Duke Cheng, Year 5
In the fifth year, in spring, during the first month of the Zhou calendar, Ji Shu of Qi was sent back to Lu.
Zhongsun Mie went to Song.
In summer, Shusun Qiaoru met Xun Shou of Jin at Gu.
Mount Liang collapsed.
In autumn, a great flood occurred.
In winter, on the day Jiyou of the eleventh month, the Son of Heaven of Zhou (King Ding) passed away.
On the day Jichou of the twelfth month, Duke Cheng of Lu met Duke Jing of Jin, Duke Qing of Qi, Duke Gong of Song, Duke Ding of Wei, Duke Dao of Zheng, Duke Xuan of Cao, Duke Ding of Zhu, and Duke Huan of Qi, and together they formed an alliance at Chonglao.
In the fifth year, in spring, Yuan (Zhao Tong) and Ping (Zhao Kuo) banished Zhao Ying to Qi. Zhao Ying said: “With me here, the Luan clan dared not rebel. If I leave, my two elder brothers will likely face trouble. Moreover, each person has things they can and cannot do; if you tolerate my staying here, what harm would it bring?” Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo did not listen. Zhao Ying had a dream in which an angel told him: “Sacrifice to me, and I will grant you blessings.” Zhao Ying sent someone to inquire of Shi Zhenbo, who said: “I do not know.” Shortly after, Shi Zhenbo told that person: “The spirits grant blessings to the benevolent and bring disaster to the licentious. If the licentious go unpunished, that itself is a blessing. If he sacrifices, can he avoid calamity?” The day after Zhao Ying sacrificed, he fled.
Meng Xianzi went to Song, in return for Hua Yuan’s previous mission.
In summer, Xun Shou of Jin went to Qi to marry a Qi woman, so Xuanbo (Shusun Qiaoru) provided them with provisions at Gu.
Mount Liang collapsed. Duke Jing of Jin summoned Bozong by courier carriage. On the road, Bozong called for a heavily laden cart to give way, saying: “Make way for the courier carriage.” The man escorting the heavy cart said: “Rather than wait for me to move aside, it would be faster to take a shortcut.” Bozong asked where he was from, and the man said: “From Jiang city.” Bozong asked about matters in Jiang city, and the man said: “Mount Liang has collapsed. The lord will summon Bozong to discuss this matter.” Bozong asked: “What should be done about it?” The man replied: “The mountain collapsed because of decayed soil—what can be done about it? The state relies on its mountains and rivers, so when a mountain collapses or a river dries up, the lord should reduce his meals, wear plain clothes, ride in an unadorned carriage, cease music, leave his bedchamber, present sacrificial offerings, and have the historiographer read ritual invocations to properly sacrifice to the mountains and rivers. That is all. Even if it were Bozong, what more could he do?” Bozong asked to bring the man before Duke Jing of Jin, but the man refused. So Bozong relayed the man’s words to Duke Jing and acted upon them.
Duke Ling of Xu accused Duke Dao of Zheng before Chu. In the sixth month, Duke Dao of Zheng went to Chu to argue his case but did not prevail. The Chu people seized Huang Xu and Zi Guo. Therefore, after Duke Dao of Zheng returned, he sent Gongzi Yan to Jin to seek peace. In autumn, in the eighth month, Duke Dao of Zheng and Zhao Tong of Jin formed an alliance at Chuijie.
Gongzi Weigui of Song returned after being a hostage in Chu. Hua Yuan hosted a banquet for him. Weigui requested to exit with drumming and shouting, and then enter likewise, saying: “This is to practice attacking the Hua clan.” Duke Gong of Song had him killed.
In winter, the feudal lords formed an alliance at Chonglao, because Zheng had submitted. The lords discussed holding another meeting, but Duke Gong of Song sent Xiang Weiren to decline on the grounds of difficulties caused by Gongzi Weigui’s (Ziling’s) rebellion.
On the day Jiyou of the eleventh month, King Ding of Zhou passed away.