Shuo Yuan (說苑) · Volume 7

楚莊王欲伐晉，使豚尹觀焉。反曰：“不可伐也。其憂在上；其樂在下。且賢臣在焉，曰沈駒。”明年，又使豚尹觀，反曰：“可矣。初之賢人死矣。諂諛多在君之廬者，其君好樂而無禮；其下危處以怨上。上下離心，興師伐之，其民必反。”莊王從之，果如其言矣。

King Zhuang of Chu wanted to attack Jin and sent Tun Yin to observe. He returned and said: "It cannot be attacked. Their worry is above; their joy is below. And there is a worthy minister there named Shen Ju." The next year he again sent Tun Yin to observe, who returned and said: "It can be done. The earlier worthy man has died. Flatterers are many in the ruler's lodge, their ruler loves music and has no ritual, and his subordinates live in danger and resent those above. High and low are of different hearts; if you raise troops and attack him, his people will surely rebel." King Zhuang followed this, and it turned out just as he said.

梁王贅其群臣而議其過，任座進諫曰：“主君國廣以大，民堅而眾，國中無賢人辯士，奈何？”王曰：“寡人國小以狹，民弱臣少，寡人獨治之，安所用賢人辯士乎？”任座曰：“不然，昔者齊無故起兵攻魯，魯君患之，召其相曰：‘為之奈何？’相對曰：‘夫柳下惠少好學，長而嘉智，主君試召使於齊。’魯君曰：‘吾千乘之主也，身自使於齊，齊不聽。夫柳下惠特布衣韋帶之士也，使之又何益乎？’相對曰：‘臣聞之，乞火不得不望其炮矣。今使柳下惠於齊，縱不解於齊兵，終不愈益攻於魯矣。’魯君乃曰：‘然乎？’相即使人召柳下惠來。入門，袪衣不趨。魯君避席而立，曰：‘寡人所謂飢而求黍稷，渴而穿井者，未嘗能以觀喜見子。今國事急，百姓恐懼，願借子大夫使齊。’柳下惠曰：‘諾。’乃東見齊侯。齊侯曰：‘魯君將懼乎？’柳下惠曰：‘臣君不懼。’齊侯忿然怒曰：‘吾望而魯城，芒若類失亡國，百姓髮屋伐木以救城郭，吾視若魯君類吾國。子曰不懼，何也？’柳下惠曰：‘臣之君所以不懼者，以其先人出周，封於魯，君之先君亦出周，封於齊，相與出周南門，刳羊而約曰：“自後子孫敢有相攻者，令其罪若此刳羊矣。”臣之君固以刳羊不懼矣，不然，百姓非不急也。’齊侯乃解兵三百里。夫柳下惠特布衣韋帶之士，至解齊，釋魯之難，奈何無賢士聖人乎？”

The King of Liang gathered his ministers to discuss his own faults. Ren Zuo remonstrated: "Your state is wide and large and your people are firm and numerous, but there are no worthy men or debaters in the state; what will you do?" The King said: "My state is small and narrow, my people weak and ministers few; I govern alone; what use would worthy men and debaters be?" Ren Zuo said: "That is not right. Formerly Qi raised troops against Lu for no reason. The lord of Lu was worried and summoned his chancellor, saying: 'What shall I do?' The chancellor answered: 'Liuxia Hui was studious when young and was admirable and wise when grown; my lord, try summoning him to go as envoy to Qi.' The lord of Lu said: 'I am the ruler of a thousand-chariot state, and if I go in person to Qi, Qi will not listen. Liuxia Hui is only a commoner in plain clothes and leather belt; what benefit would it be to send him?' The chancellor answered: 'I have heard that when seeking fire, one cannot but hope for that stove's fire. Now if we send Liuxia Hui to Qi, even if he cannot remove Qi's troops, in the end Qi will not attack Lu any more.' The lord of Lu said: 'Is that so?' The chancellor then sent for Liuxia Hui. On entering the gate, he lifted his robe and did not hurry. The lord of Lu left his mat and stood, saying: 'I am what is called one who seeks millet only when hungry and digs a well only when thirsty, and I have never been able to see you with a pleased look. Now the affairs of the state are urgent and the people are afraid; I wish to borrow you, sir, to go as envoy to Qi.' Liuxia Hui said: 'Good.' Then he went east to see the Marquis of Qi. The Marquis of Qi said: 'Is the lord of Lu afraid?' Liuxia Hui said: 'My lord is not afraid.' The Marquis of Qi was furious and said: 'When I look at your city of Lu, it is vast and desolate as if the state were lost, the people tearing down houses and cutting trees to save the walls; I look at your lord of Lu as if he were like my state. You say he is not afraid; why?' Liuxia Hui said: 'The reason my lord is not afraid is that his ancestor came from Zhou and was enfeoffed in Lu, and your late lord's ancestor also came from Zhou and was enfeoffed in Qi; together they left by the southern gate of Zhou, split a sheep and made a covenant, saying: From now on, any descendant who dares to attack the other, may his guilt be like this split sheep. My lord is not afraid because of the split sheep; otherwise the people would not be unalarmed.' The Marquis of Qi then withdrew his troops three hundred li. Liuxia Hui was only a commoner in plain clothes and leather belt, yet he removed Qi's pressure and relieved Lu's difficulty; how could there be no worthy men and sages?"

陸賈從高祖定天下，名為有口辯士，居左右，常使諸侯，及高祖時，中國初定，尉佗平南越，因王之，高祖使陸賈賜尉佗印，為南越王。陸生至，尉佗椎結箕踞見陸生。陸生因說佗曰：“足下中國人，親戚昆弟墳墓在真定。今足下棄反天性，捐冠帶，欲以區區之越，與天子抗衡為敵國，禍且及身矣。且夫秦失其政，諸侯豪傑並起，惟漢王先入關，據咸陽，項籍倍約，自立為西楚霸王，諸侯皆屬，可謂至強。然漢王起巴蜀，鞭笞天下，劫諸侯，遂誅項羽，滅之。五年之間，海內平定，此非人力，天之所建也。天子聞君王王南越，不助天下誅暴逆，將相欲移兵而誅王，天子憐百姓新勞苦，且休之，遣臣授君王印，剖符通使，君王宜郊迎，北面稱臣，乃欲以新造未集之越，屈強於此，漢誠聞之，掘燒君王先人冢墓，夷種宗族，使一偏將將十萬眾臨越，越則殺王以降漢，如反覆手耳。”於是尉佗乃蹶然起坐，謝陸生曰：“居蠻夷中久，殊失禮義。”因問陸生曰：“我孰與蕭何、曹參、韓信賢？”陸生曰：“王似賢。”復問：“我孰與皇帝賢？”陸生曰：“皇帝起豐沛，討暴秦，誅強楚，為天下興利除害，繼五帝三王之業，統理中國，中國之人以億計，地方萬里，居天下之膏腴，人眾車輿，萬物殷富，政由一家，自天地剖判，未嘗有也。今王眾不過數十萬，皆蠻夷，踦■山海之間，譬若漢一郡，何可乃比於漢王？”尉佗大笑曰：“吾不起中國故王此，使我居中國，何遽不若漢。”乃大悅陸生，與留飲數月。曰：“越中無足與語，至生來，令我日聞所不聞。”賜陸生橐中裝，直千金，佗送亦千金。陸生拜尉佗為南越王，令稱臣，奉漢約。歸報，高祖大悅，拜為太中大夫。

Lu Jia followed Emperor Gaozu in pacifying the world and was known as an eloquent debater; he stayed at the emperor's side and often went as envoy to the feudal lords. When Gaozu's time came, China had just been settled, and Wei Tuo had pacified Southern Yue and so called himself king. Gaozu sent Lu Jia to bestow a seal on Wei Tuo and make him King of Southern Yue. When Master Lu arrived, Wei Tuo received him with his hair in a mallet-shaped topknot, sitting sprawled with legs out like a winnowing basket. Master Lu then persuaded Tuo: "You, sir, are a man of China, and your relatives, brothers and ancestors' graves are in Zhending. Now you abandon your nature and go against it, discard cap and sash, and want to rely on the petty state of Yue to stand against the Son of Heaven as an enemy state; disaster will fall on your person. Moreover, when Qin lost its government, the feudal lords and heroes rose together, and only the King of Han entered the pass first and occupied Xianyang. Xiang Ji broke the agreement and set himself up as Hegemon-King of Western Chu, and all the feudal lords submitted to him, so he can be called extremely strong. Yet the King of Han rose from Ba and Shu, whipped the whole world, compelled the feudal lords, and in the end executed Xiang Yu and destroyed him. In five years the whole land within the seas was settled; this was not human strength but set up by Heaven. The Son of Heaven heard that you, the king, called yourself king in Southern Yue and did not help the world to punish the violent and rebellious; the generals and ministers wanted to move troops to kill you, but the Son of Heaven took pity on the people who had only just been through hardship and let them rest for the time being, and sent me to bestow the seal on you, split the tally and exchange envoys. You should come out to the suburbs to welcome me and face north and call yourself a subject; instead you want to rely on a newly made Yue that has not yet gathered, to be stubborn here; if Han truly heard of it, they would dig up and burn the tombs of your ancestors, raze your clan, and send one lesser general with a hundred thousand men to Yue; Yue would kill you and surrender to Han as easily as turning over a hand." Then Wei Tuo suddenly rose, sat properly, and apologized to Master Lu: "I have lived among barbarians for so long that I have especially lost ritual and righteousness." He then asked Master Lu: "Compared to Xiao He, Cao Can and Han Xin, who is more worthy?" Master Lu said: "The king seems more worthy." Again he asked: "Compared to the Emperor, who is more worthy?" Master Lu said: "The Emperor rose from Feng and Pei, punished violent Qin, executed strong Chu, brought benefit and removed harm for the world, continued the work of the Five Emperors and Three Kings, and governs China; the people of China are counted in hundreds of millions, the land is ten thousand li wide, and it lies in the fertile place of the world, with many people and many carriages, all things abundant, and government issues from a single house; since Heaven and Earth were split apart there has never been the like. Now the king's people number not more than several hundred thousand, all barbarians, crowded (the base text has a damaged character here) between the mountains and the sea, like a single commandery of Han; how can you compare yourself with the King of Han?" Wei Tuo laughed loudly and said: "I did not rise in China, so I am king here; if I had lived in China, how would I have been at once not equal to Han?" Then he was extremely pleased with Master Lu and kept him for months drinking together. He said: "In Yue there is no one worth talking to; with your arrival, Master, I hear every day what I had not heard." He gave Master Lu a bag of packing material worth a thousand in gold, and Tuo's parting gifts were also worth a thousand in gold. Master Lu appointed Wei Tuo King of Southern Yue, had him call himself a subject and obey Han's regulations. He returned and reported, and Gaozu was greatly pleased and appointed him Grand Palace Counselor.

