城为秦王祝寿。”蔺相如也说：“请把秦国的都城咸阳送给赵王祝寿。” 直到酒宴结束，秦王始终未能占赵国的上风。赵国又大量陈兵边境以防备秦国入侵，秦军也不敢轻举妄动。渑池会结束后，因为蔺相如功劳大，赵王任命他做上卿，位在廉颇之上，所以才有后来的“负荆请罪”*的故事。
出自《史记 廉颇蔺相如列传》
*https://mandarinandculture.com/carrying-a-cane-to-beg-forgiveness
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