Zuozhuan Xiang Gong — the thirty-one years of Duke Xiang of Lu

The Spring and Autumn Annals (Chunqiu) is the spare, year-by-year court chronicle of the state of Lu; the Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan) is the great narrative history that grew up around it, traditionally attributed to Zuo Qiuming, said to have been a contemporary of Confucius. The attribution is ancient and cannot be verified from the text itself, and modern scholarship generally places the work's compilation in the fourth century BCE, drawing on court archives and oral material considerably older than that. Together the two layers preserve the fullest surviving narrative of interstate politics in sixth-century BCE China.

This file covers the reign of Duke Xiang of Lu, 572–542 BCE, thirty-one years — one of the longest reigns the Chunqiu records. The years are dense with the covenant politics of the age: repeated meetings of the lords under Jin's leadership at places such as Zeng, Jize, Shangren, and Shasui, binding and rebinding alliances against Chu and, later, against the rising southern state of Wu. Within Zheng, the years trace the gradual rise of the statesman Zichan (子產), from his early scruple over accepting reward, through his defense of the village schools where the common people freely criticized the government, to his assumption of the government in the thirtieth year and the two songs the common people are recorded as having sung of him — first cursing him, then praising him. In the twenty-fifth year, the chief minister Cui Zhu of Qi assassinates his ruler, Duke Zhuang, and the court scribes who set the killing down plainly, one brother after another, at the cost of their own lives, in one of the most often-cited episodes of the whole work. Throughout, the terse Annals notices and the narrative built around them alternate year by year, the Annals giving the bare official record and the Zuo supplying the fuller account and its reasoning.

Names of persons, states, and places are given in Hanyu pinyin without tone marks, with Chinese characters supplied at the first appearance of a major figure or place, and again wherever two names would otherwise fall together in pinyin — 衛 is spelled Wey here to keep it distinct from 魏 Wei, and 杞 keeps its character at each appearance to distinguish it from 齊 Qi. Ranks follow the conventional five: 公 duke, 侯 marquis, 伯 earl, 子 viscount, 男 baron. 禮 is rendered ritual propriety or the rites. Dates are kept in the text's own reckoning — in the fifth year, in spring, in the king's first month — and sexagenary day names are left in pinyin.

Translated for the Good Works Library directly from the classical Chinese, which is printed in full below. Complete English translations of the Zuo Commentary already exist; this translation makes no claim of firstness, and was made independently from the Chinese without consulting them.

Contents

• Year 1 (襄公元年)
• Year 2 (襄公二年)
• Year 3 (襄公三年)
• Year 4 (襄公四年)
• Year 5 (襄公五年)
• Year 6 (襄公六年)
• Year 7 (襄公七年)
• Year 8 (襄公八年)
• Year 9 (襄公九年)
• Year 10 (襄公十年)
• Year 11 (襄公十一年)
• Year 12 (襄公十二年)
• Year 13 (襄公十三年)
• Year 14 (襄公十四年)
• Year 15 (襄公十五年)
• Year 16 (襄公十六年)
• Year 17 (襄公十七年)
• Year 18 (襄公十八年)
• Year 19 (襄公十九年)
• Year 20 (襄公二十年)
• Year 21 (襄公二十一年)
• Year 22 (襄公二十二年)
• Year 23 (襄公二十三年)
• Year 24 (襄公二十四年)
• Year 25 (襄公二十五年)
• Year 26 (襄公二十六年)
• Year 27 (襄公二十七年)
• Year 28 (襄公二十八年)
• Year 29 (襄公二十九年)
• Year 30 (襄公三十年)
• Year 31 (三十一年)

Translation

Duke Xiang, Years 1–31

Year 1 (襄公元年)

Annals.

• In the first year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke assumed his position. Zhongsun Mie (仲孫蔑) met with Luan Yan of Jin, Hua Yuan of Song, Ning Zhi of Wey (衛), and men of Cao, Ju, Zhu, Teng, Song, and Xue, and besieged Pengcheng in Song.
• In summer, Han Jue of Jin led an army and attacked Zheng. Zhongsun Mie met with Cui Zhu of Qi and men of Cao, Zhu, and Qi (杞), and halted at Zeng.
• In autumn, Prince Renfu of Chu led an army and raided Song.
• In the ninth month, on the day xinyou, the King died. The Viscount of Zhu came to court.
• In winter, the Marquis of Wey sent Gongsun Piao to come on a diplomatic visit. The Marquis of Jin sent Xun Ying to come on a diplomatic visit.

Zuo.

In the first year, in spring, on the day jihai, they besieged Pengcheng in Song. It was not Song territory; the record writes it so after the fact. On this occasion the punishment of Yu Shi was carried out on Song's behalf, and therefore the entry calls the place Song's; also it does not enter rebels into the record as holders of a place. This is called following Song's intent. Pengcheng surrendered to Jin. The men of Jin took home with them the five grandees of Song who were in Pengcheng and settled them at Huqiu. The men of Qi had not joined at Pengcheng, and the men of Jin treated this as a matter for punishment. In the second month, Guang, the heir apparent of Qi, was made a hostage in Jin.

In summer, in the fifth month, Han Jue and Xun Yan of Jin led the armies of the lords and attacked Zheng. They entered its outer wall and defeated its foot soldiers on the banks of the Wei. At this time the armies of the eastern lords halted at Zeng to await the Jin army. The Jin army came from Zheng and, with the troops that had gathered at Zeng, raided Jiao and Yi of Chu and reached Chen. The Marquis of Jin and the Marquis of Wey halted at Qi to give them support.

In autumn, Zixin of Chu went to the relief of Zheng and raided Lü and Liu in Song. Ziran of Zheng raided Song and took Quanqiu.

In the ninth month, the Viscount of Zhu came to court. This was according to the rites.

In winter, Zishu of Wey and Zhi Wuzi (知武子) of Jin came on diplomatic visits. This was according to the rites. In general, when a lord takes his position, the small states come to court before him and the great states send diplomatic visits to him, so as to continue good relations and bind good faith, to take counsel on affairs and repair what is deficient. This is among the greatest of the rites.

Year 2 (襄公二年)

Annals.

• In the second year, in spring, in the king's first month, King Jian was buried. The army of Zheng attacked Song.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on the day gengyin, the duke's wife, Lady Jiang, passed away.
• In the sixth month, on the day gengchen, Gun, the Earl of Zheng, died. The armies of Jin and Song and Ning Zhi of Wey raided Zheng.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, Zhongsun Mie met with Xun Ying of Jin, Hua Yuan of Song, Sun Linfu of Wey, and men of Cao and Zhu at Qi. On the day jichou we buried our lesser lady, Qi Jiang. Shusun Bao went to Song.
• In winter, Zhongsun Mie met with Xun Ying of Jin, Cui Zhu of Qi, Hua Yuan of Song, Sun Linfu of Wey, and men of Cao, Zhu, Teng, Xue, and Lesser Zhu at Qi, and then walled Hulao. Chu put to death its grandee Prince Shen.

Zuo.

In the second year, in spring, the army of Zheng raided Song. This was by order of Chu. The Marquis of Qi attacked Lai. The men of Lai sent Zhengyuzi to bribe Susha Wei with haltered horses and oxen, a hundred of each, and the Qi army then turned back. The gentleman knew by this why Duke Ling of Qi merited the name Ling.

In summer Qi Jiang passed away. Earlier, Mu Jiang (穆姜) had had fine catalpa wood chosen to make her own inner coffin, together with a hymn-zither. Ji Wenzi (季文子) took them and used them for the burial. The gentleman said: This was contrary to the rites. In the rites nothing runs against its proper direction. A wife supports her husband's mother; to diminish the mother-in-law in order to complete the wife — no reversal is greater than that. The Odes say:

Only to the wise man
do you speak the words of counsel,
and he follows the course of virtue.

In this Jisun was not wise. Moreover Lady Jiang is the ruler's grandmother. The Odes say:

They make ale, they make sweet wine,
and offer it up to forefather and foremother,
to complete the hundred rites,
so that blessings come down in full measure.

The Marquis of Qi sent the Jiang women and the wives of the ducal kin to come and escort the burial. He summoned the Viscount of Lai, but the Viscount of Lai did not attend; therefore Yan Ruo walled Dongyang to press upon him.

Duke Cheng of Zheng fell ill. Zisi (子駟) asked that they set down their burden and turn to Jin. The duke said: "The ruler of Chu, for Zheng's sake, took an arrow in his own eye. That was no other man's charge but mine. If I turn my back on him, I throw away both his effort and my word, and who then would hold me close? Whether I am released from it rests with you, my several ministers."

In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day gengchen, Gun, the Earl of Zheng, died. At this time Zihan was in charge of the state, Zisi directed the government, and Ziguo was marshal. The Jin army raided Zheng, and the grandees all wished to go over to Jin, but Zisi said, "The charge of office has not been changed."

The meeting at Qi was held to take counsel about Zheng. Meng Xianzi (孟獻子) said, "Let us wall Hulao to press upon Zheng." Zhi Wuzi said, "Good. At the meeting at Zeng you, sir, heard what Cui said; now he has not come. That Teng, Xue, and Lesser Zhu did not arrive is all on Qi's account. My unworthy ruler's anxiety is not for Zheng alone. I, Ying, will report back to my ruler and make the request to Qi. If the request is granted and I bring word of it, that will be your achievement. If the request is not granted, the matter will lie with Qi. Your proposal, sir, is a blessing to the lords; how should my ruler alone rely on it?"

Mu Shu made a diplomatic visit to Song, opening relations with the succeeding ruler.

In winter they met again at Qi. Cui Wuzi of Qi and the grandees of Teng, Xue, and Lesser Zhu all attended, because of what Zhi Wuzi had said. They then walled Hulao, and the men of Zheng thereupon made peace.

Prince Shen of Chu was marshal of the right. He took many bribes from the small states and used them to press upon Zizhong and Zixin, and the men of Chu put him to death. Therefore the record says, "Chu put to death its grandee Prince Shen."

Year 3 (襄公三年)

Annals.

• In the third year, in spring, Prince Yingqi of Chu led an army and attacked Wu. The duke went to Jin.
• In summer, in the fourth month, on the day renxu, the duke and the Marquis of Jin made a covenant at Changchu. The duke arrived back from Jin.
• In the sixth month, the duke met with the Viscount of Shan, the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wey, the Earl of Zheng, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, and Guang, heir apparent of Qi. On the day jiwei they joined in covenant at Jize. The Marquis of Chen sent Yuan Qiao to the meeting. On the day wuyin, Shusun Bao and the grandees of the lords made a covenant with Yuan Qiao of Chen.
• In autumn, the duke arrived back from the meeting.
• In winter, Xun Ying of Jin led an army and attacked Xu.

Zuo.

In the third year, in spring, Zizhong of Chu attacked Wu with a picked army. He took Jiuzi and reached Hengshan. He sent Deng Liao with three hundred men in braided-cord armor and three thousand in silk-faced armor to raid Wu. The men of Wu intercepted and struck them and captured Deng Liao; of those who got away there were only eighty in braided-cord armor and three hundred in silk-faced armor. Zizhong went home. Three days after the wine of return had been drunk, the men of Wu attacked Chu and took Jia. Jia was a good town, and Deng Liao too was a good man of Chu. The gentleman said that in this campaign what Zizhong gained did not match what he lost. The men of Chu blamed Zizhong for it. Zizhong was distressed by it, fell into a disease of the heart, and died.

The duke went to Jin. This was his first court visit. In summer they made a covenant at Changchu. Meng Xianzi assisted at the ceremony, and the duke bowed his head to the ground. Zhi Wuzi said, "While the Son of Heaven is still with us, that your ruler should demean himself with a head-to-ground bow — my unworthy ruler is alarmed." Meng Xianzi said, "Since our poor city lies wedged on the eastern verge, close upon our enemies, my unworthy ruler looks to your ruler for everything. How should he dare not bow his head to the ground?"

Because Zheng had submitted, and because Jin also wished to cultivate friendship with Wu, Jin was about to assemble the lords. It sent Shi Gai to announce this to Qi, saying, "My unworthy ruler has sent Gai because the year has not been an easy one and the unforeseen cannot be guarded against. My unworthy ruler wishes to meet with one or two of his brothers to take counsel about those who are not in accord. He asks that you, ruler, come down to it." Gai then begged for a covenant. The Marquis of Qi wished not to consent, but found it hard to be counted among the discordant, and so they made a covenant outside the Er.

Qi Xi (祁奚) asked to retire on account of age. The Marquis of Jin asked him about a successor, and he named Xie Hu, who was his own enemy. The marquis was about to appoint him when Xie Hu died. He asked again, and Qi Xi replied, "Wu will do." At this time Yangshe Zhi had died, and the Marquis of Jin said, "Who can take his place?" He replied, "Chi will do." So the marquis made Qi Wu commandant of the central army, with Yangshe Chi as his second.

The gentleman said that in this Qi Xi was able to raise up the good. He named his enemy, and it was not flattery; he appointed his son, and it was not partiality; he raised up his own deputy, and it was not faction. The Documents of Shang say:

Without partiality, without faction,
the king's way is broad and level.

That describes Qi Xi. Xie Hu obtained recommendation, Qi Wu obtained a position, Bohua obtained office: one office was established and three things were accomplished. This is being able to raise up the good. Only one who is good himself can raise up his own kind. The Odes say:

It is only because he has it in himself
that he is able to resemble it.

Qi Xi had it in himself.

In the sixth month the duke met with Duke Qing of Shan and the other lords. On the day jiwei they joined in covenant at Jize. The Marquis of Jin sent Xun Hui to meet the Viscount of Wu on the Huai, but the Viscount of Wu did not come. Zixin of Chu was chief minister and was grasping after the small states. Duke Cheng of Chen sent Yuan Qiao to the meeting to seek peace, and the Marquis of Jin sent He Zufu to announce it to the lords. In autumn Shusun Bao and the grandees of the lords made a covenant with Yuan Qiao of Chen, for Chen had asked to submit.

Yanggan, the younger brother of the Marquis of Jin, threw the ranks into disorder at Quliang, and Wei Jiang (魏絳) executed his driver. The Marquis of Jin was angry and said to Yangshe Chi, "I assembled the lords for the glory of it. Yanggan has been made the occasion of an execution — what disgrace is like it? Wei Jiang must be killed; let there be no failure in this." He replied, "Jiang has no divided heart. In serving his ruler he does not shrink from difficulty, and having done wrong he does not flee from punishment. He will come and give his account. Why trouble to issue an order?" As he finished speaking, Wei Jiang arrived. He handed a letter to an attendant and was about to fall on his sword, but Shi Fang and Zhang Lao stopped him. The duke read his letter, which said:

"The other day, my ruler being short of men to employ, he made your servant marshal of this force. Your servant has heard that in an army obedience is what makes it martial, and that in military affairs to accept death rather than transgress is what makes it reverent. My ruler assembled the lords; how should your servant dare not be reverent? If my ruler's army is not martial and the officer in charge is not reverent, no fault is greater than that. Your servant, fearing such a death, let the penalty reach Yanggan, and there is no escaping the guilt of it. Unable to bring instruction to bear, I came to the use of the axe. Your servant's fault is grave. How should he dare not obey and so anger his ruler's heart? I ask to go back and die at the hands of the minister of justice."

The duke went out barefoot and said, "What I said came from love of kin. What you did, sir, was the law of the army. I have a younger brother and have not been able to train and instruct him, so that he offended against a great charge. The fault is mine. Do not, sir, make my fault heavier. This I beg of you."

The Marquis of Jin held Wei Jiang to be capable, and to have used punishment to help the people. When the campaign was over he gave him a ceremonial feast and made him second in command of the new army. Zhang Lao became marshal of the central army, and Shi Fu became chief of scouts.

The marshal of Chu, Prince Hejie, raided Chen, because Chen had revolted. Duke Ling of Xu served Chu and did not attend the meeting at Jize.

In winter, Zhi Wuzi of Jin led an army and attacked Xu.

Year 4 (襄公四年)

Annals.

• In the fourth year, in spring, in the king's third month, on the day jiyou, Wu, the Marquis of Chen, died.
• In summer, Shusun Bao went to Jin.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day wuzi, the duke's wife, Lady Si, passed away. Duke Cheng of Chen was buried. In the eighth month, on the day xinhai, we buried our lesser lady, Ding Si.
• In winter, the duke went to Jin. The men of Chen besieged Dun.

Zuo.

In the fourth year, in spring, the Chu army, on account of Chen's revolt, was still at Fanyang. Han Xianzi was troubled by it and said in court, "King Wen led the states that had revolted from Yin in serving Zhou; that was because he knew the times. Now we do the opposite of this. It will be hard." In the third month Duke Cheng of Chen died. The men of Chu were about to attack Chen, but hearing of the death they stopped. The men of Chen still would not obey their command. Zang Wuzhong heard of it and said, "If Chen does not submit to Chu it will surely perish. When a great state acts toward it with ritual propriety and it still does not submit — even a great state would incur blame for that, how much more a small one." In summer Peng Ming of Chu raided Chen, because Chen had failed in ritual propriety.

Mu Shu went to Jin, returning Zhi Wuzi's diplomatic visit. The Marquis of Jin gave him a banquet. The bells sounded the three pieces of "Sixia," and he did not bow. The musicians sang the three pieces of "King Wen," and again he did not bow. They sang the three pieces of "The Deer Cry," and he bowed three times. Han Xianzi sent the herald Ziyun to ask him about it, saying, "You, sir, have demeaned yourself to come to our poor city with your ruler's charge. By the rites of our former rulers we support the occasion with music in your honor. You, sir, pass over the great and weighty pieces and bow for the small ones. May I ask what rite this is?" He replied, "The three 'Xia' are what the Son of Heaven uses to feast a chief among the lords; an envoy does not dare so much as to hear them. 'King Wen' is the music for two rulers meeting each other; your servant dares not reach so high. 'The Deer Cry' is the piece by which your ruler shows favor to my unworthy ruler; how should I dare not bow for the favor? 'The Four Steeds' is the piece by which your ruler comforts an envoy; how should I dare not bow again? 'Bright Are the Flowers' is your ruler's instruction to the envoy, that he must take counsel on every side. Your servant has heard: to seek out the good is called zi; to consult about kin is xun; to consult about ritual is du; to consult about affairs is zou; to consult about difficulties is mou. Your servant has gained these five goods; how should I dare not bow again?"

In autumn Ding Si passed away. She was not laid in state in the temple, there was no inner coffin, and the sacrifice of repose was not made. Jiang Qing said to Ji Wenzi, "You, sir, are the chief minister, and yet the funeral of the lesser lady is not carried out fully. This is not doing right by the ruler to the end. When the ruler grows up, who will bear the blame for it?" Earlier, Jisun had planted six catalpas for his own use east of the gate of the Pu Garden. Jiang Qing asked for the wood, and Jisun said, "Keep it plain." Jiang Qing used the catalpas of the Pu Garden, and Jisun did not oppose him. The gentleman said, "What the records call 'he who often acts without ritual propriety will surely bring it upon himself' — is this not what is meant?"

In winter the duke went to Jin to receive its directives, and the Marquis of Jin gave him a banquet. The duke asked that Zeng be attached to Lu, but the Marquis of Jin would not allow it. Meng Xianzi said, "Since my unworthy ruler is close upon his enemies and yet wishes to serve your ruler steadfastly and not fail in the charges of office — Zeng renders no levy to the marshal, and your officers lay their commands on our poor city morning and evening. Our poor city is narrow and small, and any shortfall would be charged as a fault to my unworthy ruler. It is for this that my unworthy ruler wishes to borrow help." The Marquis of Jin allowed it.

The men of Chu had Dun spy on Chen and raid and attack it; therefore the men of Chen besieged Dun.

Jiafu, Viscount of Wuzhong, sent Meng Le to Jin, and through Wei Zhuangzi presented tiger and leopard skins, asking for peace with the several Rong. The Marquis of Jin said, "The Rong and Di have no kin feeling and are greedy. Better to attack them." Wei Jiang said, "The lords have newly submitted and Chen has newly come to make peace; they will be watching us. If we show virtue they will be at one with us; if not, they will fall away and be divided. If we wear out our army on the Rong and Chu attacks Chen, we shall certainly be unable to rescue it, and that is to abandon Chen; then all the Xia states will surely revolt. The Rong are birds and beasts. To gain the Rong and lose the Xia states — surely that will not do? The Instructions of Xia have it: 'Hou Yi of Youqiong.'" The duke said, "What of Hou Yi?"

He replied, "Long ago, when the house of Xia was declining, Hou Yi moved from Zu (鉏) to Qiongshi. Relying on the people of Xia, he took over the government of Xia. Trusting in his archery, he did not attend to the people's business but indulged himself among the beasts of the plain. He cast aside Wu Luo, Bo Kun, Xiong Kun, and Mang Yu, and employed Han Zhuo. Han Zhuo was a slanderous son of the Boming clan. Han, lord of Boming, cast him out; Yi the Yi-man took him in, trusted and employed him, and made him his own chancellor. Zhuo practiced flattery within and dispensed bribes without; he befooled the people and beguiled Yi with hunting; he planted deceit and wickedness in order to take his state, and within and without all submitted to him. Still Yi did not reform. As he was about to return from the hunt, the men of his own household killed him and boiled him and made his sons eat him; his sons could not bear to eat it and were put to death at the gate of Qiong. Mi fled to the Youge clan. Zhuo took Yi's household for himself and begot Ao and Yi (豷). Trusting in slander, wickedness, deceit, and falsehood, and showing no virtue toward the people, he sent Ao out with an army to destroy the Zhenguan and the Zhenxun clans. He settled Ao at Guo and Yi at Ge. Mi, from among the Youge, gathered the embers of the two states, destroyed Zhuo, and set up Shaokang. Shaokang destroyed Ao at Guo, and Hou Zhu destroyed Yi at Ge. Youqiong thus perished, because it had lost the people.

"Long ago, when Xin Jia of Zhou was grand scribe, he charged the hundred officers that each office should admonish the king's shortcomings. In the admonition of the forester it says:

Vast are the traces of Yu;
he marked them out as the Nine Provinces
and laid open the nine roads.
The people had their homes and their temples,
the beasts had their rich grasses;
each had its own place,
and by virtue nothing was disturbed.
In the time of the ruler Yi the Yi-man,
he was reckless after the beasts of the plain,
forgot the cares of his state
and thought only of does and stags.
Martial force must not be doubled;
by it the house of Xia was not made great.
The beast-keeper has charge of the plains,
and makes bold to report to the attendant.

"Such is the forester's admonition. Should we not take warning from it?" At this time the Marquis of Jin was fond of the hunt, and that is why Wei Jiang touched on it.

The duke said, "Then is there nothing better than making peace with the Rong?" He replied, "There are five advantages in making peace with the Rong. The Rong and Di shift their dwellings; they prize goods and hold land cheap, so their land can be bought — that is the first. The border districts will not be alarmed, the people will move at ease in their fields, and the harvesters will bring their work to completion — that is the second. When the Rong and Di serve Jin, the four quarters around us will be stirred, and the lords will be awed and drawn to us — that is the third. If we soothe the Rong with virtue, the troops will not be moved and armor and weapons will not be blunted — that is the fourth. Taking warning from Hou Yi and using virtue as our measure, the distant will come to us and the near will be at peace — that is the fifth. Let my ruler consider it." The duke was pleased, and sent Wei Jiang to make a covenant with the several Rong, to attend to the people's business, and to hunt in season.

In winter, in the tenth month, the men of Zhu and the men of Ju attacked Zeng. Zang He went to the relief of Zeng and raided Zhu, and was defeated at Hutai. Those of the capital who went out to meet the dead all wore the hempen mourning knot; from this time on Lu first used the hempen knot. The people of the capital chanted about him:

That Zang of the fox-fur robe
lost us the battle at Hutai.
Our ruler is a little child;
it is dwarfs that he employs.
Dwarfs, dwarfs —
they made us lose to Zhu.

Year 5 (襄公五年)

Annals.

• In the fifth year, in spring, the duke arrived back from Jin.
• In summer, the Earl of Zheng sent Prince Fa to come on a diplomatic visit. Shusun Bao and Wu, the heir apparent of Zeng, went to Jin. Zhongsun Mie and Sun Linfu of Wey met Wu at Shandao.
• In autumn, there was the great rain sacrifice. Chu put to death its grandee Prince Renfu. The duke met with the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wey, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, Guang the heir apparent of Qi, men of Wu, and men of Zeng, at Qi. The duke arrived back from the meeting.
• In winter, a garrison was placed in Chen. Prince Zhen of Chu led an army and attacked Chen. The duke met with the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wey, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, and Guang the heir apparent of Qi, to relieve Chen.
• In the twelfth month, the duke arrived back from the relief of Chen. On the day xinwei, Jisun Xingfu died.

Zuo.

In the fifth year, in spring, the duke arrived back from Jin. The King sent Wangshu Chensheng to bring a complaint against the Rong before Jin, and the men of Jin seized him. Shi Fang went to the royal capital and said that Wangshu had been of two minds and had leaned to the Rong.

In summer Ziguo of Zheng came on a diplomatic visit, opening relations with the succeeding ruler. Mu Shu presented the heir apparent of Zeng at the Jin court, so as to complete the attachment of Zeng. The record says, "Shusun Bao and Wu, the heir apparent of Zeng, went to Jin" — that is, it ranks him with the grandees of Lu. The Viscount of Wu sent Shou Yue to Jin to excuse himself for not having attended at Jize, and also to ask to be admitted to the friendship of the lords. The men of Jin were about to assemble the lords for him, and had Lu and Wey meet Wu first and announce the date of the meeting. Therefore Meng Xianzi and Sun Wenzi met Wu at Shandao.

In autumn there was the great rain sacrifice, because of drought. The men of Chu, punishing the revolt of Chen, said, "It came from the chief minister Zixin; he it was who encroached on them out of greed." So they put him to death. The record says, "Chu put to death its grandee Prince Renfu" — for his greed. The gentleman said that in this King Gong of Chu did not use punishment rightly. The Odes say:

The way of Zhou is straight and level,
my heart is firm and clear.
When the handling of affairs is not good,
gather men to settle it.

If a man has no good faith himself and kills others to gratify himself, is that not hard? The Documents of Xia say, "Make good your promise and the work is accomplished."

In the ninth month, on the day bingwu, they made a covenant at Qi, met with Wu, and ordered a garrison for Chen. Mu Shu held that the attachment of Zeng was not to Lu's advantage, and had the grandees of Zeng receive their orders at the meeting. Zinang (子囊) of Chu became chief minister. Fan Xuanzi said, "We have lost Chen. The men of Chu are punishing divided loyalty and have set up Zinang; he will surely change their conduct and press hard in punishing Chen. Chen is close to Chu, and its people are hard pressed morning and evening; can they help going over? To hold Chen is not our business; only when we no longer have it will things go well." In winter the lords garrisoned Chen, and Zinang attacked Chen.

In the eleventh month, on the day jiawu, they met at Chengdi to relieve it. Ji Wenzi died. The grandees went in for the encoffining, and the duke was present in his place. The steward gathered the household goods to furnish the burial: there were no concubines clothed in silk, no horses fed on grain, no gold or jade laid by, no duplicate vessels or furnishings. The gentleman knew by this the loyalty of Ji Wenzi to the ducal house: he had assisted three rulers and yet had no private hoard. Can he not be called loyal?

Year 6 (襄公六年)

Annals.

• In the sixth year, in spring, in the king's third month, on the day renwu, Gurong, the Earl of Qi (杞), died.
• In summer, Hua Ruo of Song fled here.
• In autumn, Duke Huan of Qi (杞) was buried. The Viscount of Teng came to court. The men of Ju extinguished Zeng.
• In winter, Shusun Bao went to Zhu. Jisun Su went to Jin.
• In the twelfth month, the Marquis of Qi extinguished Lai.

Zuo.

In the sixth year, in spring, Duke Huan of Qi (杞) died. For the first time the death notice gave his name, because of the covenant shared with him. Hua Ruo of Song and Yue Pei had been familiar with each other as boys and had jested together as grown men, and they also slandered each other. Zidang grew angry and yoked Hua Ruo at the court with a bow. Duke Ping saw it and said, "The master of arms, and yoked at court! He will hardly be equal to his office." So he expelled him.

In summer Hua Ruo of Song fled here. Zihan, the minister of works, said, "Equal guilt with unequal punishment is not justice. To inflict punishment on one's own authority at court — what guilt is greater than that?" So he expelled Zidang as well. Zidang shot an arrow at Zihan's gate and said, "How many days before you follow me?" Zihan treated him as well as before.

In autumn Duke Cheng of Teng came to court; this was his first court visit to the duke. The men of Ju extinguished Zeng. Zeng had relied on bribes.

In winter Mu Shu went to Zhu on a diplomatic visit, and also to repair the peace. The men of Jin came to call Lu to account over Zeng, saying, "Why did you let Zeng perish?" Ji Wuzi went to Jin to present himself and to receive their orders.

In the eleventh month the Marquis of Qi extinguished Lai. Lai had relied on its schemes. In the month when Ziguo of Zheng came on his diplomatic visit, the fourth month, Yan Ruo walled Dongyang and then besieged Lai. On the day jiayin they raised earthworks against it, ringing the city and pressing up to the battlements. In the month when Duke Huan of Qi (杞) died, on the day yiwei, Wang Jiao led an army together with Zhengyuzi and the men of Tang and took the field against the Qi army; the Qi army heavily defeated them. On the day dingwei they entered Lai. Duke Gong of Lai, Fourou, fled to Tang. Zhengyuzi and Wang Jiao fled to Ju, and the men of Ju killed them. In the fourth month Chen Wuyu presented the ancestral vessels of Lai to Duke Xiang. Yan Ruo besieged Tang.

In the eleventh month, on the day bingchen, he extinguished it. Lai was moved to Ni. Gao Hou and Cui Zhu fixed the boundaries of its fields.

Year 7 (襄公七年)

Annals.

• In the seventh year, in spring, the Viscount of Tan came to court.
• In summer, in the fourth month, the divinations for the suburban sacrifice were three times unfavorable, and so the victim was released. The Viscount of Lesser Zhu came to court. Bi was walled.
• In autumn, Jisun Su went to Wey.
• In the eighth month there were locusts.
• In winter, in the tenth month, the Marquis of Wey sent Sun Linfu to come on a diplomatic visit. On the day renxu a covenant was made with Sun Linfu. Prince Zhen of Chu led an army and besieged Chen.
• In the twelfth month, the duke met with the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wey, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, and the Viscount of Zhu at Wei. Kunwan, the Earl of Zheng, went to the meeting; before he had seen the lords, on the day bingxu, he died at Cao (鄵). The Marquis of Chen fled home.

Zuo.

In the seventh year, in spring, the Viscount of Tan came to court; this was his first court visit to the duke.

In summer, in the fourth month, the divinations for the suburban sacrifice were three times unfavorable, and so the victim was released. Meng Xianzi said, "Only now do I know that there is something in divination by shell and by stalk. The suburban sacrifice makes its offering to Houji in order to pray for the work of farming. Therefore the suburban sacrifice is held when the insects stir, and ploughing follows the sacrifice. Now we had already ploughed and only then divined about the sacrifice. No wonder the divination was unfavorable."

Nan Yi was steward of Bi. Shuzhong Zhaobo was master of the roads, and wishing to stand well with the Ji clan he sought to please Nan Yi. He said to Yi, "Ask that Bi be walled, and I will give you plenty of labor." Therefore the Ji clan walled Bi.

Duke Mu of Lesser Zhu came to court; this too was his first court visit to the duke.

In autumn Ji Wuzi went to Wey, returning Zishu's diplomatic visit, and excused the slowness of the return, saying that it came from no divided loyalty.

In winter, in the tenth month, Han Xianzi of Jin announced his retirement. Muzi of the ducal kin had a disabling illness, and his father was about to establish him; but he declined, saying, "The Odes say:

Is it not that I would go early and late?
I say there is too much dew on the road.

And again:

If he does not do it himself, in his own person,
the common people will not trust him.

I, Wuji, have no talent. Would it not be right to yield? Let Qi be established. He has kept company with Tian Su, and it is said of him that he loves humaneness. The Odes say:

Be still and reverent in your office,
love what is upright and straight;
the spirits will hear it
and grant you great blessing.

To care for the people is virtue; the upright is what is correct; to straighten the crooked is what is straight; the joining of these three is humaneness. If it is so, then the spirits will hear him and great blessing will come down on him. To establish him — is that not right?" On the day gengxu he had Xuanzi presented at court, and then retired. The Marquis of Jin held Han Wuji to be humane and put him in charge of the grandees of the ducal kin.

Sun Wenzi of Wey came on a diplomatic visit, to acknowledge Wuzi's words and to renew the covenant of Sun Huanzi. When the duke ascended the steps, he ascended too. Shusun Muzi was assisting at the ceremony; he hurried forward and said, "At the meetings of the lords my unworthy ruler has never been placed after the ruler of Wey. Now you, sir, do not place yourself after my unworthy ruler, and my unworthy ruler does not know wherein he has offended. Be at ease a moment, sir." Sun made no answer, and showed no sign of correcting himself. Mu Shu said, "Sun will surely perish. To be a subject and act as a ruler, to err and not correct it — these are the roots of ruin. The Odes say:

Withdrawing to eat from the ducal hall,
easy and yielding, easy and yielding.

That speaks of one who follows. To go crosswise and yet be at his ease — such a one must break."

Zinang of Chu besieged Chen, and the meeting at Wei was held to relieve it. When Duke Xi of Zheng was heir apparent, in the sixteenth year of Duke Cheng, he went to Jin with Zihan and did not treat him with the rites; and he went to Chu with Zifeng and did not treat him with the rites either. In his own first year, when he went to court in Jin, Zifeng wished to lay a complaint against him before Jin and have him deposed, but Zihan stopped it. When he was about to go to the meeting at Wei, Zisi assisted him and again he did not treat him with the rites. An attendant remonstrated and was not heeded; he remonstrated again, and the duke killed him. When they reached Cao (鄵), Zisi had assassins murder Duke Xi by night, and reported to the lords that he had died of a fever. Duke Jian was five years old; they took him up and established him.

The men of Chen were troubled by Chu. Qing Hu and Qing Yin said to the men of Chu, "We will send Prince Huang to you; do you seize him." The men of Chu did so. The two Qings sent word to the Marquis of Chen at the meeting, saying, "The men of Chu have seized Prince Huang. If you, ruler, do not come back, your servants will not be able to bear what may befall the altars of the state and the ancestral temple, and we fear there may be a second design." So the Marquis of Chen fled home.

Year 8 (襄公八年)

Annals.

• In the eighth year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke went to Jin.
• In summer, Duke Xi of Zheng was buried. The men of Zheng raided Cai and captured Prince Xie of Cai. Jisun Su met with the Marquis of Jin, the Earl of Zheng, and men of Qi, Song, Wey, and Zhu at Xingqiu. The duke arrived back from Jin. The men of Ju attacked our eastern border.
• In autumn, in the ninth month, there was the great rain sacrifice.
• In winter, Prince Zhen of Chu led an army and attacked Zheng. The Marquis of Jin sent Shi Gai to come on a diplomatic visit.

Zuo.

In the eighth year, in spring, the duke went to court in Jin, and also to receive the schedule of court visits and diplomatic visits.

The several princes of Zheng, because of Duke Xi's death, plotted against Zisi; Zisi acted first. In summer, in the fourth month, on the day gengchen, he laid a charge against Zihu, Zixi, Zihou, and Ziding and put them to death. Sun Ji and Sun E fled to Wey. On the day gengyin, Ziguo and Zi'er of Zheng raided Cai and captured Prince Xie, the marshal of Cai. The men of Zheng were all delighted; only Zichan (子產) was not pleased. He said, "For a small state to have no virtue of civil accomplishment and yet to have military success — no calamity is greater. The men of Chu will come to punish us; can we help submitting to them? If we submit, the Jin army will surely arrive. Jin and Chu will attack Zheng, and from now on the state of Zheng will not have peace for four or five years." Ziguo was angry with him and said, "What do you know? The state has its great charges, and there is a chief minister. For a boy to speak of such things — you will be put to death for it."

In the fifth month, on the day jiachen, they met at Xingqiu to fix the schedule of court and diplomatic visits, and had the grandees of the lords receive the orders. Jisun Su, Gao Hou of Qi, Xiang Xu of Song, Ning Zhi of Wey, and a grandee of Zhu attended it. The Earl of Zheng presented his spoils at the meeting, and therefore received the orders in person. The grandees are not recorded, out of honor to the Marquis of Jin.

The men of Ju attacked our eastern border, in order to set the boundary of the Zeng fields.

In autumn, in the ninth month, there was the great rain sacrifice, because of drought.

In winter Zinang of Chu attacked Zheng, punishing it for the raid on Cai. Zisi, Ziguo, and Zi'er wished to go over to Chu; Zikong, Zijiao, and Zizhan wished to wait for Jin. Zisi said, "A Zhou ode has it:

Waiting for the He to run clear —
how long is a man's life?
Divining and consulting overmuch
is only striving to weave a net.

When counsel is taken by many clans, the people are the more at odds and affairs come the more to nothing. The people are hard pressed. For the present let us go with Chu and so give our people relief; and when the Jin army comes, we shall go with them too. Let us respectfully offer our silks and await whoever comes: this is the way of a small state. Sacrificial victims, jade, and silk kept ready at both frontiers, to await the stronger and so shelter the people; then raiders will do no harm and the people will not be worn out with suffering. Is that not acceptable?"

Zizhan said, "That by which the small serves the great is good faith. If a small state has no good faith, weapons and disorder come daily and its ruin is not many days off. The good faith of five meetings — and now we are to turn our backs on it. Even if Chu rescues us, what use will it be? They have no thought of holding us close; what they want is to make us their border land. We must not go with them. Better to wait for Jin. The ruler of Jin is at his brightest, his four armies are without gaps, his eight ministers are in harmony; he will surely not abandon Zheng. The Chu army is far from home, its provisions will run out, and it must return quickly. What is there to fear? I, She, have heard that there is no staff like good faith. To keep our defenses whole and let Chu grow weary, to lean on good faith and wait for Jin — is that not acceptable?"

Zisi said, "The Odes say:

The planners are very many;
that is why nothing is settled.
Speeches fill the courtyard;
who dares take the blame for them?
It is like taking counsel about a journey while already on the road —
that is why they never get anywhere.

Let us go with Chu; I, Fei, will bear the blame of it." So they made peace with Chu.

They sent Prince Bopian to report to Jin, saying, "Your ruler charged our poor city to put in order our chariot levies and make our troops ready, so as to punish disorder and plundering. The men of Cai would not obey, and the people of our poor city did not dare rest at ease. We searched out all our levies to punish Cai, captured Xie the marshal, and presented him at Xingqiu. Now Chu has come to punish us, saying, 'Why did you raise weapons against Cai?' They have burned the forts in our outskirts and trampled over our walls. The multitude of our poor city, husbands and wives, men and women, have had no leisure to sit still, so busy have they been rescuing one another. Cut down and overthrown, they had nowhere to appeal. Of the people who died, if not a man's father or elder brother, then it was his son or younger brother. Every one of them grieved and suffered and did not know where to find shelter. The people, knowing themselves at the end of their strength, accepted a covenant with Chu. I, the solitary one, and my several ministers were unable to prevent it. We dare not fail to report it."

Zhi Wuzi had the herald Ziyun answer them, "When your ruler had Chu's command upon him, he did not send so much as a single messenger to report to my unworthy ruler, but went straight to make himself easy with Chu. That is what your ruler wanted; who would dare cross him? My unworthy ruler will lead the lords and present himself beneath your walls. Let your ruler consider it."

Fan Xuanzi of Jin came on a diplomatic visit, to acknowledge the duke's condescension in coming, and to announce that Jin would use its army against Zheng. The duke gave him a banquet. Xuanzi recited "The Falling Plums." Ji Wuzi said, "Who would dare hold back? If we may take a comparison from plants and trees, my unworthy ruler is, toward your ruler, of the same scent and savor as he. We receive the charge with joy; what question is there of the season?" Wuzi recited "The Horn Bow." As the guest was about to leave, Wuzi recited "The Red Bow." Xuanzi said, "At the campaign of Chengpu our former ruler Duke Wen presented his achievement at Hengyong and received the red bow from King Xiang, keeping it as a treasure for his descendants. I, Gai, am heir to one who held office under the former rulers. How should I dare not receive the charge?" The gentleman held that he knew the rites.

Year 9 (襄公九年)

Annals.

• In the ninth year, in spring, there was a fire in Song.
• In summer, Jisun Su went to Jin.
• In the fifth month, on the day xinyou, the duke's wife, Lady Jiang, passed away.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, on the day guiwei, we buried our lesser lady, Mu Jiang.
• In winter, the duke met with the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wey, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi (杞), the Viscount of Lesser Zhu, and Guang the heir apparent of Qi, and attacked Zheng.
• In the twelfth month, on the day jihai, they joined in covenant at Xi. The Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng.

Zuo.

In the ninth year, in spring, there was a fire in Song. Yue Xi was minister of works and directed the government. He had the Bo clan take charge of the wards. Where the fire had not yet reached, they pulled down the small houses and plastered the large ones; they set out baskets and carrying-frames, provided ropes and jars, made ready water vessels, weighed out the light and the heavy tasks, stored up standing water, piled up earth and plaster, patrolled and measured the walls, repaired the defenses, and marked out the paths of the fire. He had Hua Chen muster the regular labor levies, and ordered the master of the roads to bring in the people of the outlying forts and send them to where the fire was. He had Hua Yue take charge of the offices of the right, each office putting its own department in order, and Xiang Xu take charge of those of the left in the same way. He had Yue Chuan put the instruments of punishment in order, in the same way. He had Huang Yun order the master of the stables to bring out horses and the master of works to bring out chariots, to make ready armor and weapons and to set the military guard in order. He had Xichu Wu set the storehouse guard in order. He ordered the palace steward and the lane warden to keep watch over the palace. The two commanders ordered the four district heads to make the offerings with reverence. The invocator and the temple officer used horses at the four ramparts, and sacrificed to Pan Geng outside the west gate.

The Marquis of Jin asked Shi Ruo, "I have heard that from the fire in Song one may know that there is a Way of Heaven. Why is that?" He replied, "The fire officers of antiquity took their sacrificial station either at the Heart or at the Beak, and by them brought the fire out and took it in. Therefore the Beak is the Quail Fire and the Heart is the Great Fire. Ebo, the fire officer of the Taotang house, dwelt at Shangqiu and sacrificed to the Great Fire, and by the fire star he ordered the seasons. Xiangtu continued this; therefore Shang had the Great Fire for its governing star. The men of Shang, examining the omens of their disasters and defeats, always found that they began with fire. Thus day by day they knew that there is a Way of Heaven." The duke said, "Can it be counted on for certain?" He replied, "That lies with the Way. When a state is in disorder there are no signs, and nothing can be known."

In summer Ji Wuzi went to Jin, returning Xuanzi's diplomatic visit. Mu Jiang passed away in the eastern palace. When she first went there they divined by the stalks about it and got the eight of Gen. The scribe said, "This is called Gen going over to Sui. Sui means going out. My lady will surely go out quickly." Jiang said, "No. In the Zhou Changes it says of Sui: 'Sui: primal, penetrating, advantageous, correct; without fault.' Primal is the chief of the body; penetrating is the gathering of what is fine; advantageous is the harmony of righteousness; correct is the trunk of affairs. To embody humaneness is enough to make one head over others; fine virtue is enough to accord with the rites; to benefit creatures is enough to harmonize righteousness; to be firm and correct is enough to be the trunk of affairs. These are things that cannot be falsely claimed. That is why, though it be Sui, there is no fault. Now I am a woman and have taken part in disorder. I have stood in a low place and have been without humaneness; I cannot be called primal. I have not brought quiet to the state; I cannot be called penetrating. I acted and harmed my own person; I cannot be called advantageous. I forsook my station and played the wanton; I cannot be called correct. One who has the four virtues, in Sui, is without fault. I have none of them; how can this be Sui for me? I chose evil; can I be without fault? I shall surely die here, and shall not get out."

Duke Jing of Qin sent Shi Qian to ask Chu for troops, intending to attack Jin, and the Viscount of Chu consented. Zinang said, "It cannot be done. At present we cannot contend with Jin. The ruler of Jin employs men according to their kind of ability: in raising men he does not err in the choice, and in office he does not change their proper sphere. His ministers yield to the good, his grandees do not fail in their charges, his officers vie with one another in instruction, his commoners work hard at farming and reaping, and merchants, artisans, and bondmen do not think of changing their callings. Han Jue is old, and Zhi Ying takes his directions from him in conducting the government. Fan Gai was younger than Zhonghang Yan, and Yan set him above himself, making him second in the central army. Han Qi was younger than Luan Yan, and Luan Yan and Shi Fang set him above themselves, making him second in the upper army. Wei Jiang had many merits, yet he held Zhao Wu to be worthy and became his second. The ruler is enlightened and the ministers loyal; those above yield and those below strive. At such a time Jin cannot be matched. Only after serving it can anything be done. Let my ruler consider it." The king said, "I have already consented. Even if we are not a match for Jin, we must send out the army." In autumn the Viscount of Chu encamped at Wucheng to support Qin. The men of Qin raided Jin; Jin was in famine and could not answer them.

Zuo.

In winter, in the tenth month, the lords attacked Zheng. On gengwu, Ji Wuzi of Lu, Cui Zhu of Qi, and Huang Yun of Song, following Xun Ying (荀罃) and Shi Gai (士匄), attacked the Zhuan Gate. Beigong Kuo of Wei, men of Cao, and men of Zhu, following Xun Yan (荀偃) and Han Qi, attacked the gate called Shi zhi Liang. Men of Teng and men of Xue, following Luan Yan and Shi Fang, attacked the North Gate. Men of Qi and men of Ni, following Zhao Wu and Wei Jiang, cut down the chestnut trees along the roads. On jiaxu the army encamped at Fan, and this order was given to the lords: "Repair your equipment, fill up your dry rations, send home the old and the young, place the sick at Hulao, pardon offenses, and besiege Zheng." The men of Zheng were afraid and sued for peace. Zhonghang Xianzi said, "Press the siege through, wait for the rescue from Chu, and fight them. Otherwise there will be no settlement." Zhi Wuzi said, "Grant them a covenant and bring the army home, and so wear Chu out. Let us divide our four armies into three parts and, with the picked troops of the lords, meet whoever comes; for us there will be no exhaustion, while Chu will not be able to keep it up. That is better than fighting. To leave bones bleaching in the field merely to have our way — one cannot contend like that, when the great labor has no end. The noble man toils with his mind, the small man toils with his strength: this was the institution of the former kings." None of the lords wished to fight, and so Zheng's peace was granted.

In the eleventh month, on jihai, they swore a joint covenant at Xi, Zheng having submitted. As they were about to swear, the six ministers of Zheng — Prince Fei, Prince Fa, Prince Jia, Gongsun Zhe, Gongsun Chai, and Gongsun Shezhi — together with the grandees and the heirs of the noble houses, all attended the Earl of Zheng. Shi Zhuangzi of Jin drew up the text of the covenant, which said: "From this day, once the covenant is sworn, if the state of Zheng does not listen to the commands of Jin alone, but harbors some other intention, let this covenant be its judge." Prince Fei hurried forward and said, "Heaven has sent calamity upon the state of Zheng, setting it wedged between two great states. The great states bestow no kindly word upon us but coerce us with disorder, so that our ghosts and spirits cannot enjoy their pure offerings and our people cannot enjoy the yield of their land; husbands and wives labor in misery, sunk low and hemmed in, with nowhere to bring their complaint. From this day, once the covenant is sworn, if the state of Zheng does not follow whoever has ritual propriety and strength and can shelter our people, but dares to harbor some other intention, let it be dealt with likewise." Xun Yan said, "Change the text of the covenant." Gongsun Shezhi said, "We have called the great spirits to witness the binding words. If they can be changed, then a great state can also be revolted from." Zhi Wuzi said to Xianzi, "It is we who lack virtue, and yet we coerce others with a covenant. Is that ritual propriety? And without ritual propriety, how shall we preside over a covenant? Let us swear for now and withdraw; then cultivate virtue, rest the army, and come again. In the end we shall surely get Zheng; why must it be today? If we lack virtue, our own people will abandon us, and not Zheng only. If we can be at rest and at peace, distant peoples will come to us; why depend on Zheng?" So they swore and went back. The men of Jin had not got their will of Zheng, and with the lords attacked it again.

In the twelfth month, on guihai, they attacked three of its gates. In the intercalary month, on wuyin, they crossed at Yinban, raided Zheng, halted at Yinkou, and turned back. Zikong said, "The Jin army can be struck. It is worn and weary and has its mind on going home; we should surely win a great victory over it." Zizhan said, "It cannot be done." The duke escorted the Marquis of Jin, and the Marquis of Jin feasted with him on the bank of the Yellow River. He asked the duke's age, and Ji Wuzi answered, "Our unworthy ruler was born in the year of the meeting at Shasui." The Marquis of Jin said, "Then he is twelve. That is called one full round, one full circuit of the year-star. A ruler of a state has a son at fifteen; to have a son after the capping is ritual propriety. Your ruler may be capped. Why do you grandees not prepare what the capping requires?" Wuzi answered, "When a ruler is capped it must be carried out with the rites of libation and offering, measured by music of metal and stone, and performed in the shrine of a former ruler. Now our unworthy ruler is on the road, and these things cannot be provided. Let us wait until we come to a brother state and borrow the equipment there." The Marquis of Jin said, "Agreed." On the way back, when the duke reached Wei, he was capped in the temple of Duke Cheng, the bells and chimestones being borrowed. This was ritual propriety. The Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng, and Zisi was about to make peace with Chu. Zikong and Zijiao said, "We covenanted with a great state; the blood is not yet dry on our lips, and we would turn our backs on it. Is that allowable?" Zisi and Zizhan said, "Our covenant said expressly that we would follow whoever is strong. Now the Chu army has come and Jin does not rescue us; then Chu is the strong one. As for the words of the covenant oath, how should we dare to turn our backs on them? Moreover a covenant extorted by force has no sincerity in it, and the spirits do not attend it. What they attend is good faith alone; good faith is the token of words and the master of what is good, and therefore they attend it. The bright spirits do not hold a coerced covenant pure, and to break it is allowable." So they made peace with Chu. Prince Barong entered the city and swore, and they made a joint covenant at Zhongfen. The lady of King Zhuang of Chu died, and the king went home without having been able to settle Zheng. The Marquis of Jin returned and took counsel how to give his people rest. Wei Jiang asked that grants and remissions be made and that hoarded stores be paid out as loans. From the duke downward, whoever had stores brought them all out; in the state there were no goods lying idle and no one in want. The duke laid no ban on the profits of hill and marsh, and there were no grasping men among the people. In the prayers, silk offerings were used in place of victims; guests were entertained with a single animal; no new vessels or implements were made; carriages and robes were only what sufficed. This was carried on for a full year, and the state came to have measure. Three times they took the field, and Chu could not contend with them.

Year 10 (襄公十年)

Annals.

• In the tenth year, in spring, the duke met the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, the Viscount of Lesser Zhu, and Guang, heir apparent of Qi, and met Wu at Zha.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on jiawu, they went on to extinguish Biyang.
• The duke arrived from the meeting.
• Prince Zhen of Chu and Gongsun Zhe of Zheng led armies and attacked Song.
• The army of Jin attacked Qin.
• In autumn, men of Ju attacked our eastern border.
• The duke met the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, Guang heir apparent of Qi, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, and the Viscount of Lesser Zhu, and attacked Zheng.
• In winter, brigands killed Prince Fei, Prince Fa, and Gongsun Zhe of Zheng.
• A garrison was set at Hulao in Zheng.
• Prince Zhen of Chu led an army to rescue Zheng.
• The duke arrived from the attack on Zheng.

Zuo.

In the tenth year, in spring, there was the meeting at Zha; it was a meeting with Shoumeng, Viscount of Wu. In the third month, on guichou, Gao Hou of Qi, attending the heir apparent Guang, went ahead to meet the lords at Zhongli, and was disrespectful. Shi Zhuangzi said, "Gao is attending the heir apparent at a meeting of the lords. They are the guardians of the altars of soil and grain, and both of them were disrespectful. That is to throw away the altars of soil and grain. Will they escape?" In summer, in the fourth month, on wuwu, the meeting was held at Zha.

Xun Yan and Shi Gai of Jin asked to attack Biyang and enfeoff Xiang Xu of Song there. Xun Ying said, "The city is small but strong. To win it is no proof of might; to fail to win it makes us a laughingstock." They pressed the request. On bingyin they besieged the place and could not take it. Qin Jinfu, a retainer of the Meng lineage, was hauling baggage carts to the campaign. The men of Biyang opened their gate, and the officers of the lords attacked the gateway; the portcullis was dropped, and He, the man of Zou, heaved it up and let out those who had gone inside. Di Simi set up the wheel of a great cart, covered it with armor, and made a shield of it; holding it in his left hand and drawing a halberd with his right, he made a company by himself. Meng Xianzi said, "This is what the Odes mean by 'strength like a tiger's.'" The defenders let down a cloth; Jinfu climbed it, and when he reached the parapet they cut it through. He fell; they let it down again; he revived and climbed again — three times. Then the defenders gave over, and he withdrew. He wore the severed piece at his belt and paraded it through the army for three days. The armies of the lords lingered long at Biyang. Xun Yan and Shi Gai made request of Xun Ying, saying, "The rains are about to come down, and we fear we shall not be able to get home. We ask that the army be withdrawn." Zhi Bo was enraged and hurled his armrest at them, so that it passed between them, and said, "You two settled the business and only then told me. I feared to throw the command into confusion, and so did not go against you. You have troubled the ruler and raised the lords, and dragged an old man along to this place; and now, having nothing of martial firmness, you wish to shift the blame onto me and say, 'It was he who withdrew the army; otherwise we should have taken it.' I am worn out and old — can I bear a double burden? If it is not taken within seven days, I shall certainly take it out of you." In the fifth month, on gengyin, Xun Yan and Shi Gai led the troops in an assault on Biyang, themselves exposed to arrows and stones; on jiawu they extinguished it. The record says "they went on to extinguish Biyang," meaning that it followed from the meeting. It was given to Xiang Xu, but Xiang Xu declined, saying, "If my lord will still condescend to steady and comfort the state of Song, and with Biyang gloriously enlarge my unworthy ruler, then all his servants will be at ease; what gift could equal it? But if it is bestowed on me alone, then I shall have raised the lords in order to enfeoff myself, and what fault could be greater? At the risk of my life I beg leave to decline." So it was given to the Duke of Song. The Duke of Song feasted the Marquis of Jin at Chuqiu and asked to use the Mulberry Grove music. Xun Ying declined it. Xun Yan and Shi Gai said, "Among the lords, it is in Song and Lu that one observes the rites. Lu has the di sacrificial music and uses it for guests and for sacrifice; for Song to feast our ruler with the Mulberry Grove — is that not permissible?" The leader of the dancers came forward with the great Xia banner, and the Marquis of Jin took fright and withdrew into a side chamber. The banner was taken away, the feast was completed, and he set out home. When he reached Zhuyong he fell ill; divination was made, and the spirit of the Mulberry Grove appeared. Xun Yan and Shi Gai wished to hurry off and pray to it. Xun Ying would not allow it, saying, "I declined the rite; they used it anyway. If there are indeed ghosts and spirits, let the visitation fall on them." The Marquis of Jin then had some relief. They took the Viscount of Biyang home and presented him at the temple of Duke Wu, calling him a barbarian captive. Biyang was of the Yun surname; they had the interior scribe of Zhou choose an heir of its lineage and settled him at Huoren. This was ritual propriety. When the army returned, Meng Xianzi made Qin Jinfu his chariot-right. He begot Qin Pizi, who served Zhongni.