晉楚之君相與為好會於宛丘之上。宋使人往之。晉、楚大夫曰：“趣以見天子禮見於吾君，我為見子焉。”使者曰：“冠雖弊，宜加其上；履雖新，宜居其下；周室雖微，諸侯未之能易也。師升宋城，猶不更臣之服也。”揖而去之，諸大夫瞿然，遂以諸侯之禮見之。

The rulers of Jin and Chu were on friendly terms and held a covenant meeting on Wanqiu. Song sent a man there. The senior officials of Jin and Chu said: "Quickly use the ritual for seeing the Son of Heaven to see our rulers, and we will introduce you." The envoy said: "Though a cap may be worn out, it should be put on top; though shoes may be new, they should be placed below. Though the house of Zhou is weak, the feudal lords still cannot change it. Even if an army ascends the city of Song, it still cannot change my dress." He bowed and left. The senior officials stared in surprise, and then received him with the ritual for feudal lords.

越使諸發執一枝梅遺梁王，梁王之臣曰“韓子”，顧謂左右曰：“惡有以一枝梅，以遺列國之君者乎？請為二三日慚之。”出謂諸發曰：“大王有命，客冠則以禮見，不冠則否。”諸發曰：“彼越亦天子之封也。不得冀、兗之州，乃處海垂之際，屏外蕃以為居，而蛟龍又與我爭焉。是以剪髮文身，爛然成章以像龍子者，將避水神也。今大國其命冠則見以禮，不冠則否。假令大國之使，時過弊邑，弊邑之君亦有命矣。曰：‘客必剪髮文身，然後見之。’於大國何如？意而安之，願假冠以見，意如不安，願無變國俗。”梁王聞之，披衣出，以見諸發。令逐韓子。詩曰：“維君子使，媚於天子。”若此之謂也。

Yue sent Zhufa to present a branch of plum to the King of Liang. A minister of the King of Liang named Han Zi turned to his attendants and said: "Where is there anyone who presents a branch of plum to the ruler of a state? Let us humiliate him for two or three days." He went out and said to Zhufa: "The King has an order: if a guest wears a cap, he will be received with ritual; if he does not wear a cap, he will not be received." Zhufa said: "Yue too was enfeoffed by the Son of Heaven. Not obtaining the provinces of Ji and Yan, it dwells at the edge of the sea, withdrawing the outer vassals to live there, while the flood dragons also contend with us. So we cut our hair and tattoo our bodies, in bright patterns to resemble the dragon's sons, in order to avoid the water spirits. Now the great state orders that one who wears a cap will be received with ritual and one who does not will not be received. Suppose the envoy of the great state sometimes passes through our humble state, and the ruler of our humble state also gives an order: 'The guest must cut his hair and tattoo his body, and only then will he be received.' How would that be for the great state? If you feel at ease, I wish to borrow a cap to enter the audience; if you feel uneasy, I wish not to change our country's custom." The King of Liang heard this, and came out wearing his robe to receive Zhufa. He ordered Han Zi driven out. The Book of Poetry says: "The lord's gentlemen are sent, to please the Son of Heaven." This is what is meant.

晏子使吳，吳王謂行人曰：“吾聞晏嬰蓋北方之辯於辭，習於禮者也，命儐者：客見則稱天子。”明日，晏子有事，行人曰：“天子請見。”晏子憱然者三，曰：“臣受命弊邑之君，將使於吳王之所，不佞而迷惑入於天子之朝，敢問吳王惡乎存？”然後吳王曰：“夫差請見。”見以諸侯之禮。

Master Yan went as envoy to Wu. The King of Wu said to the herald: "I have heard that Yan Ying is probably a man of the north, skilled in speech and practiced in ritual. Order the ushers: when the guest enters the audience, announce him as the Son of Heaven." The next day Master Yan had business, and the herald said: "The Son of Heaven requests an audience." Master Yan was alarmed and uneasy three times, and said: "I received the command of the ruler of my humble state and was to go as envoy to the King of Wu. Being untalented and confused, I have entered the court of the Son of Heaven; may I ask where the King of Wu is?" Only then did the King of Wu say: "Fu Chai requests an audience," and received him with the ritual for feudal lords.

晏子使吳，吳王曰：“寡人得寄僻陋蠻夷之鄉，希見教君子之行，請私而毋為罪！”晏子憱然避位矣。王曰：“吾聞齊君蓋賊以慢，野以暴，吾子容焉，何甚也？”晏子逡巡而對曰：“臣聞之，微事不通，麤事不能者必勞；大事不得，小事不為者必貧；大者不能致人，小者不能至人之門者必困，此臣之所以仕也。如臣豈能以道食人者哉？”晏子出。王笑曰：“今日吾譏晏子也，猶裸而訾高橛者。”

Master Yan went as envoy to Wu, and the King of Wu said: "I live in a remote and rustic land of barbarians and rarely see the conduct of gentlemen to be taught; please let me speak in private without it being counted a fault!" Master Yan was alarmed and left his seat. The King said: "I have heard that the ruler of Qi is probably harmful and arrogant, coarse and cruel, and yet you, sir, are able to find a place beside him; how formidable!" Master Yan retreated and answered: "I have heard that those who cannot penetrate subtle matters and cannot manage coarse ones must be toilers; those who cannot obtain great things and do not do small ones must be poor; those whose greatness cannot attract people and whose smallness cannot reach people's doors must be exhausted and distressed; this is why I hold office. Someone like me, how could he support others by the Way?" Master Yan went out. The King laughed and said: "Today my mockery of Master Yan is like a naked man blaming a tall stump for being bare."

景公使晏子使於楚。楚王進橘置削。晏子不剖而幷食之。楚王曰：“橘當去剖。”晏子對曰：“臣聞之，賜人主前者，瓜桃不削，橘柚不剖。今萬乘無教，臣不敢剖，然臣非不知也。”

Duke Jing sent Master Yan as envoy to Chu. The King of Chu presented tangerines and put out a paring knife. Master Yan did not split them but ate them whole. The King of Chu said: "Tangerines should have the skin removed and be split." Master Yan answered: "I have heard that when receiving a gift in the presence of a ruler, melons and peaches are not peeled and tangerines and pomelos are not split. Now since the ruler of ten thousand chariots has given no instruction, I do not dare split them; but it is not that I do not know how."

晏子將使荊，荊王聞之，謂左右曰：“晏子賢人也，今方來，欲辱之，何以也？”左右對曰：“為其來也，臣請縛一人過王而行。”於是荊王與晏子立語。有縛一人，過王而行。王曰：“何為者也？”對曰：“齊人也。”王曰：“何坐？”曰：“坐盜。”王曰：“齊人固盜乎？”晏子反顧之曰：“江南有橘，齊王使人取之而樹之於江北，生不為橘，乃為枳，所以然者何？其土地使之然也。今齊人居齊不盜，來之荊而盜，得無土地使之然乎？”荊王曰：“吾欲傷子而反自中也。”

Master Yan was about to go as envoy to Jing. The King of Jing heard of it and said to his attendants: "Master Yan is a worthy man, and now he is about to come; I want to insult him; what method shall I use?" His attendants answered: "When he comes, I beg to have a man tied up and led past in front of the King." So the King of Jing and Master Yan stood talking. A man tied up another man and passed in front of the King. The King said: "What is this?" He answered: "A man of Qi." The King said: "What crime did he commit?" He said: "The crime of theft." The King said: "Are men of Qi inherently thieves?" Master Yan turned to look at him and said: "South of the river there are tangerines. The King of Qi had them taken and planted north of the river, and what grew was not tangerines but bitter oranges. Why is this so? The soil makes it so. Now men of Qi who live in Qi do not steal, but when they come to Jing they steal; is it not the soil that makes them so?" The King of Jing said: "I wanted to hurt you and instead I have hit myself."

晏子使楚。晏子短，楚人為小門於大門之側而延晏子。晏子不入，曰：“使至狗國者從狗門入。今臣使楚，不當從此門。”儐者更從大門入見楚王。王曰：“齊無人耶？”晏子對曰：“齊之臨淄三百閭，張袂成帷，揮汗成雨。比肩繼踵而在，何為無人？”王曰：“然則何為使子？”晏子對曰：“齊命使各有所主。其賢者使賢主，不肖者使不肖主。嬰最不肖，故宜使楚耳。”

Master Yan went as envoy to Chu. Master Yan was short, and the men of Chu made a small gate beside the great gate to invite him in. Master Yan did not go in and said: "One who goes as envoy to a country of dogs enters by the dog gate. Now I am sent as envoy to Chu, and should not go by this gate." The ushers changed and had him enter by the great gate to see the King of Chu. The King said: "Does Qi have no men?" Master Yan answered: "Linzi in Qi has three hundred wards; spreading our sleeves would make a curtain and flinging off our sweat would make rain; shoulder to shoulder and heel to heel they are there; why would there be no men?" The King said: "Then why did they send you?" Master Yan answered: "Qi appoints envoys each according to what they are in charge of. The worthy are sent to worthy lords, and the unworthy are sent to unworthy lords. I, Ying, am the most unworthy, and so it is fitting that I be sent to Chu."

秦、楚轂兵，秦王使人使楚，楚王使人戲之曰：“子來亦卜之乎？”對曰：“然！”“卜之謂何？”對曰：“吉。”楚人曰：“噫！甚矣！子之國無良龜也。王方殺子以釁鐘，其吉如何？”使者曰：“秦、楚轂兵，吾王使我先窺我死而不還，則吾王知警戒，整齊兵以備楚，是吾所謂吉也。且使死者而無知也，又何釁於鍾，死者而有知也，吾豈錯秦相楚哉？我將使楚之鐘鼓無聲，鐘鼓無聲則將無以整齊其士卒而理君軍。夫殺人之使，絕人之謀，非古之通議也。子大夫試熟計之。”使者以報楚王。楚王赦之。此之謂“造命”。

Qin and Chu were fighting, and the King of Qin sent a man as envoy to Chu. The King of Chu sent a man to tease him: "Did you also divine before you came?" He answered: "Yes!" "What did the divination say?" He answered: "Auspicious." The man of Chu said: "Ah! That is too much! Your state has no good tortoise. The King is about to kill you to anoint the bell with your blood; what is auspicious about that?" The envoy said: "Qin and Chu are at war, and my King sent me first to spy. If I die and do not return, my King will know to be on guard and will put his army in order to defend against Chu; this is what I mean by auspicious. Moreover, if the dead have no consciousness, why anoint a bell? If the dead have consciousness, would I abandon Qin for Chu? I will make Chu's bells and drums without sound, and without the sound of bells and drums, they will have no way to put their soldiers in order and govern their lord's army. To kill another's envoy and cut off another's plans is not a rule accepted in ancient times. Gentlemen, try to consider this carefully." The envoy used this to report to the King of Chu. The King of Chu pardoned him. This is called "creating one's own fate."

