"The Return of the Perfect Jade to Zhao" is a famous story in ancient Chinese history. On the surface, it seems that Zhao Guo successfully defended its national treasure and dignity. However, in reality, this event exposed Zhao Guo's diplomatic strategy mistakes and became a turning point for its decline in national power. Why did Zhao Guo actually lose after "The Return of the Perfect Jade to Zhao"? This article will deeply analyze the reasons.

I. Event Review

"The Return of the Perfect Jade to Zhao" occurred during the Warring States period, when Qin Guo was powerful and had ambitions to unite the six states. Zhao Guo possessed the precious He Shi Jade. Qin Guo proposed to borrow the jade for observation, but actually wanted to possess it. The Zhao Guo envoy Lin Xiangru responded cleverly and eventually returned the jade to Zhao Guo intact, which was regarded as a diplomatic victory for Zhao Guo at that time.

II. The Appearance of Diplomatic Victory

On the surface, Lin Xiangru's wisdom ensured the safe return of the jade, and Zhao Guo seemed to have saved face and dignity. However, this incident made Qin Guo have a deeper understanding of Zhao Guo's strength, which also stimulated Qin Guo's hostility and desire for aggression towards Zhao Guo.

III. Zhao Guo's Mistakes

1. Escalating the Conflict between Qin and Zhao: Zhao Guo rejected Qin Guo's request through a strong attitude. Although this approach protected the national treasure for a while, it severely escalated the conflict with Qin Guo, leading to a rapid deterioration in relations between the two countries.

2. Revealing the Weakness of National Strength: Zhao Guo's ability to successfully "return the perfect jade to Zhao" depended largely on Lin Xiangru's personal abilities and strategies, rather than the embodiment of the country's overall strength. This was seen through by Qin Guo, effectively exposing Zhao Guo's apparent strength but actual weakness.

3. Missing Alliance Opportunities: In the context of the Warring States period, Zhao Guo had the opportunity to ally with other small countries to jointly resist the threat of Qin Guo. However, the "return of the perfect jade to Zhao" incident led other countries to misjudge Zhao Guo's strength, causing Zhao Guo to miss the opportunity to establish an anti-Qin alliance.

IV. Long-Term Impact

Although "The Return of the Perfect Jade to Zhao" seemed like a victory in the short term, it accelerated the escalation of conflicts between Qin and Zhao in the long run. This ultimately led to Zhao Guo suffering heavy losses in the subsequent Battle of Changping, resulting in a significant decline in national power and ultimately its demise.

In summary, although the "Return of the Perfect Jade to Zhao" event was a diplomatic victory for Zhao Guo, from a strategic perspective, Zhao Guo lost the opportunity to ally with other countries, exacerbated conflicts with Qin Guo, and ultimately led to a decline in national power. This historical event reminds us that short-term victories can transform into long-term strategic mistakes when dealing with international relations, requiring greater caution and deliberation.

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