Duke Cheng
無冰。終時無冰則志，此未終時而言無冰，何也？終無冰矣。加之寒之辭也。
There was no ice. It is recorded only when a whole season passes without ice; here it writes "no ice" before the season has ended, why? Because it could already be judged that in the end there would be no ice. This is wording that adds the layer of "cold."
三月，作丘甲。作，為也。丘，為甲也。丘甲，國之事也。丘作甲，非正也。丘作甲之為非正，何也？古者立國家，百官具，農工皆有職以事上。古者有四民：有士民，有商民、有農民、有工民。夫甲，非人人之所能為也。丘作甲，非正也。
In the third month, they began to produce armor by the qiu (district). "Make" means to make. Armor was produced by the qiu. Producing armor is the business of the state; to produce armor by the qiu is not the proper way. Why is it not the proper way? In ancient times when a state was established, the hundred offices were complete, and farmers and craftsmen all had duties to serve those above. In ancient times there were four kinds of people: scholars, merchants, farmers and craftsmen. Armor is not something everyone can make. To produce armor by the qiu is not the proper way.
秋，王師敗績於貿戎。不言戰，莫之敢敵也。為尊者諱，敵不諱敗；為親者諱，敗不諱敵。尊尊親親之義也。然則孰敗之？晉也。
In autumn, the army of the Zhou Son of Heaven was greatly defeated at Maorong. "Battle" is not written, because no one dares to be an enemy to the Son of Heaven. For the honored one one conceals that he has an opponent but does not conceal that he was defeated; for kin one conceals that he was defeated but does not conceal that he has an opponent. This is the righteousness of honoring the honored and loving one's kin. Then who defeated him? Jin.
冬，十月。季孫行父禿，晉郤克眇，衛孫良夫跛，曹公子手僂，同時而聘於齊。齊使禿者御禿者，使眇者御眇者，使跛者御跛者，使僂者御僂者。蕭同侄子處臺上而笑之；聞於客，客不說而去。相與立胥閭而語，移日不解。齊人有知之者，曰：「齊之患，必自此始矣！」
In winter, in the tenth month. Ji Sun Xingfu was bald, Xi Ke of Jin was blind in one eye, Sun Liangfu of Wei was lame, and Gongzi Shou of Cao was hunchbacked, and they all paid a visit to Qi at the same time. Qi sent a bald man to receive the bald one, a one-eyed man to receive the one-eyed, a lame man to receive the lame, and a hunchback to receive the hunchback. The nephew of Xiao Tong laughed at them from the terrace; the sound reached the guests' ears, and the guests were displeased and left. Together they stood at Xulü talking, and when the sun had moved they still did not disperse. A wise man of Qi said: "The calamity of Qi will surely begin from here!"
夏，四月丙戌，衛孫良夫帥師，及齊師戰於新築。衛師敗績。
In summer, in the fourth month, on bingxu, Sun Liangfu of Wei led an army and fought the army of Qi at Xinzhu, and the Wei army was greatly defeated.
六月癸酉，季孫行父、臧孫許、叔孫僑如、公孫嬰齊帥師，會晉郤克、衛孫良夫、曹公子手，及齊侯戰於鞍。齊師敗績。其日，或曰日，其戰也；或曰日，其悉也。曹無大夫，其曰公子，何也？以吾之四大夫在焉，舉其貴者也。
In the sixth month, on guiyou, Ji Sun Xingfu, Zang Sun Xu, Shusun Qiaoru and Gongsun Yingqi led an army, joined Xi Ke of Jin, Sun Liangfu of Wei and Gongzi Shou of Cao, and fought the Marquis of Qi at An, and the Qi army was greatly defeated. As to the recording of the day, one explanation says it is to record the battle; another says it is to record that the men arrived at Qi. Cao has no appointed great officer, so why is he called "Gongzi" here? Because our state of Lu had four great officers present, so his noble status is named.
