Duke Zhao's 23rd Year

In the twenty-third year, in spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, Shusun Zhao went to Jin. On the day Guichou, Shuyang died. The Jin people arrested our envoy Shusun Zhao. The Jin people surrounded Jiao. In summer, the sixth month, Marquis Cai Dongguo died in Chu. In autumn, the seventh month, the Ju ruler Gengyu fled to Lu. On the day Wuchen, Wu defeated the armies of Dun, Hu, Shen, Cai, Chen, and Xu at Jifu, capturing Hu Zikun and Shen Zicheng, and also capturing Chen's Xianie. The Son of Heaven of Zhou resided at Di Spring, and the Yin family established Prince Chao as king. In the eighth month, on the day Yiwei, an earthquake occurred. In winter, Duke Zhao of Lu went to Jin, reached the Yellow River, fell ill, and returned.

In the twenty-third year, in spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, on the day Renyin, the first day of the month, two armies surrounded Jiao. On the day Guimao, the people of Jiao and Xun dispersed. On the day Dingwei, the Jin army encamped at Pingyin, and the Zhou king's army encamped at Zeyi. The Zhou king sent a person to announce that the conflict had slightly eased, and on the day Gengxu, the armies withdrew.

The people of Zhu built a wall at Yi. On their way back, they intended to go via Ligū. Gongsun Chu said, "Lu will block us. We should go back via Wucheng, following the mountains southward." Xu Chu, Qiu Ruo, and Mao Di said, "The mountain road is low-lying; if it rains, we won't be able to get out, and then we won't return." So they went via Ligū. The people of Wucheng blocked their path ahead and cut down the trees on their rear road, but did not fell them completely. When the Zhu army passed, the people of Wucheng pushed the trees over to crush them, thus capturing the Zhu army and seizing Xu Chu, Qiu Ruo, and Mao Di. The people of Zhu complained to Jin, and the Jin people came to punish Lu. Shusun Zhao went to Jin, and the Jin people arrested him. The Spring and Autumn Annals records: "The Jin people seized our envoy Shusun Zhao." This refers to him as an envoy. The Jin people had Shusun Zhao sit face-to-face with a high minister of Zhu to argue. Shusun Zhao said, "The ministers of the various feudal states are equivalent to the rulers of small states—this is originally the system of Zhou. Moreover, Zhu is a barbarian. Our ruler's appointed deputy, Zifu Hui, is here; let him undertake this matter. This is because I dare not abandon the system of Zhou." Thus he ultimately did not sit for the face-to-face argument. Han Xuanzi had the people of Zhu gather their populace, intending to hand Shusun Zhao over to them. When Shusun Zhao heard of this, he dismissed his attendants and weapons and went to court. Shi Mi Mou said to Han Xuanzi, "If you do not plan well and hand Shusun Zhao to his enemy, Shusun Zhao will surely die from this. If Lu loses Shusun Zhao, they will surely destroy Zhu. If the ruler of Zhu loses his state, where will he go? Even if you later regret it, how could it be remedied? What is called a covenant lord is one who punishes those who violate orders. If they all seize each other's people, what need is there for a covenant lord?" So he did not hand Shusun Zhao over to the people of Zhu. They had them each stay in a separate lodging. Shi Bo heard their complaints, then reported to Han Xuanzi, and thus arrested them all. Shi Bo drove Shusun Zhao's chariot, with four attendants, passing by the lodging of the Zhu people on the way to the officials, and first sent the ruler of Zhu back to his state. Shi Bo said, "Because firewood is difficult to supply and the attendants are toiling, I will settle you in another city." Shusun Zhao stood from morning, waiting all day. So he was placed at Ji, and Zifu Zhaobo was lodged in another city. Fan Xianzi demanded goods from Shusun Zhao, sending a person to request his hat. Shusun Zhao took a sample of the hat and gave two hats, saying, "All are given." Because of Shusun Zhao's case, Shen Feng took goods and went to Jin. Shusun Zhao said, "Come see me, and I will tell you how to deliver the goods." Shen Feng came to see Shusun Zhao, but then did not go out. The officials who stayed with Shusun Zhao at Ji requested his barking dog. Shusun Zhao did not give it. When he was about to return, he killed the dog and ate it together with the officials. Every place Shusun Zhao stayed, even for just one day, he would always repair the walls and houses, and when he left, it was as when he arrived.

In summer, the fourth month, on the day Yiyou, Danzi captured Zi, and Liuzi captured Qiangren and Zhiren. In the sixth month, on the day Renwu, Prince Chao entered Yin. On the day Guiwei, Yin Yu lured Liu Tuo and killed him. On the day Bingxu, Danzi via Fan Road and Liuzi via Yin Road attacked Yin. Danzi arrived first and was defeated. Liuzi then returned. On the day Jichou, Zhao Bo Huan and Nangong Ji led the people of Chengzhou to guard Yin. On the day Gengyin, Danzi, Liuzi, and Fan Qi brought the Zhou king to Liu. On the day Jiawu, Prince Chao entered the royal city and encamped at the Left Lane. In autumn, the seventh month, on the day Wushen, Xun Luo sent Prince Chao to Zhuang Palace. Yin Xin defeated Liuzi's army at Tang. On the day Bingchen, he again defeated Liuzi's army at Xun. On the day Jiazi, Yin Xin captured Xiwei. On the day Bingyin, he attacked Kuai, and the people of Kuai dispersed.

