The Seventeenth Year of Duke Xiang
In the seventeenth year, in spring, on the Gengwu day of the second month by the Zhou calendar, the Viscount of Zhu, Jing, died.
The people of Song attacked the state of Chen.
In summer, Shi Mai of Wei led an army to attack the state of Cao.
In autumn, the Marquis of Qi attacked the northern borders of our state and besieged the place of Tao.
Gao Hou led an army to attack the northern borders of our state and besieged the place of Fang.
In the ninth month, a grand rain-seeking sacrifice was held.
Hua Chen of Song fled to Chen.
In winter, the people of Zhu attacked the southern borders of our state.
In the seventeenth year, in spring, Zhuang Chao of Song attacked Chen and captured the Minister of Works, Yang, because Chen had treated Song with contempt.
Sun Kuai of Wei hunted in the Sui region of Cao, watered his horses at Chongqiu, and broke a water jar there. The people of Chongqiu closed the city gates and cursed him, saying: "You personally drove away your own ruler, and your father became a vengeful ghost. Instead of worrying about these things, why do you come here to hunt?"
In summer, Shi Mai and Sun Kuai of Wei attacked Cao and occupied Chongqiu. The people of Cao lodged a complaint with Jin.
Because the people of Qi had not yet achieved their aims in our state, in autumn, the Marquis of Qi attacked the northern borders of our state and besieged Tao. Gao Hou besieged Zang He at Fang. The army welcomed Zang Sun from Yangguan and reached Lusong. Zou Shuhe, Zang Chou, and Zang Jia led three hundred armored men, attacked the Qi army at night, escorted Zang Sun out, and then returned to their positions. The Qi army departed from there.
The people of Qi captured Zang Jian. The Marquis of Qi sent Su Shawei to comfort him and ordered him not to die. Zang Jian kowtowed and said: "I bow to your command, but the ruler’s gift has no good end, and you have sent a punished subject to show respect to a knight." He then thrust a wooden stick into his wound and died.
In winter, the people of Zhu attacked the southern borders of our state, doing this for the sake of Qi.
Hua Yue of Song died. Hua Chen, considering the clan of Gao Bi to be weak, sent assassins to kill his steward, Hua Wu. Six assassins killed Hua Wu with a long spear at the Lu Gate and then went to the rear courtyard of the Left Master. The Left Master, frightened, said: "I am not guilty." The assassins said: "Gao Bi is privately punishing Hua Wu." They then confined Hua Wu’s wife and said: "Give us your large jade disc."
When Duke Ping of Song heard of this, he said: "Hua Chen not only treats his clan cruelly but also severely disrupts the governance of Song. He must be expelled." The Left Master said: "Hua Chen is also a high minister. If a great minister is not respectful, it is a shame for the state. It is better to cover up this matter." So they let him go.
The Left Master made himself a short riding whip, and whenever he passed the gate of Hua Chen’s house, he would spur his horse and gallop quickly.
In the eleventh month, on the Jiawu day, the people of the capital chased a mad dog. The mad dog ran into Hua Chen’s house, and the people followed it in. Hua Chen, afraid, fled to Chen.
Huang Guofu of Song, serving as Grand Steward, built a high terrace for Duke Ping, which interfered with the agricultural work. Zi Han requested that the work be postponed until after the harvest, but the duke did not agree. The workers building the terrace sang: "The white-skinned one at the Marsh Gate indeed makes us toil; the black-skinned one in the city truly comforts our hearts." Zi Han heard this, took a whip himself, inspected the workers, and flogged those who were not diligent, saying: "We petty men all have houses to shelter from dryness, dampness, cold, and heat. Now the ruler wants to build a terrace, and if it cannot be completed quickly, what work are we doing?" The singers then stopped. When someone asked him the reason, Zi Han said: "In a small place like Song, if there are both curses and praises, this is the root of disaster."
Yan Huanzi of Qi died. Yan Ying wore coarse mourning garments, tied a hempen belt around his head, girded his waist with hemp, held a mourning staff, wore straw sandals, drank porridge, lived in a simple hut, slept on a straw mat, and pillowed his head on straw. His steward said: "This is not the ritual for a great officer." Yan Ying said: "Only a high minister is considered a great officer."