Duke Xi, 33rd Year
In the thirty-third year, in spring, in the king's first month, the Qin army entered Hua.
The Marquis of Qi sent Guo Guifu to Lu on a friendly mission.
In summer, in the fourth month, on the day Xinsi, the men of Jin and the Jiang Rong defeated the Qin army at Xiao.
On the day Guisi, they buried Duke Wen of Jin.
The Di invaded Qi.
Duke Xi attacked Zhu, taking Zilou.
In autumn, the prince-son Sui led an army to attack Zhu.
The men of Jin defeated the Di at Ji.
In winter, in the tenth month, Duke Xi went to Qi; in the twelfth month, Duke Xi returned from Qi.
On the day Yisi, Duke Xi died in the small bedchamber.
There was a frost, but it did not kill the grass; plum and mei trees bore fruit.
The men of Jin, Chen, and Zheng attacked Xu.
In the thirty-third year, in spring, the Qin army passed by the northern gate of the Zhou capital. The soldiers on the left and right of the chariots took off their helmets and dismounted, and then three hundred chariots' worth of soldiers leaped back onto the chariots. Wangsun Man, then still young, saw this and said to the king of Zhou: "The Qin army is frivolous and without propriety; it will certainly be defeated. Frivolity leads to a lack of strategy; lack of propriety leads to carelessness. Entering a dangerous place while careless and unable to plan—can it avoid defeat?" When the Qin army reached Hua, Xian Gao, a merchant of Zheng, who was on his way to do business in the Zhou capital, encountered them. He first presented four tanned cowhides, then twelve oxen, to feast the Qin army, saying: "Our ruler, hearing that you were about to march through our state, has sent me to offer this meager feast to your subordinates. Though our state is poor, because your subordinates have been long abroad, if you stay, we will prepare one day's provisions; if you move on, we will prepare for one night's defense." At the same time, he sent a messenger urgently to report to Zheng. Duke Mu of Zheng sent men to inspect the guesthouse, and found that Qizi, Fengsun, and Yangsun had already packed their luggage, sharpened their weapons, and fed their horses. Duke Mu sent Huang Wuzi to dismiss them, saying: "You have been long in our humble state, but our dried meat, grain, and livestock are exhausted. Because you are about to depart, Zheng has its Yuan Park, just as Qin has its Ju Park. You may go and hunt deer there yourselves, so that our humble state may have some respite—what do you think?" Thereupon Qizi fled to Qi, and Fengsun and Yangsun fled to Song. Meng Ming said: "Zheng is already prepared; we cannot hope for anything. Attacking it will not bring victory; besieging it has no support. Let us return." So they destroyed Hua and went back.
Guo Zhuangzi of Qi came to Lu on a friendly mission. From the welcome at the outskirts to the presentation of gifts, all the rites were completed with agility. Zang Wenzhong said to Duke Xi: "Guozi is in charge of government; Qi still has propriety. You should go to court. I have heard: 'To submit to a state that has propriety is a safeguard for the state.'"
Xian Zhen of Jin said: "Qin has disobeyed the advice of Jian Shu, laboring its people out of greed. This is a gift from Heaven. A Heaven-sent opportunity must not be missed; the enemy must not be allowed to go free. Releasing the enemy will bring disaster; going against Heaven's will is inauspicious. We must attack the Qin army." Luan Zhi said: "We have not yet repaid Qin's kindness, yet we attack their army—how can we face our deceased ruler?" Xian Zhen said: "Qin did not mourn our national mourning, but attacked our state of the same surname. Qin is without propriety; what kindness is there to speak of? I have heard: 'To release the enemy for one day will bring calamity for generations.' To plan for our descendants—can this be said to be worthy of our deceased ruler?" So he issued the order and quickly mobilized the army of the Jiang Rong. Duke Xiang of Jin wore black mourning garments; Liang Hong drove the chariot, and Lai Ju acted as chariot-right.
In summer, in the fourth month, on the day Xinsi, they defeated the Qin army at Xiao, capturing Bai Li Meng Ming Shi, Xi Qi Shu, and Bai Yi Bing, and brought them back. Thereupon they buried Duke Wen of Jin in black mourning garments. From this time, Jin began to use black mourning garments. Wen Ying requested the release of the three commanders, saying: "They truly stirred up discord between the rulers of our two states. If our ruler could get hold of them, even eating their flesh would not satisfy his anger. Why trouble you to punish them? Let them go back to be punished in Qin, to satisfy our ruler's desire—what do you think?" Duke Xiang of Jin agreed. Xian Zhen came to court and asked about the Qin prisoners. Duke Xiang said: "The lady made a request for them, and I have already released them." Xian Zhen said angrily: "The soldiers captured them with great effort on the battlefield; a woman released them in the capital in an instant. Destroying our achievement and encouraging the enemy's spirit—the ruin of the state is not far off." He did not turn his head but spat on the ground. Duke Xiang of Jin sent Yang Chufu to pursue them. When he reached the Yellow River, they were already in the boat. Yang Chufu untied the left trace-horse, pretended it was a gift from Duke Xiang, and presented it to Meng Ming. Meng Ming kowtowed and said: "Thanks to the ruler's kindness, not killing us captive ministers to smear the drums, but letting us return to be punished in Qin. If our ruler kills us, we will die but not be forgotten. If, through the ruler's blessing, we are spared, in three years we will return to thank the ruler for his favor." Duke Mu of Qin, wearing plain clothes, waited outside the capital, faced the army, and wept, saying: "I disobeyed Jian Shu's advice, causing you gentlemen to suffer humiliation—this is my crime. Not dismissing Meng Ming is my fault. What crime have the great officers committed? Indeed, I will not obliterate his great merit because of one fault."
