Duke Xiang's Ninth Year
In the ninth year, in spring, a fire broke out in the state of Song.
In summer, Ji Sunsu went to the state of Jin.
On the day of Xinyou in the fifth month, Lady Jiang, the wife of the ruler, passed away.
In autumn, on the day of Guiwei in the eighth month, we buried our ruler’s consort, Mu Jiang.
In winter, Duke Xiang of Lu met with Duke Dao of Jin, Duke Ping of Song, Duke Xian of Wei, Duke Cheng of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, Duke Cheng of Teng, the Earl of Xue, Duke Xiao of Qi, the Viscount of Xiao Zhu, and Prince Guang of Qi to attack the state of Zheng. On the day of Jihai in the twelfth month, they swore a covenant together at Xi. King Gong of Chu attacked Zheng.
In the ninth year, in spring, a fire broke out in the state of Song. Lexi served as the Minister of Works, overseeing the government. He sent the Bo clan to manage the affairs of the wards, and where the fire had not yet reached, he ordered small huts to be dismantled and large houses to be plastered with mud. He set out baskets and tools for carrying earth, prepared ropes and water jars, assembled vessels for holding water, estimated the weight of the implements, stored rainwater, piled up earth, patrolled the entire city, repaired defensive structures, and marked the paths along which the fire would spread. He sent Huachen to muster the regular conscripts and ordered the Suizheng to summon the guards from the outskirts to rush to the fire scene. He sent Huayue to supervise the Right Office, and the Right Office prepared its respective duties. Xiangxu supervised the Left Office, and it was done likewise. He sent Lexuan to prepare instruments of punishment, also done likewise. He sent Huangyun to order the Chief of Horses to provide warhorses, the Director of Works to provide chariots, and to fully equip armor and weapons, arranging military guards. He sent Xi Chuwu to take charge of guarding the treasuries and storehouses. He ordered the Palace Steward and the Chief of the Palace Chambers to maintain vigilance within the palace. The Left Master and Right Master ordered the township heads of the four quarters to reverently conduct sacrifices. The Invocator and Ancestral Prefect sacrificed horses to the four city walls and sacrificed to Pangeng outside the West Gate.
Duke Dao of Jin asked Shi Ruo, saying: “I have heard that when Song suffered a fire, one could thereby discern the Way of Heaven. How is this so?” Shi Ruo replied: “In ancient times, the Fire Officer sometimes sacrificed to the Heart constellation and sometimes to the Willow constellation, because the movements of the Fire Star were associated with these. Thus the Willow constellation is the Quail Fire, and the Heart constellation is the Great Fire. Ebo, the Fire Officer of the Tangyao clan, dwelt in Shangqiu, sacrificed to the Great Fire Star, and used its movements to mark the seasons. Xiangtu followed this practice, so the Shang dynasty took the Great Fire Star as their chief object of sacrifice. The Shang people observed omens of disaster and ruin, and these invariably began with fire; therefore, in ordinary times, they could know the Way of Heaven.” Duke Dao said: “Can this be depended upon as certain?” Shi Ruo replied: “It lies in the conduct of government. If a state is disordered and without portents, it cannot be foreknown.”
In summer, Ji Wuzi went to the state of Jin, reciprocating the diplomatic mission of Xuanzi (Shi Gai).
Mu Jiang died in the Eastern Palace. At the time she was moved to the Eastern Palace, she had consulted the yarrow stalks and obtained the hexagram Gen, which changed to the number eight. The Grand Scribe said: “This is called the hexagram Gen changing into Sui. Sui means ‘to go out.’ You must go out quickly.” Mu Jiang said: “No! This hexagram is in the Zhouyi, which says: ‘Sui: Origination, Penetration, Benefit, Correctness; no misfortune.’ Origination is the foundation of the body; Penetration is the harmonious meeting of excellence; Benefit is the harmony of righteousness; Correctness is the mainstay of affairs. One who embodies humaneness is sufficient to be the leader of others; one whose excellence is beautiful is sufficient to accord with ritual; one who benefits all things is sufficient to harmonize righteousness; one who is correct and steadfast is sufficient to accomplish affairs. Therefore, one cannot act improperly. Thus, even with the hexagram Sui, there is no misfortune. Now, I am a woman who has participated in turmoil. I am originally in a lowly position, and I have acted without humaneness—this cannot be called ‘Origination’; I have brought instability to the state—this cannot be called ‘Penetration’; my actions have harmed my own person—this cannot be called ‘Benefit’; I have abandoned my proper station and adorned my appearance—this cannot be called ‘Correctness.’ One who possesses these four virtues is free from misfortune with the hexagram Sui. I have none of them—how can it be the Sui hexagram? I have brought evil upon myself; can I avoid misfortune? I will surely die here; I cannot go out.”
