Duke Zhao's 18th Year
In the eighteenth year, in spring, in the third month of the Zhou calendar, Cao Bo Xu died.
In summer, in the fifth month, on the day renwu, fires occurred in Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng.
In the sixth month, the people of Zhu invaded and entered the state of Yu.
In autumn, Cao Pinggong was buried.
In winter, Xu moved its capital to Baiyu.
In the eighteenth year, in spring, in the second month of the Zhou calendar, on the day yimao, Mao De of Zhou killed Mao Bo Guo and took his place. Chang Hong said: “Mao De is certain to flee. This day is the day when Kunwu’s evil was full and overflowing, because of arrogance and extravagance. And Mao De is arrogantly extravagant in the Zhou capital—if he does not flee, what is he waiting for?”
In the third month, Cao Pinggong died.
In summer, in the fifth month, the Fire Star began to appear at dusk. On the day bingzi, wind blew. Zi Shen said: “This is called rong wind, the beginning of fire. In seven days, I fear a fire will occur!” On the day wuyin, the wind blew fiercely. On the day renwu, the wind blew extremely fiercely. Fires occurred in Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng. Zi Shen ascended the treasury of the Daiting clan to observe, saying: “These are Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng.” After a few days, all four states came to report the fires. Bi Zao said: “If my words are not heeded, Zheng will suffer another fire.” The people of Zheng requested adopting his advice, but Zichan did not agree. Zitai Shu said: “Treasures are used to protect the people. If a fire occurs, the state is almost destroyed. It is possible to avert destruction—why do you begrudge the treasures?” Zichan said: “The way of Heaven is remote, while the way of man is near; they do not pertain to each other. How can one know the way of Heaven? How could Bi Zao understand the way of Heaven? This man speaks much—is it not possible that he occasionally hits the mark by chance?” So he did not give the treasures, and Zheng did not suffer another fire.
Before the fire occurred in Zheng, Li Xi told Zichan: “A great calamity is about to happen, the people will be stirred, and the state will almost perish. I myself will die, and it will be too late. If the state moves its capital, is it permissible?” Zichan said: “Although it is permissible, I alone am not sufficient to decide on moving the capital.” By the time the fire occurred, Li Xi had already died but had not yet been buried. Zichan sent thirty chariots to move his coffin away. When the fire occurred, Zichan dismissed the princes and nobles of Jin at the eastern gate, sent the Sikou to escort newly arrived guests out, forbade old guests from going out, and would not let them leave the palace gates. He sent Zikuan and Zishang to inspect all sacrificial sites, up to the Grand Temple. He sent Gongsun Deng to move the great tortoise away. He sent the Zhushi to move the stone chests containing the spirit tablets of the ancestral temple to the Zhou temple and report to the former lords. He ordered the stewards of the treasury and the stewards of the armory to each guard their own duties. Shang Cheng Gong ordered the palace steward to be on alert and moved the former lord’s palace women out, placing them where the fire could not reach. The Sima and Sikou lined up along the fire paths, extinguishing the fire everywhere. The people below the city walls lined up to ascend the walls. The next day, he sent the Ye Sikou to each restrain the laborers they had conscripted. The suburban people helped the Zhushi clear the ground north of the capital, offered sacrifices to the gods of water and fire, and prayed at the four city gates. He registered the burned houses, reduced their taxes, and issued them timber. He mourned for three days for the state’s death and suspended market trade. He sent messengers to report to the feudal lords. Song and Wei both acted like Zheng. Chen did not rescue the fire, and Xu did not offer condolences for the fire; the junzi thus knew that Chen and Xu would be the first to perish.
In the sixth month, the ruler of Yu inspected the rice fields of Yu. The people of Zhu attacked Yu. The people of Yu were about to close the city gates, but Yang Luo of Zhu cut off the head of Yu’s gatekeeper and thus entered the city, capturing all the people of Yu and taking them back. The ruler of Yu said: “I have no place to go.” So he followed his wife and children to Zhu. Zhu Zhuang Gong returned the ruler of Yu’s wife but kept his daughter.
In autumn, Cao Pinggong was buried. Those who attended the funeral met Yuan Bolu of Zhou and conversed with him, finding that he did not like learning. After returning, they told Min Zima about it. Min Zima said: “Zhou is probably about to have turmoil! It must be that such talk has become widespread and then influenced those in power. Those in power, fearing to lose their positions, become confused and say: ‘One can do without learning; without learning, there is no harm.’ Thinking there is no harm, they do not learn, so they drift along and that suffices. Thus those below lord it over those above, and those above neglect their duties—can turmoil not occur? Learning is like planting; if one does not learn, one will wither like grass and trees. The Yuan clan is probably about to perish!”
In the seventh month, Zichan of Zheng, because of the fire, extensively repaired the altars of the soil, offered sacrifices in the four directions, and prayed to avert fire; this was in accordance with ritual. He then selected soldiers and held a great military review. He was about to clear the parade ground. Zitai Shu’s ancestral temple was south of the road, and his sleeping temple was north of the road, with a very small courtyard. After three days beyond the deadline, Zichan had the laborers clearing the ground lined up north of the temple south of the road, saying: “When Zichan passes by you, if he orders you to clear quickly, you shall demolish in the direction you face.” Zichan went to court and passed by; when he saw this, he became angry, and the clearers demolished to the south. Zichan reached the crossroads and sent his attendants to stop them, saying: “Demolish to the north.”
When the fire occurred, Zichan distributed weapons and ascended the city walls. Zitai Shu said: “Will Jin probably attack us?” Zichan said: “I have heard that if a small state forgets defense, it is dangerous—how much more so when there is a fire? A state cannot be looked down upon because it is prepared.” Soon, the border officials of Jin reproached Zheng, saying: “Zheng has had a fire; the ruler and great officers of Jin dared not rest easily, they performed divination, offered sacrifices, and rushed about in all directions, not grudging sacrificial animals and jade silk. Zheng having a fire is our ruler’s concern. Now the officer in charge angrily distributes weapons and ascends the city walls—against whom will he seek to punish? The people on the border are fearful and dare not fail to report to you.” Zichan replied: “As you say, the fire in our humble state is a concern for your ruler. Our humble state’s governance is not good, and Heaven sent down fire. We also feared that evil people might take advantage to attract greedy individuals, again bringing harm to our humble state and increasing your ruler’s concern. Fortunately, the state has not perished, so we can still explain; if unfortunately it perishes, though your ruler is concerned, it will be too late. Zheng has other borders, and we hope to flee to Jin. Since we already serve Jin, how would we dare have other thoughts?”
Wangzi Sheng, the Left Yin of Chu, said to the king of Chu: “Xu is an enemy to Zheng, yet it dwells on Chu’s land, and therefore behaves insolently toward Zheng. Jin and Zheng are on friendly terms; if Zheng attacks Xu and Jin helps it, Chu will lose territory. Why does the ruler not move Xu away? Xu is not devoted to serving Chu, and Zheng is pursuing good governance. Xu says: ‘That was our original territory.’ Zheng says: ‘That is a city we captured.’ Xu being in Chu is a shield outside Fangcheng. Land cannot be lightly abandoned, a state cannot be belittled, Xu cannot be treated as a captive, and enmity cannot be aroused. I ask the ruler to consider this.” The king of Chu was pleased. In winter, the king of Chu sent Wangzi Sheng to move Xu to Xi, which was actually Baiyu.