In the sixth month, Zinang of Chu and Zi'er of Zheng attacked Song, encamping at Ziwu. On gengwu they surrounded Song and attacked the Tong Gate. Xun Ying of Jin attacked Qin, in requital for its raid. The Marquis of Wei went to rescue Song, encamping at Xiangniu. Zizhan of Zheng said, "We must attack Wei; otherwise we are not siding with Chu. We have already offended Jin, and if we offend Chu as well, what will become of the state?" Zisi said, "The state is worn out." Zizhan said, "To offend both great states means certain ruin. Is being worn out not better than ruin?" All the grandees thought so, and therefore Huang'er of Zheng led an army and raided Wei; it was Chu's order. Sun Wenzi divined about pursuing them and presented the crack to Ding Jiang. Lady Jiang asked what the oracle said. It said: "The crack is like a hill; a man goes out on campaign and loses his champion." Lady Jiang said, "If the one who campaigns loses his champion, that is to the advantage of those who resist the invader. Let the grandee consider it." The men of Wei pursued, and Sun Kuai captured Huang'er of Zheng at Quanqiu.

In autumn, in the seventh month, Zinang of Chu and Zi'er of Zheng attacked our western border; on their way back they besieged Xiao, and in the eighth month, on bingyin, took it. In the ninth month Zi'er raided the northern border of Song. Meng Xianzi said, "Zheng will surely meet with disaster. Its campaigning strains it far too much. Even Zhou could not bear such straining — how much less Zheng? If disaster comes, will it not fall on the three men who hold the government?"

The men of Ju took advantage of the lords being occupied, and therefore attacked our eastern border.

The lords attacked Zheng. Cui Zhu of Qi had the heir apparent Guang arrive at the army first, and so he was ranked above Teng. On jiyou the army encamped at Niushou. Earlier, Zisi and Wei Zhi had had a quarrel: when they were about to meet the armies of the lords, Zisi cut down Wei Zhi's chariots. Wei Zhi took captives, and again they quarreled; Zisi put him down, saying, "Your chariots were contrary to the rules," and so would not let him present them. Earlier still, Zisi had laid out the field-ditches, and the Si, Du, Hou, and Zishi lineages all lost land by it. Therefore the five lineages gathered a crowd of malcontents and, through the followers of the princes, raised a revolt. At this time Zisi held the government, Ziguo was marshal, Zi'er was minister of works, and Zikong was minister of education. In winter, in the tenth month, on wuchen, Wei Zhi, Si Chen, Hou Jin, Du Nüfu, and Zishi Pu led their bravos in and at dawn attacked the holders of the government in the court of the Western Palace, killing Zisi, Ziguo, and Zi'er, and seizing the Earl of Zheng and carrying him off to the Northern Palace. Zikong had known of it, and so did not die. The record says "brigands," meaning that no grandee was among them. Zixi, hearing of the brigands, went out without taking precautions; he laid out the corpse and pursued them. The brigands had entered the Northern Palace, so he went home to give out armor, but most of his servants and maids had fled and much of his equipment was lost. Zichan, hearing of the brigands, set guards at the gates, mustered the several officers, closed the storehouses, carefully secured what was stored, completed the defenses, and only then went out in formation, with seventeen war chariots. He laid out the corpse and attacked the brigands at the Northern Palace, and Zijiao led the men of the capital to help him. They killed Wei Zhi and Zishi Pu, and the whole band of brigands perished. Hou Jin fled to Jin; Du Nüfu, Si Chen, Wei Pian, and Si Qi fled to Song. Zikong took charge of the state and drew up a covenant text requiring that the ordinances of the government be obeyed according to rank. The grandees, the various officers, and the heirs of the noble houses would not comply, and he was about to put them to death. Zichan stopped him and asked that the document be burned for their sake. Zikong refused, saying, "The document was made to settle the state. If it is burned because the multitude is angry, then the multitude is governing. Will the state not be in difficulty?" Zichan said, "The anger of the multitude is hard to defy; a private desire is hard to accomplish. To join these two difficulties in order to settle the state is the way to endanger it. Better to burn the document and calm the multitude: you will get what you want, and the multitude will get quiet. Is that not permissible? A private desire cannot be accomplished, and to defy the multitude raises calamity. You must follow this." So the document was burned outside the Granary Gate, and after that the multitude was settled.

The armies of the lords walled Hulao and garrisoned it. The Jin army walled Wu and Zhi, and Shi Fang and Wei Jiang garrisoned them. The record says "garrisoned Hulao of Zheng"; it was not Zheng's territory, and the words mean that it was to be given back to Zheng. Zheng made peace with Jin. Zinang of Chu came to rescue Zheng.

In the eleventh month the armies of the lords turned from Zheng and went south, reaching Yangling. The Chu army did not withdraw. Zhi Wuzi wished to withdraw, and said, "If we now avoid Chu, Chu will grow arrogant, and when it is arrogant we can fight it." Luan Yan said, "To flee Chu is a disgrace to Jin. To gather the lords and thereby add to our disgrace — better to die. I shall advance alone." So the army advanced. On jihai they encamped facing the Chu army across the Ying River. Zijiao said, "The lords are already on the march homeward and will surely not fight. If we side with them they will withdraw; if we do not side with them they will withdraw all the same; and once they withdraw, Chu will surely besiege us. Since they are going to withdraw anyway, better to side with Chu and so get Chu to withdraw too." By night they crossed the Ying and made a covenant with the men of Chu. Luan Yan wished to attack the Zheng army, but Xun Ying would not allow it and said, "It is we who cannot hold off Chu, and we cannot protect Zheng either. What is Zheng's fault? Better to leave them their resentment and go home. If we now attack their army, Chu will certainly rescue them; if we fight and do not win, we shall be the laughingstock of the lords, and a victory cannot be commanded. Better to go home." On dingwei the armies of the lords turned back, raided the northern border of Zheng, and went home; and the men of Chu also went back.

Wangshu Chensheng and Boyu contended for the government. The king favored Boyu, and Wangshu Chensheng in anger left and fled. When he reached the Yellow River the king recalled him, and killed the scribe Jiao to placate him; but he would not come back in, and so was left where he was. The Marquis of Jin sent Shi Gai to settle the royal house, and Wangshu and Boyu pleaded their case before him. Wangshu's steward and Boyu's grandee Xia Qin sat at the trial in the royal court, and Shi Gai heard the case. Wangshu's steward said, "A man of a brushwood gate and a hole for a window, and yet he overrides his superior. It has become hard to be a superior." Xia Qin said, "Long ago, when King Ping moved east, our seven surnames followed the king; sacrificial victims and vessels were fully supplied, and the king relied upon us and granted us the covenant of the red ox, saying, 'Generation after generation you shall not lose your offices.' If we had been men of brushwood gates and holes for windows, could we have come east and settled here? And on what would the king have relied? Now, since Wangshu became chief minister, government is settled by bribes and punishment is let loose according to favor, and the officers and staffs of the offices cannot contain their wealth. How could we not be men of brushwood gates and holes for windows? Let the great state consider this. If those below have no redress, what then is called right?" Fan Xuanzi said, "Whom the Son of Heaven favors, my unworthy ruler favors also; whom he sets aside, he sets aside also." He had the house of Wangshu and Boyu compare their documents, and the house of Wangshu could not produce its tallies. Wangshu fled to Jin. It is not in the record because no notice was sent. Shan Jinggong became minister-officer and assisted the royal house.

Year 11 (襄公十一年)

Annals.

• In the eleventh year, in spring, in the king's first month, the three armies were created.
• In summer, in the fourth month, the suburban sacrifice was divined for four times and was not approved; so the suburban sacrifice was not made.
• Gongsun Shezhi of Zheng led an army and raided Song.
• The duke met the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Cao, Guang heir apparent of Qi, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, and the Viscount of Lesser Zhu, and attacked Zheng.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on jiwei, they swore a joint covenant north of the city of Bo.
• The duke arrived from the attack on Zheng.
• The Viscount of Chu and the Earl of Zheng attacked Song.
• The duke met the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Cao, Guang heir apparent of Qi, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, and the Viscount of Lesser Zhu, and attacked Zheng, and they met at Xiaoyu.
• The duke arrived from the meeting.
• Chu seized Liang Xiao, the envoy of Zheng.
• In winter, men of Qin attacked Jin.

Zuo.

In the eleventh year, in spring, Ji Wuzi was about to create three armies. He told Shusun Muzi, "Let us make three armies, each levying for its own army." Muzi said, "The government will come to you, and you will surely not be able to sustain it." Wuzi pressed the request. Muzi said, "Then let us swear to it." So they swore in the gateway of Duke Xi's temple and pronounced the curse at the crossroads of Wufu. In the first month the three armies were created. The ducal house was divided into three, and each of them had one part. The three men each broke up their chariot-units. The Ji lineage decreed that those of its unit who came in with their service-settlements should pay no levy, and those who did not come in should pay double. The Meng lineage made half of them its dependents, taking either the sons or the younger brothers. The Shusun lineage made all of them dependents, and otherwise would not release them.

The men of Zheng were troubled by the matter of Jin and Chu. The grandees said, "If we do not follow Jin, the state is all but lost. Chu is weaker than Jin, but Jin is not urgent about us. If Jin were urgent, Chu would keep out of its way. What can we do to make the Jin army fight to the death for us, so that Chu dare not stand against it? Only then can we firmly side with Jin." Zizhan said, "Let us make bad blood with Song. Then the lords will surely come, and we shall swear a covenant with them. When the Chu army comes we shall follow that too, and Jin will be greatly enraged. Jin can come again and again; Chu will not be able to. Then we shall side firmly with Jin." The grandees were pleased with this, and had the officers of the frontier make trouble with Song. Xiang Xu of Song raided Zheng and took much. Zizhan said, "Now we may raise an army and attack Song. If we attack Song, the lords will attack us the more urgently, and then we shall obey their command; and we shall also report to Chu, and when the Chu army comes we shall covenant with it, and then bribe the Jin army richly, and so escape." In summer Zizhan of Zheng raided Song.

In the fourth month the lords attacked Zheng. On jihai the heir apparent Guang of Qi and Xiang Xu of Song arrived first at Zheng and attacked the East Gate. That evening Xun Ying of Jin reached the western suburbs and raided eastward into old Xu, while Sun Linfu of Wei raided its northern border.

In the sixth month the lords met at Beilin, encamped at Xiang, then wheeled right and halted at Suo, besieged Zheng, made a display of arms at the South Gate, and crossed westward at Jisui. The men of Zheng were afraid and sued for peace.

In autumn, in the seventh month, they swore a joint covenant at Bo. Fan Xuanzi said, "If we are not careful we shall lose the lords. The lords are worn out on the roads with nothing accomplished; can they help being of two minds?" So they swore. The text of the covenant said: "All we who covenant together: hoard not the harvest, dam not up profit, shelter not the wicked, harbor not the evil; rescue in calamity, show pity in disorder, share what is liked and what is hated, uphold the royal house. Should any transgress this charge, may the Overseer of Care and the Overseer of Covenants, the famed mountains and famed rivers, the host of spirits and the host of sacrifices, the former kings and former dukes, and the ancestors of the seven surnames and twelve states — may the bright spirits strike him down, make him lose his people, bring down his mandate and end his lineage, and overthrow his state and house." Zinang of Chu begged troops from Qin, and Zhan, grandee of the right of Qin, led an army to follow the Viscount of Chu, intending to attack Zheng; but the Earl of Zheng went out to meet them, and on bingzi they attacked Song.

In the ninth month the lords brought out all their forces and attacked Zheng again. The men of Zheng sent Liang Xiao and the grand steward Shi Chuo to Chu to announce that they would submit to Jin, saying: "For the sake of our altars of soil and grain, I cannot cherish my lord. If my lord can pacify Jin with jade and silk, or failing that awe it with a shaking of arms, that is my wish." The men of Chu seized them. The record says "envoy," meaning a man sent on a mission. The armies of the lords made a display of arms at the East Gate of Zheng, and the men of Zheng sent Prince Bopian to sue for peace. On jiaxu Zhao Wu of Jin entered and swore the covenant with the Earl of Zheng.

In winter, in the tenth month, on dinghai, Zizhan of Zheng came out and swore the covenant with the Marquis of Jin.

In the twelfth month, on wuyin, they met at Xiaoyu. On gengchen the prisoners from Zheng were pardoned and all sent home with courtesy; the scouts were called in and raiding and plunder forbidden. The Marquis of Jin sent Shu Xi to announce it to the lords, and the duke had Zangsun He reply: "Among all of us who covenant together, when a small state offends and a great state brings punishment upon it, so long as there is something to show for it, pardon is seldom withheld. My unworthy ruler has heard the command." The men of Zheng presented the Marquis of Jin with the music masters Kui, Chu, and Juan; with broad chariots and tun chariots, fifteen pairs of them, complete with armor and weapons, war chariots to the number of a hundred; with two sets of singing bells, together with their bo bells and chimestones; and with two eights of women musicians. The Marquis of Jin gave half the music to Wei Jiang, saying, "You taught me to be at peace with the Rong and Di and so to set the Chinese states in order. In eight years I have brought the lords together nine times, and, like the concord of music, there is nothing out of harmony. Let me enjoy this with you." He declined, saying, "To be at peace with the Rong and Di is the good fortune of the state. That in eight years the lords have been brought together nine times, and that among the lords there is no evil, is the spiritual power of my lord and the labor of these several gentlemen. What strength of mine is in it? Rather I would have my lord rest in his joy and think of its end. The Odes say:

Joyful is the noble man,
who upholds the realm of the Son of Heaven.
Joyful is the noble man,
in whom blessing and emolument meet.
Ready and abundant at his left and right,
these too follow his lead.

Joy is what settles virtue; righteousness is what gives it its place, ritual propriety what carries it out, good faith what keeps it, humaneness what urges it on. Only then can one uphold the states, join blessing with emolument, and bring distant peoples to come. That is what is called joy. The Documents say, 'Dwelling in safety, think of danger.' To think is to be prepared, and to be prepared is to be without disaster. I venture to offer this as a rule." The duke said, "Your instruction — how should I not accept the charge? Yet without you I should have had no way of dealing with the Rong, nor could I have crossed the Yellow River. Rewards are the canon of the state, stored in the covenant office, and may not be set aside. Take it." From this time Wei Jiang first had music of metal and stone. This was ritual propriety. The Qin senior commanders Bao and Wu led armies and attacked Jin in order to rescue Zheng. Bao entered Jin territory first, and Shi Fang went to resist him, but he made light of the Qin army and set no defenses. On renwu Wu crossed from Fushi and joined Bao in attacking the Jin army from both sides. On jichou Qin and Jin fought at Li, and the Jin army was routed — because they had made light of Qin.

Year 12 (襄公十二年)

Annals.

• In the twelfth year, in spring, in the king's second month, men of Ju attacked our eastern border and besieged Tai.
• Jisun Su led an army to relieve Tai, and went on to enter Yun.
• In summer, the Marquis of Jin sent Shi Fang to us on a diplomatic visit.
• In autumn, in the ninth month, Cheng, Viscount of Wu, died.
• In winter, Prince Zhen of Chu led an army and raided Song.
• The duke went to Jin.

Zuo.

In the twelfth year, in spring, men of Ju attacked our eastern border and besieged Tai. Ji Wuzi relieved Tai and went on to enter Yun, taking its bell and making of it a basin for the duke.

In summer, Shi Fang of Jin came on a diplomatic visit, and also to give thanks for our troops.

In autumn, Shoumeng, Viscount of Wu, died. Wailing was made for him in the temple of Zhou. This was ritual propriety. In general, for the death of a lord, wailing for one of a different surname is made outside; for one of the same surname, in the ancestral temple; for one of the same lineage, in the temple of the common ancestor; for one of the same branch, in the temple of the father. Therefore Lu, for the various Ji-surnamed states, wails in the temple of Zhou, and for Xing, Fan, Jiang, Mao, Zuo, and Ji it wails in the temple of the Duke of Zhou.

In winter, Zinang of Chu and the Qin senior commander Wudi attacked Song, encamping at Yangliang, in requital for Jin's taking of Zheng. King Ling sought a queen from Qi, and the Marquis of Qi asked Yan Huanzi how to reply. Huanzi answered, "The ceremonial formulas of the former kings provide for it. When the Son of Heaven seeks a queen from a lord, the lord replies: 'Of daughters born to me and my wife there are so many; of daughters of my concubines there are so many.' If he has no daughter but has sisters, or aunts and sisters, he says: 'Of daughters left by the late guardian, Duke So-and-so, there are so many.'" The Marquis of Qi consented to the marriage, and the king sent Yin Li to fetch her. The duke went to Jin, made his court visit, and also gave thanks for the condescension of Shi Fang's visit. This was ritual propriety. A Ying woman of Qin was married into Chu, and the marshal of Chu, Zigeng, made a diplomatic visit to Qin on the lady's behalf, to inquire after her family. This was ritual propriety.

Year 13 (襄公十三年)

Annals.

• In the thirteenth year, in spring, the duke arrived from Jin.
• In summer, Shi was taken.
• In autumn, in the ninth month, on gengchen, Shen, Viscount of Chu, died.
• In winter, Fang was walled.

Zuo.

In the thirteenth year, in spring, the duke arrived from Jin. Meng Xianzi recorded his labors in the temple. This was ritual propriety.

In summer, Shi fell into disorder and split into three. An army went to relieve Shi and went on to take it. In general, when the record says "took," it means the thing was easy. When a great army is used, it is called "extinguished"; when the land is not held, it is called "entered."

Xun Ying and Shi Fang died. The Marquis of Jin held a hunt at Mianshang to put his troops in order. He would have made Shi Gai commander of the central army, but he declined, saying, "Boyou is the elder. Formerly I was familiar with Zhi Bo and therefore assisted him; it was not that I was the worthier man. Let me serve under Boyou." So Xun Yan commanded the central army with Shi Gai as his second. He would have made Han Qi commander of the upper army, but Han Qi declined in favor of Zhao Wu. He then would have appointed Luan Yan, who declined, saying, "I am not the equal of Han Qi, and Han Qi wishes to set Zhao Wu above himself. Let my lord heed him." So Zhao Wu commanded the upper army with Han Qi as his second, and Luan Yan commanded the lower army with Wei Jiang as his second. The new army had no commander, and the Marquis of Jin found it hard to fix on the man; so he had its section officers lead its foot soldiers, chariot troops, and staffs to follow the lower army. This was ritual propriety. The people of Jin were thereby in great concord, and the lords became harmonious with them.

The noble man says: Yielding is the master of ritual propriety. Fan Xuanzi yielded, and all below him yielded; Luan Yan was overbearing, yet did not dare go against it. Jin was thereby at peace, and for several generations relied on it. This is what it is to model goodness. When one man models goodness, the hundred surnames are at rest and in concord. Can one fail to strive for it? The Documents say, "When the One Man has felicity, the myriad people depend upon it, and its peace will be lasting." Is not this what is meant? At the rise of Zhou its ode said, "Take King Wen for your model, and the myriad realms will trust you." That speaks of modeling goodness. At its decline its ode said, "The grandees are not even-handed; I alone am worked the hardest." That speaks of not yielding. When an age is well ordered, the noble man esteems ability and yields to those below him, and the small man exerts his strength to serve those above him; thus high and low have ritual propriety, and slander and evil are cast far off. This comes of not contending, and is called excellent virtue. When an age is disordered, the noble man vaunts his merits to lord it over the small man, and the small man boasts his skill to encroach upon the noble man; thus high and low have no ritual propriety, and disorder and cruelty arise together. This comes of contending for the credit of goodness, and is called benighted virtue. The ruin of states and houses always comes from this.

The Viscount of Chu fell ill and told his grandees: "I am without virtue. Young, I became master of the altars of soil and grain: I was ten years old when I lost my late ruler, and had not yet learned the teachings of my tutors and guardians, and yet I received abundant blessings. Therefore, lacking virtue, I lost an army at Yan and brought shame upon the altars of soil and grain and worry upon my grandees, and that in great measure. If by the spiritual power of my grandees I keep my head and neck and go down into the earth, then in the matter of the seasonal sacrifices and the burial, by which I am to follow my late ruler in the temple of the fathers, let my posthumous name be Ling or Li. Let the grandees choose." None answered; only after he had charged them five times did they consent. In autumn King Gong of Chu died. Zinang proposed a posthumous name. The grandees said, "The ruler left his command." Zinang said, "The ruler's command was made in reverence; how can we disgrace him? Chu is a glorious state, and he ruled over it; he comforted and held the Man and Yi, campaigned to the limit of the southern sea, brought the Chinese states into his following, and knew his own faults. Can that not be called Reverent? Let his posthumous name be Gong." The grandees followed him.

Wu raided Chu. Yang Youji hurried to the call, and Zigeng followed with an army. Yang Shu said, "Wu is taking advantage of our mourning and thinks we cannot raise an army. They will surely make light of us and be off their guard. Set three ambushes and wait for me, and let me lure them on." Zigeng did so. They fought at Kangpu and greatly defeated the Wu army, capturing Prince Dang. The noble man held that Wu had shown no compassion. The Odes say: "Unpitying is vast Heaven; the disorder has no settling."

In winter, Fang was walled. The record notes that the work was in season. At the time they were going to wall it early, but Zang Wuzhong asked that they wait until the farm work was finished. This was ritual propriety.

Liang Xiao of Zheng and the grand steward Shi Chuo were still in Chu. Shi Chuo said to Zinang, "The former kings divined about a campaign five years in advance, and each year repeated the omen; if the omen was repeated they went, and if it was not, they added further divinations, cultivated virtue, and divined again. Now it is Chu that is not strong; what fault has an envoy? To detain one minister of Zheng removes a man who presses upon others there, and so makes them harmonious among themselves and hostile to Chu, and firm with Jin. Better to make use of him: send him home and so nullify his mission; then they will resent their ruler and be hostile to their grandees, and drag one another about. Is that not better?" The men of Chu sent them home.

Year 14 (襄公十四年)

Annals.

• In the fourteenth year, in spring, Jisun Su and Shu Lao met Shi Gai of Jin, men of Qi, men of Song, men of Wei, Gongsun Chai of Zheng, men of Cao, men of Ju, men of Zhu, men of Teng, men of Xue, men of Qi, and men of Lesser Zhu, and met Wu at Xiang.
• In the second month, on yiwei, the first day of the month, the sun was eclipsed.
• In summer, in the fourth month, Shusun Bao met Xun Yan of Jin, men of Qi, men of Song, Beigong Kuo of Wei, Gongsun Chai of Zheng, men of Cao, men of Ju, men of Zhu, men of Teng, men of Xue, men of Qi, and men of Lesser Zhu, and attacked Qin.
• On jiwei the Marquis of Wei fled to Qi.
• Men of Ju raided our eastern border.
• In autumn, Prince Zhen of Chu led an army and attacked Wu.
• In winter, Jisun Su met Shi Gai of Jin, Hua Yue of Song, Sun Linfu of Wei, Gongsun Chai of Zheng, men of Ju, and men of Zhu, at Qi.

Zuo.

In the fourteenth year, in spring, Wu reported its defeat to Jin. The meeting at Xiang was held because plans were being laid against Chu on Wu's behalf. Fan Xuanzi enumerated Wu's want of virtue and thereby dismissed the men of Wu. He seized Prince Wulou of Ju, because Ju had been in communication with the envoys of Chu. He was about to seize Juzhi, the Rong viscount, and Fan Xuanzi arraigned him in person at court, saying, "Come here, you of the Jiang Rong. Long ago the men of Qin drove your ancestor Wuli out to Guazhou. Your ancestor Wuli, clothed in rush matting and covered with thorns, came to submit to our late ruler; and our late ruler Duke Hui, whose lands were not ample, divided them with you so that you might eat. Now the lords serve my unworthy ruler less well than in former days. Since words are being leaked, the responsibility is yours. In tomorrow morning's business you shall have no part; if you take part, I shall seize you." He answered, "Long ago the men of Qin, relying on their numbers and greedy for land, drove out us Rong. Duke Hui made manifest his great virtue and said of us Rong that we were the descendants of the Four Peaks and were not to be cut off and cast away; and he granted us the lands of his southern border, where foxes and wildcats dwelt and jackals and wolves howled. We Rong cleared away the thorns and briars, drove out the foxes and wildcats and jackals and wolves, and became subjects of the late ruler who neither invaded nor rebelled; and to this day we have not been of two minds. Long ago Duke Wen, together with Qin, attacked Zheng. The men of Qin secretly covenanted with Zheng and left a garrison there, and thereupon came the campaign at Yao. Jin blocked them above and the Rong withstood them below, and the Qin army did not return: that was truly the doing of us Rong. It was like catching a deer — the men of Jin seized its horns, we Rong seized its legs, and together with Jin brought it down. How then are we Rong not to be spared? From that time on, in Jin's hundred campaigns we Rong have followed in their season, following those who hold the government, in the same spirit as at Yao. How should we dare to draw off and away? Now, if the officers and staffs of your offices have in truth some failing, so that the lords are estranged, will you lay the fault upon us Rong? We Rong differ from the Chinese in food, drink, and clothing; we exchange no gifts of silk with them, and our speech does not reach them. What mischief could we do? Not to take part in the meeting will bring us no grief." He recited the ode "Blue Flies" and withdrew. Xuanzi made his apology to him and had him take part in the business of the meeting, thus perfecting his own gentleness of temper. At this time Zishu Qizi acted as Ji Wuzi's assistant at the meeting. From this time the men of Jin lightened the gifts required of Lu and treated its envoys with more respect.

Zhufan, Viscount of Wu, having put off mourning, was about to set up Jizha. Jizha declined, saying, "When Duke Xuan of Cao died, the lords and the men of Cao held the ruler of Cao to be unrighteous and were about to set up Zizang. Zizang left, and so it was not done, and thus the ruler of Cao was confirmed. The noble man said, 'He was able to keep his integrity.' My lord is the rightful heir; who would dare offend against you? To possess the state is not my proper part. Though I lack ability, I wish to attach myself to Zizang and so not lose my integrity." They persisted in setting him up; he abandoned his household and took to ploughing, and then they let him be.

In summer the grandees of the lords followed the Marquis of Jin in attacking Qin, in requital for the campaign at Li. The Marquis of Jin waited at the border and had his six ministers lead the armies of the lords forward. When they reached the Jing River they would not cross. Shuxiang went to see Shusun Muzi, and Muzi recited "The Gourd Has Bitter Leaves." Shuxiang withdrew and made boats ready, and the men of Lu and the men of Ju crossed first. Zijiao of Zheng went to see Beigong Yizi of Wei and said, "To side with others and not stand firm — nothing earns worse odium. What then of the altars of soil and grain?" Yizi was persuaded. The two men went to the armies of the lords and urged them to cross, and they crossed the Jing and halted. The men of Qin poisoned the upper course of the Jing, and many of the soldiers died. The marshal of Zheng, Zijiao, led the Zheng army forward, and all the armies followed him. They reached Yulin and could not obtain a settlement there. Xun Yan gave the order: "At cockcrow yoke the horses; fill in the wells and level the cooking-hearths. Look only to my horse's head." Luan Yan said, "In the state of Jin there has never yet been such a command. My horse's head means to go east." And he went home, and the lower army followed him. The scribe of the left said to Wei Zhuangzi, "Will you not wait for Zhonghang Bo?" Zhuangzi said, "The master's order was to follow one's commander. Luan Bo is my commander, and I shall follow him; to follow my commander is the way to wait upon the master." Boyou said, "I have truly erred now; what use is regret? It would only leave many for Qin to capture." So he ordered a general withdrawal, and the men of Jin called it the Campaign of Delay. Luan Zhen said, "This campaign was to requite the defeat at Li. The campaign has again achieved nothing, and it is a disgrace to Jin. I hold a second place on the war chariot — dare I not feel the shame?" With Shi Yang he charged the Qin army, and there he died. Shi Yang came back, and Luan Yan said to Shi Gai, "My younger brother did not want to go, and your son called him. My brother is dead and your son has come back. It is your son who killed my brother. If you do not drive him out, I too shall kill him." Shi Yang fled to Qin. At this time Cui Zhu of Qi and Hua Yue and Zhong Jiang of Song took part in the attack on Qin; they are not recorded, because they were slack. So too at the meeting at Xiang. Beigong Kuo of Wei is not recorded at Xiang but is recorded in the attack on Qin, because there he was acting in a deputized capacity.

Zuo.

The Earl of Qin asked Shi Yang (士鞅): "Among the grandees of Jin, whose house will be the first to perish?" He answered: "Surely the Luan." The Earl of Qin said: "Because of their arrogance?" He answered: "Yes. Luan Yan's (欒黶) arrogance and cruelty are already extreme, yet he may still escape. It will fall upon Ying (盈)." The Earl of Qin said: "Why so?" He answered: "Wuzi's (武子, Luan Shu) virtue is still in the people, as the men of Zhou longed for the Duke of Shao and cherished his sweet-pear tree — how much more, then, his son. When Luan Yan dies, Ying's goodness will not yet have reached the people, what Wuzi bestowed will have faded away, and the resentment against Yan will stand out plain. It will come to rest there." The Earl of Qin thought these words wise. He made request for him at Jin and had him restored.

Duke Xian of Wei (衛獻公) summoned Sun Wenzi (孫文子, Sun Linfu) and Ning Huizi (甯惠子, Ning Zhi) to a meal. Both put on court dress and went to court. The day grew late and he did not call them in; he was shooting wild geese in his park. The two followed him there. He did not take off his hunting cap when he spoke with them, and the two were angry. Sun Wenzi went to hold his own stronghold at Qi (戚).

Sun Kuai (孫蒯) came in on an errand. The duke gave him wine, and had the Grand Music Master sing the last stanza of "Clever Words" (巧言). The Grand Music Master declined; Shi Cao (師曹) asked to do it. Earlier, the duke had a favored concubine and had Shi Cao teach her the zither; Shi Cao whipped her, and the duke in anger gave Shi Cao three hundred lashes. Therefore Shi Cao wished to sing it, to enrage Sun-zi and so pay the duke back. The duke had him sing it, and he chanted it out. Kuai was frightened and told Wenzi. Wenzi said: "The ruler suspects me now. If I do not move first, I shall surely die." He gathered his wives and children at Qi, then went in to see Qu Boyu (蘧伯玉) and said: "The ruler's violence and cruelty — you know it. I greatly fear the overturning of the altars of state. What is to be done?" He answered: "The ruler governs his own state. How should a subject dare to offend against him? And even if one offended, who knows that things would be better?" Then he went away, leaving by the nearest frontier pass.

The duke sent Zijiao (子蟜), Zibo (子伯), and Zipi (子皮) to swear a covenant with Sun-zi at the Qiu Palace. Sun-zi killed them all.

In the fourth month, on jiwei, Zizhan (子展) fled to Qi. The duke went to Juan (鄄) and sent Zixing (子行) to Sun-zi, and Sun-zi killed him too. The duke then fled to Qi. The Sun clan pursued him and defeated the duke's followers at Heze; the people of Juan laid hold of them.

Earlier, Yin Gongtuo (尹公佗) had learned archery from Yu Gongcha (庾公差), and Yu Gongcha had learned archery from Gongsun Ding (公孫丁). These two now pursued the duke, and Gongsun Ding was driving the duke's chariot. Ziyu (子魚) said: "To shoot would be to turn my back on my teacher; not to shoot would be to be put to death. Would it be proper to shoot thus?" He shot the two yoke-bars and turned back. Yin Gongtuo said: "For you he is a teacher; for me he is further off." So he turned around again. Gongsun Ding handed the reins to the duke and shot him, piercing his arm.

Zixian (子鮮) followed the duke as far as the border. The duke had the invocator and the officer of the ancestral temple announce his flight, and announce also that he was without fault. Ding Jiang (定姜) said: "If there are no spirits, what is there to announce? If there are, they cannot be deceived. Having faults, how can he announce that he has none? To set aside the great ministers and take counsel with petty servants — that is one fault. The former ruler left him chief ministers to be his guardians and tutors, and he has despised them — that is a second fault. I served the former ruler with towel and comb, and he treats me with violence and uses me as a serving-woman — that is a third fault. Let him announce his flight and nothing more. Do not announce that he is without fault."

Our duke sent Hou Chengshu (厚成叔) to condole with Wei, saying: "My unworthy ruler sends me, Ji, because he has heard that your ruler no longer cherishes the altars of state and has passed over into another territory. How could he not condole? Because of our common covenant he sends Ji to speak privately with your officers, saying: The ruler you had was ill-favored; the ministers you had were not attentive. The ruler did not pardon and forgive, and the ministers likewise did not keep to their offices. Excess grew and broke into the open. What is to be done about it?"

The men of Wei had Taishu Yi (大叔儀) reply: "We ministers are without ability and have offended against our unworthy ruler. Our unworthy ruler did not bring us to punishment but in grief cast us off, and so has become a care to your ruler. Your ruler has not forgotten the friendship of the former rulers, has stooped to condole with us ministers, and has moreover shown us deep pity. We venture to bow for the honor of your ruler's command, and bow again for so great a gift."

Housun returned and reported. He said to Zang Wuzhong (臧武仲): "Surely the ruler of Wei will return. He has Taishu Yi to hold the state and his full younger brother Zhuan (鱄) to go out with him. The one soothes what is within, the other manages what is without. Can he fail to return?"

The men of Qi lodged the Marquis of Wei at Lai (郲). When he did return, he went back with Lai's grain. You Zai Gu (右宰穀) had followed him and now fled home, and the men of Wei were about to kill him. He pleaded: "I did not approve of the beginning of it. I am a fox-fur robe with lambskin sleeves." So they pardoned him.

The men of Wei set up Gongsun Piao (公孫剽), with Sun Linfu and Ning Zhi as his chief assistants, and so took their commands from the feudal lords.

While the Marquis of Wei was at Lai, Zang He (臧紇) went to Qi to offer him sympathy. In talking with him the marquis spoke harshly. He withdrew and said to his people: "The Marquis of Wei will not get back in. His words are dung and dirt. He is in exile and has not changed. How is he to recover his state?" Zizhan and Zixian heard of this. They went to see Zang He, and their talk with him was of the right way. Zangsun was pleased, and said to his people: "The ruler of Wei will certainly get back in. Of these two men, the one drags him and the other pushes him. Though he wished not to return, could he help it?"

The army came home from the campaign against Qin, and the Marquis of Jin disbanded the New Army. This was in accord with ritual propriety. A fully constituted state does not exceed half the Son of Heaven's army. Zhou has six armies; for the greatest of the feudal lords, three armies are permissible. At that time Zhi Shuo (知朔) had begotten Ying and then died; Ying had lived six years when Wuzi died; and Zhi Qiu (彘裘) too was young. Neither could be appointed. The New Army had no commander, and so it was disbanded.

Shi Kuang (師曠) was in attendance on the Marquis of Jin. The Marquis of Jin said: "The men of Wei have driven out their ruler. Was that not going too far?" He answered: "Perhaps it was their ruler who truly went too far. A good ruler rewards the good and punishes the excessive; he nourishes the people as his own children, covers them like Heaven, contains them like Earth. The people uphold their ruler, love him as father and mother, look up to him as to sun and moon, revere him as the bright spirits, fear him as the thunder. Can such a one be driven out?

"The ruler is the host of the spirits and the hope of the people. But if he wears out the people's substance, leaves the spirits impoverished and the sacrifices wanting, so that the hundred surnames are cut off from hope and the altars of state have no master — what use is he? What is left, if not to be rid of him?

"Heaven gave birth to the people and set up a ruler over them, to have charge of them and shepherd them, so that they should not lose their nature. And having given them a ruler, Heaven made him seconds, to be his tutors and guardians, so that he should not go beyond measure. Therefore the Son of Heaven has his dukes, the feudal lords have their ministers, the ministers appoint cadet officers, the grandees have their seconds, the officers of the lineages have their friends, and the commoners, artisans, merchants, servants, bondsmen, herdsmen, and grooms all have their intimates, that they may assist one another. Where there is good they reward it; where there is excess they correct it; where there is trouble they rescue from it; where there is failure they change it. From the king downward, each has his fathers and elder brothers, his sons and younger brothers, to supplement and scrutinize his government. The scribes make the records, the blind musicians make the songs, the singers chant admonition and remonstrance, the grandees give counsel and instruction, the officers pass words along, the commoners speak their censure, the merchants and travelers report in the market, and the hundred artisans present their crafts. Therefore the Book of Xia says: 'The herald with his wooden-tongued bell goes through the roads; officers and their chiefs counsel one another; the artisans, holding to their crafts, remonstrate.' In the first month, at the opening of spring, this is done, as remonstrance against the loss of the norm.

"Heaven's love for the people is deep indeed. Would it let one man run wild above the people, following his own excess, and cast away the nature of Heaven and Earth? Surely it would not."

In autumn, the Viscount of Chu, because of the affair at Yongpu, had Zinang (子囊) station his army at Tang in order to attack Wu. Wu did not come out, and he turned back. Zinang brought up the rear. Reckoning Wu incapable, he took no precautions. The men of Wu waylaid and struck him at the narrows of Gaozhou. The men of Chu could not come to one another's aid; the men of Wu defeated them and captured the Chu prince Yigu (公子宜穀).

The king sent Liu Dinggong (劉定公) to confer a gift upon the Marquis of Qi. The charge said: "Of old our elder uncle the Grand Duke aided our former kings, was thigh and arm to the house of Zhou and tutor and guardian to the myriad people. Generation upon generation his house enjoyed the reward of the Grand Master's office, marking out the eastern sea. That the royal house did not fall was owing to our elder uncle alone. Now I charge you, Huan (環): follow the statutes of your uncle's house, carry on the work of your ancestors, and do not disgrace your old inheritance. Be reverent in this! Do not neglect my charge."

The Marquis of Jin asked Zhonghang Xianzi (中行獻子, Xun Yan) about the affair of Wei. He answered: "Better to take things as they stand and settle them. Wei has a ruler. To attack it will not achieve your purpose, and will wear out the feudal lords. Shi Yi (史佚) had a saying: 'Follow what has weight already, and soothe it.' Zhong Hui (仲虺) had a saying: 'The perishing you humble; the disordered you take. Push down what is falling and make firm what stands — this is the way of a state.' Let my lord settle Wei and wait for his time."

In winter there was a meeting at Qi, to plan the settling of Wei. Fan Xuanzi (范宣子) borrowed feathered standards from Qi and did not return them, and the men of Qi began to be of two minds.

Zinang of Chu returned from the campaign against Wu and died. As he was dying he left word for Zigeng (子庚): "You must wall Ying." A gentleman said that Zinang was loyal: when his ruler passed away he did not forget to add to his name; when he himself was dying he did not forget to guard the altars of state. Can this not be called loyalty? Loyalty is the hope of the people. The Ode says:

Their going returns to Zhou,
the hope of the myriad people.

That is loyalty.

Year 15 (襄公十五年)

Annals.

• In the fifteenth year, in spring, the Duke of Song sent Xiang Xu to come on a diplomatic visit.
• In the second month, on jihai, our duke made a covenant with Xiang Xu at Liu. Liu Xia went to Qi to fetch the king's bride.
• In summer, the Marquis of Qi attacked our northern border and besieged Cheng. The duke went to relieve Cheng and reached Yu. Jisun Su and Shusun Bao led forces and walled the outer city of Cheng.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, on dingsi, there was an eclipse of the sun. The men of Zhu attacked our southern border.
• In winter, in the eleventh month, on guihai, Zhou, Marquis of Jin, died.

Zuo.

In the fifteenth year, in spring, Xiang Xu of Song came on a diplomatic visit and also renewed the covenant. He called on Meng Xianzi (孟獻子) and found fault with his house, saying: "You have a fine reputation, yet you have made your house beautiful. That is not what one hoped for." He answered: "I was in Jin, and my elder brother built it. To pull it down would be a second labor; and besides, I do not presume to find fault with him."

An officer of the middle grade accompanied Shan Jinggong (單靖公) to fetch the king's bride from Qi. That no minister went was contrary to ritual propriety.

In Chu, Prince Wu (公子午) became chief minister; Prince Barong (公子罷戎) became Right Intendant; Wei Zifeng (蒍子馮) became Grand Marshal; Prince Tuoshi (公子橐師) became Right Marshal; Prince Cheng (公子成) became Left Marshal; Qu Dao (屈到) became Mo'ao; Prince Zhuishu (公子追舒) became Intendant of Admonition; Qu Dang (屈蕩) became Intendant of Teams; and Yang Youji (養由基) became Intendant of the Palace Stables. By this the people of the state were quieted. A gentleman said that in this Chu showed it could appoint men to office. The appointing of men is an urgent business for a state; when it can appoint men, the people harbor no covetous designs. The Ode says:

Ah, the man I long for —
set him in that great array.

That is being able to appoint men. The king, and the dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons, and the grandees of the tian, the cai, and the wei domains, each holding his own rank: this is what is meant by "the great array."

In the disorder of the Wei clan and the Si clan of Zheng, the remaining bandits were in Song. The men of Zheng, on account of Zixi (子西), Boyou (伯有), and Zichan (子產), sent bribes to Song: forty teams of horses, and the music masters Fa (師茷) and Hui (師慧). In the third month Gongsun Hei (公孫黑) went there as hostage. The Minister of Works Zihan (司城子罕) handed over to them Du Nüfu (堵女父), Wei Pian (尉翩), and Si Qi (司齊); but he judged Si Chen (司臣) a good man and let him slip away, entrusting him to Ji Wuzi (季武子), who placed him at Bian. The men of Zheng minced the three men.

The music master Hui, passing the court of Song, was about to relieve himself there. His guide said: "This is the court." Hui said: "There is no one here." The guide said: "It is the court. How should there be no one?" Hui said: "There must be no one here. If there were still men here, would they trade away the chancellorship of a thousand-chariot state for a blind singer of lewd music? It must be because there is no one." Zihan heard of it, made urgent request, and sent him home.

In summer, the Marquis of Qi besieged Cheng, because of Qi's double-mindedness toward Jin. Thereupon the outer city of Cheng was walled.

In autumn, the men of Zhu attacked our southern border, and we sent word of it to Jin. Jin was about to hold a meeting to punish Zhu and Ju, but the Marquis of Jin fell ill and it was stopped. In winter Duke Dao of Jin died, and so the meeting could not be held. Gongsun Xia of Zheng went to Jin to hasten to the mourning, and Zijiao escorted the burial.

A man of Song obtained a piece of jade and presented it to Zihan. Zihan would not accept it. The one who presented it said: "I showed it to a jade-worker, and the jade-worker held it a treasure; therefore I ventured to present it." Zihan said: "I take not coveting as my treasure; you take the jade as your treasure. If you give it to me, we both lose our treasures. Better that each keep his own." The man bowed his head to the ground and said: "A small man carrying a jade disc cannot get out of his own village. I offer this to beg for my life." Zihan lodged him in his own ward, had a jade-worker cut and polish it for him, and when he had grown rich sent him back to his own place.

In the twelfth month the men of Zheng took away the wife of Du Gou (堵狗) and sent her back to the Fan clan.

Year 16 (襄公十六年)

Annals.

• In the sixteenth year, in spring, in the king's first month, Duke Dao of Jin was buried.
• In the third month, the duke met the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, and the Viscount of Lesser Zhu at Xuliang. On wuyin the grandees swore a covenant. The men of Jin seized the Viscount of Ju and the Viscount of Zhu and took them home. The Marquis of Qi attacked our northern border.
• In summer, the duke arrived from the meeting.
• In the fifth month, on jiazi, there was an earthquake. Shu Lao joined the Earl of Zheng, Xun Yan of Jin, Ning Zhi of Wei, and men of Song in attacking Xu.
• In autumn, the Marquis of Qi attacked our northern border and besieged Cheng (郕). There was the great rain sacrifice.
• In winter, Shusun Bao went to Jin.

Zuo.

In the sixteenth year, in spring, Duke Dao of Jin was buried and Duke Ping took the throne. Yangshe Xi (羊舌肸) became his tutor; Zhang Junchen (張君臣) became Marshal of the Central Army; Qi Xi (祁奚), Han Xiang (韓襄), Luan Ying, and Shi Yang became grandees of the ducal house; Yuqiu Shu (虞丘書) became driver of the team. He changed out of mourning dress, put the offices in order, made the winter sacrifice at Quwo, set the guards on the defenses, and came down. He met the lords at Xuliang and ordered the restoration of encroached fields. On our account he seized Duke Xuan of Zhu and Duke Libi of Ju, saying also that they had let envoys pass between Qi and Chu.

The Marquis of Jin feasted the feudal lords at Wen and had the grandees dance, saying: "The odes you sing must match the dance." The ode of Gao Hou (高厚) of Qi did not match. Xun Yan grew angry and said: "The feudal lords have divided intentions." He had the grandees swear a covenant with Gao Hou, but Gao Hou fled home. Thereupon Shusun Bao, Xun Yan of Jin, Xiang Xu of Song, Ning Zhi of Wei, Gongsun Chai (公孫蠆) of Zheng, and a grandee of Lesser Zhu swore a covenant, saying: "Together we will punish those who do not come to court."

The Baron of Xu asked Jin that his state be moved, and the feudal lords accordingly moved Xu; but the grandees of Xu would not have it, and the men of Jin sent the feudal lords home. Zijiao of Zheng, hearing that Xu was to be attacked, then assisted the Earl of Zheng in following the army of the feudal lords. Mushu (穆叔) accompanied our duke, and Qizi led forces and joined Xun Yan of Jin. The record says "joined the Earl of Zheng," because they were reckoned as equals.

In summer, in the sixth month, they encamped at Yulin. On gengyin they attacked Xu and encamped at Hanshi. Xun Yan and Luan Yan of Jin led forces and attacked Chu, in requital for the affair at Yangliang in Song. The Chu prince Ge (公子格) led forces, and they fought the Jin army at Zhanban. The army of Chu was utterly defeated. The Jin army then raided beyond Fangcheng, attacked Xu once more, and returned.

In autumn the Marquis of Qi besieged Cheng (郕), and Meng Ruzi Su (孟孺子速) went out against him. The Marquis of Qi said: "This man loves valor. Withdraw, and so make his name for him." Su then blocked the Haixing pass and returned.

In winter Mushu went to Jin on a diplomatic visit and spoke also of the trouble with Qi. The men of Jin said: "It is because our unworthy ruler has not yet made the di sacrifice and the people have not yet rested. Were it not so, we should not dare to forget it." Mushu said: "It is because the men of Qi morning and evening vent their rancor on the soil of our poor city that I make so great a request. Our poor city's straits are such that morning does not reach to evening. We stretch our necks and gaze westward and say, 'Perhaps when your officers have leisure' — but I fear it will be too late." He saw Zhonghang Xianzi and recited "Qifu." Xianzi said: "I, Yan, know my fault. How should I not follow your officers, so that together we may care for the altars of state — and yet I have let Lu come to this." He saw Fan Xuanzi and recited the last stanza of "The Wild Geese." Xuanzi said: "While I, Gai, am here, would I dare let Lu be without a place to settle?"

Year 17 (襄公十七年)

Annals.

• In the seventeenth year, in spring, in the king's second month, on gengwu, Keng, Viscount of Zhu, died. Men of Song attacked Chen.
• In summer, Shi Mai of Wei led forces and attacked Cao.
• In autumn, the Marquis of Qi attacked our northern border and besieged Tao. Gao Hou led forces and attacked our northern border and besieged Fang.
• In the ninth month there was the great rain sacrifice. Hua Chen of Song fled to Chen.
• In winter, the men of Zhu attacked our southern border.

Zuo.

In the seventeenth year, in spring, Zhuang Chao of Song attacked Chen and captured the Minister of Education Ang, because Chen had slighted Song.

Sun Kuai of Wei hunted in the borderland of Cao and watered his horses at Zhongqiu, breaking their jar. The people of Zhongqiu shut their gate and railed at him, saying: "With your own hands you drove out your ruler; your father is a pestilence. You give no thought to that — what business have you hunting?" In summer Shi Mai and Sun Kuai of Wei attacked Cao and took Zhongqiu, and the men of Cao brought complaint to Jin.

Because the men of Qi had not yet had their will of us, in autumn the Marquis of Qi attacked our northern border and besieged Tao, while Gao Hou besieged Zang He at Fang. A force went from Yangguan to meet Zangsun and reached Lüsong. Shu He of Zou (郰叔紇), Zang Chou (臧疇), and Zang Jia (臧賈) led three hundred armored men, fell upon the Qi army by night, escorted him out, and came back; and the Qi army withdrew from the place. The men of Qi captured Zang Jian (臧堅). The Marquis of Qi sent Susha Wei (夙沙衛) to console him and to say that he should not die. Jian bowed his head to the ground and said: "I bow for the honor of the command. Yet your ruler's kindness is not carried through to the end: he has sent a mutilated servant of his to do courtesy to an officer." With a stake he tore open his wound and died.

In winter the men of Zhu attacked our southern border, on account of Qi.

Hua Yue (華閱) of Song died. Hua Chen (華臣), reckoning the house of Gaobi weak, sent assassins to kill its steward Hua Wu (華吳). Six assassins with long blades killed him at the Lu Gate, behind the house of the Left Master He (合左師). The Left Master was frightened and said: "This old man is without fault." The assassins said: "Gaobi has a private reckoning to settle with Wu." Then Hua Chen shut up Wu's wife and said: "Give me your great jade disc." The Duke of Song heard of it and said: "This Chen does violence not only to his own lineage house; he throws the government of Song into great disorder. He must be driven out." The Left Master said: "Chen too is a minister. That great ministers should be disobedient is a disgrace to the state. Better to cover it over." So he was let alone. The Left Master had a short whip made for himself, and whenever he passed Hua Chen's gate he would gallop.

In the eleventh month, on jiawu, the people of the capital chased a mad dog. The mad dog ran into the house of Hua Chen, and the people followed it in. Hua Chen took fright and fled to Chen.

Huang Guofu (皇國父) of Song was Grand Steward and was building a terrace for Duke Ping, to the hindrance of the farm work. Zihan asked that it wait until the farm work was done, but the duke would not allow it. The builders sang:

The fair one of the Marsh Gate,
it is he who raised our labor;
the dark one within the town,
it is he who comforts our hearts.

Zihan heard it, took the rod in his own hand, walked among the builders, and beat those who were not exerting themselves, saying: "We common men all have huts we can shut against dryness and damp, cold and heat. Now the ruler makes a single terrace, and it is not quickly finished — what sort of service is that?" The singers then stopped. Someone asked him why. Zihan said: "The state of Song is a small thing, and yet there is cursing in it and there is blessing. That is the root of calamity."

Yan Huanzi (晏桓子) of Qi died. Yan Ying (晏嬰) wore the coarse unhemmed mourning garment, with the hempen head-band and girdle, carried the staff, wore sedge sandals, ate gruel, dwelt in a lean-to hut, slept on straw, and pillowed his head on grass. His household steward said: "This is not the rite of a grandee." He said: "Only ministers rank as grandees."

Year 18 (襄公十八年)

Annals.

• In the eighteenth year, in spring, the White Di came.
• In summer, the men of Jin seized Shi Mai, an envoy of Wei.
• In autumn, an army of Qi attacked our northern border.
• In winter, in the tenth month, the duke joined the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, and the Viscount of Lesser Zhu in jointly besieging Qi. Fuchu, Earl of Cao, died with the army. Prince Wu of Chu led forces and attacked Zheng.

Zuo.

In the eighteenth year, in spring, the White Di came for the first time.

In summer the men of Jin seized Shi Mai, the envoy of Wei, at Zhangzi, and seized Sun Kuai at Chunliu, on account of Cao.

In autumn the Marquis of Qi attacked our northern border. Zhonghang Xianzi was about to attack Qi. He dreamed that he was pleading a case against Duke Li and did not win it; the duke struck him with a dagger-axe, and his head fell before him. He knelt, set it back on, took it up in his hands, and ran; and he saw Gao, the shaman of Gengyang. Another day he met that man on the road, and what the man said agreed with the dream. The shaman said: "This year my lord will surely die. But if there is business in the east, you may accomplish your will." Xianzi assented.

The Marquis of Jin attacked Qi. As he was about to cross the Yellow River, Xianzi bound a pair of jade discs with red silk and prayed: "Huan of Qi trusts in his natural barriers and presumes upon the number of his people. He has cast off friendship and turned his back on the covenant, and has oppressed the masters of the spirits. Your distant servant Biao is about to lead the feudal lords in punishing him, and his officer and servant Yan goes before and behind him in it. If we conquer and have success, may we bring no shame upon the spirits; and the officer and servant Yan will not dare to cross back again. Let you, the spirits, judge this." He sank the jade and crossed.

In winter, in the tenth month, they met at the Ji River in Lu, renewed the words of Xuliang, and together attacked Qi. The Marquis of Qi opposed them at Pingyin, cutting a moat at the Fang Gate and holding it for a breadth of a li. Susha Wei said: "If we cannot fight, nothing is better than holding a defile." He was not listened to. The officers of the feudal lords assaulted the gate, and many men of Qi died. Fan Xuanzi said to Xi Wenzi (析文子): "I know you — would I dare hide the truth from you? The men of Lu and the men of Ju have both asked to come in from their own quarter with a thousand chariots, and it has already been granted them. If they come in, your ruler will surely lose his state. Why do you not plan for it?" Zijia reported this to the duke, and the duke was afraid. Yan Ying heard of it and said: "The ruler had no courage to begin with, and now he has heard this. He cannot last long."

The Marquis of Qi climbed Mount Wu to look at the army of Jin. The men of Jin had their marshals scout out the difficult ground in hills and marshes, and even where they did not go they set up banners and drew up thin ranks. They had the chariot crews put real men on the left and dummies on the right, with pennons going before and carts dragging brushwood following after. The Marquis of Qi saw it, feared their numbers, and slipped away home. On bingyin, the last day of the month, the Qi army fled by night. Shi Kuang told the Marquis of Jin: "The cries of the crows are joyful. The army of Qi must have fled." Xing Bo told Zhonghang Bo: "There is the sound of horses parting. The army of Qi must have fled." Shu Xiang told the Marquis of Jin: "There are crows on the wall. The army of Qi must have fled."

In the eleventh month, on dingmao, the first day, they entered Pingyin and then pursued the Qi army. Susha Wei linked great wagons together to block the defile and brought up the rear. Zhi Chuo (殖綽) and Guo Zui (郭最) said: "For you to command the rear of the state's army is a disgrace to Qi. Go on ahead for now." So they took his place in the rear. Wei killed horses in the narrows to block the road. Zhou Chuo (州綽) of Jin came up with them. He shot Zhi Chuo and hit his shoulder, and two arrows straddled his neck. He said: "Halt, and you will be a prisoner of the Three Armies; do not halt, and I will take you through the middle." Zhi Chuo looked back and said: "Swear it to me privately." Zhou Chuo said: "As surely as the sun." Then he unstrung his bow and bound him from behind. His right-hand man Ju Bing (具丙) also laid down his weapons and bound Guo Zui. Both were bound with their armor still fastened, and were seated beneath the drum of the Central Army.

The men of Jin wished to pursue those going home, but Lu and Wei asked to attack the strongholds. On jimao, Xun Yan and Shi Gai with the Central Army took Jingzi. On yiyou, Wei Jiang and Luan Ying with the Lower Army took Shi. Zhao Wu and Han Qi with the Upper Army besieged Lu, but could not take it.