King Jing of Qin sent Shi Qian to the state of Chu to request reinforcements, preparing to attack the state of Jin. King Gong of Chu agreed. Zinang said: “This cannot be done. At present, we cannot contend with Jin. The ruler of Jin employs his ministers according to their abilities, recommending without missing the right person, and appointing officials without changing the regular order. His high ministers yield to the worthy, the great officers do not fail in their duties, the scholars devote themselves to instruction, the common people apply themselves to agriculture, and the merchants, artisans, and menials do not change their occupations. Han Jue has already retired, and Zhi Ying has succeeded him as chief minister. Fan Gai is younger than Zhonghang Yan, yet he is placed above him and assists in the command of the central army. Han Qi is younger than Luan Yan, yet Luan Yan and Shi Fang yielded to him, making him assistant in the upper army. Wei Jiang has many merits, yet he considered Zhao Wu worthy and willingly became his deputy. The ruler is discerning, the ministers are loyal, those in high positions yield, and those in low positions exert themselves. At such a time, Jin cannot be withstood. Serving them is the only course. I beg you to consider this.” King Gong of Chu said: “I have already agreed. Although we are no match for Jin, we must still send out the army.” In autumn, King Gong of Chu encamped at Wucheng to serve as a rear guard for Qin. The men of Qin invaded Jin. Jin was suffering from a famine at the time and was unable to retaliate.
In winter, in the tenth month, the various lords attacked Zheng. On the day of Gengwu, Ji Wuzi, Cuizhu of Qi, and Huangyun of Song followed Xun Ying and Shi Gai in attacking the Xun gate. Beigong Kuo of Wei, the men of Cao, and the men of Zhu followed Xun Yan and Han Qi in attacking the Shizhiliang gate. The men of Teng and the men of Xue followed Luan Yan and Shi Fang in attacking the North gate. The men of Qi and the men of Ni followed Zhao Wu and Wei Jiang in felling the chestnut trees along the road. On the day of Jiaxu, the army encamped at Fan. Duke Dao of Jin ordered the various lords, saying: “Repair your weapons and equipment, prepare ample dry provisions, send the old, weak, and young home, station the sick and wounded at Hulao, pardon those who have committed offenses, and besiege Zheng.” The men of Zheng were frightened and thus sought peace. Zhonghang Xianzi (Xun Yan) said: “Let us immediately besiege Zheng and await the arrival of Chu’s relief forces to do battle with them. If we do not do this, it will be difficult to achieve a settlement.” Zhi Wuzi (Xun Ying) said: “Grant them a covenant and then withdraw, thereby wearing out the men of Chu. We will divide our army into three parts, and with the elite troops of the various lords, we will meet any invaders. For us, this will not be exhausting, but Chu will be unable to cope. This is better than fighting. To expose bones for the sake of momentary gratification cannot be the way to win. The great toil has not yet ceased. The gentleman uses wisdom, the petty man uses physical strength—this is the system of the former kings.” The various lords were all unwilling to fight, so they granted Zheng’s request for peace. On the day of Jihai in the eleventh month, they swore a covenant together at Xi, signifying Zheng’s submission. When they were about to swear the covenant, the six ministers of Zheng—Gongzi Fei, Gongzi Fa, Gongzi Jia, Gongsun Zhe, Gongsun Chai, and Gongsun Shezhi—together with the great officers and the eldest sons of the ministers, all followed Duke Jian of Zheng. Shi Zhuangzi (Shi Ruo) of Jin drafted the covenant text, saying: “From this day of the covenant onward, if Zheng does not fully obey the commands of Jin, or harbors other intentions, may it be as this covenant text curses.” Gongzi Fei stepped forward quickly and said: “Heaven has sent down calamity upon Zheng, placing it between two great states. The great states do not extend kindness, but instead threaten us with war and disorder, causing the spirits of Zheng to receive no sacrifices, the common people to enjoy no benefit from the land, and husbands and wives to toil in hardship with no place to appeal. From this day of the covenant onward, if Zheng does not follow the state that is ritualistic and strong and able to protect its people, but dares to have other intentions, may it also be as this covenant text curses.” Xun Yan said: “The covenant text must be revised.” Gongsun Shezhi said: “The words of the covenant have already been announced to the great spirits. If they can be revised, then the covenant of a great state can also be betrayed.” Zhi Wuzi said to Xun Yan: “We truly lack virtue, yet we coerce others with a covenant—is this ritual? If it is not ritual, on what basis can we preside over a meeting? For the time being, let us conclude the covenant and withdraw. Then we may cultivate virtue and rest our troops before coming again, and in the end we will surely obtain Zheng. Why must it be today? If we lack virtue, our own people will abandon us—how much more so would Zheng? If we can rest and restore harmony, even those far away will submit; why rely solely on Zheng?” So they concluded the covenant and withdrew.
