Duke Ding, 4th Year
In the spring of the fourth year, on the guisi day of the second month by the Zhou calendar, Marquis Chen Wu died.
In the third month, Duke Ding of Lu met with Liu Zi, Duke Ding of Jin, Duke Jing of Song, Marquis Zhao of Cai, Duke Ling of Wei, Duke Huai of Chen, Duke Xian of Zheng, the Viscount of Xu, Duke Yin of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, the Viscount of Dun, the Viscount of Hu, Duke Qing of Teng, Count Xue, Count Qi, the Viscount of Xiao Zhu, and Guo Xia of Qi at Shaoling, and they attacked Chu.
In the summer, on the gengchen day of the fourth month, Gongsun Xing of Cai led an army and destroyed the state of Shen. He captured Zi Jia of Shen and killed him. In the fifth month, Duke Ding of Lu made a covenant with the feudal lords at Gaoyou.
Count Qi Cheng died during the covenant.
In the sixth month, Duke Hui of Chen was buried.
The state of Xu moved its capital to Rongcheng.
In the autumn, in the seventh month, Duke Ding of Lu returned from the covenant.
Liu Juan died.
Duke Dao of Qi was buried.
The people of Chu besieged Cai.
Shi Yang of Jin and Kong Yu of Wei led an army to attack Xianyu.
Duke Wen of Liu was buried.
In the winter, on the gengwu day of the eleventh month, Marquis Zhao of Cai led King Helü of Wu and fought with the people of Chu at Boju. The Chu army was heavily defeated, and Nang Wa of Chu fled to Zheng. On the gengchen day, the Wu army entered Ying.
In the spring of the fourth year, in the third month, Duke Wen of Liu gathered the feudal lords at Shaoling to plan an attack on Chu. Xun Yin of Jin demanded valuables from Marquis Zhao of Cai but did not obtain them. He then said to Fan Xianzi, “The state is in danger, and the feudal lords are of two minds. Under these circumstances, to attack the enemy, is it not difficult? Heavy rain is falling, malaria is spreading, Zhongshan refuses to submit, breaking the covenant invites resentment, this brings no harm to Chu but loses Zhongshan. It would be better to refuse Marquis Zhao of Cai. Since we marched our troops to Fangcheng, Chu has not allowed us to achieve our ambitions; it will only be a vain labor.” So they refused Marquis Zhao of Cai. The people of Jin borrowed feather banners from Zheng, and the people of Zheng gave them. The next day, someone raised the feathered banner at the covenant meeting, and from this, Jin lost the support of the feudal lords.
When the covenant was about to be held, Zixing Jingzi of Wei said to Duke Ling of Wei, “Matters of court audience and covenant are difficult to manage. Opinions are diverse, words are confused, and no one can control them. It would be best to have Zhuo Tu follow.” Duke Ling of Wei said, “Good.” So he sent Ziyu. Ziyu declined, saying, “I exhaust the strength of my four limbs to carry out my old duties, and I still fear I cannot fulfill them, thereby incurring the penal code. If I am also to hold two offices, that would be committing a great crime. Moreover, invokers and scribes are the fixed officers of the state. When the state is at peace, invokers and scribes do not go beyond the borders; this is the regular rule of the offices. If the ruler leads the army on an expedition, when sacrificing to the god of the soil and smearing blood on the drum, the invoker and scribe carry the sacrificial offerings and follow; only then do they go beyond the borders. If it is a good event like a court audience or a mission of inquiry, when the ruler travels, he has a contingent of troops; when a minister travels, he has a following of men. I have no business there.” Duke Ling of Wei said, “Still, go.”
