Duke Xiang's Third Year
In the third year, in spring, the Prince of Chu, Yingqi, led an army to attack Wu, and Duke Xiang went to Jin.
In summer, on the day Renxu of the fourth month, Duke Xiang and Duke Dao of Jin made a covenant at Changchu. Duke Xiang returned from Jin to Lu.
In June, Duke Xiang met with Dan Qinggong, Duke Dao of Jin, Duke Ping of Song, Duke Xian of Wei, Duke Xi of Zheng, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, and Prince Guang of Qi. On the day Jiwei, they made a covenant together at Jize. Duke Cheng of Chen sent Yuan Qiao to participate in the alliance. On the day Wuyin, Shu Sunbao made a covenant with the great officers of the various states and Yuan Qiao of Chen.
In autumn, Duke Xiang returned from the alliance to Lu.
In winter, Xun Ying of Jin led an army to attack Xu.
In the third year, in spring, Zi Zhong of Chu attacked Wu, formed a select army, captured Jiuci, and reached Hengshan. He sent Deng Liao, leading three hundred men in armor and three thousand men in padded coats, to invade Wu. The men of Wu intercepted them from the flank, captured Deng Liao, and only eighty of those in armor and three hundred of those in padded coats escaped. When Zi Zhong returned, after three days of feasting at the ancestral temple, the men of Wu attacked Chu and captured Jia. Jia was a fine city of Chu, and Deng Liao was also a fine general of Chu. The noble man considered that in this campaign, what Zi Zhong gained was less than what he lost. The people of Chu therefore blamed Zi Zhong, who became worried over this and died of heart disease.
Duke Xiang went to Jin—this was his first audience.
In summer, they made a covenant at Changchu, with Meng Xianzi serving as assistant. Duke Xiang kowtowed. Zhi Wuzi said, “The Son of Heaven is above, and your lord condescends to kowtow—our lord is afraid.” Meng Xianzi said, “Because our state, situated in the remote east, is close to enemies, our lord can only look to your lord. How dare he not kowtow?”
Because Zheng had submitted, and also wishing to establish friendly relations with Wu, Jin prepared to assemble the feudal lords. They sent Shi Gai to Qi to announce: “Our lord sends me because the harvest is poor and unforeseen events cannot be guarded against. Our lord wishes to meet with several brothers to discuss matters of discord. We request your lord to come, and I am sent to request a covenant.” Duke Ling of Qi wanted to refuse, but found it difficult to bear the responsibility for discord, so they made a covenant outside the Nie River.
Qi Xi requested to retire on account of old age. Duke Dao of Jin asked him about a successor. He recommended Jie Hu—this was his enemy. When Jie Hu was about to be appointed as commander of the central army, he died. Duke Dao of Jin asked Qi Xi again, and he replied, “Qi Wu can serve.” At this time, Yangshe Zhi also died. Duke Dao said, “Who can replace him?” Qi Xi replied, “Yangshe Chi can.” So they made Qi Wu commander of the central army, with Yangshe Chi as his assistant. The noble man considered that in this matter, Qi Xi was able to promote worthy men. Recommending his enemy was not flattery; establishing his son was not partiality; promoting his subordinate was not forming a faction. The “Book of Shang” says: “Without partiality, without faction, the kingly way is broad and level.” This refers to Qi Xi. Jie Hu was recommended, Qi Wu obtained the post, and Bohua obtained the office. By establishing one office, three good things were accomplished—this was due to his ability to promote worthy men. Only the virtuous can promote those like themselves. The “Odes” say: “Because he possesses virtue, he can promote those like him.” Qi Xi possessed this virtue.
In June, Duke Xiang met with Dan Qinggong and the feudal lords. On the day Jiwei, they made a covenant together at Jize. Duke Dao of Jin sent Xun Hui to meet King Shoumeng of Wu by the Huai River, but the King of Wu did not come.
Zixin of Chu served as prime minister, greedily encroaching on small states. Duke Cheng of Chen sent Yuan Qiao to participate in the alliance, requesting submission. Duke Dao of Jin sent He Zufu to report to the feudal lords. In autumn, Shu Sunbao made a covenant with the great officers of the various states and Yuan Qiao of Chen—this was because Chen had requested to submit.
Yang Gan, the younger brother of Duke Dao of Jin, disrupted the army’s ranks at Quli. Wei Jiang killed his charioteer. Duke Dao of Jin was angry and said to Yangshe Chi, “Assembling the feudal lords was a glorious event, but Yang Gan was disgraced—what shame is greater than this? Wei Jiang must be killed without fail; do not let him go.” Yangshe Chi replied, “Wei Jiang has no divided mind; in serving his lord he does not avoid danger, and in having guilt he does not escape punishment. He will come to state his reasons—why trouble your lord to give an order?” Hardly had the words been spoken when Wei Jiang arrived. He handed a letter to a servant and prepared to draw his sword and kill himself. Shi Fang and Zhang Lao dissuaded him. Duke Dao of Jin read his letter, which said: “Formerly, when your lord lacked servants, he made me serve as marshal. I have heard that in the army, obeying orders is martial, and in military actions, dying rather than violating discipline is reverent. When your lord assembles the feudal lords, how dare I not be reverent? If your lord’s army is not martial, and those in service are not reverent, there is no greater crime. I feared committing a capital offense, and thus implicated Yang Gan—the guilt is inescapable. I could not instruct him beforehand, so that I had to resort to the axe—my crime is very heavy. How dare I not submit to punishment and provoke your lord’s anger? I beg to return and die at the hands of the minister of justice.” Duke Dao of Jin ran out barefoot and said, “My words arose from private affection for my brother. Your execution was the application of military law. I have a brother whom I failed to instruct, so that he violated the military command—this is my fault. Do not increase my fault; I beg you thus.” Duke Dao of Jin considered that Wei Jiang was able to govern the people by punishment. When he returned from the alliance, he feasted him at the ancestral temple and made him assistant to the new army. Zhang Lao became marshal of the central army, and Shi Fu became houyan.
The Marshal of Chu, Gongzi Heji, attacked Chen because Chen had rebelled against Chu.
Duke Ling of Xu served Chu and did not participate in the covenant at Jize. In winter, Zhi Wuzi of Jin led an army to attack Xu.