Hereditary House of Wu Taibo, First

Wu Taibo and his younger brother Zhongyong were both sons of King Tai of Zhou and elder brothers of Wang Jili. Jili was virtuous and had a sage son named Chang. King Tai wished to make Jili his heir so that the kingdom might eventually pass to Chang. Therefore, Taibo and Zhongyong fled to the land of the Jing and Man barbarians, where they tattooed their bodies and cut their hair short, indicating that they could not be employed, thus yielding way to Jili. Jili was indeed established as heir—this was Wang Ji—and Chang later became King Wen. After Taibo fled to the land of the Jing and Man, he called himself Gou Wu. The Jing and Man people considered him righteous, and over a thousand families followed and attached themselves to him, honoring him as Wu Taibo.

When Taibo died without sons, his younger brother Zhongyong succeeded him—this was Wu Zhongyong. When Zhongyong died, his son Ji Jian succeeded him. When Ji Jian died, his son Shuda succeeded him. When Shuda died, his son Zhouzhang succeeded him. At this time, King Wu of Zhou had conquered Yin and Shang, and he sought the descendants of Taibo and Zhongyong, finding Zhouzhang. Zhouzhang was already ruling the Wu region, so he was enfeoffed there on the spot. He also enfeoffed Zhouzhang's younger brother Yuzhong in the old Xia ruins north of Zhou—this was Yuzhong, who ranked among the feudal lords.

When Zhouzhang died, his son Xiongsui succeeded him. When Xiongsui died, his son Kexiang succeeded him. When Kexiang died, his son Qiangjiuyi succeeded him. When Qiangjiuyi died, his son Yuqiaoyiwu succeeded him. When Yuqiaoyiwu died, his son Kelu succeeded him. When Kelu died, his son Zhouyou succeeded him. When Zhouyou died, his son Quyu succeeded him. When Quyu died, his son Yiwu succeeded him. When Yiwu died, his son Qinchui succeeded him. When Qinchui died, his son Zhuan succeeded him. When Zhuan died, his son Pogao succeeded him. When Pogao died, his son Goubei succeeded him. At this time, Duke Xian of Jin destroyed the Yu lord north of Zhou, thereby opening the way for Jin to attack the state of Guo. When Goubei died, his son Quqi succeeded him. When Quqi died, his son Shoumeng succeeded him. After Shoumeng succeeded, Wu began to grow increasingly powerful and proclaimed itself king.

From Taibo's founding of Wu, through five generations to King Wu's conquest of Yin and Shang, his descendants were enfeoffed as two feudal states: one was Yu, in the Central Plains; the other was Wu, in the region of the Yi and Man barbarians. After twelve generations, Jin destroyed Yu in the Central Plains. Two generations after Yu in the Central Plains was destroyed, Wu in the Yi and Man region flourished. Roughly from Taibo to Shoumeng, there were nineteen generations.

In the second year of King Shoumeng, the (fleeing) grandee of Chu, Shen Gong Wuchen, because he resented the Chu general Zifan, fled to Jin, and from Jin went as an envoy to Wu, teaching Wu how to use troops and drive war chariots. He had his son serve as Wu's xingren (diplomatic official). From this time, Wu began to have dealings with the Central Plains states. Wu attacked Chu. In the sixteenth year, King Gong of Chu attacked Wu, reaching Mount Heng.

In the twenty-fifth year, King Shoumeng died. Shoumeng had four sons: the eldest was Zhufan, the second was Yuji, the third was Yumo, and the fourth was Jizha. Jizha was virtuous, and Shoumeng wished to make him his heir, but Jizha declined and would not accept. Thus, the eldest son Zhufan was established, acting as regent and governing the state.