In the twelfth month, on wuxu, they reached Qinzhou and cut down the catalpas of the Yong Gate. Fan Yang assaulted the Yong Gate; his driver Zhui Xi killed a dog inside the gate with a dagger-axe; and Meng Zhuangzi cut down its chun trees to make a zither for our duke. On jihai they burned the Yong Gate and the western and southern outer walls; Liu Nan and Shi Ruo led the armies of the feudal lords and burned the bamboo and trees of the Shen Pool. On renyin they burned the eastern and northern outer walls. Fan Yang assaulted the Yang Gate, and Zhou Chuo assaulted the East Gate. His left outside horse was hemmed in, and he turned about within the East Gate and counted the panels of the door with the butt of his whip.

The Marquis of Qi had his chariot harnessed and was about to run to Youtang. The heir apparent and Guo Rong (郭榮) seized the horses and said: "The army moves fast and hard; this is only a raid, and they will soon withdraw. What has my lord to fear? Besides, the master of the altars of state must not make himself light. Made light, he loses the multitude. My lord must wait for them." He was about to force his way through, but the heir apparent drew his sword and cut the breast-strap, and so he stopped. On jiachen they raided eastward as far as the Wei and southward as far as the Yi.

Zikong (子孔) of Zheng wished to be rid of the grandees. He meant to revolt from Jin and to raise a Chu army in order to remove them, and sent word to Zigeng; but Zigeng would not allow it. The Viscount of Chu heard of it and sent Yi, the Yangtun Intendant, to say to Zigeng: "The people of the state say that I, the unworthy one, preside over the altars of state and yet send out no army; that when I die I shall not be attended with the rites. I have been on the throne five years now, and the host has not gone out. Men will think me self-indulgent and forgetful of the work of the former ruler. Consider it, grandee. What is to be done?" Zigeng sighed and said: "Does the king suppose that Wu clings to his ease? I act for the benefit of the altars of state." He received the envoy, bowed his head to the ground, and answered: "The feudal lords are just now in concord with Jin. Let your servant test them; then, if it goes well, let my lord follow after; if it will not do, I will gather the army and withdraw. So there may be no harm, and my lord will suffer no disgrace."

Zigeng led the army and drilled the troops at Fen. At that time Zijiao, Boyou, and Zizhang were following the Earl of Zheng in the attack on Qi, while Zikong, Zizhan, and Zixi were on guard at home. The two men knew Zikong's plot; they completed the defenses and withdrew into the forts, and Zikong did not dare to meet the Chu army. The Chu army attacked Zheng and encamped at Yuling. The right division walled Shangji, then forded the Ying and encamped at Zhanran. Wei Zifeng and Prince Ge led picked troops and raided Feihua, Xumi, Xianyu, and Yongliang, turned right around Mount Mei, raided the northeast of Zheng as far as Chonglao, and returned. Zigeng assaulted the Chun Gate, stayed two nights beneath the wall, and on his way back forded the water below Yuchi. Heavy rain overtook them; many of the Chu troops froze, and the labor conscripts were almost all lost.

The men of Jin heard that a Chu army was out. Shi Kuang said: "No harm. I have again and again sung the north wind and also sung the south wind; the south wind is not vigorous and has much of the sound of death. Chu will surely have no success." Dong Shu said: "The way of Heaven lies mostly in the northwest; the southern army is out of its season and will surely have no success." Shu Xiang said: "It lies in the virtue of their ruler."

Year 19 (襄公十九年)

Annals.

• In the nineteenth year, in spring, in the king's first month, the feudal lords swore a covenant at Zhuke. The men of Jin seized the Viscount of Zhu. The duke arrived from the attack on Qi. He took the fields of Zhu from the Guo River. Jisun Su went to Jin. Duke Cheng of Cao was buried.
• In summer, Sun Linfu of Wei led forces and attacked Qi.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on xinmao, Huan, Marquis of Qi, died. Shi Gai of Jin led forces and raided Qi; reaching Gu and hearing that the Marquis of Qi had died, he turned back.
• In the eighth month, on bingchen, Zhongsun Mie died. Qi put to death its grandee Gao Hou. Zheng put to death its grandee Prince Jia.
• In winter, Duke Ling of Qi was buried. The western outer wall was built. Shusun Bao met Shi Gai of Jin at Ke. Wucheng was walled.

Zuo.

In the nineteenth year, in spring, the feudal lords returned from the banks of the Yi and swore a covenant at Duyang, saying: "Let the great not encroach upon the small." They seized Duke Dao of Zhu, because he had attacked us. Then they encamped on the banks of the Si, fixed the boundaries of our fields, took the fields of Zhu from the Guo River, and gave them back to us. The Marquis of Jin went home first.

Our duke feasted the six ministers of Jin at the Pu garden and gave them robes of the third degree of investiture. The army commandants, the marshals, the ministers of works, the chariot commandants, and the chiefs of scouts all received robes of the first degree. He presented Xun Yan with brocade of the east, adding a jade disc and a team of four horses, and sent before them the cauldron of Shoumeng of Wu.

Xun Yan had a malignant ulcer, and a sore broke out upon his head. He crossed the Yellow River, and at Zhuoyong his illness grew grave and his eyes bulged out. The grandees who had gone home ahead all came back. Shi Gai asked to see him and was not admitted; he asked about the successor, and Xun Yan said: "The Zheng nephew will do."

In the second month, on jiayin, he died — and his eyes stayed open, and the mouth-jewel could not be put in. Xuanzi washed his hands, stroked him, and said: "In serving Wu I shall not dare to do otherwise than in serving you, my lord." Still the eyes stared. Luan Huaizi said: "Is it not because the business with Qi was left unfinished?" Then Xuanzi stroked him again and said: "If only my lord will end in peace: should I fail to carry on the business against Qi, may the River be my witness." Then the eyes closed and the mouth-jewel was received. Xuanzi went out and said: "How shallow a man I have been."

Luan Fang of Jin led forces and followed Sun Wenzi of Wei in attacking Qi.

Ji Wuzi went to Jin to give thanks for the army. The Marquis of Jin feasted him. Fan Xuanzi was in charge of the government and recited "The Millet Sprouts." Ji Wuzi rose, bowed twice with his head to the ground, and said: "A small state looks up to a great state as the hundred grains look up to the fattening rain. If it were always so enriched, then all under Heaven would be gathered in concord — and not our poor city alone." He recited "The Sixth Month."

Ji Wuzi took the weapons he had won from Qi and cast the Linzhong bell, inscribing on it the merits of Lu. Zang Wuzhong said to Jisun: "This is contrary to ritual propriety. In an inscription, the Son of Heaven sets forth excellent virtue; a feudal lord speaks of the season and reckons his merits; a grandee names his feats of arms. Now if you name feats of arms, you place yourself in the lower rank; if you reckon merits, they were borrowed from another; if you speak of the season, you have greatly hindered the people. What is there to inscribe? Moreover, when a great state attacks a small one and takes what it has won to make sacrificial vessels, inscribing its achievements to show its descendants, it is to make bright virtue shine and to warn against the want of ritual propriety. Now you would borrow another's strength to save yourself from death — how can you inscribe that? For a small state to be favored by a great one, and then to make a display of what it has taken and so anger the enemy, is the road to ruin."

The Marquis of Qi took a wife from Lu, called Yan Yiji. She had no son. Her brother's daughter Zong Shengji bore Guang (光), who was made heir apparent. Among the other consorts were Zhongzi and Rongzi; Rongzi was the favorite. Zhongzi bore Ya (牙) and entrusted him to Rongzi, and Rongzi asked that he be made heir apparent, and this was granted. Zhongzi said: "It may not be. To set aside the norm is inauspicious; to make a breach among the feudal lords brings trouble. When Guang was established he was ranked among the feudal lords. Now to depose him without cause is to dismiss on your own authority one whom the lords have recognized, and to court trouble by an inauspicious act. My lord will surely repent of it." The duke said: "It rests with me, and that is all." He then sent the heir apparent Guang away to the east, made Gao Hou tutor to Ya as heir apparent, and made Susha Wei junior tutor.

The Marquis of Qi fell ill. Cui Zhu (崔杼) secretly brought Guang back, and when the illness grew grave he set him up. Guang killed Rongzi and exposed her corpse at court. This was contrary to ritual propriety: women are not subject to public punishment, and even where there is punishment, it is not carried out at court or in the market.

In summer, in the fifth month, on renchen, the last day of the month, Duke Ling of Qi died and Duke Zhuang took the throne. He seized Prince Ya at the hill of Goudou. Because Susha Wei had slighted him, Wei fled to Gaotang and revolted.

Shi Gai of Jin raided Qi as far as Gu; hearing of the death, he turned back. This was in accord with ritual propriety.

In the fourth month, on dingwei, Gongsun Chai of Zheng died. Notice was sent to Jin, and the grandee Fan Xuanzi spoke of him to the Marquis of Jin, because of his good service in the campaign against Qin. In the sixth month the Marquis of Jin made request of the king, and the king bestowed on him after his death a great carriage, that it might be used in the rites.

In autumn, in the eighth month, Cui Zhu of Qi killed Gao Hou at Sailan and annexed his household. The record says "Qi put to death its grandee," because he had followed his ruler into blindness.

Zikong of Zheng governed with sole authority, and the people of the state suffered under it. So they called to account the disorder of the Western Palace and the affair of the army at the Chun Gate, and Zikong bore the guilt. He held out with his own armored men and the armored men of the houses of Zige and Ziliang. On jiachen, Zizhan and Zixi led the people of the state against him, killed Zikong, and divided his household. The record says "Zheng put to death its grandee," because of his sole authority. Ziran and Zikong were sons of the lady Songzi; Shi Zikong was the son of Gui Gui. Gui Gui's rank was next after Songzi's, and they were close to one another, and Shi Zikong too was close to them. In the fourth year of Duke Xi, Ziran died; in the first year of Duke Jian, Shi Zikong died. Then the Minister of Education Kong took charge of the households of Zige and Ziliang, and the three households were as one; and therefore they were caught in the disaster. Zige and Ziliang fled to Chu, and Zige became Right Intendant. The men of Zheng made Zizhan chief of the state, Zixi manager of the government, and appointed Zichan a minister.

Qing Feng of Qi besieged Gaotang and could not take it. In winter, in the eleventh month, the Marquis of Qi besieged it. He saw Wei on the wall and called out to him, and Wei came down. He asked about the defenses, and was told there were none. He saluted him, and Wei climbed back up. Word came that the army was about to press close and to feed itself on Gaotang. Zhi Chuo and Gonglou Hui let ropes down by night and let the army in, and they minced Wei in the camp.

The western outer wall was built, out of fear of Qi. Qi made peace with Jin, and they swore a covenant at Dasui; therefore Mushu met Fan Xuanzi at Ke. Mushu saw Shu Xiang and recited the fourth stanza of "Speeding On." Shu Xiang said: "How should I, Xi, dare not receive the charge?" Mushu said: "Qi is still not settled. We cannot but be afraid." So Wucheng was walled.

Shi Gongzi of Wei died, and Daozi did not grieve. Kong Chengzi said: "This is what is called cutting short one's own root. He will surely not keep his ancestral house."

Year 20 (襄公二十年)

Annals.

• In the twentieth year, in spring, in the king's first month, on xinhai, Zhongsun Su met men of Ju and swore a covenant at Xiang.
• In summer, in the sixth month, on gengshen, the duke met the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, and the Viscount of Lesser Zhu, and swore a covenant at Chanyuan.
• In autumn, the duke arrived from the meeting. Zhongsun Su led forces and attacked Zhu. Cai put to death its grandee Prince Xie. Prince Lü of Cai fled to Chu. Huang, younger brother of the Marquis of Chen, fled to Chu. Shu Lao went to Qi.
• In winter, in the tenth month, on bingchen, the first day, there was an eclipse of the sun. Jisun Su went to Song.

Zuo.

In the twentieth year, in spring, peace was made with Ju. Meng Zhuangzi met men of Ju and swore a covenant at Xiang, on account of the covenant of Duyang.

In summer they swore a covenant at Chanyuan, because of the peace with Qi. The men of Zhu came again and again, but because of the business of the feudal lords we could not requite them. In autumn Meng Zhuangzi attacked Zhu to requite them.

Prince Xie of Cai wished to take Cai over to Jin, and the men of Cai killed him. Prince Lü was his full younger brother, and therefore fled to Chu. Qing Hu and Qing Yin of Chen feared the pressure of Prince Huang and accused him to Chu, saying that he had plotted together with the Marshal of Cai. The men of Chu made this a ground for punishment, and Prince Huang fled to Chu. Earlier, Marquis Wen of Cai had wished to serve Jin, saying: "Our former ruler took part in the covenant at Jiantu. Jin cannot be abandoned; and besides, we are brothers." But he feared Chu, could not carry it out, and died. The men of Chu laid their demands on Cai without any fixed measure, and Prince Xie sought to follow the former ruler and so benefit Cai; he could not, and he died. The record says, "Cai put to death its grandee Prince Xie" — meaning that he did not share the desire of the people; and "Huang, younger brother of the Marquis of Chen, fled to Chu" — meaning that it was not his fault. As Prince Huang was about to flee, he cried out in the capital: "The Qing clan is without the Way. They seek sole power over Chen, treat their ruler with violence and contempt, and drive out his kin. If in five years they are not destroyed, then there is no Heaven."

Qizi went on his first diplomatic visit to Qi. This was in accord with ritual propriety.

In winter Ji Wuzi went to Song, in return for Xiang Xu's visit. Chushi Duan met him and received him at the banquet, reciting the seventh stanza of "The Cherry Tree" to the end. The men of Song gave him rich gifts. He returned and reported, and the duke feasted him; he recited the last stanza of "The Fish Trap," and the duke recited "On the Southern Hill Is the Sedge." Wuzi left his place and said: "Your servant is not equal to it."

Ning Huizi of Wei fell ill and summoned Daozi, saying: "I offended against the ruler, and repentance comes too late. My name is stored in the records of the feudal lords, which say: 'Sun Linfu and Ning Zhi expelled their ruler.' If the ruler comes back in, then cover it over. If you can cover it, you are my son; if you cannot, then, since there are ghosts and spirits, I shall simply go hungry — I will not come to eat." Daozi agreed, and Huizi thereupon died.

Year 21 (襄公二十一年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-first year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke went to Jin. Shuqi of Zhu came over to us as a fugitive with Qi and Lüqiu.
• In summer, the duke arrived from Jin.
• In autumn, Luan Ying of Jin fled to Chu.
• In the ninth month, on gengxu, the first day, there was an eclipse of the sun.
• In winter, in the tenth month, on gengchen, the first day, there was an eclipse of the sun. The Earl of Cao came to court. The duke met the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, and the Viscount of Zhu at Shangren.

Zuo.

Zuo.

In the twenty-first year, in spring, the duke went to Jin to give thanks for the army, and for the taking of the fields of Zhu.

Shuqi of Zhu came here as a fugitive, bringing with him Qi and Luqiu. Ji Wuzi gave him the duke's aunt to wife, and all his followers received gifts as well.

At this time there were many robbers in Lu. Jisun said to Zang Wuzhong (臧武仲), "Why do you not hunt down the robbers?" Wuzhong said, "They cannot be hunted down, and I, He, am not able to do it." Jisun said, "We have our four borders, and within them we hunt down our robbers. For what reason is it not possible? You are minister of justice, and your whole business is to be rid of robbers. How is it that you cannot?" Wuzhong said, "You summon robbers from outside and treat them with great ceremony. How then are our own robbers to be stopped? You are principal minister, and you bring in robbers from outside and then make me remove them. How is that to be done? Shuqi stole towns from Zhu and came here; you gave him a woman of the Ji house to wife and gave him a town besides, and all his followers received gifts. Thus the great robber is honored with the ruler's aunt and a great town, the next rank with grooms and herdsmen, carriages and horses, and the least with robes and skirts, swords and belts. This is rewarding robbery. To reward them and then be rid of them will be hard indeed.

"I, He, have heard this: one who stands in a high place washes and cleanses his heart, meets others with a single mind, and holds his good faith to rule and measure so that it can be clearly attested; only after that can he govern others. What those above do is what the people turn toward. When the people do what those above do not do, then punishments are laid upon them, and none dares go uncorrected. But when the people do what those above themselves do, that is simply their proper place. Can it then be forbidden? The Documents of Xia say:

Think on this — it lies in this;
set this aside — it lies in this;
name and speak of this — it lies in this;
let good faith come forth from this — it lies in this.
Only the Emperor thought upon merit.

This means that all comes from singleness in oneself. Only when good faith comes from singleness in oneself can merit be thought upon."

Shuqi was not a minister; but because he came bringing land, though he was of low station his coming was necessarily entered in the record — land being a weighty thing.

The marquis of Qi (齊) made Qing Zuo a grandee and again punished the party of Prince Ya. He seized Prince Mai at Goudou Hill. Prince Chu fled here, and Shusun Huan fled to Yan.

In summer Zigeng of Chu died. The viscount of Chu made Wei Zifeng chief minister. Zifeng consulted Shen Shuyu, and Shuyu said, "The state has many favorites and the king is weak; the state cannot be governed." So he declined on the plea of illness. It was the height of summer; he dug into the ground, laid ice below, and set his bed above it, wore doubled quilted garments and furs, ate sparingly, and kept to his bed. The viscount of Chu sent a physician to look at him, who reported back, "He is wasted to the last degree, though his blood and vital breath are not yet disturbed." Then the viscount made Zinan chief minister.

Luan Huanzi married a daughter of Fan Xuanzi (范宣子), and she bore Huaizi. Fan Yang, because he had been driven into exile, bore a grudge against the Luan; therefore, though he and Luan Ying (欒盈) were both grandees of the ducal clan, they could not get on together. When Huanzi died, Luan Qi carried on an affair with the household steward Zhou Bin, and the house was nearly ruined. Huaizi was troubled by it, and Qi, fearing that he would punish her, laid a complaint before Xuanzi, saying, "Ying is going to raise a rebellion. He holds that the Fan, now that his father Lord Huan is dead, have taken the government wholly into their own hands. He says, 'My father drove Yang out, and Yang was not angry, but repaid it with favor; he holds the same office as I do and monopolizes it; since my father died he has grown richer; with my father dead he has the state to himself. There is nothing but death; I will not go along with him.' Such is his plan. Fearing harm to you, I dare not keep silent." Fan Yang bore witness for her. Huaizi liked to give, and many officers attached themselves to him; Xuanzi, afraid that he had so many officers, believed her. Huaizi was a junior minister; Xuanzi sent him to wall Zhu, and then drove him out.

In autumn Luan Ying fled to Chu. Xuanzi put to death Ji Yi, Huang Yuan, Jiafu, Sikong Jing, Bing Yu, Dong Shu, Bing Shi, Shen Shu, Yangshe Hu, and Shu Pi, and imprisoned Bohua, Shuxiang (叔向), and Ji Yan.

Someone said to Shuxiang, "You have fallen under punishment. Was this not want of wisdom?" Shuxiang said, "Set against death or exile, what is it? The Odes say:

At ease, at leisure,
thus will I see the year out.

That is wisdom."

Yue Wangfu came to Shuxiang and said, "I will plead for you." Shuxiang did not answer, and when the man went out he did not bow to him. His people all blamed Shuxiang, and Shuxiang said, "It must be the grandee Qi." His house steward heard this and said, "Whatever Yue Wangfu says to the ruler is carried out. He sought your pardon and you would not have it. The grandee Qi is the one who cannot help you, and yet you say it must come through him. Why?" Shuxiang said, "Yue Wangfu is one who follows the ruler; what can he accomplish? The grandee Qi, recommending men outside his house, does not pass over an enemy; recommending within it, he does not omit a kinsman. Will he leave me alone out? The Odes say:

Upright is his virtuous conduct;
the states of the four quarters obey him.

That gentleman is upright."

The marquis of Jin asked Yue Wangfu about Shuxiang's guilt, and he replied, "He would not abandon his kin; he is likely to have a share in it."

At this time Qi Xi (祁奚) had retired from office. Hearing of the matter, he rode a post-chariot to see Xuanzi and said, "The Odes say:

He blessed us without limit;
sons and grandsons preserve it.

The Documents say, 'The sage has plans and merit; clear attestation secures and preserves them.' One who plans with few errors, and who instructs kindly without wearying — Shuxiang is such a man. He is a bulwark of the altars of soil and grain. Even to the tenth generation such a man's line should be pardoned, in order to encourage the capable. Now he cannot save his own person even once; to cast away the altars of state for that, is it not folly? Gun was executed, and yet Yu rose. Yi Yin banished Tai Jia and afterward served as his chancellor, and to the end there was no look of resentment in him. Guan and Cai were put to death, and yet the Duke of Zhou upheld the king. How then, for the sake of Hu, should you cast away the altars of state? If you do good, who will dare not exert himself? What is gained by many killings?" Xuanzi was pleased. He took Qi Xi into his chariot, spoke of the matter to the duke, and had Shuxiang released. He did not visit Shuxiang, but went home; and Shuxiang, without announcing thanks for his release, went to court.

Formerly, Shuxiang's mother was jealous of the beauty of Shu Hu's mother and would not let her attend their husband. Her sons all remonstrated with her, and the mother said, "Deep mountains and great marshes truly breed dragons and serpents. That woman is beautiful, and I fear she will bear a dragon or a serpent to bring calamity upon you. You are of a declining lineage; the state has many great favorites, and unkind men will come between. Will it not be hard? What have I to begrudge?" So she sent her to attend in the bedchamber, and Shu Hu was born, beautiful and possessed of courage and strength. Luan Huaizi favored him, and so the Yangshe clan was caught in the disaster.

Luan Ying passed through Zhou, and the people of Zhou's western border plundered him. He pleaded before the royal envoy, saying, "I, Ying, a vassal's vassal of the Son of Heaven, have offended against the king's guardian officer and am fleeing from punishment; and now guilt presses on me even in the royal domain, where I have nowhere to hide. I venture to lay bare my desperate case. Long ago the vassal Shu was able to give his strength to the royal house, and the king bestowed favor upon him. His son Yan was not able to hold and carry on his father's labor. If the great lord does not cast away Shu's service, then a fugitive subject may still have somewhere to flee. But if he casts away Shu's service and thinks only of Yan's offense, then I am a leaving from the executioner's block: I shall go and die at the hands of the officers of justice and dare not turn back. I venture to lay out my four limbs; let the great lord command." The king said, "To blame a fault and then imitate it is worse still." He ordered the minister of education to forbid the plundering of the Luan and to give back what had been taken, and had the border scouts escort him out by Huanyuan.

In winter Duke Wu of Cao came to court; it was his first appearance. There was a meeting at Shangren, to bar the Luan. The marquis of Qi (齊) and the marquis of Wei (衛) were not respectful, and Shuxiang said, "These two rulers will surely not escape. Meetings and court visits are the warp of ritual; ritual is the carriage of government; government is the guard of the person. To be slack in ritual is to lose government, and to lose government is to have no standing. This is how disorder comes."

Zhi Qi, Zhonghang Xi, Zhou Chuo, and Xing Kuai fled to Qi (齊); all of them were of the Luan party. Yue Wangfu said to Fan Xuanzi, "Why not bring back Zhou Chuo and Xing Kuai? They are brave officers." Xuanzi said, "Theirs is the bravery of the Luan. What should I get from them?" Wangfu said, "Become their Luan yourself, and their bravery is yours as well."

Duke Zhuang of Qi (齊) at court pointed to Zhi Chuo and Guo Zui and said, "These are my heroes." Zhou Chuo said, "If my lord calls them heroes, who would dare not be a hero? Yet I, dull as I am, at the battle of Pingyin crowed before these two gentlemen." Duke Zhuang instituted a rank for bravery, and Zhi Chuo and Guo Zui wished to share in it. Zhou Chuo said, "At the battle of the East Gate my left outside horse was pressed and wheeled round in the gateway, and I counted the studs of the gate. May I not share in this?" The duke said, "You are a subject of Jin." He replied, "I am but newly a bondsman here. Yet as for those two, were they birds and beasts, I should have eaten their flesh and slept upon their hides."

Year 22 (襄公二十二年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-second year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke arrived from the meeting.
• In summer, the fourth month.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day xinyou, Shulao died.
• In winter, the duke met the marquis of Jin, the marquis of Qi (齊), the duke of Song, the marquis of Wei (衛), the earl of Zheng, the earl of Cao, the viscount of Ju, the viscount of Zhu, the earl of Xue, the earl of Qi (杞), and the viscount of Lesser Zhu at Shasui. The duke arrived from the meeting. Chu put to death its grandee Prince Zhuishu.

Zuo.

In the twenty-second year, in spring, Zang Wuzhong went to Jin. It rained, and he passed by Yushu's town. Yushu was in his town and about to drink wine, and he said, "What use is a sage? I shall simply drink my wine. To travel in the rain — what good is being a sage?" Mushu heard of it and said, "He cannot be sent on a mission himself, yet he is insolent to a man who is sent. He is a worm in the state." He ordered his levy to be doubled.

In summer Jin summoned Zheng to a court visit. The men of Zheng sent the vice-minister Gongsun Qiao (公孫僑) to reply, saying: "In the ninth year of Jin's late ruler Duke Dao, our unworthy lord came to the throne. Eight months after his accession our late grandee Zisi accompanied our lord to attend upon your officers, and your officers did not treat our lord with ritual courtesy. Our lord took fright from that journey, and in the sixth month of our second year he attended court at Chu. It was on this account that Jin made the campaign of Xi. The men of Chu were still strong, and they extended ritual courtesy to our poor town. Our town wished to follow you, but feared it would be a great fault, saying, 'Jin will call us wanting in respect for ritual.' Therefore we did not dare detach ourselves from Chu. In the third month of our fourth year our late grandee Zijiao again accompanied our lord to watch for a crack in Chu, and it was then that Jin made the campaign of Xiaoyu. You said to our poor town, 'You lie near to the state of Jin; if we compare it with plants and trees, you are of our own scent and savor. How then should you dare be at variance with us?' Chu too was no longer strong, and our lord exhausted the produce of his soil and added to it the vessels of his ancestral temple, in order to receive the joint covenant. Then he led his assembled ministers to follow your officers and to attend at the year's end. Those who had leaned toward Chu, Zihou and Shi Yu, were punished on our return. In the year after Xuliang, Zijiao had retired, and Gongsun Xia accompanied our lord to attend at your ruler's court; he was present at the autumn sacrifice and the offering of the thrice-brewed wine, and took his share in holding the roasted flesh. After an interval of two years we heard that your ruler was about to pacify the eastern Xia states.

"In the fourth month he attended court again to receive your commands. In the intervals between the appointed court visits, no year passed without a diplomatic visit and no campaign without our joining it. Because the great state's orders have no constancy, our state is worn out and sick, unforeseen troubles come one upon another, and there is no day without alarm. How should we dare forget our duty? If the great state would set us at rest, we should be in your court morning and evening; what need to trouble us with commands? But if you do not pity our distress and only make it matter for talk, then we shall not be able to bear your commands, and shall be cut off and made into enemies. This is what our poor town fears; yet how should it dare forget your ruler's commands? We entrust the matter to your officers; let your officers weigh it gravely."

In autumn Luan Ying went from Chu to Qi (齊). Yan Pingzhong (晏平仲) said to the marquis of Qi, "At the meeting of Shangren we received Jin's command. Now to take in the Luan — what use will it be? What the small uses to serve the great is good faith. Lose good faith and you have no standing. Let my lord consider it." The marquis would not listen. Yan Pingzhong withdrew and told Chen Wenzi, "He who rules men holds to good faith; he who serves as a subject holds to reverence. Loyalty and good faith, earnestness and respect — those above and those below share them alike: this is the Way of Heaven. Our lord is casting himself away. He cannot last long."

In the ninth month Gongsun Heigong of Zheng fell ill. He returned his towns to the duke, summoned his house steward and the officer of the ancestral temple, established Duan as his heir, and had him cut back the household offices and keep the sacrifices modest: for the ordinary offering a single sheep, for the great seasonal offering the lesser set of victims, enough to supply the rites. He gave back all his remaining towns, saying, "I have heard that one who is born in an age of disorder, and who though noble is able to be poor, so that the people ask nothing of him, may be the last to perish. Serve the ruler with reverence and respect, together with these several gentlemen. Life lies in reverence and caution, not in riches." On the day jisi Bozhang died. A gentleman said, "Well did he take warning." The Odes say:

Be careful of your princely measure,
and so guard against the unforeseen.

Zizhang of Zheng had that in him.

In winter there was a meeting at Shasui, again to bar the Luan. Luan Ying was still in Qi (齊). Yanzi said, "Calamity is about to break out. Qi will attack Jin, and we cannot but be afraid."

In Chu, Guan Qi was favored by the chief minister Zinan. His emolument had not been increased, and yet he had several tens of teams of horses. The men of Chu were troubled by it, and the king was about to punish him. Zinan's son Qiji was one of the king's charioteer-officers, and whenever the king saw him he wept. Qiji said, "My lord has wept over me three times. May I ask whose fault it is?" The king said, "The chief minister's incapacity is known to you. The state is going to punish him. Will you remain?" He replied, "A father executed and the son remaining — what use would my lord have for such a man? But to leak your command and so make the punishment heavier — that too I will not do." The king then killed Zinan at court and had Guan Qi torn apart by chariots at the four borders. Zinan's retainers asked Qiji that his master's body be moved from the court. He said, "Between ruler and subject there is ritual; that rests with you gentlemen." After three days Qiji asked for the body, and the king permitted it. When the burial was over, his followers said, "Shall we go into exile?" He said, "I had a part in the killing of my father; if I go, where would I be taken in?" They said, "Then will you serve the king?" He said, "To abandon my father and serve his enemy — I cannot bear it." Then he hanged himself and died.

Wei Zifeng was again made chief minister, Gongqizi marshal, and Qu Jian moao. Eight men were favorites of Weizi, and all of them had no emolument and many horses. On another day at court he spoke to Shen Shuyu, who did not answer but withdrew. He followed him; Shuyu went into the crowd; he followed him again; then Shuyu went home. After court Weizi went to see him and said, "Three times you have put me at a loss at court. I was afraid and did not dare fail to come. If I have erred, tell me. Why do you hate me?" He replied, "It is my own escaping that I fear; how should I dare tell you?" He said, "For what reason?" He replied, "Formerly Guan Qi was favored by Zinan; Zinan was found guilty, and Guan Qi was torn apart by chariots. For what reason should I not be afraid?" Weizi drove himself home and could not keep to the road. On arriving he said to the eight men, "I have seen Master Shen Shu. He is what men call one who brings the dead to life and puts flesh on bare bones. If a man is to know me, such a master will do; otherwise there is nothing more to say." He dismissed the eight men, and thereafter the king was easy with him.

In the twelfth month You Fan of Zheng was about to go to Jin. Before he had left the border he met a party escorting a bride, seized her, and lodged with her in a town. On the day dingsi her husband attacked Ziming and killed him, and went away with his wife. Zizhan set Liang aside and established Taishu, saying, "A minister of state is the ruler's second and the master of the people; the choice cannot be careless." He asked that men of Ziming's sort be set aside, and had the man whose wife had been taken sought out and restored to his place, and had the You lineage bear him no grudge, saying, "Do not make the evil conspicuous."

Year 23 (襄公二十三年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-third year, in spring, in the king's second month, on the day guiyou, the first of the month, the sun was eclipsed.
• In the third month, on the day jisi, Gai, earl of Qi (杞), died.
• In summer, Biwo of Zhu came here as a fugitive. Duke Xiao of Qi (杞) was buried. Chen put to death its grandees Qing Hu and Qing Yin. Huang, younger brother of the marquis of Chen, returned to Chen from Chu. Luan Ying of Jin re-entered Jin, entering Quwo.
• In autumn, the marquis of Qi (齊) attacked Wei (衛), and then attacked Jin.
• In the eighth month, Shusun Bao led an army to rescue Jin and halted at Yongyu. On the day jimao, Zhongsun Su died.
• In winter, in the tenth month, on the day yihai, Zangsun He fled to Zhu. The men of Jin killed Luan Ying. The marquis of Qi (齊) made a surprise attack on Ju.

Zuo.

In the twenty-third year, in spring, Duke Xiao of Qi (杞) died. The lady of Duke Dao of Jin mourned for him, and Duke Ping did not put away his music. This was contrary to ritual: by ritual one abates for a neighboring state.

The marquis of Chen went to Chu, and Prince Huang laid a complaint against the two Qing at Chu. The men of Chu summoned them; they sent Qing Le, and he was killed. Then the Qing made Chen revolt.

In summer Qu Jian, accompanying the marquis of Chen, laid siege to Chen. The people of Chen were building a wall, and a board-frame fell and killed men. The laborers passed the word to one another, and each killed his overseer; then they killed Qing Hu and Qing Yin, and the men of Chu brought in Prince Huang. A gentleman said that the Qing had been unrighteous and could not be given free rein; therefore the Documents say, "The mandate is not constant."

Jin was about to give a daughter in marriage to Wu, and the marquis of Qi (齊) sent Xi Guifu to escort her in the bridal train. In a screened carriage he carried Luan Ying and his officers and brought them into Quwo. By night Luan Ying went to see Xu Wu and told him. Xu Wu replied, "It cannot be. What Heaven casts down, who can raise up? You will surely not escape. It is not that I begrudge my death; I know that it will not come together." Ying said, "Even so, if I die through you I shall have no regret. It is truly I who lack Heaven's favor; no blame falls on you." Xu Wu consented. He hid him and gave a feast to the men of Quwo. When the music began, Wu said, "What if today we had young master Luan back?" They answered, "To have our lord and die for him would be as good as not dying." All sighed, and some wept. The cups went round, and he spoke again, and all said, "With our lord back, what division could there be?" Then Ying came out and bowed to them all.

In the fourth month Luan Ying led the armored men of Quwo and, by means of Wei Xianzi (魏獻子), entered Jiang in broad daylight. Formerly Luan Ying had been assistant to Wei Zhuangzi in the lower army, and Xianzi was on close terms with him; therefore he made use of him. The Zhao resented the Luan on account of the disaster of Yuan and Ping, and the Han and Zhao were then on good terms. The Zhonghang resented the Luan on account of the campaign against Qin, and were firmly bound to the Fan by marriage. Zhi Daozi was young and took his orders from the Zhonghang. Cheng Zheng was a favorite of the duke. Only the Wei (魏) and the grandees of the seven chariots were with Luan Ying.

Yue Wangfu was sitting in attendance on Fan Xuanzi when someone reported, "The Luan have arrived." Xuanzi was afraid. Huanzi said, "Take the ruler and hurry to the Gu Palace; no harm can come of it. Moreover the Luan have many who resent them. You hold the government, and the Luan come from outside; you are in office, and the advantage is greatly on your side. Since you hold the advantage of authority and also grasp the handle over the people, what is there to fear? What the Luan have gained is only the Wei, and they can be taken by force. To master disorder lies in weight of power. Do not slacken." The duke was in mourning for a relative by marriage, and Wangfu had Xuanzi put on blackened mourning garments and a mourning band, and with two women drawing a hand-cart he went to the duke; then they took the duke to the Gu Palace.

Fan Yang went to fetch Wei Shu, and found his ranks already formed and mounted, about to go over to the Luan. He hurried forward and said, "The Luan have led rebels in. My father and the other gentlemen are with the ruler, and they have sent me to fetch you." Yang asked to ride as third man on the right and to hold the strap; then he vaulted into the chariot, his right hand on his sword and his left grasping the strap, and ordered the driver to drive out. The driver asked where to go, and Yang said, "To the duke." Xuanzi met them at the steps, took Wei Shu's hand, and bribed him with Quwo.

Formerly Fei Bao was a bondsman, entered in the red register. The Luan had a strong retainer called Du Rong, whom the people of the capital feared. Fei Bao said to Xuanzi, "If you will burn the red register, I will kill Du Rong." Xuanzi was pleased and said, "Kill him; and if I do not ask the ruler to burn the red register, let the sun be my witness." Then they let Bao out and shut the gate behind him. Du Rong pursued him. Bao climbed over a low wall and waited; when Du Rong climbed over after him, Bao struck him from behind and killed him.

The Fan followers were behind the terrace, and the Luan mounted the duke's gate. Xuanzi said to Yang, "If the arrows reach the ruler's roof, die for it." Yang led the soldiers sword in hand, and the Luan fell back. He took a chariot and pursued them. Meeting Luan Yue, he said, "Yue, get away! If you die, I shall have to lay charge against you before Heaven." Yue shot at him and missed. He was fitting another arrow when his chariot ran upon the stump of a locust tree and overturned. Someone hooked him with a halberd, cut through his elbow, and he died. Luan Fang was wounded. Luan Ying fled to Quwo, and the men of Jin besieged him there.

In autumn the marquis of Qi (齊) attacked Wei (衛). In the vanguard, Gu Rong drove for Wangsun Hui, with Zhao Yang as the man on the right. In the second van, Cheng Zhi drove for Ju Heng, with Fu Zhi, son of Shen Xianyu, on the right. Cao Kai drove the ruler's war chariot, with Yanfu Rong on the right. For the second Guang chariot, Shangzhi Deng drove for the duke of Xing, with Lupu Gui on the right. On the left wing, Lao Cheng drove for Xiang Bashi, with Lang Qushu on the right. On the right wing, Shang Ziju drove for Hou Chao, with Huan Tiao on the right. In the main rearguard, Shang Ziyou drove for Xia Zhiyukou, with Cui Ru on the right, and Zhuyong Zhiyue as fourth man in the chariot.

From Wei he was about to go on and attack Jin. Yan Pingzhong said, "My lord relies on courage and strength to attack the lord of the covenant. If it does not succeed, that is the state's good fortune. To have success without virtue — trouble will surely reach my lord." Cui Zhu (崔杼) remonstrated: "It cannot be. I have heard that when a small state takes advantage of a great state's setback to injure it, it must receive the blame. Let my lord consider it." He would not listen. Chen Wenzi went to see Cui Wuzi and said, "What is to be done about our lord?" Wuzi said, "I spoke to him, and he would not listen. He treats Jin as covenant lord and yet profits by its troubles. If the ministers are hard pressed, what will be left to the ruler? You had best let it rest." Wenzi withdrew and told his people, "Will Cuizi die? He said the ruler goes too far, and yet he goes further himself. He will not die a natural death. To surpass one's ruler in righteousness still calls for self-restraint; how much more to surpass him in evil."

The marquis of Qi then attacked Jin. He took Zhaoge, dividing his force into two columns, entered Mengmen, climbed Taihang, threw up a fortified camp at Yingting, garrisoned Pishao, and raised a mound over the dead at the Shao River, requiting thereby the campaign of Pingyin; then he returned. Zhao Sheng led the army of Dongyang in pursuit and captured Yan Li.

In the eighth month Shusun Bao led an army to rescue Jin and halted at Yongyu. This was according to ritual.

Ji Wuzi had no son by his principal wife. Gongmi was the elder, but he loved Daozi and wished to establish him. He consulted Shen Feng, saying, "Mi and He — I love them both, and I wish to choose the abler and establish him." Shen Feng hurried out, went home, and made his whole household ready to depart. On another day Ji Wuzi consulted him again, and he answered, "If that is so, I shall get my poor carriage ready and go." Then Ji Wuzi dropped it. He consulted Zang He, and Zang He said, "Give me wine to drink, and I will establish him for you." The Ji gave a wine-feast to the grandees, with Zang He as chief guest. When the offering of wine was done, Zangsun ordered a doubled mat set facing north and a new wine-jar, cleaned. He summoned Daozi, went down to receive him, and all the grandees rose. When the general round of toasts came, he summoned Gongchu and had him take his place by age, and Jisun changed color.

The Ji made Gongchu master of horse. He was angry and would not go out. Min Zima went to see him and said, "Do not be so. Calamity and blessing have no gate of their own; they come only as men summon them. One who is a son should be troubled about being unfilial, not about having no place. Revere your father's command — what fixed rule is there? If you can be filial and reverent, you may be twice as rich as the Ji; if you are crooked and lawless, your calamity may be twice that of the common people." Gongchu thought him right. He was reverent and respectful morning and evening and kept scrupulously to the duties of his post. Jisun was pleased and had him give a wine-feast for him; he went with the furnishings and left them all behind. Thus the house of Gongchu grew rich, and he went out besides to be the duke's steward of the left.

Mengsun hated Zangsun, and Jisun loved him. The Meng family's groom-driver Feng Dian was fond of Jie, and said to him, "Follow my word and you will surely become Mengsun." He said it two or three times, and Jie followed him. When Meng Zhuangzi fell ill, Feng Dian said to Gongchu, "If Jie is established, I ask that we make an enemy of the Zang." Gongchu said to Jisun, "Young master Zhi is by right in his place. But if Jie is established, then the Ji will truly owe their strength to the Zang." Jisun gave no answer. On the day jimao Mengsun died, and Gongchu brought Jie forward and stood him beside the door. Jisun arrived, went in to wail, and came out saying, "Where is Zhi?" Gongchu said, "Jie is here." Jisun said, "The young master is the elder." Gongchu said, "What has age to do with it? It is ability alone — and it was the late master's command." So Jie was established, and Zhi fled to Zhu.

Zangsun went in to wail, deeply grieved and weeping much. When he came out his driver said, "Mengsun hated you, and yet you grieve like this. If Jisun should die, what then?" Zangsun said, "Ji's love for me is a fever; Mengsun's hatred of me is medicine and the stone needle. A pleasant fever is not so good as a harsh needle. The stone at least keeps me alive; the pleasanter the fever, the more its poison grows. Mengsun is dead, and my own ruin is only days away." The Meng closed their gates and told Jisun, "The Zang are about to raise a rebellion; they will not let us bury our dead." Jisun did not believe it, but Zangsun heard of it and took precautions.

In winter, in the tenth month, the Meng were about to open the grave path and borrowed clearing-labor from the Zang. Zangsun sent his corvée men to help them, clearing at the East Gate, and armed men followed him as he went to look on. The Meng again reported to Jisun, and Jisun was angry and ordered an attack on the Zang. On the day yihai Zang He cut through the bar of the Deer Gate and went out into exile in Zhu.

Formerly Zang Xuanshu had married a woman of Zhu; she bore Jia and Wei and then died. He took as his second wife her brother's daughter, a cousin of Mu Jiang on the mother's side, and she bore He, who grew up in the ducal palace. Lady Jiang loved him, and so he was established as heir. Zang Jia and Zang Wei were living abroad in Zhu. Zang Wuzhong sent from Zhu to inform Zang Jia and to present him with the Great Cai tortoise, saying, "I, He, being without ability, have failed to keep the ancestral temple. I venture to report my misfortune. My guilt does not extend to the cutting off of the sacrifices. If you present the Great Cai with a petition, it may be granted." Jia said, "This is the family's calamity, not your fault. I have heard your command." He bowed twice and received the tortoise, and sent Wei to present the petition; but Wei acted for himself.

Zangsun went to Fang and sent word, saying, "It is not that I, He, am able to do harm; my wisdom was not sufficient. I do not presume to plead for myself. If only the ancestral sacrifices are kept up and the merits of the two forebears are not abandoned, how should I not give up the town?" So Zang Wei was established, and Zang He gave up Fang and fled to Qi (齊).

His people said, "Will they swear a covenant against us?" Zangsun said, "They have no wording for it." When they were about to swear a covenant against the Zang, Jisun summoned the outer scribe who keeps the record of evil ministers and asked him about the opening words of such covenants. He replied, "When they covenanted against the Dongmen it ran: 'Let no one be like Dongmen Sui, who did not obey the duke's command, killed the son of the principal wife, and set up a son of a concubine.' When they covenanted against the Shusun it ran: 'Let no one be like Shusun Qiaoru, who wished to abolish the constant rules of the state and to overthrow the ducal house.'" Jisun said, "Zangsun's offenses come up to neither of these." Meng Jiao said, "Why not use his forcing the gate and cutting the bar?" Jisun adopted it. So they covenanted against the Zang, saying, "Let no one be like Zangsun He, who violated the ordering of the state, forced the gate, and cut the bar." Zangsun heard of it and said, "There is a man in the state. Who is it? It must be Meng Jiao."

The men of Jin overcame Luan Ying at Quwo and killed all the Luan clan and their party. Luan Fang fled to Song. The record says, "The men of Jin killed Luan Ying." It does not say "their grandee," because he had come from outside.

The marquis of Qi (齊), returning from Jin, did not enter his capital but made a surprise attack on Ju. He assaulted the gate at Juyu, was wounded in the thigh, and withdrew. The next day he meant to fight again and appointed Shoushu for the meeting. Qi Zhi and Hua Huan loaded armor and by night entered the defile of Juyu, lodging in the outskirts of Ju. The next day they met the viscount of Ju first at Puhoushi, and the viscount of Ju offered them heavy bribes to spare their lives, saying, "Let us have a covenant." Hua Zhou replied, "To covet goods and abandon one's orders is what a ruler too abhors. We received our orders at dusk; to abandon them before midday — how should we serve our ruler?" The viscount of Ju beat the drum himself, and his men fell upon them and took Qi Liang. Then the men of Ju sued for peace, and the marquis of Qi went home.

He met Qi Liang's wife in the outskirts and sent to condole with her. She declined, saying, "If Zhi was guilty, why trouble yourself with a message? If he was free of guilt, there is still his ancestors' poor cottage; your handmaid cannot receive condolences out in the open country." So the marquis of Qi condoled with her at her house.

The marquis of Qi was about to grant Zang He lands. Zangsun heard of it and went to see the marquis, who spoke to him of the attack on Jin. He replied, "Much it was, indeed; and yet my lord is like a rat. A rat hides by day and moves by night, and does not burrow in the sleeping chamber or the ancestral temple, because it fears men. Now my lord heard of Jin's disorder and only then acted, and would rather serve them. If that is not a rat, what is it?" So he was given no lands.

Zhongni said, "Wisdom is a hard thing. Zang Wuzhong had wisdom, and yet he could not be tolerated in the state of Lu. There was a reason for it: he acted without compliance and gave without reciprocity. The Documents of Xia say, 'Think on this — it lies in this' — that is, serving with compliance and giving with reciprocity."

Year 24 (襄公二十四年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-fourth year, in spring, Shusun Bao went to Jin. Zhongsun Jie led an army and raided Qi (齊).
• In summer, the viscount of Chu attacked Wu.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day jiazi, the first of the month, the sun was eclipsed, and it was total. Cui Zhu of Qi (齊) led an army and attacked Ju. There was a great flood.
• In the eighth month, on the day guisi, the first of the month, the sun was eclipsed. The duke met the marquis of Jin, the duke of Song, the marquis of Wei (衛), the earl of Zheng, the earl of Cao, the viscount of Ju, the viscount of Zhu, the viscount of Teng, the earl of Xue, the earl of Qi (杞), and the viscount of Lesser Zhu at Yiyi.
• In winter, the viscount of Chu, the marquis of Cai, the marquis of Chen, and the baron of Xu attacked Zheng. The duke arrived from the meeting. Zhen Yijiu of Chen fled to Chu. Shusun Bao went to the royal capital. There was a great famine.

Zuo.

In the twenty-fourth year, in spring, Mushu went to Jin. Fan Xuanzi met him and asked, "The men of old had a saying, 'Dead and yet undecayed.' What does it mean?" Mushu had not yet answered when Xuanzi said, "Formerly the ancestors of me, Gai, from the time of Yu and before, were the Taotang clan; under Xia they were the Yulong clan; under Shang the Shiwei clan; under Zhou the Tangdu clan; and since Jin has presided over the covenants of the Xia states, the Fan clan. Is that what is meant?" Mushu said, "By what I, Bao, have heard, this is called hereditary emolument, not being undecayed. Lu had a former grandee called Zang Wenzhong; after he died, his words stood. Is that not what is meant? I have heard that highest of all is to establish virtue; next is to establish merit; next is to establish words. Though long past, these are not abolished, and this is what is called being undecayed. As for keeping a surname and receiving a clan name, guarding the ancestral temple, and never breaking off the sacrifices from age to age — there is no state without that. It is the greatest of emoluments, but it cannot be called being undecayed."

Fan Xuanzi governed, and the tribute gifts required of the feudal lords were heavy. The men of Zheng were distressed by it.

In the second month the earl of Zheng went to Jin. Zichan entrusted a letter to Zixi to convey to Xuanzi, saying: "You govern the state of Jin, and the feudal lords of the four quarters hear not of fine virtue but of heavy tribute. I, Qiao, am puzzled at it. I have heard that for a gentleman who heads a state or a house the trouble is not the lack of goods, but the lack of a good name. When the goods of the feudal lords gather in the ducal house, the feudal lords become divided; and if you profit by them, then the state of Jin becomes divided. If the feudal lords are divided, Jin is ruined; if Jin is divided, your own house is ruined. Why be so sunk in it? What use will the goods be? A good name is the carriage of virtue, and virtue is the foundation of a state or a house. Where there is a foundation there is no ruin — should this not be your business? With virtue there is joy, and with joy one can endure. The Odes say:

Joyful is the gentleman,
the foundation of state and house.

That is having fine virtue.

God on high looks down upon you;
let your heart not be divided.

That is having a good name. By reciprocity, and by thought that makes virtue bright, the good name carries you and goes forward with you, so that the distant come and the near are at peace. Would you not rather have men say of you, 'You truly give us life,' than have them say, 'You drain us to keep yourself alive'? The elephant has tusks, and by them destroys itself: such is wealth." Xuanzi was pleased, and lightened the tribute.

On that journey the earl of Zheng attended court at Jin on account of the heavy tribute, and also to ask leave to attack Chen. The earl of Zheng bowed his head to the ground, and Xuanzi declined the honor. Zixi, acting as his assistant, said, "Because the state of Chen lies close beside us and, relying on a great state, treats our poor town with violence, our lord asks to punish its offense. How should he not bow his head to the ground?"

Meng Xiaobo raided Qi (齊); this was on Jin's account.

In summer the viscount of Chu made a naval force to attack Wu. He did not put the army in order, and returned without success.

The marquis of Qi (齊), having attacked Jin, grew afraid and wished to meet the viscount of Chu. The viscount of Chu sent Wei Qiqiang on a diplomatic visit to Qi and to ask for a date. Qi sacrificed at the altar of soil and reviewed its military stores, and let the guest look on. Chen Wenzi said, "Qi will suffer invasion. I have heard that if weapons are not stored away, they will surely destroy one's own kin."

In autumn the marquis of Qi (齊), hearing that a Jin army was coming, sent Chen Wuyu to accompany Wei Qiqiang to Chu to make excuses and to beg for troops. Cui Zhu led an army to escort them, and then attacked Ju and raided Jiegen. There was a meeting at Yiyi with the intention of attacking Qi, but the floods made it impossible.

In winter the viscount of Chu attacked Zheng in order to relieve Qi (齊). He assaulted the East Gate and halted at Jize, and the feudal lords turned back to rescue Zheng.

The marquis of Jin sent Zhang Ge and Fu Li to challenge the Chu army, and they asked Zheng for a driver. The men of Zheng divined about Wan Sheque, and it was auspicious. Zi Taishu warned him, "The men of a great state are not to be treated as equals." He replied, "Many or few, above they are the same." Taishu said, "Not so. A little mound bears no pine or cypress." The two men were in their tent; they made Sheque sit outside, and only after they had eaten did they feed him. They had him drive the broad war chariot and go ahead while they themselves rode in a traveling carriage, and only when they were about to reach the Chu army did they get into his chariot. Both squatted on the rail and played the zither. When they were near he galloped forward without telling them, and they both took their helmets from their bags and put them on. Entering the enemy camp they both got down, seized men and threw them, gathered up captives and held prisoners under their arms. He did not wait for them but drove out, and both vaulted into the chariot, drew their bows, and shot. When they were clear they squatted again on the rail and played the zither, saying, "Sir, those who ride in one chariot are brothers. Why did you twice act without consulting us?" He replied, "Just now my mind was only on getting in; now I am afraid." They both laughed and said, "How hasty the gentleman is!"

The viscount of Chu returned from Jize and sent Wei Qiqiang with an army to escort Chen Wuyu back.

The men of Wu, on account of the campaign of the Chu naval force, summoned the men of Shujiu, and the men of Shujiu revolted from Chu. The viscount of Chu encamped at Huangpu and sent Shen Yin Shou and Shi Qili to reproach them. The viscount of Shujiu received the two men respectfully, declared that there had been no such thing, and asked to accept a covenant. The two reported back, and the king wished to attack them. Weizi said, "It cannot be. They declare they have not revolted and ask to accept a covenant, and to attack them then would be to attack the guiltless. Better to go home and rest the people, and wait for the outcome. If in the end they are not divided, what more do we want? If they still revolt from us, they will have no excuse, and we shall have grounds." So he returned.

The men of Chen again punished the party of the Qing, and Zhen Yijiu fled to Chu.

The men of Qi (齊) built the walls of Jia. Mushu went to Zhou on a diplomatic visit and to congratulate the king on the walling. The king commended his ritual propriety and gave him a great carriage.

The marquis of Jin favored Cheng Zheng and made him assistant commander of the lower army. Gongsun Hui, envoy of Zheng, went to Jin on a diplomatic visit, and Cheng Zheng asked him, "May I ask by what means one descends a step in rank?" Ziyu could not answer. On his return he told Ranming, and Ranming said, "That man will die; if not, he will go into exile. To be noble and to know fear, and fearing to think of descending, is itself to have found one's step: it is only to put oneself below others. What need to ask? Moreover, one who having climbed seeks a step down is a man who knows men, and that is not in Cheng Zheng. Has he some flaw that will bring him into exile? If not, he has some disorder of the mind, and is troubled because he is about to die."

Year 25 (襄公二十五年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-fifth year, in spring, Cui Zhu of Qi (齊) led an army and attacked our northern border.
• In summer, in the fifth month, on the yihai day, Cui Zhu of Qi (齊) assassinated his ruler Guang.
• The duke met the marquis of Jin, the duke of Song, the marquis of Wei, the earl of Zheng, the earl of Cao, the viscount of Ju, the viscount of Zhu, the viscount of Teng, the earl of Xue, the earl of Qi (杞), and the viscount of Lesser Zhu at Yiyi.
• In the sixth month, on the renzi day, Gongsun Shezhi of Zheng led an army and entered Chen.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, on the jisi day, the feudal lords made a joint covenant at Chongqiu.
• The duke arrived from the meeting.
• The marquis of Wei entered Yiyi.
• Qu Jian of Chu led an army and extinguished Shujiu.
• In winter, Gongsun Xia of Zheng led an army and attacked Chen.
• In the twelfth month, E, viscount of Wu, attacked Chu; he assaulted the gate at Chao, and died.

Zuo.

In the twenty-fifth year, in spring, Cui Zhu of Qi (齊) led an army and attacked our northern border, in requital for the campaign of Xiaobo. The duke was troubled by it and sent word to Jin. Meng Gongchuo said, "Cuizi has a great design in view; his mind is not on injuring us. He will certainly go back quickly. What is there to be troubled about? In coming he has not plundered, and he uses the people without severity — it is unlike other days." The Qi army went home empty.

The wife of Duke Tang of Qi (齊) was the elder sister of Dongguo Yan, and Dongguo Yan was a retainer of Cui Wuzi (崔武子). When Duke Tang died, Yan drove Wuzi's carriage to the mourning. Wuzi saw Tang Jiang and thought her beautiful, and told Yan to take her for him. Yan said, "Man and woman must distinguish their surnames. Now my lord descends from Ding, and your servant descends from Huan. It cannot be done." Wuzi divined about it with the milfoil and obtained Kun (困) passing into Da Guo (大過). The scribes all said it was auspicious. He showed it to Chen Wenzi. Wenzi said, "The husband follows the wind, and the wind brings down the wife. She may not be taken in marriage. Moreover its oracle says:

Straitened upon a rock,
leaning upon thorny caltrops;
he enters his house
and does not see his wife. Ill-omened.