秋，七月，齊侯使國佐如師。己酉，及國佐盟於爰婁。鞍，去國五百里。爰婁，去國五十里。一戰綿地五百里，焚雍門之茨，侵車東至海。君子聞之曰：「夫甚甚之辭焉。齊有以取之也。」齊之有以取之，何也？敗衛師於新築，侵我北鄙，敖郤獻子，齊有以取之也。爰婁在師之外，郤克曰：「反魯、衛之侵地，以紀侯之甗來，以蕭同侄子之母為質，使耕者皆東其畝，然後與子盟。」國佐曰：「反魯、衛之侵地，以紀侯之甗來，則諾。以蕭同侄子之母為質，則是齊侯之母也。齊侯之母猶晉君之母也，晉君之母猶齊侯之母也。使耕者盡東其畝，則是終土齊也。不可，請一戰。一戰不克，請再。再不克，請三。三不克，請四。四不克，請五。五不克，舉國而授。」於是而與之盟。
In autumn, in the seventh month, the Marquis of Qi sent Guo Zuo to the army. On jiyou, a covenant was made with Guo Zuo at Yuanlou. An is five hundred li from the Qi capital, and Yuanlou is fifty li from the capital. One battle stretched over five hundred li, burned the thatch on the Yong Gate, and the raiding chariots went east all the way to the sea. When the gentleman heard of it, he said: "This is wording that overstates the matter. Qi also brought it on itself." How did Qi bring it on itself? It defeated the Wei army at Xinzhu, invaded the northern border town of our Lu, and also looked down on Xi Xianzi; this is how Qi brought it on itself. Yuanlou was outside the camp. Xi Ke said: "Return the lands taken from Lu and Wei, send the yan vessel of the Marquis of Ji, take the mother of Xiao Tong's nephew as hostage, and have all who plow turn their furrows east-west, and only then will I make a covenant with you." Guo Zuo said: "Returning the lands taken from Lu and Wei and sending the yan vessel of the Marquis of Ji, these can be done. Taking the mother of Xiao Tong's nephew as hostage, that is the mother of the Marquis of Qi. The mother of the Marquis of Qi is like the mother of the ruler of Jin, and the mother of the ruler of Jin is like the mother of the Marquis of Qi. Having all who plow turn their furrows east-west is treating the land of Qi as your own. This cannot be done. Please fight another battle. If one battle is not won, please fight a second. If the second is not won, please fight a third. If the third is not won, please fight a fourth. If the fourth is not won, please fight a fifth. If the fifth is still not won, we will hand over the whole state." Thereupon they made a covenant with him.
十有一月，公會楚公子嬰齊於蜀。楚無大夫，其曰公子，何也？嬰齊，亢也。
In the eleventh month, Duke Cheng met Gongzi Yingqi of Chu at Shu. Chu has no appointed great officer, so why is he called "Gongzi" here? Because Yingqi put on the airs of an equal.
丙申，公及楚人、秦人、宋人、陳人、衛人、鄭人、齊人、曹人、邾人、薛人、繒人盟於蜀。楚其稱人，何也？於是而後，公得其所也。會與盟同月，則地會，不地盟。不同月，則地會，地盟。此其地會，地盟，何也？以公得其所，申其事也。今之屈，向之驕也。
On bingshen, Duke Cheng, together with the men of Chu, Qin, Song, Chen, Wei, Zheng, Qi, Cao, Zhu, Xue and Zeng, made a covenant at Shu. Chu is called "men," why? From this time on, Duke Cheng obtained the place he should occupy. When a meeting and a covenant fall in the same month, only the place of the meeting is recorded and not the place of the covenant; when they do not fall in the same month, the places of both the meeting and the covenant are recorded. Here both the meeting and the covenant have places recorded, why? Because Duke Cheng obtained his proper place and this is to be declared. The present submission corresponds exactly to the earlier arrogance.
三年春，王正月，公會晉侯、宋公、衛侯、曹伯伐鄭。
In spring of the third year, in the first month, Duke Cheng joined the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei and the Earl of Cao in attacking Zheng.
甲子，新宮災，三日哭。新宮者，禰宮也。三日哭，哀也。其哀，禮也。迫近不敢稱禰，恭也。其辭恭且哀，以成公為無譏矣。
On jiazi, the New Palace caught fire, and they wept for three days. The New Palace was the father's ancestral temple. Weeping three days was grief. Such grief is proper ritual. Because it was so close, they did not dare to call it the ancestral temple of the father, out of reverence. The wording is both reverent and mournful, and the text holds that there is nothing in Duke Cheng to rebuke.
