Duke Cheng (Years 1 to 18)

【經】元年春王正月，公即位。二月辛酉，葬我君宣公。無冰。三月，作丘甲。夏，臧孫許及晉侯盟於赤棘。秋，王師敗績於茅戎。冬十月。

[Classic] In the first year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou king's calendar, Duke Cheng took the throne. On the day xinyou of the second month, Duke Xuan, ruler of our state, was buried. There was no ice. In the third month, the qiujia levy was instituted. In summer, Zang Sun Xu made a covenant with the Marquis of Jin at Chiji. In autumn, the Son of Heaven's army was greatly defeated by the Maorong. In winter, the tenth month.

【傳】元年春，晉侯使瑕嘉平戎於王，單襄公如晉拜成。劉康公徼戎，將遂伐之。叔服曰：“背盟而欺大國，此必敗。背盟，不祥；欺大國，不義；神人弗助，將何以勝？”不聽，遂伐茅戎。三月癸未，敗績于徐吾氏。

[Commentary] In the first year, in spring, the Marquis of Jin sent Xia Jia to make peace between the Son of Heaven and the Rong, and Duke Xiang of Shan went to Jin to give thanks for the success. Liu Kanggong wished to seek profit from the Rong and prepared to attack them next. Shu Fu said: "To break a covenant and deceive a great state will surely bring defeat. Breaking a covenant is inauspicious; deceiving a great state is unrighteous; neither spirits nor men will help; with what will you win?" He did not listen and attacked the Maorong. On the day guiwei of the third month, he was greatly defeated at the Xuwu clan's place.

為齊難故，作丘甲。

Because of the troubles of Qi, the qiujia levy was instituted.

聞齊將出楚師，夏，盟於赤棘。

They heard that Qi was about to bring out the Chu army, and in summer a covenant was made at Chiji.

秋，王人來告敗。

In autumn, the people of Zhou came to report their defeat.

冬，臧宣叔令修賦、繕完、具守備，曰：“齊、楚結好，我新與晉盟，晉、楚爭盟，齊師必至。雖晉人伐齊，楚必救之，是齊、楚同我也。知難而有備，乃可以逞。”

In winter, Zang Xuanshu ordered the military levy to be regulated, the city walls to be repaired, and defenses to be prepared, saying: "Qi and Chu are on friendly terms, and we have just made a covenant with Jin; Jin and Chu are contending for the leadership of the covenant, and the Qi army will surely come. Even if the people of Jin attack Qi, Chu will surely rescue it, which is Qi and Chu acting together against us. Only by knowing the difficulty and preparing can we ease it."

【經】二年春，齊侯伐我北鄙。夏四月丙戌，衛孫良夫帥師及齊師戰於新築，衛師敗績。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、曹公子首及齊侯戰於鞍，齊師敗績。秋七月，齊侯使國佐如師。己酉，及國佐盟於袁婁。八月壬卒。宋公鮑卒。庚寅，衛侯速卒。取汶陽田。冬，楚師、鄭師侵衛。十有一月，公會楚公子嬰齊於蜀。丙申，公及楚人、秦人、宋人、陳人、衛人、鄭人、齊人、曹人、邾人、薛人、鄫人盟於蜀。

[Classic] In the second year, in spring, the Marquis of Qi attacked our northern border. In summer, on the day bingxu of the fourth month, Sun Liangfu of Wei led troops and fought the Qi army at Xinzhu, and the Wei army was greatly defeated. In the sixth month, on the day guiyou, Jisun Xingfu, Zang Sun Xu, Shu Sun Qiaoru, and Gongsun Yingqi led troops and joined Xi Ke of Jin, Sun Liangfu of Wei, and Prince Shou of Cao and fought the Marquis of Qi at An, and the Qi army was greatly defeated. In autumn, in the seventh month, the Marquis of Qi sent Guo Zuo to the army. On the day jiyou, a covenant was made with Guo Zuo at Yuanlou. In the eighth month, on the day renxu, Bao, Duke of Song, died (the original reads "ren zu," meaning the day renxu, Bao, Duke of Song, died). On the day gengyin, Su, Marquis of Wei, died. The fields north of the Wen River were recovered. In winter, the Chu army and Zheng army raided and attacked Wei. In the eleventh month, Duke Cheng met Prince Yingqi of Chu at Shu. On the day bingshen, Duke Cheng made a covenant at Shu with the people of Chu, Qin, Song, Chen, Wei, Zheng, Qi, Cao, Zhu, Xue, and Zeng.