"'Straitened upon a rock' — going forward, he will not get through. 'Leaning upon thorny caltrops' — what he trusts to will wound him. 'He enters his house and does not see his wife. Ill-omened' — he will have nowhere to return to." Cuizi said, "She is a widow — what harm in it? Her former husband has borne it already." So he took her. Duke Zhuang had illicit relations with her and went constantly to the Cui house. He gave Cuizi's cap away to someone. His attendant said it should not be done. The duke said, "Even if he were not Cuizi, would a man have no cap?" On this account, and because Qi had also attacked Jin while Jin was in its troubles — saying, "Jin will certainly requite it" — Cuizi wished to assassinate the duke and so make his peace with Jin; but he could get no opening. The duke had flogged his attendant Jia Ju and yet kept him near him; and so Jia Ju watched for an opening against the duke on Cuizi's behalf.

In summer, in the fifth month, on account of the campaign of Juyu, the viscount of Ju came to court in Qi (齊). On the jiaxu day he was feasted in the northern outskirts. Cuizi pleaded illness and did not attend to business. On the yihai day the duke called to ask after Cuizi, and then went after Lady Jiang. Jiang went into an inner room and came out with Cuizi by a side door. The duke slapped a pillar and sang. The attendant Jia Ju held back the duke's followers, went in, and shut the gate. Armed men rose up. The duke went up on a terrace and begged for his life; it was not allowed. He asked to swear a covenant; it was not allowed. He asked to cut his own throat in the ancestral temple; that too was not allowed. They all said, "Your lordship's servant Zhu is gravely ill and cannot receive commands. This place lies near the ducal palace, and we, the servants of a vassal, are on night watch against lechers. We know of no second command." The duke climbed over the wall; they shot at him and hit him in the thigh, and he fell back inside, and so they assassinated him. Jia Ju, Zhou Chuo, Bing Shi, Gongsun Ao, Feng Ju, Duo Fu, Xiang Yi, and Lou Yin all died. The invocator Tuofu had been sacrificing at Gaotang; when he arrived and reported back on his charge, he did not put off his ceremonial cap, and died at the Cui house. Shen Kuai was in charge of the fisheries. He withdrew and said to his steward, "Take your wife and children and get away; I am going to die." His steward said, "To get away would be to go against your righteousness." And he died together with him.

The Cui house killed Zong Mie at Pingyin. Yanzi (晏子) stood outside the gate of the Cui house. His people said, "Will you die?" He said, "Was he my ruler alone, that I should die?" They said, "Will you go away?" He said, "Is the guilt mine, that I should flee?" They said, "Will you go home?" He said, "The ruler is dead; where should I go home to? He who is ruler over the people — is it that he may ride over the people? He is to be master of the altars of the land and grain. He who serves a ruler — is it for the food in his mouth? He is to nourish the altars. Therefore, if the ruler dies for the altars, then die with him; if he goes into exile for the altars, then go into exile with him. But if he dies for his own sake and is exiled for his own sake, then unless one is his private favorite, who would dare take that upon himself? Besides, another man had him for a ruler and has assassinated him. How should I die for him? How should I flee for him? And where should I go?" The gate was opened and he went in. He laid the corpse's head upon his thigh and wailed; he rose, made the three leaps of mourning, and went out. People said that Cuizi would surely kill him. Cuizi said, "He is one to whom the people look. Let him go, and we shall win the people." Lupu Gui fled to Jin, and Wang He fled to Ju.

When Shusun Xuanbo was in Qi (齊), Shusun Huan brought his daughter into the household of Duke Ling; she was favored, and bore Duke Jing. On the dingchou day Cui Zhu set him up as ruler and became his chancellor, with Qing Feng as chancellor of the left. They swore a covenant with the men of the capital in the Great Shrine, saying, "Whoever is not with Cui and Qing —" Yanzi looked up to Heaven and sighed, saying, "If Ying is not with those who are loyal to the ruler and profit the altars of the land and grain, may God on high be his witness!" Then he smeared his lips with the blood. On the xinsi day the duke covenanted with the grandees and with the viscount of Ju. The grand scribe wrote, "Cui Zhu assassinated his ruler." Cuizi killed him. His younger brother went on writing it, and two men died for it. Another younger brother wrote it again, and then Cuizi let it stand. The scribe of the Nan house, hearing that the grand scribes had all died, took up his bamboo strips and set out; hearing that the thing had already been written, he turned back.

Lüqiu Ying wrapped his wife in a curtain, bound her, and loaded her on his chariot, and rode out with Shen Xianyu. Xianyu pushed her off, saying, "When the ruler was benighted you could not correct him; when he was in danger you could not save him; when he died you could not die with him — and yet you know how to hide away your bedfellow. Who will receive you?" They traveled as far as Yanzhong and were about to halt. Ying said, "Cui and Qing may be pursuing us." Xianyu said, "One against one — who can frighten me?" So they halted, pillowed their heads on the reins and slept, fed the horses and then ate, then yoked and went on. When they had come out of Yanzhong he said to Ying, "Drive fast now. The numbers of Cui and Qing are not to be withstood." So they came here as fugitives.

The Cui house laid Duke Zhuang's coffin in the northern outskirts. On the dinghai day they buried him in the quarter of Shisun, with four feather screens; the road was not cleared; seven chariots went down with him; and no arms and armor were used. The marquis of Jin crossed the river at Pan, met the lords at Yiyi, and attacked Qi (齊) in requital for the campaign of Zhaoge. The men of Qi made Duke Zhuang's death their excuse, and sent Xi Chu to sue for peace. Qing Feng went to the army; men and women were presented in ranks; and they bribed the marquis of Jin with the vessels of the ancestral temple and with instruments of music. From the six chiefs of the first rank, the five officers, the thirty commanders, the grandees of the three armies, the chiefs of the hundred offices, and the officers of divisions and companies, down to those who had stayed behind on guard — all had bribes. The marquis of Jin consented, and sent Shuxiang to announce it to the feudal lords. Our duke had Zifu Huibo answer, "That my lord sets the guilty aside in order to quiet the small states is my lord's kindness. Our unworthy ruler has heard the command." The marquis of Jin sent Wei Shu and Wan Mo to meet the marquis of Wei, intending that Wei should give him Yiyi. Cuizi detained his wife and children, demanding Wulu for them.

Earlier, when the marquis of Chen joined the viscount of Chu in attacking Zheng, wherever the men of Chen passed along the road the wells were filled in and the trees cut down, and the men of Zheng resented it. In the sixth month Zizhan and Zichan of Zheng led seven hundred chariots and attacked Chen. At night they burst through the wall of Chen and entered the city. The marquis of Chen, supporting his heir apparent Yanshi, fled toward the tombs. He met the marshal Huanzi and said, "Take me up." He said, "I am about to make the round of the wall." He met Jia Huo, who was carrying his mother and his wife; Jia Huo had them get down and handed his chariot over to the duke. The duke said, "Let your mother stay in it." He declined, saying, "That would be unlucky." So with his wife he supported his mother and fled toward the tombs, and they too escaped. Zizhan ordered the army not to enter the ducal palace, and with Zichan he himself kept guard at the gates. The marquis of Chen sent the marshal Huanzi to offer the vessels of the ancestral temple as a bribe. The marquis of Chen, his head bared in token of submission, clasped the altar of the soil, and had his people, the men and the women set apart, stand roped together to await them in the court. Zizhan came holding the tether-rope and presented himself; he bowed twice and touched his head to the ground, took the cup, and made the offering. Zimei went in, counted the captives, and came out. An invocator purified the altar of the soil; the minister of education handed over the people, the marshal handed over the tallies, the minister of works handed over the land; and then they went home.

In autumn, in the seventh month, on the jisi day, there was a joint covenant at Chongqiu — this was on account of the peace with Qi (齊). Zhao Wenzi was directing the government. He ordered that the tribute-gifts required of the feudal lords be made light and the ritual observances toward them be made weighty. Mushu had an audience with him, and he said to Mushu, "From this time forward, arms will be somewhat laid to rest. Cui and Qing of Qi have newly come into power and will seek good relations with the feudal lords; and I, Wu, know the chief minister of Chu. If we reverently carry out the rites toward them and lead them with cultivated speech, so as to quiet the feudal lords, arms may be laid to rest."

Wei Zifeng of Chu died. Qu Jian became chief minister and Qu Dang became mo'ao. The men of Shujiu at last revolted, and Zimu, chief minister of Chu, attacked them. When he reached Licheng, the men of Wu came to their relief. Zimu hurried ahead with the army of the right, while Ziqiang, Xi Huan, Zijie, Zipian, and Ziyu led the army of the left and drew back. The men of Wu stationed themselves between the two for seven days. Ziqiang said, "If this lasts long we shall be worn down and hemmed in, and once hemmed in we shall be taken. Better to fight quickly. Let me ask leave to lure them on with my own household troops, while picked troops form their ranks and wait for us. If we overcome them, then advance; if we flee, then watch for the moment likewise. In that way we may escape. Otherwise we shall certainly be taken by Wu." They followed him. The five men with their household troops struck the Wu army first. The Wu army fled; then they climbed a hill and looked out, and seeing that the Chu army had no support behind it, they pursued again. They pressed close upon their host; the picked troops joined battle with them, and the Wu army was heavily defeated. Then they besieged Shujiu, and Shujiu broke up.

In the eighth month Chu extinguished Shujiu. Duke Xian of Wei entered Yiyi. Zichan of Zheng presented the spoils of victory to Jin, conducting the business in military dress. The men of Jin asked what the offense of Chen had been. He answered: "Formerly Yu Efu was master of the potters for Zhou and served our former kings; our former kings relied upon his skill in vessels and utensils, and he was moreover a descendant of the divinely enlightened. Therefore they took the eldest daughter, Da Ji, matched her with Duke Hu, and enfeoffed him in Chen, to complete the three honored guests. Chen thus issues from our Zhou, and to this day relies upon it. In the disorder of Duke Huan, the men of Cai wished to set up the son born of their own daughter; our former ruler Duke Zhuang upheld Wufu and set him up, and the men of Cai killed him. We then joined the men of Cai in upholding and setting up Duke Li. Down to Zhuang and Xuan, all were set up by us. In the disorder of the Xia house, Duke Cheng was tossed adrift, and again it was we who brought him in. All this my lord knows.

"Now Chen forgets the great virtue of Zhou, despises our great kindness, casts off our marriage kinship, and, relying on the multitudes of Chu, tramples upon our poor city; and there was no reckoning when they would be satisfied. Therefore we made our report last year; and when we obtained no command granting it, there followed the affair of our eastern gate. Wherever the men of Chen passed along the road the wells were filled in and the trees cut down. Our poor city greatly feared that we should prove unequal to it, and that we should bring shame upon Da Ji. Heaven drew forth their inmost minds and opened the way for our poor city's purpose. Chen acknowledged its guilt and gave its hands into ours; and so we venture to present the fruits of the achievement."

The men of Jin said, "Why did you invade a small state?" He answered, "By the command of the former kings, wherever guilt lies, each is to have his punishment brought upon him. Moreover, in antiquity the land of the Son of Heaven was one qi and the states of the ranks one tong, and from that they diminished downward. Now the great states have many qi. If they had not invaded the small, how would they have come to it?" The men of Jin said, "Why are you in military dress?" He answered, "Our former rulers Wu and Zhuang were ministers to Kings Ping and Huan. At the campaign of Chengpu, Duke Wen of Jin issued a command saying, 'Let each resume his old office,' and he commanded our Duke Wen to assist the king in military dress and to receive the spoils taken from Chu. I dare not set aside the king's command." Shi Zhuangbo could press him no further, and reported back to Zhao Wenzi. Wenzi said, "His words are compliant. To offend against what is compliant is unlucky." So they received the offering.

In winter, in the tenth month, Zizhan attended the earl of Zheng to Jin, to give thanks for the achievement against Chen. Zixi again attacked Chen, and Chen made peace with Zheng. Zhongni said, "The records have it: 'Words are what fill out the aim; cultivated form is what fills out the words.' Without words, who would know a man's aim? Words without cultivated form do not travel far. Jin was master of the covenant, and Zheng entered Chen; but for cultivated speech the achievement would have counted for nothing. How careful one must be of words!"

Wei Yan of Chu was made marshal, and Zimu had him put the levies in order and take a count of armor and weapons. On the jiawu day Wei Yan registered the lands and fields: he measured the hills and forests; he gathered in the marshes and meres; he distinguished the high mounds and hills; he marked out the barren salt flats; he numbered the tracts liable to flooding; he laid out the standing ponds; he divided the level ground and embankments into plots; he made pasture of the low wet meadows; he set out the rich flat land in well-fields. Thus he measured the income and regulated the levy: he levied chariots, registered horses, and levied the numbers of chariot troops and foot soldiers, of armor and shields. When it was finished, he handed it over to Zimu. This was according to the rites.

In the twelfth month Zhufan, viscount of Wu, attacked Chu in requital for the campaign of the naval force, and assaulted the gate at Chao. Niuchen of Chao said, "The king of Wu is brave and rash. If we open the gate to him, he will come up to it himself. If I get a shot at him, I shall certainly kill him. If that ruler dies, the frontier will have some peace." They followed him. The viscount of Wu came to the gate, and Niuchen, hidden behind a low wall, shot him, and he died. The viscount of Chu rewarded Zimu for the extinction of Shujiu. He declined it, saying, "It was the achievement of the late grandee Weizi," and it was given to Wei Yan.

Cheng Zheng of Jin died. Zichan first came to know Ranming, and asked him about the conduct of government. He answered, "Look on the people as your children. When you see one who is without humanity, cut him off, as a hawk or a falcon chases little birds." Zichan was pleased and told this to Zi Dashu, adding, "In other days I saw only Mie's face; now I have seen his heart." Zi Dashu asked Zichan about government. Zichan said, "Government is like the work of farming. Think of it day and night; think of its beginning and bring its end to completion; carry it out morning and evening; and let your doing not go beyond your thinking, as the farmer has his boundary-banks. Then your errors will be few."

Duke Xian of Wei, from Yiyi, sent to speak with Ning Xi (甯喜), and Ning Xi consented. Dashu Wenzi heard of it and said, "Alas! What the Odes call

My own person finds no acceptance;
what leisure have I to care for those who come after? —

of Ningzi it may be said that he takes no care for what comes after. Can it turn out well? It is all but certain that it cannot. In a gentleman's conduct he thinks of the end; he thinks of going back over it. The Documents say, 'Be careful at the beginning and reverent at the end, and the end will bring no straits.' The Odes say,

Morning and night unslackening,
he serves the One Man.

Now Ningzi looks on his ruler as of less account than a piece at the game board. How shall he escape? A player who lifts his piece and cannot settle where to set it will not overcome his opponent; how much more one who sets up a ruler and cannot settle it? He will surely not escape. A ministerial house of nine generations, wiped out at a single stroke — it is a thing to grieve over." In the year of the meeting at Yiyi, the men of Qi (齊) walled Jia. In the fifth month of that year Qin and Jin made peace. Han Qi of Jin went to Qin to attend the covenant, and Boche of Qin went to Jin to attend the covenant. Peace was made, but it was not knit firm.

Year 26 (襄公二十六年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-sixth year, in spring, in the king's second month, on the day xinmao, Ning Xi of Wei (衛) assassinated his ruler Piao. Sun Linfu of Wei entered Qi and revolted. On the day jiawu, Kan, marquis of Wei, returned to Wei.
• In summer, the marquis of Jin sent Xun Wu here on a diplomatic visit. The duke met a man of Jin, Liang Xiao of Zheng, a man of Song, and a man of Cao at Chanyuan.
• In autumn, the duke of Song killed his heir apparent Cuo. The men of Jin seized Ning Xi of Wei.
• In the eighth month, on the day renwu, Ning, baron of Xu, died in Chu.

Annals.

• In winter the Viscount of Chu, the Marquis of Cai, and the Marquis of Chen attacked Zheng.
• The burial of Duke Ling of Xu.

Zuo.

In the twenty-sixth year, in spring, Zhen, younger brother of the Earl of Qin, went to Jin to repair the peace between the two states. Shuxiang (叔向) gave orders that the herald Ziyun be summoned. The herald Zizhu said, "It is Zhu's turn to be on duty." He said it three times, and Shuxiang made no answer. Zizhu grew angry and said, "Our rank and title are the same. Why do you put Zhu down in the court?" He laid a hand on his sword and pressed after him. Shuxiang said, "Qin and Jin have been at odds a long while. In today's business, if by good fortune it holds together, the state of Jin depends upon it; if it does not hold together, the bones of the three armies will lie bare in the field. Ziyun carries the words of the two states without private interest; you are forever altering them. A man who serves his ruler by treachery — him I am able to hold off." He shook out his robe and went after him. Others came between them. Duke Ping said, "Jin is close to good order! What my ministers contend over is a great matter." Music Master Kuang said, "The ducal house, I fear, will be brought low. The ministers do not contend in mind but struggle by force; they do not labor at virtue but quarrel over the name of goodness. Their private desires are already extravagant. How can the house fail to be brought low?"

Duke Xian of Wei sent Zixian (子鮮) to work for his restoration. Zixian declined. Jing Si pressed the command upon him. He answered, "The ruler has no good faith. Your servant fears he will not come off unharmed." Jing Si said, "Even so — do it for my sake." He assented. Earlier, Duke Xian had sent word to speak with Ning Xi (甯喜). Ning Xi had said, "It must be that Zixian stands behind it; otherwise it will surely fail." That is why the duke sent Zixian. Zixian, unable to get free of Jing Si's command, spoke with Ning Xi in the duke's name, saying, "If I return, the government shall proceed from the Ning house; the sacrifices shall be mine alone." Ning Xi told Qu Boyu. Boyu said, "Yuan was not permitted to hear of the ruler's going out; would he dare hear of his coming in?" He then departed, going out by the nearest frontier pass. Ning Xi told You Zai Gu, the steward of the right. You Zai Gu said, "It cannot be done. To incur guilt with two rulers — who in the world would give you shelter?" Daozi said, "I received this charge from my forebear; I cannot be of two minds." Gu said, "Let me ask to be sent there and take a look at him." He then saw the duke at Yiyi. On his return he said, "The ruler has been long in distress abroad, twelve years now, and yet there is no sorrow in his face, nor any generous word. He is the same man as before. If this is not stopped, death is not many days off." Daozi said, "Zixian is there." You Zai Gu said, "What good is Zixian's being there? At most he can go into exile. What will that do for me?" Daozi said, "Even so, it cannot be stopped." Sun Wenzi was at the town of Qi (戚); Sun Jia was on a diplomatic visit to Qi (齊); Sun Xiang was holding the guard at home.

In the second month, on the gengyin day, Ning Xi and You Zai Gu attacked the Sun house. They did not prevail, and Boguo was wounded. Ningzi went out and lodged in the outskirts. Boguo died, and the Sun household wailed in the night; the people of the capital summoned Ningzi. Ningzi attacked the Sun house again and prevailed. On the xinmao day they killed Zishu and the heir apparent Jue. The record says, "Ning Xi assassinated his ruler Piao" — saying that the guilt lay with the Ning house. Sun Linfu went over to Jin with the town of Qi. The record says, "He entered into Qi and revolted" — laying the guilt on the Sun house. A minister's emolument is in truth his ruler's possession. If righteousness allows, he advances; if not, he withdraws, carrying nothing but his own person. To take sole possession of the emolument and manoeuvre with it is a capital offense. On the jiawu day the Marquis of Wei entered. The record says, "He returned again to the state" — meaning that the state brought him in. Of the grandees who came out to meet him, those who met him at the border he took by the hand and spoke with; those who met him on the road he saluted from his carriage; those who met him at the gate he merely acknowledged with a nod. When the duke arrived he sent a reproof to Dashu Wenzi, saying, "I have been long in distress abroad. Every one of you gentlemen sent word to me, so that morning and evening I heard the talk of the state of Wei; you alone had no thought for me. The men of old had a saying, 'Do not resent where resentment is not due.' I do resent this." He answered, "Your servant knows his fault. Your servant is without talent; he could not shoulder halter and tether and follow you to guard the herdsmen and the grooms. That is your servant's first fault. There were those who went out and those who stayed; your servant could not be of two minds and pass word between outside and inside in order to serve his ruler. That is your servant's second fault. Having two faults, would he dare forget that he deserves death?" He then departed, going out by the nearest pass. The duke sent to stop him. The men of Wei raided the eastern border of the town of Qi. The Sun house complained to Jin, and Jin garrisoned Maoshi. Zhi Chuo attacked Maoshi and killed three hundred of the Jin garrison. Sun Kuai pursued them but did not dare strike. Wenzi said, "You are not even the equal of a malevolent ghost." So Kuai pursued the Wei army and defeated it at Yu, and Yong Chu captured Zhi Chuo. Again the Sun house complained to Jin.

The Earl of Zheng rewarded the merit of the entry into Chen. In the third month, on the jiayin day, the first of the month, he feasted Zizhan and bestowed on him a chariot of the first rank and robes of the third degree of appointment, with eight settlements presented in advance. He bestowed on Zichan (子產) a chariot of the second rank and robes of the second degree of appointment, with six settlements presented in advance. Zichan declined the settlements, saying, "From the highest downward, increase and decrease go by twos: that is the rite. Your servant's place is fourth, and moreover the merit was Zizhan's. Your servant dares not come within the rite of reward. I beg to decline the settlements." The duke pressed them upon him, and he accepted three. Gongsun Hui said, "Zichan will surely come to direct the government. In yielding he did not depart from the rites." The men of Jin, on account of the Sun house, summoned the feudal lords, meaning to chastise Wei.

In summer, Zhonghang Muzi came on a diplomatic visit — it was to summon our duke.

The Viscount of Chu and men of Qin raided Wu and got as far as Yulou; hearing that Wu was prepared, they turned back, and then raided Zheng. In the fifth month they came to Chengjun. Huang Xie of Zheng was garrisoning it; he came out and fought the army of Chu and was defeated. Chuanfeng Xu took Huang Xie prisoner, and Prince Wei contended with him for the captive. They took the matter to Bo Zhouli for judgment. Bo Zhouli said, "Let the prisoner be asked." So the prisoner was set up before them. Bo Zhouli said, "Those who contend are noblemen; how should he not know them?" He raised his hand and said, "This gentleman is Prince Wei, the honored younger brother of my ruler." He lowered his hand and said, "This one is Chuanfeng Xu, a district governor beyond Fangcheng. Which of them took you?" The prisoner said, "Xie met the prince, and was worsted by him." Xu was enraged, drew his dagger-axe, and chased Prince Wei, but did not catch him. The men of Chu took Huang Xie home with them. Yin Jinfu had been garrisoning Chengjun together with Huang Xie; the men of Chu made him prisoner and presented him to Qin. The men of Zheng took goods from the Yin house in order to ask for him. Zi Dashu was director of commands and drafted the request. Zichan said, "It will not succeed. For Qin to receive the fruit of Chu's exploit and then take goods from Zheng — that could not be called a state, and Qin will surely not do so. If instead you say, 'We salute your lordship's exertions on behalf of the state of Zheng; but for your lordship's kindness the army of Chu would still be beneath the walls of our poor city' — that may serve." They did not follow him, and went. The men of Qin would not give him up. They changed the gift-offering, followed Zichan's words, and only then obtained him.

In the sixth month our duke met Zhao Wu of Jin, Xiang Xu of Song, Liang Xiao of Zheng, and men of Cao at Chanyuan, to chastise Wei. They fixed the boundaries of the fields of the town of Qi, taking sixty settlements of the Yi house on Wei's western border and giving them to the Sun house. Zhao Wu's name is not recorded — out of honor to our duke. Xiang Xu is not recorded — he came late. Zheng is placed before Song, which did not lose the proper order. At this the Marquis of Wei joined the meeting. The men of Jin seized Ning Xi and Beigong Yi, and sent Nü Qi home ahead of them. The Marquis of Wei went to Jin, and the men of Jin seized him and imprisoned him in the house of Shi Ruo.

In autumn, in the seventh month, the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng went to Jin on account of the Marquis of Wei. The Marquis of Jin feasted them both. The Marquis of Jin had the ode Jia Le ("Fine and Joyous") performed. Guo Jingzi, attending the Marquis of Qi, had Liao Xiao ("Tall Grows the Southernwood") performed. Zizhan, attending the Earl of Zheng, had Zi Yi ("The Black Robes") performed. Shuxiang directed the Marquis of Jin to bow in thanks to the two rulers, saying: "My unworthy ruler ventures to bow in thanks to the ruler of Qi for setting at rest the ancestral shrines of our former rulers; he ventures to bow in thanks to the ruler of Zheng for his undivided loyalty." Guozi had Yan Pingzhong speak privately to Shuxiang, saying, "The ruler of Jin spreads his bright virtue among the feudal lords, relieves their troubles and makes good their want, corrects their transgressions and orders their confusions — this is how he is master of the covenant. Now he has seized a ruler for a minister's sake. What is to be done about it?" Shuxiang told Zhao Wenzi, and Wenzi told the Marquis of Jin. The Marquis of Jin set out the guilt of the Marquis of Wei and had Shuxiang report it to the two rulers. Guozi had Pei zhi rou yi ("The Reins Are Supple") performed; Zizhan had Qiang Zhongzi ("I Pray You, Zhongzi") performed. The Marquis of Jin then consented to send the Marquis of Wei home. Shuxiang said, "Of the seven Mu lineages of Zheng, the Han house will be the last to perish. Zizhan is frugal and single-minded." Earlier, the minister of education Rui of Song had a daughter born to him, red and hairy, and she was cast away below the embankment. A concubine of Gong Ji took her in and named her Qi, "Cast Away." She grew up beautiful. Duke Ping came in at evening and Gong Ji dined with him; the duke caught sight of Qi and looked at her with particular attention. Ji placed her among his attendants; she became a favorite and bore Zuo, who was ugly but gentle. The heir apparent Cuo was handsome but headstrong, and the Left Master of He feared and hated him. The eunuch Huiqiang Yili was the heir apparent's inner tutor, but enjoyed no favor.

In autumn a guest from Chu, on a mission to Jin, passed through Song. The heir apparent knew him and asked to feast him in the countryside; the duke sent him to go. Yili asked to accompany him. The duke said, "Does he not hate you?" He replied, "When a small man serves a gentleman, if the gentleman hates him he dares not keep far off; if the gentleman likes him he dares not come close. He waits respectfully upon command. Would he dare harbor a divided heart? Though there are men to attend to the outer arrangements, there is none to attend to the inner. Your servant begs to go." He was sent. On arriving he dug a pit, killed a victim, laid a written text upon it, and made it out as evidence; then he galloped back and told the duke, "The heir apparent is about to make a rebellion. He has already sworn a covenant with the guest from Chu." The duke said, "He is my son. What more could he seek?" He answered, "He wants it soon." The duke sent men to look, and the thing was indeed there. He asked the lady and the Left Master, and both said, "We have certainly heard of it." The duke imprisoned the heir apparent. The heir apparent said, "Only Zuo can get me free." He summoned him and had him make the plea, saying, "If by midday you have not come, I shall know that I am to die." The Left Master heard of it and kept up a noisy talk with Zuo until the hour had passed; then the heir apparent hanged himself and died. Zuo became heir apparent. The duke learned later that Cuo had been guiltless, and had Yili boiled. The Left Master saw a man exercising the lady's horse and asked him whose it was. He answered, "It belongs to the ruler's lady." The Left Master said, "Who is the ruler's lady? How is it I do not know of her?" The groom went back and reported it to the lady. The lady sent him brocade and a horse, preceded by a jade, with the message: "The ruler's concubine Qi sends so-and-so to present these." The Left Master had the wording altered to "the ruler's lady," and only then bowed twice, touched his head to the ground, and received them. The Earl of Zheng returned from Jin and sent Zixi to Jin on a diplomatic visit. His message said: "My unworthy ruler came and troubled your officers, and feared that he would not escape blame. He sends Xia to apologize for his want of ability." A gentleman said, "This is serving a great state well."

Earlier, Wu Can of Chu had been a friend of Zizhao, grand tutor of Cai, and their sons Wu Ju and Shengzi were on good terms with each other. Wu Ju took a wife from the house of Prince Mou. Prince Mou was governor of Shen (申) and fled the state, and the men of Chu said, "It was Wu Ju who saw him off." Wu Ju fled to Zheng and was about to go on to Jin. Shengzi, on his way to Jin, met him in the outskirts of Zheng. They spread brambles for mats and ate together, and spoke of his returning home. Shengzi said, "Go on your way. I will certainly have you restored." When Xiang Xu of Song was about to make peace between Jin and Chu, Shengzi went as envoy to Jin, and on his return went to Chu. The chief minister Zimu talked with him and asked about affairs in Jin, adding, "Which are worthier, the grandees of Jin or those of Chu?" He answered, "The ministers of Jin are not the equals of Chu's, but its grandees are worthy — all of them are of ministerial timber. Like willow and catalpa wood, like hides and leather, they go there from Chu. Though Chu has the material, it is Jin that uses it." Zimu said, "Has Jin then no clansmen and kin of its own?" He answered, "It has, but the Chu material it uses is truly abundant. Guisheng has heard this: one who governs a state well is not excessive in reward and not indiscriminate in punishment. If reward is excessive, the fear is that it will reach the depraved; if punishment is indiscriminate, the fear is that it will reach the good. If one is unfortunate enough to err, better excess than indiscriminateness; rather than lose the good, better that the depraved profit. When there are no good men, the state goes down with them. The Odes say:

When such men are gone,
the state is worn away and wasted.

That means the absence of good men. Therefore the Documents of Xia say, 'Rather than kill the innocent, better to err against the regular statutes' — for fear of losing the good. And the Hymns of Shang have it:

Not excessive, not indiscriminate,
he dared not be idle or at ease;
the mandate came down upon the lower states,
and his blessing was firmly established.

This is how Tang obtained the blessing of Heaven. Those who governed the people in antiquity were eager in reward and fearful in punishment, and untiring in their care for the people. They rewarded in spring and summer and punished in autumn and winter. Therefore, when about to reward, they increased their fare; when the fare was increased, there was abundance to bestow. By this we know their eagerness in rewarding. When about to punish, they did not take the full meal; when they did not take it, the music was removed. By this we know their dread of punishing. They rose early and went late to bed, attending to government morning and evening. By this we know their care for the people. These three are the great articles of the rites, and where there are rites there is no ruin. Now Chu has much excessive punishment; its grandees flee death in the four directions and become chief planners for others, to the harm of the state of Chu — a sickness past cure. This is what is called incapacity.

"In the disorder of Ziyi, Xi Gong fled to Jin. The men of Jin placed him at the rear of the war chariots and made him chief planner. In the campaign at Raojiao, Jin was on the point of slipping away. Xi Gong said, 'The army of Chu is light and flighty and easily shaken. If you beat many drums in a single note and press upon them by night, the army of Chu will surely flee.' The men of Jin followed him, and the Chu army broke up in the night. Jin then raided Cai, fell upon Shen (沈) by surprise and captured its ruler, defeated the armies of Shen (申) and Xi at Sangsui, took Shen Li, and returned. From then on Zheng dared not face south. That Chu lost the Xia heartland was the doing of Xi Gong.

"The father and elder brothers of Yongzi slandered him, and neither the ruler nor the grandees set this right. Yongzi fled to Jin. The men of Jin gave him Chu and made him chief planner. In the campaign at Pengcheng, Jin and Chu met in the valley of Mijiao, and Jin was on the point of slipping away. Yongzi issued an order in the army: 'Send home the old and the young; send back the orphaned and the sick. Where two of a household serve, let one go home. Sort the weapons and inspect the chariot teams; feed the horses and take your meal on the straw. The army will form its ranks and burn its lodgings — tomorrow we fight.' He sent off those who were going home and let the Chu prisoners escape, and the Chu army broke up in the night. Jin brought Pengcheng to surrender and gave it back to Song, taking Yu Shi home with them. Chu lost the Eastern Yi, and Zixin died for it. That was the doing of Yongzi.

"Zifan and Ziling contended over Xia Ji, and Zifan blocked and spoiled the affair. Ziling fled to Jin. The men of Jin gave him Xing and made him chief planner. He guarded the frontier against the Northern Di, opened Wu's communication with Jin, taught Wu to revolt from Chu, taught them to ride in chariots, to shoot and to drive, and to make driving raids; and he made his son Huyong the herald of Wu. Then Wu attacked Chao, took Jia, subdued Ji, and entered Zhoulai. Chu was worn out with running to answer the summons, and it is a trouble to this day. That was the doing of Ziling.

"In the disorder of Ruo'ao, Ben Huang, son of Bo Ben, fled to Jin. The men of Jin gave him Miao and made him chief planner. In the campaign at Yanling, Chu at dawn pressed close upon the Jin army and formed ranks, and Jin was on the point of slipping away. Miao Benhuang said, 'The best of the Chu army is only in its central army, the royal clansmen. Block the wells and level the stoves, form ranks and face them; let Luan and Fan shift their lines to lure them on; let Zhonghang and the two Xi be sure to overcome the two Mu divisions; then we may gather in four bodies upon their royal clansmen, and we shall certainly defeat them utterly.' The men of Jin followed him, and the army of Chu was heavily defeated: the king was wounded and the army's fire went out, and Zifan died for it. Zheng revolted, Wu arose, and Chu lost the feudal lords. That was the doing of Miao Benhuang."

Zimu said, "All this is so." Shengzi said, "And now there is something worse than these. Jiao Ju took his wife from Prince Mou, governor of Shen. Prince Mou incurred guilt and fled, and the ruler and the grandees said to Jiao Ju, 'It was you who sent him off.' In fear he fled to Zheng. He stretched out his neck and looked south, saying, 'Perhaps they will pardon me.' But no thought was given to it. Now he is in Jin, and the men of Jin are about to give him a district and rank him with Shuxiang. If he plans harm to the state of Chu, will he not be a calamity?" Zimu was afraid. He spoke of it to the king, increased Jiao Ju's emolument and rank, and restored him; and Shengzi had Jiao Ming go out to meet him. Duke Ling of Xu went to Chu and asked that Zheng be attacked, saying, "If the army does not go out, I shall not return home." In the eighth month he died in Chu. The Viscount of Chu said, "If we do not attack Zheng, how shall we seek the allegiance of the feudal lords?"

In winter, in the tenth month, the Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng, and the men of Zheng were about to resist him. Zichan said, "Jin and Chu are about to make peace, and the feudal lords are about to be reconciled. That is why the king of Chu comes blindly this once. Better to let him have his satisfaction and go home; then the settlement will come the more easily. It is the nature of the small man to be quick for bravery and grudging in the face of disaster, to gratify his nature and seek a name by it — that is no advantage to the state. Why follow it?" Zizhan was pleased, and they did not resist the invader.

In the twelfth month, on the yiyou day, the Chu army entered Nanli and threw down its wall. They forded at Yueshi and attacked the gate at Shizhiliang; the portcullis was dropped, and nine men were taken. They forded at Fan and went home; and afterward Duke Ling of Xu was buried. The men of Wei sent a daughter of Wei to Jin, and the Marquis of Wei was then released. By this a gentleman knew that Duke Ping had lost the government. Han Xuanzi of Jin went on a diplomatic visit to Zhou, and the king sent to ask his business. He answered, "Qi, an officer of Jin, is come to render the seasonal service to the assistant steward; there is no other business." The king heard of it and said, "Will not the Han house flourish and grow rich in Jin? His words did not depart from the old usage." In the year when the men of Qi walled Jia, in the summer of that year, Wu Yu of Qi fled to Jin with Linqiu. He fell by surprise upon Yangjiao of Wei and took it, and then fell by surprise upon our Gaoyu: there was a heavy rain, and they came in by its drain, armed themselves from its arsenal, climbed its wall, overcame it, and took it. He also took a settlement from Song. At that time Fan Xuanzi died, and the feudal lords could not deal with the matter. When Zhao Wenzi took charge of the government, he dealt with it at last. Wenzi said to the Marquis of Jin, "Jin is master of the covenant. When the feudal lords encroach upon one another, we chastise them and make them give back the land. Now the settlements of Wu Yu are all of the sort that call for chastisement, and yet we covet them. This is no way to be master of the covenant. I beg that they be returned." The duke said, "Agreed. Whom can we send?" He answered, "Xu Liangdai can do it without using an army." The Marquis of Jin sent him.

Year 27 (襄公二十七年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-seventh year, in spring, the Marquis of Qi sent Qing Feng to come on a diplomatic visit.
• In summer, Shusun Bao met Zhao Wu of Jin, Qu Jian of Chu, Gongsun Guisheng of Cai, Shi E of Wei, Kong Huan of Chen, Liang Xiao of Zheng, men of Xu, and men of Cao, at Song.
• Wei put to death its grandee Ning Xi.
• Zhuan, younger brother of the Marquis of Wei, fled to Jin.
• In autumn, in the seventh month, on the xinsi day, Bao and the grandees of the feudal lords covenanted at Song.
• In winter, in the twelfth month, on the yimao day, the first of the month, the sun was eclipsed.

Zuo.

In the twenty-seventh year, in spring, Xu Liangdai had all those who had lost settlements make ready chariots and foot soldiers to receive their land back, and every preparation was made complete. He had Wu Yu make ready chariots and foot soldiers to receive his enfeoffment. Wu Yu came out with his followers; the men of the feudal lords, pretending to be those who were conveying Wu Yu's fief, then seized him and took them all. They took back all his settlements and returned them to the feudal lords, and because of this the feudal lords were on good terms with Jin. Qing Feng of Qi came on a diplomatic visit. His chariot was beautiful. Mengsun said to Shusun, "Is not Qing Ji's chariot beautiful?" Shusun said, "Bao has heard this: when fine trappings do not match the man, the end must be evil. What is a beautiful chariot for?" Shusun ate with Qing Feng, and Qing Feng was not respectful; Shusun had Xiang Shu ("The Rat") performed for him, and he did not understand that either. Ning Xi of Wei held the power alone, and the duke was troubled by him. Gongsun Mianyu asked leave to kill him. The duke said, "Without Ningzi I would not have come to this. I gave him my word. The outcome cannot be known, and it would only make an evil name. Let it be." He answered, "Your servant will kill him. Let my ruler have no part in the knowledge of it." So he plotted with Gongsun Wudi and Gongsun Chen and had them attack the Ning house. They did not prevail, and both died. The duke said, "Chen was without fault; father and son have died for me."

In summer, Mianyu attacked the Ning house again and killed Ning Xi and You Zai Gu, exposing their corpses in the court. Shi E was to attend the covenant at Song; he had received his commission and gone out. He clothed the corpse, pillowed its thigh on his lap and wept over it, and wished to coffin it and flee; but he feared he would not escape, and he said, "I have received my commission." So he went. Zixian said, "The man who drove me out has gone out; the man who brought me in is dead. Reward and punishment have no pattern — how shall men be deterred or encouraged? The ruler has lost his good faith and the state has no law of punishment. Is this not hard? And it was Zhuan who brought it about." He then fled to Jin. The duke sent to stop him; it was of no use. When he reached the Yellow River the duke sent again to stop him; he detained the messenger and swore a covenant by the River. He took refuge at Mumen and would not sit facing the state of Wei. The grandee of Mumen urged him to take office; he would not, saying, "To take office and neglect its business is a crime. To do the man's service would proclaim the reason I went out. To whom then should I complain? I cannot stand in another man's court." To the end of his life he took no office. The duke mourned for him, wearing the belated mourning dress for the rest of his life. The duke gave Mianyu sixty settlements. He declined them, saying, "Only a minister has the full hundred settlements, and your servant would have sixty. For an inferior to hold a superior's emolument is disorder; your servant dares not hear of it. Moreover Ningzi died precisely because he had many settlements, and your servant fears that death would come quickly upon him." The duke pressed them upon him; he accepted half, and was made junior tutor. The duke would have made him a minister. He declined, saying, "Dashu Yi was not of two minds and is able to assist in great affairs. Let my ruler appoint him." So Wenzi was made a minister. Xiang Xu of Song was on good terms with Zhao Wenzi and also with the chief minister Zimu, and wished to lay to rest the arms of the feudal lords and make a name by it. He went to Jin and told Zhao Meng, and Zhao Meng consulted the grandees. Han Xuanzi said, "Arms are the ruin of the people, a moth in wealth and goods, the great calamity of small states. Someone is going to lay them to rest. Even if we say it cannot be done, we must consent. If we do not consent, Chu will consent, and use it to summon the feudal lords; then we shall lose our place as master of the covenant." The men of Jin consented. He went to Chu, and Chu also consented. He went to Qi, and the men of Qi made difficulties. Chen Wenzi said, "Jin and Chu have consented; how can we hold back? Besides, if men say 'lay down arms' and we do not consent, we shall surely estrange our own people. What use would that be?" The men of Qi consented. He told Qin, and Qin also consented. All of them told the small states, and a meeting was held at Song.

In the fifth month, on the jiachen day, Zhao Wu of Jin arrived at Song. On the bingwu day, Liang Xiao of Zheng arrived.

In the sixth month, on the dingwei day, the first of the month, the men of Song feasted Zhao Wenzi, with Shuxiang as his attendant. The marshal set out the jointed carcass upon the stand — this was according to the rites. Zhongni had this ceremony cited as a model, holding it rich in cultivated speech. On the wushen day, Shusun Bao, Qing Feng of Qi, Xu Wu of Chen, and Shi E of Wei arrived. On the jiayin day, Xun Ying of Jin arrived, following Zhao Wu. On the bingchen day, Duke Dao of Zhu arrived. On the renxu day, Prince Heigong of Chu arrived in advance and settled terms with Jin. On the dingmao day, Xiang Xu of Song went to Chen and, following Zimu, settled terms with Chu. On the wuchen day, Duke Cheng of Teng arrived. Zimu said to Xiang Xu, "Let the followers of Jin and the followers of Chu pay court to one another in turn." On the gengwu day, Xiang Xu reported back to Zhao Meng. Zhao Meng said, "Jin, Chu, Qi, and Qin are equals. Jin's inability to command Qi is like Chu's inability to command Qin. If the ruler of Chu can make the ruler of Qin condescend to our poor city, my unworthy ruler would not dare fail to press the request upon Qi." On the renshen day, the Left Master reported these words to Zimu, and Zimu sent a courier to lay the matter before the king. The king said, "Leave out Qi and Qin; let the other states pay court to one another."

In autumn, in the seventh month, on the wuyin day, the Left Master arrived. That night Zhao Meng and Zixi (子皙, Prince Heigong of Chu) covenanted, to bring their words into accord. On the gengchen day Zimu arrived from Chen, and Kong Huan of Chen and Gongsun Guisheng of Cai arrived; the grandees of Cao and of Xu all arrived. They made fenced enclosures serve as camps, Jin and Chu each occupying its own side. Bo Su said to Zhao Meng, "The air about Chu is very foul. I fear trouble." Zhao Meng said, "I shall turn to the left and go into Song. What can they do to me?" On the xinsi day, when they were about to covenant outside the west gate of Song, the men of Chu wore armor beneath their robes. Bo Zhouli said, "To bring together the armies of the feudal lords and then act without good faith — surely that will not do. The feudal lords look for good faith from Chu, and that is why they come and submit. If there is no good faith, this throws away the very thing by which the feudal lords are made to submit." He begged earnestly that the armor be laid aside. Zimu said, "Jin and Chu have long been without good faith. It is a matter of advantage, nothing more. If we get what we want, what use is good faith?" The grand steward withdrew and said to someone, "The chief minister is going to die; he will not last three years. He seeks to gratify his will and casts away good faith. Will his will be gratified? The will gives rise to words; words bring forth good faith; good faith establishes the will. The three together settle a man. With good faith gone, how shall he reach the third?" Zhao Meng was troubled by the hidden armor of the Chu men and told Shuxiang. Shuxiang said, "What harm is there? If a common man once acts without good faith, even that will not do — he perishes alone in his death. If a man brings together the ministers of the feudal lords and acts without good faith, he will certainly not succeed. The man who eats his own words takes no hurt from us; he is not your trouble. To summon men with good faith and then carry it through with falsehood — surely no one will side with him. How can he harm us? Besides, we shall rely on Song and hold our ground; if we are hard pressed our men can give their lives, and giving our lives together with Song we could stand against twice the force of Chu. What have you to fear? And it will not come to that." He added, "To summon the feudal lords in order to lay down arms, and then to raise arms in order to harm us — that would give me merit in abundance. It is nothing to fear." Ji Wuzi sent word to Shusun in the duke's name, saying, "Take Zhu and Teng as your measure." Presently the men of Qi asked for Zhu and the men of Song asked for Teng, and neither took part in the covenant. Shusun said, "Zhu and Teng are other men's dependents; we are a state of the ranks. Why should I take them as my measure? Song and Wei are our equals." So he joined the covenant. Therefore his clan name is not recorded — to say that he disobeyed the command. Jin and Chu contended for precedence. The men of Jin said, "Jin has always been master of the covenant of the feudal lords; there has never been one who went before Jin." The men of Chu said, "You say Jin and Chu are equals. If Jin always goes first, then Chu is the weaker. Besides, Jin and Chu have long taken turns in presiding over the covenants of the feudal lords. How should it belong to Jin alone?" Shuxiang said to Zhao Meng, "The feudal lords turn to Jin's virtue; they do not turn to its presiding at covenants. Devote yourself to virtue and do not contend for precedence. Besides, when the feudal lords covenant there must always be a lesser state that presides at the covenant. Let Chu take the lesser part for Jin — is that not acceptable?" So the men of Chu were put first; but the record puts Jin first, because Jin had good faith. On the renwu day, the Duke of Song feasted the grandees of Jin and Chu together, and Zhao Meng was the chief guest. Zimu spoke with him and he could not answer, and had Shuxiang attend and speak for him; and Zimu in his turn could not answer. On the yiyou day, the Duke of Song and the grandees of the feudal lords covenanted outside the Meng gate. Zimu asked Zhao Meng, "What was the virtue of Fan Wuzi like?" He answered, "That gentleman's household affairs were in order; in speaking to the state of Jin he concealed nothing; his invocators and scribes set forth truth to the ghosts and spirits, with no words to be ashamed of." Zimu went back and told this to the king. The king said, "How lofty! He could give delight to spirits and men alike. Fittingly he gloriously assisted five rulers and made Jin master of the covenant." Zimu also said to the king, "It is fitting that Jin holds the hegemony. It has Shuxiang to assist its ministers, and Chu has no one to match him. We cannot contend with them." Xun Yin of Jin then went to Chu to attend the covenant there.

The Earl of Zheng feasted Zhao Meng at Chuilong. Zizhan, Boyou, Zixi, Zichan, Zi Dashu, and the two Zishi were in attendance. Zhao Meng said, "Seven gentlemen attend their ruler, and this is an honor to Wu. Let each of you have an ode performed, to complete your ruler's gift; and Wu will thereby observe the aims of the seven." Zizhan had Cao Chong ("The Grass Insects") performed. Zhao Meng said, "Excellent! Here is a lord of the people. But Wu is not worthy to be its object." Boyou had Chun zhi ben ben ("The Quails Go in Pairs") performed. Zhao Meng said, "Words of the bedmat do not pass the threshold, still less out in the open country. This is not something an envoy may hear." Zixi had the fourth stanza of Shu Miao ("The Millet Sprouts") performed. Zhao Meng said, "My ruler is there. What power has Wu in this?" Zichan had Xi Sang ("The Mulberry in the Lowland") performed. Zhao Meng said, "Wu begs to receive its last stanza." Zi Dashu had Ye you man cao ("In the Fields the Creeping Grass") performed. Zhao Meng said, "This is your kindness." Yin Duan had Xi Shuai ("The Cricket") performed. Zhao Meng said, "Excellent! Here is a lord who will preserve his house. I have expectations of him." Gongsun Duan had Sang Hu ("The Hawfinch") performed. Zhao Meng said, "'Neither overbearing nor proud' — where should blessing go if not to him? If he holds fast to these words, could he decline blessing and emolument even if he wished?" When the feast ended, Wenzi said to Shuxiang, "Boyou is going to be put to death. An ode speaks a man's aims. His aims slander his superior, and he openly resents him, and takes this for a guest's glory. Can he last long? If he is lucky, he will only go into exile later." Shuxiang said, "So it is. He is already extravagant. What is meant by 'he will not see five harvests' — that gentleman is meant." Wenzi said, "The rest are all lords for several generations. Zizhan will be the last to perish: in a high place he does not forget to come down. The Yin house comes next: they take joy without running wild, they use joy to bring peace to the people, and do not use excess to drive them. Is it not fitting that they should perish last?"

The Left Master of Song asked for a reward, saying, "I ask for settlements that exempt me from death." The duke gave him sixty settlements, and he showed the grant to Zihan. Zihan said, "As for the small states among the feudal lords: Jin and Chu overawe them with arms; only when they are afraid are high and low kind and harmonious; only when they are kind and harmonious can they make their states quiet and settled, and serve the great states. That is how they survive. Without that awe they grow arrogant; arrogance breeds disorder; disorder breeds certain destruction. That is how they perish. Heaven produced the five materials, and the people use them all together; not one may be discarded. Who could do away with arms? Arms have been instituted for a long time; they overawe the lawless and make manifest the civil virtue. By them the sage rises and the disorderly man is cast down. Falling and rising, surviving and perishing, the arts of darkness and of brightness — all come by way of arms. And you claim credit for this: is it not a fraud? To blind the feudal lords with a fraudulent doctrine — no crime is greater. Even if there is no great chastisement, to go further and seek a reward is insatiable in the extreme." He scored the grant out and threw it down, and the Left Master declined the settlements. The Xiang house wished to attack the minister of works. The Left Master said, "I was on the way to ruin, and that gentleman preserved me. No kindness is greater. How can he be attacked?" A gentleman said:

"That man there,
the upholder of rectitude in the state" —

is not Yue Xi meant?

"How he cares for me!
I shall take it in" —

is not Xiang Xu meant?

Cui Zhu of Qi begot Cheng and Qiang, and then was left a widower. He married Dongguo Jiang, who bore him Ming. Dongguo Jiang brought in with her a fatherless son called Tang Wujiu, and he and Dongguo Yan became stewards of the Cui house. Cui Cheng had an illness, and so he was set aside and Ming was established in his place. Cheng asked to retire to Cui, and Cuizi granted it; but Yan and Wujiu would not give it, saying, "Cui is the ancestral settlement; it must belong to the head of the lineage." Cheng and Qiang were angry and meant to kill them. They told Qing Feng: "The state of that gentleman's person is known to you as well. He follows only Jiu and Yan, and his father's kin and elder brothers can get no access to him. We greatly fear it will harm him, and we venture to tell you." Qing Feng said, "Withdraw for the present; I will make a plan for it." He told Lupu Pie. Lupu Pie said, "The man is the ruler's enemy. Heaven may be about to cast him off. The disorder is within his own house — why should it trouble you? The thinning of Cui is the thickening of Qing." On another day they told him again. Qing Feng said, "If it profits your master, be sure to be rid of them. If there is trouble, I will help you."

In the ninth month, on the gengchen day, Cui Cheng and Cui Qiang killed Dongguo Yan and Tang Wujiu in the court of the Cui house. Cuizi was enraged and went out; all his followers had fled. He looked for someone to yoke his chariot and could not find one; he had a groom yoke it, and a eunuch drove him out. And he said, "If the Cui house has blessing, it would still be well to stop me." He then went to see Qing Feng. Qing Feng said, "Cui and Qing are one. How did they dare do such a thing? Let me chastise them for you." He sent Lupu Pie to lead armored men and attack the Cui house. The Cui house manned the battlements of their mansion and defended it, and he did not prevail; he had the people of the capital help him, and so wiped out the Cui house. They killed Cheng and Qiang and took the whole household captive, and Cuizi's wife hanged herself. Pie reported back to Cuizi and drove him home; when he arrived there was no home left, and so he hanged himself. Cui Ming by night buried him among the great tombs. On the xinsi day, Cui Ming fled to us. Qing Feng took charge of the state. Wei Pi of Chu went to Jin to attend the covenant, and the Marquis of Jin feasted him. As he was about to leave, he had Ji Zui ("Already Drunk") performed. Shuxiang said, "That the Wei house has posterity in the state of Chu is fitting. He carries out his ruler's command and does not forget quickness. Zidang will come to direct the government. Serving his ruler with quickness, he will surely be able to nourish the people. Where else should the government go?" In the disorder of the Cui house, Shen Xianyu fled to us and hired himself out as a servant in the countryside, keeping mourning for Duke Zhuang. In winter the men of Chu summoned him, and he went to Chu and became Overseer of the Right.

In the eleventh month, on the yihai day, the first of the month, the sun was eclipsed, the conjunction being in shen. This was an error of the officer of the calendar: he had gone wrong by two intercalary months.

Year 28 (襄公二十八年)

Annals.

• In the twenty-eighth year, in spring, there was no ice.
• In summer, Shi E of Wei fled to Jin.
• The Viscount of Zhu came to court.
• In autumn, in the eighth month, there was a great rain sacrifice.
• Zhongsun Jie went to Jin.
• In winter, Qing Feng of Qi fled to us.
• In the eleventh month, our duke went to Chu.
• In the twelfth month, on the jiayin day, the Heavenly King passed away.
• On the yiwei day, Zhao, Viscount of Chu, died.

Zuo.

In the twenty-eighth year, in spring, there was no ice. Zi Shen said, "This year Song and Zheng will surely go hungry. The Year Star is in Xingji but has strayed into Xuanxiao, so there will be a calamity of the season. The yin cannot bear the yang: the Snake rides upon the Dragon. The Dragon is the star of Song and Zheng, and Song and Zheng will certainly starve. Xuanxiao means emptiness within; xiao is a name for wasting away. When the soil is empty and the people waste away, what should there be but famine?"

In summer, the Marquis of Qi, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Cai, the Earl of Northern Yan, the Earl of Qi (杞), the Viscount of Hu, the Viscount of Shen (沈), and the White Di came to court at Jin — on account of the covenant at Song. The Marquis of Qi was about to set out. Qing Feng said, "We took no part in the covenant. What business have we in Jin?" Chen Wenzi said, "To put service first and gifts after is the rite. When a small state serves a great one and has not yet obtained the chance to serve, then to follow the great state according to its wish is the rite. Though we did not join the covenant, would we dare revolt from Jin? The covenant at Chongqiu cannot be forgotten. You should urge him to go." The men of Wei punished the partisans of the Ning house, and therefore Shi E fled to Jin. The men of Wei set up his kinsman Pu to maintain the sacrifices of the Shi house — this was according to the rites. Duke Dao of Zhu came to court — this was the business of the season.

Zuo.

Autumn, the eighth month. There was a great rain sacrifice — because of the drought.

The Marquis of Cai returned from Jin and entered Zheng. The Earl of Zheng feasted him, and he was not respectful. Zichan (子產) said: "The Marquis of Cai will not escape. The other day, when he passed through here, our ruler sent Zizhan out beyond the east gate to greet and comfort him, and he was arrogant. I said then that he might yet change. Now on his return he receives a feast and is slack. This, then, is his true heart. A ruler of a small state serves a great state; and to make slackness and arrogance his own heart — will he be allowed to die in his bed? If he does not escape, it will be through his son. As a ruler he is licentious and does not behave as a father. I, Qiao, have heard that men of this kind always suffer calamity from a son."

Meng Xiaobo went to Jin, to announce that, on account of the covenant of Song, our ruler would be going to Chu.

