Duke Ai's Ninth Year

In the ninth year, in spring, the second month of the Zhou calendar, they buried Duke Xi of Qi.

Huang Yuan of Song led an army and defeated the Zheng army at Yongqiu.

In summer, the Chu people attacked Chen.

In autumn, the Duke of Song attacked Zheng.

In winter, the tenth month.

In the ninth year, in spring, the Marquis of Qi sent Gongmeng Chuo to Wu to decline sending troops. The Wu master said: "Last year I heard the lord's command, and now it has changed. I do not know which to follow, so I am prepared to go and receive the lord's command."

Xu Xia, a favorite of Wuzi Sheng of Zheng, requested a fief. Having no place to give him, he sought to take one from outside, and Wuzi Sheng agreed. Therefore, they surrounded Yongqiu of Song. Huang Yuan of Song surrounded the Zheng army, changing camp daily, building fortifications to encircle them. The Zheng army wailed loudly. Ziyao went to rescue them but was greatly defeated. On the fourteenth day of the second month, Song captured the entire Zheng army at Yongqiu, sparing the talented ones from death, and took Jia Zhang and Zheng Luo back to Song.

In summer, the Chu people attacked Chen because Chen had submitted to Wu.

The Duke of Song attacked Zheng.

In autumn, the Wu people built a wall at Han and opened a waterway between the Yangzi and Huai Rivers.

Zhao Yang of Jin divined about rescuing Zheng and obtained a hexagram of water flowing toward fire. He inquired of Shi Zhao, Shi Mo, and Shi Gu about its auspiciousness. Shi Gu said: "This is called 'sinking yin.' It is permissible to send troops. It is favorable for attacking the Jiang clan but unfavorable for the Zi clan. Attacking Qi is permissible, but opposing Song is inauspicious." Shi Mo said: "Ying is the name of a water; Zi is a water position. Name and position correspond; they cannot be violated. The Flame Emperor was the fire master, and the Jiang clan is his descendant. Water overcomes fire; attacking the Jiang clan is permissible." Shi Zhao said: "This is called 'like a river swollen full,' impossible to cross. Zheng is guilty and cannot be rescued. Rescuing Zheng is inauspicious; other matters are unknown." Yang Hu used the Zhouyi to consult the oracle and obtained the hexagram Tai changing into Xu. He said: "Song is auspicious; it cannot be opposed. Weizi Qi was the eldest son of Di Yi. Song and Zheng are uncle and nephew. Blessing means emolument. If Di Yi's eldest son gives his daughter in marriage and there is auspicious emolument, how can we obtain good fortune?" So they stopped the expedition.

In winter, the Wu master sent an envoy to announce that they were going to attack Qi.