【傳】二年春，齊侯伐我北鄙，圍龍。頃公之嬖人盧蒲就魁門焉，龍人囚之。

[Commentary] In the second year, in spring, the Marquis of Qi attacked our northern border and besieged Long. Lupu Jiukui, a favorite minister of Duke Qing, attacked the city gate, and the people of Long seized him.

齊侯曰：“勿殺！吾與而盟，無入而封。”弗聽，殺而膊諸城上。齊侯親鼓，士陵城，三日，取龍，遂南侵及巢丘。

The Marquis of Qi said: "Do not kill him! I will make a covenant with you and not enter your borders." They did not listen, killed him, and displayed his corpse on the wall. The Marquis of Qi himself beat the drum, the soldiers climbed the wall, and in three days they took Long, and then raided and attacked southward as far as Chaoqiu.

衛侯使孫良夫、石稷、寧相、向禽將侵齊，與齊師遇。石子欲還，孫子曰：“不可。以師伐人，遇其師而還，將謂君何？若知不能，則如無出。今既遇矣，不如戰也。”

The Marquis of Wei sent Sun Liangfu, Shi Ji, Ning Xiang, and Xiang Qin as commanders to raid and attack Qi, and they met the Qi army. Shi Zi wanted to turn back, but Sun Zi said: "No. To attack others with an army and turn back on meeting the enemy army, what will be done about the ruler? If we knew we could not do it, it would have been better not to set out in the first place. Now that we have already met them, it is better to fight."

夏，有。

In summer, there was this.

石成子曰：“師敗矣。子不少須，眾懼盡。子喪師徒，何以覆命？”皆不對。

Shi Chengzi said: "The army is defeated. If you do not wait a little, the troops may be wiped out. If you lose your men, with what will you report back?" None answered.

又曰：“子，國卿也。隕子，辱矣。子以眾退，我此乃止。”且告車來甚眾。齊師乃止，次於鞫居。新築人仲叔於奚救孫桓子，桓子是以免。

He said again: "You are a minister of the state. To lose you would be a disgrace. You lead the troops and withdraw, and I will stay here." He also had it passed along that many war chariots were coming behind. The Qi army then halted and camped at Juju. Zhongshu Yuxi of Xinzhu rescued Sun Huanzi, and so Huanzi escaped.

既，衛人賞之以邑，辭。請曲縣、繁纓以朝，許之。仲尼聞之曰：“惜也，不如多與之邑。唯器與名，不可以假人，君之所司也。名以出信，信以守器，器以藏禮，禮以行義，義以生利，利以平民，政之大節也。若以假人，與人政也。

Afterwards, the people of Wei rewarded him with a city, and he declined. He asked to be allowed to go to court with the suspended bells and decorated horse-trappings, and it was permitted. Zhongni, hearing of it, said: "What a pity; better to have given him more cities. Only ritual vessels and titles may not be lent to others, for they are in the keeping of the ruler. Titles are used to issue good faith, good faith is used to guard the ritual vessels, ritual vessels are used to contain ritual, ritual is used to carry out righteousness, righteousness is used to produce benefit, and benefit is used to settle the people; this is the great principle of government. If one lends them to others, it is giving government to others.

政亡，則國家從之，弗可止也已。”

(Zhongni continued:) When government is lost, the state follows it into ruin and cannot be stopped."

孫桓子還於新築，不入，遂如晉乞師。臧宣叔亦如晉乞師。皆主郤獻子。晉侯許之七百乘。郤子曰：“此城濮之賦也。有先君之明與先大夫之肅，故捷。克於先大夫，無能為役，請八百乘。”許之。郤克將中軍，士燮佐上軍，欒書將下軍，韓厥為司馬，以救魯、衛。臧宣叔逆晉師，且道之。季文子帥師會之。及衛地，韓獻子將斬人，郤獻子馳，將救之，至則既斬之矣。郤子使速以徇，告其僕曰：“吾以分謗也。”

Sun Huanzi came back from Xinzhu, did not enter the city, and went to Jin to ask for troops. Zang Xuanshu also went to Jin to ask for troops. Both treated Xi Xianzi as their host. The Marquis of Jin agreed to give seven hundred chariots. Xi Zi said: "That is the military levy of Chengpu. There it was the former ruler's insight and the former grandees' quickness that won the victory. Ke, compared with the former grandees, is not fit to serve them; I ask for eight hundred chariots." It was permitted. Xi Ke commanded the central army, Shi Xie assisted in the upper army, Luan Shu commanded the lower army, and Han Jue served as Minister of War, to rescue Lu and Wei. Zang Xuanshu met the Jin army and served as guide. Ji Wenzi led troops to join them. On reaching Wei territory, Han Xianzi was about to behead a man, and Xi Xianzi drove his chariot hurriedly to save him, but by the time he arrived the man had already been beheaded. Xi Zi had the body quickly paraded as a warning, and told the charioteer: "I use this to share the blame."