When the Marquis of Cai went to Jin, the Earl of Zheng sent You Ji to Chu. When he reached the Han River, the men of Chu turned him back, saying: "By the covenant of Song, your ruler was himself to come in person. Now you, sir, have come. Our unworthy ruler says that you, sir, should for the present go back. We will send couriers galloping to inquire of Jin, and will then report."

Zi Taishu said: "At the covenant of Song, the ruler's charge was that the small states should be benefited, and that they should be allowed to settle their altars of soil and grain, to calm and comfort their people, and by ritual to receive Heaven's blessing. This is your ruler's ordinance and the hope of the small states. For this reason our unworthy ruler sent me, Ji, bearing his hides and silks, in a year that has not been easy, to make a diplomatic visit to your inferior officers. Now the officers issue a command, saying: 'What have you to do with orders of government? Your ruler himself must come — abandoning his borders and their guarding, trudging over mountains and rivers, braving frost and dew, to gratify our ruler's heart.' The small states look to your ruler; how should we dare not obey the command? But is this not contrary to the words written into the covenant, so that your ruler's virtue is diminished and his officers themselves suffer disadvantage by it? It is this the small states fear. Were it not for that, what toil would we dare shrink from?"

Zi Taishu returned and reported. He said to Zizhan: "The Viscount of Chu is going to die. He does not cultivate his government and his virtue, but greedily and blindly presses upon the feudal lords to gratify his own wishes. Can such wanting last long? The Zhou Changes has it — in Fu (復), Return, going over to Yi (頤), Nourishment: 'Deluded return: ill fortune.' Is this not spoken of the Viscount of Chu? He wishes to return to his desires but throws away his root, so that his return has nowhere to come home to. This is called 'deluded return.' Can it be without ill fortune? Let our ruler go. He will escort the burial and come back, and so please the heart of Chu. For close upon ten years Chu will not be able to trouble the feudal lords; then we may give our people rest."

Pi Zao said: "This year the Zhou king and the Viscount of Chu will both die. Jupiter has abandoned its station and lodges in the station of next year, and so harms the Bird's Tail. Zhou and Chu suffer the evil of it."

The ninth month. You Ji of Zheng went to Jin, to announce that his ruler would pay a court visit in Chu, in accordance with the covenant of Song.

Zichan attended the Earl of Zheng on the journey to Chu. At their lodging he did not build an altar-platform. The outer steward said: "Formerly, when the late grandees attended the late rulers to the four states, they never failed to build an altar; and from then till now this has always been followed. Now you, sir, lodge on the bare grass. Is this not improper?"

Zichan said: "When a great state goes to a small one, an altar is built. When a small state goes to a great one, it merely lodges as it can. What use is an altar? I, Qiao, have heard: when a great state goes to a small one there are five fine things — it is lenient toward its offenses, pardons its errors, rescues it from disasters, rewards its virtue and its right use of punishments, and instructs it where it falls short. The small state is not distressed; it cherishes and submits as though coming home. Therefore an altar is made, to display that merit and to proclaim to those who come after that they must not be slack in virtue. When a small state goes to a great one there are five evils — it must explain away its offenses, beg for what it lacks, carry out the great state's business of government, supply its assigned tribute, and obey its seasonal commands; and failing these, it must increase its gifts of silk, congratulating the great state's good fortune and condoling its ill. All of these are the small state's misfortune. What use is it to build an altar and display that misfortune? What we tell our sons and grandsons ought to be this: display no misfortune. That will do."

Qing Feng (慶封) of Qi loved hunting and craved wine. He handed the government over to Qing She, and with his household goods and his women moved to the house of Lupu Pie. They exchanged wives and drank wine for several days together, and the state moved its court there. He arranged that any of the exiles who had laid hold of the assassins might report it and be brought back. Thus Lupu Gui was brought back. Gui served Zizhi, won his favor, and was given his daughter to wife.

A retainer of Qing She said to Lupu Gui: "Man and woman are distinguished by surname. You have not avoided your own clan. Why?" He said: "The clan did not avoid me; why should I alone avoid it? In reciting an ode one cuts off the stanza one wants — I take from it what I seek. What do I know of clan?"

Gui spoke for Wang He, and had him brought back as well. Both men were favorites, and were made to carry the bedchamber halberds and to walk before and behind him.

The daily allowance at the ducal table was two fowls; the cook secretly changed them for ducks. The serving men learned of it, took away the meat, and presented only the broth. Ziya and Ziwei were angry.

Qing Feng told Lupu Pie. Lupu Pie said: "Compare them to birds and beasts — I will sleep upon their hides."

Xi Guifu was sent to speak with Yan Pingzhong (晏平仲). Pingzhong said: "My followers are not enough to be used, and my wits are not able to plan. I shall dare let no word out; a covenant of silence is all that is needed." Zijia said: "Since you speak so, what further use is a covenant?"

They spoke with Beiguo Ziche. Ziche said: "Every man has his own way of serving his ruler; this is not what I, Zuo, am able to do."

Chen Wenzi said to Huanzi: "Trouble is about to break out. What shall we get?" He answered: "We shall get a hundred cartloads of the Qing family's timber on Zhuang street." Wenzi said: "That may be carefully kept."

Lupu Gui and Wang He divined about attacking the Qing clan, and showed the crack in the shell to Zizhi, saying: "Someone has divined about attacking an enemy; we presume to present the crack." Zizhi said: "He will conquer. Blood will be seen."

Winter, the tenth month. Qing Feng hunted at Lai, and Chen Wuyu went with him. On bingchen, Wenzi sent to summon Wuyu, who begged leave, saying: "Wuyu's mother is gravely ill; I beg to go home." Qing Ji divined about it and showed him the crack, saying: "She will die." Wuyu held up the tortoiseshell and wept, and so was sent home.

Qing Si heard of it and said: "Trouble is about to break out." He told Zijia to hurry home: "The trouble will surely break at the chang sacrifice. If you go now, you may still be in time." Zijia would not listen, and had no mind to mend his ways. Zixi said: "It is finished. If he is lucky, he will end up in Wu or Yue."

Chen Wuyu crossed the water, and then wrecked the boats and broke up the bridge.

Lupu Jiang said to Gui: "You have an undertaking in hand and did not tell me. You will certainly not succeed." Gui told her. Jiang said: "My father is obstinate. If no one tries to stop him, he will not go out. Let me try to stop him." Gui said: "Agreed."

The eleventh month, on yihai, the chang sacrifice was held in the temple of the Grand Duke. Qing She presided over the service. Lupu Jiang told him and tried to hold him back; he would not listen, saying: "Who would dare?" and went on to attend the duke.

Ma Ying acted as the impersonator of the dead; Qing Xie was the chief presenter of offerings; Lupu Gui and Wang He carried the bedchamber halberds. The Qing clan ringed the ducal palace with their armored men. Grooms of the Chen and the Bao families performed as entertainers. The Qing family's horses were easily startled, so their men all laid aside their armor and tethered the horses, and drank wine while they watched the show. When they came to Yuli, the followers of the Luan, Gao, Chen, and Bao put on the Qing family's armor.

Ziwei pulled out a rafter and struck the door-leaf three times. Lupu Gui stabbed Zizhi from behind; Wang He struck him with a halberd and severed his left shoulder. Even so he seized a temple rafter and shook the ridge-beam, and hurled a sacrificial stand and a wine jar, killing men, before he died. Then they killed Qing Sheng and Ma Ying.

The duke was afraid. Bao Guo said: "Your servants do this for their ruler's sake." Chen Xuwu brought the duke home; he changed out of his robes and went into the inner palace.

Qing Feng came back and met men reporting the disorder. On dinghai he attacked the west gate and could not take it; he turned and attacked the north gate and took it; he entered and attacked the inner palace and could not take it. He drew back and drew up his men at Yue, asked for battle, and was refused. Then he fled here.

He presented a chariot to Ji Wuzi; its polish was so fine that one could use it as a mirror. Zhan Zhuangshu saw it and said: "The chariot is very glossy; the men must be worn thin. Fitting that he is a fugitive."

Shusun Muzi gave a meal to Qing Feng. Qing Feng scattered his food-offering carelessly. Muzi was displeased, and had a musician recite for him "The Reed Owl." Even then he did not understand.

Afterward the men of Qi came to reproach us, and he fled to Wu. Gouyu of Wu gave him Zhufang; he gathered his kin there and dwelt there, richer than before. Zifu Huibo said to Shusun: "Heaven, it seems, enriches the licentious. Qing Feng is rich again." Muzi said: "When a good man grows rich, it is called reward; when a licentious man grows rich, it is called calamity. Heaven is bringing calamity upon him; it will gather them together and wipe them out there."

On guisi the King, the Son of Heaven, died. No announcement had yet come, and so it was not written. This was according to ritual.

In the troubles of the Cui clan the ducal sons were scattered and lost. Thus Chu was in Lu, Shusun Huan was in Yan, and Jia was at Goudu Hill. When the Qing clan fell, all were summoned back; their household utensils were furnished for them and their towns restored.

Beidian, with sixty of its outlying settlements, was given to Yanzi, and he would not accept it. Ziwei said: "Wealth is what men desire. Why do you alone not desire it?" He answered: "The Qing family's towns satisfied their desires, and therefore they fell. My towns do not satisfy desire; add Beidian to them, and they will satisfy desire. Once desire is satisfied, ruin is not many days off. And once outside the state, I should not have the governing of even one town of mine. In not accepting Beidian I do not hate wealth; I fear to lose wealth. Moreover, wealth is like cloth and silk, which have a fixed width: a measure is set for it so that it does not shift. The people's living is generous and their use of things is profitable; and so virtue is set right to give it a width, that there be no falling away and no idleness. This is called giving profit a width. When profit exceeds, it becomes ruin. I dare not covet much: that is what is meant by the width."

Sixty towns were given to Beiguo Zuo, and he accepted them. Towns were given to Ziya, and he declined the greater part and accepted the lesser. Towns were given to Ziwei, and he accepted them and then gradually handed them back. The duke thought him loyal, and so he was favored. Lupu Pie was sent away to the northern border.

They sought the corpse of Cui Zhu, meaning to expose it, and could not find it. Shusun Muzi said: "It will surely be found. King Wu had ten ministers who set the realm in order; had Cui Zhu as many? Without ten men, they could not have buried him." Afterward a retainer of the Cui clan said: "Give me the great jade disc, and I will present his coffin." So it was found.

The twelfth month, on yihai, the first of the month, the men of Qi moved Duke Zhuang's remains and laid them in state in the great chamber, and with Cui Zhu's own coffin exposed his corpse in the marketplace. The people of the capital still knew him, and all said: "It is Master Cui."

On account of the covenant of Song, the duke, with the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Earl of Zheng, and the Baron of Xu, went to Chu.

The duke passed through Zheng. The Earl of Zheng was not there; Boyou went to greet and comfort him at Huangya, and was not respectful. Mushu said: "If Boyou meets no punishment in Zheng, Zheng will surely suffer a great calamity. Respect is the master of the people; and to throw it away — with what will they carry on and keep what is theirs? If the men of Zheng do not punish him, they will bear his guilt themselves. Duckweed and pondweed from the bank of a crossing-marsh, from a puddle in the road, are set out in the ancestral chamber and the youngest daughter, Lan, presides over them — that is respect. Can respect be cast away?"

When they reached the Han River, King Kang of Chu died, and the duke wished to turn back. Shuzhong Zhaobo said: "We go for the state of Chu. Do we travel for the sake of one man?" Zifu Huibo said: "The gentleman has far thoughts; the small man follows what is near. If a man does not care for hunger and cold, who has leisure for what comes after? Better to go home for now." Shusun Muzi said: "Master Shuzhong has settled it. Master Zifu is a beginner at learning." Rong Chengbo said: "To plan far is loyalty." So the duke went on.

Xiang Xu of Song said: "We go for the sake of one man, not for Chu. If we do not care for hunger and cold, who can care for Chu? Let us go home for now and rest the people; wait until they have set up a ruler, and then prepare for him." So the Duke of Song turned back.

Qu Jian of Chu died. Zhao Wenzi mourned him as for a fellow-covenanter. This was according to ritual.

A man of the King came to announce the death. Asked the day of the king's passing, he reported it as jiayin. Therefore it was so written, to attest the error.

Year 29 (襄公二十九年)

Annals.

• Twenty-ninth year, spring, the king's first month. The duke was in Chu.
• Summer, the fifth month. The duke arrived from Chu.
• On gengwu, Kan, Marquis of Wei, died.
• A gatekeeper assassinated Yuji, Viscount of Wu.
• Zhongsun Jie met with Xun Ying of Jin, Gao Zhi of Qi, Hua Ding of Song, Shishu Yi of Wei, Gongsun Duan of Zheng, and men of Cao, Ju, Teng, Xue, and Lesser Zhu, and walled Qi.
• The Marquis of Jin sent Shi Yang on a diplomatic visit here.
• The Viscount of Qi came and swore covenant.
• The Viscount of Wu sent Zha on a diplomatic visit here.
• Autumn, the ninth month. Duke Xian of Wei was buried.
• Gao Zhi of Qi fled to Northern Yan.
• Winter. Zhongsun Jie went to Jin.

Zuo.

In the twenty-ninth year, in spring, in the king's first month, the duke was in Chu. This explains his not attending court: the rite was performed properly in the ancestral temple.

The men of Chu required the duke to present the grave clothes in person. The duke was distressed at it. Mushu said: "Purify the coffin first and then present the clothes, and it becomes merely a laying out of gifts." So a shaman was sent ahead with peach wood and a reed broom to purify the coffin. The men of Chu did not forbid it, but afterward they regretted it.

The second month, on guimao, the men of Qi buried Duke Zhuang at the northern outskirts.

Summer, the fourth month. King Kang of Chu was buried. The duke, with the Marquis of Chen, the Earl of Zheng, and the Baron of Xu, escorted the burial as far as beyond the west gate; the grandees of the feudal lords all went to the tomb. Jia'ao of Chu took the throne, and Prince Wei became chief minister. Ziyu, the Zheng envoy-officer, said: "This may be called unfitting. He will surely take his place and flourish. Under pines and cypresses the grass does not grow."

On his return the duke reached Fangcheng. Ji Wuzi had seized Bian; he sent Gong Ye to inquire after the duke, and a sealed letter was sent after Gong Ye and given to him, saying: "I heard that the keeper of Bian was about to rebel. Your servant led his followers to punish him, and has now taken the place. I presume to report." Gong Ye delivered his errand and withdrew; only when he reached his lodging did he learn of the seizure of Bian. The duke said: "He wanted it, and speaks of rebellion. It only shows estrangement." The duke said to Gong Ye: "May I go in?" He answered: "The state is truly my lord's. Who would dare oppose my lord?" The duke gave Gong Ye a cap and robes of office. He firmly declined, and only accepted when pressed. The duke wished not to enter; Rong Chengbo recited "How Dwindled," and so he went home.

The fifth month. The duke arrived from Chu. Gong Ye returned his town to the Ji clan and never again entered their gate, saying: "He deceived his ruler — why must he use me for it?" When Jisun came to see him, he spoke of the Ji clan as in former days; when Jisun was not there, he never spoke of the Ji clan at all. When he fell ill, he gathered his retainers and said: "When I die, be sure not to dress me for burial in the cap and robes; they were no reward for virtue. And do not let the Ji clan bury me."

At the burial of King Ling, Zheng's chief minister was occupied with other business. Zizhan sent Yin Duan. Boyou said: "He is too young; it will not do." Zizhan said: "Rather than that no one go, is not a young man better? The Odes say, 'The king's business is never at an end; there is no leisure to rest and dwell.' East, west, south, north — who dares dwell at ease? We serve Jin and Chu firmly in order to hedge the royal house. The king's business must not be left undone; what fixed rule is there?" So he sent Yin Duan to Zhou.

The men of Wu attacked Chu and took captives. One of these they made a gatekeeper and set to guard the boats. When Yuji, Viscount of Wu, went to inspect the boats, the gatekeeper assassinated him with a knife.

Zizhan of Zheng died, and Zipi took his place. At that time Zheng was in famine and the wheat had not yet come; the people were suffering. Zipi, by Zizhan's dying command, gave grain to the people of the capital, one zhong to a household. By this he won the people of Zheng; and so the Han clan constantly held the government of the state and were made chief ministers.

Zihan, minister of works of Song, heard of it and said: "To be neighbor to goodness is what the people look for." Song too was in famine. He asked Duke Ping to bring out the ducal grain as a loan, and made the grandees all lend. The Sicheng clan lent without keeping a record, and lent on behalf of those grandees who had nothing. In Song there were no starving people.

Shuxiang heard of it and said: "The Han of Zheng and the Yue of Song will be the last to perish. Will both of them get their states? The people turn to them. To give and not count it as merit — the Yue clan goes further in this. They will rise and fall with Song."

Duke Ping of Jin was born of a woman of Qi; therefore he took up Qi's cause.

The sixth month. Zhi Daozi assembled the grandees of the feudal lords to wall Qi, and Meng Xiaobo joined them. Zi Taishu of Zheng went with Boshi. Zi Taishu saw Taishu Wenzi and talked with him. Wenzi said: "How extreme, this walling of Qi!" Zi Taishu said: "What is to be done? The state of Jin does not care for the gaps in the Zhou clan, but shelters this remnant of the Xia. That it is casting off the Ji-surnamed states may be known from this. If it casts off the Ji states, who will turn to it? I, Ji, have heard that to cast off your own kind and go over to strangers is called parting from virtue. The Odes say, 'Be harmonious and close with your neighbors, and your kin by marriage will speak much of you.' Jin is no neighbor now; who will speak for it?"

Gao Zirong of Qi and the minister of education of Song had audience with Zhibo, and Ru Qi assisted with the ritual. When the guests had gone out, Sima Hou said to Zhibo: "Neither of these two will escape. Zirong is overbearing; the minister of education is extravagant. Both are masters who will ruin their houses." Zhibo said: "How so?" He answered: "The overbearing man is quickly overtaken; the extravagant will be brought down by his own exertions. As for the overbearing, it is men who bring him down. It will come upon him soon."

Fan Xianzi came on a diplomatic visit, to give thanks for the walling of Qi. The duke feasted him, and Zhan Zhuangshu held the gifts of silk. For the archery there were three pairs; the duke's own officers were not enough, and men were taken from among the household retainers. Of the household retainers, Zhan Xia and Zhan Yufu made one pair. Of the duke's officers, Gongwu Zhaobo and Zhongyan Zhuangshu made one pair. Zeng Gufu and Dang Shu made one pair.

The Marquis of Jin sent the marshal Ru Shuhou to settle the lands of Qi, and he did not give them all back. Duke Dao of Jin's widow was angry and said: "Qi took a bribe. If the late ruler has knowledge of it, will he not lay hold of him?" The duke told Shuhou. Shuhou said: "Yu, Guo, Jiao, Hua, Huo, Yang, Han, and Wei were all of the Ji surname, and it is by these that Jin became great. If not by encroaching on the small, from where should it have taken? From Duke Wu and Duke Xian onward, Jin has annexed many states. Who is to put that in order? Qi is a remnant of the Xia, and has gone over to the Eastern Yi. Lu is the posterity of the Duke of Zhou, and is on good terms with Jin. To give Qi to Lu as a fief would still be allowable; what would be wrong in it? As for Lu toward Jin: its assigned tribute never fails, its fine gifts come in season, its dukes, ministers, and grandees follow one another to our court, the scribes never cease writing, the treasury has no empty month. Such conduct is enough. Why must we starve Lu to fatten Qi? And if the late ruler has knowledge, would he not rather lay hold of his lady? What use has he for an old servant?"

Duke Wen of Qi came and swore covenant. The record calls him "viscount," to belittle him.

Prince Zha of Wu came on a diplomatic visit. He saw Shusun Muzi and was pleased with him. He said to Muzi: "Will you not fail to die in your bed? You love the good, but you cannot choose men. I have heard that the gentleman's business lies in choosing men. You, sir, are chief minister of Lu's ruling clan and bear its great government; if you are not careful in your appointments, how will you bear it? Calamity will surely reach you."

He asked to see the music of Zhou. Musicians were made to sing for him the "Zhou Nan" and the "Shao Nan." He said: "Beautiful! The foundation has been begun here, though it is not yet finished. Yet there is toil without resentment."

They sang for him the "Bei," the "Yong," and the "Wei." He said: "Beautiful! How deep! Sorrowing, yet not brought to distress. I have heard that the virtue of Kangshu and of Duke Wu of Wei was like this. Are these the airs of Wei?"

They sang for him the "Wang." He said: "Beautiful! Anxious, yet not afraid. Is this Zhou after the move east?"

They sang for him the "Zheng." He said: "Beautiful! But its fineness is excessive. The people cannot bear it. Will this be the first state to perish?"

They sang for him the "Qi." He said: "Beautiful! Vast and deep! Great airs indeed! He who marked out the Eastern Sea — was it not the Grand Duke? That state cannot be measured."

They sang for him the "Bin." He said: "Beautiful! Broad and free! Joyful without excess. Is this the Duke of Zhou in the east?"

They sang for him the "Qin." He said: "This is what is called the sound of Xia. To be able to be Xia is to be great, and great to the utmost. This is the old land of Zhou."

They sang for him the "Wei." He said: "Beautiful! Floating and full! Great yet gentle, steep yet easy; and if its conduct is helped by virtue, then here is an enlightened ruler."

They sang for him the "Tang." He said: "How deep the thought! Are there remnants here of the people of the Taotang clan? If not, why should the sorrow reach so far? Who but the posterity of excellent virtue could be like this?"

They sang for him the "Chen." He said: "A state without a master — can it last long?" From the "Kuai" downward he made no comment.

They sang for him the "Lesser Ya." He said: "Beautiful! Anxious, yet not divided; resentful, yet not speaking it out. Is this the decline of Zhou's virtue? Yet there are still remnants here of the people of the former kings."

They sang for him the "Greater Ya." He said: "How broad! Bright and glad! Curving, yet with a straight body. Is this King Wen's virtue?"

They sang for him the "Hymns." He said: "This is the utmost! Straight without arrogance; bending without cringing; near without pressing; far without drifting away; shifting without excess; repeating without weariness; grieving without misery; joyful without wildness; used without exhaustion; broad without display; giving without waste; taking without greed; at rest without stagnation; moving without flooding over. The five notes are in harmony, the eight winds are at peace, the beats have measure, the parts keep their order. This is what all abundant virtue has in common."

He saw the dance of the "Xiang Xiao" and the "Nan Yue" and said: "Beautiful! Yet something is still wanting."

He saw the dance of the "Da Wu" and said: "Beautiful! The flourishing of Zhou — was it like this?"

He saw the dance of the "Shao Huo" and said: "The greatness of a sage — and still there is virtue he must be ashamed of. Such is the difficulty of being a sage."

He saw the dance of the "Da Xia" and said: "Beautiful! Toiling, and yet claiming no merit. Who but Yu could have cultivated this?"

He saw the dance of the "Shao Xiao" and said: "Virtue at its utmost! Great indeed! Like Heaven, which covers all; like Earth, which bears all. Even the most abundant virtue could add nothing to this. My looking ends here. If there is other music, I dare not ask for it."

His going out on these visits was to make known his ruler's succession; and so he went on to visit Qi. He was pleased with Yan Pingzhong and said to him: "Hand back your town and your office quickly. Without a town and without office you will escape the troubles. The government of Qi will come to rest somewhere; until it has found where to rest, the troubles will not cease." So Yanzi, through Chen Huanzi, handed back his office and his town, and by this escaped the troubles of the Luan and the Gao.

He visited Zheng and saw Zichan; it was as with an old acquaintance. He gave him a white silk sash, and Zichan presented him with a robe of ramie. He said to Zichan: "Those who hold power in Zheng are extravagant; trouble is coming. The government will surely come to you. When you govern, be careful of it by ritual. Otherwise the state of Zheng will fall to ruin."

He went to Wei and was pleased with Qu Yuan, Shi Gou, Shi Qiu, Prince Jing, Gongshu Fa, and Prince Chao, and said: "Wei has many gentlemen; it will have no trouble."

From Wei he went toward Jin. He was about to lodge at Qi when he heard the sound of bells there. He said: "Strange! I have heard that a man clever but without virtue will surely meet execution. This gentleman incurred guilt with his ruler and is therefore here; fear would still not be enough, and yet he makes music. His being here is like a swallow nesting on a tent-cloth. And the ruler still lies in his coffin. Can there be music?" And he left. Wenzi heard of it, and to the end of his life never listened to the zithers again.

He went to Jin and was pleased with Zhao Wenzi, Han Xuanzi, and Wei Xianzi, and said: "Will the state of Jin gather into these three clans?" He was pleased with Shuxiang; and as he was about to leave he said to Shuxiang: "Exert yourself, sir. Your ruler is extravagant and has many good men about him; the grandees are all rich; the government will pass to the great households. You, sir, love straightness — you must think how to save yourself from trouble."

Autumn, the ninth month. Gongsun Chai and Gongsun Zao of Qi banished their grandee Gao Zhi to Northern Yan. He went out on yiwei. The record says "fled," to lay the blame on Gao Zhi. Gao Zhi liked to make merit for himself out of affairs, and was besides overbearing; therefore trouble came upon him.

Winter. Meng Xiaobo went to Jin, in return for Fan Shu's visit. On account of the trouble of the Gao clan, Gao Shu rebelled with Lu.

The tenth month, on gengyin, Lüqiu Ying led an army and besieged Lu. Gao Shu said: "If only it be granted that the Gao clan have posterity, I ask leave to give up the town." The men of Qi set up Yan, great-grandson of Jingzhong, esteeming Jingzhong.

The eleventh month, on yimao, Gao Shu handed over Lu and fled to Jin. The men of Jin walled Mian and settled him there.

Boyou of Zheng sent Gongsun Hei to Chu. He refused, saying: "Chu and Zheng are now on bad terms, and he sends me to go — this is to kill me." Boyou said: "It is your family's hereditary duty to go." Zixi said: "If it can be done, one goes; if it is dangerous, one stops. What hereditary duty is there?" Boyou was about to force him. Zixi was angry and was going to attack the Boyou clan, but the grandees reconciled them.

The twelfth month, on jisi, the grandees of Zheng swore covenant at the house of Boyou. Pi Chen said: "This covenant — how long will it hold? The Odes say, 'The gentleman covenants again and again, and disorder is thereby increased.' Now this is increase; it is the way of disorder. The calamity is not at an end; only after three years will there be relief."

Ranming said: "Where will the government go?" Pi Chen said: "That good replaces the not-good is Heaven's mandate. How can it be avoided? Zichan in promoting men does not overstep the ranks — that is the order of position; he chooses the good and promotes them — that is what exalts a lineage. And Heaven besides is clearing the way for him: it has taken away Boyou's soul, and Zixi has passed from the world. How can it be avoided? Heaven has visited calamity on Zheng for a long time; it must mean Zichan to bring it to rest. Then things may still be settled. Otherwise, the state will perish."

Year 30 (襄公三十年)

Annals.

• Thirtieth year, spring, the king's first month. The Viscount of Chu sent Wei Pi on a diplomatic visit here.
• Summer, the fourth month. Ban, heir apparent of Cai, assassinated his ruler Gu.
• The fifth month, on jiawu, there was a fire in Song.
• Boji of Song died.
• The King, the Son of Heaven, killed his younger brother Ningfu.
• Prince Xia fled to Jin.
• Autumn, the seventh month. Shu Gong went to Song, for the burial of Gongji of Song.
• Liang Xiao of Zheng fled to Xu, and from Xu entered Zheng.
• The men of Zheng killed Liang Xiao.
• Winter, the tenth month. Duke Jing of Cai was buried.
• Men of Jin, Qi, Song, Wei, Zheng, Cao, Ju, Zhu, Teng, Xue, Qi, and Lesser Zhu met at Chanyuan, on account of the fire in Song.

Zuo.

In the thirtieth year, in spring, in the king's first month, the Viscount of Chu sent Wei Pi on a diplomatic visit here, to make known his ruler's succession. Mushu asked what the prince's government was like. He answered: "We are small men; we eat and attend to our duties, and even so fear that we cannot meet our orders and cannot escape blame. How should we have part in knowing about government?" Mushu pressed the question, and was not told. Mushu said to the grandees: "The chief minister of Chu will have a great undertaking, and Zidang will take part in it; he is helping him hide the matter."

Zichan attended the Earl of Zheng on a journey to Jin. Shuxiang asked him about the government of Zheng. He answered: "Whether I live to see it or not rests on this year. The Si and the Liang are now contending, and it is not yet known how it will settle. If it settles, and I live to see it, then it can be known." Shuxiang said: "Have they not already been reconciled?" He answered: "Boyou is extravagant and obstinate; Zixi loves to be above others. Neither can put himself below the other. Though they are reconciled, they still heap up hatred against each other. The hatred will arrive any day."

The third month, on guiwei, Duke Dao of Jin's widow gave food to the laborers who had walled Qi. A man of Jiang county was old and had no son, and went to take part in the meal. Someone there doubted his age and made him state it. He said: "Your servant is a small man and does not know how to reckon years. In the year of my birth, the first month began on a jiazi day; there have been four hundred and forty-five jiazi cycles since, and of the last of them a third has passed to this day."

The officer ran to inquire about it at court. Shi Kuang said: "It was the year when Shuzhong Huibo of Lu met Xi Chengzi at Chengkuang. In that year the Di attacked Lu, and Shusun Zhuangshu defeated the Di at Xian, capturing the tall Di Qiaoru, and Hui and Bao as well, and he named his sons after them all. It is seventy-three years." Scribe Zhao said: "The character hai has two strokes for a head and six for a body; put the two below as the body, and that is the number of his days." Shi Wenbo said: "Then it is twenty-two thousand six hundred and sixty days."

Zhao Meng asked who was grandee of the man's county, and found that the man was of his own subordinates. He summoned him and apologized for the fault, saying: "I, Wu, am without talent, yet I bear my ruler's great affairs. Because the state of Jin has many anxieties, I have not been able to make use of you, sir, and have left you humbled in the mud this long while. It is my fault, and I presume to apologize for my want of talent." Then he gave him office and set him to assist in the government. The man declined on the ground of his age. So Zhao Meng gave him fields, made him keeper of the ruler's robes, and appointed him master of Jiang county; and he dismissed the officer of the levy.

At that time an envoy of Lu was in Jin, and on his return he told the grandees of it. Ji Wuzi said: "Jin cannot be treated lightly. It has Zhao Meng for a grandee and Boxia for his assistant; it has Scribe Zhao and Shi Kuang to consult and take measure by; it has Shuxiang and Ru Qi to tutor and guard its ruler. Its court has many gentlemen. How could it be treated lightly? Only by diligently serving it can we do well."

Summer, the fourth month, on jihai, the Earl of Zheng swore covenant with his grandees. The gentleman knew by this that Zheng's troubles were not over.

Marquis Jing of Cai took a wife from Chu for his heir apparent Ban, and had illicit relations with her. The heir apparent assassinated Marquis Jing.

Earlier, when the king's kinsman Dan Ji died, his son Kuo sighed as he was about to have audience with the king. Prince Qianqi of Shan was a squire of King Ling; passing through the court, he heard the sigh and said: "Alas! There will surely be something in this." He went in and told the king, and said further: "You must kill him. He does not grieve, yet his ambition is great; his glance is restless and his step is high. His heart is elsewhere. If he is not killed, there will surely be harm." The king said: "What does a boy know?"

When King Ling died, Dan Kuo wanted to set up Prince Ningfu. Ningfu knew nothing of it. On wuzi, Dan Kuo besieged Wei and drove out Cheng Qian; Cheng Qian fled to Pingzhi.

The fifth month, on guisi, Yin Yanduo, Liu Yi, Shan Mie, Gan Guo, and Gong Cheng killed Ningfu. Kuo, Xia, and Liao fled to Jin. The record says, "The King, the Son of Heaven, killed his younger brother Ningfu" — the blame lies with the king.

Someone cried out in the great temple of Song, saying: "Xi, xi! Out, out!" Birds sang at the altar of Bo, as though saying "Xi, xi!" On jiawu there was a great fire in Song. Boji of Song died: she was waiting for her governess. The gentleman said that Gongji of Song behaved as a maiden and not as a wife: a maiden waits for someone, but a wife acts as the occasion requires.

The sixth month. Zichan of Zheng went to Chen to attend a covenant. On his return he reported and told the grandees: "Chen is a doomed state; it cannot be allied with. It piles up grain and repairs its walls, and relies on these two things while it does not comfort its people. Its ruler is weakly rooted, its princes are extravagant, its heir apparent is slighted, its grandees are arrogant, and its government has many gates; and with all this it lies wedged between great states. Can it fail to perish? Not more than ten years."

Autumn, the seventh month. Shu Gong went to Song, for the burial of Gongji.

Boyou of Zheng craved wine. He made an underground chamber, and drank there through the night, striking the bells. Morning came and he had not stopped. Those who came to court said: "Where is our lord?" His people said: "Our lord is in the ravine." They all scattered from the court along the roads and dispersed. Afterward he came to court, and again was going to send Zixi to Chu; then he went home and drank.

On gengzi, Zixi with the armored men of the Si clan attacked his house and burned it. Boyou fled to Yongliang; only when he sobered did he learn of it, and then he fled to Xu.

The grandees gathered to plan. Zipi said: "The records of Zhong Hui say, 'Take the disorderly; despise the doomed. Push over what is falling and make firm what stands' — this is the state's advantage. The Han, the Si, and the Feng are of one birth. Boyou was overweening and extravagant, and so did not escape." Someone said to Zichan: "Go with the right and help the strong." Zichan said: "Are they my followers? In a state's calamities, who knows what one should be warned by? If someone holds to strength and straightness, then trouble does not arise. For now I shall keep to my own place."

On xinchou, Zichan gathered the dead of the Boyou clan, coffined them, and, without waiting to consult, set out. Yin Duan followed him. Zipi held him back. The multitude said: "The man does not go along with us; why hold him back?" Zipi said: "This gentleman keeps ritual toward the dead — how much more toward the living!" And so he held him back himself.

On renyin Zichan entered the capital; on guimao Zishi entered. Both received the covenant at the house of Zixi. On yisi the Earl of Zheng and his grandees swore covenant in the great temple, and swore covenant with the people of the capital outside the Shizhiliang gate.

Boyou heard that the men of Zheng had covenanted against him and was angry; hearing that Zipi's armored men had not joined in attacking him, he was glad, and said: "Zipi is with me." On guichou, at dawn, he came in by the sluice at the Tomb Gate, and with the horse-master Jie armed his men from the Xiang armory and attacked the old north gate. Si Dai led the people of the capital to attack him. Both sides summoned Zichan. Zichan said: "Brothers have come to this. I follow whom Heaven gives to."

Boyou died in the sheep market. Zichan clothed the corpse, pillowed the head on his own thigh and wailed over him, then coffined him and laid him in the house of one of Boyou's retainers beside the market; and afterward he buried him at Doucheng.

The Zisi clan wanted to attack Zichan. Zipi was angry at them and said: "Ritual is the trunk of the state. To kill a man who keeps ritual — no calamity is greater than that." So they stopped.

At that time You Ji was returning from Jin. Hearing of the trouble, he did not enter, but made his report through his second. In the eighth month, on jiazi, he fled to Jin. Si Dai pursued him as far as Suanzao. There he swore covenant with Zishang, using two jade tablets as pledge to the River, and sent Gongsun Xi in to swear covenant with the grandees. On jisi he came back again.

The record says, "The men of Zheng killed Liang Xiao," not calling him grandee, to say that he had come in from outside.

At the death of Zijiao, when the burial was about to take place, Gongsun Hui and Pi Zao met at dawn about the business. They passed the house of Boyou, and weeds were growing on its gate. Ziyu said: "Will those weeds still be there?" At that time Jupiter was in Jianglou, and Jianglou culminated at dawn. Pi Zao pointed at it and said: "He may last out this year; Jupiter will not come again to this station for him." When he perished, Jupiter was at the mouth of Zizi; only in the following year did it reach Jianglou.

Puzhan followed Boyou and died with him. Yu Jie fled to Jin and became grandee of Ren. At the meeting of Jize, Yue Cheng of Zheng had fled to Chu and then gone on to Jin; Yu Jie made use of him, joined with him in serving Zhao Wenzi, and argued the case for attacking Zheng. Because of the covenant of Song it was not allowed.

Zipi made Gongsun Chu horse-master.

Prince Wei of Chu killed the grand marshal Wei Yan and took his household. Shen Wuyu said: "The prince will surely not escape. Good men are the masters of a state. The prince assists the state of Chu; he ought to enfeoff the good, planting and nourishing them, and instead he uses them cruelly. This is to bring calamity on the state. Moreover the marshal is the chief minister's flanking support and one of the king's four limbs. To cut off the people's master, to remove his own flank, to lop off the king's limb, and so bring calamity on his state — no ill omen is greater. How shall he escape?"

On account of the fire in Song, the grandees of the feudal lords met, to plan the giving of goods to Song.

Zuo.

In winter, in the tenth month, Shusun Bao met with Zhao Wu of Jin, Gongsun Chai of Qi, Xiang Xu of Song, Beigong Tuo of Wei, Han Hu (罕虎) of Zheng, and a grandee of Lesser Zhu; they met at Chanyuan. Afterward nothing was made over to Song, and therefore the Annals do not record their names.

A gentleman said: Good faith — must it not be handled with care! At the meeting of Chanyuan the ministers were not recorded, because there was no good faith. The chief ministers of the feudal lords met and yet were not faithful, and their honors and their names were alike thrown away. So impossible a thing is faithlessness. The Odes say:
"King Wen ascends and descends,
on the left hand and the right of God."
This speaks of good faith. And again:
"Be good and careful in your bearing,
carry no falseness in you."
This speaks of faithlessness. The record says, "So-and-so and so-and-so met at Chanyuan, on account of the fire in Song" — this is to blame them. It does not record the grandee of Lu — this is to conceal it.

Zipi (子皮) of Zheng handed the government over to Zichan (子產). He declined it, saying, "The state is small and hard pressed; the clans are great and the favorites many. It cannot be done." Zipi said, "I, Hu, will lead the rest in obeying you. Who would dare offend you? Only assist the ruler well. No state is too small: if a small state can serve the great ones, then the state has room to breathe."

Zichan took charge of the government. He had a matter to entrust to Boshi (伯石), and made him a present of a town for it. Zi Taishu (子大叔) said, "The state belongs to them all alike. Why bribe him alone?" Zichan said, "To be without desires is truly hard. Let each man get what he desires, so that he attends to his business and is held to bringing it to completion. It is not I who accomplish it; does it not lie with the men themselves? Why grudge a town? Where will the town go?" Zi Taishu said, "And what of the four neighboring states?" Zichan said, "This is not a matter of opposing one another but of following one another. What fault will the four states find in it? The records of Zheng have it: 'To settle the state, one must put the great first.' For now let the great be settled first, and wait to see where things come to rest." Presently Boshi grew afraid and gave the town back; but in the end it was given to him.

After Boyou (伯有) had died, Zichan sent the grand scribe to appoint Boshi a minister. He declined. When the grand scribe had withdrawn, Boshi asked for the appointment. It was made again, and again he declined. So it went three times, and only then did he receive the tablet and go in to make his bow. Because of this Zichan disliked the man's character; but he placed him next after himself in rank.

Zichan caused the capital and the countryside to have their distinctions, high and low to have their proper dress, the fields to have their boundary banks and ditches, and the cottages and wells to be grouped in fives. Those of the great men who were loyal and frugal he went along with and supported; those who were extravagant he brought down accordingly.

Feng Juan (豐卷) was about to sacrifice, and asked leave to hunt for the offering. It was not granted. Zichan said, "Only the ruler uses fresh game; for the rest, what is provided suffices." Zizhang was angry; he withdrew and called up his levies. Zichan made ready to flee to Jin, but Zipi stopped him and drove out Feng Juan, and Feng Juan fled to Jin. Zichan asked that his fields and dwelling be kept for him, and after three years brought him back, returning his fields and dwelling to him together with all the income that had come in from them.

When he had governed for one year, the common people chanted of him:
"He takes our robes and caps and stores them away;
he takes our fields and lands and ranks them by fives.
Who will kill Zichan?
I will join with him."
By the third year they chanted again:
"We have sons and younger brothers —
Zichan teaches them.
We have fields and lands —
Zichan makes them grow.
If Zichan were to die,
who would succeed him?"

Year 31 (三十一年)

Annals.

• In the thirty-first year, in spring, the king's first month.
• In summer, in the sixth month, on the day xinsi, the duke passed away in the Chu Palace.
• In autumn, in the ninth month, on the day guisi, Ziye died. On the day jihai, Zhongsun Jie died.
• In winter, in the tenth month, the Viscount of Teng came to attend the burial. On the day guiyou, we buried our ruler Duke Xiang.
• In the eleventh month, the men of Ju assassinated their ruler Mizhou.

Zuo.

In the thirty-first year, in spring, in the king's first month, Mushu (穆叔) came back from the meeting. He saw Meng Xiaobo and said to him, "Zhao Meng is going to die. His speech is slack; he does not sound like a lord of the people. Besides, he is not yet a full fifty, and yet he mutters on and on like a man of eighty or ninety. He cannot last long. If Zhao Meng dies, will it not be Han Zi who governs? Why do you not speak of it with Jisun? We can plant goodwill with him; he is a gentleman. The ruler of Jin is going to lose control of his government. If we do not cultivate Han Zi and get him early to make provision for Lu, then once the government lies with the grandees — Han Zi being weak, and the grandees mostly greedy, their demands never satisfied — Qi and Chu will not be worth joining, and Lu will have cause to be afraid." Xiaobo said, "How long is a man's life? Who can help being slack? The morning does not reach the evening — what use is planting?" Mushu went out and told people, "Mengsun is going to die. I spoke to him of Zhao Meng's slackness, and he is worse than that." He also spoke with Jisun about the state of things in Jin, but Jisun did not follow him. When Zhao Wenzi died, the ducal house of Jin was brought low, and the government lay with the extravagant families. Han Xuanzi governed, but could not manage the feudal lords. Lu could not bear Jin's demands, and slander and wickedness grew abundant. This is why there was the meeting at Pingqiu.

In Qi, Ziwei felt himself threatened by Lüqiu Ying and wanted to kill him. He sent him to lead troops and attack Yangzhou. We inquired why the army had come. In summer, in the fifth month, Ziwei killed Lüqiu Ying to placate us. Shi Gonglou Sa, Sheng Zao, Kong Hui, and Jia Yin fled to Ju; and the ducal sons were driven out.

The duke built a Chu Palace. Mushu said, "The Great Declaration says, 'What the people desire, Heaven will surely grant.' Our ruler desires Chu, and so he builds its palace. If he does not go to Chu again, he will surely die in this palace." In the sixth month, on the day xinsi, the duke passed away in the Chu Palace. Shuzhong Dai stole the duke's great jade disc and gave it to one of the serving women, having her put it in the fold of her robe, and then took it back from her. By this he incurred guilt.

They set up Ziye, the son of Jinggui, the woman of Hu. He lodged in the household of the Ji. In autumn, in the ninth month, on the day guisi, he died — wasted away with mourning.

On the day jihai, Meng Xiaobo died. They set up Prince Chou, son of Qigui, the younger sister of Jinggui. Mushu was unwilling, and said, "When the heir apparent dies, if there is a full younger brother, set him up; if there is none, set up the eldest. If they are equal in years, choose the worthiest; if they are equal in fitness, then divine. This is the way of antiquity. He is not the legitimate successor; why must it be the son of the younger sister? Moreover this man, in mourning, shows no grief; in sorrow he wears a pleased look. That is called being without measure. Men without measure seldom fail to become a trouble. If he is indeed set up, he will surely be a worry to the house of Ji." Wuzi would not listen, and in the end set him up. Between then and the burial he changed his mourning robe three times, and the front of each new robe was as fouled as the old one. Duke Zhao was at this time nineteen years old, and still had a child's heart. By this the gentleman knew that he would not come to a good end.

In winter, in the tenth month, Duke Cheng of Teng came to attend the burial. He was listless, and wept a great deal. Zifu Huibo said, "The ruler of Teng is going to die. He is negligent in his station, and his grief is excessive; the omen has shown itself at a place of death. Can he fail to follow?"

On the day guiyou, Duke Xiang was buried. In the month in which the duke passed away, Zichan had assisted the Earl of Zheng in going to Jin. The Marquis of Jin, because of our mourning, had not yet given them audience. Zichan had the whole wall of their lodging torn down and brought the carriages and horses inside.

Shi Wenbo reproached him, saying, "Because in our poor city government and punishments are not kept in order, robbers and thieves are everywhere, and we have no way of protecting the followers of the feudal lords who condescend to visit our ruler. Therefore we ordered the officers to keep the guests' lodgings whole, to raise their gate-towers high and thicken their walls, so that guest envoys should have nothing to fear. Now you have torn them down. Though your own followers can keep watch, what of other guests? Our poor city, being the leader of the covenant, repairs and thatches these walls in order to receive its guests. If everyone should pull them down, how could we supply what is required? Our ruler has sent me, Gai, to ask what you command."

He answered, "Our poor city is cramped and small, wedged in between great states; exactions fall on us out of season, and so we dare not sit at ease. We scrape together the whole of our poor levy and come to attend upon the business of the season. We arrived when your officers were not at leisure, and we have not obtained audience; neither have we received any command, nor do we know when we shall be seen. We dare not deliver our gifts, and we dare not leave them out in the open. If we deliver them, they become the contents of your ruler's treasury; but not having presented and set them out in due form, we dare not deliver them. If we leave them out in the open, we fear that dry and damp will come out of season, and they will rot and be worm-eaten and so make our poor city's offense heavier.

"I, Qiao, have heard that when Duke Wen was leader of the covenant, his own halls and chambers were low and small, and he had no towers or terraces for viewing, in order to make grand and high the lodgings of the feudal lords. The lodgings were like the ruler's own sleeping chambers. The storehouses and stables were kept in repair; the minister of works leveled and smoothed the roads in season; the plasterers plastered the lodging halls in season. When the guests of the feudal lords arrived, the field officers set out torches in the courtyard, the grooms patrolled the halls, the carriages and horses had their place, the guests' followers had men to relieve them, the carriage-keepers greased the axle-pins, and bondsmen, herdsmen, and stable hands each looked to their own tasks; the various officials each set out the things belonging to their charge. The duke did not detain his guests, and yet no business was neglected. He shared their sorrows and their joys; when there was business he went about it with them; he taught them what they did not know and made good what they lacked. A guest arriving was as one coming home. There was no thought of calamity or harm, no fear of robbers and thieves, and no worry about dry and damp.

"Now the palace at Tongdi runs on for several li, while the feudal lords are lodged in bondsmen's quarters. The gate will not admit a carriage, and one cannot get over the wall. Robbers and brigands go about openly, and against pestilence and untimely death there is no precaution. Audiences for guests have no set time, and your commands cannot be known. If we did not tear the wall down as well, we should have nowhere to store our gifts, and so make our offense heavier. I venture to ask the officers in charge: what will you command us? Though your ruler has the mourning of Lu upon him, that is our poor city's grief as well. If we may be allowed to present our gifts, we will repair the wall before we go. That would be your ruler's kindness — should we shrink from the labor?"

Wenbo reported back. Zhao Wenzi said, "It is true. We are indeed without virtue, and to receive the feudal lords behind a bondsman's wall is my fault." He sent Shi Wenbo to apologize for their want of ability. The Marquis of Jin gave audience to the Earl of Zheng with added ceremony, made generous the feast and the gifts of friendship, and sent him home. Then he built lodgings for the feudal lords.

Shuxiang said, "So it is that fitting speech cannot be dispensed with! Zichan had his speech, and the feudal lords profited by it. How then can one let speech go? The Odes say:
'When words are harmonious,
the people are in concord;
when words are pleasing,
the people are settled.'
They understood it."

Zipi of Zheng sent Yin Duan to Chu to report their visit to Jin. This was according to ritual propriety.

Duke Libi of Ju begot Quji and Zhanyu. He had set Zhanyu up as heir, and then set him aside. Duke Libi was cruel, and the people of the capital suffered under him. In the eleventh month, Zhanyu, relying on the people of the capital, attacked the Viscount of Ju and assassinated him, and then took the throne himself. Quji fled to Qi, his mother having been a woman of Qi; Zhanyu's mother was a woman of Wu. The record says, "The men of Ju assassinated their ruler Maizhuchu." This states where the fault lay.

The Viscount of Wu sent Qu Huyong on a diplomatic visit to Jin, to open the road between them. Zhao Wenzi questioned him, saying, "Jizi of Yanzhoulai — will he indeed be set up? Chao brought down Zhufan, and a gatekeeper murdered Daiwu. Heaven seems to be opening the way for him. What of it?" He answered, "He will not be set up. Those were the appointed ends of two kings; they are not an opening for Jizi. If Heaven is opening a way, is it not in the present successor? He is deeply virtuous and full of measure. Virtue does not lose the people, and measure does not lose the business of the state. The people draw near, and affairs have their order: this is the man for whom Heaven opens the way. Whoever holds the state of Wu, it must be this ruler's descendants who see it through to the end. Jizi is a man who keeps to his principle: though the state were his, he would not take the throne."

In the twelfth month, Beigong Wenzi assisted Duke Xiang of Wei in going to Chu, on account of the covenant of Song. Passing through Zheng, Yin Duan went to Feilin to greet and comfort them, using the ceremony of a diplomatic visit but with words of welcome. Wenzi went into the capital to pay a formal visit; Ziyu acted as usher of envoys, and Feng Jianzi and Zi Taishu went out to meet the guests. When the business was finished and they had come away, he said to the Marquis of Wei, "Zheng has ritual propriety. This is a blessing for several generations; surely they will suffer no punitive attack from the great states. The Odes say:
'Who can hold a thing that is hot
and not go and dip it in water?'
Ritual propriety is to government as water is to what is hot. One dips to relieve the heat; what trouble can there be?"

In Zichan's conduct of the government, he chose men of ability and employed them. Feng Jianzi could decide great matters. Zi Taishu was handsome, distinguished, and cultivated. Gongsun Hui could know what the four neighboring states were doing, and could distinguish the clans and surnames of their grandees, their ranks and stations, noble and base, capable and incapable; and he was skilled at framing diplomatic language. Bi Chen could make plans: planning in the open country he succeeded, planning in the city he did not. Whenever Zheng had business with the feudal lords, Zichan would ask Ziyu about what the four states were doing, and have him draft a good deal of diplomatic language; he would ride out with Bi Chen into the open country and have him weigh what was feasible and what was not; then he would tell Feng Jianzi and have him decide. When the matter was settled, he handed it to Zi Taishu to carry out and to answer the guests with. This is why there were seldom failures. This is what Beigong Wenzi meant by having ritual propriety.

The men of Zheng would gather at the village schools and discuss those in power. Ranming said to Zichan, "How would it be to destroy the village schools?" Zichan said, "What for? Morning and evening the people withdraw there and gather to consider whether those in power are good or not. What they think good, I carry out; what they dislike, I amend. They are my teachers. Why should I destroy them? I have heard of lessening resentment by loyalty and goodness; I have not heard of warding off resentment by a display of authority. Would it not stop them quickly enough? But it would be like damming a river: when the great breach comes, the harm done to men will surely be great, and I could not save them. Better a small breach that gives the water a channel; better that I hear them and take it for medicine." Ranming said, "From this day on I, Mie, know that you are truly a man one can serve. I, a small man, am indeed without talent. If you really act in this way, the state of Zheng will truly depend on it, and not we few ministers only." When Zhongni heard these words he said, "Looking at it in this light — when men say Zichan was not humane, I do not believe them."

Zipi wanted to make Yin He the governor of a town. Zichan said, "He is young; one does not yet know whether he is able." Zipi said, "He is honest and careful. I am fond of him, and he will not betray me. Let him go there and learn; he will come to understand governing all the better." Zichan said, "That will not do. When a man loves another, he seeks his benefit. Now you love a man and give him government; it is like making a man cut with a knife when he cannot yet hold one. The injury will indeed be great. Your loving a man would only injure him, and who then would dare seek your love? To the state of Zheng you are the ridgepole. If the ridgepole breaks the rafters come down, and I, Qiao, shall be crushed beneath. How should I dare not speak my whole mind? If you had fine brocade, you would not let a man learn to cut it on that. Great office and a great town are what shelter a man's own person, and you would let a learner cut his pattern in them. Are they not worth much more than fine brocade? I have heard of learning and then entering government; I have not heard of using government to learn on. If you really do this, harm is certain to come of it. It is like hunting. If a man is practiced in shooting and driving, he can take game; but if he has never mounted a chariot to shoot and drive, his fear will be of a smash and of being crushed under an overturned car. What leisure has he to think of taking game?"

Zipi said, "Well said. I, Hu, am dull. I have heard that a gentleman strives to know what is great and far off, while a small man strives to know what is small and near. I am a small man. Clothes cling to my own body, and those I know about and am careful of; great office and a great town are what shelter my person, and those I hold at a distance and treat lightly. But for your words I would not have known it. In former days I said: you shall govern the state of Zheng, and I will look after my own house and so find shelter — and that seemed enough. From now on I know that it is not enough. From this day I ask that even in my own house we follow your word and act by it." Zichan said, "Men's minds differ as their faces do. How should I dare to say that your face is like my face? Still, what my mind holds to be dangerous, that I have told you." Zipi held this to be loyal, and therefore entrusted the government to him. It was by this that Zichan was able to govern Zheng.

The Marquis of Wei was in Chu. Beigong Wenzi observed the dignity of bearing of Wei, the chief minister, and said to the Marquis of Wei, "The chief minister carries himself like a ruler. He has other intentions. Even if he gains what he intends, he will not be able to see it through. The Odes say:
'None is without a beginning;
few are able to have an end.'
To reach the end is indeed hard. The chief minister will not escape."

The duke said, "How do you know this?" He answered, "The Odes say:
'Be reverent and careful in your dignity of bearing,
for it is the model of the people.'
The chief minister has no dignity of bearing, and the people have no model in him. To stand above the people while they take no model from him — that cannot come to a good end."

The duke said, "Well said. What is meant by dignity of bearing?" He answered, "To have majesty that may be feared is called majesty; to have a bearing that may be copied is called bearing. A ruler has a ruler's dignity of bearing, and so his ministers fear him and love him, take him for their rule and copy him; therefore he can keep his state and his house, and his good name lasts through the generations. A minister has a minister's dignity of bearing, and so those below him fear him and love him; therefore he can hold his office, preserve his clan, and order his household well. Down through the ranks it is the same at every level, and thus high and low can hold each other firm. The Odes of Wei say:
'His dignity of bearing is full and abundant,
it cannot be reckoned up.'
This says that ruler and minister, high and low, father and son, elder and younger brother, inner and outer, great and small, all have their dignity of bearing. The Odes of Zhou say:
'Friends give one another support,
and support with dignity of bearing.'
This says that the way of friends is that they must instruct one another by their dignity of bearing. The Documents of Zhou, enumerating the virtue of King Wen, say, 'The great states feared his strength; the small states cherished his virtue.' This speaks of fearing him and loving him. The Odes say:
'Without knowing, without being aware,
he followed the pattern of God.'
This speaks of taking him for a rule and copying him. Zhou imprisoned King Wen for seven years, and the feudal lords all followed him into prison, so that Zhou grew afraid and sent him back: this may be called being loved. King Wen attacked Chong, and at his second setting out Chong came down and became his subject, and the Man and the Yi followed in obedience: this may be called being feared. King Wen's achievements the whole world recites and sings and dances: this may be called being taken for a rule. King Wen's conduct is to this day the standard: this may be called being copied. Such is having dignity of bearing. Therefore when a gentleman is in office he is to be held in awe; in his giving and his sparing he is to be loved; in advancing and withdrawing he is a measure; in his turnings and movements he is a rule; his countenance and carriage are worth beholding; his conduct of affairs is a standard; his virtuous acts may be copied; his voice and manner give pleasure; his movements have grace and his words have order. When with these he presides over those below him, this is called having dignity of bearing."