衛侯使孫良夫來聘。丙午，及荀庚盟。丁未，及孫良夫盟。其日，公也，來聘而求盟。不言及者，以國與之也。不言其人，亦以國與之也。不言求，兩欲之也。
The Marquis of Wei sent Sun Liangfu to pay a visit. On bingwu, he made a covenant with Xun Geng. On dingwei, he made a covenant with Sun Liangfu. The days are recorded because the ruler was present. They came on a visit but sought a covenant. The word "and" is not used, because the state was entrusted to the other side. The other party's person is not written, which also entrusts the state to the other side. "Sought" is not written, because both sides were willing.
五年春，王正月，杞叔姬來歸。婦人之義，嫁曰歸，反曰來歸。
In spring of the fifth year, in the first month, Shu Ji of Qi was sent back to her family. For a woman, the term for marrying out is "gui," and for being sent back is "lai gui."
梁山崩。不日，何也？高者有崩道也。有崩道，則何以書也？曰：梁山崩，壅遏河三日不流，晉君召伯尊而問焉。伯尊來遇輦者，輦者不闢，使車右下而鞭之。輦者曰：「所以鞭我者，其取道遠矣。」伯尊下車而問焉，曰：「子有聞乎？」對曰：「梁山崩，壅遏河三日不流。」伯尊曰：「君為此召我也，為之奈何？」輦者曰：「天有山，天崩之；天有河，天壅之。雖召伯尊如之何？」伯尊由忠問焉。輦者曰：「君親素縞、帥群臣而哭之，既而祠焉，斯流矣。」伯尊至，君問之曰：「梁山崩，壅遏河三日不流，為之奈何？」伯尊曰：「君親素縞、帥群臣而哭之，既而祠焉，斯流矣。」孔子聞之曰：「伯尊其無績乎！攘善也。」
Mount Liang collapsed. The day is not recorded, why? Something high naturally has the principle of collapsing. If it has the principle of collapsing, why is it still recorded? The answer is: Mount Liang collapsed and blocked the Yellow River, so that it did not flow for three days. The ruler of Jin summoned Bo Zun to ask. On the road Bo Zun met a man pulling a cart, who would not make way, and Bo Zun had his charioteer's companion get down and whip him. The cart puller said: "With this method you use to whip me, I fear you will have a longer road to go." Bo Zun got down from his carriage and asked him: "Have you heard anything?" He answered: "Mount Liang collapsed and blocked the Yellow River, so that it did not flow for three days." Bo Zun said: "The ruler has summoned me over this, what is to be done?" The cart puller said: "Heaven has mountains and lets them collapse; Heaven has rivers and lets them be blocked. Even if Bo Zun is summoned, what can he do?" Bo Zun sincerely asked again. The cart puller said: "If the ruler himself puts on plain white, leads the ministers to wail, and sacrifices after wailing, the river will flow." When Bo Zun arrived, the ruler asked him: "Mount Liang collapsed and blocked the Yellow River, so that it did not flow for three days; what is to be done?" Bo Zun said: "If the ruler himself puts on plain white, leads the ministers to wail, and sacrifices after wailing, the river will flow." Confucius heard of it and said: "Bo Zun probably has no merit! This is taking another's good as one's own."
十有二月己丑，公會晉侯、齊侯、宋公、衛侯、鄭伯、曹伯、邾子、杞伯，同盟於蟲牢。
In the twelfth month, on jichou, Duke Cheng joined the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Zhu and the Earl of Qi, and they swore a joint covenant at Chongmou.
七年春，王正月，鼷鼠食郊牛角。不言日，急辭也，過有司也。郊牛日，展觓角而知傷，展道盡矣！其所以備災之道不盡也。
In spring of the seventh year, in the first month, a shrew bit the horn of the ox for the suburban sacrifice. The day is not recorded, which is hurried wording, and the fault lies with the officials in charge. The suburban ox is inspected every day for its curved horns, and finding it injured, the procedure of inspection had been fully carried out! The means of guarding against calamity had not been fully carried out.
改卜牛，鼷鼠又食其角。又，有繼之辭也。其緩辭也，曰：亡乎人矣！非人之所能也。所以免有司之過也。
They divined for another ox, and the shrew again bit its horn. "Again" is wording that carries on. Relaxed wording is used here to say: it was not within human wishes! It was not something humans could do. This is used to excuse the officials in charge of their fault.