In the first year of King Zhufan, after completing the mourning period, Zhufan wanted to yield the throne to Jizha. Jizha declined, saying: "When Duke Xuan of Cao died, the feudal lords and the people of Cao did not approve of the ruler of Cao, and wanted to establish Zizang as ruler. Zizang left, thereby fulfilling the position of the ruler of Cao. The gentleman says, 'He was able to uphold his integrity.' You are the legitimate heir—who dares to offend you! To possess the state is not my principle. I, Jizha, though without talent, am willing to follow Zizang's righteousness." The people of Wu insisted on establishing Jizha, but Jizha abandoned his household and went to farm, and only then did everyone give up. In autumn, Wu attacked Chu, and Chu defeated our army. In the fourth year, Duke Ping of Jin had just ascended the throne.

In the thirteenth year, King Zhufan died. He left an order to pass the throne to his younger brother Yuji, wishing to transmit it in order, and to stop only when the state was delivered into Jizha's hands, thereby fulfilling the will of the late king Shoumeng and honoring Jizha's integrity. The brothers all wished to hand the state to Jizha, gradually achieving this goal. Jizha was enfeoffed at Yanling, hence he was called the Yanling Jizi.

In the third year of King Yuji, the Qi minister Qingfeng was guilty of a crime and fled from Qi to seek refuge in Wu. Wu granted Qingfeng the county of Zhufang as his fief, and gave him a daughter in marriage, making him wealthier than when he was in Qi.

In the fourth year, Wu sent Jizha on a mission to Lu, requesting to view the music and dances of Zhou. The Lu musicians performed for him the "Zhou Nan" and "Shao Nan." Jizha said: "Beautiful! The foundation is laid, but it is not yet complete. Yet it is industrious without resentment." They performed the "Bei Feng," "Yong Feng," and "Wei Feng." He said: "Beautiful! Profound! Though there is sorrow, there is no distress. I have heard that the virtue of Wei Kangshu and Duke Wu was like this—this must be the 'Wei Feng,' is it not?" They performed the "Wang Feng." He said: "Beautiful! Though there is anxiety, there is no fear—this is probably poetry from after the Zhou eastern migration, is it not?" They performed the "Zheng Feng." He said: "Too trivial and excessive; the people cannot bear it. This state will probably be the first to perish, is it not?" They performed the "Qi Feng." He said: "Beautiful! Vast! Truly the wind of a great state. As a model for the eastern seaboard, this is probably the state of Grand Duke, is it not? The state's future is immeasurable." They performed the "Bin Feng." He said: "Beautiful! Broad! Joyful without excess—this is probably poetry from the Duke of Zhou's eastern expedition, is it not?" They performed the "Qin Feng." He said: "This is the Xia sound. To be as grand as the Xia sound, grand to the utmost—this is probably poetry from the old Zhou territory, is it not?" They performed the "Wei Feng." He said: "Beautiful! Light and soaring! Grand yet gentle, frugal yet easy to practice—if virtue aids this, this is the air of a hegemon." They performed the "Tang Feng." He said: "Profound in thought! It probably has the legacy of Taotang, does it not? Otherwise, why is its melancholy so deep? Without the descendants of a virtuous one, who could be like this?" They performed the "Chen Feng." He said: "The state has no master—can it last long?" From the "Kuai Feng" onward, he made no criticisms. They performed the "Xiao Ya." He said: "Beautiful! Reflective without duplicity, resentful without direct speech—this is probably poetry from when Zhou's virtue was declining, is it not? Yet there are still remnants of the former kings." They performed the "Da Ya." He said: "Vast! Harmonious! Winding yet with a straight body—this is probably the virtue of King Wen, is it not?" They performed the "Song." He said: "Perfectly excellent! Upright without arrogance, winding without submission, close without pressing, distant without estrangement, changing without indulgence, repeated without weariness, sorrowful without distress, joyful without debauchery, used without depletion, broad without display, given without waste, taken without greed, still without stagnation, flowing without overflow. The five notes are harmonious, the eight winds are balanced, the rhythms have measure, the sequences have order—these are the common possessions of a man of great virtue." When he saw the dances "Xiangshuo" and "Nanyue," he said: "Beautiful! Yet there is still regret." When he saw the dance "Dawu," he said: "Beautiful! Was the rise of Zhou like this?" When he saw the dance "Shaohu," he said: "How vast is the sage! Yet there is still a virtue of shame—the sage is truly difficult!" When he saw the dance "Daxia," he said: "Beautiful! Industrious without claiming virtue! Who but Yu could have done this?" When he saw the dance "Zhaoshuo," he said: "Virtue has reached its utmost! Great! Like heaven covering all, like earth bearing all—even if there were the utmost virtue, none could surpass this. The viewing ends here. If there is other music, I dare not view it further."