Colophon

This translation was prepared for the Chinese shelf of the Good Works Library and made independently from the classical Chinese text printed in full below. The source carries both layers of the text together: the Chunqiu annal entries, set here as bulleted Annals blocks with one bullet per entry, and the Zuo narrative, set as Zuo blocks. The alternation of the two follows the order of the source exactly, including years whose narrative runs on before that year's own annal entries return; every annal entry and every narrative paragraph is translated, and no year has been merged with another. Speeches and remonstrances are rendered as continuous direct speech; quotations from the Odes and the Documents keep their line breaks where the source sets them as verse.

Complete published English translations of the Zuo Commentary exist and are long established: James Legge's rendering in the Chinese Classics (1872), and the complete modern translation by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li, and David Schaberg (2016); Burton Watson (1989) published a volume of selections. These are named here as controls in existence only. None of them was fetched or consulted, and no claim of firstness or novelty is made for this translation, which was derived directly from the Chinese characters of the source.

A note on a few recurring terms. 令尹 (chief minister) is Chu's highest office, translated consistently as chief minister; 莫敖, another senior Chu office named repeatedly in this reign, is left untranslated as mo'ao. Among the several words for a ruler's or noble's death, 薨 is passed away (of a lord or lady), 卒 is died, and 弒 is assassinate — applied in this reign to Duke Zhuang of Qi, killed by Cui Zhu, and to the rulers of Wei and Ju killed within these same thirty-one years.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted translation and editorial work.

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Source Text: 春秋左氏傳 襄公

Classical Chinese text in the Chinese Wikisource transcription. Presented complete for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

襄公元年

經

元年春．王正月．公即位．仲孫蔑會晉欒黶．宋華元．衛甯殖．曹人．莒人．邾人．滕人．宋人．薛人．圍宋彭城．

夏．晉韓厥帥師伐鄭．仲孫蔑會齊崔杼．曹人．邾人．杞人．次于鄫．

秋．楚公子壬夫帥師侵宋．

九月．辛酉．天王崩．邾子來朝．

冬．衛侯使公孫剽來聘．晉侯使荀罃來聘．

傳

元年春．己亥．圍宋彭城．非宋地．追書也．於是為宋討魚石．故稱宋．且不登叛人也．謂之宋志．彭城降晉．晉人以宋五大夫在彭城者歸．寘諸瓠丘．齊人不會彭城．晉人以為討．二月．齊大子光為質於晉．

夏．五月．晉韓厥．荀偃．帥諸侯之師伐鄭．入其郛．敗其徒兵於洧上．於是東諸侯之師．次于鄫以待晉師．晉師自鄭．以鄫之師侵楚焦夷．及陳．晉侯．衛侯．次于戚．以為之援．

秋．楚子辛救鄭．侵宋呂留．鄭子然侵宋．取犬丘．

九月．邾子來朝．禮也．

冬．衛子叔．晉知武子．來聘．禮也．凡諸侯即位．小國朝之．大國聘焉．以繼好結信．謀事補闕．禮之大者也．

襄公二年

經

二年春．王正月．葬簡王．鄭師伐宋．

夏．五月．庚寅．夫人姜氏薨．

六月．庚辰．鄭伯睔卒．晉師．宋師．衛甯殖．侵鄭．

秋．七月．仲孫蔑會晉荀罃．宋華元．衛孫林父．曹人．邾人．于戚．己丑．葬我小君齊姜．叔孫豹如宋．

冬．仲孫蔑會晉荀罃．齊崔杼．宋華元．衛孫林父．曹人．邾人．滕人．薛人．小邾人．于戚．遂城虎牢．楚殺其大夫公子申．

傳

二年春．鄭師侵宋．楚令也．齊侯伐萊．萊人使正輿子．賂夙沙衛以索馬牛．皆百匹．齊師乃還．君子是以知齊靈公之為靈也．

夏．齊姜薨．初．穆姜使擇美檟．以自為櫬．與頌琴．季文子取以葬．君子曰．非禮也．禮無所逆．婦養姑者也．虧姑以成婦．逆莫大焉．詩曰．其惟哲人．告之話言．順德之行．季孫於是為不哲矣．且姜氏．君之妣也．詩曰．為酒為醴．烝畀祖妣．以洽百禮．降福孔偕．齊侯使諸姜宗婦來送葬．召萊子．萊子不會．故晏弱城東陽以偪之．鄭成公疾．子駟請息肩於晉．公曰．楚君以鄭故．親集矢於其目．非異人任．寡人也．若背之．是棄力與言．其誰暱我．免寡人．唯二三子．

秋．七月．庚辰．鄭伯睔卒．於是子罕當國．子駟為政．子國為司馬．晉師侵鄭．諸大夫欲從晉．子駟曰．官命未改．會于戚．謀鄭故也．孟獻子曰．請城虎牢以偪鄭．知武子曰．善鄫之會．吾子聞崔子之言．今不來矣．滕薛小邾之不至．皆齊故也．寡君之憂．不唯鄭．罃將復於寡君．而請於齊．得請而告．吾子之功也．若不得請．事將在齊．吾子之請．諸侯之福也．豈唯寡君賴之．穆叔聘于宋．通嗣君也．

冬．復會于戚．齊崔武子．及滕薛小邾之大夫皆會．知武子之言故也．遂城虎牢．鄭人乃成．楚公子申為右司馬．多受小國之賂．以偪子重．子辛．楚人殺之．故書曰．楚殺其大夫公子申．

襄公三年

經

三年春．楚公子嬰齊帥師伐吳．公如晉．

夏．四月．壬戌．公及晉侯盟于長樗．公至自晉．

六月．公會單子．晉侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．莒子．邾子．齊世子光．己未．同盟于雞澤．陳侯使袁僑如會．戊寅．叔孫豹．及諸侯之大夫．及陳袁僑盟．

秋．公至自會．

冬．晉荀罃帥師伐許．

傳

三年春．楚子重伐吳．為簡之師．克鳩茲．至于衡山．使鄧廖帥組甲三百．被練三千以侵吳．吳人要而擊之．獲鄧廖．其能免者．組甲八十．被練三百而已．子重歸．既飲至．三日．吳人伐楚．取駕．駕．良邑也．鄧廖．亦楚之良也．君子謂子重於是役也．所獲不如所亡．楚人以是咎子重．子重病之．遂遇心病而卒．

公如晉．始朝也．夏．盟于長樗．孟獻子相．公稽首．知武子曰．天子在．而君辱稽首．寡君懼矣．孟獻子曰．以敝邑介在東表．密邇仇讎．寡君將君是望．敢不稽首．

晉為鄭服故．且欲脩吳好．將合諸侯．使士匄告于齊曰．寡君使匄以歲之不易．不虞之不戒．寡君願與一二兄弟相見．以謀不協．請君臨之使．匄乞盟．齊侯欲勿許．而難為不協．乃盟於耏外．

祁奚請老．晉侯問嗣焉．稱解狐．其讎也．將立之而卒．又問焉．對曰．午也可．於是羊舌職死矣．晉侯曰．孰可以代之．對曰．赤也可．於是使祁午為中軍尉．羊舌赤佐之．君子謂祁奚於是能舉善矣．稱其讎．不為諂．立其子．不為比．舉其偏．不為黨．商書曰．無偏無黨．王道蕩蕩．其祁奚之謂矣．解狐得舉．祁午得位．伯華得官．建一官而三物成．能舉善也．夫唯善．故能舉其類．詩云．惟其有之．是以似之．祁奚有焉．

六月．公會單頃公及諸侯．己未．同盟于雞澤．晉侯使荀會逆吳子于淮上．吳子不至．楚子辛為令尹．侵欲於小國．陳成公使袁僑如會．求成．晉侯使和組父告于諸侯．秋．叔孫豹及諸侯之大夫．及陳袁僑盟．陳請服也．

晉侯之弟揚干．亂行於曲梁．魏絳戮其僕．晉侯怒謂羊舌赤曰．合諸侯以為榮也．揚干為戮．何辱如之．必殺魏絳．無失也．對曰．絳無貳志．事君不辟難．有罪不逃刑．其將來辭．何辱命焉．言終．魏絳至．授僕人書．將伏劍．士魴．張老．止之．公讀其書曰．日君乏使．使臣斯司馬．臣聞師眾以順為武．軍事有死無犯為敬．君合諸侯．臣敢不敬．君師不武．執事不敬．罪莫大焉．臣懼其死．以及揚干．無所逃罪．不能致訓．至於用鉞．臣之罪重．敢有不從．以怒君心．請歸死於司寇．公跣而出．曰．寡人之言．親愛也．吾子之討．軍禮也．寡人有弟．弗能教訓．使干大命．寡人之過也．子無重寡人之過．敢以為請．晉侯以魏絳為能．以刑佐民矣．反役．與之禮食．使佐新軍．張老為中軍司馬．士富為候奄．

楚司馬公子何忌侵陳．陳叛故也．許靈公事楚．不會于雞澤．

冬．晉知武子帥師伐許．

襄公四年

經

四年春．王三月．己酉．陳．侯午卒．

夏．叔孫豹如晉．

秋．七月．戊子．夫人姒氏薨．葬陳成公．八月．辛亥．葬我小君定姒．

冬．公如晉．陳人圍頓．

傳

四年春．楚師為陳叛故．猶在繁陽．韓獻子患之．言於朝曰．文王帥殷之叛國．以事紂．唯知時也．今我易之．難哉．三月．陳成公卒．楚人將伐陳．聞喪乃止．陳人不聽命．臧武仲聞之曰．陳不服於楚必亡．大國行禮焉而不服．在大猶有咎．而況小乎．夏．楚彭名侵陳．陳無禮故也．

穆叔如晉．報知武子之聘也．晉侯享之．金奏肆夏之三．不拜．工歌文王之三．又不拜．歌鹿鳴之三．三拜．韓獻子使行人子員問之．曰．子以君命辱於敝邑．先君之禮．藉之以樂．以辱吾子．吾子舍其大而重．拜其細．敢問何禮也．對曰．三夏．天子所以享元侯也．使臣弗敢與聞．文王．兩君相見之樂也．臣不敢及．鹿鳴．君所以嘉寡君也．敢不拜嘉．四牡．君所以勞使臣也．敢不重拜．皇皇者華．君教使臣曰．必諮於周．臣聞之．訪問於善為咨．咨親為詢．咨禮為度．咨事為諏．咨難為謀．臣獲五善．敢不重拜．

秋．定姒薨．不殯于廟．無櫬．不虞．匠慶謂季文子曰．子為正卿．而小君之喪不成．不終君也．君長．誰受其咎．初．季孫為己樹六檟於蒲圃東門之外．匠慶請木．季孫曰．略．匠慶用蒲圃之檟．季孫不御．君子曰．志所謂多行無禮．必自及也．其是之謂乎．

冬．公如晉聽政．晉侯享公．公請屬鄫．晉侯不許．孟獻子曰．以寡君之密邇於仇讎．而願固事君．無失官命．鄫無賦於司馬．為執事朝夕之命敝邑．敝邑褊小．闕而為罪寡君．寡君是以願借助焉．晉侯許之．楚人使頓間陳．而侵伐之．故陳人圍頓．無終子嘉父使孟樂如晉．因魏莊子納虎豹之皮．以請和諸戎．晉侯曰．戎狄無親而貪．不如伐之．魏絳曰．諸侯新服．陳新來和．將觀於我．我德則睦．否則攜貳．勞師於戎．而楚伐陳．必弗能救．是棄陳也．諸華必叛．戎禽獸也．獲戎失華．無乃不可乎．夏訓有之曰．有窮后羿．公曰．后羿何如．對曰．昔有夏之方衰也．后羿自鉏遷于窮石．因夏民以代夏政．恃其射也．不脩民事．而淫于原獸．棄武羅．伯困．熊髡．尨圉．而用寒浞．寒浞．伯明氏之讒子弟也．伯明后寒棄之．夷羿收之．信而使之．以為己相．浞行媚于內．而施賂于外．愚弄其民．而虞羿于田．樹之詐慝．以取其國家．外內咸服．羿猶不悛．將歸自田．家眾殺而亨之．以食其子．其子不忍食諸．死于窮門．靡奔有鬲氏．浞因羿室．生澆及豷．恃其讒慝詐偽而不德于民．使澆用師．滅斟灌及斟尋氏．處澆于過．處豷于戈．靡自有鬲氏．收二國之燼以滅浞．而立少康．少康滅澆于過．后杼滅豷于戈．有窮由是遂亡．失人故也．昔周辛甲之為大史也．命百官．官箴王闕．於虞人之箴曰．芒芒禹跡．畫為九州．經啟九道．民有寢廟．獸有茂草．各有攸處．德用不擾．在帝夷羿．冒于原獸．忘其國恤．而思其麀牡．武不可重．用不恢于夏家．獸臣司原．取告僕夫．虞箴如是．可不懲乎．於是晉侯好田．故魏絳及之．公曰．然則莫如和戎乎．對曰．和戎有五利焉．戎狄荐居．貴貨易土．土可賈焉．一也．邊鄙不聳．民狎其野．穡人成功．二也．戎狄事晉．四鄰振動．諸侯威懷．三也．以德綏戎．師徒不動．甲兵不頓．四也．鑒于后羿．而用德度．遠至邇安．五也．君其圖之．公說．使魏絳盟諸戎．脩民事．田以時．

冬．十月．邾人．莒人．伐鄫．臧紇救鄫．侵邾．敗于狐駘．國人逆喪者皆髽．魯於是乎始髽．國人誦之曰．臧之狐裘．敗我於狐駘．我君小子．朱儒是使．朱儒朱儒．使我敗於邾．

襄公五年

經

五年春．公至自晉．

夏．鄭伯使公子發來聘．叔孫豹鄫．世子巫．如晉．仲孫蔑．衛孫林父．會吳于善道．

秋．大雩．楚殺其大夫公子壬夫．公會晉侯．宋公．陳侯．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．齊世子光．吳人．鄫人．于戚．公至自會．

冬．戍陳楚公子貞帥師伐陳．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．齊世子光．救陳．

十有二月．公至自救陳．辛未．季孫行父卒．

傳

五年春．公至自晉．王使王叔陳生愬戎于晉．晉人執之．士魴如京師．言王叔之貳於戎也．

夏．鄭子國來聘．通嗣君也．穆叔覿鄫大子于晉．以成屬鄫．書曰．叔孫豹．鄫大子巫．如晉．言比諸魯大夫也．吳子使壽越如晉．辭不會于雞澤之故．且請聽諸侯之好．晉人將為之合諸侯．使魯衛先會吳．且告會期．故孟獻子．孫文子．會吳于善道．

秋．大雩．旱也．楚人討陳叛故．曰．由令尹子辛．實侵欲焉．乃殺之．書曰．楚殺其大夫公子壬夫．貪也．君子謂楚共王於是不刑．詩曰．周道挺挺．我心扃扃．講事不令．集人來定．已則無信．而殺人以逞．不亦難乎．夏書曰．成允成功．

九月．丙午．盟于戚．會吳．且命戍陳也．穆叔以屬鄫為不利．使鄫大夫聽命于會．楚子囊為令尹．范宣子曰．我喪陳矣．楚人討貳．而立子囊．必改行．而疾討陳．陳近于楚．民朝夕急．能無往乎．有陳．非吾事也．無之而後可．冬．諸侯戍陳．子囊伐陳．

十一月．甲午．會于城棣以救之．季文子卒．大夫入斂．公在位．宰庀家器為葬備．無衣帛之妾．無食粟之馬．無藏金玉．無重器備．君子是以知季文子之忠於公室也．相三君矣．而無私積．可不謂忠乎．

襄公六年

經

六年春．王三月．壬午．杞伯姑容卒．

夏．宋華弱來奔．

秋．葬杞桓公．滕子來朝．莒人滅鄫．

冬．叔孫豹如邾．季孫宿如晉．

十有二月．齊侯滅萊．

傳

六年春．杞桓公卒．始赴以名．同盟故也．宋華弱與樂轡少相狎．長相優．又相謗也．子蕩怒．以弓梏華弱于朝．平公見之．曰．司武而梏於朝．難以勝矣．遂逐之．

夏．宋華弱來奔．司城子罕曰．同罪異罰．非刑也．專戮於朝．罪孰大焉．亦逐子蕩．子蕩射子罕之門曰．幾日而不我從．子罕善之如初．

秋．滕成公來朝．始朝公也．莒人滅鄫．鄫恃賂也．

冬．穆叔如邾．聘且脩平．晉人以鄫故來討曰．何故亡鄫．季武子如晉見．且聽命．

十一月．齊侯滅萊．萊恃謀也．於鄭子國之來聘也．四月．晏弱城東陽．而遂圍萊．甲寅．堙之．環城．傅於堞．及杞桓公卒之月．乙未．王湫帥師及正輿子．棠人．軍齊師．齊師大敗之．丁未．入萊．萊共公浮柔奔棠．正輿子王湫奔莒．莒人殺之．四月．陳無宇獻萊宗器于襄公．晏弱圍棠．

十一月．丙辰．而滅之．遷萊于郳．高厚．崔杼．定其田．

襄公七年

經

七年春．郯子來朝．

夏．四月．三卜郊不從．乃免牲．小邾子來朝．城費．

秋．季孫宿如衛．

八月．螽．

冬．十月．衛侯使孫林父來聘．壬戌．及孫林父盟．楚公子貞帥師圍陳．

十有二月．公會晉侯．宋公．陳侯．衛侯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．于鄬．鄭伯髡頑如會．未見諸侯．丙戌．卒于鄵．陳侯逃歸．

傳

七年春．郯子來朝．始朝公也．

夏．四月．三卜郊不從．乃免牲．孟獻子曰．吾乃今而後知有卜筮．夫郊祀后稷．以祈農事也．是故啟蟄而郊．郊而後耕．今既耕而卜郊．宜其不從也．

南遺為費宰．叔仲昭伯為隧正．欲善季氏．而求媚於南遺．謂遺請城費．吾多與而役．故季氏城費．

小邾穆公來朝．亦始朝公也．

秋．季武子如衛．報子叔之聘．且辭緩報．非貳也．

冬．十月．晉韓獻子告老．公族穆子有廢疾．將立之．辭曰．詩曰．豈不夙夜．謂行多露．又曰．弗躬弗親．庶民弗信．無忌不才．讓其可乎．請立起也．與田蘇游．而曰好仁．詩曰．靖共爾位．好是正直．神之聽之．介爾景福．恤民為德．正直為正．正曲為直．參和為仁．如是則神聽之．介福降之．立之．不亦可乎．庚戌．使宣子朝．遂老．晉侯謂韓無忌仁．使掌公族大夫．

衛孫文子來聘．且拜武子之言．而尋孫桓子之盟．公登亦登．叔孫穆子相．趨進曰．諸侯之會．寡君未嘗後衛君．今吾子不後寡君．寡君未知所過．吾子其少安．孫子無辭．亦無悛容．穆叔曰．孫子必亡．為臣而君．過而不悛．亡之本也．詩曰．退食自公．委蛇委蛇．謂從者也．衡而委蛇必折．

楚子囊圍陳．會于鄬以救之．鄭僖公之為大子也．於成之十六年．與子罕適晉．不禮焉．又與子豐適楚．亦不禮焉．及其元年．朝于晉．子豐欲愬諸晉而廢之．子罕止之．及將會于鄬．子駟相．又不禮焉．侍者諫．不聽．又諫．殺子．及鄵．子駟使賊夜弒僖公．而以瘧疾赴于諸侯．簡公生五年．奉而立之．陳人患楚．慶虎．慶寅．謂楚人曰．吾使公子黃往而執之．楚人從之．二慶使告陳侯于會曰．楚人執公子黃矣．君若不來．群臣不忍社稷宗廟．懼有二圖．陳侯逃歸．

襄公八年

經

八年春．王正月．公如晉．

夏．葬鄭僖公．鄭人侵蔡．獲蔡公子燮．季孫宿會晉侯．鄭伯．齊人．宋人．衛人．邾人．于邢丘．公至自晉．莒人伐我東鄙．

秋．九月．大雩．

冬．楚公子貞帥師伐鄭．晉侯使士匄來聘．

傳

八年春．公如晉朝．且聽朝聘之數．

鄭群公子以僖公之死也．謀子駟．子駟先之．夏．四月．庚辰．辭殺子狐．子熙．子侯．子丁．孫擊．孫惡．出奔衛．庚寅．鄭子國．子耳．侵蔡．獲蔡司馬公子燮．鄭人皆喜．唯子產不順．曰．小國無文德而有武功．禍莫大焉．楚人來討．能勿從乎．從之．晉師必至．晉楚伐鄭．自今鄭國．不四五年．弗得寧矣．子國怒之．曰．爾何知．國有大命．而有正卿．童子言焉．將為戮矣．

五月．甲辰．會于邢丘．以命朝聘之數．使諸侯之大夫聽命．季孫宿．齊高厚．宋向戌．衛甯殖．邾大夫會之．鄭伯獻捷于會．故親聽命．大夫不書．尊晉侯也．

莒人伐我東鄙．以疆鄫田．

秋．九月．大雩．旱也．

冬．楚子囊伐鄭．討其侵蔡也．子駟．子國．子耳．欲從楚．子孔．子蟜．子展．欲待晉．子駟曰．周詩有之曰．俟河之清．人壽幾何．兆云詢多．職競作羅．謀之多族．民之多違．事滋無成．民急矣．姑從楚以紓吾民．晉師至．吾又從之．敬共幣帛．以待來者．小國之道也．犧牲玉帛．待於二竟．以待彊者．而庇民焉．寇不為害．民不罷病．不亦可乎．子展曰．小所以事大．信也．小國無信．兵亂日至．亡無日矣．五會之信．今將背之．雖楚救我．將安用之．親我無成．鄙我是欲．不可從也．不如待晉．晉君方明．四軍無闕．八卿和睦．必不棄鄭．楚師遼遠．糧食將盡．必將速歸．何患焉．舍之聞之．杖莫如信．完守以老楚．杖信以待晉．不亦可乎．子駟曰．詩云．謀夫孔多．是用不集．發言盈庭．誰敢執其咎．如匪行邁謀．是用不得于道．請從楚．騑也受其咎．乃及楚平．使王子伯駢告于晉曰．君命敝邑．脩而車賦．儆而師徒．以討亂略．蔡人不從．敝邑之人．不敢寧處．悉索敝賦．以討于蔡．獲司馬燮．獻于邢丘．今楚來討曰．女何故稱兵于蔡．焚我郊保．馮陵我城郭．敝邑之眾．夫婦男女．不遑啟處．以相救也．翦焉傾覆．無所控告．民死亡者．非其父兄．即其子弟．夫人愁痛．不知所庇．民知窮困．而受盟于楚．孤也與其二三臣．不能禁止．不敢不告．知武子使行人子員對之曰．君有楚命．亦不使一介行李．告于寡君．而即安于楚．君之所欲也．誰敢違君．寡君將帥諸侯以見于城下．唯君圖之．

晉范宣子來聘．且拜公之辱．告將用師于鄭．公享之．宣子賦摽有梅．季武子曰．誰敢哉．今譬於草木．寡君在君．君之臭味也．歡以承命．何時之有．武子賦角弓．賓將出．武子賦彤弓．宣子曰．城濮之役．我先君文公獻功于衡雍．受彤弓于襄王．以為子孫藏．匄也．先君守官之嗣也．敢不承命．君子以為知禮．

襄公九年

經

九年春．宋災．

夏．季孫宿如晉．

五月．辛酉．夫人姜氏薨．

秋．八月．癸未．葬我小君穆姜．

冬．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．齊世子光．伐鄭．

十有二月．己亥．同盟于戲．楚子伐鄭．

傳

九年春．宋災．樂喜為司城．以為政．使伯氏司里．火所未至．徹小屋．塗大屋．陳畚挶．具綆缶．備水器．量輕重．蓄水潦．積土塗．巡丈城．繕守備．表火道．使華臣具正徒．令隧正．納郊保．奔火所．使華閱討右官．官庀其司．向戌討左．亦如之．使樂遄庀刑器．亦如之．使皇鄖命校正出馬．工正出車．備甲兵．庀武守．使西鉏吾庀府守．令司宮巷伯儆宮．二師令四鄉正敬享．祝宗用馬于四墉．祀盤庚于西門之外．

晉侯問於士弱曰．吾聞之．宋災．於是乎知有天道．何故．對曰．古之火正．或食於心．或食於咮．以出內火．是故咮為鶉火．心為大火．陶唐氏之火正閼伯．居商丘．祀大火．而火紀時焉．相土因之．故商主大火．商人閱其禍敗之釁．必始於火．是以日知其有天道也．公曰．可必乎．對曰．在道．國亂無象．不可知也．

夏．季武子如晉．報宣子之聘也．穆姜薨於東宮．始往而筮之．遇艮之八．史曰．是謂艮之隨．隨其出也．君必速出．姜曰．亡．是於周易．曰．隨元亨利貞．咎．元．體之長也．亨．嘉之會也．利．義之和也．貞．事之幹也．體仁足以長人．嘉德足以合禮．利物足以和義．貞固足以幹事．然故不可誣也．是以雖隨咎．今我婦人而與於亂．固在下位．而有不仁．不可謂元．不靖國家．不可謂亨．作而害身．不可謂利．棄位而姣．不可謂貞．有四德者．隨而無咎．我皆無之．豈隨也哉．我則取惡．能無咎乎．必死於此．弗得出矣．

秦景公使士雃乞師于楚．將以伐晉．楚子許之．子囊曰．不可．當今吾不能與晉爭．晉君類能而使之．舉不失選．官不易方．其卿讓於善．其大夫不失守．其士競於教．其庶人力於農穡．商工皁隸．不知遷業．韓厥老矣．知罃稟焉．以為政．范匄少於中行偃而上之．使佐中軍．韓起少於欒黶．而欒黶士魴上之．使佐上軍．魏絳多功．以趙武為賢而為之佐．君明臣忠．上讓下競．當是時也．晉不可敵．事之而後可．君其圖之．王曰．吾既許之矣．雖不及晉．必將出師．秋．楚子師于武城．以為秦援．秦人侵晉．晉饑．弗能報也．

冬．十月．諸侯伐鄭．庚午．季武子．齊崔杼．宋皇鄖．從荀罃．士匄．門于鄟門．衛北宮括．曹人．邾人．從荀偃．韓起．門于師之梁．滕人．薛人．從欒黶．士魴．門于北門．杞人．郳人．從趙武．魏絳．斬行栗．甲戌．師于氾．令於諸侯曰．脩器備．盛餱糧．歸老幼．居疾于虎牢．肆眚圍鄭．鄭人恐．乃行成．中行獻子曰．遂圍之．以待楚人之救也．而與之戰．不然無成．知武子曰．許之盟而還師．以敝楚人．吾三分四軍．與諸侯之銳．以逆來者．於我未病．楚不能矣．猶愈於戰．暴骨以逞．不可以爭．大勞未艾．君子勞心．小人勞力．先王之制也．諸侯皆不欲戰．乃許鄭成．

十一月．己亥．同盟于戲．鄭服也．將盟．鄭六卿公子騑．公子發．公子嘉．公孫輒．公孫蠆．公孫舍之．及其大夫門子皆從鄭伯．晉士莊子為載書．曰．自今日既盟之後．鄭國而不唯晉命是聽．而或有異志者．有如此盟．公騑趨進曰．天禍鄭國．使介居二大國之閒．大國不加德音．而亂以要之．使其鬼神不獲歆其禋祀．其民人不獲享其土利．夫婦辛苦墊隘．無所底告．自今日既盟之後．鄭國而不唯有禮與彊．可以庇民者是從．而敢有異志者．亦如之．荀偃曰．改載書．公孫舍之曰．昭大神要言焉．若可改也．大國亦可叛也．知武子謂獻子曰．我實不德．而要人以盟．豈禮也哉．非禮何以主盟．姑盟而退．脩德息師而來．終必獲鄭．何必今日．我之不德．民將棄我．豈唯鄭．若能休和．遠人將至．何恃於鄭．乃盟而還．晉人不得志於鄭．以諸侯復伐之．

十二月．癸亥．門其三門．閏月．戊寅．濟于陰阪．侵鄭．次于陰口而還．子孔曰．晉師可擊也．師老而勞．且有歸志．必大克之．子展曰．不可．公送晉侯．晉侯以公宴于河上．問公年．季武子對曰．會于沙隨之歲．寡君以生．晉侯曰．十二年矣．是謂一終．一星終也．國君十五而生子．冠而生子．禮也．君可以冠矣．大夫盍為冠具．武子對曰．君冠．必以祼享之禮行之．以金石之樂節之．以先君之祧處之．今寡君在行．未可具也．請及兄弟之國．而假備焉．晉侯曰．諾．公還及衛．冠于成公之廟．假鍾磬焉．禮也．楚子伐鄭．子駟將及楚平．子孔．子蟜．曰．與大國盟．口血未乾而背之．可乎．子駟．子展．曰．吾盟固云唯彊是從．今楚師至．晉不我救．則楚彊矣．盟誓之言．豈敢背之．且要盟無質．神弗臨也．所臨唯信．信者言之瑞也．善之主也．是故臨之．明神不蠲要盟．背之可也．乃及楚平．公子罷戎入盟．同盟于中分．楚莊夫人卒．王未能定鄭而歸．晉侯歸．謀所以息民．魏絳請施舍．輸積聚以貸．自公以下．苟有積者．盡出之．國無滯積．亦無困人．公無禁利．亦無貪民．祈以幣更．賓以特牲．器用不作．車服從給．行之期年．國乃有節．三駕而楚不能與爭．

襄公十年

經

十年春．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．齊世子光．會吳于柤．

夏．五月．甲午．遂滅偪陽．公至自會．楚公子貞．鄭公孫輒．帥師伐宋．晉師伐秦．

秋．莒人伐我東鄙．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．齊世子光．滕子．薛伯．杞．伯．小邾子．伐鄭．

冬．盜殺鄭公子騑．公子發．公孫輒．戍鄭虎牢．楚公子貞帥師救鄭．公至自伐鄭．

傳

十年春．會于柤．會吳子壽夢也．三月．癸丑．齊高厚相大子光．以先會諸侯于鍾離．不敬．士莊子曰．高子相大子以會諸侯．將社稷是衛．而皆不敬．棄社稷也．其將不免乎．夏．四月．戊午．會于柤．

晉荀偃．士匄．請伐偪陽而封宋向戌焉．荀罃曰．城小而固．勝之不武．弗勝為笑．固請．丙寅．圍之．弗克．孟氏之臣秦堇父．輦重如役．偪陽人啟門．諸侯之士門焉．縣門發．郰人紇抉之．以出門者．狄虒彌建大車之輪．而蒙之以甲．以為櫓．左執之．右拔戟．以成一隊．孟獻子曰．詩所謂有力如虎者也．主人縣布．堇父登之．及堞而絕之．隊則又縣之．蘇而復上者三．主人辭焉．乃退．帶其斷以徇於軍三日．諸侯之師．久於偪陽．荀偃．士匄．請於荀罃曰．水潦將降．懼不能歸．請班師．知伯怒．投之以机．出於其間曰．女成二事而後告余．余恐亂命．以不女違．女既勤君而興諸侯．牽帥老夫．以至于此．既無武守．而又欲易余罪．曰是實班師．不然克矣．余羸老也．可重任乎．七日不克．必爾乎取之．五月．庚寅．荀偃．士匄．帥卒攻偪陽．親受矢石．甲午．滅之．書曰．遂滅偪陽．言自會也．以與向戌．向戌辭曰．君若猶辱鎮撫宋國．而以偪陽光啟寡君．群臣安矣．其何貺如之．若專賜臣．是臣興諸侯以自封也．其何罪大焉．敢以死請．乃予宋公．宋公享晉侯于楚丘．請以桑林．荀罃辭．荀偃．士匄．曰．諸侯宋魯．於是觀禮．魯有禘樂．賓祭用之．宋以桑林享君．不亦可乎．舞師題以旌夏．晉侯懼而退．入于房．去旌．卒享而還．及著雍．疾．卜．桑林見．荀偃．士匄．欲奔請禱焉．荀罃不可曰．我辭禮矣．彼則以之．猶有鬼神．於彼加之．晉侯有間．以偪陽子歸．獻于武宮．謂之夷俘．偪陽．妘姓也．使周內史選其族嗣．納諸霍人．禮也．師歸．孟獻子以秦堇父為右．生秦丕茲．事仲尼．

六月．楚子囊．鄭子耳．伐宋．師于訾毋．庚午．圍宋門于桐門．晉荀罃伐秦．報其侵也．衛侯救宋．師于襄牛．鄭子展曰．必伐衛．不然．是不與楚也．得罪於晉．又得罪於楚．國將若之何．子駟曰．國病矣．子展曰．得罪於二大國必亡．病不猶愈於亡乎．諸大夫皆以為然．故鄭皇耳帥師侵衛．楚令也．孫文子卜追之．獻兆於定姜．姜氏問繇曰．兆如山陵．有夫出征．而喪其雄．姜氏曰．征者喪雄．禦寇之利也．大夫圖之．衛人追之．孫蒯獲鄭皇耳于犬丘．

秋．七月．楚子囊．鄭子耳．伐我西鄙．還圍蕭．八月．丙寅．克之．九月．子耳侵宋北鄙．孟獻子曰．鄭其有災乎．師競已甚．周猶不堪競．況鄭乎．有災．其執政之三士乎．

莒人間諸侯之有事也．故伐我東鄙．

諸侯伐鄭．齊崔杼使大子光先至于師．故長於滕．己酉．師于牛首．初子駟與尉止有爭．將禦諸侯之師．而黜其車．尉止獲．又與之爭．子駟抑尉止曰．爾車非禮也．遂弗使獻．初．子駟為田洫．司氏．堵氏．侯氏．子師氏．皆喪田焉．故五族聚群不逞之人．因公子之徒以作亂．於是子駟當國．子國為司馬．子耳為司空．子孔為司徒．冬．十月．戊辰．尉止．司臣．侯晉．堵女父．子師僕．帥賊以入．晨攻執政于西宮之朝．殺子駟．子國．子耳．劫鄭伯．以如北宮．子孔知之．故不死．書曰盜．言無大夫焉．子西聞盜．不儆而出．尸而追盜．盜入於北宮．乃歸授甲．臣妾多逃．器用多喪．子產聞盜為門者．庀群司．閉府庫．慎閉藏．完守備．成列而後出．兵車十七乘．尸而攻盜於北宮．子蟜帥國人助之．殺尉止．子師僕．盜眾盡死．侯晉奔晉．堵女父．司臣．尉翩．司齊．奔宋．子孔當國．為載書．以位序聽政辟．大夫諸司門子弗順．將誅之．子產止之．請為之焚書．子孔不可．曰．為書以定國．眾怒而焚之．是眾為政也．國不亦難乎．子產曰．眾怒難犯．專欲難成．合二難以安國．危之道也．不如焚書以安眾．子得所欲．眾亦得安．不亦可乎．專欲無成．犯眾興禍．子必從之．乃焚書於倉門之外．眾而後定．

諸侯之師．城虎牢而戍之．晉師城梧及制．士魴．魏絳．戍之．書曰．戍鄭虎牢．非鄭地也．言將歸焉．鄭及晉平．楚子囊救鄭．

十一月．諸侯之師還鄭而南．至於陽陵．楚師不退．知武子欲退．曰．今我逃楚．楚必驕．驕則可與戰矣．欒黶曰．逃楚．晉之恥也．合諸侯以益恥．不如死．我將獨進．師遂進．己亥．與楚師夾潁而軍．子蟜曰．諸侯既有成行．必不戰矣．從之將退．不從亦退．退楚必圍我．猶將退也．不如從楚．亦以退之．霄涉潁．與楚人盟．欒黶欲伐鄭師．荀罃不可．曰．我實不能禦楚．又不能庀鄭．鄭何罪．不如致怨焉而還．今伐其師．楚必救之．戰而不克．為諸侯笑
．克不可命．不如還也．丁未．諸侯之師還．侵鄭北鄙而歸．楚人亦還．

王叔陳生與伯輿爭政．王右伯輿．王叔陳生怒而出奔．及河．王復之．殺史狡以說焉．不入．遂處之．晉侯使士匄平王室．王叔與伯輿訟焉．王叔之宰．與伯輿之大夫瑕禽．坐獄於王庭．士匄聽之．王叔之宰曰．篳門閨竇之人．而皆陵其上．其難為上矣．瑕禽曰．昔平王東遷．吾七姓從王．牲用備具．王賴之．而賜之騂旄之盟．曰．世世無失職．若篳門閨竇．其能來東底乎．且王何賴焉．今自王叔之相也．政以賄成．而刑放於寵．官之師旅．不勝其富．吾能無篳門閨竇乎．唯大國圖之．下而無直．則何謂正矣．范宣子曰．天子所右．寡君亦右之．所左亦左之．使王叔氏與伯輿合要．王叔氏不能舉其契．王叔奔晉．不書．不告也．單靖公為卿士．以相王室．

襄公十一年

經

十有一年春．王正月．作三軍．

夏．四月．四卜郊不從．乃不郊．鄭公孫舍之帥師侵宋．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．曹伯．齊世子光．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．伐鄭．

秋．七月．己未．同盟于亳城北．公至自伐鄭．楚子．鄭伯．伐宋．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．曹伯．齊世子光．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．伐鄭．會于蕭魚．公至自會．楚執鄭行人．良霄

冬．秦人伐晉．

傳

十一年春．季武子將作三軍．告叔孫穆子曰．請為三軍．各征其軍．穆子曰．政將及子．子必不能．武子固請之．穆子曰．然則盟諸．乃盟諸僖閎．詛諸五父之衢．正月．作三軍．三分公室．而各有其一．三子各毀其乘．季氏使其乘之人．以其役邑入者無征．不入者倍征．孟氏使半為臣．若子若弟．叔孫氏使盡為臣．不然不舍．

鄭人患晉楚之故．諸大夫曰．不從晉．國幾亡．楚弱於晉．晉不吾疾也．晉疾．楚將辟之．何為而使晉師致死於我．楚弗敢敵．而後可固與也．子展曰．與宋為惡．諸侯必至．吾從之盟．楚師至．吾又從之．則晉怒甚矣．晉能驟來楚將不能．吾乃固與晉．大夫說之．使疆場之司．惡於宋．宋向戌侵鄭．大獲．子展曰．師而伐宋可矣．若我伐宋．諸侯之伐我必疾．吾乃聽命焉．且告於楚．楚師至．吾乃與之盟．而重賂晉師．乃免矣．夏．鄭子展侵宋．

四月．諸侯伐鄭．己亥．齊太子光．宋向戌．先至于鄭．門于東門．其莫．晉荀罃至于西郊．東侵舊許．衛孫林父侵其北鄙．

六月．諸侯會于北林．師于向右．還次于瑣．圍鄭．觀兵于南門．西濟于濟隧．鄭人懼．乃行成．

秋．七月．同盟于亳．范宣子曰．不慎．必失諸侯．諸侯道敝而無成．能無貳乎．乃盟．載書曰．凡我同盟．毋薀年．毋壅利．毋保姦．毋留慝．救災患．恤禍亂．同好惡．獎王室．或間茲命．司慎司盟．名山名川．群神群祀．先王先公．七姓十二國之祖．明神殛之．俾失其民．隊命亡氏．踣其國家．楚子囊乞旅于秦．秦右大夫詹帥師從楚子．將以伐鄭．鄭伯逆之．丙子．伐宋．

九月．諸侯悉師以復伐鄭．鄭人使良霄．大宰石蓖．如楚．告將服于晉．曰．孤以社稷之故．不能懷君．君若能以玉帛綏晉．不然．則武震以攝威之．孤之願也．楚人執之．書曰行人．言使人也．諸侯之師觀兵于鄭東門．鄭人使王子伯駢行成．甲戌．晉趙武入盟鄭伯．

冬．十月．丁亥．鄭子展出盟晉侯．

十二月．戊寅．會于蕭魚．庚辰．赦鄭囚．皆禮而歸之．納斥候．禁侵掠．晉侯使叔肸告于諸侯．公使臧孫紇對曰．凡我同盟．小國有罪．大國致討．苟有以藉手．鮮不赦宥．寡君聞命矣．鄭人賂晉侯以師悝．師觸．師蠲．廣車．軘車．淳十五乘．甲兵備．凡兵車百乘．歌鐘二肆．及其鎛磬．女樂二八．晉侯以樂之半賜魏絳．曰．子教寡人．和諸戎狄．以正諸華．八年之中．九合諸侯．如樂之和．無所不諧．請與子樂之．辭曰．夫和戎狄．國之福也．八年之中．九合諸侯．諸侯無慝．君之靈也．二三子之勞也．臣何力之有焉．抑臣願君安其樂而思其終也．詩曰．樂只君子．殿天子之邦．樂只君子．福祿攸同．便蕃左右．亦是帥從．夫樂以安德．義以處之．禮以行之．信以守之．仁以厲之．而後可以殿邦國．同福祿．來遠人．所謂樂也．書曰．居安思危．思則有備．有備無患．敢以此規．公曰．子之教．敢不承命．抑微子．寡人無以待戎．不能濟河．夫賞．國之典也．藏在盟府．不可廢也．子其受之．魏絳於是乎始有金石之樂．禮也．秦庶長鮑．庶長武．帥師伐晉．以救鄭．鮑先入晉地．士魴禦之．少秦師而弗設備．壬午．武濟自輔氏．與鮑交伐晉師．己丑．秦晉戰于櫟．晉師敗績．易秦故也．

襄公十二年

經

十有二年春．王二月．莒人伐我東鄙．圖台．季孫宿帥師救台．遂入鄆．

夏．晉侯使士魴來聘．

秋．九月．吳子乘卒．

冬．楚公子貞帥師侵宋．公如晉．

傳

十二年春．莒人伐我東鄙．圍台．季武子救台．遂入鄆．取其鐘以為公盤．

夏．晉士魴來聘．且拜師．

秋．吳子壽夢卒．臨於周廟．禮也．凡諸侯之喪．異姓臨於外．同姓於宗廟．同宗於祖廟．同族於禰廟．是故魯為諸姬．臨於周廟．為邢．凡．蔣．茅．胙．祭．臨於周公之廟．

冬．楚子囊．秦庶長無地．伐宋．師于楊梁．以報晉之取鄭也．靈王求后于齊．齊侯問對於晏桓子．桓子對曰．先王之禮辭有之．天子求后於諸侯．諸侯對曰．夫婦所生若而人．妾婦之子若而人．無女而有姊妹．及姑姊妹．則曰．先守某公之遺女若而人．齊侯許昏．王使陰里逆之．公如晉．朝．且拜士魴之辱．禮也．秦嬴歸于楚．楚司馬子庚聘于秦．為夫人寧．禮也．

襄公十三年

經

十有三年春．公至自晉．

夏．取邿．

秋．九月．庚辰．楚子審卒．

冬．城防．

傳

十三年春．公至自晉．孟獻子書勞于廟．禮也．

夏．邿亂．分為三師救邿．遂取之．凡書取．言易也．用大師焉曰滅．弗地曰入．

荀罃．士魴．卒．晉侯蒐于綿上以治兵．使士匄將中軍．辭曰．伯游長．昔臣習於知伯．是以佐之．非能賢也．請從伯游．荀偃將中軍．士匄佐之．使韓起將上軍．辭以趙武．又使欒黶辭曰．臣不如韓起．韓起願上趙武．君其聽之．使趙武將上軍．韓起佐之．欒黶將下軍．魏絳佐之．新軍無帥．晉侯難其人．使其什吏．率其卒乘官屬．以從於下軍．禮也．晉國之民．是以大和．諸侯遂睦．

君子曰．讓．禮之主也．范宣子讓．其下皆讓．欒黶為汰．弗敢違也．晉國以平．數世賴之．刑善也夫．一人刑善．百姓休和．可不務乎．書曰．一人有慶．兆民賴之．其寧惟永．其是之謂乎．周之興也．其詩曰．儀刑文王．萬邦作孚．言刑善也．及其衰也．其詩曰．大夫不均．我從事獨賢．言不讓也．世之治也．君子尚能而讓其下．小人農力以事其上．是以上下有禮．而讒慝黜遠．由不爭也．謂之懿德．及其亂也．君子稱其功以加小人．小人伐其技以馮君子．是以上下無禮．亂虐並生．由爭善也．謂之昏德．國家之敝．恆必由之．

楚子疾．告大夫曰．不穀不德．少主社稷．生十年而喪先君．未及習師保之教訓．而應受多福．是以不德．而亡師于鄢．以辱社稷．為大夫憂．其弘多矣．若以大夫之靈．獲保首領．以歿於地．唯是春秋窀穸之事．所以從先君於禰廟者．請為靈若厲．大夫擇焉．莫對．及五命．乃許．秋．楚共王卒．子囊謀諡．大夫曰．君有命矣．子囊曰．君命以共．若之何毀之．赫赫楚國．而君臨之．撫有蠻夷．奄征南海．以屬諸夏．而知其過．可不謂共乎．請謚之共．大夫從之．

吳侵楚．養由基奔命．子庚以師繼之．養叔曰．吳乘我喪．謂我不能師也．必易我而不戒．子為三覆以待我．我請誘之．子庚從之．戰于康浦．大敗吳師．獲公子黨．君子以吳為不弔．詩曰．不弔昊天．亂靡有定．

冬．城防．書事時也．於是將早城．臧武仲請俟畢農事．禮也．

鄭良霄．大宰石蓖．猶在楚．石蓖言於子囊曰．先王卜征五年．而歲習其祥．祥習則行．不習則增．脩德而改卜．今楚實不競．行人何罪．止鄭一卿．以除其偪．使睦而疾楚．以固於晉焉．用之使歸．而廢其使．怨其君以疾其大夫．而相牽引也．不猶愈乎．楚人歸之．

襄公十四年

經

十有四年春．王正月．季孫宿叔老會晉士匄．齊人．宋人．衛人．鄭公孫蠆．曹人．莒人．邾人．滕人．薛人．杞人．小邾人．會吳于向．

二月．乙未朔．日有食之．

夏．四月．叔孫豹會晉荀偃．齊人．宋人．衛北宮括．鄭公孫蠆．曹人．莒人．邾人．滕人．薛人．杞人．小邾人．伐秦．己未．衛侯出奔齊．莒人侵我東鄙．

秋．楚公子貞帥師伐吳．

冬．季孫宿會晉士匄．宋華閱．衛孫林父．鄭公孫蠆．莒人．邾人．于戚．

傳

十四年春．吳告敗于晉．會于向．為吳謀楚故也．范宣子數吳之不德也．以退吳人．執莒公子務婁．以其通楚使也．將執戎子駒支．范宣子親數諸朝．曰．來．姜戎氏．昔秦人迫逐乃祖吾離于瓜州．乃祖吾離被苫蓋．蒙荊棘．以來歸我先君．我先君惠公有不腆之田．與女剖分而食之．今諸侯之事我寡君．不如昔者．蓋言語漏洩．則職女之由．詰朝之事．爾無與焉．與將執女．對曰．昔秦人負恃其眾．貪于土地．逐我諸戎．惠公蠲其大德．謂我諸戎．是四獄之裔冑也．毋是翦棄．賜我南鄙之田．狐狸所居．豺狼所嗥．我諸戎除翦其荊棘．驅其狐狸豺狼．以為先君不侵不叛之臣．至于今不貳．昔文公與秦伐鄭．秦人竊與鄭盟．而舍戍焉．於是乎有殽之師．晉禦其上．戎亢其下．秦師不復．我諸戎實然．譬如捕鹿．晉人角之．諸戎掎之．與晉踣之．戎何以不免．自是以來．晉之百役．與我諸戎．相繼于時．以從執政．猶殽志也．豈敢離逖．今官之師旅．無乃實有所闕．以攜諸侯．而罪我諸戎．我諸戎飲食衣服．不與華同．贄幣不通．言語不達．何惡之能為．不與於會．亦無瞢焉．賦青蠅而退．宣子辭焉．使即事於會．成愷悌也．於是子叔齊子為季武子介以會．自是晉人輕魯幣．而益敬其使．

吳子諸樊既除喪．將立季札．季札辭曰．曹宣公之卒也．諸侯與曹人不義曹君．將立子臧．子臧去之．遂弗為也．以成曹君．君子曰．能守節．君義嗣也．誰敢奸君．有國非吾節也．札雖不才．願附於子臧．以無失節．固立之．棄其室而耕．乃舍之．

夏．諸侯之大夫從晉侯伐秦．以報櫟之役也．晉侯待于竟．使六卿帥諸侯之師以進．及涇不濟．叔向見叔孫穆子．穆子賦匏有苦葉．叔向退而具舟．魯人．莒人．先濟．鄭子蟜見衛北宮懿子曰．與人而不固．取惡莫甚焉．若社稷何．懿子說．二子見諸侯之師．而勸之濟．濟涇而次．秦人毒涇上流．師入多死．鄭司馬子蟜帥鄭師以進．師皆從之．至于棫林．不獲成焉．荀偃令曰．雞鳴而駕．塞井夷灶．唯余馬首是瞻．欒黶曰．晉國之命．未是有也余馬首欲東．乃歸．下軍從之．左史謂魏莊子曰．不待中行伯乎．莊子曰．夫子命從帥．欒伯吾帥也．吾將從之．從帥所以待夫子也．伯游曰．吾今實過．悔之何及．多遺秦禽．乃命大還．晉人謂之遷延之役．欒鍼曰．此役也．報櫟之敗也．役又無功．晉之恥也．吾有二位於戎路．敢不恥乎．與士鞅馳秦師死焉．士鞅反．欒黶謂士匄曰．余弟不欲往而子召之．余弟死而子來．是而子殺余之弟也．弗逐．余亦將殺之．士鞅奔秦．於是齊崔杼．宋華閱．仲江．會伐秦．不書．惰也．向之會．亦如之．衛北宮括不書於向．書於伐秦．攝也．

秦伯問於士鞅曰．晉大夫其誰先亡．對曰．其欒氏乎．秦伯曰．以其汰乎．對曰．然．欒黶汰虐已甚．猶可以免．其在盈乎．秦伯曰．何故．對曰．武子之德在民．如周人之思召公焉．愛其甘棠．況其子乎．欒黶死．盈之善未能及人．武子所施沒矣．而黶之怨實章．將於是乎在．秦伯以為知言．為之請於晉而復之．

衛獻公戒孫文子．寧惠子食．皆服而朝．日旰不召．而射鴻於囿．二子從之．不釋皮冠而與之言．二子怒．孫文子知戚．孫蒯入使．公飲之酒．使大師歌巧言之卒章．大師辭．師曹請為之．初．公有嬖妾．使師曹誨之琴．師曹鞭之．公怒．鞭師曹三百．故師曹欲歌之．以怒孫子．以報公．公使歌之．遂誦之．蒯懼．告文子．文子曰．君忌我矣．弗先．必死．并帑於戚．而入見蘧伯玉曰．君之暴虐．子所知也．大懼社稷之傾覆．將若之何．對曰．君制其國．臣敢奸之．雖奸之．庸知愈乎．遂行．從近關出．公使子蟜．子伯．子皮．與孫子盟于丘宮．孫子皆殺之．

四月．己未．子展奔齊．公如鄄．使子行於孫子．孫子又殺之．公出奔齊．孫氏追之．敗公徒于河澤．鄄人執之．初．尹公佗學射於庾公差．庾公差學射於公孫丁．二子追公．公孫丁御公．子魚曰．射為背師．不射為戮．射為禮乎．射兩軥而還．尹公佗曰．子為師．我則遠矣．乃反之．公孫丁授公轡而射之．貫臂．子鮮從公及竟．公使祝宗告亡．且告無罪．定姜曰．無神何告．若有．不可誣也．有罪若何告無．舍大臣而與小臣謀．一罪也．先君有冢卿以為師保．而蔑之．二罪也．余以巾櫛事先君．而暴妾使余．三罪也．告亡而已．無告無罪．公使厚成叔弔于衛曰．寡君使瘠聞君不撫社稷．而越在他竟．若之何不弔．以同盟之故．使瘠敢私於執事．曰．有君不弔．有臣不敏．君不赦宥．臣亦不帥職．增淫發洩．其若之何．衛人使大叔儀對曰．群臣不佞．得罪於寡君．寡君不以即刑而悼棄之．以為君憂．君不忘先君之好．辱弔群臣．又重恤之．敢拜君命之辱．重拜大貺．厚孫歸復命．語臧武仲曰．衛君其必歸乎．有大叔儀以守．有母弟鱄以出．或撫其內．或營其外．能無歸乎．齊人以郲寄衛侯．及其復也．以郲糧歸．右宰穀從而逃歸．衛人將殺之．辭曰．余不說初矣．余狐裘而羔袖．乃赦之．衛人立公孫剽．孫林父．甯殖．相之．以聽命於諸侯．衛侯在郲．臧紇如齊唁衛侯．與之言虐．退而告其人曰．衛侯其不得入矣．其言糞土也．亡而不變．何以復國．子展．子鮮．聞之．見臧紇與之言道．臧孫說．謂其人曰．衛君必入．夫二子者．或輓之．或推之．欲無入得乎．師歸自伐秦．晉侯舍新軍．禮也．成國不過半天子之軍．周為六軍．諸侯之大者．三軍可也．於是知朔生盈而死．盈生六年而武子卒．彘裘亦幼．皆未可立也．新軍無帥．故舍之．

師曠侍於晉侯．晉侯曰．衛人出其君．不亦甚乎．對曰．或者其君實甚．良君將賞善而刑淫．養民如子．蓋之如天．容之如地．民奉其君．愛之如父母．仰之如日月．敬之如神明．畏之如雷霆．其可出乎．夫君．神之主也．民之望也．若困民之主．匱神乏祀．百姓絕望．社稷無主．將安用之．弗去何為．天生民而立之君．使司牧之．勿使失性．有君而為之貳．使師保之．勿使過度．是故天子有公．諸侯有卿．卿置側室．大夫有貳．宗士有朋友．庶人工商皂隸牧圉．皆有親暱．以相輔佐也．善則賞之．過則匡之．患則救之．失則革之．自王以下．各有父兄子弟．以補察其政．史為書．瞽為詩．工誦箴諫．大夫規誨．士傳言．庶人謗．商旅于市．百工獻藝．故夏書曰．遒人以木鐸徇于路．官師相規．工執藝事以諫．正月孟春．於是乎有之．諫失常也．天之愛民甚矣．豈其使一人肆於民上．以從其淫．而棄天地之性．必不然矣．

秋．楚子為庸浦之役故．子囊師于棠以伐吳．吳不出而還．子囊殿．以吳為不能而弗儆．吳人自皋舟之隘要而擊之．楚人不能相救．吳人敗之．獲楚公子宜穀．

王使劉定公賜齊侯．命曰．昔伯舅大公．右我先王．股肱周室．師保萬民．世胙大師．以表東海．王室之不壞．繄伯舅是賴．今余命女環．茲率舅氏之典．纂乃祖考．無忝乃舊．敬之哉．無廢朕命．