乃免牛。乃者，亡乎人之辭也。免牲者，為之緇衣纁裳，有司玄端，奉送至於南郊。免牛亦然。免牲不曰不郊，免牛亦然。
Then the ox was released. "Then" is wording for what is not within human wishes. What is called releasing the sacrificial animal is to dress it in a black upper garment and a light red lower garment, and the officials in charge, wearing dark ceremonial dress, respectfully escort it all the way to the southern suburb. Releasing the ox is the same. When a sacrificial animal is released there is no need to say "no suburban sacrifice," and releasing the ox is likewise.
公會晉侯、齊侯、宋公、衛侯、曹伯、莒子、邾子、杞伯，救鄭。
Duke Cheng joined the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu and the Earl of Qi in relieving Zheng.
冬，大雩。雩不月而時，非之也。冬無為雩也。
In winter, a great yu sacrifice was held. The yu sacrifice is recorded by season and not by month, as a reproach to this event. There was no reason to hold a yu sacrifice in winter.
八年春，晉侯使韓穿來言汶陽之田，歸之於齊。於齊，緩辭也。不使盡我也。
In spring of the eighth year, the Marquis of Jin sent Han Chuan to speak of the Wenyang fields, to be returned to Qi. Writing "to Qi" is relaxed wording, so as not to make Jin appear to have handled the affairs of our Lu to the end.
秋，七月，天子使召伯來錫公命。禮有受命，無來錫命，錫命非正也。曰「天子」，何也？曰：見一稱也。
In autumn, in the seventh month, the Son of Heaven sent the Duke of Shao to bestow on Duke Cheng his ceremonial robes of appointment. By ritual, one goes in person to receive an appointment, and there is no Son of Heaven who comes to the door to bestow it; bestowing appointments in this way is not the proper way. Why is he called "Son of Heaven"? The answer: so that people can see that there is still this title.
衛人來媵。媵，淺事也，不志；此其志，何也？以伯姬之不得其所，故盡其事也。
The men of Wei sent a woman to accompany the bride. Sending an accompanying bride is a minor matter, and the text normally does not record it; here it is recorded, why? Because Bo Ji afterward did not find her proper place, so everything related is written in full.
九年春，王正月，杞伯來逆叔姬之喪以歸。傳曰：夫無逆出妻之喪而為之也。
In spring of the ninth year, in the first month, the Earl of Qi came to receive the coffin of Shu Ji and take it back. The commentary says: there is no principle by which a husband receives the coffin of a repudiated wife and holds the funeral for her.
公會晉侯、齊侯、宋公、衛侯、鄭伯、曹伯、莒子、杞伯，同盟於蒲。公至自會。
Duke Cheng joined the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, the Viscount of Ju and the Earl of Qi in a joint covenant at Pu. Duke Cheng returned from the meeting.
夏，季孫行父如宋致女。致者，不致者也。婦人在家制於父，既嫁制於夫。如宋致女，是以我盡之也。不正，故不與內稱也。逆者微，故致女。詳其事，賢伯姬也。
In summer, Ji Sun Xingfu went to Song to "deliver the lady." "Deliver" is what should not have been delivered. A woman before marriage follows her father's command, and after marriage follows her husband's. To go to Song to deliver the lady is as though our Lu still managed her to the end. This is not the proper way, so Xingfu is not given the title of one within the state. The one who went to bring the bride was of low rank, and so the lady had to be delivered. The matter is written in detail because Bo Ji is regarded as worthy.
晉人來媵。媵，淺事也，不志；此其志，何也？以伯姬之不得其所，故盡其事也。
The men of Jin sent a woman to accompany the bride. Sending an accompanying bride is a minor matter, and the text normally does not record it; here it is recorded, why? Because Bo Ji afterward did not find her proper place, so everything related is written in full.
晉欒書帥師伐鄭。不言戰，以鄭伯也。為尊者諱恥，為賢者諱過，為親者諱疾。
Luan Shu of Jin led an army to attack Zheng. "Battle" is not written, which is said in regard to the Earl of Zheng. One conceals shame for the honored, conceals faults for the worthy, and conceals flaws for kin.
