Duke Xi's 5th Year
In the spring of the fifth year, Duke Xian of Jin killed his heir, Shensheng.
The wife of Bo of Qi came, to present her son for an audience.
In summer, Gongsun Zi went to the state of Mou.
Duke Xi of Lu, together with Duke Huan of Qi, Duke Huan of Song, Duke Xuan of Chen, Duke Wen of Wei, Duke Wen of Zheng, the Count of Xu, and Duke Zhao of Cao, met Prince Zheng, the heir apparent of the Zhou king, at Shouzhi.
In autumn, in the eighth month, the feudal lords formed a covenant at Shouzhi; Duke Wen of Zheng fled back to his state and did not participate in the oath.
The people of Chu extinguished the state of Xian; the Viscount of Xian fled to the state of Huang.
In the ninth month, on the day Wushen, which was the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.
In winter, the people of Jin captured the Duke of Yu.
In the spring of the fifth year, on the day Xinhai, the first day of the first month of the Zhou calendar, which was the winter solstice, Duke Xi of Lu had already performed the ceremony of presenting the calendar, and then ascended the observation terrace to gaze at the vapors and recorded them; this was in accordance with ritual propriety. In general, at the equinoxes, solstices, and the beginnings of the four seasons, one must record the changes in the vapors, in order to guard against calamities and anomalies.
Duke Xian of Jin sent a man to report the reasons for killing his heir, Shensheng. At first, Duke Xian of Jin had sent Shi Wei to build city walls for the two princes at Pu and Qu; Shi Wei was not careful and put firewood into the walls. Yiwu reported this to Duke Xian of Jin, who sent a man to reprimand Shi Wei. Shi Wei knocked his head on the ground and replied: "I have heard that if one grieves without a mourning, sorrow will surely come; if one builds walls without war, enemies will surely occupy them. If enemies are about to occupy them, why should one be careful? To hold office and abandon the ruler's command is disrespectful; to fortify the enemy's stronghold is disloyal. Losing loyalty and respect, how can one serve the ruler? The Odes say: 'Cherishing virtue brings peace; the sons of the clan are the city walls.' If you, my lord, cultivate virtue and strengthen the unity of the clan sons, what city walls can compare? Within three years there will be military action; why does one need to be careful now?" After retiring, Shi Wei recited a poem: "The fox-fur robe is mottled and rough; a state has three masters—whom should I follow?" When the calamity occurred, Duke Xian of Jin sent the eunuch Pi to attack Pu. Chong'er said: "The command of the ruler and father cannot be disobeyed." So he proclaimed: "Whoever disobeys the command is my enemy." Chong'er climbed over the wall and fled; the eunuch Pi cut off his sleeve, and Chong'er then escaped to the state of Di.
In summer, Gongsun Zi went to the state of Mou and took a wife there.
The meeting at Shouzhi was to meet Prince Zheng, the heir apparent, and to plan for the stabilization of the Zhou royal house.
Yuan Zhongxuan of Chen resented Shen Hou of Zheng for betraying him at the covenant of Zhaoling, so he persuaded Shen Hou to build city walls in the settlement granted by his ruler, saying: "Making the walls beautiful will bring great fame, and your descendants will never forget it. I will help you by making the request." Thus he requested on behalf of Shen Hou from the feudal lords, and the walls were built. After they were built beautifully, Yuan Zhongxuan slandered Shen Hou to Duke Wen of Zheng, saying: "He has made the granted city so beautiful—he is preparing to rebel." Because of this, Shen Hou incurred the displeasure of Duke Wen of Zheng.
In autumn, the feudal lords held a covenant. King Hui of Zhou sent the Duke of Zhou to summon Duke Wen of Zheng, saying: "I comfort you, so that you may follow Chu, and with Jin to assist you, you may thus gain some peace." Duke Wen of Zheng was pleased with the king's command, but feared that Qi would know he had not come to court, so he fled back to his state and did not participate in the oath. Kong Shu remonstrated with him, saying: "A ruler must not act rashly; rashness loses one's close supporters. Losing close supporters, calamity will surely come. If you wait until you are in distress to seek alliance, the loss will be great, and you will certainly regret it." Duke Wen of Zheng did not listen, but fled from his army back to his state.