Leaving Lu, Jizha then went on a mission to Qi. He advised Yan Pingzhong: "You should quickly return your fief and government affairs. Without a fief and without government affairs, you can avoid calamity. The government of Qi will find a new master; before it finds one, calamity will not cease." So Yanzi, through Chen Huanzi, returned his government affairs and fief, and thereby avoided being implicated in the disaster of the Luan and Gao clans.

Leaving Qi, Jizha went on a mission to Zheng. When he met Zichan, it was like meeting an old friend. He said to Zichan: “The ruler of Zheng is extravagant; calamity and hardship are about to come. Governance will surely fall into your hands. When you take charge, govern with ritual and caution. Otherwise, Zheng will be ruined.” Leaving Zheng, Jizha arrived at Wei. He praised Qu Yuan, Shi Gou, Shi Qiu, Gongzi Jing, Gongshu Fa, and Gongzi Chao, saying: “Wei has many junzi; it will have no trouble.”

From Wei he went to Jin, preparing to lodge for the night. Hearing the sound of bells, he said: “How strange! I have heard that one with eloquence but lacking virtue will surely meet with death. Sun Wenzi offended his lord and stays here; even fear is not enough, how can he seek pleasure? Here he is like a swallow nesting on a curtain—dangerous. The lord’s corpse is still in its coffin awaiting burial; can he play music?” So he left. When Sun Wenzi heard of this, he never listened to zither or lute again for the rest of his life.

Arriving in Jin, Jizha said to Zhao Wenzi, Han Xuanzi, and Wei Xianzi: “The governance of Jin will likely be concentrated in these three families!” As he was about to leave, he said to Shuxiang: “You must strive! The lord is extravagant, yet there are many good ministers, and the high officials are all wealthy. Governance will fall into the hands of these three families. You are upright; you must consider how to avoid calamity for yourself.”

When Jizha first set out on his mission, he visited the Lord of Xu while traveling north. The Lord of Xu admired Jizha’s sword but dared not speak of it. Jizha knew in his heart, but because he was on a mission to the central states, he did not give it to him. On his return, when he reached Xu, the Lord of Xu had already died. So Jizha unfastened his sword and hung it on the tree before the lord’s tomb before leaving. His attendant said: “The Lord of Xu is already dead; to whom are you giving it?” Jizi said: “It is not so. In my heart I had already promised it to him; how could I violate my intent just because he is dead?”

In the seventh year, Gongzi Wei of Chu killed his lord Jia’ao and took his place, becoming King Ling of Chu. In the tenth year, King Ling of Chu assembled the feudal lords to attack Zhufang of Wu, thereby executing Qing Feng of Qi. Wu also attacked Chu, seizing three cities before withdrawing. In the eleventh year, Chu attacked Wu, reaching Yulou. In the twelfth year, Chu attacked again, encamping at Ganxi; the Chu army was defeated and fled.

In the seventeenth year, King Yuji died, and his younger brother Yumo succeeded him. In the second year of King Yumo, Gongzi Qiji of Chu killed his lord, King Ling of Chu, and took his place.

