Duke Xi's Twenty-third Year
In the spring of the twenty-third year, the Marquis of Qi attacked the state of Song and besieged Min.
In summer, on the day Gengyin of the fifth month, Duke Xiang of Song, Zifu, died.
In autumn, the people of Chu attacked the state of Chen.
In winter, in the eleventh month, the Viscount of Ju died.
In the spring of the twenty-third year, the Marquis of Qi attacked the state of Song and besieged Min. This was to punish Song for not participating in the alliance at Qi.
In summer, in the fifth month, Duke Xiang of Song died. This was due to injuries sustained in the battle at the Hong River.
In autumn, Cheng Dechen of Chu led an army to attack Chen. This was to punish Chen for having divided loyalties towards Song. He then occupied Jiao and Yi, built a wall at Dun, and returned. Ziwen considered this to be Cheng Dechen's achievement and appointed him as Lingyin. Shubo said, "What are you planning to do with the state?" Cheng Dechen replied, "I am here to stabilize the state. If one has great merit but no noble office, how many such people can stabilize a state?"
In the ninth month, Duke Hui of Jin died. Duke Huai ordered that no one should follow those who had fled into exile. Those who did not return by the deadline would never be pardoned. Hu Tu's sons, Hu Mao and Hu Yan, were following Chong'er in Qin. Hu Tu refused to summon them back. In winter, Duke Huai seized Hu Tu and said, "If your sons return, you will be spared the death penalty." Hu Tu replied, "When a son can serve as an official, the father teaches him loyalty. This is the ancient rule. Once a name is recorded on the bamboo slips and the person is given to his master, having divided loyalties is a crime. Now my sons have had their names with Chong'er for years. If I were to summon them back, this would be teaching them to have divided loyalties. If a father teaches his sons to have divided loyalties, how can they serve their lord? Not abusing punishments is the lord's wisdom and the subject's wish. If one abuses punishments to display power, who can be without fault? I have heard your command." Thereupon he was killed. Bu Yan feigned illness and did not go out, saying, "In the 'Book of Zhou' there is this saying: When the lord is great and wise, the subjects are obedient. If one is not wise himself but relies on killing to display power, is this not difficult? The people see no virtue, only killings. How can there be descendants?"
In the eleventh month, Duke Cheng of Ju died. The Spring and Autumn Annals records him as "Viscount" because Ju was a barbarian state. His name is not recorded because he had not made an alliance with Lu. Whenever a feudal lord made an alliance, after his death his name was announced to the allied states. This was in accordance with ritual. If the name was announced, it was recorded; otherwise, it was not. This was to avoid inaccuracy.
When the Jin prince Chong'er suffered disaster, the people of Jin attacked him at Pu. The people of Pu wanted to resist, but Chong'er did not agree, saying, "Relying on the command of my father the lord and enjoying the salary that nourishes life, I thus gained the support of the people. To have the support of the people and then oppose the lord—there is no greater crime. I had better go into exile." So he fled to the Di people. Those who followed him were Hu Yan, Zhao Cui, Dian Xie, Wei Wuzi, and Sikong Jizi. The Di people attacked the Qianggaoru and captured two of their daughters: Shu Wei and Ji Wei. They presented them to the prince. The prince married Ji Wei and had Bo Chou and Shu Liu. He gave Shu Wei to Zhao Cui, and she gave birth to Zhao Dun. The prince was about to go to Qi. He said to Ji Wei, "Wait for me for twenty-five years. If I have not returned by then, you may remarry." Ji Wei replied, "I am already twenty-five years old. If I wait another twenty-five years to remarry, I will be ready for the coffin. Please let me wait for you." The prince stayed with the Di people for twelve years before leaving.
He passed through Wei. Duke Wen of Wei did not treat him with proper ceremony. He passed through Wulu and begged food from a villager. The villager gave him a clod of earth. The prince was angry and wanted to whip him. Zifan said, "This is a gift from Heaven!" So he kowtowed and accepted it, placing it in his chariot.
