Duke Wen, 4th Year
In the fourth year, in spring, Duke Wen of Lu returned to Lu from the state of Jin.
In summer, he welcomed Jiang (namely, Chu Jiang) from the state of Qi to be his wife.
The Di people attacked the state of Qi.
In autumn, the people of Chu extinguished the state of Jiang.
Duke Xiang of Jin attacked the state of Qin.
Duke Cheng of Wei sent Ning Yu to Lu on a diplomatic mission.
In winter, on the Renyin day of the eleventh month, Lady Feng (Cheng Feng) passed away.
In the fourth year, in spring, the people of Jin returned Kong Da to the state of Wei, because they considered Kong Da a worthy and virtuous minister of Wei, and thus pardoned him.
In summer, Duke Cheng of Wei went to Jin to express his gratitude, and Duke Gong of Cao went to Jin to participate in the assembly of the lords to determine the standards (for tribute).
When welcoming Jiang (Chu Jiang) from Qi to be the wife, no high-ranking minister went to receive her; this was contrary to ritual propriety. The gentleman therefore knew that Chu Jiang would not come to a good end in Lu, saying: "They used lavish betrothal gifts (for the diplomatic mission) but received her with humble ceremony; they treated her as the ruler's wife but slighted her; they established her as the wife yet also discarded her. Abandoning trust and harming the position of the principal wife will inevitably lead to turmoil within the state and ruin within the clan. That she cannot end well is only fitting! The Book of Songs says: 'Revere the majesty of Heaven, and thus preserve your blessings and emoluments.' This speaks of the principle of honoring the principal wife."
In autumn, Duke Xiang of Jin attacked the state of Qin, besieging the cities of Yuan and Xincheng, in revenge for the battle at Wangguan.
The people of Chu extinguished the state of Jiang. Duke Mu of Qin, upon hearing this, put on plain white garments, moved from his main hall, and reduced his feasts, exceeding the proper rites (in his mourning). A minister remonstrated, saying: "The state of Jiang is extinguished; why must Your Grace go to such lengths?" Duke Mu of Qin replied: "When an allied state is destroyed, though I was unable to rescue it, how dare I not grieve? I am doing this to caution myself." The gentleman said: "The Book of Songs says: 'Those two states, Xia and Shang, lost the people's hearts through misrule; all the four quarters then pursued and reflected upon them.' This refers to the situation of Duke Mu of Qin, does it not?"
Ning Wuzi of Wei came to Lu on a diplomatic mission. Duke Wen of Lu feasted him and had the poems Zhan Lu and Tong Gong recited. Ning Wuzi neither declined nor responded with a poem of his own. Duke Wen of Lu sent an attendant to inquire privately why he did not reply. Ning Wuzi replied: "I thought that His Lordship was merely practicing the performance of these poems. In former times, when the lords came to court the Son of Heaven in the first month, the Son of Heaven would feast them with music, and only then would Zhan Lu be recited, signifying that the Son of Heaven was like the sun in the sky, and the lords were to listen to his commands and serve him. When the lords attacked those whom the Son of Heaven hated and presented their merits, the Son of Heaven would then reward them—a red bow and a hundred red arrows, and black bows and a thousand arrows—to honor their achievements and repay their feasting. Now I am merely a minister of a vassal state, coming to Lu to continue old friendships. I am honored by the ruler's condescension in granting me this feast; how would I dare to usurp the great rites of the Son of Heaven and bring guilt upon myself?"
In winter, Cheng Feng passed away.