In the fourth year, King Yumo died, wishing to pass the throne to his younger brother Jizha. Jizha declined and fled. So the people of Wu said: “The former king left a command: when an elder brother dies, the younger brother succeeds to the throne; the throne must be given to Jizi. Now Jizi has fled, so King Yumo was the last to succeed. Now that he is dead, his son should succeed.” So they established the son of King Yumo, Liao, as king.

In the second year of King Liao, Gongzi Guang attacked Chu, was defeated, and lost the king’s boat. Gongzi Guang, afraid, again attacked Chu, recaptured the king’s boat, and returned.

In the fifth year, a official of Chu, Wu Zixu, came to seek refuge, and Gongzi Guang received him as a guest. Gongzi Guang was the son of King Zhufan. He often thought: “My father and his brothers were four; the throne should have passed to Jizi. Since Jizi would not accept the state, my father was established first. Since it was not passed to Jizi, I should be established as lord.” Secretly, he welcomed worthy men, intending to attack King Liao.

In the eighth year, the king of Wu sent Gongzi Guang to attack Chu. He defeated the Chu army and brought back the mother of the former crown prince Jian of Chu from Juchao. Taking advantage, he attacked northward, defeating the armies of Chen and Cai. In the ninth year, Gongzi Guang attacked Chu, capturing Juchao and Zhongli. Initially, a young girl from the border of Chu at Beiliang and a young girl from the border of Wu quarreled over mulberry leaves. The two girls, enraged, fought and killed each other. The border officials of both states, hearing this, also became angry and fought, destroying a border town of Wu. The king of Wu was angered, and therefore attacked Chu, taking two cities before withdrawing.

When Wu Zixu first fled to Wu, he urged King Liao to attack Chu as advantageous. Gongzi Guang said: “Wu Zixu’s father and elder brother were killed by Chu; he only wants revenge for himself—I see no benefit.” So Wu Yuan knew that Gongzi Guang had other ambitions. He found a brave man, Zhuan Zhu, and had him meet Gongzi Guang. Gongzi Guang was very pleased and treated Wu Zixu as a guest. Wu Zixu then retired to the countryside to farm, waiting for Zhuan Zhu to act.

In the twelfth year, winter, King Ping of Chu died. In the thirteenth year, spring, Wu wanted to attack Chu while it was in mourning. They sent Gongzi Gaiyu and Zhu Yong to lead troops to surround Chu’s Lu and Qian. They also sent Jizha on a mission to Jin to observe the movements of the feudal lords. Chu dispatched troops to cut off the Wu army’s retreat, and the Wu forces could not withdraw. At this time, Gongzi Guang of Wu said: “This opportunity cannot be missed.” He told Zhuan Zhu: “If you don’t take, how can you get? I am the true heir to the throne and should be established as king; I want to obtain it. Even if Jizi returns, he will not depose me.” Zhuan Zhu said: “King Liao can be killed. His mother is old and his son young, while the two gongzi are leading troops against Chu, and Chu has cut off their retreat. Now Wu is troubled externally by Chu, internally empty with no upright ministers—this leaves him helpless against us.” Gongzi Guang said: “My body is your body.” On the day bingzi of the fourth month, Gongzi Guang ambushed warriors in a hidden chamber and then invited King Liao to drink. King Liao deployed soldiers along the road, from the palace to Gongzi Guang’s house. At the gate, steps, door, and beside the seat, all were King Liao’s close attendants, standing in pairs holding short spears. Gongzi Guang pretended his foot was injured and entered the hidden chamber, letting Zhuan Zhu place a dagger inside a grilled fish and present it. Zhuan Zhu thrust the dagger into King Liao; the short spears crossed and pierced his chest, thus killing King Liao. Gongzi Guang finally replaced King Liao as king of Wu—this was King Helu of Wu. Helu then appointed Zhuan Zhu’s son as a minister.