庚申，莒潰。其日，莒雖夷狄，猶中國也。大夫潰莒而之楚，是以知其上為事也。惡之，故謹而日之也。
On gengshen, Ju collapsed. The day is recorded because Ju, though barbarian, was also like a state of the Central Plains. The great officers made Ju collapse and ran off to Chu, from which one knows they treated their superior as a tool. Out of hatred for this, the day is gravely recorded.
夏，四月，五卜郊不從，乃不郊。「夏，四月」，不時也。五卜，強也。乃者，亡乎人之辭也。
In summer, in the fourth month, they divined five times for the suburban sacrifice and it was not auspicious, and so the suburban sacrifice was not held. Writing "summer, fourth month" shows it was out of season. Divining five times was forcing it. "Then" is wording for what is not within human wishes.
五月，公會晉侯、齊侯、宋公、衛侯、曹伯伐鄭。
In the fifth month, Duke Cheng joined the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei and the Earl of Cao in attacking Zheng.
十有二年春，周公出奔晉。周有入無出，其曰出，上下一見之也。言其上下之道，無以存也。上雖失之，下孰敢有之？今上下皆失之矣！
In spring of the twelfth year, the Duke of Zhou fled to Jin. The house of Zhou has only "entering," and no "going out"; here "going out" is written to let both above and below see it once. It means that the principle between them, above and below, had nothing left that could preserve itself. Even if those above had lost it, who below would dare to keep it for himself? Now both above and below have lost it!
秋，晉人敗狄於交剛。中國與夷狄不言戰，皆曰敗之，夷狄不日。
In autumn, the men of Jin defeated the Di at Jiaogang. Between the Central States and the barbarians, the text does not write "battle" but always says "defeated them"; for barbarians no day is recorded.
十有三年春，晉侯使郤錡來乞師。乞，重辭也。古之人重師，故以乞言之也。
In spring of the thirteenth year, the Marquis of Jin sent Xi Qi to ask for troops. "Beg" is a heavy word. The ancients valued armies, and so used "beg" for it.
三月，公如京師。公如京師不月，月非如也。非如而曰如，不叛京師也。
In the third month, Duke Cheng went to the capital. When a ruler goes to the capital, the month is normally not recorded; when the month is recorded, it is not a true court visit. It is not a true court visit yet is written as "went to," which shows he did not rebel against the capital.
夏，五月，公至自京師，遂會晉侯、齊侯、宋公、衛侯、鄭伯、曹伯、邾人、滕人，伐秦。言受命，不敢叛周也。
In summer, in the fifth month, Duke Cheng returned from the capital, and then joined the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, the men of Zhu and the men of Teng, and attacked Qin. This says that he had received the royal command and did not dare to rebel against the house of Zhou.
曹伯廬卒於師。傳曰：閔之也。公大夫在師曰師，在會曰會。
Lu, Earl of Cao, died in the army. The commentary says: this is out of pity for him. When a ruler's great officer is in the army he is called "army," and when at a meeting he is called "meeting."
九月，僑如以夫人婦姜氏至自齊。大夫不以夫人；以夫人，非正也。刺不親迎也。僑如之挈，由上致之也。
In the ninth month, Qiaoru came bringing the Lady Fu Jiang from Qi. A great officer may not use "with" for bringing a lady; using "with" is not the proper way. This is a rebuke that the ruler did not personally go to bring home his bride. Naming "Qiaoru" alone, by name, is because he had already been sent above.
十有五年春，王二月，葬衛定公。三月乙巳，仲嬰齊卒。此公孫也，其曰仲，何也？子由父疏之也。
In spring of the fifteenth year, in the second month, Duke Ding of Wei was buried. In the third month, on yisi, Zhong Yingqi died. He was a grandson of the ruling house, so why is he called "Zhong"? A son is distanced because of his father.
癸丑，公會晉侯、衛侯、鄭伯、曹伯、宋世子成、齊國佐、邾人，同盟於戚。晉侯執曹伯，歸於京師。以晉侯而斥執曹伯，惡晉侯也，不言之急辭也，斷在晉侯也。
On guichou, Duke Cheng joined the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, Cheng, crown prince of Song, Guo Zuo of Qi and the men of Zhu in a joint covenant at Qi. The Marquis of Jin seized the Earl of Cao and sent him to the capital. For the Marquis of Jin to be recorded directly as seizing the Earl of Cao is out of hatred for the Marquis of Jin. The phrase "took him back to" is not written, which is hurried wording, with the judgment resting on the Marquis of Jin.