The men of Jin had not fully achieved their will with Zheng, so they led the various lords to attack Zheng again. On the day of Guihai in the twelfth month, they attacked three gates of Zheng. On the day of Wuyin in the intercalary month, they crossed the Yellow River at Yinban, invaded Zheng, encamped at Yinkou, and then withdrew. Zikong said: “We can attack the Jin army. The troops are weary and exhausted, and they are thinking of returning home; we will surely win a great victory.” Zizhan said: “This cannot be done.”
Duke Xiang of Lu saw off Duke Dao of Jin. Duke Dao of Jin hosted a banquet for Duke Xiang of Lu by the Yellow River and asked about Duke Xiang’s age. Ji Wuzi replied, “In the year of the meeting at Shasui, our ruler was born.” Duke Dao of Jin said, “Twelve years old. This is called one cycle, the period of a star’s revolution. A ruler fathers a son at fifteen, and after the capping ceremony, he fathers a son—this is the ritual. The ruler may now undergo the capping ceremony. Why does the grand master not prepare the capping implements?” Ji Wuzi replied, “For the ruler’s capping ceremony, it is necessary to perform the libation offering, using bells and chime stones as rhythm, and to hold it in the ancestral temple of the former rulers. Now our ruler is traveling on a journey and cannot prepare them. Please allow that after arriving at a fraternal state, we borrow the ritual vessels to make preparations.” Duke Dao of Jin said, “Good.” When Duke Xiang of Lu reached the state of Wei on his return journey, he underwent the capping ceremony in the temple of Duke Cheng of Wei, borrowing the bells and chime stones—this was in accordance with ritual.
King Gong of Chu attacked the state of Zheng. Zisi intended to make peace with Chu. Zikong and Zisi said, “Having sworn an alliance with a great state, with the blood of the covenant still fresh on our lips, can we betray it?” Zisi and Zizhan said, “Our covenant originally stated, ‘We only follow the powerful state.’ Now the Chu army has arrived, and Jin does not come to our aid—thus Chu is the powerful one. How dare we violate the words of the covenant? Moreover, an alliance made under duress has no sincerity; the spirits will not descend. The spirits only descend upon sincerity. Sincerity is the verification of words and the foundation of good deeds, and thus the spirits descend. The discerning spirits do not approve of coerced alliances; betraying it is permissible.” Thereupon they made peace with Chu. Gongzi Bharong entered Zheng to conclude the alliance, swearing the oath together at Zhongfen. The wife of King Zhuang of Chu had died, so King Gong of Chu could not secure Zheng and returned home.
After returning to his state, Duke Dao of Jin planned how to give the people rest. Wei Jiang requested that favors be dispensed and that accumulated goods be lent to the people. From the ducal house downward, all who had stored up wealth brought it all out. Within the state, there were no stagnant goods, nor were there any people in need. The ruler did not monopolize the profits of mountains, forests, rivers, and marshes, and there were no covetous people among the people. In prayers, silk was used instead of sacrificial animals; at banquets, only one beast was slaughtered; no new implements were made; chariots, robes, and ornaments were used only as sufficient. After one year of this practice, the state had proper standards. After three military campaigns, Chu was no longer able to contend with Jin.