When they reached Gaoyou, it was arranged that Cai would smear blood before Wei. Duke Ling of Wei sent Zhuo Tu to secretly say to Chang Hong, “I have heard rumors on the road, but do not know if they are true. I have heard that Cai is to be placed before Wei. Is this true?” Chang Hong said, “It is true. Cai Shu was the elder brother of Kang Shu. To place Cai before Wei, is that not also acceptable?” Ziyu said, “From the perspective of the former kings, what was honored was virtue. Formerly, King Wu defeated the Shang, and King Cheng pacified the world. They selected the wise and virtuous to act as shields for Zhou. Thus, the Duke of Zhou assisted the royal house, governed the world, and was harmonious with Zhou. They gave to the Duke of Lu the great chariot, the great banner, the Huang jade of the Xia sovereigns, the Fanruo bow of Fengfu, and the six clans of Yin: Tiao, Xu, Xiao, Suo, Changshao, and Weishao. They made him lead the clans, gather the branches, command the multitudes, imitate the Duke of Zhou, and obey the commands of Zhou. This was to make him serve in Lu, to manifest the bright virtue of the Duke of Zhou. They gave him lands, attached states, invokers, ancestors, diviners, scribes, complete vessels, documents, all officers, and sacrificial vessels. With the people of Shangyan, they enfeoffed Bo Qin, establishing him in the old territory of Shaohao. They gave to Kang Shu the great chariot, the Shaobo, the chanfei, the jingjing, the dalu, and the seven clans of Yin: Tao, Shi, Fan, Qi, Fan, Ji, and Zhongkui. They marked the boundaries, from the south of Wufu to the northern border of Putian, took the lands of Youyan to supply the king’s duties, took the eastern capital of Xiangtu to participate in the king’s eastern tours. Dan Ji granted him the lands, Tao Shu granted him the people, commanded him with the Kang Gao, and enfeoffed him in the old territory of Yin. Both states followed the policies of Shang and were governed by the system of Zhou. They gave to Tang Shu the great chariot, the drum of Mixu, the armor of Qiegong, the bell of Guxi, and the nine clans of Huai, with five officers of the right. They commanded him with the Tang Gao and enfeoffed him in the old territory of Xia. He followed the policies of Xia and was governed by the system of Rong. These three men were all uncles, but they had bright virtue, so they were honored with gifts of vessels. Otherwise, there were many elder brothers of Kings Wen, Wu, Cheng, and Kang, but they did not receive these gifts, because they did not honor seniority. Guan Shu and Cai Shu incited the remnants of Shang, plotting to harm the royal house. The king then killed Guan Shu and exiled Cai Shu, giving him seven chariots and seventy followers. Cai Shu’s son, Cai Zhong, reformed his errors and followed virtue. The Duke of Zhou elevated him, making him his own high officer, presented him to the king, and enfeoffed him with Cai. The appointment document said: ‘The king says: Hu, do not be like your father in defying the king’s command.’ How can Cai be placed before Wei? King Wu had eight full brothers of the same mother. The Duke of Zhou was Grand Steward, Kang Shu was Minister of Crime, Dan Ji was Minister of Works, and the other five uncles had no office. Was that honoring seniority? Cao was a son of King Wen, Jin was a grandson of King Wu. Cao was a count and a Dian service state; it was not honoring seniority. If you now want to honor seniority, that is to violate the way of the former kings. When Duke Wen of Jin held the covenant at Jiantu, Duke Cheng of Wei was not present. Yishu was Duke Cheng’s full younger brother, yet he was still placed before Cai. The covenant document said: ‘The king says: Jin Zhong, Lu Shen, Wei Wu, Cai Jiawu, Zheng Jie, Qi Pan, Song Wangchen, Ju Qi.’ It was stored in the treasury of Zhou, and can be examined. If you wish to restore the achievements of Kings Wen and Wu, yet do not rectify virtue, what do you intend to do?” Chang Hong was pleased when he heard this. He told Liu Zi and consulted with Fan Xianzi, so they had Duke Ling of Wei placed first in the covenant.
On the return from Shaoling, Zitaishu of Zheng died before he arrived. Zhao Jianzi of Jin mourned for him, weeping very sorrowfully, saying, “At the covenant of Huangfu, the gentleman told me nine sayings: ‘Do not incite disorder, do not rely on wealth, do not rely on favor, do not violate common will, do not be arrogant and rude, do not boast of ability, do not repeatedly give way to anger, do not plot what is not virtuous, do not commit what is not righteous.’”