楚使使聘於齊，齊王饗之梧宮。使者曰：“大哉梧乎！”王曰：“江海之魚吞舟，大國之樹必巨，使何怪焉！”使者曰：“昔燕攻齊，遵雒路，渡濟橋，焚雍門，擊齊左而虛其右，王歜絕頸而死於杜山；公孫差格死於龍門，飲馬乎淄、澠，定獲乎琅邪，王與太后奔於莒，逃於城陽之山，當此之時，則梧之大何如乎？”王曰：“陳先生對之。”陳子曰：“臣不如刁勃。”王曰：“刁先生應之。”刁勃曰：“使者問梧之年耶？昔者荊平王為無道，加諸申氏，殺子胥父與及兄。子胥被髮乞食於吳。闔廬以為將相。三年，將吳兵復讎乎楚，戰勝乎柏舉，級頭百萬，囊瓦奔鄭，王保於隨。引師入郢，軍雲行乎郢之都。子胥親射宮門，掘平王冢，笞其墳，數其罪。曰：‘吾先人無罪而子殺之。’士卒人加百焉，然後止。當若此時，梧可以為其●矣。”

Chu sent an envoy to Qi on a visit, and the King of Qi entertained him at the Wutong Palace. The envoy said: "How large the wutong trees are!" The King said: "A fish of the rivers and seas can swallow a boat, and the trees of a great state must be enormous; what is there for the envoy to be astonished at?" The envoy said: "Formerly Yan attacked Qi, following the Luo road, crossing the Ji bridge, burning the Yong Gate, striking Qi's left and emptying its right; Wang Chu cut his neck and died at Mount Du; Gongsun Cha fought and died at Longmen; they watered their horses at the Zi and Mian rivers and settled the captives at Langye, and the King and Queen Dowager fled to Ju and to the mountains of Chengyang. At that moment, what was the size of the wutong trees?" The King said: "Master Chen, answer him." Master Chen said: "I am not equal to Diao Bo." The King said: "Master Diao, respond." Diao Bo said: "Does the envoy ask about the age of the wutong? Formerly King Ping of Jing did an unprincipled thing and inflicted it on the Shen clan, killing Zixu's father and brother. Zixu wandered with disheveled hair begging in Wu. Helu used him as general and chancellor. After three years he led Wu's troops to take revenge on Chu, won at Boju, cut off a million heads; Nang Wa fled to Zheng and the King took refuge in Sui. He led the army into Ying, and the army went like clouds through the capital of Ying. Zixu himself shot at the palace gate, dug up the tomb of King Ping and whipped his grave, listing his crimes: 'My ancestors had no fault and you killed them.' Each soldier added a hundred lashes and then they stopped. At that time, the wutong trees could have been used for his (the base text has a damaged character here)."

蔡使師強、王堅使於楚。楚王聞之，曰：“人名多章章者，獨為師強王堅乎？”趣見之，無以次，視其人狀，疑其名而醜其聲，又惡其形。楚王大怒曰：“今蔡無人乎？國可伐也。有人不遣乎？國可伐也。端以此誡寡人乎？國可伐也。”故發二使，見三謀伐者蔡也。

Cai sent Shi Qiang and Wang Jian as envoys to Chu. The King of Chu heard of it and said: "Names are so many and so distinguished; must it be just Shi Qiang and Wang Jian?" He received them in haste, not in proper order, looked at the men's appearance, doubted their names, disliked their voices, and also disliked their looks. The King of Chu was greatly angry and said: "Now Cai has no men? The state can be attacked. Or there are men and they did not send them? The state can be attacked. Or did they specially use these to warn me? The state can be attacked." So two envoys were sent, and it was seen that three plans were made to attack Cai.

趙簡子將襲衛，使史黯往視之，期以一月六日而後反。簡子曰：“何其久也？”黯曰：“謀利而得害，由不察也。今蘧伯玉為相，史■佐焉，孔子為客，子貢使令於君前甚聽。易曰：‘渙其群，元吉。’渙者賢也，群者象也，元者吉之始也。渙其群，元吉者，其佐多賢矣。”簡子按兵而不動耳。

Zhao Jianzi was about to attack Wei and sent Shi An to go and observe, with the agreement that he would return after six days in a month. Jianzi said: "Why so long?" An said: "Seeking benefit and obtaining harm comes from not examining. Now Qu Boyu is chancellor, Shi (the base text has a damaged character here) assists him, Confucius is a guest, and Zigong gives orders before the ruler and is much listened to. The Book of Changes says: 'Dispersing his group, great good fortune.' Dispersal means worthy, group is a symbol, and primal is the beginning of good fortune. 'Dispersing his group, great good fortune' means that his assistants are many and worthy." Jianzi simply held his troops still.

魏文侯使舍人毋擇，獻鵠於齊侯。毋擇行道失之。徒獻空籠，見齊侯曰：“寡君使臣毋擇獻鵠，道飢渴，臣出而飲食之，而鵠飛沖天，遂不復反。念思非無錢以買鵠也，惡有為其君使，輕易其弊者乎？念思非不能拔劍刎頭，腐肉暴骨於中野也，為吾君貴鵠而賤士也。念思非敢走陳、蔡之間也，惡絕兩君之使，故不敢愛身逃死，來獻空籠，唯主君斧質之誅。”齊侯大悅曰：“寡人今者得茲言，三賢於鵠遠矣。寡人有都郊地百里，願獻於大夫以為湯沐邑。”毋擇對曰：“惡有為其君使而輕易其弊，而利諸侯之地乎？”遂出不反。

Marquis Wen of Wei sent his retainer Wu Ze to present a swan to the Marquis of Qi. Wu Ze lost it on the road. He presented only an empty cage, and, seeing the Marquis of Qi, said: "My ruler sent your servant Wu Ze to present a swan. On the road it was hungry and thirsty, so I let it out to eat and drink, and the swan flew into the sky and did not return. I thought: it is not that I lack the money to buy a swan, but I loathe the idea of being sent on a mission for one's ruler and treating the matter lightly and spoiling it. I thought: it is not that I could not draw my sword and cut my throat, leaving my rotting flesh and bare bones in the wilds, but that our ruler values a swan and makes light of a gentleman. I thought: it is not that I dared flee to the borderland between Chen and Cai, but I loathe cutting off the envoy between two rulers; so I dared not spare myself and avoid death, and have come to present the empty cage, and ask only for my lord's axe and block to execute me." The Marquis of Qi was greatly pleased and said: "Now that I have heard these words, you are in three respects far worthier than a swan. I have a hundred li of land in the capital's suburbs and wish to present it to you as a bathing-fief." Wu Ze replied: "How could one who was sent on a mission for his ruler, and treated it lightly and spoiled it, covet the land of a feudal lord?" He then went out and did not return.

聖王之舉事，必先諦之於謀慮，而後考之於蓍龜。白屋之士，皆關其謀；芻蕘之役，鹹盡其心。故萬舉而無遺籌失策。傳曰：“眾人之智，可以測天，兼聽獨斷，惟在一人。”此大謀之術也。謀有二端：上謀知命，其次知事。知命者預見存亡禍福之原，早知盛衰廢興之始，防事之未萌，避難於無形，若此人者，居亂世則不害於其身，在乎太平之世則必得天下之權；彼知事者亦尚矣，見事而知得失成敗之分，而究其所終極，故無敗業廢功。孔子曰：“可與適道，未可與權也。”夫非知命知事者，孰能得權謀之術。夫權謀有正有邪；君子之權謀正，小人之權謀邪。夫正者，其權謀公，故其為百姓盡心也誠；彼邪者，好私尚利，故其為百姓也詐。夫詐則亂，誠則平，是故堯之九臣誠而興於朝，其四臣詐而誅於野。誠者隆至後世；詐者當身而滅。知命知事而能於權謀者，必察誠詐之原而以處身焉，則是亦權謀之術也。夫知者舉事也，滿則慮溢，平則慮險，安則慮危，曲則慮直。由重其豫，惟恐不及，是以百舉而不陷也。

When a sage king undertakes a matter, he must first examine it carefully in planning, and only afterward test it by milfoil and tortoise divination. Scholars of humble cottages all take part in the planning, and woodcutters and laborers all give their utmost thought. Therefore in ten thousand undertakings there are no omissions in the strategy and no errors in the plan. The Commentary says: "The wisdom of the multitude can measure Heaven; hearing from all sides and deciding alone rests with one man." This is the method of great planning. Planning has two kinds: the highest plan knows destiny, and the next knows affairs. One who knows destiny sees in advance the roots of survival and ruin, calamity and fortune, and knows early the beginnings of flourishing and decline, rise and fall; he makes preparation before things sprout and avoids disaster in the formless. A man like this in a disordered age does not harm himself, and in an age of peace will surely hold the power of the realm. One who knows affairs is also noble: seeing a matter, he knows the distinctions of gain and loss, success and failure, and works out where it will finally arrive, so there is no ruined enterprise and no abandoned achievement. Confucius said: "One may go together toward the Way with him, but not yet may one use expedience together with him." Unless one knows destiny and knows affairs, who can obtain the method of expedient planning? Expedient planning has the upright and the crooked: the noble man's expedient planning is upright, the petty man's is crooked. The upright man's planning is public, so what he does for the people is sincere; the crooked man loves the private and honors profit, so what he does for the people is deceitful. Deceit leads to disorder and sincerity leads to peace. Thus Yao's nine ministers were sincere and rose at court, while his four ministers were deceitful and were executed in the wilds. The prosperity of sincerity reaches later generations; the deceitful perish in their own lifetime. Those who know destiny and affairs and can plan expediently surely observe the source of sincerity and deceit in conducting themselves, which is also a method of planning. When a wise man undertakes a matter, when it is full he considers overflow, when it is level he considers danger, when it is secure he considers peril, and when it is crooked he considers straightness. Because he values preparation and fears only that he will be too late, a hundred undertakings do not fall.

楊子曰：“事之可以之貧，可以之富者，其傷行者也；事之可以之生，可以之死者，其傷勇者也。”僕子曰：“楊子智而不知命，故其知多疑，語曰：‘知命者不惑。’晏嬰是也。”

Master Yang said: "Matters through which one can become poor or become rich harm conduct; matters through which one can live or die harm courage." Master Pu said: "Master Yang had wisdom but did not know destiny, so his wisdom was full of doubt. As the common saying goes, 'One who knows destiny is not confused.' Yan Ying was such a man."

趙簡子曰：“晉有澤鳴、犢●，魯有孔丘，吾殺此三人，則天下可圖也。”於是乃召澤鳴、犢●，任之以政而殺之。使人聘孔子於魯。孔子至河，臨水而觀曰：“美哉水！洋洋乎！丘之不濟於此，命也夫！”子路趨進曰：“敢問奚謂也？”孔子曰：“夫澤鳴、犢●，晉國之賢大夫也。趙簡子之未得志也，與之同聞見，及其得志也，殺之而後從政，故丘聞之：刳胎焚夭，則麒麟不至；幹澤而漁，蛟龍不遊；覆巢毀卵，則鳳凰不翔。丘聞之：君子重傷其類者也。”

Zhao Jianzi said: "Jin has Ze Ming and Dou (the base text has a damaged character here), and Lu has Kong Qiu. If I kill these three men, the world can be taken." He then summoned Ze Ming and Dou (the base text has a damaged character here), entrusted government to them, and killed them. He sent men to Lu to invite Confucius. Confucius arrived at the river, looked at the water and said: "How beautiful the water is! How vast! Qiu will not cross here; it is destiny!" Zilu hurried forward and said: "May I ask what you mean?" Confucius said: "Ze Ming and Dou (the base text has a damaged character here) were worthy high officials of Jin. When Zhao Jianzi had not yet attained his ambition, he shared in their reputation; when he attained it, he killed them and then took office. So I have heard: if one cuts open the womb and burns the young, the qilin does not come; if one drains the marsh to catch fish, dragons do not roam; if one overturns nests and breaks eggs, the phoenix does not fly. I have heard that the noble man values not harming his own kind."