When he arrived in Qi, Duke Huan of Qi gave him a daughter in marriage and provided him with twenty chariots. The prince became content with this life. His followers considered this unacceptable. As they were preparing to leave, they discussed it under a mulberry tree. A female slave gathering mulberries was in the tree and told the matter to Jiangshi. Jiangshi killed the slave and said to the prince, "You have great ambitions. The person who heard this news, I have already killed her." The prince said, "There is no such thing." Jiangshi said, "Go! Clinging to a wife and coveting comfort will indeed ruin your reputation." The prince refused to go. Jiangshi and Zifan conspired, got the prince drunk, and sent him away. When the prince sobered up, he took a spear and chased Zifan.
When he arrived in Cao, Duke Gong of Cao heard that the prince's ribs were fused together. He wanted to see his naked body. While the prince was bathing, he peeped at him from behind the curtain. The wife of Xifu Ji said, "I observe that the followers of the Jin prince are all capable of being prime ministers of a state. If they are used as his assistants, the prince will surely be able to return to Jin. Once he returns to Jin, he will surely achieve his ambitions among the feudal lords. When he achieves his ambitions among the feudal lords, he will punish the states that were discourteous to him. Cao will be the first. Why don't you show yourself to be different from others early on?" So Xifu Ji presented the prince with a dish of food, inside which was hidden a jade disk. The prince accepted the food and returned the jade disk.
When he arrived in Song, Duke Xiang of Song gave him twenty chariots.
When he arrived in Zheng, Duke Wen of Zheng also did not treat him with proper ceremony. Shu Zhan remonstrated, saying, "I have heard that those whom Heaven is opening a path for cannot be overtaken by others. The Jin prince has three points of distinction. Heaven perhaps intends to establish him as ruler. You should treat him with ceremony. If a man and woman share the same surname, their descendants will not prosper. The Jin prince was born of a woman of the Ji clan, yet he has survived to this day. This is the first point. He has suffered the hardships of exile, yet Heaven does not allow Jin to be stable. It is perhaps about to open up his destiny. This is the second point. He has three men among his followers who are superior to ordinary men. This is the third point. Jin and Zheng are of equal status. When their sons and younger brothers pass through, it is proper to treat them with ceremony, let alone one whom Heaven is opening a path for?" Duke Wen of Zheng did not listen.
When he arrived in Chu, the King of Chu feasted him and said, "If the prince returns to Jin, how will you repay me?" Chong'er replied, "Women, jade, and silk—you have plenty of them. Feathers, furs, ivory, and leather—these are all products of your land. Those that scatter to Jin are merely your surplus. What can I use to repay you?" The King of Chu said, "Nevertheless, what will you use to repay me?" Chong'er replied, "If, relying on your blessing, I am able to return to Jin, should the armies of Jin and Chu ever meet on the central plains, I will retreat three stages (ninety li). If even then I do not receive your forgiveness, then I will take my whip and bow in my left hand and my quiver and arrow case on my right to contend with you." Ziyu requested to kill Chong'er. The King of Chu said, "The Jin prince is far-sighted yet frugal in his lifestyle, cultured yet observant of ritual. His followers are serious and generous, loyal and capable. The Marquis of Jin has no close associates; both within and without, they detest him. I have heard that the Ji clan are descendants of Tang Shu and will decline slowly. Perhaps this Jin prince will revive them! If Heaven is about to make him prosper, who can abolish him? To go against Heaven will surely bring great disaster." So he sent Chong'er to Qin.
The Earl of Qin gave him five women, and Huai Ying was among them. Huai Ying held a ewer for pouring water for Chong'er to wash his hands. After washing, Chong'er flicked his hands to dry them and gestured for her to leave. Huai Ying became angry and said, "Qin and Jin are of equal status. Why do you despise me?" Chong'er was afraid and submitted himself as a prisoner. One day, the Earl of Qin feasted Chong'er. Zifan said, "I am not as cultured as Zhao Cui. Please let Zhao Cui accompany you." At the feast, Chong'er recited the poem "The River." The Earl of Qin recited the poem "The Sixth Month." Zhao Cui said, "Chong'er, bow and thank for the gift!" Chong'er descended the steps and kowtowed. The Earl of Qin descended one step to decline the courtesy. Zhao Cui said, "You have commanded Chong'er with the mission of assisting the Son of Heaven. How dare Chong'er not bow?"