The state of Shen did not participate in the covenant at Shaoling, and Jin ordered Cai to attack it. In the summer, Cai destroyed Shen. In the autumn, Chu besieged Cai on account of Shen. Wu Yuan, serving as a diplomat for Wu, plotted against Chu. When Chu killed Xi Wan, the Bo clan fled abroad. Bo Zhouli's grandson, Bo Pi, who served as the Grand Tutor of Wu, also plotted against Chu. Since King Zhao of Chu ascended the throne, there had not been a single year without an attack by Wu's forces. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Marquis of Cai sent his son Gan and the sons of his high ministers as hostages to Wu. In the winter, the Marquis of Cai, the King of Wu, and the Marquis of Tang jointly attacked Chu. They moored their boats by the Huai River, set out from Yuzhang, and confronted the Chu army across the Han River. The Left Sima, Xu, said to Zi Chang: "You move up and down along the Han River to engage them, while I lead all the troops from beyond Fangcheng to destroy their boats, then return and block the three strategic passes of Dasui, Zhiyuan, and Ming'e. Once you cross the Han River and attack them, I will strike from behind, and we will surely defeat them greatly." After agreeing on this plan, they set out. Wucheng Hei said to Zi Chang: "Wu uses wooden chariots, while we use leather-covered ones; ours cannot hold out for long, so it is better to fight quickly." Shi Huang said to Zi Chang: "The people of Chu hate you and favor the Sima. If the Sima destroys Wu's boats by the Huai River and blocks the city passes (the three strategic passes) before returning, then he alone will have defeated Wu. You must fight quickly, or you will inevitably face disaster." Thus, Zi Chang crossed the Han River and deployed his forces, stretching from the Lesser Bie Mountains to the Greater Bie Mountains. After three engagements, Zi Chang realized he could not win and wanted to flee. Shi Huang said: "In times of peace, you vied for authority; now that trouble has come, you want to flee—where can you escape? You must fight to the death, so that your earlier offenses may be fully redeemed."
On the day Gengwu of the eleventh month, the two armies arrayed for battle at Boju. He Lü's younger brother, Fugai Wang, said to He Lü in the morning: "Zi Chang (named Wa) of Chu is unkind, and his men lack the resolve to fight to the death. If we attack him first, his soldiers will surely flee, and then our main army can follow up; we will certainly defeat them." He Lü did not agree. Fugai Wang said: "What is meant by 'When a minister acts righteously, he does so without waiting for orders'—this is precisely such a case. Today, if I fight to the death, Chu can be entered." Thereupon, he led his five thousand men and struck first at Zi Chang's soldiers. Zi Chang's soldiers fled, the Chu army fell into chaos, and the Wu forces routed them. Zi Chang fled to Zheng, and Shi Huang died fighting in his chariot.
The Wu army pursued the Chu forces and reached Qingfa, where they prepared to attack them. Fugai Wang said: "A trapped beast will still struggle, let alone a man? If they know they are doomed to die, they will fight desperately and will surely defeat us. If we let those who cross first know they can escape, then those who cross later will envy them, and they will have no fighting spirit. It is best to attack when they are halfway across." He Lü followed his advice and again defeated the Chu army. The Chu soldiers were cooking their meals when the Wu army arrived; the Chu forces fled, and the Wu army pursued and defeated them at Yongshi. After five battles, the Wu army reached Ying.
On the day Jimao, the King of Chu, along with his younger sister Ji Mi and Bi Wo, fled from Ying and crossed the Sui River. Zhen Yin Gu shared the same boat with the King of Chu, and the King ordered him to tie torches to the tails of elephants and drive them toward the Wu forces. On the day Gengchen, the Wu army entered Ying, occupying the palaces according to their ranks. Zi Shan took up residence in the Prime Minister's palace, but Fugai Wang wanted to attack him; Zi Shan, frightened, left, and Fugai Wang moved in.
The Left Sima, Xu, heard in Xi that the King of Chu had been defeated, so he hurried back, defeated the Wu army at Yongshi, but was himself wounded. Previously, the Left Sima had served as a minister to He Lü, so he was ashamed to be captured by the Wu forces. He said to his men: "Who can prevent my head from falling into the hands of Wu?" Wu Jubei said: "I am of low status; may I do it?" The Sima said: "I have indeed underestimated you in the past; of course you may." After three battles, he was wounded and said: "I am finished." Wu Jubei spread out his lower garment, cut off the Sima's head, wrapped it up, hid his body, and fled with the head.