孔子與齊景公坐，左右白曰：“周使來言廟燔。”齊景公出問曰：“何廟也？”孔子曰：“是釐王廟也。”景公曰：“何以知之？”孔子曰：“詩云：‘皇皇上帝，其命不忒。’天之與人，必報有德，禍亦如之。夫釐王變文武之制而作玄黃宮室，輿馬奢侈，不可振也。故天殃其廟，是以知之。”景公曰：“天何不殃其身而殃其廟乎？”子曰：“天以文王之故也。若殃其身，文王之祀，無乃絕乎？故殃其廟以章其過也。”左右入報曰：“周釐王廟也。”景公大驚，起拜曰：“善哉！聖人之智，豈不大乎！”

Confucius was sitting with Duke Jing of Qi when his attendants reported: "A messenger from Zhou says that a temple has been burned." Duke Jing went out and asked: "Which temple?" Confucius said: "It is the temple of King Xi." The duke said: "How do you know?" Confucius said: "The Book of Poetry says: 'The bright Lord on High, his decree has no error.' Heaven grants people and surely repays those with virtue, and calamity is likewise. King Xi altered the institutions of King Wen and King Wu and built palaces in black and yellow, with extravagant carriages and horses, and could not be revived. So Heaven sent calamity on his temple, and therefore I know." The duke said: "Why did Heaven not bring calamity on his person but on his temple?" Confucius said: "Because of King Wen. If it had brought calamity on his person, the sacrifices to King Wen might have been cut off. So it brought calamity on his temple to make his fault clear." His attendants came in and reported: "It was the temple of King Xi of Zhou." Duke Jing was greatly startled, rose and bowed, saying: "Good! The wisdom of the sage, is it not great!"

齊桓公與管仲謀伐莒，謀未發而聞於國。桓公怪之，以問管仲。管仲曰：“國必有聖人也。”桓公嘆曰：“歖！日之役者，有執柘杵而上視者，意其是邪！”乃令復役，無得相代。少焉，東郭垂至。管仲曰：“此必是也。”乃令儐者延而進之，分級而立。管仲曰：“子言伐莒者也？”對曰：“然。”管仲曰：“我不言伐莒，子何故言伐莒？”對曰：“臣聞君子善謀，小人善意，臣竊意之也。”管仲曰：“我不言伐莒，子何以意之？”對曰：“臣聞君子有三色：優然喜樂者，鐘鼓之色；愀然清淨者，縗絰之色；勃然充滿者，此兵革之色也。日者，臣望君之在臺上也，勃然充滿，此兵革之色也，君籲而不吟，所言者莒也，君舉臂而指所當者莒也。臣竊慮小諸侯之未服者，其惟莒乎？臣故言之。”君子曰：“凡耳之聞，以聲也。今不聞其聲而以其容與臂，是東郭垂不以耳聽而聞也。桓公、管仲雖善謀，不能隱聖人之聽於無聲，視於無形，東郭垂有之矣。故桓公乃尊祿而禮之。”

Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong planned to attack Ju. The plan had not yet been issued when it was heard in the state. Duke Huan thought it strange and asked Guan Zhong. Guan Zhong said: "There must be a sage in the state." Duke Huan sighed and said: "Ah! Among those who labored during the day, there was one holding a mulberry pestle and looking upward; it was probably he!" He ordered them to work again, with no substitutes allowed. After a while, Dongguo Chui arrived. Guan Zhong said: "This must be him." He ordered the ushers to invite him in and had him stand according to rank. Guan Zhong said: "Are you the one who spoke of attacking Ju?" He replied: "Yes." Guan Zhong said: "I did not speak of attacking Ju; why did you speak of attacking Ju?" He replied: "I have heard that the noble man is good at planning and the petty man is good at guessing; I privately guessed it." Guan Zhong said: "I did not speak of attacking Ju; on what did you base your guess?" He replied: "I have heard that the noble man has three kinds of expression: a relaxed and joyful one is the expression of bells and drums; a sad and quiet one is the expression of mourning garments; and a vigorous and full one is the expression of arms and armor. Earlier, I saw you, my lord, on the terrace, vigorous and full, the expression of arms and armor; you sighed without chanting, and what you spoke of was Ju; you raised your arm and pointed, and what you faced was Ju. I privately considered that the small feudal lord not yet submissive was probably only Ju, and so I said it." The gentleman says: "In general what the ears hear is by sound. Now he did not hear the sound but relied on the countenance and arm; this is Dongguo Chui hearing without using his ears. Even though Duke Huan and Guan Zhong were good at planning, they could not hide from a sage who hears in silence and sees in the formless, and Dongguo Chui was such a man." Therefore Duke Huan then treated him with honored salary and ritual.

晉太史屠餘見晉國之亂，見晉平公之驕而無德義也，以其國法歸周。周威公見而問焉，曰：“天下之國，其孰先亡。”對曰：“晉先亡。”威公問其說。對曰：“臣不敢直言，示晉公以天妖，日月星辰之行多不當，曰：‘是何能然？’示以人事多義，百姓多怨，曰：‘是何傷？’示以鄰國不服，賢良不與，曰：‘是何害？’是不知所以存，所以亡。故臣曰：‘晉先亡。’居三年，晉果亡。威公又見屠餘而問焉。曰：“孰次之。”對曰：“中山次之。”威公問其故。對曰：“天生民，令有辨，有辨，人之義也。所以異於禽獸麋鹿也，君臣上下所以立也。中山之俗，以晝為夜，以夜繼日，男女切踦，固無休息，淫昏康樂，歌謳好悲，其主弗知惡，此亡國之風也。臣故曰：‘中山次之。’居二年，中山果亡。威公又見屠餘而問曰：“孰次之。”屠餘不對。威公固請。屠餘曰：“君次之。”威公懼，求國之長者，得錡疇、田邑而禮之，又得史理、趙巽以為諫臣，去苛令三十九物，以告屠餘。屠餘曰：“其尚終君之身。臣聞國之興也，天遺之賢人，與之極諫之士；國之亡也，天與之亂人與善諛者。”威公薨，九月不得葬。周乃分而為二，故有道者言，不可不重也。

Tu Yu, the Grand Historian of Jin, saw the disorder in Jin and saw that Duke Ping of Jin was proud and without virtue and righteousness, and carried his state's laws and went to Zhou. Duke Wei of Zhou received him and asked: "Among the states of the world, which will perish first?" He replied: "Jin will perish first." Duke Wei asked for his reasoning. He replied: "I did not dare say it directly. I showed the Duke of Jin the portents of Heaven and the many improprieties in the movement of sun, moon and stars, and he said, 'How could this be so?' I showed him that human affairs were much in righteousness and the people full of resentment, and he said, 'What harm is there?' I showed him that neighboring states did not submit and the worthy did not draw near, and he said, 'What hindrance is there in this?' This is not knowing why one survives and why one perishes. So I said, 'Jin will perish first.'" After three years, Jin perished as predicted. Duke Wei again saw Tu Yu and asked him: "Who is next?" He replied: "Zhongshan is next." Duke Wei asked why. He replied: "Heaven gave birth to the people and made them have distinctions; having distinctions is human righteousness. That is why people differ from birds, beasts and deer, and why ruler and subject, high and low, can be established. The custom of Zhongshan is to turn day into night and night follows day, men and women with their feet pressed together, truly without rest, in licentious darkness and ease, singing of what they love in sorrow, and their ruler does not know to dislike it. This is the air of a perishing state. So I said, 'Zhongshan is next.'" After two years, Zhongshan perished as predicted. Duke Wei again saw Tu Yu and asked: "Who is next?" Tu Yu did not answer. Duke Wei insisted on asking. Tu Yu said: "You, my lord, are next." Duke Wei was afraid and sought the elders of the state, and found Qi Chou and Tian Yi and treated them with ritual, and also obtained Shi Li and Zhao Xun as remonstrating ministers, and abolished thirty-nine harsh orders, and told Tu Yu. Tu Yu said: "This may allow you to live out your own lifetime. I have heard that when a state rises, Heaven sends it worthy men and officials who remonstrate with all their strength; when a state perishes, Heaven gives it disorderly men and skilled flatterers." When Duke Wei died, he could not be buried for nine months. Zhou then split into two, so the words of a man who has the Way must not be taken lightly.

齊侯問於晏子曰：“當今之時，諸侯孰危？”對曰：“莒其亡乎？”公曰：“奚故？”對曰：“地侵於齊，貨竭於晉，是以亡也。”

The Marquis of Qi asked Master Yan: "In the present time, which of the feudal lords is in danger?" He replied: "Ju is probably about to perish?" The duke said: "Why?" He replied: "Its land has been taken by Qi and its wealth is exhausted in Jin, so it will perish."

智伯從韓、魏之兵以攻趙，圍晉陽之城而溉之，城不沒者三板。絺疵謂智伯曰：“韓、魏之君必反矣。”智伯曰：“何以知之？”對曰：“夫勝趙而三分其地，今城未沒者三板，臼灶生■，人馬相食，城降有日矣。而韓、魏之君無喜志而有憂色，是非反何也？”明日，智伯謂韓、魏之君曰：“疵言君之反也。”韓、魏之君曰：“必勝趙而三分其地，今城將勝矣。夫二家雖愚，不棄美利而偝約為難不可成之事，其勢可見也。是疵必為趙說君，且使君疑二主之心，而解於攻趙也。今君聽讒臣之言而離二主之交，為君惜之。”智伯出，欲殺絺疵，絺疵逃。韓、魏之君果反。

Zhi Bo, following the troops of Han and Wei, came to attack Zhao and surrounded the city of Jinyang and flooded it with water, and the city was only three boards short of being submerged. Chi Ci (the base text uses a variant character for Chi) said to Zhi Bo: "The rulers of Han and Wei are surely going to rebel." Zhi Bo said: "How do you know?" He replied: "If you conquer Zhao, the three houses will divide its land. Now the city is only three boards short of being submerged, mortars and stoves have grown (the base text has a damaged character here), people and horses are eating one another, and the city will surrender any day. Yet the rulers of Han and Wei have no joyful intent but show worry; what is this if not rebellion?" The next day, Zhi Bo said to the rulers of Han and Wei: "Ci said you will rebel." The rulers of Han and Wei said: "We were sure to defeat Zhao and divide its land among three houses, and now the city is about to be won. Even if the two houses were foolish, they would not abandon fine profit and break the agreement to do something difficult and impossible; the situation is plain to see. This is Ci surely lobbying on behalf of Zhao, and making you doubt the hearts of the two lords so as to slacken the attack on Zhao. Now you listen to a slanderous minister's words and break the friendship of the two lords; we regret this for you." Zhi Bo went out and wanted to kill Chi Ci, but Chi Ci fled. The rulers of Han and Wei indeed rebelled.

