Duke Wen's Seventeenth Year

Seventeenth year, spring. The people of Jin, Wei, Chen, and Zheng attacked Song.

Summer, fourth month, guihai day. We buried our ruler’s consort, Sheng Jiang.

The Marquis of Qi attacked our western border. Sixth month, guisi day. The Duke of Lu and the Marquis of Qi concluded a covenant at Gu.

The (feudal lords) held a meeting at Hu.

Autumn. The Duke of Lu returned from Gu to the capital.

Winter. Gongzi Sui went to Qi.

Seventeenth year, spring. Xun Linfu of Jin, Kong Da of Wei, Gongsun Ning of Chen, and Shi Chu of Zheng attacked Song. The reason for the punitive expedition was: “Why did you kill your ruler?” The Song people had nevertheless installed Duke Wen of Song, and only then did the allied forces withdraw. The names of the high ministers are not recorded because they had lost their proper stance.

Summer, fourth month, guihai day. Sheng Jiang was buried. Because of the calamity caused by Qi, the burial was delayed.

The Marquis of Qi attacked our northern border. Xiangzhong (Gongsun Sui) requested an alliance with Qi. In the sixth month, they concluded a covenant at Gu.

The Marquis of Jin held a military review at Huangfu, and then again assembled the feudal lords at Hu, with the aim of pacifying the internal strife in Song. The Duke of Lu did not attend this meeting because of the calamity with Qi. The Spring and Autumn Annals records “the feudal lords,” indicating that this action did not succeed.

At this time, the Marquis of Jin refused to receive the Earl of Zheng, believing that the Earl of Zheng had divided loyalties toward Jin and was secretly colluding with Chu. Zijia of Zheng sent an envoy (a zhixun) with a letter to inform Zhao Xuanzi of Jin. The letter said: “When our ruler had been on the throne for three years, he summoned the Marquis of Cai to join him in serving your ruler. In the ninth month, the Marquis of Cai entered our state and then proceeded to Jin. Our state, because of the calamity caused by Hou Xuan Duo, prevented our ruler from accompanying the Marquis of Cai. In the eleventh month, we eliminated Hou Xuan Duo, after which our ruler followed the Marquis of Cai to present himself at court before your state’s chief minister. In the twelfth year, sixth month, Guisheng (Zijia) accompanied our ruler’s legitimate heir, Yi, to Chu to request that the Marquis of Chen (come to court Jin), and then the Marquis of Chen came to present himself at court before your ruler. In the fourteenth year, seventh month, our ruler went to present himself at court again, to complete the matter of Chen (submitting to Jin). In the fifteenth year, fifth month, the Marquis of Chen proceeded from our state to present himself at court before your ruler. Last year, in the first month, Zhu Zhiwu accompanied the heir apparent, Yi, to present himself at court. In the eighth month, our ruler again went to present himself at court. Chen and Cai are adjacent to Chu, yet they dare not have divided loyalties toward Jin—this is all due to our state’s efforts. Although our state serves your ruler in this manner, why can we still not avoid blame? During our ruler’s reign, he has presented himself at court once before Duke Xiang of Jin and twice before the current ruler (Duke Ling of Jin). The heir apparent Yi, together with our weak and solitary ministers, have arrived in succession at Jiang (the capital of Jin). Even though we are a small state, no other state has surpassed us in this (frequency of court visits). Now the great state says: ‘You have not yet satisfied my wishes.’ Our state can only face extinction; there is nothing more we can add. The ancients had a saying: ‘Fear the head and fear the tail—how much of the body remains?’ They also said: ‘A deer, when facing death, does not choose a pleasing cry.’ When a small state serves a great state, if the great state treats it with virtue, then the small state will be obedient like a man; if the great state treats it without virtue, then the small state will be like a deer, rushing headlong into dangerous places—in its urgency, how can it choose? The great state’s demands are without limit; we know that we are heading for extinction. We will assemble all our troops and wait at Tiao, solely at the command of your state’s chief minister. In the second year of Duke Wen, renshen day of the sixth month, our ruler presented himself at court before the ruler of Qi. In the fourth year, renxu day of the second month, on behalf of Qi, we attacked Cai, and also managed to make peace with Chu. Situated between great states like Qi and Chu, we can only follow the commands of the stronger—how can this be our state’s crime? If the great state still does not consider (our difficulties), we will have no place to escape your commands.”

Gong Shuo of Jin went to Zheng to make peace and restore good relations. Zhao Chuan and the duke’s son-in-law, Chi, remained in Zheng as hostages.

Autumn. Gan Chu of Zhou defeated the Rong at Shenchui, taking advantage of the Rong while they were drinking (and off guard).

Winter, tenth month. The heir apparent of Zheng, Yi, and Shi Chu went to Jin as hostages.

Xiangzhong (Gongsun Sui) went to Qi to thank them for the covenant at Gu. Upon returning, he reported: “I have heard that the people of Qi intend to eat the wheat of Lu. But from my observation, the ruler of Qi will likely not succeed. The ruler of Qi speaks in a way that is opportunistic and complacent. Zang Wenzhong had a saying: ‘If the ruler of the people is opportunistic and complacent, he will surely die.’”