師從齊師於莘。六月壬申，師至於靡笄之下。齊侯使請戰，曰：“子以君師，辱於敝邑，不腆敝賦，詰朝請見。”對曰：“晉與魯、衛，兄弟也。來告曰：‘大國朝夕釋憾於敝邑之地。’寡君不忍，使群臣請於大國，無令輿師淹於君地。

The army caught up with the Qi army at Shen. On the day renshen of the sixth month, the army reached the foot of Mount Mijian. The Marquis of Qi sent a man to ask for battle, saying: "You have brought your ruler's army and honored our humble town with your presence; our humble town's meager military levy begs to meet you tomorrow morning." The reply was: "Jin and Lu and Wei are brothers. They came and told us: 'The great state vents its resentment on our soil morning and evening.' My ruler could not bear it and sent his ministers to ask the great state not to let the many troops stay long on Your Majesty's land.

能進不能退，君無所辱命。”齊侯曰：“大夫之許，寡人之願也；若其不許，亦將見也。”齊高固入晉師，桀石以投人，禽之而乘其車，系桑本焉，以徇齊壘，曰：“欲勇者賈餘餘勇。”

(The envoy continued:) We can advance but cannot retreat; in the command of Your Majesty there is no place for disgrace." The Marquis of Qi said: "If the grandee agrees, it is my wish; if not, we shall meet anyway." Gao Gu of Qi charged into the Jin army, lifted a stone and threw it at a man, seized the man and mounted his chariot, tied mulberry roots to the chariot, and paraded through the Qi camp saying: "Those who want courage, come and buy my leftover courage."

癸酉，師陳於鞍。邴夏御齊侯，逢醜父為右。晉解張御郤克，鄭丘緩為右。

On the day guiyou, the armies drew up at An. Bing Xia drove for the Marquis of Qi, with Pang Chou Fu as spearman on the right. Xie Zhang of Jin drove for Xi Ke, with Zheng Qiuhuan as spearman on the right.

齊侯曰：“餘姑翦滅此而朝食。”不介馬而馳之。郤克傷於矢，流血及屨，未絕鼓音，曰：“餘病矣！”張侯曰：“自始合，而矢貫餘手及肘，餘折以御，左輪朱殷，豈敢言病。吾子忍之！”緩曰：“自始合，苟有險，餘必下推車，子豈識之？然子病矣！”張侯曰：“師之耳目，在吾旗鼓，進退從之。此車一人殿之，可以集事，若之何其以病敗君之大事也？擐甲執兵，固即死也。病未及死，吾子勉之！”左並轡，右援枹而鼓，馬逸不能止，師從之。齊師敗績。逐之，三週華不注。

The Marquis of Qi said: "Let me wipe out these men first and then have breakfast." The horses were not armored, and they galloped. Xi Ke was hit by an arrow and blood flowed to his shoes, but the drum did not stop; he said: "I am wounded!" Zhang Hou said: "Since the battle began, an arrow pierced my hand through to the elbow; I broke off the shaft and kept driving, the left wheel is crimson, and how dare I say I am wounded. Endure it, sir!" Huan said: "Since the battle began, whenever there was a dangerous road, I surely got down and pushed the chariot; how would you know? Yet you are wounded!" Zhang Hou said: "The eyes and ears of the army are in our banner and drum, and advance and retreat follow them. If one man holds this chariot, the matter can be accomplished; how can we spoil the ruler's great affair because of a wound? To put on armor and take up weapons is already to go to one's death. The wound has not yet reached death; do your best!" He held the reins in his left hand together and took the drumstick with his right to beat the drum; the horses galloped and could not be stopped, and the army followed. The Qi army was greatly defeated. They pursued them, circling Mount Huabuzhu three times.