When Jizha returned, he said: “If the sacrifices to the former lords are not cut off, if the people have not lost their ruler, and if the altars of state have someone to serve them, then that is my lord. Whom dare I resent? Mourn the dead, serve the living, and await the decree of Heaven. I did not create the disorder; whoever is established, I follow—this is the rule of the ancestors.” So he reported his mission, went to King Liao’s tomb and wept, then returned to his position and waited. The Wu gongzi Zhuyong and Gaiyu, then leading troops besieged by Chu, heard that Gongzi Guang had killed King Liao and established himself, so they led their troops to surrender to Chu. Chu enfeoffed them in Shu.

In the first year of King Helu of Wu, he promoted Wu Zixu to the post of xingren (envoy) and involved him in planning state affairs. Chu killed Bo Zhouli; his grandson Bo Pi fled to Wu, and Wu appointed him as a high official.

In the third year, King Helu of Wu, together with Wu Zixu and Bo Pi, led troops to attack Chu, capturing Shu and killing the two fleeing gongzi of Wu. Helu intended to enter Yingdu. General Sun Wu said: “The people are too exhausted; it is not yet possible—wait a while.” In the fourth year, they attacked Chu, capturing Lu and Qian. In the fifth year, they attacked Yue and defeated it. In the sixth year, Chu sent Zichang Nangwa to attack Wu. Wu met them, heavily defeated the Chu army at Yuzhang, captured Chu’s Juchao, and then returned.

In the ninth year, King Helü of Wu asked Wu Zixu and Sun Wu, saying, "In the past you said that the capital of Ying could not yet be attacked. What about it now?" The two replied, "The Chu general Zi Chang is greedy, and the states of Tang and Cai both resent him. If Your Majesty is determined to launch a great attack, you must obtain the support of Tang and Cai." Helü followed their advice, mobilized his entire army, and together with Tang and Cai attacked Chu to the west, reaching the Han River. Chu also sent troops to resist the Wu army, forming battle lines across the river. Helü's younger brother Fuyi wanted to engage in battle, but Helü did not agree. Fuyi said, "Your Majesty has already entrusted the army to my command. In war, advantage is paramount; what are we waiting for?" He then led his five thousand troops in a surprise attack on the Chu army, which was utterly defeated and fled. Thereupon the King of Wu pursued them with his forces. When they reached Ying, they fought five battles, and Chu was defeated five times. King Zhao of Chu fled from Ying and escaped to the town of Yun. The younger brother of the Duke of Yun wanted to kill King Zhao, but King Zhao and the Duke of Yun fled to Sui. The Wu army then entered Ying. Wu Zixu and Bo Pi flogged the corpse of King Ping of Chu to avenge their fathers.

In the tenth year, in spring, the state of Yue, hearing that the King of Wu was in Ying and that the state was left undefended, attacked Wu. Wu sent other troops to counterattack Yue. Chu appealed to Qin for help, and Qin sent troops to rescue Chu and attack Wu. The Wu army was defeated. Helü's younger brother Fuyi, seeing that Qin and Yue had repeatedly defeated Wu and that the King of Wu remained in Chu, fled back to Wu and proclaimed himself King of Wu. When Helü heard of this, he led his army back and attacked Fuyi. Fuyi was defeated and fled to Chu. King Zhao of Chu was thus able to re-enter Ying in the ninth month, and he enfeoffed Fuyi at Tangxi, where he became known as the Tangxi clan. In the eleventh year, the King of Wu sent his heir apparent, Fuchai, to attack Chu, capturing the Fan region. Chu, in fear, left Ying and moved its capital to Ruo.

In the fifteenth year, Confucius served as the prime minister of the state of Lu.

In the nineteenth year, in summer, Wu attacked Yue. King Goujian of Yue met them at Zuili. Yue sent out a suicide squad to challenge the Wu army: they formed three rows, rushed to the front of the Wu formation, shouted loudly, and then cut their own throats. While the Wu army was watching, the Yue forces took the opportunity to attack, defeating Wu at Gusu, wounding the finger of King Helü of Wu. The Wu army retreated seven li. The King of Wu died from his wound. Before his death, Helü established his heir apparent, Fuchai, as king and said to him, "Will you forget that Goujian killed your father?" Fuchai replied, "I dare not!" In three years, he would take revenge on Yue.

