The royal capital of Han State had fallen. Large numbers of ministers and nobles had either surrendered or been captured, and the scions of the ruling house naturally bore the brunt.
"Prince, the Qin people have surrounded the city. You must leave Han State at once.
"You have never been valued, so the Qin people will pay you no attention. You can escape.
"My household has nearly a thousand servants, all loyal and courageous men. I can select a hundred to escort you away."
His face filled with anxiety, Zhang Liang urged Han Fei to leave. Han Fei gazed bitterly at the sky and slowly said, "My state has perished. The world stretches on and on, but where could I go?
"Am I simply to abandon the altars of state and the Ancestral Temple?"
Zhang Liang said urgently, "Prince, the altars of state and the Ancestral Temple reside in people, not things. So long as you can escape and restore the state, where in this vast world could you not rebuild Han State's Ancestral Temple?
"You are a genius rarely seen in this world, a man worthy of becoming one of the Sage Kings. The King refused to heed your loyal counsel, and that was how things came to this.
"But you must not abandon yourself to despair. Your books, above all-are they simply to be lost like this?
"Your teacher Xunzi is the Libationer of the Academy of Luo State, and you are a prince of Han State.
"The Luo State Ruling House has always detested Qin State. Once they know who you are, they will surely take you in.
"If you are willing to share what you have learned with the Luo State Ruling House, they will certainly be willing to shelter you."
Persuaded by Zhang Liang, Han