Duke Zhao's 10th Year
In the tenth year, in spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar.
In summer, Luan Shi of Qi fled to Lu.
In autumn, in the seventh month, Ji Sun Yiru, Shu Gong, and Zhong Sun Jue led an army to attack Ju.
On the day of Wuzi, Jin Hou Biao died.
In the ninth month, Shu Sun Ruo went to Jin.
Jin Ping Gong was buried.
In the twelfth month, on the day of Jiazi, Song Gong Cheng died.
In the tenth year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, a comet appeared at the position of the constellation Wunu. Bi Zao of Zheng said to Zi Chan, “On the day of Wuzi in the seventh month, the ruler of Jin will die. This year, the Jupiter star is at Zhuanxu’s Void, and the Jiang and Ren clans guard this place. The comet appeared at the head of the constellation, a warning to Yi Jiang. Yi Jiang is the grandmother of Jin. Heaven uses the number seven to count; on Wuzi, Feng Gong ascended to heaven on this day, and the comet appeared here. Therefore, I predict this.”
The descendants of Duke Hui of Qi, the Luan and Gao clans, both loved drinking, trusted their favorites, incurred much resentment, and were stronger than the Chen and Bao clans, but they hated them. In summer, someone told Chen Huanzi, “Ziqi and Ziliang are about to attack the Chen and Bao clans.” They also told the Bao clan. Huanzi issued armor and weapons and went to the Bao clan. On the road, he met Ziliang, drunk and riding wildly. He then went to see Wenzi, who had already issued armor. They sent people to check on the two men, who were both following in drinking. Huanzi said, “Although they do not believe the rumors, once they hear that we have issued armor, they will surely drive us away. Take advantage of their drinking and attack them first.” The Chen and Bao clans were on good terms, so they attacked the Luan and Gao clans. Ziliang said, “If we first gain the ruler’s support, where can the Chen and Bao clans flee?” So they attacked the Tiger Gate. Yan Pingzhong stood outside the Tiger Gate in court attire. The four clans all summoned him, but he did not go. His followers said, “Will you help the Chen and Bao clans?” He said, “What good are they?” They said, “Will you help the Luan and Gao clans?” He said, “Are they any better?” They said, “Then shall we go back?” He said, “The ruler is being attacked; where can I go back to?” When the ruler summoned him, he entered. The ruler divined, and ordered Wang Hei to lead the army with the Linggu Banner, which was auspicious. He requested to cut three feet off the banner before using it. On the day of Gengchen in the fifth month, they fought at Ji, and the Luan and Gao clans were defeated. They defeated them again at Zhuang. The people of the state pursued them, and defeated them again at Lu Gate. Luan Shi and Gao Qiang fled to Lu. The Chen and Bao clans divided their property. Yanzi said to Huanzi, “You must give this property to the ruler. Yielding is the root of virtue; this is called virtue. All men have a heart for contention, so profit cannot be forcibly sought; considering righteousness is better. Righteousness is the root of profit. Accumulating profit brings disaster; for now, let it not accumulate, so that virtue may grow.” Huanzi gave all the property to the ruler and requested to retire in Ju. Huanzi summoned Zishan, privately prepared tents, utensils, and tools, as well as followers’ clothes and shoes, and returned Ji to him. He did the same for Zishang and returned his city. He did the same for Zizhou and gave him Fuyu. He returned the lands of Zicheng, Zigong, and Gongsun Jie, and increased their salaries. For all princes and dukes’ sons and grandsons who had no salaries, he privately gave them cities. For the poor and orphaned in the state, he privately gave them grain. He said, “The Book of Songs says, ‘Bestowing favors achieves the Zhou,’ this is due to the ability to give. Duke Huan became hegemon because of this.” The ruler gave Huanzi the cities near Ju, but he declined. Mu Mengji requested Gaotang for him, and the Chen clan began to grow strong.
In autumn, in the seventh month, Pingzi attacked Ju and captured the city of Geng. He presented captives and began using human sacrifices at the Bo Altar. Zang Wuzhong heard of this in Qi and said, “The Duke of Zhou will probably not enjoy Lu’s sacrifices anymore! The Duke of Zhou enjoys sacrifices that accord with righteousness; Lu is without righteousness. The Book of Songs says, ‘Virtue’s sound is very clear, looking upon the people without contempt.’ Contempt is already excessive, and yet they use humans as sacrifices; who will grant blessings?”
On Wuzi, Duke Ping of Jin died. The ruler of Zheng went to Jin, but when he reached the Yellow River, the people of Jin declined him. You Ji then went to Jin. In the ninth month, Shu Sun Ruo, Qi Guo Ruo, Song Hua Ding, Wei Bei Gong Xi, Zheng Han Hu, the ruler of Xu, the ruler of Cao, the ruler of Ju, the ruler of Zhu, the ruler of Xue, the ruler of Qi, and the ruler of Xiao Zhu went to Jin to bury Duke Ping. Zipi of Zheng planned to take gifts, but Zi Chan said, “What use are gifts for a funeral? If we use gifts, we must have a hundred chariots; for a hundred chariots, we must have a thousand men. When a thousand men arrive, the gifts cannot be delivered; if they are not delivered, they will all be used up. Using up the gifts of a thousand men, can the state not perish?” Zipi insisted on requesting to take them. After the burial, the great officers of the feudal lords wanted to take the opportunity to pay respects to the new ruler. Shu Sun Zhaoxi said, “This is not in accordance with ritual.” They did not listen. Shu Xiang declined, saying, “The affairs of the great officers are finished, and they have given orders to our ruler again. Our ruler is in mourning, deeply grieved. If they pay respects in festive attire, then the mourning rites are not yet over; if they pay respects in mourning attire, it is to receive condolences again. What do the great officers intend to do?” None of them could pay respects. Zipi used up all the gifts he had brought. After returning, he said to Ziyu, “It is not difficult to understand principle, but it is difficult to practice it. The Master understands principle, but I am lacking. The Book of Documents says, ‘Desire ruins law, indulgence ruins ritual.’ This speaks of me. The Master understands law and ritual; I truly indulge my desires and cannot restrain myself.” Zhaoxi returned from Jin, and all the great officers came to see him. Gao Qiang paid respects and then withdrew. Zhaoxi said to the great officers, “As a son, one cannot be incautious! Formerly, when Qing Feng fled, Ziwei accepted many cities and gradually handed them over to the ruler. The ruler considered him loyal and greatly favored him. When he was dying, he fell ill in the palace, was taken home in a cart, and the ruler personally pushed the cart. His son could not carry on his legacy, so he ended up like this. Loyalty is a virtue; his son could not inherit it, and the crime still implicated him. How can one be incautious? Losing his father’s merit, abandoning virtue, and ruining the ancestral temple, implicating his own person—is this not a disaster? The Book of Songs says, ‘Not before me, not after me.’ This speaks of such a situation.”
In winter, in the twelfth month, Duke Ping of Song died. Initially, Duke Yuan disliked the eunuch Liu and wanted to kill him. When the mourning rites were being conducted, Liu burned charcoal on the mat. When Duke Yuan was about to arrive, Liu removed the charcoal. When the burial occurred, Liu was again in favor.