晉侯問衛故於中行獻子．對曰．不如因而定之．衛有君矣．伐之．未可以得志．而勤諸侯．史佚有言曰．因重而撫之．仲虺有言曰．亡者侮之．亂者取之．推亡固存．國之道也．君其定衛以待時乎．冬．會于戚．謀定衛也．范宣子假羽毛於齊而弗歸．齊人始貳．

楚子囊還自伐吳．卒．將死．遺言謂子庚必城郢．君子謂子囊忠．君薨不忘增其名．將死不忘衛社稷．可不謂忠乎．忠．民之望也．詩曰．行歸于周．萬民所望．忠也．

襄公十五年

經

十有五年春．宋公使同戌來聘．

二月．己亥．及向戌盟于劉．劉夏逆王后于齊．

夏．齊侯伐我北鄙．圍成．公救成．至遇．季孫宿．叔孫豹．帥師城成郛．

秋．八月．丁巳．日有食之．邾人伐我南鄙．

冬．十有一月．癸亥．晉侯周卒．

傳

十五年春．宋向戌來聘．且尋盟．見孟獻子．尤其室曰．子有令聞．而美其室．非所望也．對曰．我在晉．吾兄為之．毀之重勞．且不敢間．

官師從單靖公．逆王后于齊．卿不行．非禮也．

楚公子午為令尹．公子罷戎為右尹．蒍子馮為大司馬．公子橐師為右司馬．公子成為左司馬．屈到為莫敖．公子追舒為箴尹．屈蕩為連尹．養由基為宮廄尹．以靖國人．君子謂楚於是乎能官人．官人．國之急也．能官人．則民無覦心．詩云．嗟我懷人．寘彼周行．能官人也．王及公侯．伯．子．男．甸．采．衛大夫．各居其列．所謂周行也．

鄭尉氏．司氏．之亂其餘盜在宋．鄭人以子西．伯有．子產．之故．納賂于宋．以馬四十乘．與師茷．師慧．三月．公孫黑為質焉．司城子罕以堵女父．尉翩．司齊．與之．良司臣而逸之．託諸季武子．武子寘諸卞．鄭人醢之三人也．師慧過宋朝．將私焉．其相曰．朝也．慧曰．無人焉．相曰．朝也．何故無人．慧曰．必無人焉．若猶有人．豈其以千乘之相．易淫樂之矇．必無人焉故也．子罕聞之．固請而歸之．

夏．齊侯圍成．貳於晉故也．於是乎城成郛．

秋．邾人伐我南鄙．使告于晉．晉將為會．以討邾莒．晉侯有疾．乃止．冬．晉悼公卒．遂不克會．鄭公孫夏如晉奔喪．子蟜送葬．宋人或得玉．獻諸子罕．子罕弗受．獻玉者曰．以示玉人．玉人以為寶也．故敢獻之．子罕曰．我以不貪為寶．爾以玉為寶．若以與我．皆喪寶也．不若人有其寶．稽首而告曰．小人懷璧．不可以越鄉．納此以請死也．子罕寘諸其里．使玉人為之攻之．富而後使復其所．

十二月．鄭人奪堵狗之妻．而歸諸范氏．

襄公十六年

經

十有六年春．王正月．葬晉悼公．

三月．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．于溴梁．戊寅．大夫盟．晉人執莒子．邾子．以歸．齊侯伐我北鄙．

夏．公至自會．

五月．甲子．地震．叔老會鄭伯．晉荀偃．衛甯殖．宋人．伐許．

秋．齊侯伐我北鄙．圍郕．大雩．

冬．叔孫豹如晉．

傳

十六年春．葬晉悼公．平公即位．羊舌肸為傅．張君臣為中軍司馬．祁奚．韓襄．欒盈．士鞅．為公族大夫．虞丘書為乘馬御．改服脩官．烝于曲沃．警守而下．會于溴梁．命歸侵田．以我故．執邾宣公．莒犁比公．且曰．通齊楚之使．晉侯與諸侯宴于溫．使諸大夫舞．曰．歌詩必類．齊高厚之詩不類．荀偃怒．且曰．諸侯有異志矣．使諸大夫盟高厚．高厚逃歸．於是叔孫豹．晉荀偃．宋向戌．衛甯殖．鄭公孫蠆．小邾之大夫．盟曰．同討不庭．許男請遷于晉．諸侯遂遷許．許大夫不可．晉人歸諸侯．鄭子蟜聞將伐許．遂相鄭伯以從諸侯之師．穆叔從公．齊子帥師會晉荀偃．書曰．會鄭伯．為夷故也．夏．六月．次于棫林．庚寅．伐許．次于函氏．晉荀偃．欒黶．帥師伐楚．以報宋揚梁之役．楚公子格帥師．及晉師戰于湛阪．楚師敗績．晉師遂侵方城之外．復伐許而還．

秋．齊侯圍郕．孟孺子速徼之．齊侯曰．是好勇．去之以為之名．速遂塞海陘而還．

冬．穆叔如晉聘．且言齊故．晉人曰．以寡君之未禘祀．與民之未息．不然．不敢忘．穆叔曰．以齊人之朝夕釋憾於敝邑之地．是以大請．敝邑之急．朝不及夕．引領西望曰．庶幾乎比執事之間．恐無及也．見中行獻子賦圻父．獻子曰．偃知罪矣．敢不從執事．以同恤社稷．而使魯及此．見范宣子．賦鴻鴈之卒章．宣子曰．匄在此．敢使魯無鳩乎．

襄公十七年

經

十有七年春．王二月．庚午．邾子牼卒．宋人伐陳．

夏．衛石買帥師伐曹．

秋．齊侯伐我北鄙．圍桃．高厚帥師伐我北鄙．圍防．

九月．大雩．宋華臣出奔陳．

冬．邾人伐我南鄙．

傳

十七年春．宋莊朝伐陳．獲司徒卬．卑宋也．衛孫蒯田于曹隧．飲馬于重丘．毀其瓶．重丘人閉門而詢之．曰．親逐而君．爾父為厲．是之不憂．而何以田為．夏．衛石買．孫蒯．伐曹．取重丘．曹人愬于晉．

齊人以其未得志于我故．秋．齊侯伐我北鄙．圍桃．高厚圍臧紇于防．師自陽關逆臧孫．至于旅松．郰叔紇．臧疇．臧賈．帥甲三百．宵犯齊師．送之而復．齊師去之．齊人獲臧堅．齊侯使夙沙衛唁之．且曰無死．堅稽首曰．拜命之辱．抑君賜不終．姑又使其刑臣禮於士．以杙抉其傷而死．

冬．邾人伐我南鄙．為齊故也．宋華閱卒．華臣弱皋比之室．使賊殺其宰華吳．賊六人以鈹殺諸盧門．合左師之後．左師懼曰．老夫無罪．賊曰．皋比私有討於吳．遂幽其妻．曰．畀余而大璧．宋公聞之．曰．臣也．不唯其宗室是暴．大亂宋國之政．必逐之．左師曰．臣也亦卿也．大臣不順．國之恥也．不如蓋之．乃舍之．左師為己短策．苟過華臣之門．必騁．

十一月．甲午．國人逐瘈狗．瘈狗入於華臣氏．國人從之．華臣懼．遂奔陳．宋皇國父為大宰．為平公築臺．妨於農功．子罕請俟農功之畢．公弗許．築者謳曰．澤門之皙．實興我役．邑中之黔．實慰我心．子罕聞之．親執扑．以行築者．而抶其不勉者．曰吾儕小人．皆有闔廬．以辟燥濕寒暑．今君為一臺而不速成．何以為役．謳者乃止．或問其故．子罕曰．宋國區區．而有詛有祝．禍之本也．齊晏桓子卒．晏嬰麤縗斬．苴絰帶．杖．菅屨．食鬻．居倚廬．寢苫．枕草．其老曰．非大夫之禮也．曰．唯卿為大夫．

襄公十八年

經

十有八年春．白狄來．

夏．晉人執衛行人石買．

秋．齊師伐我北鄙．

冬．十月．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．同圍齊．曹伯負芻卒于師．楚公子午帥師伐鄭．

傳

十八年春．白狄始來．

夏．晉人執衛行人石買于長子．執孫蒯于純留．為曹故也．

秋．齊侯伐我北鄙．中行獻子將伐齊．夢與厲公訟．弗勝．公以戈擊之．首隊於前．跪而戴之．奉之以走．見梗陽之巫皋．他日見諸道．與之言同．巫曰．今茲主必死．若有事於東方．則可以逞．獻子許諾．晉侯伐齊．將濟河．獻子以朱絲係玉二榖而禱曰．齊環怙恃其險．負其眾庶．棄好背盟．陵虐神主．曾臣彪將率諸侯以討焉．其官臣偃實先後之．苟捷有功．無作神羞．官臣偃無敢復濟．唯爾有神裁之．沈玉而濟．

冬．十月．會于魯濟．尋溴梁之言．同伐齊．齊侯禦諸平陰．塹防門而守之廣里．夙沙衛曰．不能戰．莫如守險．弗聽．諸侯之士門焉．齊人多死．范宣子告析文子曰．吾知子敢匿情乎．魯人．莒人．皆請以車千乘．自其鄉入．既許之矣．若入．君必失國．子盍圖之．子家以告公．公恐．晏嬰聞之曰．君固無勇．而又聞是．弗能久矣．齊侯登巫山以望晉師．晉人使司馬斥山澤之險．雖所不至．必旆而疏陳之．使乘車者．左實右偽．以施先．輿曳柴而從之．齊侯見之．畏其眾也．乃脫歸．丙寅晦．齊師夜遁．師曠告晉侯曰．鳥烏之聲樂．齊師其遁．邢伯告中行伯曰．有班馬之聲．齊師其遁．叔向告晉侯曰．城上有烏．齊師其遁．

十一月．丁卯．朔．入平陰．遂從齊師．夙沙衛連大車以塞隧而殿．殖綽．郭最．曰．子殿國師．齊之辱也．子姑先乎．乃代之殿．衛殺馬於隘以塞道．晉州綽及之．射殖綽中肩．兩矢夾脰．曰．止．將為三軍獲．不止．將取其衷．顧曰．為私誓．州綽曰．有如日．乃弛弓而自後縛之．其右具丙．亦舍兵而縛郭最．皆衿甲而縛．坐于中軍之鼓下．晉人欲逐歸者．魯衛請攻險．己卯．荀偃．士匄以中軍克京茲．乙酉．魏絳．欒盈．以下軍克邿．趙武．韓起．以上軍圍廬．弗克．

十二月．戊戌．及秦周伐雍門之萩．范鞅門于雍門．其御追喜．以戈殺犬于門中．孟莊子斬其橁．以為公琴．己亥．焚雍門．及西郭．南郭．劉難．士弱．率諸侯之師．焚申池之竹木．壬寅．焚東郭．北郭．范鞅門于揚門．州綽門于東閭．左驂迫．還于東門中．以枚數闔．齊侯駕．將走郵棠．大子與郭榮扣馬曰．師速而疾．略也．將退矣．君何懼焉．且社稷之主．不可以輕．輕則失眾．君必待之．將犯之．大子抽劍斷鞅．乃止．甲辰．東侵及濰．南及沂．鄭子孔欲去諸大夫．將叛晉．而起楚師以去之．使告子庚．子庚弗許．楚子聞之．使楊豚尹宜告子庚曰．國人謂不穀主社稷．而不出師．死不從禮．不穀即位．於今五年．師徒不出．人其以不穀為自逸而忘先君之業矣．大夫圖之．其若之何．子庚歎曰．君王其謂午懷安乎．吾以利社稷也．見使者．稽首而對曰．諸侯方睦於晉．臣請嘗之．若何．君而繼之．不可．收師而退．可以無害．君亦無辱．子庚帥師治兵於汾．於是子蟜．伯有．子張．從鄭伯伐齊．子孔．子展．子西守．二子知子孔之謀．完守入保．子孔不敢會楚師．楚師伐鄭．次於魚陵．右師城上棘．遂涉潁．次于旃然．蒍子馮．公子格．率銳師侵費滑．胥靡．獻于．雍梁．右回梅山．侵鄭東北．至于蟲牢而反．子庚門于純門．信于城下．而還涉於魚齒之下．甚雨及之．楚師多凍．役徒幾盡．晉人聞有楚師．師曠曰．不害．吾驟歌北風．又歌南風．南風不競．多死聲．楚必無功．董叔曰．天道多在西北．南師不時．必無功．叔向曰．在其君之德也．

襄公十九年

經

十有九年春．王正月．諸侯盟于祝柯．晉人執邾子．公至自伐齊．取邾田自漷水．季孫宿如晉．葬曹成公．

夏．衛孫林父帥師伐齊．

秋．七月．辛卯．齊侯環卒．晉士匄帥師侵齊．至穀．聞齊侯卒．乃還．

八月．丙辰．仲孫蔑卒．齊殺其大夫高厚．鄭殺其大夫公子嘉．

冬．葬齊靈公．城西郛．叔孫豹會晉士匄于柯．城武城．

傳

十九年春．諸侯還自沂上．盟于督揚曰．大毋侵小．執邾悼公．以其伐我故．遂次于泗上．疆我田．取邾田．自漷水．歸之于我．晉侯先歸．公享晉六卿于蒲圃．賜之三命之服．軍尉．司馬．司空．輿尉．候奄．皆受一命之服．賄荀偃東錦．加璧乘馬．先吳壽夢之鼎．荀偃癉疽．生瘍於頭．濟河．及著雍．病．目出．大夫先歸者皆反．士匄請見．弗內．請後．曰鄭甥可．

二月．甲寅．卒．而視．不可含．宣子盥而撫之曰．事吳敢不如事主．猶視．欒懷子曰．其為未卒事於齊故也乎．乃復撫之曰．主苟終．所不嗣事于齊者．有如河．乃瞑受含．宣子出曰．吾淺之為丈夫也．晉欒魴帥師從衛孫文子伐齊．季武子如晉拜師．晉侯享之．范宣子為政．賦黍苗．季武子興．再拜稽首曰．小國之仰大國也．如百穀之仰膏雨焉．若常膏之．其天下輯睦．豈唯敝邑．賦六月．季武子以所得於齊之兵．作林鍾．而銘魯功焉．臧武仲謂季孫曰．非禮也．夫銘．天子令德．諸侯言時計功．大夫稱伐．今稱伐．則下等也．計功．則借人也．言時．則妨民多矣．何以為銘．且夫大伐小．取其所得以作彝器．銘其功烈．以示子孫．昭明德而懲無禮也．今將借人之力．以救其死．若之何銘之．小國幸於大國．而昭所獲焉．以怒之．亡之道也．

齊侯娶于魯．曰顏懿姬．無子．其姪鬷聲姬生光．以為大子．諸子．仲子．戎子．戎子嬖．仲子生牙．屬諸戎子．戎子請以為大子．許之．仲子曰．不可．廢常不祥．間諸侯難．光之立也．列於諸侯矣．今無故而廢之．是專黜諸侯．而以難犯不祥也．君必悔之．公曰．在我而已．遂東大子光．使高厚傅牙以為大子．夙沙衛為少傅．齊侯疾．崔杼微逆光．疾病而立之．光殺戎子．尸諸朝．非禮也．婦人無刑．雖有刑．不在朝市．

夏．五月．壬辰．晦．齊靈公卒．莊公即位．執公子牙於句瀆之丘．以夙沙衛易已．衛奔高唐以叛．晉士匄侵齊及穀．聞喪而還．禮也．

於四月．丁未．鄭公孫蠆卒．赴於晉．大夫范宣子言於晉侯．以其善於伐秦也．

六月．晉侯請於王．王追賜之大路．使以行禮也．

秋．八月．齊崔杼殺高厚於灑藍．而兼其室．書曰．齊殺其大夫．從君於昏也．

鄭子孔之為政也專．國人患之．乃討西宮之難．與純門之師．子孔當罪．以其甲及子革．子良氏之甲守．甲辰．子展．子西．率國人伐之．殺子孔而分其室．書曰．鄭殺其大夫．專也．子然．子孔．宋子之子也．士子孔．圭媯之子也．圭媯之班．亞宋子而相親也．士子孔．亦相親也．僖之四年．子然卒．簡之元年．士子孔卒．司徒孔實相子革．子良．之室．三室如一．故及於難．子革．子良．出奔楚．子革．為右尹．鄭人使子展當國．子西聽政．立子產為卿．

齊慶封圍高唐弗克．冬．十一月．齊侯圍之．見衛在城上．號之乃下．問守備焉．以無備告．揖之．乃登．聞師將傅．食高唐也．殖綽．工僂．會．夜縋納師．醢衛于軍．城西郛．懼齊也．齊及晉平．盟于大隧．故穆叔會范宣子于柯．穆叔見叔向．賦載馳之四章．叔向曰．肸敢不承命．穆叔曰．齊猶未也．不可以不懼．乃城武城．衛石共子卒．悼子不哀．孔成子曰．是謂蹙其本．必不有其宗．

襄公二十年

經

二十年春．王正月．辛亥．仲孫速會莒人盟于向．

夏．六月．庚申．公會晉侯．齊侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．盟于澶淵．

秋．公至自會．仲孫速帥師伐邾．蔡殺其大夫公子燮．蔡公子履出奔楚．陳侯之弟黃出奔楚．叔老如齊．

冬．十月．丙辰朔．日有食之．季孫宿如宋．

傳

二十年春．及莒平．孟莊子會莒人．盟于向．督揚之盟故也．

夏．盟于澶淵．齊成故也．邾人驟至．以諸侯之事．弗能報也．

秋．孟莊子伐邾以報之．蔡公子燮欲以蔡之晉．蔡人殺之．公子履其母弟也．故出奔楚．陳慶虎．慶寅．畏公子黃之偪．愬諸楚曰．與蔡司馬同謀．楚人以為討．公子黃出奔楚．初．蔡文侯欲事晉．曰．先君與於踐土之盟．晉不可棄．且兄弟也．畏楚不能行而卒．楚人使蔡無常．公子燮．求從先君以利蔡．不能而死．書曰．蔡殺其大夫公子燮．言不與民同欲也．陳侯之弟黃出奔楚．言非其罪也．公子黃將出奔．呼於國曰．慶氏無道．求專陳國．暴蔑其君．而去其親．五年不滅．是無天也．齊子初聘于齊．禮也．

冬．季武子如宋．報向戌之聘也．褚師段逆之以受享．賦常棣之七章以卒．宋人重賄之．歸復命．公享之．賦魚麗之卒章．公賦南山有臺．武子去所曰．臣不堪也．衛甯惠子疾．召悼子曰．吾得罪於君．悔而無及也．名藏在諸侯之策．曰孫林父．甯殖．出其君．君入則掩之．若能掩之．則吾子也．若不能．猶有鬼神．吾有餒而已．不來食矣．悼子許諾．惠子遂卒．

襄公二十一年

經

二十有一年春．王正月．公如晉．邾庶其以漆閭丘來奔．

夏．公至自晉．

秋．晉欒盈出奔楚．

九月．庚戌朔．日有食之．

冬．十月．庚辰朔．日有食之．曹伯來朝．公會晉侯．齊侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．于商任．

傳

二十一年春．公如晉拜師．及取邾田也．邾庶其以漆閭丘來奔．季武子以公姑姊妻之．皆有賜於其從者．於是魯多盜．季孫謂臧武仲曰．子盍詰盜．武仲曰．不可詰也．紇又不能．季孫曰．我有四封．而詰其盜．何故不可．子為司寇．將盜是務去．若之何不能．武仲曰子召外盜而大禮焉．何以止吾盜．子為正卿．而來外盜．使紇去之．將何以能．庶其竊邑於邾以來．子以姬氏妻之．而與之邑．其從者皆有賜焉．若大盜禮焉．以君之姑姊與其大邑．其次皁牧輿馬．其小者衣裳劍帶．是賞盜也．賞而去之．其或難焉．紇也聞之．在上位者洒濯其心．壹以待人．軌度其信．可明徵也．而後可以治人．夫上之所為．民之歸也．上所不為．而民或為之．是以加刑罰焉．而莫敢不懲．若上之所為而民亦為之．乃其所也．又可禁乎．夏書曰．念茲在茲．釋茲在茲．名言茲在茲．允出茲在茲．惟帝念功．將謂由已壹也．信由已壹．而後功可念也．庶其非卿也．以地來．雖賤必書．重地也．

齊侯使慶佐為大夫．復討公子牙之黨．執公子買于句瀆之丘．公子鉏來奔．叔孫還奔燕．

夏．楚子庚卒．楚子使薳子馮為令尹．訪於申叔豫．叔豫曰．國多寵而王弱．國不可為也．遂以疾辭．方暑．闕地下冰而床焉．重繭衣裘．鮮食而寢．楚子使醫視之．復曰．瘠則甚矣．而血氣未動．乃使子南為令尹．

欒桓子娶於范宣子．生懷子．范鞅以其亡也．怨欒氏．故與欒盈為公族大夫．而不相能．桓子卒．欒祁與其老州賓通．幾亡室矣．懷子患之．祁懼其討也．愬諸宣子曰．盈將為亂．以范氏為死桓主而專政矣．曰．吾父逐鞅也．不怒．而以寵報之．又與吾同官而專之．吾父死而益富．死吾父而專於國．有死而已．吾蔑從之矣．其謀如是．懼害於主．吾不敢不言．范鞅為之徵．懷子好施．士多歸之．宣子畏其多士也．信之．懷子為下卿．宣子使城著而遂逐之．

秋．欒盈出奔楚．宣子殺箕遺．黃淵．嘉父．司空靖．邴豫．董叔．邴師．申書．羊舌虎．叔羆．囚伯華．叔向．籍偃．人謂叔向曰．子離於罪．其為不知乎．叔向曰．與其死亡若何．詩曰．優哉游哉．聊以卒歲．知也．樂王鮒見叔向曰．吾為子請．叔向弗應．出不拜．其人皆咎叔向．叔向曰．必祁大夫．室老聞之曰．樂王鮒言於君．無不行．求赦吾子．吾子不許．祁大夫所不能也．而曰必由之．何也．叔向曰．樂王鮒．從君者也．何能行．祁大夫外舉不棄讎．內舉不失親．其獨遺我乎．詩曰．有覺德行．四國順之．夫子覺者也．晉侯問叔向之罪於樂王鮒．對曰．不棄其親．其有焉．於是祁奚老矣．聞之．乘馹而見宣子曰．詩曰．惠我無疆．子孫保之．書曰．聖有暮勳．明徵定保．夫謀而鮮過．惠訓不倦者．叔向有焉．社稷之固也．猶將十世宥之．以勸能者．今壹不免其身．其棄社稷．不亦惑乎．鯀殛而禹興．伊尹放大甲而相之．卒無怨色．管蔡為戮．周公右王．若之何其以虎也棄社稷．子為善．誰敢不勉．多殺何為．宣子說．與之乘以言諸公而免之．不見叔向而歸．叔向亦不告免焉而朝．

初．叔向之母妒叔虎之母美而不使．其子皆諫其母．其母曰．深山大澤．實生龍蛇．彼美．余懼其生龍蛇以禍女．女敝族也．國多大寵．不仁人間之．不亦難乎．余何愛焉．使往視寢．生叔虎．美而有勇力．欒懷子嬖之．故羊舌氏之族及於難．欒盈過於周．周西鄙掠之．辭於行人曰．天子陪臣盈．得罪於王之守臣．將逃罪．罪重於郊甸．無所伏竄．敢布其死．昔陪臣書能輸力於王室．王施惠焉．其子黶不能保任其父之勞．大君若不棄書之力．亡臣猶有所逃．若棄書之力．而思黶之罪．臣戮餘也．將歸死於尉氏．不敢還矣．敢布四體．惟大君命焉．王曰．尤而效之．其又甚焉．使司徒禁掠欒氏者．歸所取焉．使候出諸轘轅．

冬．曹武公來朝．始見也．會於商任．錮欒氏也．齊侯．衛侯．不敬．叔向曰．二君者必不免．會朝禮之經也．禮政之輿也．政身之守也．怠禮失政．失政不立．是以亂也．知起．中行喜．州綽．邢蒯．出奔齊．皆欒氏之黨也．樂王鮒謂范宣子曰．盍反州綽．邢蒯．勇士也．宣子曰．彼欒氏之勇也．余何獲焉．王鮒曰．子為彼欒氏．乃亦子之勇也．齊莊公朝指殖綽．郭最．曰．是寡人之雄也．州綽曰．君以為雄．誰敢不雄．然臣不敏．平陰之役．先二子鳴．莊公為勇爵．殖綽．郭最．欲與焉．州綽曰．東閭之役．臣左驂迫．還於門中．識其枚數．其可以與於此乎．公曰．子為晉臣也．對曰．臣為隸新．然二子者．譬於禽獸．臣食其肉．而寢處其皮矣．

襄公二十二年

經

二十有二年春．王正月．公至自會．

夏．四月．

秋．七月．辛酉．叔老卒．

冬．公會晉侯．齊侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．于沙隨．公至自會．楚殺其大夫公子追舒．

傳

二十二年春．臧武仲如晉．雨．過御叔．御叔在其邑．將飲酒．曰．焉用聖人．我將飲酒而已．雨行．何以聖為．穆叔聞之．曰．不可使也．而傲使人．國之蠹也．令倍其賦．

夏．晉人徵朝于鄭．鄭人使少正公孫僑對曰．在晉先君悼公九年．我寡君於是即位．即位八月．而我先大夫子駟．從寡君以朝于執事．執事不禮於寡君．寡君懼因是行也．我二年六月．朝于楚．晉是以有戲之役．楚人猶競而申禮於敝邑．敝邑欲從執事．而懼為大尤．曰．晉其謂我不共有禮．是以不敢攜貳於楚．我四年三月．先大夫子蟜又從寡君以觀釁於楚．晉於是乎有蕭魚之役．謂我敝邑．邇在晉國．譬諸草木．吾臭味也．而何敢差池．楚亦不競．寡君盡其土．實重之以宗．器以受齊．盟遂帥群．臣隨于執．事以會歲終．貳於楚者．子侯．石盂．歸而討之．溴梁之明年．子蟜老矣．公孫夏從寡君以朝于君．見於嘗酎．與執燔焉．間二年．聞君將靖東夏．

四月．又朝以聽事．期不朝之間．無歲不聘．無役不從．以大國政令之無常．國家罷病．不虞荐至．無日不惕．豈敢忘職．大國若安定之．其朝夕在庭．何辱命焉．若不恤其患．而以為口實．其無乃不堪任命．而翦為仇讎．敝邑是懼．其敢忘君命．委諸執事．執事實重圖之．

秋．欒盈自楚適齊．晏平仲言於齊侯曰．商任之會．受命於晉．今納欒氏．將安用之．小所以事大．信也．失信不立．君其圖之．弗聽．退告陳文子曰．君人執信．臣人執共．忠信篤敬．上下同之．天之道也．君自棄也．弗能久矣．

九月．鄭公孫黑肱有疾．歸邑于公．召室老宗人．立段而使黜官薄祭．祭以特羊．殷以少牢．足以共祀．盡歸其餘邑曰．吾聞之．生於亂世．貴而能貧．民無求焉．可以後亡．敬共事君．與二三子．生在敬戒．不在富也．己巳．伯張卒．君子曰善戒．詩曰．慎爾侯度．用戒不虞．鄭子張其有焉．

冬．會于沙隨．復錮欒氏也．欒盈猶在齊．晏子曰．禍將作矣．齊將伐晉．不可以不懼．楚觀起有寵於令尹子南．未益祿而有馬數十乘．楚人患之．王將討焉．子南之子棄疾為王御士．王每見之必泣．棄疾曰．君三泣臣矣．敢問誰之罪也．王曰．令尹之不能．爾所知也．國將討焉．爾其居乎．對曰．父戮子居．君焉用之．洩命重刑．臣亦不為．王遂殺子南於朝．轘觀起於四竟．子南之臣謂棄疾．請徙子尸於朝．曰君臣有禮．唯二三子．三日．棄疾請尸．王許之．既葬．其徒曰．行乎．曰吾與殺吾父．行將焉入．曰然則臣王乎．曰棄父事讎．吾弗忍也．遂縊而死．復使薳子馮為令尹．公齮子為司馬．屈建為莫敖．有寵於薳子者八人．皆無祿而多馬．他日朝．與申叔豫言．弗應而退．從之．入於人中．又從之．遂歸．退朝見之．曰．子三困我於朝．吾懼不敢不見．吾過．子姑告我．何疾我也．對曰．吾不免是懼．何敢告子．曰．何故．對曰．昔觀起有寵於子南．子南得罪．觀起車裂．何故不懼．自御而歸．不能當道．至．謂八人者曰．吾見申叔夫子．所謂生死而肉骨也．知我者．如夫子則可．不然謂止．辭八人者．而後王安之．

十二月．鄭游販將歸晉．未出竟．遭逆妻者．奪之．以館于邑．丁巳．其夫攻子明殺之．以其妻行．子展廢良而立大叔．曰國卿．君之貳也．民之主也．不可以苟．請舍子明之類．求亡妻者．使復其所．使游氏勿怨．曰．無昭惡也．

襄公二十三年

經

二十有三年春．王二月．癸酉朔．日有食之．

三月．己巳．杞伯匄卒．

夏．邾畀我來奔．葬杞孝公．陳殺其大夫慶虎及慶寅．陳侯之弟黃．自楚歸于陳．晉欒盈復入于晉．入于曲沃．

秋．齊侯伐衛．遂伐晉．

八月．叔孫豹帥師救晉．次于雍榆．己卯．仲孫速卒．

冬．十月．乙亥．臧孫紇出奔邾．晉人殺欒盈．齊侯襲莒．

傳

二十三年春．杞孝公卒．晉悼夫人喪之．平公不徹樂．非禮也．禮為鄰國闕．陳侯如楚．公子黃愬二慶於楚．楚人召之．使慶樂往殺之．慶氏以陳叛．

夏．屈建從陳侯圍陳．陳人城板隊而殺人．役人相命．各殺其長．遂殺慶虎．慶寅．楚人納公子黃．君子謂慶氏不義．不可肆也．故書曰．惟命不于常．晉將嫁女于吳．齊侯使析歸父媵之．以藩載欒盈．及其士．納諸曲沃．欒盈夜見胥午而告之．對曰．不可．天之所廢．誰能興之．子必不免．吾非愛死也．知不集也．盈曰．雖然．因子而死．吾無悔矣．我實不天．子無咎焉．許諾．伏之而觴曲沃人．樂作．午言曰．今也得欒孺子何如．對曰．得主而為之死．猶不死也．皆歎．有泣者．爵行．又言．皆曰．得主何貳之有．盈出．遍拜之．

四月．欒盈帥曲沃之甲．因魏獻子以晝入絳．初．欒盈佐魏莊子於下軍．獻子私焉．故因之．趙氏以原屏之難怨欒氏．韓趙方睦．中行氏以伐秦之役怨欒氏．而固與范氏和親．知悼子少而聽於中行氏．程鄭嬖於公．唯魏氏及七輿大夫與之．樂王鮒侍坐於范宣子．或告曰．欒氏至矣．宣子懼．桓子曰．奉君以走固宮．必無害也．且欒氏多怨．子為政．欒氏自外．子在位．其利多矣．既有利權．又執民柄．將何懼焉．欒氏所得．其唯魏氏乎．而可強取也．夫克亂在權．子無懈矣．公有姻喪．王鮒使宣子墨縗冒絰．二婦人輦以如公．奉公以如固宮．范鞅逆魏舒．則成列既乘．將逆欒氏矣．趨進曰．欒氏帥賊以入．鞅之父與二三子在君所矣．使鞅逆吾子．鞅請驂乘持帶．遂超乘．右撫劍．左援帶．命驅之出．僕請．鞅曰．之公．宣子逆諸階．執其手．賂之以曲沃．初．斐豹隸也．著於丹書．欒氏之力臣曰督戎．國人懼之．斐豹謂宣子曰．苟焚丹書．我殺督戎．宣子喜曰．而殺之．所不請於君焚丹書者．有如日．乃出豹而閉之．督戎從之．踰隱而待之．督戎踰入．豹自後擊而殺之．范氏之徒在臺後．欒氏乘公門．宣子謂鞅曰．矢及君屋死之．鞅用劍以帥卒．欒氏退．攝車從之．遇欒樂曰．樂免之．死將訟女於天．樂射之不中．又注則乘槐本而覆．或以戟鉤之．斷肘而死．欒魴傷．欒盈奔曲沃．晉人圍之．

秋．齊侯伐衛．先驅．穀榮御王孫揮．召揚為右．申驅．成秩御莒恆．申鮮虞之傅摯為右．曹開御戎．晏父戎為右．貳廣．上之登御邢公．盧蒲癸為右．啟．牢成御襄罷師．狼蘧疏為右．胠．商子車御侯朝．桓跳為右．大殿．商子游御夏之御寇．崔如為右．燭庸之越駟乘．自衛將遂伐晉．晏平仲曰．君恃勇力以伐盟主．若不濟．國之福也．不德而有功．憂必及君．崔杼諫曰．不可．臣聞之．小國間大國之敗而毀焉．必受其咎．君其圖之．弗聽．陳文子見崔武子曰．將如君何．武子曰．吾言於君．君弗聽也．以為盟主．而利其難．群臣若急．君於何有．子姑止之．文子退．告其人曰．崔子將死乎．謂君甚．而又過之．不得其死．過君以義．猶自抑也．況以惡乎．齊侯遂伐晉．取朝歌為二隊．入孟門．登大行．張武軍於熒庭．戍郫邵．封少水．以報平陰之役．乃還．趙勝帥東陽之師以追之．獲晏氂．

八月叔孫豹帥師救晉．次于雍榆．禮也．季武子無適子．公彌長．而愛悼子．欲立之．訪於申豐曰．彌與紇．吾皆愛之．欲擇才焉而立之．申豐趨退．歸．盡室將行．他日又訪焉．對曰．其然．將具敝車而行．乃止．訪於臧紇．臧紇曰．飲我酒．吾為子立之．季氏飲大夫酒．臧紇為客．既獻．臧孫命北面重席．新樽絜之．召悼子．降逆之．大夫皆起．及旅．而召公鉏．使與之齒．季孫失色．季氏以公鉏為馬正．慍而不出．閔子馬見之曰．子無然．禍福無門．唯人所召．為人子者．患不孝．不患無所．敬其父命．何常之有．若能孝敬．富倍季氏可也．姦回不軌．禍倍下民可也．公鉏然之．敬共朝夕．恪居官次．季孫喜．使飲己酒．而以具往．盡舍旃．故公鉏氏富．又出為公左宰．孟孫惡臧孫．季孫愛之．孟氏之御騶豐點．好羯也．曰．從余言．必為孟孫．再三云．羯從之．孟莊子疾．豐點謂公鉏．苟立羯．請讎臧氏．公鉏謂季孫曰．孺子秩固其所也．若羯立．則季氏信有力於臧氏矣．弗應．己卯．孟孫卒．公鉏奉羯立于戶側．季孫至．入哭而出．曰．秩焉在．公鉏曰．羯在此矣．季孫曰．孺子長．公鉏曰．何長之有．唯其才也．且夫子之命也．遂立羯．秩奔邾．臧孫入哭．甚哀多涕．出．其御曰．孟孫之惡子也．而哀如是．季孫若死．其若之何．臧孫曰．季之愛我．疾疢也．孟孫之惡我．藥石也．美疢不如惡石．夫石猶生我．疢之美．其毒滋多．孟孫死．吾亡無日矣．孟氏閉門．告於季孫曰．臧氏將為亂．不使我葬．季孫不信．臧孫聞之戒．

冬．十月．孟氏將辟．藉除於臧氏．臧孫使正夫助之．除於東門甲．從已而視之．孟氏又告季孫．季孫怒．命攻臧氏．乙亥．臧紇斬鹿門之關．以出奔．邾．初．臧宣叔娶于鑄．生賈及為而死．繼室以其姪．穆姜之姨子也．生紇．長於公宮．姜氏愛之．故立之．臧賈臧為出在鑄．臧武仲自邾使告臧賈．且致大蔡焉．曰．紇不佞．失守宗祧．敢告不弔．紇之罪不及不祀．子以大蔡納請．其可．賈曰．是家之禍也．非子之過也．賈聞命矣．再拜受龜．使為以納請．遂自為也．臧孫如防．使來告曰．紇非能害也．知不足也．非敢私請．苟守先祀．無廢二勳．敢不辟邑．乃立臧為．臧紇致防而奔齊．其人曰．其盟我乎．臧孫曰．無辭．將盟臧氏．季孫召外史掌惡臣．而問盟首焉．對曰．盟東門氏也．曰．毋或如東門遂．不聽公命．殺適立庶．盟叔孫氏也．曰．毋或如叔孫僑如欲廢國常．蕩覆公室．季孫曰．臧孫之罪．皆不及此．孟椒曰．盍以其犯門斬關．季孫用之．乃盟臧氏曰．無或如臧孫紇．干國之紀．犯門斬關．臧孫聞之曰．國有人焉．誰居．其孟椒乎．晉人克欒盈于曲沃．盡殺欒氏之族黨．欒魴出奔宋．書曰．晉人殺欒盈．不言大夫．言自外也．齊侯還自晉．不入．遂襲莒．門于且于．傷股而退．明日將復戰．期于壽舒．杞．殖華還．載甲夜入且于之隧．宿於莒郊．明日．先遇莒子於蒲侯氏．莒子重賂之．使無死．曰．請有盟．華周對曰．貪貨棄命．亦君所惡也．昏而受命．日未中而棄之．何以事君．莒子親鼓之．從而伐之．獲杞梁．莒人．行成．齊侯歸．遇杞梁之妻於郊．使弔之．辭曰．殖之有罪．何辱命焉．若免於罪．猶有先人之敝廬在．下妾不得與郊弔．齊侯弔諸其室．齊侯將為臧紇田．臧孫聞之．見齊侯．與之言伐晉．對曰．多則多矣．抑君似鼠．夫鼠晝伏夜動．不穴於寢廟．畏人故也．今君聞晉之亂．而後作焉．寧將事之．非鼠如何．乃弗與田．仲尼曰．知之難也．有臧武仲之知．而不容於魯國．抑有由也．作不順而施不恕也．夏書曰．念茲在茲．順事恕施也．

襄公二十四年

經

二十有四年春．叔孫豹如晉．仲孫羯帥師侵齊．

夏．楚子伐吳．

秋．七月．甲子．朔．日有食之．既．齊崔杼帥師伐莒．大水．

八月．癸巳朔．日有食之．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．于夷儀．

冬．楚子．蔡侯．陳侯．許男．伐鄭．公至自會．陳鍼宜咎出奔楚．叔孫豹如京師．大饑．

傳

二十四年春．穆叔如晉．范宣子逆之問焉．曰．古人有言曰．死而不朽．何謂也．穆叔未對．宣子曰．昔匄之祖．自虞以上為陶唐氏．在夏為御龍氏．在商為豕韋氏．在周為唐杜氏．晉主夏盟為范氏．其是之謂乎．穆叔曰．以豹所聞．此之謂世祿．非不朽也．魯有先大夫曰臧文仲．既沒．其言立．其是之謂乎．豹聞之．大上有立德．其次有立功．其次有立言．雖久不廢．此之謂不朽．若夫保姓受氏．以守宗祊．世不絕祀．無國無之．祿之大者．不可謂不朽．范宣子為政．諸侯之幣重．鄭人病之．

二月．鄭伯如晉．子產寓書於子西．以告宣子曰．子為晉國．四鄰諸侯．不聞令德．而聞重幣．僑也惑之．僑聞君子長國家者．非無賄之患．而無令名之難．夫諸侯之賄．聚於公室．則諸侯貳．若吾子賴之．則晉國貳．諸侯貳則晉國壞．晉國貳則子之家壞．何沒沒也．將焉用賄．夫令名．德之輿也．德．國家之基也．有基無壞．無亦是務乎．有德則樂．樂則能久．詩云．樂只君子．邦家之基．有令德也．夫上帝臨女．無貳爾心．有令名也．夫恕．思以明德．則令名載而行之．是以遠至邇安．毋寧使人謂子．子實生我．而謂子浚我以生乎．象有齒以焚其身．賄也．宣子說．乃輕幣．是行也．鄭伯朝晉．為重幣故．且請伐陳也．鄭伯稽首．宣子辭．子西相曰．以陳國之介．恃大國而陵虐於敝邑．寡君是以請罪焉．敢不稽首．孟孝伯侵齊．晉故也．

夏．楚子為舟師以伐吳．不為軍政．無功而還．齊侯既伐晉而懼．將欲見楚子．楚子使薳啟彊如齊聘．且請期．齊社蒐軍實．使客觀之．陳文子曰．齊將有寇．吾聞之．兵不戢．必取其族．

秋．齊侯聞將有晉師．使陳無宇從薳啟彊如楚辭．且乞師．崔杼帥師送之．遂伐莒．侵介根．會于夷儀．將以伐齊．水不克．

冬．楚子伐鄭以救齊．門于東門．次于棘澤．諸侯還救鄭．晉侯使張骼．輔躒．致楚師．求御于鄭．鄭人卜宛射犬吉．子大叔戒之曰．大國之人．不可與也．對曰無有眾寡．其上一也．大叔曰．不然．部婁無松柏．二子在幄．坐射犬于外．既食而後食之．使御廣車而行．已皆乘乘車．將及楚師．而後從之乘．皆踞轉而鼓琴．近不告而馳之．皆取冑於櫜而冑．入壘皆下．搏人以投．收禽挾囚．弗待而出．皆超乘．抽弓而射．既免．復踞轉而鼓琴．曰．公孫同乘．兄弟也．故再不謀．對曰．曩者志入而已．今則怯也．皆笑曰．公孫之亟也．楚子自棘澤還．使薳啟彊帥師送陳無宇．吳人為楚舟師之役故．召舒鳩人．舒鳩人叛楚．楚子師于荒浦．使沈尹壽與師祁犁讓之．舒鳩子敬逆二子．而告無之．且請受盟．二子復命．王欲伐之．薳子曰．不可．彼告不叛．且請受盟．而又伐之．伐無罪也．姑歸息民．以待其卒．卒而不貳．吾又何求．若猶叛我．無辭．有庸．乃還．陳人復討慶氏之黨．鍼宜咎出奔楚．齊人城郟．穆叔如周聘．且賀城．王嘉其有禮也．賜之大路．晉侯嬖程鄭．使佐下軍．鄭行人公孫揮如晉聘．程鄭問焉．曰．敢問降階何由．子羽不能對．歸以語然明．然明曰．是將死矣．不然將亡．貴而知懼．懼而思降．乃得其階．下人而已．又何問焉．且夫既登而求降階者．知人也．不在程鄭．其有亡釁乎．不然．其有惑疾．將死而憂也．

襄公二十五年

經

二十有五年春．齊崔杼帥師伐我北鄙．

夏．五月．乙亥．齊崔杼弒其君光．公會晉侯．宋公．衛侯．鄭伯．曹伯．莒子．邾子．滕子．薛伯．杞伯．小邾子．于夷儀．

六月．壬子．鄭公孫舍之帥師入陳．

秋．八月．己巳．諸侯同盟于重丘．公至自會．衛侯入于夷儀．楚屈建帥師滅舒鳩．

冬．鄭公孫夏帥師伐陳．

十有二月．吳子遏伐楚．門于巢．卒．

傳

二十五年春．齊崔杼帥師伐我北鄙．以報孝伯之師也．公患之．使告于晉．孟公綽曰．崔子將有大志．不在病我．必速歸．何患焉．其來也不寇．使民不嚴．異於他日．齊師徒歸．

齊棠公之妻．東郭偃之姊也．東郭偃臣崔武子．棠公死．偃御武子以弔焉．見棠姜而美之．使偃取之．偃曰．男女辨姓．今君出自丁．臣出自桓．不可．武子筮之．遇困之大過．史皆曰吉．示陳文子．文子曰．夫從風．風隕妻．不可聚也．且其繇曰．困于石．據于蒺梨．入于其宮．不見其妻．凶．困于石．往不濟也．據于蒺梨．可恃傷也．入于其宮．不見其妻．凶．無所歸也．崔子曰．嫠也何害．先夫當之矣．遂取之．莊公通焉．驟如崔氏．以崔子之冠賜人．侍者曰不可．公曰．不為崔子．其無冠乎．崔子因是．又以其間伐晉也．曰晉必將報．欲弒公以說于晉．而不獲間．公鞭侍人賈舉．而又近之．乃為崔子間公．

夏．五月．莒子為且于之役故．莒子朝于齊．甲戌．饗諸北郭．崔子稱疾不視事．乙亥．公問崔子．遂從姜氏．姜入于室．與崔子自側戶出．公拊楹而歌．侍人賈舉止眾從者．而入閉門．甲興．公登臺而請．弗許．請盟．弗許．請自刃於廟．勿許．皆曰．君之臣杼疾病．不能聽命．近於公宮．陪臣干掫有淫者．不知二命．公踰牆．又射之．中股．反隊．遂弒之．賈舉．州綽．邴師．公孫敖．封具．鐸父．襄伊．僂堙．皆死．祝佗父祭於高唐．至復命．不說弁而死於崔氏．申蒯侍漁者．退謂其宰曰．爾以帑免．我將死．其宰曰．免．是反子之義也．與之皆死．

崔氏殺鬷蔑于平陰．晏子立於崔氏之門外．其人曰．死乎．曰．獨吾君也乎哉．吾死也．曰．行乎．曰．吾罪也乎哉．吾亡也．曰．歸乎．曰．君死安歸．君民者．豈以陵民．社稷是主．臣君者．豈為其口實．社稷是養．故君為社稷死．則死之．為社稷亡．則亡之．若為己死而己亡．非其私暱．誰敢任之．且人有君而弒之．吾焉得死之．而焉得亡之．將庸何歸．門啟而入．枕尸股而哭．興．三踊而出．人謂崔子必殺之．崔子曰．民之望也．舍之得民．盧蒲癸奔晉．王何奔莒．

叔孫宣伯之在齊也．叔孫還納其女於靈公．嬖．生景公．丁丑．崔杼立而相之．慶封為左相．盟國人於大宮曰．所不與崔慶者．晏子仰天歎曰．嬰所不唯忠於君．利社稷者是與．有如上帝．乃歃．辛巳．公與大夫及莒子盟．大史書曰．崔杼弒其君．崔子殺之．其弟嗣書．而死者二人．其弟又書．乃舍之．南史氏聞大史盡死．執簡以往．聞既書矣．乃還．

閭丘嬰以帷縳其妻而載之．與申鮮虞乘而出．鮮虞推而下之曰．君昏不能匡．危不能救．死不能死．而知匿其暱．其誰納之．行及弇中．將舍．嬰曰．崔慶其追我．鮮虞曰．一與一．誰能懼我．遂舍．枕轡而寢．食馬而食．駕而行．出弇中．謂嬰曰．速驅之．崔慶之眾．不可當也．遂來奔．

崔氏側莊公于北郭．丁亥．葬諸士孫之里．四翣．不蹕．下車七乘．不以兵甲．晉侯濟自泮．會于夷儀．伐齊以報朝歌之役．齊人以莊公說．使隰鉏請成．慶封如師．男女以班．賂晉侯以宗器樂器．自六正．五吏．三十師．三軍之大夫．百官之正長．師旅．及處守者．皆有賂．晉侯許之．使叔向告於諸侯．公使子服惠伯對曰．君舍有罪．以靖小國．君之惠也．寡君聞命矣．晉侯使魏舒．宛沒．逆衛侯．將使衛與之夷儀．崔子止其帑．以求五鹿．

初．陳侯會楚子伐鄭．當陳隧者．井堙木刊．鄭人怨之六月．鄭子展．子產．帥車七百乘伐陳．宵突陳城．遂入之．陳侯扶其大子偃師奔墓．遇司馬桓子曰．載余．曰將巡城．遇賈獲載其母妻．下之而授公車．公曰．舍而母．辭曰．不祥．與其妻扶其母以奔墓．亦免．子展命師無入公宮．與子產親御諸門．陳侯使司馬桓子賂以宗器．陳侯免．擁社．使其眾男女別而纍．以待於朝．子展執縶而見．再拜稽首．承飲而進獻．子美入．數俘而出．祝祓社．司徒致民．司馬致節．司空致地．乃還．

秋．七月．己巳．同盟于重丘．齊成故也．趙文子為政．令薄諸侯之幣．而重其禮．穆叔見之．謂穆叔曰．自今以往．兵其少弭矣．齊崔慶新得政．將求善於諸侯．武也．知楚令尹．若敬行其禮．道之以文辭．以靖諸侯．兵可以弭．楚薳子馮卒．屈建為令尹．屈蕩為莫敖．舒鳩人卒叛．楚令尹子木伐之．及離城．吳人救之．子木遽以右師先．子彊息桓．子捷．子駢．子盂．帥左師以退．吳人居其間七日．子彊曰．久將墊隘．隘乃禽也．不如速戰．請以其私卒誘之．簡師陳以待我．我克則進．奔則亦視之．乃可以免．不然．必為吳禽．從之．五人以其私卒．先擊吳師．吳師奔．登山以望．見楚師不繼．復逐之．傅諸其軍．簡師會之．吳師大敗．遂圍舒鳩．舒鳩潰．

八月．楚滅舒鳩．衛獻公入于夷儀．鄭子產獻捷于晉．戎服將事．晉人問陳之罪．對曰．昔虞閼父為周陶正．以服事我先王．我先王賴其利器用也．與其神明．之後也．庸以元女大姬．配胡公而封之陳．以備三恪．則我周之自出．至于今是賴．桓公之亂．蔡人欲立其出．我先君莊公奉五父而立之．蔡人殺之．我又與蔡人奉戴厲公．至於莊宣．皆我之自立．夏氏之亂．成公播蕩．又我之自入．君所知也．今陳忘周之大德．蔑我大惠．棄我姻親．介恃楚眾．以憑陵我．敝邑．不可億逞．我是以有往年之告．未獲成命．則有我東門之役．當陳隧者．井堙木刊．敝邑大懼不競．而恥大姬．天誘其衷．啟敝邑之心．陳知其罪．授手于我．用敢獻功．晉人曰．何故侵小．對曰．先王之命．唯罪所在．各致其辟．且昔天子之地一圻．列國一同．自是以衰．今大國多數圻矣．若無侵小．何以至焉．晉人曰．何故戎服．對曰．我先君武莊為平桓卿士．城濮之役．文公布命曰．各復舊職．命我文公．戎服輔王．以授楚捷．不敢廢王命故也．士莊伯不能詰．復於趙文子．文子曰．其辭順．犯順不祥．乃受之．冬．十月．子展相鄭伯如晉．拜陳之功．子西復伐陳．陳及鄭平．仲尼曰．志有之．言以足志．文以足言．不言誰知其志．言之無文．行而不遠．晉為伯鄭入陳．非文辭不為功．慎辭也．

楚蒍掩為司馬．子木使庀賦．數甲兵．甲午．蒍掩書土田．度山林．鳩藪澤．辨京陵．表淳鹵．數疆潦．規偃豬．町原防．牧隰皋．井衍沃．量入脩賦．賦車．籍馬．賦車兵．徒卒．甲楯之數．既成．以授子木．禮也．

十二月．吳子諸樊伐楚．以報舟師之役．門于巢．巢牛臣曰．吳王勇而輕．若啟之．將親門．我獲射之．必殪．是君也死．彊其少安．從之．吳子門焉．牛臣隱於短牆以射之．卒．楚子以滅舒鳩賞子木．辭曰．先大夫蒍子之功也．以與蒍掩．

晉程鄭卒．子產始知然明．問為政焉．對曰．視民如子．見不仁者誅之．如鷹鸇之逐鳥雀也．子產喜以語子大叔．且曰．他日吾見蔑之面而已．今吾見其心矣．子大叔問政於子產．子產曰．政如農功．日夜思之．思其始而成其終．朝夕而行之．行無越思．如農之有畔．其過鮮矣．

衛獻公自夷儀使與甯喜言．甯喜許之．大叔文子聞之曰．烏呼．詩所謂我躬不說．皇恤我後者．甯子可謂不恤其後矣．將可乎哉．殆必不可．君子之行．思其終也．思其復也．書曰．慎始而敬終．終以不困．詩曰．夙夜匪解．以事一人．今甯子視君．不如弈棋．其何．以免乎．弈者舉棋不定．不勝其耦．而況置君．而弗定乎．必不免矣．九世之卿族．一舉而滅之．可哀也哉．傳會于夷儀之歲．齊人城郟．其五月．秦晉為成．晉韓起如秦蒞盟．秦伯車如晉蒞盟．成而不結．

襄公二十六年

經

二十有六年春．王二月．辛卯．衛甯喜弒其君剽．衛孫林父入于戚以叛．甲午．衛侯衎復歸于衛．

夏．晉侯使荀吳來聘．公會晉人．鄭良霄．宋人．曹人．于澶淵．

秋．宋公殺其世子痤．晉人執衛甯喜．

八月．壬午．許男甯卒于楚．

冬．楚子．蔡侯．陳侯．伐鄭．葬許靈公．

傳

二十六年春．秦伯之弟鍼如晉脩成．叔向命召行人子員．行人子朱曰．朱也當御．三云．叔向不應．子朱怒曰．班爵同．何以黜朱於朝．撫劍從之．叔向曰．秦晉不和久矣．今日之事．幸而集．晉國賴之．不集．三軍暴骨．子員道二國之言無私．子常易子．姦以事君者．吾所能御也．拂衣從之．人救之．平公曰．晉其庶乎．吾臣之所爭者大．師曠曰．公室懼卑．臣不心競而力爭．不務德而爭善．私欲已侈．能無卑乎．

衛獻公使子鮮為復．辭．敬姒強命之．對曰．君無信．臣懼不免．敬姒曰．雖然．以吾故也．許諾．初．獻公使與甯喜言．甯喜曰．必子鮮在．不然．必敗．故公使子鮮．子鮮不獲命於敬姒．以公命與甯喜言曰．苟反．政由甯氏．祭則寡人．甯喜告蘧伯玉．伯玉曰．瑗不得聞君之出．敢聞其入．遂行．從近關出．告右宰穀．右宰穀曰．不可．獲罪於兩君．天下誰畜之．悼子曰．吾受命於先人．不可以貳．穀曰．我請使焉而觀之．遂見公於夷儀．反曰．君淹恤在外．十二年矣．而無憂色．亦無寬言．猶夫人也．若不已．死無日矣．悼子曰．子鮮在．右宰穀曰．子鮮在何益．多而能亡．於我何為．悼子曰．雖然．不可以已．孫文子在戚．孫嘉聘於齊．孫襄居守．

二月‧庚寅．甯喜右宰穀伐孫氏．不克．伯國傷．甯子出舍於郊．伯國死．孫氏夜哭國人召甯子．甯子復攻孫氏．克之．辛卯．殺子叔及大子角．書曰．甯喜弒其君剽．言罪之在甯氏也．孫林父以戚如晉書曰．入于戚以叛．罪孫氏也．臣之祿．君實有之．義則進．否則奉身而退．專祿以周旋．戮也．甲午．衛侯入．書曰．復歸國．納之也．大夫逆於竟者．執其手而與之言道．逆者自車揖之．逆於門者頷之而已．公至．使讓大叔．文子曰．寡人淹恤在外．二三子皆使寡人．朝夕聞衛國之言．吾子獨不在寡人．古人有言曰非所怨勿怨寡人怨矣．對曰．臣知罪矣．臣不佞．不能負羈絏以從扞牧圉．臣之罪一也．有出者．有居者．臣不能貳．通外內之言以事君．臣之罪二也．有二罪．敢忘其死．乃行．從近關出．公使止之．衛人侵戚東鄙．孫氏愬于晉．晉戍茅氏．殖綽伐茅氏．殺晉戍三百人．孫蒯追之．弗敢擊．文子曰．厲之不如．遂從衛師．敗之圉雍鉏．獲殖綽．復愬于晉．

