The Nineteenth Year of Duke Xiang
In the nineteenth year, in spring, during the first month of the Zhou calendar, the feudal lords held a covenant at Zhuge. The people of Jin arrested the Viscount of Zhu. Duke Xiang returned from the campaign against Qi. They took the fields of Zhu and demarcated the boundary at the Zhuo River.
Ji Sunsu went to Jin. They buried Duke Cheng of Cao.
In summer, Sun Linfu of Wei led an army to attack Qi.
In autumn, on the day of Xinmao in the seventh month, Marquis Huan of Qi died.
Shi Gai of Jin led an army to invade Qi, reaching the valley of Gu. Hearing of the marquis’s death, he withdrew and returned home.
On the day of Bingchen in the eighth month, Zhongsun Mie died.
Qi killed their grandee Gao Hou.
Zheng killed their grandee Gongzi Jia.
In winter, they buried Duke Ling of Qi.
They built the wall on the western side of the outer city.
Shu Sunbao met with Shi Gai of Jin at Ke.
They built the city of Wu.
In the nineteenth year, in spring, the feudal lords returned from the bank of the Yi River and held a covenant at Duyang, saying: “Great states shall not encroach upon small states.” They arrested Duke Dao of Zhu because of his attack on our state.
Then they camped by the Si River, demarcated our state’s borders, took the fields of Zhu, and from the Zhuo River set the boundary, all of which were assigned to our state. The Marquis of Jin returned first. Duke Xiang hosted a feast for the six ministers of Jin at Pu Pu, bestowing on them the chariot and vestments of the third rank. The military commanders, the overseer of horses, the minister of works, the overseer of chariots, and the chief scout each received chariot and vestments of the first rank. He presented Xun Yan with a bundle of brocade, along with a jade disk and four horses, and first offered the tripod of Wu Shoumeng.
Xun Yan developed a malignant sore, with a carbuncle on his head. Crossing the Yellow River, he reached Zhuyong, where his illness became severe, and his eyes bulged out. The grandees who had gone ahead all hurried back. Shi Gai requested an audience, but Xun Yan would not let him in. Shi Gai asked who could succeed him in his office, and Xun Yan said: “The nephew of Zheng can.” On the day of Jiayin in the second month, Xun Yan died, but his eyes remained open, and his mouth was clenched shut, unable to receive the jade burial piece. Xuanzi washed his hands, stroked the corpse, and said: “I served Wu’er; how dare I not serve you as I did?” The corpse still kept its eyes open. Luan Huaizi said: “This is probably because the campaign against Qi was not completed.” Then he stroked the corpse and said: “If after your death I do not continue to pursue the campaign against Qi, may the god of the River bear witness!” Then Xun Yan closed his eyes and accepted the jade piece. Xuanzi came out and said: “As a man, I am truly shallow.”
Luan Fang of Jin led an army to follow Sun Wenzi of Wei in attacking Qi.
Ji Wuzi went to Jin to thank them for sending troops. The Marquis of Jin hosted a feast for him. Fan Xuanzi was in charge of government affairs and recited the poem “Shu Miao.” Ji Wuzi stood up, bowed twice, and knocked his head, saying: “A small state looks to a great state as all grains look to the nourishing rain. If constant nourishment is given, all under heaven will be harmonious—how could it be only our state?” He recited the poem “Liu Yue.”
Ji Wuzi used the weapons taken from Qi to cast a Linzhong bell and inscribed it with the achievements of Lu. Zang Wuzhong said to Ji Sun: “This is not in accordance with ritual. Inscriptions are used by the Son of Heaven to extol virtue, by feudal lords to record timely deeds and merits, and by grandees to record campaigns. Now recording a campaign is lowering one grade; recording merit relies on another’s strength; recording timeliness brings much harm to the people. On what basis can an inscription be made? Moreover, when a great state attacks a small one, taking their goods to make ritual vessels and inscribing their achievements to pass on to descendants is about manifesting bright virtue and punishing those without ritual. Now you rely on another’s strength to save yourself from destruction—how can this be inscribed? A small state, by luck defeating a great state, and then flaunting what it has gained to provoke the great state, is a path to ruin.”