魯公索氏將祭而亡其牲。孔子聞之，曰：“公索氏比及三年必亡矣。”後一年而亡。弟子問曰：“昔公索氏亡牲，夫子曰：‘比及三年必亡矣。’今期年而亡。夫子何以知其將亡也。”孔子曰：“祭之為言索也，索也者盡也，乃孝子所以自盡於親也。至祭而亡其牲，則餘所亡者多矣。吾以此知其將亡矣。”

The Gongsuo family of Lu was about to sacrifice and lost their victim. Confucius heard of it and said: "The Gongsuo family will surely perish within three years." Later they perished after one year. A disciple asked: "Earlier when the Gongsuo family lost their victim, the Master said, 'Within three years they will surely perish.' Now they have perished after only one year. How did the Master know they would perish?" Confucius said: "Sacrifice, as a word, means searching; searching is exhausting, and it is how a filial son exhausts his heart toward his parents. When the time came for sacrifice, they lost the victim; then what they had lost was a great deal. That is how I knew they would perish."

蔡侯、宋公、鄭伯朝於晉。蔡侯謂叔向曰：“子亦奚以語我？”對曰：“蔡言地計眾，不若宋鄭。其車馬衣裘侈於二國，諸侯其有圖蔡者乎？”處期年，荊伐蔡而殘之。

The Marquis of Cai, the Duke of Song and the Earl of Zheng went to court in Jin. The Marquis of Cai said to Shuxiang: "What would you say to me as well?" He replied: "In discussing land and counting the people, Cai is not as good as Song and Zheng. Its carriages, horses and furs are more extravagant than those of the two states, and the feudal lords may well be planning to take Cai." After a full year, Jing attacked Cai and ravaged it.

白圭之中山，中山王欲留之，固辭而去。又之齊，齊王亦欲留之，又辭而去，人問其辭。白圭曰：“二國將亡矣。所學者國有五盡，故莫之必忠，則言盡矣；莫之必譽，則名盡矣；莫之必愛，則親盡矣；行者無糧，居者無食，則財盡矣；不能用人又不能自用，則功盡矣；國有此五者，毋幸，必亡。中山與齊皆當此。若使中山之與齊也，聞五盡而更之，則必不亡也，其患在不聞也，雖聞又不信也。然則人主之務，在善聽而已矣。”

Bai Gui went to Zhongshan, and the King of Zhongshan wanted to keep him, but he firmly declined and left. He then went to Qi, and the King of Qi also wanted to keep him, and again he declined and left. Someone asked the reason for his declining. Bai Gui said: "Both states are about to perish. As I have learned, a state has five exhaustions: when there is no one who is certainly loyal, words are exhausted; when there is no one who certainly praises, reputation is exhausted; when there is no one who certainly loves, kinship is exhausted; when travelers have no provisions and residents have no food, wealth is exhausted; when it cannot use others and cannot use itself, achievement is exhausted. If a state has these five, do not hope for luck; it will surely perish. Zhongshan and Qi are both in this state. If Zhongshan and Qi had heard of the five exhaustions and corrected them, they surely would not perish; the trouble is that they did not hear, or even if they heard, they did not believe. Thus the main task of a ruler is only to be good at listening."

下蔡威公閉門而哭，三日三夜，泣盡而繼以血，旁鄰窺牆而問之。曰：“子何故而哭，悲若此乎？”對曰：“吾國且亡。”曰：“何以知也？”應之曰：“吾聞病之將死也，不可為良醫；國之將亡也，不可為計謀；吾數諫吾君，吾君不用，是以知國之將亡也。”於是窺牆者聞其言，則舉宗而去之楚。居數年，楚王果舉兵伐蔡。窺牆者為司馬，將兵而往來，虜甚眾。問曰：“得無有昆弟故人乎？”見威公縛在虜中，問曰：“若何以至於此？”應曰：“吾何以不至於此？且吾聞之也，言之者行之役也，行之者言之主也。汝能行我言，汝為主，我為役，吾亦何以不至於此哉？”窺牆者乃言之於楚王，遂解其縛，與俱之楚。故曰：“能言者未必能行，能行者未必能言。”

Duke Wei of Xiacai shut his door and wept for three days and nights, and when his tears were used up, they were followed by blood. A neighbor peeked through a crack in the wall and asked him: "Why do you weep, so sorrowful?" He replied: "My state will perish." The neighbor said: "How do you know?" He replied: "I have heard that one who is about to die of illness cannot be a good physician, and one whose state is about to perish cannot be a planner; I repeatedly remonstrated with my ruler, and my ruler did not use my advice, so I know the state will perish." The neighbor who had peeked heard his words and led his clan away to Chu. After several years, the King of Chu indeed raised troops and attacked Cai. The man who had peeked became Minister of War and led the army back and forth, taking many captives. He asked: "Are there not perhaps brothers or old friends among them?" Seeing Duke Wei bound among the captives, he asked: "How did you come to this?" He replied: "How could I not come to this? Moreover I have heard that the speaker is the servant of the doer, and the doer is the master of the speaker. You were able to carry out my words; you are the master and I am the servant; how could I not come to this?" The man who had peeked then told the King of Chu, and finally untied his bonds and went with him to Chu. Therefore it is said: "One who can speak is not necessarily able to act, and one who can act is not necessarily able to speak."

管仲有疾，桓公往問之，曰：“仲父若棄寡人，豎刁可使從政乎？”對曰：“不可。豎刁自刑以求入君，其身之忍，將何有於君。”公曰：“然則易牙可乎？”對曰：“易牙解其子以食君，其子之忍，將何有於君，若用之必為諸侯笑。”及桓公歿，豎刁易牙乃作難。桓公死六十日，蟲出於戶而不收。

When Guan Zhong was ill, Duke Huan went to inquire after him and said: "If you, Uncle Zhong, abandon me, can Shu Diao be allowed to take office?" He replied: "No. Shu Diao castrated himself in order to enter the ruler's presence; to himself he was so ruthless, what would he do to the ruler?" The duke said: "Then can Yi Ya?" He replied: "Yi Ya cooked his son to feed the ruler; toward his son he was so ruthless, what would he do to the ruler? If he is used, you will surely be laughed at by the feudal lords." When Duke Huan died, Shu Diao and Yi Ya caused disorder. Duke Huan had been dead for sixty days when maggots came out through the doors, and he still had not been laid in the coffin.

石乞侍坐於屈建。屈建曰：“白公其為亂乎？”石乞曰：“是何言也？白公至於室無營所，下士者三人與己相若，臣者五人，所與同衣者千人。白公之行若此，何故為亂？”屈建曰：“此建之所謂亂也。以君子行，則可於國家行。過禮則國家疑之，且苟不難下其臣，必不難高其君矣。建是以知夫子將為亂也。”處十月，白公果為亂。

Shi Qi was sitting in attendance with Qu Jian. Qu Jian said: "Will Lord Bai start a rebellion?" Shi Qi said: "What are you saying? Lord Bai, when he got to his residence, had no building under way; among the scholars he befriended there are three who resemble himself, five are ministers, and a thousand wear the same clothing as he does. Lord Bai acts like this; why would he rebel?" Qu Jian said: "This is exactly what I call rebellion. If one acts as a noble man would, one can act for the state. If he goes beyond ritual, the state suspects him; and if he does not find it hard to be humble before his subordinates, he surely will not find it hard to be arrogant toward his ruler. For this reason I know that this gentleman will rebel." After ten months, Lord Bai indeed rebelled.

韓昭侯造作高門。屈宜咎曰：“昭侯不出此門。”曰：“何也？”曰：“不時。吾所謂不時者，非時日也。人固有利不利，昭侯嘗利矣，不作高門。往年秦拔宜陽，明年大旱民飢，不以此時恤民之急也，而顧反益奢，此所謂福不重至，禍必重來者也！”高門成，昭侯卒。竟不出此門。

Marquis Zhao of Han built a high gate. Qu Yijiu said: "Marquis Zhao will not get out through this gate." Someone asked: "Why?" He said: "It is not the right time. What I call the right time is not a calendar day. People naturally have fortune and misfortune, and Marquis Zhao had once had good fortune but did not build a high gate. Last year Qin took Yiyang, and this coming year there will be a great drought and the people will starve. He did not use this time to take care of the people's urgent need, but instead became still more extravagant. This is what is meant by 'blessings do not come in succession, but misfortunes surely come one after another.'" The high gate was completed and Marquis Zhao died. In the end he did not get out through this gate.

田子顏自大術至乎平陵城下，見人子問其父，見人父問其子。田子方曰：“其以平陵反乎？吾聞行於內，然後施於外。外顏欲使其眾甚矣。”後果以平陵叛。

Tian Ziyan went from Dashu to the foot of the city wall of Pingling, and when he saw a man's son he asked about his father, and when he saw a man's father he asked about his son. Tian Zifang said: "He is probably going to rebel through Pingling. I have heard that what is practiced inside is then applied outside. Outer Yan's wish to drive his own people has become quite severe." Later he did indeed rebel through Pingling.

晉人已勝智氏，歸而繕甲砥兵。楚王恐，召梁公弘曰：“晉人已勝智氏矣。歸而繕甲兵，其以我為事乎？”梁公曰：“不患，害其在吳乎？夫吳君恤民而同其勞，使其民重上之令，而人輕其死以從上，使如虜之戰，臣登山以望之，見其用百姓之信，必也勿已乎？其備之若何？”不聽，明年，闔廬襲郢。

After the men of Jin had conquered the Zhi clan, they went back to repair armor and sharpen weapons. The King of Chu was afraid and summoned Duke Hong of Liang and said: "The men of Jin have already defeated the Zhi clan. Going back to repair armor and weapons, are they perhaps taking me as their business?" Duke Liang said: "Do not worry; the harm is probably from Wu. The ruler of Wu cares for his people and shares their toil, making his people value the orders from above and take their own deaths lightly in following him, and drives them into battle like captives. I climbed a mountain and looked, and saw him using the trust of the common people; surely he will not stop. How should we prepare against it?" He did not listen, and the next year Helu attacked Ying.

楚莊王欲伐陳，使人視之。使者曰：“陳不可伐也。”莊王曰：“何故？”對曰：“其城郭高，溝壑深，蓄積多，其國寧也。”王曰：“陳可伐也。夫陳，小國也，而蓄積多，蓄積多則賦斂重，賦斂重則民怨上矣。城郭高，溝壑深，則民力罷矣。”興兵伐之，遂取陳。

King Zhuang of Chu wanted to attack Chen and sent a man to observe. The envoy said: "Chen cannot be attacked." King Zhuang said: "Why?" He replied: "Its walls are high, its moats deep, its stores many, and its state is at peace." The king said: "Chen can be attacked. Chen is a small state yet has many stores; many stores mean heavy taxation, and heavy taxation means the people resent those above. Its walls high and moats deep means the people's strength is exhausted." He raised troops and attacked, and in the end took Chen.

石益謂孫伯曰：“吳將亡矣！吾子亦知之乎？”孫伯曰：“晚矣，子之知之也。吾何為不知？”石益曰：“然則子何不以諫？”孫伯曰：“昔桀罪諫者，紂焚聖人，剖王子比干之心。袁氏之婦，絡而失其紀，其妾告之，怒棄之。夫亡者，豈斯人知其過哉？”

Shi Yi said to Sun Bo: "Wu is about to perish! Do you also know it, sir?" Sun Bo said: "Late; you only now know it. Why would I not know it?" Shi Yi said: "Then why do you not take it and remonstrate?" Sun Bo said: "In ancient times Jie punished those who remonstrated, and Zhou burned the sage and cut open the heart of Prince Bi Gan. The wife of the Yuan family, when reeling silk and losing the thread, was told by her concubine, and in anger drove her away. Those who perished, did they know their own faults?"