鄭伯賞入陳之功．三月．甲寅．朔．享子展．賜之先路三命之服．先八邑．賜子產次路再命之服．先六邑．子產辭邑．曰．自上以下．隆殺．以兩．禮也．臣之位在四．且子展之功也．臣不敢及賞禮．請辭邑．公固予之．乃受三邑．公孫揮曰．子產其將知政矣．讓不失禮．晉人為孫氏故．召諸侯．將以討衛也．

夏．中行穆子來聘．召公也．

楚子．秦人．侵吳．及雩婁．聞吳有備而還．遂侵鄭．五月．至于城麇．鄭皇頡戍之．出與楚師戰．敗．穿封戌囚皇頡．公子圍與之爭之．正於伯州犁．伯州犁曰．請問於囚．乃立囚．伯州犁曰．所爭．君子也．其何不知．上其手曰．夫子為王子圍．寡君之貴介弟也．下其手曰．此子為穿封戌．方城外之縣尹也．誰獲子．囚曰．頡遇王子弱焉．戌怒．抽戈逐王子圍．弗及．楚人以皇頡歸．印堇父與皇頡戍城麇．楚人囚之．以獻於秦．鄭人取貨於印氏以請之．子大叔為令正．以為請．子產曰．不獲．受楚之功．而取貨於鄭．不可謂國．秦不其然．若曰拜君之勤鄭國．微君之惠．楚師其猶在敝邑之城下．其可．弗從．遂行．秦人不予．更幣．從子產．而後獲之．

六月．公會晉趙武．宋向戌．鄭良霄．曹人．于澶淵．以討衛．疆戚田．取衛西鄙懿氏六十．以與孫氏．趙武不書．尊公也．向戌不書．後也．鄭先宋．不失所也．於是衛侯會之．晉人執寧喜．北宮遺．使女齊以先歸．衛侯如晉．晉人執而囚之．於士弱氏．

秋．七月．齊侯．鄭伯．為衛侯故如晉．晉侯兼享之．晉侯賦嘉樂．國景子相齊侯．賦蓼蕭．子展相鄭伯．賦緇衣．叔向命晉侯拜二君．曰．寡君敢拜齊君之安．我先君之宗祧也．敢拜鄭君之不貳也．國子使晏平仲私於叔向．曰．晉君宣其明德於諸侯．恤其患而補其闕．正其違而治其煩．所以為盟主也．今為臣執君．若之何．叔向告趙文子．文子以告晉侯．晉侯言衛侯之罪．使叔向告二君．國子賦轡之柔矣．子展賦將仲子兮．晉侯乃許歸衛侯．叔向曰．鄭七穆．罕氏其後亡者也．子展儉而壹．初．宋芮司徒生女子．赤而毛．棄諸堤下．共姬之妾．取以入．名之曰棄．長而美．平公入夕．共姬與之食．公見棄也而視之尤．姬納諸御．嬖．生佐．惡而婉．大子痤美而很．合左師畏而惡之．寺人惠牆伊戾．為大子內師．而無寵．

秋．楚客聘於晉．過宋．大子知之．請野享之．公使往．伊戾請從之．公曰．夫不惡女乎．對曰．小人之事君子也．惡之不敢遠．好之不敢近．敬以待命．敢有貳心乎．縱有共其外．莫共其內．臣請往也．遣之．至則欿用牲．加書徵之．而騁告公曰．大子將為亂．既與楚客盟矣．公曰．為我子．又何求．對曰．欲速．公使視之．則信有焉．問諸夫人與左師．則皆曰固聞之．公囚大子．大子曰．唯佐也能免我．召而使請．曰日中不來．吾知死矣．左師聞之．聒而與之語．過期．乃縊而死．佐為大子．公徐聞其無罪也．乃亨伊戾．左師見夫人之步馬者問之．對曰．君夫人氏也．左師曰．誰為君夫人．余胡弗知．圉人歸以告夫人．夫人使饋之錦與馬．先之以玉．曰．君之妾棄．使某獻．左師改命曰．君夫人．而後再拜稽首受之．鄭伯歸自晉．使子西如晉聘．辭曰．寡君來煩執事．懼不免於戾．使夏謝不敏．君子曰．善事大國．初楚伍參與蔡太師子朝友．其子伍舉與聲子相善也．伍舉娶於王子牟．王子牟為申公而亡．楚人曰．伍舉實送之．伍舉奔鄭．將遂奔晉．聲子將如晉．遇之於鄭郊．班荊相與食．而言復故．聲子曰．子行也．吾必復子．及宋向戌將平晉楚．聲子通使於晉．還如楚．令尹子木與之語．問晉故焉．且曰．晉大夫與楚孰賢．對曰．晉卿不如楚．其大夫則賢．皆卿材也．如杞梓皮革．自楚往也．雖楚有材．晉實用之．子木曰．夫獨無族姻乎．對曰．雖有．而用楚材實多．歸生聞之．善為國者．賞不僭而刑不濫．賞僭則懼及淫人．刑濫則懼及善人．若不幸而過．寧僭無濫．與其失善．寧其利淫．無善人．則國從之．詩曰．人之云亡．邦國殄瘁．無善人之謂也．故夏書曰．與其殺不辜．寧失不經．懼失善也．商頌有之曰．不僭不濫．不敢怠皇．命于下國．封建厥福．此湯所以獲天福也．古之治民者．勸賞而畏刑．恤民不倦．賞以春夏．刑以秋冬．是以將賞為之加膳．加膳則飫賜．此以知其勸賞也．將刑為之不舉．不舉則徹樂．此以知其畏刑也．夙興夜寐．朝夕臨政．此以知其恤民也．三者禮之大節也．有禮無敗．今楚多淫刑．其大夫逃死於四方．而為之謀主．以害楚國．不可救療．所謂不能也．子儀之亂．析公奔晉．晉人寘諸戎車之殿．以為謀主．繞角之役．晉將遁矣．析公曰．楚師輕窕．易震蕩也．若多鼓鈞聲以夜軍之．楚師必遁晉人從之．楚師宵潰．晉遂侵蔡襲沈．獲其君．敗申息之師於桑隧．獲申麗而還．鄭於是不敢南面．楚失華夏．則析公之為也．雍子之父兄譖雍子．君與大夫不善是也．雍子奔晉．晉人與之鄐．以為謀主．彭城之役．晉楚遇於靡角之谷．晉將遁矣．雍子發命於軍曰．歸老幼．反孤疾．二人役歸一人．簡兵蒐乘．秣馬蓐食．師陳焚次．明日將戰．行歸者．而逸楚囚．楚師宵潰．晉降彭城．而歸諸宋．以魚石歸．楚失東夷．子辛死之．則雍子之為也．子反與子靈爭夏姬．而雍害其事．子靈奔晉．晉人與之邢．以為謀主．扞禦北狄．通吳於晉．教吳叛楚．教之乘車．射御．驅侵．使其子狐庸．為吳行人焉．吳於是伐巢．取駕．克棘．入州來．楚罷於奔命．至今為患．則子靈之為也．若敖之亂．伯賁之子賁皇奔晉．晉人與之苗．以為謀主．鄢陵之役．楚晨壓晉軍而陳．晉將遁矣．苗賁皇曰．楚師之良在其中軍王族而已．若塞井夷灶．成陳以當之．欒范易行以誘之．中行二郤．必克二穆．吾乃四萃於其王族．必大敗之．晉人從之．楚師大敗．王夷師熸．子反死之．鄭叛吳興．楚失諸侯．則苗賁皇之為也．子木曰．是皆然矣．聲子曰．今又有甚於此．椒舉聚於申公子牟．子牟得戾而亡．君大夫謂椒舉．女實遣之．懼而奔鄭．引領南望曰．庶幾赦余．亦弗圖也．今在晉矣．晉人將與之縣．以比叔向．彼若謀害楚國．豈不為患．子木懼．言諸王．益其祿爵而復之．聲子使椒鳴逆之．許靈公如楚．請伐鄭．曰．師不興．孤不歸矣．八月．卒于楚．楚子曰．不伐鄭．何以求諸侯．

冬．十月．楚子伐鄭．鄭人將禦之．子產曰．晉楚將平．諸侯將和．楚王是故昧於一來．不如使逞而歸．乃易成也．夫小人之性．釁於勇．嗇於禍．以足其性．而求名焉者．非國家之利也．若何從之．子展說．不禦寇．

十二月．乙酉．入南里．墮其城．涉於樂氏．門于師之梁．縣門發．獲九人焉．涉于氾而歸．而後葬許靈公．衛人歸衛姬于晉．乃釋衛侯．君子是以知平公之失政也．晉韓宣子聘于周．王使請事對曰．晉士起將歸時事於宰旅．無他事矣．王聞之曰．韓氏其昌阜於晉乎．辭不失舊．齊人城郟之歲．其夏．齊烏餘以廩丘奔晉．襲衛羊角取之．遂襲我高魚．有大雨自其竇入．介于其庫．以登其城．克而取之．又取邑于宋．於是范宣子卒．諸侯弗能治也．及趙文子為政．乃卒治之．文子言於晉侯曰．晉為盟主．諸侯或相侵也．則討而使歸其地．今烏餘之邑．皆討類也．而貪之．是無以為盟主也．請歸之．公曰．諾．孰可使也．對曰．胥梁帶能無用師．晉侯使往．

襄公二十七年

經

二十有七年春．齊侯使慶封來聘．

夏．叔孫豹會晉趙武．楚屈建．蔡公孫歸生．衛石惡．陳孔奐．鄭良霄．許人．曹人．于宋．衛殺其大夫甯喜．衛侯之弟鱄出奔晉．

秋．七月．辛巳．豹及諸侯之大夫盟于宋．

冬．十有二月．乙卯．朔．日有食之．

傳

二十七年春．胥梁帶使諸喪邑者．具車徒以受地．必周使烏餘具車徒以受封．烏餘以眾出使諸侯．偽效烏餘之封者．而遂執之．盡獲之．皆取其邑而歸諸侯．諸侯是以睦於晉．齊慶封來聘．其車美．孟孫謂叔孫曰．慶季之車．不亦美乎．叔孫曰．豹聞之．服美不稱．必以惡終．美車何為．叔孫與慶封食不敬．為賦相鼠．亦不知也．衛甯喜專．公患之．公孫免餘請殺之．公曰．微甯子不及此．吾與之言矣．事未可知．祗成惡名．止也．對曰．臣殺之．君勿與知．乃與公孫無地．公孫臣謀．使攻甯氏．弗克．皆死．公曰．臣也無罪．父子死余矣．

夏．免餘復攻甯氏．殺甯喜及右宰穀．尸諸朝．石惡將會宋之盟．受命而出．衣其尸．枕之股而哭之．欲斂以亡．懼不免．且曰．受命矣．乃行．子鮮曰．逐我者出．納我者死．賞罰無章．何以沮勸．君失其信．而國無刑．不亦難乎．且鱄實使之．遂出奔晉．公使止之．不可．及河．又使止之．止使者而盟於河．託於木門．不鄉衛國而坐．木門大夫勸之仕．不可．曰．仕而廢其事．罪也．從之．昭吾所以出也．將誰愬乎．吾不可以立於人之朝矣．終身不仕．公喪之．如稅服終身．公與免餘邑六十．辭曰．唯卿備百邑．臣六十矣．下有上祿．亂也．臣弗敢聞．且甯子唯多邑故死．臣懼死之速及也．公固與之．受其半以為少師．公使為卿．辭曰．大叔儀不貳．能贊大事．君其命之．乃使文子為卿．宋向戌善於趙文子．又善於令尹子木．欲弭諸侯之兵以為名．如晉．告趙孟．趙孟謀於諸大夫．韓宣子曰．兵．民之殘也．財用之蠹．小國之大菑也．將或弭之．雖曰不可．必將許之．弗許．楚將許之．以召諸侯．則我失為盟主矣．晉人許之．如楚．楚亦許之．如齊．齊人難之．陳文子曰．晉楚許之．我焉得已．且人曰．弭兵．而我弗許．則固攜吾民矣．將焉用之．齊人許之．告於秦．秦亦許之．皆告於小國．為會於宋．

五月甲辰．晉趙武至於宋．丙午．鄭良霄至．

六月丁未朔．宋人享趙文子．叔向為介．司馬置折俎．禮也．仲尼使舉是禮也．以為多文辭．戊申．叔孫豹．齊慶封．陳須無．衛石惡．至．甲寅．晉荀盈從趙武至．丙辰．邾悼公至壬戌．楚公子黑肱先至．成言於晉．丁卯．宋向戌如陳．從子木成言于楚．戊辰．滕成公至．子木謂向戌．請晉楚之從．交相見也．庚午．向戌復于趙孟．趙孟曰．晉．楚．齊．秦．匹也．晉之不能于齊．猶楚之不能于秦也．楚君若能使秦君辱于敝邑．寡君敢不固請于齊．壬申．左師復言于子木．子木使驛謁諸王．王曰．釋齊秦．他國請相見也．

秋．七月．戊寅．左師至．是夜也．趙孟及子皙盟．以齊言．庚辰．子木至自陳．陳孔奐．蔡公孫歸生．至．曹許之大夫皆至．以藩為軍．晉楚各處其偏．伯夙謂趙孟曰．楚氛甚惡．懼難．趙孟曰．吾左還入於宋．若我何．辛巳．將盟於宋西門之外．楚人衷甲．伯州犁曰．合諸侯之師．以為不信．無乃不可乎．夫諸侯望信於楚．是以來服．若不信．是棄其所以服諸侯也．固請釋甲．子木曰．晉楚無信久矣．事利而已．苟得志焉．焉用有信．大宰退告人曰．令尹將死矣．不及三年．求逞志而棄信．志將逞乎．志以發言．言以出信．信以立志．參以定之．信亡何以及三．趙孟患楚衷甲．以告叔向．叔向曰．何害也．匹夫一為不信．猶不可．單斃其死．若合諸侯之卿．以為不信．必不捷矣．食言者不病．非子之患也．夫以信召人．而以僭濟之．必莫之與也．安能害我．且吾因宋以守病．則夫能致死．與宋致死．雖倍楚可也．子何懼焉．又不及是．曰．弭兵以召諸侯．而稱兵以害我．吾庸多矣．非所患也．季武子使謂叔孫以公命曰．視邾滕．既而齊人請邾．宋人請滕．皆不與盟．叔孫曰．邾．滕．人之私也．我列國也．何故視之．宋．衛．吾匹也．乃盟．故不書其族．言違命也．晉楚爭先．晉人曰．晉固為諸侯盟主．未有先晉者也．楚人曰．子言晉楚匹也．若晉常先．是楚弱也．且晉楚狎主諸侯之盟也久矣．豈專在晉．叔向謂趙孟曰．諸侯歸晉之德只．非歸其尸盟也．子務德．無爭先．且諸侯盟．小國固必有尸盟者．楚為晉細．不亦可乎．乃先楚人．書先晉．晉有信也．壬午．宋公兼享晉楚之大夫．趙孟為客．子木與之言．弗能對．使叔向侍言焉．子木亦不能對也．乙酉．宋公及諸侯之大夫盟于蒙門之外．子木問於趙孟曰．范武子之德何如．對曰．夫子之家事治．言於晉國無隱情．其祝史陳信於鬼神．無愧辭．子木歸以語王．王曰．尚矣哉．能歆神人．宜其光輔五君．以為盟主也．子木又語王曰．宜晉之伯也．有叔向以佐其卿．楚無以當之．不可與爭．晉荀寅遂如楚蒞盟．

鄭伯享趙孟于垂隴．子展．伯有．子西．子產．子大叔．二子石．從．趙孟曰．七子從君．以寵武也．請皆賦以卒君貺．武亦以觀七子之志．子展賦草蟲．趙孟曰．善哉．民之主也．抑武也不足以當之．伯有賦鶉之賁賁．趙孟曰．床笫之言不踰閾．況在野乎．非使人之所得聞也．子西賦黍苗之四章．趙孟曰．寡君在．武何能焉．子產賦隰桑．趙孟曰．武請受其卒章．子大叔賦野有蔓草．趙孟曰．吾子之惠也．印段賦蟋蟀．趙孟曰．善哉保家之主也．吾有望矣．公孫段賦桑扈．趙孟曰．匪交匪敖．福將焉往．若保是言也．欲辭福祿得乎．卒享．文子告叔向曰．伯有將為戮矣．詩以言志．志誣其上．而公怨之．以為賓榮．其能久乎．幸而後亡．叔向曰．然．已侈所謂．不及五稔者．夫子之謂矣．文子曰．其餘皆數世之主也．子展其後亡者也．在上不忘降．印氏其次也．樂而不荒．樂以安民．不淫以使之．後亡不亦可乎．

宋左師請賞．曰．請免死之邑．公與之邑六十．以示子罕．子罕曰．凡諸侯小國．晉楚所以兵威之．畏而後上下慈和．慈和而後能安靖其國家．以事大國．所以存也．無威則驕．驕則亂生．亂生必滅．所以亡也．天生五材．民並用之．廢一不可．誰能去兵．兵之設久矣．所以威不軌而昭文德也．聖人以興．亂人以廢．廢興存亡．昏明之術．皆兵之由也．而子求之．不亦誣乎．以誣道蔽諸侯．罪莫大焉．縱無大討．而又求賞．無厭之甚也．削而投之．左師辭邑．向氏欲攻司城．左師曰．我將亡．夫子存我．德莫大焉．又可攻乎．君子曰．彼己之子．邦之司直．樂喜之謂乎．何以恤我．我其收之．向戌之謂乎．齊崔杼生成．及彊．而寡．娶東郭姜．生明．東郭姜以孤入．曰．棠無咎．與東郭偃相崔氏．崔成有病而廢之．而立明．成請老于崔．崔子許之．偃與咎弗予．曰崔宗邑也．必在宗主．成與彊怒．將殺之．告慶封曰．夫子之身．亦子所知也．唯咎與偃是從．父兄莫得進矣．大恐害夫子．敢以告．慶封曰．子姑退．吾圖之．告盧蒲嫳．盧蒲嫳曰．彼君之讎也．天或者將棄彼矣．彼實家亂．子何病焉．崔之薄．慶之厚也．他日又告．慶封曰．苟利夫子．必去之．難吾助女．

九月．庚辰．崔成崔彊殺東郭偃．棠咎．於崔氏之朝．崔子怒而出．其眾皆逃．求人使駕．不得．使圉人駕．寺人御而出．且曰崔氏有福．止余猶可．遂見慶封．慶封曰．崔慶一也．是何敢然．請為子討之．使盧蒲嫳帥甲以攻崔氏．崔氏堞其宮而守之．弗克．使國人助之．遂滅崔氏．殺成與彊而盡俘其家．其妻縊．嫳復命於崔子．且御而歸之．至則無歸矣．乃縊．崔明夜辟諸大墓．辛巳．崔明來奔．慶封當國．楚薳罷如晉蒞盟．晉侯享之．將出．賦既醉．叔向曰．薳氏之有後於楚國也．宜哉．承君命．不忘敏．子蕩將知政矣．敏以事君．必能養民．政其焉往．崔氏之亂．申鮮虞來奔．僕賃於野．以喪莊公．冬．楚人召之．遂如楚為右尹．

十一月．乙亥．朔．日有食之．辰在申．司曆過也．再閏失矣．

襄公二十八年

經

二十有八年春．無冰．

夏．衛石惡出奔晉．邾子來朝．

秋．八月．大雩．仲孫羯如晉．

冬．齊慶封來奔．

十有一月．公如楚．

十有二月甲寅．天王崩．乙未．楚子昭卒．

傳

二十八年春．無冰．梓慎曰．今茲宋鄭其饑乎．歲在星紀．而淫於玄枵．以有時菑．陰不堪陽．蛇乘龍．龍．宋鄭之星也．宋鄭必饑．玄枵．虛中也．枵．秏名也．土虛而民秏．不饑何為．

夏．齊侯．陳侯．蔡侯．北燕伯．杞伯．胡子．沈子．白狄．朝于晉．宋之盟故也．齊侯將行．慶封曰．我不與盟．何為於晉．陳文子曰．先事後賄．禮也．小事大．未獲事焉．從子．如志．禮也．雖不與盟．敢叛晉乎．重丘之盟．未可忘也．子其勸行．衛人討甯氏之黨．故石惡出奔晉．衛人立其從之圃．以守石氏之祀．禮也．邾悼公來朝．時事也．

秋．八月．大雩．旱也．蔡侯歸自晉．入于鄭．鄭伯享之．不敬．子產曰．蔡侯其不免乎．日其過此也．君使子展迋勞於東門之外而傲．吾曰．猶將更之．今還受享而惰．乃其心也．君小國事大國．而惰傲以為己心．將得死乎．若不免．必由其子．其為君也．淫而不父．僑聞之．如是者恆有子禍．孟孝伯如晉．告將為宋之盟故如楚也．蔡侯之如晉也．鄭伯使游吉如楚．及漢．楚人還之．曰．宋之盟．君實親辱．今吾子來．寡君謂吾子姑還．吾將使馹奔問諸晉．而以告．子大叔曰．宋之盟．君命將利小國．而亦使安定其社稷．鎮撫其民人．以禮承天之休．此君之憲令．而小國之望也．寡君是故使吉奉其皮幣．以歲之不易．聘於下執事．今執事有命曰．女何與政令之有．必使而君．棄而封守．跋涉山川．蒙犯霜露．以逞君心．小國將君是望．敢不唯命是聽．無乃非盟載之言．以闕君德．而執事有不利焉．小國是懼．不然．其何勞之敢憚．子大叔歸復命．告子展曰．楚子將死矣．不脩其政德．而貪昧於諸侯．以逞其願．欲久得乎．周易有之．在復之頤曰．迷復凶．其楚子之謂乎．欲復其願．而棄其本．復歸無所．是謂迷復．能無凶乎．君其往也．送葬而歸．以快楚心．楚不幾十年．未能恤諸侯也．吾乃休吾民矣．裨灶曰．今茲周王及楚子皆將死．歲棄其次．而旅於明年之次．以害鳥帑．周楚惡之．

九月．鄭游吉如晉．告將朝于楚．以從宋之盟．子產相鄭伯以如楚．舍不為壇．外僕言曰．昔先大夫相先君適四國．未嘗不為壇．自是至今．亦皆循之．今子草舍．無乃不可乎．子產曰．大適小．則為壇．小適大．苟舍而已．焉用壇．僑聞之．大適小．有五美．宥其罪戾．赦其過失．救其菑患．賞其德刑．教其不及．小國不困．懷服如歸．是故作壇以昭其功．宣告後人．無怠於德．小適大有五惡．說其罪戾．請其不足．行其政事．共其職貢．從其時命．不然則重其幣帛．以賀其福而弔其凶．皆小國之禍也．焉用作壇．以昭其禍．所以告子孫．無昭禍焉可也．齊慶封好田而耆酒．與慶舍政．則以其內實．遷于盧蒲嫳氏．易內而飲酒數日國遷朝焉．使諸亡人得賊者．以告而反之．故反盧蒲癸．癸臣子之．有寵．妻之．慶舍之士．謂盧蒲癸曰．男女辨姓．子不辟宗．何也．曰．宗不余辟．余獨焉辟之．賦詩斷章．余取所求焉．惡識宗．癸言王何而反之．二人皆嬖．使執寢戈而先後之．公膳日雙雞．饔人竊更之以鶩．御者知之．則去其肉．而以其洎饋．子雅．子尾．怒．慶封告盧蒲嫳．盧蒲嫳曰．譬之如禽獸．吾寢處之矣．使析歸父告晏平仲．平仲曰．嬰之眾不足用也．知無能謀也．言弗敢出．有盟可也．子家曰．子之言云．又焉用盟．告北郭子車．子車曰．人各有以事君．非佐之所能也．陳文子謂桓子曰．禍將作矣．吾其何得．對曰．得慶氏之木百車於莊文子曰．可慎守也已．盧蒲癸．王何．卜．攻慶氏．示子之兆．曰．或卜攻讎．敢獻其兆．子之曰．克．見血．

冬．十月．慶封田于萊．陳無宇從．丙辰．文子使召之．請曰．無宇之母疾病．請歸．慶季卜之．示之兆．曰．死．奉龜而泣．乃使歸．慶嗣聞之．曰．禍將作矣．謂子家速歸．禍作必於嘗．歸猶可及也．子家弗聽．亦無悛志．子息曰．亡矣．幸而獲在吳越．陳無宇濟水．而戕舟發梁．盧蒲姜謂癸曰．有事而不告我．必不捷矣．癸告之．姜曰．夫子愎．莫之止．將不出．我請止之．癸曰．諾．

十一月．乙亥．嘗于大公之廟．慶舍蒞事．盧蒲姜告之．且止之．弗聽．曰．誰敢者．遂如公．麻嬰為尸．慶奊為上獻．盧蒲癸．王何．執寢戈．慶氏以其甲環公宮．陳氏．鮑氏．之圉人為優．慶氏之馬善驚．士皆釋甲束馬而飲酒．且觀優．至於魚里．欒高陳鮑之徒．介慶氏之甲．子尾抽桷擊扉三．盧蒲癸自後刺子之．王何以戈擊之．解其左肩．猶援廟桷動於甍．以俎壺投殺人而後死．遂殺慶繩麻嬰．公懼．鮑國曰．群臣為君故也陳須無以公歸．稅服而如內宮．慶封歸．遇告亂者．丁亥．伐西門．弗克．還伐北門．克之．入伐內宮．弗克．反陳于嶽．請戰弗許．遂來奔．獻車於季武子．美澤可以鑑．展莊叔見之．曰．車甚澤．人必瘁．宜其亡也．叔孫穆子食慶封．慶封氾祭．穆子不說．使工為之誦茅鴟．亦不知．既而齊人來讓．奔吳．吳句餘予之朱方．聚其族焉而居之．富於其舊．子服惠伯謂叔孫曰．天殆富淫人．慶封又富矣．穆子曰善人富謂之賞．淫人富謂之殃．天其殃之也．其將聚而殲旃．癸巳．天王崩．未來赴．亦未書．禮也．崔氏之亂．喪群公子．故鉏在魯．叔孫還在燕．賈在句瀆之丘．及慶氏亡．皆召之．具其器用．而反其邑焉．與晏子邶殿．其鄙六十．弗受．子尾曰．富．人之所欲也．何獨弗欲．對曰．慶氏之邑．足欲故亡．吾邑不足欲也．益之以邶殿．乃足欲．足欲．亡無日矣．在外．不得宰吾一邑．不受邶殿．非惡富也．恐失富也．且夫富如布帛之有幅焉．為之制度．使無遷也．夫民生厚而用利．於是乎正德以幅之．使無黜嫚．謂之幅利．利過則為敗．吾不敢貪多．所謂幅也．與北郭佐邑六十．受之．與子雅邑．辭多受少．與子尾邑．受而稍致之．公以為忠．故有寵．釋盧蒲嫳于北竟．求崔杼之尸．將戮之．不得．叔孫穆子曰．必得之．武王有亂臣十人．崔杼其有乎．不十人．不足以葬．既崔氏之臣曰．與我其拱璧．吾獻其柩．於是得之．

十二月．乙亥．朔齊人選莊公殯于大寢．以其棺尸崔杼於市．國人猶知之．皆曰崔子也．為宋之盟故．公及宋公．陳侯．鄭伯．許男．如楚．公過鄭．鄭伯不在伯有迋勞於黃崖．不敬．穆叔曰．伯有無戾於鄭．鄭必有大咎．敬．民之主也．而棄之．何以承守．鄭人不討．必受其辜．濟澤之阿．行潦之蘋藻．寘諸宗室．季蘭尸之．敬也．敬可棄乎．及漢．楚康王卒．公欲反．叔仲昭伯曰．我楚國之為．豈為一人行也．子服惠伯曰．君子有遠慮．小人從邇．飢寒之不恤．誰遑其後．不如姑歸也．叔孫穆子曰．叔仲子．專之矣．子服子．始學者也．榮成伯曰．遠圖者．忠也．公遂行．宋向戌曰．我一人之為．非為楚也．飢寒之不恤．誰能恤楚．姑歸而息民．待其立君而為之備．宋公遂反．楚屈建卒．趙文子喪之如同盟．禮也．王人來告喪．問崩日．以甲寅告．故書之．以徵過也．

襄公二十九年

經

二十有九年春．王正月．公在楚．

夏．五月．公至自楚．庚午．衛侯衎卒．閽弒吳子餘祭．仲孫羯會晉荀盈．齊高止．宋華定．衛世叔儀．鄭公孫段．曹人．莒人．滕人．薛人．小邾人．城杞．晉侯使士鞅來聘．杞子來盟．吳子使札來聘．

秋．九月．葬衛獻公．齊高止出奔北燕．

冬．仲孫羯如晉．

傳

二十九年春．王正月．公在楚．釋不朝．正于廟也．楚人使公親襚．公患之．穆叔曰．袚殯而襚．則布幣也．乃使巫以桃茢先袚殯．楚人弗禁．既而悔之．

二月．癸卯．齊人葬莊公於北郭．

夏．四月．葬楚康王．公及陳侯．鄭伯．許男．送葬．至於西門之外．諸侯之大夫．皆至于墓．楚郟敖即位．王子圍為令尹．鄭行人子羽曰．是謂不宜．必代之昌．松柏之下．其草不殖．公還及方城．季武子取卞．使公冶問．璽書追而與之．曰．聞守卞者將叛．臣帥徒以討之．既得之矣．敢告．公冶致使而退．及舍而後聞取卞．公曰．欲之而言叛．祇見疏也．公謂公冶曰．吾可以入乎．對曰．君實有國．誰敢違君．公與公冶冕服．固辭．強之而後受．公欲無入．榮成伯賦式微．乃歸．

五月．公至自楚．公冶致其邑於季氏．而終不入焉．曰．欺其君．何必使余．季孫見之．則言季氏如他日．不見．則終不言季氏及疾．聚其臣曰．我死．必無以冕服斂．非德賞也．且無使季氏葬我．葬靈王．鄭上卿有事．子展使印段往．伯有曰．弱．不可．子展曰．與其莫往．弱不猶愈乎．詩云．王事靡盬．不遑啟處．東西南北．誰敢寧處．堅事晉楚．以蕃王室也．王事無曠．何常之有．遂使印段如
周．吳人伐楚．獲俘焉．以為閽．使守舟．吳子餘祭觀舟．閽以刀弒之．鄭子展卒．子皮即位．於是鄭饑而未及麥．民病．子皮以子展之命．餼國人粟．戶一鍾．是以得鄭國之民．故罕氏常掌國政．以為上卿．宋司城子罕聞之．曰．鄰於善．民之望也．宋亦饑．請於平公．出公粟以貸．使大夫皆貸．司城氏貸而不書．為大夫之無者貸．宋無飢人．叔向聞之．曰．鄭之罕．宋之樂．其後亡者也．二者其皆得國乎．民之歸也．施而不德．樂氏加焉．其以宋升降乎．晉平公．杞出也．故治杞．

六月．知悼子合諸侯之大夫以城杞．孟孝伯會之．鄭子大叔與伯石往．子大叔見大叔文子．與之語．文子曰．甚乎其城杞也．子大叔曰．若之何哉．晉國不恤周宗之闕．而夏肄是屏．其棄諸姬．亦可知也已．諸姬是棄．其誰歸之．吉也聞之．棄同即異．是謂離德．詩曰．協比其鄰．昏姻孔云．晉不鄰矣．其誰云之．齊高子容．與宋司徒．見知伯．女齊相禮．賓出．司馬侯言於知伯曰．二子皆將不免．子容專．司徒侈．皆亡家之主也．知伯曰．何如．對曰．專則速及．侈將以其力斃．專則人實斃之．將及矣．范獻子來聘．拜城杞也．公享之．展莊叔執幣．射者三耦．公臣不足．取於家臣．家臣．展瑕．展玉父．為一耦．公臣．公巫．召伯仲．顏莊叔．為一耦．鄫鼓父．黨叔．為一耦．晉侯使司馬女叔侯來治杞田．弗盡歸也．晉悼夫人慍曰．齊也取貨．先君若有知也．不尚取之．公告叔侯．叔侯曰．虞．虢．焦．滑．霍．揚．韓．魏．皆姬姓也．晉是以大．若非侵小．將何所取．武獻以下．兼國多矣．誰得治之．杞．夏餘也．而即東夷．魯．周公之後也．而睦於晉．以杞封魯．猶可．而何有焉．魯之於晉也．職貢不乏．玩好時至．公卿大夫．相繼於朝．史不絕書．府無虛月．如是可矣．何必瘠魯以肥杞．且先君而有知也．毋寧夫人．而焉用老臣．杞文公來盟．書曰子．賤之也．吳公子札來聘．見叔孫穆子．說之．謂穆子曰．子其不得死乎．好善而不能擇人．吾聞君子務在擇人．吾子為魯宗卿．而任其大政．不慎舉．何以堪之．禍必及子．請觀於周樂．使工為之歌周南召南．曰．美哉．始基之矣．猶未也．然勤而不怨矣．為之歌邶．鄘．衛．曰．美哉．淵乎．憂而不困者也．吾聞衛康叔武公之德如是．是其衛風乎．為之歌王．曰．美哉思而不懼．其周之東乎．為之歌鄭．曰．美哉．其細已甚．民弗堪也．是其先亡乎．為之歌齊．曰．美哉．泱泱乎．大風也哉．表東海者．其大公乎．國未可量也．為之歌豳．曰．美哉．蕩乎．樂而不淫．其周公之東乎．為之歌秦．曰．此之謂夏聲．夫能夏．則大．大之至乎其周之舊也．為之歌魏．曰．美哉．渢楓乎．大而婉．險而易．行以德輔．此則明主也．為之歌唐．曰．思深哉．其有陶唐氏之遺民乎．不然．何憂之遠也．非令德之後．誰能若是．為之歌陳．曰．國無主．其能久乎．自鄶以下．無譏焉．為之歌小雅曰．美哉．思而不貳．怨而不言．其周德之衰乎．猶有先王之遺民焉．為之歌大雅．曰．廣哉．熙熙乎．曲而有直體．其文王之德乎．為之歌頌．曰．至矣哉．直而不倨．曲而不屈．邇而不偪．遠而不攜．遷而不淫．復而不厭．哀而不愁．樂而不荒．用而不匱．廣而不宣．施而不費．取而不貪．處而不底．行而不流．五聲和．八風平．節有度．守有序．盛德之所同也．見舞象箾南籥者．曰．美哉．猶有憾．見舞大武者．曰．美哉．周之盛也．其若此乎．見舞韶濩者．曰．聖人之弘也．而猶有慚德．聖人之難也．見舞大夏者．曰．美哉．勤而不德．非禹其誰能脩之．見舞韶箾者．曰．德至矣哉．大矣．如天之無不幬也．如地之無不載也．雖甚盛德．其蔑以加於此矣．觀止矣．若有他樂．吾不敢請已．其出聘也．通嗣君也．故遂聘于齊．說晏平仲．謂之曰．子速納邑與政．無邑無政．乃免於難．齊國之政．將有所歸．未獲所歸．難未歇也．故晏子因陳桓子以納政與邑．是以免於欒高之難．聘於鄭．見子產．如舊相識．與之縞帶．子產獻紵衣焉．謂子產曰．鄭之執政侈．難將至矣．政必及子．子為政．慎之以禮．不然．鄭國將敗．適衛．說蘧瑗．史狗．史鰌．公子荊．公叔發．公子朝．曰．衛多君子．未有患也．自衛如晉．將宿於戚．聞鍾聲焉．曰．異哉．吾聞之也．辯而不德．必加於戮．夫子獲罪於君以在此．懼猶不足．而又何樂．夫子之在此也．猶燕之巢於幕上．君又在殯．而可以樂乎．遂去之．文子聞之．終身不聽琴瑟．適晉說趙文子．韓宣子．魏獻子．曰．晉國其萃於三族乎．說叔向．將行．謂叔向曰．吾子勉之．君侈而多良．大夫皆富．政將在家．吾子好直．必思自免於難．

秋九月．齊公孫蠆．公孫灶．放其大夫高止於北燕．乙未出．書曰出奔．罪高止也．高止好以事自為功．且專．故難及之．

冬‧孟孝伯如晉．報范叔也．為高氏之難故．高豎以盧叛．

十月．庚寅．閭丘嬰帥師圍盧．高豎曰．苟請高氏有後．請致邑．齊人立敬仲之曾孫酀．良敬仲也．

十一月．乙卯．高豎致盧而出奔晉．晉人城綿而寘旃．鄭伯有使公孫黑如楚．辭曰．楚鄭方惡而使余往．是殺余也．伯有曰．世行也．子皙曰．可則往．難則已．何世之有．伯有將強使之．子皙怒．將伐伯有氏．大夫和之．

十二月．己巳．鄭大夫盟於伯有氏．裨諶曰．是盟也．其與幾何．詩曰．君子屢盟．亂是用長．今是長．亂之道也．禍未歇也．必三年而後能紓然明曰．政將焉往．裨諶曰．善之代不善．天命也．其焉辟．子產舉不踰等．則位班也．擇善而舉．則世隆也．天又除之．奪伯有魄．子西即世．將焉辟之．天禍鄭久矣．其必使子產息之．乃猶可以戾．不然．將亡矣．

襄公三十年

經

三十年春．王正月．楚子使薳罷來聘．

夏．四月．蔡世子般弒其君固．

五月．甲午．宋災．宋伯姬卒．天王殺其弟佞夫．王子瑕奔晉．

秋．七月．叔弓如宋．葬宋共姬．鄭良霄出奔許．自許入于鄭．鄭人殺良霄．

冬．十月．葬蔡景公．晉人．齊人．宋人．衛人．鄭人．曹人．莒人．邾人．滕人．薛人．杞人．小邾人．會于澶淵．宋災故．

傳

三十年春．王正月．楚子使薳罷來聘．通嗣君也．穆叔問王子之為政何如．對曰吾儕小人．食而聽事．猶懼不給命．而不免於戾．焉與知政．固問焉．不告．穆叔告大夫曰．楚令尹將有大事子蕩將與焉．助之匿其情矣．子產相鄭伯以如晉．叔向問鄭國之政焉．對曰．吾得見與否．在此歲也．駟良方爭．未知所成若有所成．吾得見．乃可知也．叔向曰．不既和矣乎．對曰．伯有侈而愎．子皙好在人上．莫能相下也．雖其和也．猶相積惡也．惡至無日矣．

三月．癸未．晉悼夫人食輿人之城杞者．絳縣人或年長矣．無子．而往與於食．有與疑年．使之年．曰臣小人也．不知紀年．臣生之歲．正月甲子朔．四百有四十五．甲子矣．其季於今．三之一也．吏走問諸朝．師曠曰．魯叔仲惠伯會郤成子于承匡之歲也．是歲也．狄伐魯．叔孫莊叔於是乎敗狄于鹹．獲長狄僑如．及虺也豹也．而皆以名其子．七十三年矣．史趙曰．亥有二首六身．下二如身．是其日數也．士文伯曰．然則二萬二千六百有六旬也．趙孟問其縣大夫．則其屬也．召之而謝過焉．曰．武不才．任君之大事．以晉國之多虞．不能由吾子．使吾子辱在泥塗久矣．武之罪也．敢謝不才．遂仕之．使助為政．辭以老．與之田．使為君復陶．以為絳縣師．而廢其輿尉．於是魯使者在晉．歸以語諸大夫．季武子曰．晉未可媮也．有趙孟以為大夫．有伯瑕以為佐．有史趙師曠而咨度焉．有叔向女齊以師保其君．其朝多君子．其庸可媮乎．勉事之而後可．

夏．四月．己亥．鄭伯及其大夫盟．君子是以知鄭難之不已也．蔡景侯為大子般娶于楚．通焉．大子弒景侯．初．王儋季卒．其子括將見王而歎．單公子愆期為靈王御士．過諸廷．聞其歎而言曰．烏乎．必有此夫．入以告王．且曰．必殺之．不慼而願大．視躁而足高．心在他矣．不殺必害．王曰．童子何知．及靈王崩．儋括欲立王子佞夫．佞夫弗知．戊子．儋括圍蒍．逐成愆．成愆奔平畤．

五月．癸巳．尹言多．劉毅．單蔑．甘過．鞏成．殺佞夫．括瑕廖奔晉．書曰．天王殺其弟佞夫．罪在王也．或呌于宋大廟曰．譆譆出出．鳥鳴于亳社．如曰譆譆．甲午．宋大災．宋伯姬卒．待姆也．君子謂宋共姬女而不婦．女待人．婦義事也．

六月．鄭子產如陳蒞盟．歸復命．告大夫曰．陳亡國也．不可與也．聚禾粟．繕城郭．恃此二者而不撫其民．其君弱植．公子侈．大子卑．大夫敖．政多門．以介於大國．能無亡乎．不過十年矣．

秋．七月．叔弓如宋．葬共姬也．鄭伯有耆酒．為窟室．而夜飲酒．擊鍾焉．朝至未己．朝者曰．公焉在．其人曰．吾公在壑谷．皆自朝布路而罷．既而朝．則又將使子皙如楚．歸而飲酒．庚子．子皙以駟氏之甲．伐而焚之．伯有奔雍梁．醒而後知之．遂奔許．大夫聚謀．子皮曰．仲虺之志云．亂者取之．亡者侮之．推亡固存．國之利也．罕．駟．豐．同生．伯有汏侈．故不免．人謂子產．就直助彊．子產曰．豈為我徒．國之禍難．誰知所儆．或主彊直．難乃不生．姑成吾所．辛丑．子產斂伯有氏之死者而殯之．不及謀而遂行印段從之．子皮止之．眾曰．人不我順．何止焉．子皮曰．夫子禮於死者．況生者乎．遂自止之．壬寅．子產入．癸卯．子石入．皆受盟于子皙氏．乙巳．鄭伯及其大夫盟于大宮．盟國人于師之梁之外．伯有聞鄭人之盟己也．怒．聞子皮之甲．不與攻己也．喜．曰．子皮與我矣．癸丑．晨．自墓門之瀆入．因馬師頡介于襄庫．以伐舊北門．駟帶率國人以伐之．皆召子產．子產曰兄弟而及此．吾從天所與．伯有死於羊肆．子產襚之．枕之股而哭之．斂而殯諸．伯有之臣在市側者．既而葬諸斗城．子駟氏欲攻子產．子皮怒之．曰．禮．國之幹也．殺有禮．禍莫大焉．乃止．於是游吉如晉還．聞難不入．復命于介．八月．甲子．奔晉．駟帶追之．及酸棗．與子上盟．用兩珪質于河．使公孫肸入盟大夫．己巳．復歸．書曰．鄭人殺良霄．不稱大夫．言自外入也．於子蟜之卒也．將葬．公孫揮與裨灶晨會事焉．過伯有氏．其門上生莠．子羽曰．其莠猶在乎．於是歲在降婁．降婁中而旦．裨灶指之曰．猶可以終歲．歲不及此次也已．及其亡也．歲在娵訾之口．其明年．乃及降婁．僕展從伯有．與之皆死．羽頡出奔晉．為任大夫．雞澤之會．鄭樂成奔楚．遂適晉．羽頡因之．與之比而事趙文子．言伐鄭之說焉．以宋之盟故．不可．子皮以公孫鉏為馬師．楚公子圍殺大司馬蒍掩而取其室．申無宇曰．王子必不免．善人．國之主也．王子相楚國．將善是封．殖而虐之．是禍國也．且司馬令尹之偏．而王之四體也．絕民之主．去身之偏．艾王之體．以禍其國．無不祥大焉．何以得免．為宋災故．諸侯之大夫會．以謀歸宋財．

冬．十月．叔孫豹會晉趙武．齊公孫蠆．宋向戌．衛北宮佗．鄭罕虎．及小邾之大夫．會于澶淵．既而無歸於宋．故不書其人．君子曰．信其不可不慎乎．澶淵之會．卿不書．不信也夫．諸侯之上卿．會而不信．寵名皆棄．不信之不可也如是．詩曰．文王陟降．在帝左右．信之謂也．又曰．淑慎爾止．無載爾偽．不信之謂也．書曰．某人某人會于澶淵．宋災故．尤之也．不書魯大夫．諱之也．鄭子皮授子產政．辭曰．國小而偪．族大寵多．不可為也．子皮曰．虎帥以聽．誰敢犯子．子善相之．國無小．小能事大．國乃寬．子產為政．有事伯石．賂與之邑．子大叔曰．國皆其國也．奚獨賂焉．子產曰．無欲實難．皆得其欲．以從其事．而要其成．非我有成．其在人乎．何愛於邑．邑將焉往．子大叔曰．若四國何．子產曰．非相違也．而相從也．四國何尤焉．鄭書有之曰．安定國家．必大焉先．姑先安大．以待其所歸．既伯石懼而歸邑．卒與之．伯有既死．使大史命伯石為卿．辭．大史退．則請命焉．復命之．又辭．如是三．乃受策入拜．子產是以惡其為人也．使次己位．子產使都鄙有章．上下有服．田有封洫．廬井有伍．大人之忠儉者．從而與之．泰侈者因而斃之．豐卷將祭．請田焉．弗許．曰．唯君用鮮．眾給而已．子張怒．退而徵役．子產奔晉．子皮止之．而逐豐卷．豐卷奔晉．子產請其田里．三年而復之．反其田里．及其入焉．從政一年．輿人誦之曰．取我衣冠而褚之．取我田疇而伍之．孰殺子產．吾其與之．及三年．又誦之曰．我有子弟．子產誨之．我有田疇．子產殖之．子產而死．誰其嗣之．

襄公三十一年

經

三十有一年春．王正月．

夏．六月．辛巳．公薨于楚宮．

秋．九月．癸巳．子野卒．己亥．仲孫羯卒．

冬．十月．滕子來會葬．癸酉．葬我君襄公．

十有一月．莒人弒其君密州．

傳

三十一年春．王正月．穆叔至自會．見孟孝伯．語之曰．趙孟將死矣．其語偷．不似民主．且年未盈五十．而諄諄焉如八九十者．弗能久矣．若趙孟死．為政者其韓子乎．吾子盍與季孫言之．可以樹善．君子也．晉君將失政矣．若不樹焉．使早備魯．既而政在大夫．韓子懦弱．大夫多貪．求欲無厭．齊楚未足與也．魯其懼哉．孝伯曰．人生幾何．誰能無偷．朝不及夕．將安用樹．穆叔出而告人曰．孟孫將死矣．吾語諸趙孟之偷也．而又甚焉．又與季孫語晉故．季孫不從．及趙文子卒．晉公室卑．政在侈家．韓宣子為政．不能圖諸侯．魯不堪晉求．讒慝弘多．是以有平丘之會．

齊子尾害閭丘嬰．欲殺之．使帥師以伐陽州．我問師故．夏．五月．子尾殺閭丘嬰以說于我．師工僂．灑渻灶．孔虺．賈寅．出奔莒．出群公子．

公作楚宮．穆叔曰．大誓云．民之所欲．天必從之．君欲楚也夫．故作其宮．若不復適楚．必死是宮也．六月．辛巳．公薨于楚宮．叔仲帶竊其拱璧以與御人．納諸其懷．而從取之．由是得罪．

立胡女敬歸之子子野．次于季氏．秋．九月．癸巳卒．毀也．

己亥．孟孝伯卒．立敬歸之娣齊歸之子公子裯．穆叔不欲．曰．大子死．有母弟則立之．無則長立．年鈞擇賢．義鈞則卜．古之道也．非適嗣．何必娣之子．且是人也．居喪而不哀．在慼而有嘉容．是謂不度．不度之人．鮮不為患．若果立之．必為季氏憂．武子不聽．卒立之．比及葬．三易衰．衰衽如故衰．於是昭公十九年矣．猶有童心．君子是以知其不能終也．

冬．十月．滕成公來會葬．惰而多涕．子服惠伯曰．滕君將死矣．怠於其位．而哀已甚．兆於死所矣．能無從乎．

癸酉．葬襄公．公薨之月．子產相鄭伯以如晉．晉侯以我喪故．未之見也．子產使盡壞其館之垣．而納車馬焉．士文伯讓之曰．敝邑以政刑之不脩．寇盜充斥．無若諸侯之屬．辱在寡君者何．是以令吏人完客所館．高其閈閎．厚其牆垣．以無憂客使．今吾子壞之．雖從者能戒．其若異客何．以敝邑之為盟主．繕完葺牆．以待賓客．若皆毀之．其何以共命．寡君使匄請命．對曰．以敝邑褊小．介於大國．誅求無時．是以不敢寧居．悉索敝賦．以來會時事．逢執之不間．而未得見．又不獲聞命．未知見時．不敢輸幣．亦不敢暴露．其輸之．則君之府實也．非薦陳之．不敢輸也．其暴露之．則恐燥濕之不時．而朽蠹以重敝邑之罪．僑聞文公之為盟主也．宮室卑庳．無觀臺榭．以崇大諸侯之館．館如公寢．庫廄繕脩．司空以時平易道路．圬人以時塓館宮室．諸侯賓至．甸設庭燎．僕人巡宮．車馬有所．賓從有代．巾車脂轄．隸人牧圉．各瞻其事．百官之屬．各展其物．公不留賓．而亦無廢事．憂樂同之．事則巡之．教其不知．而恤其不足．賓至如歸．無寧菑患．不畏寇盜．而亦不患燥濕．今銅鞮之宮數里．而諸侯舍於隸人．門不容車．而不可踰越．盜賊公行．而夭厲不戒．賓見無時．命不可知．若又勿壞．是無所藏幣以重罪也．敢請執事．將何以命之．雖君之有魯喪．亦敝邑之憂也．若獲薦幣．脩垣而行．君之惠也．敢憚勤勞．文伯復命．趙文子曰．信我實不德．而以隸人之垣以贏諸侯．是吾罪也．使士文伯謝不敏焉．晉侯見鄭伯．有加禮．厚其宴好而歸之．乃築諸侯之館．叔向曰．辭之不可以已也如是夫．子產有辭．諸侯賴之．若之何其釋辭也．詩曰．辭之輯矣．民之協矣．辭之繹矣．民之莫矣．其知之矣．

鄭子皮使印段如楚．以適晉告．禮也．

莒犁比公生去疾．及展輿．既立展輿．又廢之．犁比公虐．國人患之．十一月．展輿因國人以攻莒子．弒之．乃立．去疾奔齊．齊出也．展輿吳出也．書曰．莒人弒其君買朱鉏．言罪之在也．

吳子使屈狐庸聘于晉．通路也．趙文子問焉．曰．延州來季子．其果立乎．巢隕諸樊．閽戕戴吳．天似啟之．何如．對曰．不立．是二王之命也．非啟季子也．若天所啟．其在今嗣君乎．甚德而度．德不失民．度不失事．民親而事有序．其天所啟也．有吳國者．必此君之子孫實終之．季子守節者也．雖有國不立．

十二月．北宮文子相衛襄公以如楚．宋之盟故也．過鄭．印段迋勞于棐林．如聘禮而以勞辭．文子入聘．子羽為行人．馮簡子與子大叔逆客．事畢而出．言於衛侯曰．鄭有禮．其數世之福也．其無大國之討乎．詩曰．誰能執熱．逝不以濯．禮之於政．如熱之有濯也．濯以救熱．何患之有．子產之從政也．擇能而使之．馮簡子能斷大事．子大叔美秀而文．公孫揮能知四國之為．而辨於其大夫之族姓．班位貴賤能否．而又善為辭令．裨諶能謀．謀於野則獲．謀於邑則否．鄭國將有諸侯之事．子產乃問四國之為於子羽．且使多為辭令．與裨諶乘以適野．使謀可否．而告馮簡子使斷之．事成．乃授子大叔使行之．以應對賓客．是以鮮有敗事．北宮文子所謂有禮也．

鄭人游于鄉校．以論執政．然明謂子產曰．毀鄉校何如．子產曰．何為．夫人朝夕退而游焉．以議執政之善否．其所善者．吾則行之．其所惡者．吾則改之．是吾師也．若之何毀之．我聞忠善以損怨．不聞作威以防怨．豈不遽止．然猶防川．大決所犯．傷人必多．吾不克救也．不如小決．使道不如．吾聞而藥之也．然明曰．蔑也今而後知吾子之信可事也．小人實不才．若果行此．其鄭國實賴之．豈唯二三臣．仲尼聞是語也．曰．以是觀之．人謂子產不仁．吾不信也．

子皮欲使尹何為邑．子產曰．少．未知可否．子皮曰．愿吾愛之．不吾叛也．使夫往而學焉．夫亦愈知治矣．子產曰．不可．人之愛人．求利之也．今吾子愛人則以政．猶未能操刀而使割也．其傷實多．子之愛人．傷之而已．其誰敢求愛於子．子於鄭國．棟也．棟折榱崩．僑將厭焉．敢不盡言．子有美錦．不使人學製焉．大官大邑．身之所庇也．而使學者製焉．其為美錦．不亦多乎．僑聞學而後入政．未聞以政學者也．若果行此．必有所害．譬如田獵．射御貫．則能獲禽．若未嘗登車射御．則敗績厭覆是懼．何暇思獲．子皮曰．善哉．虎不敏．吾聞君子務知大者遠者．小人務知小者近者．我小人也．衣服附在吾身．我知而慎之．大官大邑．所以庇身也．我遠而慢之．微子之言．吾不知也．他日．我曰子為鄭國．我為吾家．以庇焉其可也．今而後知不足．自今請雖吾家聽子而行．子產曰．人心之不同．如其面焉．吾豈敢謂子面如吾面乎．抑心所謂危．亦以告也．子皮以為忠．故委政焉．子產是以能為鄭國．

衛侯在楚．北宮文子見令尹圍之威儀．言於衛侯曰．令尹似君矣．將有他志．雖獲其志．不能終也．詩云．靡不有初．鮮克有終．終之實難．令尹其將不免．公曰．子何以知之．對曰．詩云．敬慎威儀．惟民之則．令尹無威儀．民無則焉．民所不則．以在民上．不可以終．公曰．善哉．何謂威儀．對曰．有威而可畏．謂之威．有儀而可象．謂之儀．君有君之威儀．其臣畏而愛之．則而象之．故能有其國家．令聞長世．臣有臣之威儀．其下畏而愛之．故能守其官職．保族宜家．順是以下．皆如是．是以上下能相固也．衛詩曰．威儀棣棣．不可選也．言君臣上下．父子兄弟．內外大小．皆有威儀也．周詩曰．朋友攸攝．攝以威儀．言朋友之道．必相教訓．以威儀也．周書數文王之德曰．大國畏其力．小國懷其德．言畏而愛之也．詩云．不識不知．順帝之則．言則而象之也．紂囚文王七年．諸侯皆從之囚．紂於是乎懼而歸之．可謂愛之．文王伐崇．再駕而降為臣．蠻夷帥服．可謂畏之．文王之功．天下誦而歌舞之．可謂則之．文王之行．至今為法．可謂象之．有威儀也．故君子在位可畏．施舍可愛．進退可度．周旋可則．容止可觀．作事可法．德行可象．聲氣可樂．動作有文．言語有章．以臨其下．謂之有威儀也．

Source Colophon

The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of the Zuo Commentary (article 春秋左氏傳/襄公, revision of 10 December 2025), inspected from a witness copy captured on 22 August 2026. Chinese Wikisource transcriptions are published under CC BY-SA 4.0 and the GFDL; the text itself is ancient and in the public domain. The wiki header, navigation links, license templates, and modern contributors' footnotes have been removed; the text is otherwise complete and unaltered.

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