In the first year of King Fuchai of Wu, he appointed the grandee Bo Pi as Grand Steward. He trained the army in warfare and archery, always keeping revenge on Yue as his goal. In the second year, the King of Wu mobilized all his elite troops to attack Yue, defeating them at Fujiao, thus avenging the defeat at Gusu. King Goujian of Yue then led five thousand armored soldiers to hold out on Mount Kuaiji. He sent the grandee Wen Zhong to sue for peace through the Wu Grand Steward Bo Pi, requesting that the entire state of Yue become the servants and concubines of Wu. The King of Wu was about to agree, but Wu Zixu remonstrated, saying, "In the past, the leader of the Guoshi clan killed Zhenxun and attacked Zhenxun, destroying the Xia sovereign, Emperor Xiang. The Emperor's consort, Houmin, was pregnant and fled to Youreng, where she gave birth to Shaokang. Shaokang became the chief herder of Youreng. The Guoshi leader again wanted to kill Shaokang, who fled to Youyu. The Youyu clan, mindful of the Xia dynasty's kindness, gave him two daughters in marriage and enfeoffed him at Lun, with a territory of ten li square and a host of five hundred people. Later, Shaokang gathered the remnants of the Xia people and pacified their officials. He sent out agents to entice the enemy, and thus destroyed the Guoshi clan, restored the achievements of Yu the Great, offered sacrifices to the Xia ancestors in harmony with Heaven, and restored everything as before. Now Wu is not as strong as the Guoshi clan was, and Goujian's power is greater than Shaokang's. If you do not take this opportunity to destroy him but instead show him leniency, is it not too difficult? Moreover, Goujian is a man who can endure hardship. If you do not destroy him now, you will surely regret it later." The King of Wu did not listen, but trusted the Grand Steward Bo Pi, and finally agreed to Yue's request for peace, concluding a covenant with Yue and then withdrawing his troops.

In the seventh year, King Fuchai of Wu, hearing that Duke Jing of Qi had died and that the great officers were contending for favor, and that the new ruler was weak, raised an army and attacked Qi to the north. Wu Zixu remonstrated, saying, "King Goujian of Yue does not seek delicacies in his meals, does not seek fine garments in his dress, mourns the dead and visits the sick—he is clearly planning to achieve something. If this man does not die, he will surely become a disaster for Wu. Now Yue is a disease of the heart and belly, yet Your Majesty does not deal with it first but instead devotes effort to Qi—is this not absurd?" The King of Wu did not listen, but went north to attack Qi, defeating the Qi army at Ailing. He reached the Zeng region, summoned Duke Ai of Lu, and demanded a hundred sets of sacrificial animals. Ji Kangzi sent Zigong to persuade the Grand Steward Bo Pi using the rites of Zhou, and only then was the demand stopped. The Wu army then remained in the southern regions of Qi and Lu, plundering the land. In the ninth year, they attacked Lu on behalf of the state of Zou, and after reaching an agreement and concluding a covenant with Lu, they left. In the tenth year, they attacked Qi and then returned. In the eleventh year, they again attacked Qi to the north.

King Goujian of Yue led his followers to pay court to the King of Wu, presenting lavish gifts, and the King of Wu was greatly pleased. Only Wu Zixu was afraid, saying, "This is what will destroy Wu." He remonstrated, saying, "Yue is a disease of the heart and belly. To achieve success in Qi is like acquiring a field of stones—it is of no use. Moreover, in the admonition of Pan Geng it is said, 'Do not leave any of the rebellious or the unruly,' and thus the Shang dynasty flourished." The King of Wu did not listen, but sent Wu Zixu as an envoy to Qi. Wu Zixu entrusted his son to the Bao clan of Qi and then returned to report to the King of Wu. When the King of Wu heard of this, he was extremely angry and gave Wu Zixu the sword Shulu, ordering him to commit suicide. Before his death, Wu Zixu said, "Plant catalpa trees on my grave so that they may grow into timber for coffins. Gouge out my eyes and hang them on the eastern gate of Wu, so that I may watch as Yue destroys Wu."

