The Eighteenth Year of Duke Xiang

In the eighteenth year, in spring, the White Di came to pay a court visit.

In summer, the Jin people arrested Shi Mai, the messenger of Wei.

In autumn, the army of Qi attacked the northern border of our state.

In winter, in the tenth month, the Duke of Xiang met with Duke Ping of Jin, Duke Ping of Song, Duke Shang of Wei, Duke Jian of Zheng, Duke Cheng of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Teng, the Earl of Xue, the Earl of Qi, and the Viscount of Xiao Zhu at the side of the Ji River in Lu. They assembled together to besiege Qi. Duke Cheng of Cao, Fu Chu, died in the army.

Gongzi Wu of Chu led an army to attack Zheng.

In the eighteenth year, in spring, the White Di came to pay court for the first time.

In summer, the Jin people arrested Shi Mai, the messenger of Wei, at Changzi, and arrested Sun Kuai at Chunliu. This was because of the affair of Cao.

In autumn, Duke Ling of Qi attacked the northern border of our state. Zhonghang Xianzi (Xun Yan) was preparing to attack Qi. He dreamed of litigating with Duke Li of Jin but did not win. Duke Li struck him with a halberd, and his head fell in front of him. He knelt down, put his head back on, held it with both hands, and ran. He saw the shaman Gao of Gengyang. A few days later, on the road, he saw the shaman Gao again and spoke with him. The dream was the same. The shaman Gao said, “This year you will certainly die. If there is a military campaign in the east, it will fulfill your wish.” Xianzi agreed. Duke Ping of Jin attacked Qi and prepared to cross the Yellow River. Xianzi tied two pairs of jade discs with red silk and prayed, saying, “Qi’s Huan relies on the dangerous terrain and the multitude of his people, turning his back on friendship and violating covenants, oppressing and abusing the common people. Your servant Biao will lead the feudal lords to punish him. Your official servant Yan assists him from front and rear. If we gain victory and do not bring shame to the spirits, then your official servant Yan will not dare to cross the river and return. We submit only to the judgment of the spirits.” Then he sank the jade into the Yellow River and crossed.

In winter, in the tenth month, the feudal lords met at the side of the Ji River in Lu to renew the covenant of Boliang and jointly attack Qi. Duke Ling of Qi defended at Pingyin and dug a moat at the Fang Gate to hold the position. The moat was one li wide. Su Shawei said, “If we cannot fight, it is better to hold the strategic points.” Duke Ling of Qi did not listen. The soldiers of the feudal lords attacked the Fang Gate, and many of Qi’s men died. Fan Xuanzi (Shi Gai) told Xiwenzi (Zi Jia), “I know you, so how dare I hide the situation? The people of Lu and Ju have both requested to use a thousand chariots to enter from their territory. We have already agreed. If they enter, your ruler will surely lose his state. Why do you not consider this?” Zi Jia reported this to Duke Ling of Qi. Duke Ling was afraid. When Yan Ying heard this, he said, “The ruler originally lacked courage, and now hearing these words, he will not hold out much longer.” Duke Ling of Qi climbed Wu Mountain to observe the Jin army. The Jin people sent the Sima to scout the dangerous points of the mountains and marshes. Even where no troops were stationed, they set up banners and deployed troops sparsely. They placed real men on the left seats of the chariots and dummy figures on the right, using large banners as guides, with branches trailing behind the chariots. When Duke Ling of Qi saw this, he feared the number of Jin troops and slipped away to retreat. On the day Bingyin, the last day of the tenth month, the Qi army fled by night. Shi Kuang told Duke Ping of Jin, “The crows sound joyful; the Qi army has probably fled.” Xing Bo told Zhonghang Bo (Xun Yan), “There is the sound of horses separating; the Qi army has probably fled.” Shu Xiang told Duke Ping of Jin, “There are crows on the city walls; the Qi army has probably fled.” On the day Dingmao, the first day of the eleventh month, the Jin army entered Pingyin and then pursued the Qi army. Su Shawei linked large carts together to block the mountain paths and took the rear. Zhi Chuo and Guo Zui said, “You, as the rearguard of the state’s army, are a disgrace to Qi. Please go ahead.” So they took his place as the rearguard. Su Shawei killed horses in the dangerous places to block the roads. Zhou Chuo of Jin caught up with them and shot Zhi Chuo with an arrow, hitting his shoulder, with two arrows flanking his neck. Zhou Chuo said, “Stop, and you will be captured by the three armies; if you do not stop, I will shoot your heart.” Zhi Chuo turned his head and said, “Make an oath.” Zhou Chuo said, “The sun is witness.” Then he loosened the bowstring and bound Zhi Chuo from behind. His chariot-right, Ju Bing, also put down his weapons and bound Guo Zui. Both were bound in armor and placed beneath the war drum of the central army. The Jin people wanted to pursue the fleeing Qi army, while Lu and Wei requested to attack the strategic points. On the day Jimao, the thirteenth day, Xun Yan and Shi Gai led the central army to capture Jingzi. On the day Yiyou, the nineteenth day, Wei Jiang and Luan Ying led the lower army to capture Shi. Zhao Wu and Han Qi led the upper army to besiege Lu but did not capture it. On the day Wuxu, the second day of the twelfth month, they reached Qinzhou and cut down the catalpa trees at the Yong Gate. Fan Yang attacked the Yong Gate, and his charioteer, Zhui Xi, killed a dog inside the gate with a halberd. Meng Zhuangzi cut down a juniper tree to make a zither for Duke Xiang of Lu. On the day Jihai, the third day, they burned the Yong Gate and the outer walls to the west and south. Liu Nan and Shi Ruo led the feudal lords’ troops to burn the bamboo and trees at Shen Pool. On the day Renyin, the sixth day, they burned the outer walls to the east and north. Fan Yang attacked the Yang Gate, and Zhou Chuo attacked the Dong Gate. Zhou Chuo’s left chariot horse was forced back, and he circled within the east gate, counting the copper nails on the gate with the door studs. Duke Ling of Qi harnessed the horses and prepared to flee to Youtang. The crown prince and Guo Rong pulled the horses and said, “The enemy comes swiftly and fiercely; they are plundering and will soon retreat. Why should you fear, O ruler? Moreover, as the master of the state, you should not act rashly; acting rashly will lose the people. You must wait for them.” Duke Ling of Qi was about to rush forward, but the crown prince drew his sword and cut the horse traces, so he stopped. On the day Jiachen, the eighth day, the Jin army advanced eastward to reach the Wei River and southward to reach the Yi River.