The King of Chu crossed the Sui River, then crossed the Yangtze, and entered the Yunmeng Marsh. While the King was sleeping, bandits attacked him, striking with a dagger-axe. Wangsun Youyu shielded him with his back and was hit in the shoulder. The King fled to Yun. Zhong Jian carried Ji Mi on his back and followed him. Wangsun Youyu slowly regained consciousness and also followed.
Dou Xin's younger brother, Huai, wanted to kill the King of Chu, saying: "King Ping killed my father; if I kill his son, is that not fitting?" Xin said: "When a ruler punishes a minister, who dares to bear a grudge? The ruler's command is Heaven's will. If one dies by Heaven's decree, who can be resented? The Book of Songs says: 'The soft he does not devour, the hard he does not spit out; he does not oppress the widower or widow, nor fear the strong and violent.' Only the virtuous can achieve this. Fleeing from the strong and bullying the weak is not courage; taking advantage of another's distress is not benevolence; causing one's clan to perish and its sacrifices to end is not filial piety; acting without good reputation is not wisdom. If you insist on doing this, I will kill you." Dou Xin, together with his younger brother Chao, escorted the King of Chu to flee to Sui.
The Wu people pursued the King of Chu and said to the people of Sui: "The descendants of Zhou in the Han River region have all been wiped out by Chu. Heaven has shown mercy, sending punishment down upon Chu, yet you hide the King of Chu. What crime has Zhou committed? If you would consider repaying Zhou and extend grace to me, aiding Heaven's intent, that would be your kindness. The fields north of the Han River will be yours." The King of Chu was in the northern part of the Sui ruler's palace, while the Wu people were in the south. Ziqi resembled the King of Chu; he let the King flee and impersonated him, saying: "Hand me over, and the King will surely escape." The Sui people divined about handing over Ziqi to Wu, but it was inauspicious, so they refused the Wu people, saying: "Because Sui is remote and small, and closely adjacent to Chu, Chu has indeed always preserved us. For generations we have had covenants, and to this day they have not changed. If we abandon them because of Chu's misfortune, on what grounds would we serve you? What you fear is not just the King of Chu alone. If you can stabilize the territory of Chu, how dare we not follow your orders?" The Wu people then withdrew.
Lujin had originally been a retainer of the Ziqi clan and had actually made an agreement with the Sui people (to hand over the King of Chu). The King of Chu wanted to see him, but he declined, saying: "I dare not seek personal gain by taking advantage of the King's distress." The King of Chu cut open Ziqi's chest to take blood and formed a covenant with the Sui people.
Previously, Wu Yuan and Shen Baoxu were friends. When Wu Yuan fled, he said to Shen Baoxu: "I will surely overthrow Chu." Shen Baoxu said: "Strive on! If you can overthrow it, I will surely revive it." When King Zhao was in Sui, Shen Baoxu went to Qin to request reinforcements, saying: "Wu is like a great boar or a long serpent, repeatedly devouring the upper states, and the calamity began with Chu. Our ruler has lost his state and wanders in the wilds, sending his humble minister to appeal: 'The nature of the barbarians is insatiable. If Wu becomes your neighbor, it will be a border calamity. Take advantage of Wu's unsettled state and come to divide Chu. If Chu is thus destroyed, your territory will be increased. If you, by your majesty, pacify Chu, then Chu will serve you for generations.'" The Earl of Qin sent someone to decline, saying: "I have heard your command. Go temporarily to the guesthouse, and we will inform you after deliberation." Shen Baoxu replied: "Our ruler wanders in the wilds and has not yet found a resting place; how dare your humble minister go to rest?" He leaned against the wall and wept, weeping day and night without ceasing, and for seven days he did not drink a single spoonful of water. Duke Ai of Qin recited the poem No Garments for him. Shen Baoxu kowtowed nine times and then sat down, and Qin thus dispatched troops.