The Marquis of Qi took a wife from Lu, named Yan Yiji, who bore no son. Her niece, Zong Shengji, bore Guang, who was made heir apparent. Other consorts included Zhongzi and Rongzi. Rongzi was favored. Zhongzi bore Ya and entrusted him to Rongzi. Rongzi requested that Ya be made heir, and the Marquis of Qi agreed. Zhongzi said: “This cannot be done. Abandoning the norm is unlucky; offending the feudal lords is hard to succeed in. Guang was established as heir and has already taken his place among the feudal lords. Now, without cause, to depose him is to tyrannically depose a feudal lord and to use this difficult matter to offend against bad omens. The ruler will surely regret it.” The Marquis of Qi said: “It all rests with me.” So he banished Guang to the eastern border, made Gao Hou Ya’s tutor, established Ya as heir, and made Su Shawei the junior tutor.
The Marquis of Qi fell ill. Cui Zhu secretly welcomed Guang and, while the marquis was gravely ill, established him as heir. Guang killed Rongzi and displayed her corpse in the court—this was not in accordance with ritual. For women, there are no special punishments; even if there are punishments, they should not be carried out in the court or market.
In summer, on the day of Renchen in the fifth month, at the end of the month, Duke Ling of Qi died. Duke Zhuang of Qi ascended the throne. He arrested Gongzi Ya at Gouduzhiqiu. Because Su Shawei had previously changed sides, he fled to Gaotang and rebelled.
Shi Gai of Jin invaded Qi, reaching the valley of Gu, and upon hearing of the mourning, returned—this was in accordance with ritual.
On the day of Dingwei in the fourth month, Gongsun Chai of Zheng died. The news was sent to Jin. Grandee Fan Xuanzi spoke to the Marquis of Jin, saying that he was skilled in attacking Qin. In the sixth month, the Marquis of Jin requested from the Son of Heaven, who posthumously bestowed on him a great chariot for his funeral.
In autumn, in the eighth month, Cui Zhu of Qi killed Gao Hou at Salan and annexed his property. The Spring and Autumn Annals records: “Qi killed their grandee,” because he obeyed the ruler in his benightedness.
When Gongzi Kong of Zheng was in charge of government, he acted autocratically, and the people were all worried about him. So they investigated the disaster at the Western Palace and the expedition out of Chunmen. Gongzi Kong was to bear the guilt; he led his own armored troops and the armored troops of Gongzi Ge and Gongzi Liang to defend himself. On the day of Jiachen, Gongzi Zhan and Gongzi Xi led the people to attack him, killed Gongzi Kong, and divided his property. The Spring and Autumn Annals records: “Zheng killed their grandee,” because he was autocratic.
Ziran and Gongzi Kong were sons of Songzi. Shigongzi was the son of Gui Gui. Gui Gui’s rank was below Songzi, but the two were close to each other. Shigongzi was also close to them. In the fourth year of Duke Xi, Ziran died. In the first year of Duke Jian, Shigongzi died. Situ Kong actually assisted the households of Gongzi Ge and Gongzi Liang, and the three households were like one, so they all suffered calamity. Gongzi Ge and Gongzi Liang fled to Chu. Gongzi Ge became the Right Minister.
The people of Zheng put Gongzi Zhan in charge of government, Gongzi Xi in charge of affairs, and established Gongzi Chan as a minister.
Qing Feng of Qi besieged Gaotang but did not capture it. In winter, in the eleventh month, the Marquis of Qi personally besieged Gaotang. Seeing Su Shawei on the wall, he called out loudly, and Su Shawei came down. The marquis asked about the city’s defenses, and Su Shawei told him there was no preparation. The marquis bowed to him, and Su Shawei climbed back up the wall. He heard that the Qi army was about to attack, so he prepared to let them take Gaotang. Zhi Chuo and Gong Lou joined forces, and at night they used ropes to lower the Qi troops into the city. They chopped Su Shawei into mincemeat in the camp.
They built the wall on the western side of the outer city because they feared Qi.
Qi made peace with Jin, and they held a covenant at Dasui. Therefore, Mu Shu met with Fan Xuanzi at Ke. Mu Shu had an audience with Shu Xiang and recited the fourth stanza of “Zai Chi.” Shu Xiang said: “Xi would not dare not to accept the command.” Mu Shu said: “Qi has not yet ceased its hostility; we cannot fail to be vigilant.” So they built the city of Wu.
Shi Gongzi of Wei died. Daozi did not grieve. Kong Chengzi said: “This is called cutting off one’s own root; he will surely be unable to preserve his clan.”