Duke Zhuang's Eleventh Year

In the eleventh year, in spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar.

In summer, on the day Wuyin of the fifth month, Duke Zhuang of Lu defeated the Song army at the place of Zi.

In autumn, a great flood occurred in the state of Song.

In winter, the daughter of the Son of Heaven, King Ji, was married off to the state of Qi.

In the eleventh year, in summer, the state of Song, because of the battle at Chengqiu, invaded our state. Duke Zhuang of Lu led troops to resist. Before the Song army had formed its battle formation, the Lu forces pressed close to them and defeated them at Zi. In every military engagement, if the enemy had not formed its formation, it was called "defeating such-and-such an army"; if both sides had formed their formations, it was called "battle"; if the army was completely routed, it was called "a crushing defeat"; if the enemy's brave warriors were captured, it was called "overcoming"; if the enemy was defeated by an ambush, it was called "seizing such-and-such an army"; if the Son of Heaven's army was defeated, it was called "the king's army was crushingly defeated at such-and-such a place."

In autumn, a great flood occurred in the state of Song. Duke Zhuang of Lu sent an envoy to offer condolences, saying: "Heaven has sent down heavy rain, harming the crops—how could we not offer condolences?" Duke Min of Song replied: "It is indeed because I lacked reverence that Heaven sent down this calamity, and thereby caused the ruler of your noble state to worry. I am unworthy of your coming to offer condolences." Zang Wenzhong said: "Song is perhaps about to flourish! Yu of Xia and Tang of Shang blamed themselves, and they rose vigorously; Jie of Xia and Zhou of Shang blamed others, and they quickly perished. Moreover, when a feudal state suffers disaster, its ruler calls himself 'the orphan'—this is in accordance with ritual. If his words are cautious and his title conforms to ritual, then there is nearly hope." Shortly afterward, it was learned that those words were spoken by Prince Yushuo. Zangsun Da said: "This man is fit to be a ruler, because he has a heart that cares for the people."

In winter, Duke Huan of Qi came to welcome Gong Ji.

In the battle at Chengqiu, Duke Zhuang of Lu shot Nangong Changwan with a Jinpu arrow, and the duke's right-hand chariot attendant, Chuansun, captured him alive. The people of Song requested that Nangong Changwan be released. Duke Min of Song humiliated him, saying: "At first I respected you, but now you have become a prisoner of Lu, so I no longer respect you." Nangong Changwan therefore harbored resentment.