The Ju ruler Gengyu was cruel and fond of swords. Whenever he cast a sword, he would use a person to test it. The people of the state were all afraid of this. He was also about to betray Qi. Qi Wucun led the people of the state to expel him. Gengyu was about to flee. Hearing that Wucun was holding a staff and standing on the left side of the road, he became frightened and wanted to stop, but feared being killed. Yuan Yang Muzhi said, "You should go! Wucun is known for his strength—that is enough. Why should he achieve fame by killing a ruler?" So he fled to Lu. The people of Qi received Jiaogong.

The Wu people attacked Zhoulai. Chu's Wei Yue led an army, along with the armies of the feudal states, on orders to rescue Zhoulai. The Wu people resisted them at Zhongli. Zixia died, and the Chu army's morale was low. Prince Guang of Wu said, "Many feudal states follow Chu, but they are all small states. They fear Chu and act under compulsion, so they come. I have heard: 'If affairs are such that authority overcomes kindness, even if weak, one will surely succeed.' The rulers of Hu and Shen are young and arrogant, the Chen minister Nie is mature and stubborn, and Dun, Xu, and Cai hate Chu's government. Chu's chief minister has died, their army's morale is low, their commander is of low status and much favored, and orders are not unified. Seven states have mobilized troops but are not of one mind. If the commander is of low status, he cannot marshal the army; lacking great authority and command, Chu can be defeated. If we divide our forces and first attack Hu, Shen, and Chen, they will surely flee first. When these three states are defeated, the feudal armies' morale will be shaken. When the feudal armies are in chaos, Chu will surely be greatly defeated. Please let the vanguard relax their vigilance and reduce their might, while the rear forces consolidate their formations and marshal their troops." The king of Wu followed his advice. On the day Wuchen, which was the last day of the month, they fought at Jifu. The king of Wu used three thousand criminals to first attack Hu, Shen, and Chen. The armies of these three states competed to capture them. Wu formed three armies and followed closely behind. The central army followed the king of Wu, Prince Guang led the right army, and Yanyu led the left army. The Wu criminals either ran or stopped, and the armies of the three states fell into disarray. The Wu army attacked them, and the armies of the three states were defeated. They captured the rulers of Hu and Shen, as well as the Chen minister. They released the prisoners from Hu and Shen and had them run to Xu, Cai, and Dun, saying, "Our rulers are dead!" The Wu army shouted and followed them. The armies of the three states fled, and the Chu army was greatly defeated. The Spring and Autumn Annals records: "Hu Zikun and Shen Zicheng were destroyed; Chen's Xianie was captured." This uses different terms for rulers and ministers. It does not say "battle" because the Chu army had not yet formed its battle array.

In the eighth month, on the day Dingyou, Nangong Ji died due to an earthquake. Chang Hong said to Liu Wengong, "You should strive! The strength of the former ruler can achieve success. When Zhou declined, three rivers had earthquakes. Now the minister of the Western King has also died due to an earthquake; Heaven has abandoned him. The Eastern King will surely achieve great victory."

The mother of Prince Jian of Chu was living in (Jufu). She summoned the men of Wu and opened the city gates for them. In winter, in the tenth month, on the _jiashen_ day, Prince Zhufan of Wu entered (Jufu), took away the lady of Chu, and returned with her and her treasures to the state. Sima Wei Yue of Chu pursued them but did not overtake them. He was about to commit suicide. The crowd said, "Please attack Wu now, to gain victory by luck." Wei Yue said, "To cause the lord's army to be defeated again would add guilt even in death. The loss of the lord's lady cannot go without someone dying for it." So he hanged himself at Wei Shi.

Duke Zhao of Lu went to Jin for the sake of Shusun Chuo. When he reached the Yellow River, he fell ill and returned.

Nang Wa of Chu became _lingyin_ and built a wall at the capital Ying. Shen Yin Xu said, "Zichang will certainly lose Ying. If it cannot be defended, building a wall is of no benefit. In ancient times, the Son of Heaven's defense was among the four barbarian tribes. When the Son of Heaven's position declined, his defense was among the feudal lords. The feudal lords' defense was among the neighboring states. When the feudal lords' position declined, their defense was at the four borders. Carefully governing the four borders, forming alliances with the neighboring states for aid, the people dwell in peace in the fields, and the agricultural tasks of spring, summer, and autumn are completed. The people have no internal worries and no external fears—why would the state need to build a wall? Now, fearing Wu, they build a wall at Ying, and the scope of defense has already shrunk. When the position has declined and still cannot be maintained, can one avoid losing the state? In former times, Bo Liang dug a moat around his palace, and the people scattered. The people abandoned their lord—if he was not destroyed, what else could be expected? Delimit the borders, cultivate the land, strengthen the fortresses on the borders, draw near to the people, clarify the duties of lookout and warning, trust in neighboring states, carefully manage the duties of officials, maintain diplomatic etiquette, neither transgress nor be greedy, neither be weak nor be strong, perfect the defenses to guard against unforeseen events—what then is there to fear? The _Odes_ say: 'Think of your ancestors, and cultivate their virtue.' Is this not a lesson? From Ruo'ao and Fenmao down to King Wu and King Wen, the territory did not exceed a hundred _li_ square, and they carefully governed the four borders, yet they did not build a wall at Ying. Now the territory is several thousand _li_ square, yet they build a wall at Ying—is this not difficult to sustain?"