秋，八月庚辰，葬宋共公。月卒日葬，非葬者也，此其言葬，何也？以其葬共姬，不可不葬共公也。葬共姬則其不可不葬共公，何也？夫人之義，不逾君也，為賢者崇也。
In autumn, in the eighth month, on gengchen, Duke Gong of Song was buried. For a death the month is recorded and for a burial the day, meaning someone whose burial should not have been recorded; here the burial is recorded, why? Because the burial of Gong Ji was recorded, it could not but record the burial of Duke Gong. Having recorded Gong Ji it could not but record Duke Gong, why? The lady's standing cannot exceed that of the ruler, which is also to honor the worthy.
冬，十有一月，叔孫僑如會晉士燮、齊高無咎、宋華元、衛孫林父、鄭公子鰍、邾人，會吳於鍾離。會又會，外之也。
In winter, in the eleventh month, Shusun Qiaoru joined Shi Xie of Jin, Gao Wujiu of Qi, Hua Yuan of Song, Sun Linfu of Wei, Gongzi Zou of Zheng and the men of Zhu, and met Wu at Zhongli. To meet again and again is to treat them as outsiders.
許遷於葉。遷者，猶得其國家以往者也。其地，許復見也。
Xu moved to Ye. Saying "moved" describes the situation of leaving while still keeping its own state. The place is recorded because Xu would reappear later.
十有六年春，王正月，雨木冰。雨而木冰也，誌異也。傳曰：根枝折。
In spring of the sixteenth year, in the first month, it rained and the trees became coated with ice. It rained and made the trees freeze, which records an anomaly. The commentary says: roots and branches were both broken.
甲午，晦，晉侯及楚子、鄭伯戰於鄢陵。楚子、鄭師敗績。日事遇晦曰晦，四體偏斷曰敗。此其敗則目也。楚不言師，君重於師也。
On jiawu, the last day of the month, the Marquis of Jin fought the Viscount of Chu and the Earl of Zheng at Yanling. The Viscount of Chu and the Zheng army were greatly defeated. Since the event fell right at the end of the month, it is written "hui." Breaking a limb on one side is called "defeat"; this defeat refers to the eye. Chu is not called "army," because the ruler outweighs the army.
楚殺其大夫公子側。秋，公會晉侯、齊侯、衛侯、宋華元、邾人於沙隨。不見公。不見公者，可以見公也。可以見公而不見公，譏在諸侯也。
Chu killed its great officer Gongzi Ce. In autumn, Duke Cheng joined the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Marquis of Wei, Hua Yuan of Song and the men of Zhu at Shasui. They did not receive the duke. Saying "did not see the duke" is because they could originally have seen him. They could have seen him yet did not, and the rebuke falls on the feudal lords.
曹伯歸自京師。不言所歸，歸之善者也。出入不名，以為不失其國也。歸為善，自某歸次之。
The Earl of Cao returned from the capital. Where he returned to is not written, which is the best kind of return. His name is not given either on going out or on returning, regarding him as not having lost his own state. Writing "returned" is good, and writing "returned from such a place" is one grade lower.
九月，晉人執季孫行父，舍之於苕丘。執者不捨；而舍，公所也。執者致；而不致，公在也。何其執而辭也？猶在公也。存意公亦存也。公存也。
In the ninth month, the men of Jin seized Ji Sun Xingfu and placed him at Tiaoqiu. For a seized person "lodged" is normally not written; here "lodged" is written because that was where the ruler was. For a seized person, return to the state is normally written; here it is not written because the ruler was present. Why use the wording for being seized? Because he was still at the ruler's side. If he keeps the ruler's intention, the ruler is also still present. The ruler is present.
乙酉，刺公子偃。大夫日卒，正也。先刺後名，殺無罪也。
On yiyou, Gongzi Yan was killed. When a great officer dies, the day is recorded as the normal rule. Writing "stabbed" first and then the name shows that the one killed was without guilt.