孝宣皇帝之時，霍氏奢靡，茂陵徐先生曰：“霍氏必亡。夫在人之右而奢，亡之道也。孔子曰：‘奢則不遜。’夫不遜者必侮上，侮上者，逆之道也。出人之右，人必害之。今霍氏秉權，天下之人疾害之者多矣。夫天下害之而又以逆道行之，不亡何待？”乃上書言霍氏奢靡，陛下即愛之，宜以時抑制，無使至於亡。書三上，輒報：“聞。”其後霍氏果滅。董忠等以其功封。人有為徐先生上書者，曰：“臣聞客有過主人者，見灶直●，傍有積薪。客謂主人曰：‘曲其●，遠其積薪，不者將有火患。’主人默然不應，居無幾何，家果失火。鄉聚裡中人哀而救之，火幸息。於是殺牛置酒，燔發灼爛者在上行，餘各用功次坐，而反不錄言曲●者。向使主人聽客之言，不費牛酒，終無火患。今茂陵徐福數上書言霍氏且有變，宜防絕之。向使福說得行，則無裂地出爵之費，而國安平自如。今往事既已，而福獨不得與其功，惟陛下察客徙薪曲●之策，而使居燔發灼爛之右。”書奏，上使人賜徐福帛十匹，拜為郎。

In the time of Emperor Xiaoxuan, the Huo family was extravagant and wasteful. Master Xu of Maoling said: "The Huo family will surely perish. To be above others and extravagant is the road to ruin. Confucius said: 'Extravagance leads to insubordination.' The insubordinate will surely insult those above, and insulting those above is the road to rebellion. One who stands above others will surely be harmed by them. Now the Huo family holds power, and the people of the world who hate and wish to harm them are many. When the world wishes to harm them and they act on top of that by the way of rebellion, what are they waiting for if not ruin?" He then submitted a memorial saying that the Huo family was extravagant and wasteful, and that if Your Majesty loved them, he should restrain them in time and not let them come to ruin. After three memorials, the reply was always: "Noted." Afterward the Huo family indeed was destroyed. Dong Zhong and others were enfeoffed for that merit. Someone submitted a memorial on behalf of Master Xu, saying: "I have heard that a guest passing by a host's house saw that the stove chimney was straight (the base text has a damaged character here), with piled firewood beside it. The guest said to the host, 'Bend that (the base text has a damaged character here) and move the piled firewood away, or there will be a fire.' The host was silent and did not respond. Not long after, the house indeed caught fire. The neighbors gathered, took pity and came to help, and the fire was fortunately put out. Then the host slaughtered an ox and set out wine; those with singed hair and burned heads sat in the places of honor, and the rest sat in order according to their merit, but they did not record the man who had told them to bend the (damaged) chimney. If the host had listened to the guest earlier, he would not have spent the ox and wine and in the end there would have been no fire. Now Xu Fu of Maoling repeatedly submitted memorials saying the Huo family would cause trouble and that precautions should be taken to cut it off. If Fu's words had been carried out earlier, there would have been no expense of dividing land and granting titles, and the state would have remained at peace as before. Now that the past has gone, Fu alone cannot share in the credit; I wish Your Majesty would consider the guest's plan of moving the firewood and bending the (damaged) chimney, and place him above those with singed hair and burned heads." When the memorial was submitted, the Emperor sent someone to give Xu Fu ten bolts of silk and appointed him as a gentleman.

齊桓公將伐山戎、孤竹，使人請助於魯。魯君進群臣而謀，皆曰：“師行數十里，入蠻夷之地，必不反矣。”於是魯許助之而不行。齊已伐山戎、孤竹，而欲移兵於魯。管仲曰：“不可。諸侯未親，今又伐遠而還誅近鄰，鄰國不親，非霸王之道，君之所得山戎之寶器者，中國之所鮮也，不可不進周公之廟乎？”桓公乃分山戎之寶，獻之周公之廟。明年起兵伐莒。魯下令丁男悉發，五尺童子皆至。孔子曰：“聖人轉禍為福，報怨以德。”此之謂也。

Duke Huan of Qi was about to attack the Shanrong and Guzhu, and sent someone to ask Lu for help. The ruler of Lu summoned his ministers to plan, and they all said: "If the army travels dozens of li and enters the lands of the barbarians, it will surely not come back." So Lu agreed to help but did not set out. After Qi had already attacked the Shanrong and Guzhu, it wanted to move its army against Lu. Guan Zhong said: "It cannot be done. The feudal lords are not yet close to us; now if after attacking the distant we return and execute the near neighbor, the neighbors will not be close, and this is not the way of a hegemon. The precious vessels you obtained from the Shanrong are rare in the central states; must you not present them to the temple of the Duke of Zhou?" Duke Huan then divided the treasures of the Shanrong and presented them to the temple of the Duke of Zhou. The next year he raised troops and attacked Ju. Lu ordered all adult men to set out, and even boys of five feet all came. Confucius said: "The sage turns misfortune into fortune and repays resentment with virtue." This is what that means.

中行文子出亡至邊，從者曰：“為此嗇夫者君人也，胡不休焉，且待後車者。”文子曰：“異日吾好音，此子遺吾琴，吾好佩，又遺吾玉，是不非吾過者也，自容於我者也。吾恐其以我求容也，遂不入。”後車入門，文子問嗇夫之所在，執而殺之。仲尼聞之，曰：“中行文子背道失義以亡其國，然後得之，猶活其身，道不可遺也，若此。”

When Zhonghang Wenzi fled into exile and reached the border, his follower said: "The official in charge of this place is an old friend of yours; why not rest and wait for the carriages behind?" Wenzi said: "In the past I loved music and this man gave me a zither; I loved jade pendants and he gave me jade. He is one who did not criticize my faults, and one who sought to be tolerated by me. I fear that he would use me to seek tolerance, so I will not go in." When the carriages behind entered the gate, Wenzi asked where the official was, and seized and killed him. Confucius heard and said: "Zhonghang Wenzi departed from the Way and lost righteousness and lost his state, but afterward obtained this and still preserved his own life; the Way must not be abandoned, as shown in this."

衛靈公襜被以與婦人遊，子貢見公。公曰：“衛其亡乎？”對曰：“昔者夏桀，殷紂不任其過故亡；成湯、文武知任其過故興，衛奚其亡也？”

Duke Ling of Wei, wearing an informal robe, was out amusing himself with women when Zigong saw the duke. The duke said: "Wei will probably perish, will it not?" He replied: "In the past Jie of Xia and Zhou of Yin did not take responsibility for their own faults and so perished; Tang, King Wen and King Wu knew to take responsibility for their own faults and so rose. How could Wei perish?"

智伯請地於魏宣子，宣子不與。任增曰：“何為不與？”宣子曰：“彼無故而請地，吾是以不與。”任增曰：“彼無故而請地者，無故而與之，是重欲無厭也。彼喜，必又請地於諸侯，諸侯不與，必怒而伐之。”宣子曰：“善。”遂與地。智伯喜，又請地於趙，趙不與，智伯怒，圍晉陽。韓、魏合趙而反智氏，智氏遂滅。

Zhi Bo asked Wei Xuanzi for land, and Xuanzi did not give it. Ren Zeng said: "Why not give it?" Xuanzi said: "He asks for land without cause; therefore I do not give it." Ren Zeng said: "He asks for land without cause; if you give it without cause, this only increases his desire without satisfying it. He will be pleased and surely ask the other feudal lords for land, and if they do not give it he will surely be angry and attack." Xuanzi said: "Good." He then gave the land. Zhi Bo was pleased and asked Zhao for land; Zhao did not give it, and Zhi Bo was angry and besieged Jinyang. Han and Wei joined with Zhao and turned against the Zhi clan, and the Zhi clan then perished.

楚莊王與晉戰，勝之，懼諸侯之畏己也，乃築為五仞之臺，臺成而觴諸侯，諸侯請約。莊王曰：“我薄德之人也。”諸侯請為觴。乃仰而曰：“將將之臺，窅窅其謀，我言而不當，諸侯伐之。”於是遠者來朝，近者入賓。

King Zhuang of Chu fought Jin and won, and, fearing the feudal lords would dread him, built a terrace five ren high. When the terrace was completed he invited the feudal lords to drink, and the feudal lords asked for a covenant. King Zhuang said: "I am a man of slight virtue." The feudal lords asked to offer him a toast. He then said, looking up: "The terrace is lofty, the plan is deep; if my words are not fitting, may the feudal lords attack me." Then those far away came to court and those near came in as guests.

吳王夫差破越，又將伐陳。楚大夫皆懼，曰：“昔闔廬能用其眾，故破我於柏舉。今聞夫差又甚焉。”子西曰：“二三子，恤不相睦也，無患吳矣，昔闔廬食不貳味，處不重席，擇不取費。在國，天有災，親戚乏困而供之；在軍，食熟者半而後食。其所嘗者，卒乘必與焉。是以民不罷勞，死知不曠。今夫差，次有臺榭陂池焉；宿有妃嬙嬪御焉。一日之行，所欲必成，玩好必從，珍異是聚，夫差先自敗己，焉能敗我？”

King Fuchai of Wu defeated Yue and was about to attack Chen. The high officials of Chu were all afraid and said: "In the past Helu could use his troops and so defeated us at Boju. Now we hear that Fuchai is even more formidable." Zixi said: "Gentlemen, what you should worry about is that you are not in harmony with each other, not about Wu. In the past Helu did not have two dishes at a meal, did not lay two layers of mats where he sat, and in his choices did not choose what was costly. In the state, when Heaven sent calamity and relatives were in want, he supplied them; in the army, he ate only after food was half cooked. What he tasted, the foot soldiers and charioteers must share. Therefore the people were not wearied by toil and knew that their deaths would not be wasted. Now Fuchai, where he camps, has terraces, pavilions and ponds; where he lodges, has consorts and attendants. In a day's travel, whatever he wants is certainly done, his playthings follow him, and rare and strange things are gathered; Fuchai will first defeat himself; how could he defeat us?"

越破吳，請師於楚以伐晉。楚王與大夫皆懼，將許之。左史倚相曰：“此恐吾攻己，故示我不病。請為長轂千乘，卒三萬，與分吳地也。”莊王聽之，遂取東國。

Yue defeated Wu and asked Chu for troops to attack Jin. The King of Chu and his high officials were afraid and were about to agree. The Left Historian Yi Xiang said: "They fear that we will attack them, so they show us they are not ill. Please prepare a thousand long-hubbed chariots and thirty thousand soldiers and share the land of Wu with them." King Zhuang listened, and in the end obtained the eastern state.

