」平原君曰：「趙亡即勝虜，何為不憂？
Before these forces arrived, however, Qin laid fierce siege to Handan, which, hard-pressed, was considering surrender.
」李談曰：「邯鄲之民，炊骨易子而食之，可謂至困。
This deeply worried Pingyuan Jun. Li Tan, the son of the Handan relay station superintendent, said to Pingyuan Jun, “Aren’t you worried that Zhao will perish?” “If Zhao should perish,” Pingyuan Jun replied, “I will become a prisoner.
而君之後宮百數，婦妾荷綺縠，廚餘梁肉。
How can I not be worried?” “The people of Handan,” continued Li Tan “are using bones as kindling and exchanging children to eat—one could say that they are in extremity.
士民兵盡，或剡木為矛戟，而君之器物，鐘磬自恣。
But your domestic apartments are numberless, your consort and concubines wear fine silk, and your kitchens have a surplus of wine and meat.
若使秦破趙，君安得有此？
The officers and people have used up all their weapons—some are carving planks to make spears and lances—but you indulge without restraint in personal enjoyment of bells, chimes, and other finely wrought things.
使趙而全，君何患無有？
If Qin should conquer Zhao, how will you be able to continue to enjoy these things?
君誠能令夫人以下，編於士卒間，分功而作之，家所有盡散以饗士，方其危苦時，易為惠耳。
If you could cause all those of lesser station than your consort to go among the officers and men and share their labors, and use all the provisions in your dwelling to feed the officers, acting in their hour of acutest need, it would be easy for you to play the role of benefactor.” Pingyuan Jun adopted this proposal, and three thousand brave officers expressed their readiness to go out and die.
」於是平原君如其計，而勇敢之士三千人皆出死，因從李談赴秦軍，秦軍為卻三十里。
They then followed Li Tan to fight the Qin army, and the Qin army withdrew a distance of thirty li.
亦會楚魏救至，秦軍遂罷。
Then, when the forces of Chu and Wey arrived, the Qin forces ended their attack.
李談死，封其父為李侯。
Li Tan had been killed, but his father was enfeoffed as marquis of Li city.30 27 Pingyuan Jun 平原君, surn. Zhao, p.n. Sheng 勝, was the younger brother of King Huiwen of Zhao (r. 298–266).
He was enfeoffed at Dongwu 東武 city and known by the honorific title “Seigneur of Pingyuan.” He was on this occasion returning to Zhao from Chu, where he had gone to seek assistance against Qin’s attack.