The Di invaded Qi because Jin was in mourning.
Duke Xi attacked Zhu, taking Zilou, to avenge the battle of Shengxing. The men of Zhu were not on guard. In autumn, Xiangzhong again attacked Zhu.
The Di attacked Jin, reaching Ji. In the eighth month, on the day Wuzi, Duke Xiang of Jin defeated the Di at Ji. Xi Que captured the leader of the White Di. Xian Zhen said: "A common man vented his will before the ruler without being punished—dare I not punish myself?" He took off his helmet and charged into the Di army, where he died. The Di returned his head, and his face looked as if he were still alive. Formerly, Jiu Ji, on a mission, passed through Ji, and saw Xi Que weeding, with his wife bringing him food. They were very respectful, treating each other like guests. Jiu Ji brought him back with him. He said to Duke Wen of Jin: "Respect is the concentrated expression of virtue. Being able to be respectful must mean there is virtue. Virtue is used to govern the people. Please employ him. I have heard: 'Going out is like meeting a guest; handling affairs is like participating in a sacrifice—this is the standard of benevolence.'" Duke Wen said: "His father was guilty—is it permissible?" Jiu Ji replied: "Shun punished the guilty, banishing Gun, but when he promoted talent, he employed Yu. Guan Jingzhong was Duke Huan of Qi's enemy, yet he became his minister and made him successful. The 'Announcement to Kang' says: 'A father is not kind, a son is not respectful, an elder brother is not loving, a younger brother is not deferential—they have nothing to do with each other.' The 'Odes' say: 'Gather the turnip, gather the radish; do not throw it away because of its root.' You may take his strengths and use them." Thereupon Duke Wen appointed Xi Que as a commander of the Lower Army. Returning from Ji, Duke Xiang of Jin, with a threefold command, ordered Xian Qieju to command the Central Army; with a twofold command, he granted the district of Xianmao to Xu Chen, saying: "Recommending Xi Que was your merit." With a single command, he appointed Xi Que as a minister and granted him Ji, but he was not yet given a military command.
In winter, Duke Xi went to Qi to court and also to console Qi for the Di invasion. When returning, he died in the small bedchamber—because he sought comfort.
Jin, Chen, and Zheng attacked Xu, punishing it for being close to Chu. The Chu commander Zishang attacked Chen and Cai; Chen and Cai made peace with Chu, and then the Chu army attacked Zheng. The Chu army prepared to send Prince Xia back to succeed to the throne, attacking the city gate at Jiedie. Prince Xia's chariot overturned at Zhoushi Zhi Wang; the outer servant, Kuntun, seized him and presented him to Zheng. Lady Wen collected his corpse and buried it beneath the walls of Kuai.
Yang Chufu of Jin invaded the state of Cai, and Zishang of Chu went to its aid, encamping his army across the Zhi River from the Jin forces. Yang Chufu, worried about the Chu army, sent a messenger to Zishang, saying: "I have heard: 'The cultured do not oppose those who follow reason; the martial do not avoid those who oppose them.' If you wish to fight, then I will withdraw thirty li, and you may cross the river and array your troops, the pace being as you command. Otherwise, let us rest our forces. To weary the army and waste resources brings no benefit." Thereupon he harnessed his chariot and waited. Zishang wanted to cross the river, but Dasunbo said: "It is not advisable. The men of Jin have no trustworthiness; if they attack us while we are halfway across the river, it will be too late for regret. It is better to let them rest." So the Chu army withdrew thirty li. Yang Chufu then proclaimed: "The Chu army has fled!" and withdrew his own forces. The Chu army also returned. The crown prince, Shangchen, slandered Zishang, saying: "He accepted bribes from Jin and avoided them—this is a disgrace to Chu. There is no greater crime than this." King Cheng of Chu put Zishang to death.
The burial of Duke Xi was delayed, and a spirit tablet was made for him—this was contrary to ritual propriety. Whenever a ruler dies, after the weeping and mourning are concluded, his spirit tablet is placed in the ancestral temple; after this placement, the spirit tablet is made. For solitary sacrifices to the newly deceased, the tablet is used; during the seasonal sacrifices of the winter sacrifice, the autumn sacrifice, and the great sacrifice, it is combined with the ancestral tablets.