《史记·十表·六国年表》
各个诸侯国的首要之务在于壮大军事力量，吞并敌国，因而权谋诈术得到普遍应用，合纵连横的学说也相继兴起。
务在强兵并敌，谋诈用而从衡短长之说起。
The top priority for each vassal state was to strengthen its military strength and annex its enemy. Therefore, the power tricks were widely used, and the theory of vertical and horizontal alliances also emerged.