Dou Gu Wutu of Chu extinguished the state of Xian; the Viscount of Xian fled to the state of Huang. At this time, the states of Jiang, Huang, Dao, and Bo were on friendly terms with Qi, and all were related by marriage to Xian. The Viscount of Xian relied on these connections and did not serve Chu, nor did he set up defenses, so he was destroyed.
Duke Xian of Jin again borrowed a road from Yu to attack Guo. Gong Zhiqi remonstrated, saying: "Guo is the screen of Yu. If Guo is extinguished, Yu will surely follow. The greed of Jin cannot be aroused; enemies cannot be taken lightly. Once already was excessive—can it be done a second time? The proverb says: 'The cheek and the jawbone depend on each other; when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold.' This refers to the relationship between Yu and Guo." The Duke of Yu said: "Jin is of my same clan—would it harm me?" Gong Zhiqi replied: "Tai Bo and Yu Zhong were sons of King Tai of Zhou. Tai Bo did not follow his father's command and thus did not inherit the throne. Guo Zhong and Guo Shu were sons of Wang Ji and served as ministers to King Wen; they had merit for the royal house, and the covenants recording their merits are stored in the archive. If Jin is about to extinguish Guo, what affection will it have for Yu? Moreover, can Yu be closer than the families of Huan Shu and Zhuang Bo? If Jin cherished them, what crime did the families of Huan Shu and Zhuang Bo have that they were killed? Was it not because they were favored and thus became a threat? If those who are close are killed because they are favored and threatening, how much more so for a state?" The Duke of Yu said: "My sacrificial offerings are abundant and pure; the spirits will surely bless me." Gong Zhiqi replied: "I have heard that spirits are not close to any one person; they only follow virtue. Therefore, the Book of Zhou says: 'Heaven has no private affections; it only aids the virtuous.' It also says: 'The millet offerings are not fragrant; bright virtue is fragrant.' It also says: 'People's offerings do not change; only the offerings of the virtuous are true offerings.' Thus, without virtue, the people will not be harmonious, and the spirits will not enjoy the offerings. What the spirits rely on is virtue. If Jin takes Yu and can manifest bright virtue to present fragrant offerings, would the spirits reject them?" The Duke of Yu did not listen but agreed to the request of the Jin envoy. Gong Zhiqi led his clan away, saying: "Yu will not last until the winter sacrifice. In this one action, Jin will not need to send another expedition." On the day Jiawu of the eighth month, Duke Xian of Jin besieged Shangyang. Duke Xian asked Bu Yan: "Will I succeed?" Bu Yan replied: "It can be taken." Duke Xian said: "When?" Bu Yan replied: "A children's rhyme says: 'On the morning of the Bing day, the Tail constellation is hidden. The military robes are neat and martial, seizing the banners of Guo. The Quail Fire star is like fire bright; the Tiance star is dim and faint. When the Fire star stands at noon, the host is arrayed; the Lord of Guo will flee.' This will likely be in the ninth or tenth month? On the morning of the Bingzi day, the sun will be in the Tail constellation, the moon in the Tiance constellation, and the Quail Fire star due south; it must be that time." In winter, on the first day of the twelfth month, the day Bingzi, Jin extinguished Guo. The Earl of Guo, named Chou, fled to the capital. The Jin army, on its return, camped in Yu and then took the opportunity to attack it, extinguishing it. They captured the Duke of Yu and the great officer Jing Bo, sending them as dowry attendants for Qin Mu Ji, but they preserved the sacrifices of Yu and allocated Yu's tribute to the Zhou king. Therefore, the Spring and Autumn Annals records: "The people of Jin captured the Duke of Yu." This was to blame Yu and to indicate that the matter was done with ease.