陽虎為難於魯，走之齊，請師於魯，齊侯許之。鮑文子曰：“不可也。陽虎欲齊師破，齊師破，大臣必多死，於是欲奮其詐謀。夫虎有寵於季氏而將殺季孫，以不利魯國而容其求焉。今君富於季氏而大於魯國，茲陽虎所欲傾覆也。魯免其疾，而君又收之，毋乃害乎？”齊君乃執之，免而奔晉。

Yang Hu caused disorder in Lu and fled to Qi, and asked Lu's army from the Marquis of Qi, who agreed. Bao Wenzi said: "This cannot be done. Yang Hu wants the Qi army to be defeated, and if the Qi army is defeated, the great ministers will surely die in large numbers, and he then wants to carry out his deceitful plan. That Hu was favored by the Ji family but was about to kill Ji Sun, and used the inconvenience to the state of Lu to get his request accepted. Now you, my lord, are richer than the Ji family and larger than Lu, which is exactly what Yang Hu wants to overturn. Lu has been freed of its affliction, and if you take him in, I fear there would be harm." The ruler of Qi then seized him, and after being released he fled to Jin.

湯欲伐桀。伊尹曰：“請阻乏貢職以觀其動。”桀怒，起九夷之師以伐之。伊尹曰：“未可。彼尚猶能起九夷之師，是罪在我也。”湯乃謝罪請服，復入貢職。明年，又不供貢職。桀怒，起九夷之師，九夷之師不起。伊尹曰：“可矣。”湯乃興師，伐而殘之。遷桀南巢氏焉。

Tang wanted to attack Jie. Yi Yin said: "Please stop the tribute and observe his response." Jie was angry and mobilized the troops of the Nine Yi to attack. Yi Yin said: "It is not yet time. He can still mobilize the troops of the Nine Yi; the fault is ours." Tang then apologized and asked to submit, and again delivered tribute. The next year, he again did not supply tribute. Jie was angry and mobilized the troops of the Nine Yi, but the troops of the Nine Yi did not rise. Yi Yin said: "Now it is possible." Tang then raised troops, attacked and defeated him. He moved Jie to Nanchao.

武王伐紂，過隧斬岸，過水折舟，過谷發梁，過山焚萊，示民無返志也。至於有戎之隧，大風折■。散宜生諫曰：“此其妖歟？”武王曰：“非也。天落兵也。”風霽而乘以大雨，水平地而嗇。散宜生又諫曰：“此其妖歟？”武王曰：“非也，天灑兵也。”卜而龜熸。散宜生又諫曰：“此其妖歟？”武王曰：“不利以禱祠，利以擊眾，是熸之已。”故武王順天地，犯三妖而禽紂於牧野，其所獨見者精也。

When King Wu attacked Zhou, passing a tunnel he cut away the bank, crossing water he destroyed the boats, passing valleys he tore down the bridges, passing mountains he burned the undergrowth, to show the people that he had no heart to return. When he reached the tunnel of Yourong, a great wind broke (the base text has a damaged character here). Sanyi Sheng remonstrated: "Is this an omen?" King Wu said: "No. Heaven is sending down weapons." The wind stopped, and then they rode on heavy rain, the water leveled with the land and drew back. Sanyi Sheng again remonstrated: "Is this an omen?" King Wu said: "No; Heaven is pouring down weapons." They divined and the tortoise shell scorched dry. Sanyi Sheng again remonstrated: "Is this an omen?" King Wu said: "It is not favorable for prayers and sacrifices but favorable for attacking the multitude; this is what the scorching already means." Therefore King Wu followed Heaven and Earth, defied the three omens, and captured Zhou at Muye; this is the subtlety that he alone saw.

晉文公與荊人戰於城濮，君問於咎犯。咎犯對曰：“服義之君，不足於信；服戰之君，不足於詐，詐之而已矣。”君問於雍季，雍季對曰：“焚林而田，得獸雖多，而明年無復也；幹澤而漁，得魚雖多，而明年無復也。詐猶可以偷利，而後無報。”遂與荊軍戰，大敗之。及賞，先雍季而後咎犯。侍者曰：“城濮之戰，咎犯之謀也！”君曰：“雍季之言，百世之謀也；咎犯之言，一時之權也，寡人既行之矣。”

Duke Wen of Jin fought the men of Jing at Chengpu, and the ruler asked Jiufan. Jiufan replied: "A ruler who practices righteousness is not satisfied with trust; a ruler who practices battle is not satisfied with deceit; it is simply deceit." The ruler asked Yongji, who replied: "If one burns the forest to hunt, though one gets many animals, the next year there will be none; if one drains a marsh to catch fish, though one gets many fish, the next year there will be none. Deceit may steal profit but afterward there is no return." So he fought the Jing army and defeated it utterly. When it came to rewards, he rewarded Yongji first and Jiufan afterward. An attendant said: "The battle of Chengpu was Jiufan's plan!" The ruler said: "Yongji's words are a plan for a hundred generations; Jiufan's words are an expedient for the moment, and I have already carried them out."

城濮之戰，文公謂咎犯曰：“吾卜戰而龜熸。我迎歲，彼背歲。彗星見，彼操其柄，我操其標。吾又夢與荊王搏，彼在上，我在下，吾欲無戰，子以為何如？”咎犯對曰：“十戰龜熸，是荊人也。我迎歲，彼背歲，彼去我從之也。彗星見，彼操其柄，我操其標，以掃則彼利，以擊則我利。君夢與荊王搏，彼在上，君在下，則君見天而荊王伏其罪也。且吾以宋衛為主，齊秦輔我，我合天道，獨以人事固將勝之矣。”文公從之，荊人大敗。

At the battle of Chengpu, Duke Wen said to Jiufan: "I divined about the battle and the tortoise shell scorched dry. I face Jupiter and he has Jupiter at his back. A comet appeared; he holds the handle and I hold the tip. I also dreamed of wrestling with the King of Jing, he above and I below. I wish to avoid battle; what do you think?" Jiufan replied: "If ten battles produced scorched shells, that would be the men of Jing. You face Jupiter and he has it at his back; he leaves, and we follow. A comet appeared; he holds the handle and you hold the tip; if used to sweep, it benefits him, and if used to strike, it benefits you. You dreamed of wrestling with the King of Jing, he above and you below; then you see Heaven and the King of Jing bows to his guilt. Moreover, we take Song and Wei as our main allies, and Qi and Qin assist us; we accord with the way of Heaven, and relying on human affairs alone we will surely win." Duke Wen listened, and the men of Jing were greatly defeated.

越飢，句踐懼。四水進諫曰：“夫飢，越之福也，而吳之禍也。夫吳國甚富而財有餘，其君好名而不思後患。若我卑辭重幣以請糴於吳，吳必與我，與我則吳可取也。”越王從之。吳將與之，子胥諫曰：“不可。夫吳越接地鄰境，道易通，仇讎敵戰之國也。非吳有越，越必有吳矣，夫齊晉不能越三江五湖以亡吳越，不如因而攻之，是吾先王闔廬之所以霸也。且夫飢何哉？亦猶淵也，敗伐之事，誰國無有？君若不攻而輸之糴，則利去而兇至，財匱而民怨，悔無及也。”吳王曰：“吾聞義兵不服仁人，不以餓飢而攻之，雖得十越，吾不為也。”遂與糴，三年，吳亦飢，請糴于越，越王不與而攻之，遂破吳。

Yue suffered famine and Goujian was afraid. Si Shui remonstrated: "Famine is Yue's fortune and Wu's misfortune. The state of Wu is very rich with surplus wealth, and its ruler loves fame and does not consider later trouble. If we use humble words and heavy gifts to ask Wu for grain, Wu will surely give it to us. If it gives to us, Wu can be taken." The King of Yue listened. Wu was about to give, but Zixu remonstrated: "It cannot be done. Wu and Yue are adjacent in land and neighbors on the border, the roads are easy to pass, and they are enemy states that fight each other. If Wu does not possess Yue, Yue will surely possess Wu. Qi and Jin cannot cross the Three Rivers and Five Lakes to destroy Wu or Yue; it is better to attack now, which is why our former king Helu became hegemon. And what is famine? It is also like a deep pool; defeat and attack happen to every state. If you do not attack but send grain, then profit leaves and misfortune comes, wealth is exhausted and the people resent you, and regret will come too late." The King of Wu said: "I have heard that a righteous army does not subdue the humane and does not attack because of hunger; even if I obtained ten Yues, I would not do it." He then gave grain. After three years, Wu also suffered famine and asked Yue for grain; the King of Yue did not give it but attacked, and finally defeated Wu.

趙簡子使成何、涉他與衛靈公盟於鄟澤。靈公未喋盟。成何、涉他捘靈公之手而撙之，靈公怒，欲反趙。王孫商曰：“君欲反趙，不如與百姓同惡之。”公曰：“若何？”對曰：“請命臣令於國曰：‘有姑姊妹女者家一人，質於趙。’百姓必怨，君因反之矣。”君曰：“善。”乃令之三日，遂徵之五日，而令畢國人巷哭。君乃召國大夫而謀曰：“趙為無道，反之可乎？”大夫皆曰：“可。”乃出西門，閉東門，越王聞之，縛涉他而斬之，以謝於衛，成何走燕。子貢曰：“王孫商可謂善謀矣。憎人而能害之；有患而能處之；欲用民而能附之；一舉而三物俱至，可謂善謀矣。”

Zhao Jianzi sent Cheng He and She Ta to make a covenant with Duke Ling of Wei at Zhuanze. Before Duke Ling had smeared his lips with blood for the covenant, Cheng He and She Ta twisted Duke Ling's hand and pressed it down. The duke was angry and wanted to turn against Zhao. Wangsun Shang said: "If you want to turn against Zhao, it is better to share in hating him together with the people." The duke said: "How?" He replied: "Please order me to issue an order in the state: 'In every household with an aunt, sister or daughter, one person shall go to Zhao as hostage.' The people will surely resent it, and if you take advantage of this to turn against him, it will succeed." The ruler said: "Good." He gave the order for three days, finally levying on the fifth day, and when the order was finished the people of the state wept in the lanes. The ruler then summoned the high officials of the state and planned: "Zhao is doing wicked things; may we turn against him?" The high officials all said: "We may." Then he went out by the west gate and closed the east gate. The King of Yue heard of it, bound She Ta and beheaded him to apologize to Wei, and Cheng He fled to Yan. Zigong said: "Wangsun Shang can be called good at planning. He hated someone and was able to harm him; he had trouble and was able to deal with it; he wished to use the people and was able to win their support; in one action he achieved three matters; he can be called good at planning."

楚成王贊諸屬諸侯，使魯君為僕，魯君致大夫而謀曰：“我雖小，亦周之建國也。今成王以我為僕，可乎？”大夫皆曰：“不可。”公儀休曰：“不可不聽楚王，身死國亡，君之臣乃君之有也；為民，君也！”魯君遂為僕。

King Cheng of Chu convened the feudal lords under his rule for a ritual and had the ruler of Lu act as his charioteer. The ruler of Lu called together his high officials and said: "Though we are small, we too are a state established by Zhou. Now King Cheng wants me to be his charioteer; may I do it?" The high officials all said: "No." Gongyi Xiu said: "You cannot fail to obey the King of Chu; if you die and the state perishes, your ministers are still yours; and for the people, it is you!" The ruler of Lu then acted as charioteer.