夏，公會尹子、單子、晉侯、齊侯、宋公、衛侯、曹伯、邾人，伐鄭。六月乙酉，同盟於柯陵。柯陵之盟，謀復伐鄭也。
In summer, Duke Cheng joined Yin Zi, Shan Zi, the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Cao and the men of Zhu in attacking Zheng. In the sixth month, on yiyou, they swore a joint covenant at Keling. The covenant at Keling was to plan another attack on Zheng.
秋，公至自會。不曰至自伐鄭也，公不周乎伐鄭也。何以知公之不周乎伐鄭？以其以會致也。何以知其盟復伐鄭也？以其後會之人盡盟者也。不周乎伐鄭，則何為日也？言公之不背柯陵之盟也。
In autumn, Duke Cheng returned from the meeting. "Returned from attacking Zheng" is not written, because Duke Cheng did not complete the attack on Zheng. How is it known he did not complete it? Because his return is recorded according to the "meeting." How is it known that this covenant was for attacking Zheng again? Because those who later took part in the meeting were all those who had sworn the covenant. If he did not complete the attack on Zheng, why is the day still recorded? It says that Duke Cheng did not abandon the covenant of Keling.
九月辛丑，用郊。夏之始可以承春，以秋之末承春之始，蓋不可矣！九月用郊，用者不宜用也。宮室不設，不可以祭；衣服不修，不可以祭；車馬器械不備，不可以祭；有司一人不備其職，不可以祭。祭者，薦其時也，薦其敬也，薦其美也，非享味也。
In the ninth month, on xinchou, the suburban sacrifice was held. The beginning of summer can still continue from spring; to use the end of autumn to continue from the beginning of spring, probably is not permissible! The suburban sacrifice held in the ninth month used the word "used," which exactly shows that it should not have been used. If the palace is not set in order one may not sacrifice; if the clothes are not prepared one may not sacrifice; if the carriages, horses and implements are not complete one may not sacrifice; if even one official in charge has not fulfilled his duty, one may not sacrifice either. Sacrifice is to present the season, to present reverence and to present what is fine, not to go and enjoy flavors.
冬，公會單子、晉侯、宋公、衛侯、曹伯、齊人、邾人，伐鄭。言公不背柯陵之盟也。
In winter, Duke Cheng joined Shan Zi, the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Cao, the men of Qi and the men of Zhu in attacking Zheng. This says that Duke Cheng did not abandon the covenant of Keling.
壬申，公孫嬰齊，卒於貍蜃。十一月無壬申，壬申乃十月也。致公而後錄，臣子之義也。其地，未逾竟也。
On renshen, Gongsun Yingqi died at Lishen. There is no renshen in the eleventh month, and renshen was actually in the tenth month. It was recorded only after the ruler returned to the state, which is the righteousness of a subject. The place is recorded because he had not yet left the borders.
晉殺其大夫郤錡、郤犨、郤至。自禍於是起矣！
Jin killed its great officers Xi Qi, Xi Chou and Xi Zhi. Calamity arose from here!
十有八年春，王正月，晉殺其大夫胥童。庚申，晉弒其君州蒲。稱國以弒其君，君惡甚矣！
In spring of the eighteenth year, in the first month, Jin killed its great officer Xu Tong. On gengshen, Jin killed its ruler Zhou Pu. To record the murder of a ruler under the state's name means that this ruler's evil was very grave!
築鹿囿。築，不志；此其志，何也？山林藪澤之利，所以與民共也；虞之，非正也。
They built the Lu You (deer park). Building is normally not recorded; here it is recorded, why? The products of mountains, forests, lakes and marshes were originally for sharing with the people; to send people to guard and monopolize them is not the proper way.
己丑，公薨於路寢。路寢，正也。男子不絕婦人之手，以齊終也。
On jichou, Duke Cheng died in the main hall. To die in the main hall is the proper rule. A man does not breathe his last in the hands of a woman, in order to end his life with dignity.
十有二月，仲孫蔑會晉侯、宋公、衛侯、邾子、齊崔杼，同盟於虛朾。
In the twelfth month, Zhongsun Mie joined the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Viscount of Zhu and Cui Zhu of Qi in a joint covenant at Xuding.