Duke Zhao's 17th Year
In the seventeenth year, in spring, the Viscount of Xiao Zhu came to pay a visit to Duke Zhao of Lu.
In summer, on the first day of the sixth month, a solar eclipse occurred.
In autumn, the ruler of Tan, Viscount Tan, came to pay a visit.
In the eighth month, Xun Wu of Jin led an army and extinguished the Rong of Lu Hun.
In winter, a comet appeared near the Great Star (the Heart Mansion).
The people of Chu and the people of Wu fought at Chang'an.
In the seventeenth year, in spring, the Viscount of Xiao Zhu came to pay a visit, and Duke Zhao feasted with him. Ji Pingzi recited the poem "Cai Shu," and the Viscount recited "Jingjing Zhe E." Zhaozi (Shusun Chuo) said: "If one lacks the ability to govern the state, can one last long?"
In summer, on the first day of the sixth month, a solar eclipse occurred. The prayer historian requested the appropriate silk and jade offerings. Zhaozi said: "During a solar eclipse, the Son of Heaven does not enjoy a full meal, and drums are beaten at the altar of the soil; the feudal lords use silk and jade at the altar of the soil and beat drums at court—this is the ritual." Pingzi (Ji Sun Yiru) stopped this, saying: "Stop. Only on the first day of the first month, when the yin evil has not yet arisen, if a solar eclipse occurs, then there is the ritual of beating drums and using silk; otherwise, it is not so." The Grand Historian said: "It is precisely this month. The sun has passed the vernal equinox but has not yet reached the summer solstice; when the sun, moon, and stars manifest calamities, then the hundred officials all change into plain garments, the ruler does not enjoy a full meal, avoids the main hall, shifts the time, the music master beats drums, the prayer historian uses silk and jade, and the scribe uses rhetoric. Therefore, the 'Xia Shu' says: 'When the sun, moon, and stars do not follow their regular course, the music master beats drums, the husbandman drives in haste, and the common people run.' This speaks of the first day of this month. It corresponds to the fourth month of the Xia calendar, which is called the first month of summer." Pingzi did not heed this. After Zhaozi withdrew from court, he said: "This man will have a different mind; he does not regard the ruler as a ruler."
In autumn, Viscount Tan came to pay a visit, and Duke Zhao feasted with him. Zhaozi inquired of him, saying: "Shao Hao's clan used bird names as official titles; what is the reason for this?" Viscount Tan said: "He is my ancestor; I know of this. In ancient times, the Yellow Emperor's clan used clouds to record events, so they established cloud officials and named them after clouds; the Flame Emperor's clan used fire to record events, so they established fire officials and named them after fire; the Gong Gong clan used water to record events, so they established water officials and named them after water; the Grand Hao clan used dragons to record events, so they established dragon officials and named them after dragons. When my high ancestor Shao Hao Zhi ascended the throne, a phoenix happened to arrive, so they used birds to record events, established bird officials and named them after birds. The Feng Niao clan was the chief official in charge of the calendar; the Xuan Niao clan was the official in charge of the spring and autumn equinoxes; the Bo Zhao clan was the official in charge of the summer and winter solstices; the Qing Niao clan was the official in charge of the beginning of spring and summer; the Dan Niao clan was the official in charge of the beginning of autumn and winter. The Ju Jiu clan was the Minister of Education; the Ju Jiu clan was the Minister of War; the Shi Jiu clan was the Minister of Works; the Shuang Jiu clan was the Minister of Justice; the Hu Jiu clan was the Minister of Affairs. These five kinds of jiu were the officials who gathered the people. The five kinds of zhi were the five officials who managed the artisans, improving tools and utensils, unifying measures and capacities, and settling the people. The nine kinds of hu were the nine officials who managed agriculture, preventing the people from being unrestrained. Since the time of Zhuan Xu, they could not record ancient matters, so they recorded near-modern matters, and as the chiefs of the people, they named them after civil affairs, because they could not follow the old system of antiquity." When Confucius heard of this, he went to pay a visit to Viscount Tan and studied with him. Later, he told others: "I have heard that when the Son of Heaven has lost his official system, the learning of it is preserved in the remote quarters; now it is indeed so."