齊景公以其子妻闔廬，送諸郊。泣曰：“餘死不汝見矣。”高夢子曰：“齊負海而縣山，縱不能全收天下，誰幹我君？愛則勿行！”公曰：“餘有齊國之固，不能以令諸侯，又不能聽，是生亂也。寡人聞之，不能令則莫若從，且夫吳若蜂蠆然，不棄毒於人則不靜，餘恐棄毒於我也。”遂遣之。

Duke Jing of Qi married his daughter to Helu and saw her off to the outskirts. He wept and said: "When I die I will not see you again." Gao Mengzi said: "Qi has the sea at its back and mountains connected to it; even if it cannot take over the whole world, who would invade our ruler? If you love her, do not let her go!" The duke said: "I have the strength of Qi but cannot use it to command the feudal lords, and also cannot obey them; this is what produces disorder. I have heard that if one cannot command, it is better to follow, and moreover Wu is like wasps and scorpions, which do not rest until they have put their poison on someone; I fear it would be put on me." So he sent her.

齊欲妻鄭太子忽，太子忽辭，人問其故，太子曰：“人各有偶，齊大，非吾偶也。詩云：‘自求多福。’在我而已矣。”後戎伐齊，齊請師於鄭。鄭太子忽率師而救齊，大敗戎師，齊又欲妻之。太子固辭，人問其故。對曰：“無事於齊，吾猶不敢。今以君命救齊之急，受室以歸，人其以我為師婚乎？”終辭之。

Qi wanted to marry its daughter to Crown Prince Hu of Zheng, but Crown Prince Hu declined. Someone asked the reason, and the prince said: "Each person has his own match; Qi is great, and is not my match. The Book of Poetry says: 'Seek many blessings for yourself.' It lies in me alone." Later the Rong attacked Qi, and Qi asked Zheng for troops. Crown Prince Hu of Zheng led troops to rescue Qi and utterly defeated the Rong army, and Qi again wanted to marry its daughter to him. The prince firmly declined. Someone asked the reason. He replied: "When Qi had no trouble, I did not dare. Now, by my ruler's order I have relieved Qi's urgency; if I accepted a wife and returned, people would probably think I used the army to seek a marriage." In the end he declined.

孔子問漆雕馬人曰：“子事臧文仲、武仲、孺子容，三大夫者，孰為賢？”漆雕馬人對曰：“臧氏家有龜焉，名曰蔡；文仲立三年為一兆焉；武仲立三年為二兆焉；孺子容立三年為三兆焉，馬人立之矣。若夫三大夫之賢不賢，馬人不識也。”孔子曰：“君子哉！漆雕氏之子，其言人之美也，隱而顯；其言人之過也，微而著。故智不能及，明不能見，得無數卜乎？”

Confucius asked Qidiao Maren: "You served three high officials, Zang Wenzhong, Wuzhong and Ruzi Rong; which was worthy?" Qidiao Maren replied: "The Zang family had a tortoise in their house named Cai. Wenzhong in his three years in office had one divination; Wuzhong in his three years in office had two; Ruzi Rong in his three years in office had three. Maren stood by and watched. As for whether the three high officials were worthy or not, Maren does not know." Confucius said: "A noble man indeed, the son of the Qidiao family! In speaking of others' goodness, he hides it yet makes it conspicuous; in speaking of others' faults, he is subtle yet makes them plain. So where wisdom cannot reach and clarity cannot see, can one avoid divining repeatedly?"

安陵纏以顏色美壯，得幸於楚共王。江乙往見安陵纏，曰：“子之先人豈有矢石之功於王乎？”曰：“無有。”江乙曰：“子之身豈亦有乎？”曰：“無有。”江乙曰：“子之貴何以至於此乎？”曰：“僕不知所以。”江乙曰：“吾聞之，以財事人者，財盡而交疏；以色事人者，華落而愛衰。今子之華，有時而落，子何以長幸無解於王乎？”安陵纏曰：“臣年少愚陋，願委智於先生。”江乙曰：“獨從為殉可耳。”安陵纏曰：“敬聞命矣！”江乙去。居■年，逢安陵纏，謂曰：“前日所諭子者，通於王乎？”曰：“未可也。”居■年。江乙復見安陵纏曰：“子豈諭王乎？”安陵纏曰：“臣未得王之間也。”江乙曰：“子出與王同車，入與王同坐。居三年，言未得王之間，子以吾之說未可耳。”不悅而去。其年，共王獵江渚之野，野火之起若雲蜺，虎狼之嗥若雷霆。有狂兕從南方來，正觸王左驂，王舉旌旄，而使善射者射之，一發，兕死車下，王大喜，拊手而笑，顧謂安陵纏曰：“吾萬歲之後，子將誰與斯樂乎？”安陵纏乃逡巡而卻，泣下霑衿，抱王曰：“萬歲之後，臣將從為殉，安知樂此者誰？”於是共王乃封安陵纏於車下三百戶。故曰：“江乙善謀，安陵纏知時。”

Anling Chan, relying on his fine and robust looks, won the favor of King Gong of Chu. Jiang Yi went to see Anling Chan and said: "Did your ancestors have merit with arrows and stones for the king?" He said: "No." Jiang Yi said: "Do you yourself have any?" He said: "No." Jiang Yi said: "How did your noble rank come to this?" He said: "I do not know why." Jiang Yi said: "I have heard that those who serve others with wealth find the friendship growing distant when the wealth is gone; those who serve others with looks find their affection decreasing when the flower falls. Now your flower may fall some day; how will you long be favored and never slacken toward the king?" Anling Chan said: "I am young and foolish and wish to entrust my wisdom to you." Jiang Yi said: "Just follow him in death as a burial companion and that will do." Anling Chan said: "I respectfully hear the command!" Jiang Yi left. After (the base text has a damaged character here) years he met Anling Chan and said to him: "What I told you the other day, have you said it to the king?" He said: "Not yet." After (the base text has a damaged character here) years Jiang Yi again saw Anling Chan and said: "Have you told the king?" Anling Chan said: "I have not yet found an opening with the king." Jiang Yi said: "You go out in the same carriage as the king and sit with the king inside. In three years you say you have not found an opening with the king; you think my saying is still not workable." He left unhappy. That year, King Gong was hunting in the wilds by the river bank, and a wild fire rose like clouds and rainbows, and the roars of tigers and wolves were like thunder. A mad rhinoceros came from the south and hit the king's left outer horse; the king raised his banner and had one skilled at archery shoot it, and with one arrow the rhinoceros died beneath the chariot. The king was delighted, clapped his hands and laughed, and turned to Anling Chan and said: "After my ten thousand years, with whom will you share such joy?" Anling Chan then withdrew, tears falling and wetting his collar, and, embracing the king, said: "After your ten thousand years, I will follow you in death as a burial companion; how could I know who will enjoy this?" King Gong then enfeoffed Anling Chan with three hundred households under the chariot. Therefore it is said: "Jiang Yi was good at planning; Anling Chan knew the time."

太子商臣怨令尹子上也。楚攻陳，晉救之。夾泜水而軍。陽處父知商臣之怨子上也，因謂子上曰：“少卻，吾涉而從子。”子上卻。因令晉軍曰：“楚遁矣。”使人告商臣曰：“子上受晉賂而去之。”商臣訴之成王，成王遂殺之。

Crown Prince Shangchen resented the prime minister Zishang. Chu attacked Chen and Jin came to the rescue. They camped on opposite sides of the Zhi River. Yang Chufu knew Shangchen resented Zishang, so he said to Zishang: "Withdraw a little, and I will cross the water and follow you." Zishang withdrew. Then he ordered the Jin army: "Chu has fled." He sent someone to tell Shangchen: "Zishang accepted a bribe from Jin and left." Shangchen accused him to King Cheng, who then killed him.

智伯欲襲衛，故遺之乘馬，先之一璧，衛君大悅，酌酒，諸大夫皆喜。南文子獨不喜，有憂色。衛君曰：“大國禮寡人，寡人故酌諸大夫酒，諸大夫皆喜，而子獨不喜，有憂色者，何也？”南文子曰：“無方之禮，無功之賞，禍之先也。我未有往，彼有以來，是以憂也。”於是衛君乃修梁津而擬邊城。智伯聞衛兵在境上，乃還。

Zhi Bo wanted to attack Wei, so he sent it a team of horses, with a jade disc first. The ruler of Wei was greatly pleased and held a feast, and all the high officials were delighted. Only Nan Wenzi was not pleased and showed a look of worry. The ruler of Wei said: "A great state treats me with ritual, and so I hold a feast for the high officials, and all of them are delighted; only you are not delighted and show worry; why?" Nan Wenzi said: "A ritual without cause and a reward without merit are the forerunners of calamity. We have not gone to him, yet he has something that makes him come; that is why I worry." The ruler of Wei then repaired the bridges and fords and made the border towns ready. When Zhi Bo heard that Wei's troops were on the frontier, he turned back.

智伯欲襲衛，乃佯亡其太子顏，使奔衛。南文子曰：“太子顏之為其君子也，甚愛。非有大罪也，而亡之？必有故！然人亡而不受不祥。”使吏逆之，曰：“車過五乘，慎勿內也。”智伯聞之，乃止。

Zhi Bo wanted to attack Wei, so he pretended that his crown prince Yan had fled and made him flee to Wei. Nan Wenzi said: "Crown Prince Yan is the son of his ruler and is much loved. Unless he had a great crime, why would he flee? There must be a reason! But people who flee should not be received as an ill omen." He sent an official to meet him, saying: "If the carriages exceed five, be careful not to admit them." When Zhi Bo heard of it, he stopped.

叔向之殺萇弘也，數見萇弘於周。因佯遺書曰：“萇弘謂叔向曰：‘子起晉國之兵以攻周，吾廢劉氏而立單氏。’”劉氏請之。君曰：“此萇弘也。”乃殺之。

Shuxiang killed Chang Hong, having repeatedly seen Chang Hong in Zhou. He then pretended to lose a letter saying: "Chang Hong said to Shuxiang: 'Rouse the troops of Jin to attack Zhou, and I will remove the Liu clan and set up the Shan clan.'" The Liu clan asked for a ruling. The ruler said: "This is Chang Hong." He then killed him.

楚公子午使於秦，秦囚之，其弟獻三百金於叔向，叔向謂平公曰：“何不城壺丘？秦楚患壺丘之城。若秦恐而歸公子午，以止吾城也，君乃止，難亦未構，楚必德君。”平公曰：“善。”乃城之。秦恐，遂歸公子午使之晉，晉人輟城，楚獻晉賦三百車。

Prince Wu of Chu went on a mission to Qin, and Qin imprisoned him; his younger brother offered three hundred measures of gold to Shuxiang. Shuxiang said to Duke Ping: "Why not build a wall at Huqiu? Qin and Chu both worry about a wall at Huqiu. If Qin becomes afraid and returns Prince Wu in order to stop us from building the wall, you can then halt, no enmity will have formed, and Chu will surely be grateful to you." Duke Ping said: "Good." So he began building the wall. Qin grew afraid and in the end returned Prince Wu and sent him to Jin; the men of Jin stopped building the wall, and Chu presented Jin with three hundred cartloads of tribute.