Zi Kong of Zheng wanted to remove the various great officers and planned to betray Jin, mobilizing the Chu army to eliminate them. He sent someone to tell Zi Geng, but Zi Geng did not agree. King Kang of Chu heard of this and sent Yang Tun Yin Yi to tell Zi Geng, “The people of the state think that I preside over the state without sending out troops, and after my death, I will not be buried according to ritual. It has been five years since I ascended the throne, and the army has not been mobilized; others may think I am greedy for ease and have forgotten the achievements of my predecessors. The great officer should consider this. What is to be done?” Zi Geng sighed and said, “Does the ruler think that Wu is greedy for ease? I am acting for the benefit of the state.” When he saw the messenger, he kowtowed and replied, “The feudal lords are currently in harmony with Jin. I request to test them. If it is feasible, the ruler may continue; if not, we will withdraw the troops and return, and there will be no harm, nor will the ruler suffer disgrace.” Zi Geng led the army to drill at Fen. At this time, Zi Xi, Bo You, and Zi Zhang followed Duke Jian of Zheng in attacking Qi, while Zi Kong, Zi Zhan, and Zi Xi remained behind. Zi Zhan and Zi Xi knew of Zi Kong’s plan and strengthened defenses and entered the citadel. Zi Kong dared not join forces with Chu. The Chu army attacked Zheng and camped at Yuling. The right army built a wall at Shangji, then crossed the Ying River and camped at Zhanran. Wei Zi Feng and Gongzi Ge led elite troops to raid Fei Hua, Xu Mi, Xian Yu, and Yong Liang, then circled to the right past Mei Mountain, raided the northeastern part of Zheng, and returned after reaching Chong Lao. Zi Geng attacked the Chun Gate, stayed for two nights beneath the city wall, then returned, crossing the river at the foot of Yu Ji Mountain. They encountered heavy rain, and many Chu troops suffered from frostbite, with nearly all the laborers dying. When the Jin people heard about the Chu army, Shi Kuang said, “There is no harm. I have repeatedly sung the northern tunes and also sung the southern tunes. The southern tunes are not strong and contain many sounds of death; Chu will certainly not succeed.” Dong Shu said, “The Heavenly Way is mostly in the northwest; the southern army does not accord with the season and will certainly not succeed.” Shu Xiang said, “It lies in the virtue of their ruler.”