Duke Qing of Jin sent Tu Kuai to Chengzhou to request sacrifices to the Luo River and Mount Sanshu. Chang Hong said to Liuzi: "The visitor's appearance is fierce; it is not for sacrifice—perhaps it is to attack the Rong? The Lu Hun clan is very close to Chu; it must be for this reason. You should prepare against them." So they strengthened the guard and prepared against the Rong. In the ninth month, on the day Dingmao, Xun Wu of Jin led an army, crossed the river at Jijin, and sent the prayer historian to first kill a sacrifice and offer it to the Luo River. The Lu Hun people were unaware, and the army followed. On the day Gengwu, they extinguished Lu Hun, enumerating their crimes of colluding with Chu. The Viscount of Lu Hun fled to Chu, and his followers fled to Ganlu. Zhou captured many. Xuanzi (Han Qi) dreamed that Duke Wen of Jin pulled Xun Wu and delivered Lu Hun to him, so he sent Muzi (Xun Wu) to lead the army and presented the captives in Duke Wen's temple.
In winter, a comet appeared near the Great Star (the Heart Mansion), stretching westward all the way to the Milky Way. Shen Xu said: "Comets are used to remove the old and bring in the new. Events in heaven often have omens. Now it sweeps the territory of the Fire Star (the Heart Mansion); when the Fire Star appears, it will surely spread calamity. Perhaps the feudal lords will suffer fire disasters?" Zi Shen said: "In previous years, I saw it; it was its omen. It appeared when the Fire Star emerged. This year, when the Fire Star appeared, it was even brighter; it will surely disappear only after the Fire Star has set. It has lingered near the Fire Star for a long time; is it not so? The Fire Star appears in the third month of the Xia calendar, the fourth month of the Shang calendar, and the fifth month of the Zhou calendar. The Xia calendar corresponds with the heavens. If a fire disaster occurs, four states will bear it. Will it be Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng? Song is the field of the Great Star; Chen is the field of Grand Hao; Zheng is the field of Zhu Rong; all are places where the Fire Star dwells. The comet reaches the Milky Way; the Milky Way is the omen of water. Wei is the field of Zhuan Xu, so it is called Diqiu; its constellation is Great Water. Water and fire are paired. Perhaps it will occur on the day Bingzi or Renwu? The reason water and fire will converge. If the Fire Star sets and the comet also disappears, it will surely be on the day Renwu, not exceeding the month of its appearance." Bi Zao of Zheng said to Zichan: "Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng will suffer fire disasters on the same day. If I use the guan jia and yu zan to sacrifice, Zheng will surely not suffer fire." Zichan did not give them to him.
Wu attacked Chu. Yang Gai (Lingyin Zixia) served as Lingyin, divined about battle, and the result was inauspicious. Sima Ziyu said: "We occupy the upper reaches; why is it inauspicious? Moreover, according to Chu's custom, the Sima commands the tortoise shell. I request to re-divine." He gave the order: "I (Ziyu's personal name was Fang) lead my subordinates to die in battle; the Chu army follows behind, hoping for a great victory." It was auspicious. The two armies fought at Chang'an. Ziyu died first in battle; the Chu army followed and greatly defeated the Wu army, capturing the Wu king's boat "Yuhuang." They sent the people of Sui and those who arrived later to guard it, dug a trench around the boat down to the spring, filled the trench with charcoal, and deployed their formation awaiting orders. Prince Guang of Wu requested of his followers, saying: "Losing the former king's boat—is it only my crime alone? You all share the responsibility. Please rely on your strength to retrieve it, to avoid the death penalty." They all agreed. He sent three tall men to lie in ambush beside the boat, saying: "When I call 'Yuhuang,' you answer." The army followed at night. He called three times, and they answered in turn. The Chu people followed and killed them. The Chu army fell into confusion; the Wu army greatly defeated the Chu army, seized the boat "Yuhuang," and returned to their state.