The Bao clan of Qi killed Duke Dao of Qi. When the King of Wu heard of this, he wept at the gate of his camp for three days, then attacked Qi by sea. The people of Qi defeated the Wu army, and the King of Wu led his troops back.

In the thirteenth year, the King of Wu convened a meeting with the rulers of Lu and Wei at Tuogao.

In the fourteenth year, in spring, the King of Wu went north to hold a conference of the feudal lords at Huangchi, intending to become hegemon over the Central Plains and thereby preserve the Zhou royal house. On the day bingzi of the sixth month, King Goujian of Yue attacked Wu. On the day yiyou, five thousand Yue troops engaged the Wu army. On the day bingxu, they captured the Wu heir apparent, You. On the day dinghai, they entered the Wu capital. The people of Wu reported the defeat to King Fuchai, who hated to have anyone hear of it. Someone leaked the news, and the King of Wu, in a rage, had seven men executed beneath his tent. On the day xinchou of the seventh month, the King of Wu contended with Duke Ding of Jin for the position of hegemon. The King of Wu said, "Among the relatives of the Zhou royal house, I am the senior in generation." Duke Ding of Jin said, "Among the states of the Ji surname, I am the hegemon." Zhao Yang was enraged and wanted to attack Wu, so he let Duke Ding of Jin become the hegemon. After concluding the covenant, the King of Wu parted with Jin and wanted to attack Song. The Grand Steward Bo Pi said, "You can defeat them but cannot hold them." So he led the army back. At home, the heir apparent had been lost, and the state was left empty; the king had been abroad for a long time, and the soldiers were all exhausted. He therefore sent an envoy with lavish gifts to make peace with Yue.

In the fifteenth year, Tian Chang of Qi killed Duke Jian of Qi.

In the eighteenth year, Yue grew even stronger. King Goujian of Yue led his troops and defeated the Wu army at Lize. Chu extinguished the state of Chen.

In the twentieth year, King Goujian of Yue again attacked Wu. In the twenty-first year, he besieged Wu. On the day dingmao of the eleventh month of the twenty-third year, Yue defeated Wu. King Goujian of Yue wanted to move King Fuchai of Wu to Yongdong and give him a hundred households to live on. The King of Wu said, "I am old and cannot serve you, my lord. I regret that I did not follow the words of Wu Zixu, and have brought myself to this state." He then cut his own throat and died. The King of Yue extinguished Wu, killed the Grand Steward Bo Pi, considering him disloyal, and then returned to his state.

The Grand Historian says: Confucius said, "Tai Bo can be said to have possessed the highest virtue. Three times he yielded the empire to others, and the people could find no suitable words to praise him." When I read the ancient texts of the Spring and Autumn Annals, I learned that the state of Yu in the Central Plains and the state of Gouwu among the Jing and Man barbarians were brother states. The benevolent heart of Jili of Yanling, his longing for righteousness that knew no end, his ability to discern the pure from the impure at the slightest sign—ah, what a broadly learned and thoroughly understanding gentleman he was!

Tai Bo founded the state of Wu, and his lofty humility displayed a grand ambition. Zhou Zhang received his fief, and another was enfeoffed in the land of Yu. Shou Meng first assumed the title of king, beginning the use of war chariots. Three sons succeeded one after another, but Yanling Jizi refused to take the throne. Prince Guang usurped the kingship, and this was he whom they called Helü. King Liao was assassinated, and the killer was Zhuan Zhu. Fu Chai held Yue in contempt, and ultimately met defeat at Gusu. The disgrace at Yongdong was in vain shame before Wu Zixu.