韓厥夢子輿謂己曰：“且闢左右。”故中御而從齊侯。邴夏曰：“射其御者，君子也。”公曰：“謂之君子而射之，非禮也。”射其左，越於車下。射其右，斃於車中，綦毋張喪車，從韓厥，曰：“請寓乘。”從左右，皆肘之，使立於後。

Han Jue dreamed that Ziyu said to him: "Avoid the left and the right for the time being." Therefore he drove in the middle of the chariot in pursuit of the Marquis of Qi. Bing Xia said: "Shoot the driver; he is a gentleman." The Marquis of Qi said: "To call him a gentleman and then shoot him is against ritual." He shot the man on the left of the chariot, who fell beneath the chariot. He shot the man on the right, who died in the chariot. Qi Wu Zhang lost his chariot and caught up with Han Jue, saying: "Please let me ride." Whether he went to the left or the right, Han Jue pushed him away with his elbow and made him stand behind.

韓厥俯，定其右。逢醜父與公易位。將及華泉，驂絓於木而止。醜父寢於轏中，蛇出於其下，以肱擊之，傷而匿之，故不能推車而及。韓厥執縶馬前，再拜稽首，奉觴加璧以進，曰：“寡君使群臣為魯、衛請，曰：‘無令輿師陷入君地。’下臣不幸，屬當戎行，無所逃隱。且懼奔闢而忝兩君，臣辱戎士，敢告不敏，攝官承乏。”醜父使公下，如華泉取飲。鄭周父御佐車，宛伐為右，載齊侯以免。

Han Jue bent down and laid the corpse of the spearman steady. Pang Chou Fu and the Marquis of Qi exchanged places. As they were about to reach Huaquan, the side-horse was snagged by a tree and stopped. Chou Fu had once slept in a plank carriage, and a snake came out from below; he struck it with his arm and was wounded but hid it, and so could not push the chariot and was caught up with. Han Jue, holding a tether, went before the horses, bowed twice and kowtowed, and presented a wine cup with a jade disc, saying: "My ruler sent his ministers to ask on behalf of Lu and Wei, saying: 'Do not let the many troops fall into Your Majesty's land.' Your servant is unfortunate and happens to be serving in the ranks, with no place to escape or hide. I also feared that fleeing and avoiding would disgrace the rulers of both states; I am ashamed to be a soldier, but dare to report that I am unwise and am filling a vacancy as acting official." Chou Fu had the Marquis of Qi get down and fetch water at Huaquan. Zheng Zhoufu drove the spare chariot, with Wan Fa as spearman, and carrying the Marquis of Qi they escaped.

韓厥獻醜父，郤獻子將戮之。呼曰：“自今無有代其君任患者，有一於此，將為戮乎！”郤子曰：“人不難以死免其君。我戮之不祥，赦之以勸事君者。”乃免之。

Han Jue presented Chou Fu, and Xi Xianzi was about to kill him. Chou Fu cried out: "From now on there will be no one who takes on the ruler's calamity in his place; there is one here, and will he be killed!" Xi Zi said: "A man who is not afraid to use his own death to save his ruler from disaster; to kill him would be inauspicious. Let us pardon him to encourage those who serve their ruler." So he was pardoned.

齊侯免，求醜父，三入三出。每出，齊師以帥退。入於狄卒，狄卒皆抽戈楯冒之。以入於衛師，衛師免之。遂自徐關入。齊侯見保者，曰：“勉之！齊師敗矣。”闢女子，女子曰：“君免乎？”曰：“免矣。”曰：“銳司徒免乎？”曰：“免矣。”曰：“苟君與吾父免矣，可若何！”乃奔。齊侯以為有禮，既而問之，闢司徒之妻也。予之石窌。

The Marquis of Qi escaped, and looked for Chou Fu, charging in three times and charging out three times. Each time he came out, the Qi army protected their commander as they withdrew. When he entered among the infantry of the Di, the Di soldiers all drew their spears and shields to cover him. When he entered the Wei army, the Wei army let him pass. Then he entered the city through Xuguan. The Marquis of Qi, seeing the guards of the city, said: "Do your best! The Qi army is defeated." He had a woman step aside, and the woman said: "Has the ruler escaped?" He said: "He has." She said: "Has the Rui Situ escaped?" He said: "He has." She said: "If the ruler and my father have both escaped, what more is there to ask!" Then she ran off. The Marquis of Qi thought she had ritual propriety, and later asked about her; she was the wife of the Pi Situ. He gave her Shiliao.

晉師從齊師，入自丘輿，擊馬陘。齊侯使賓媚人賂以紀甗、玉磬與地。不可，則聽客之所為。賓媚人致賂，晉人不可，曰：“必以蕭同叔子為質，而使齊之封內盡東其畝。”對曰：“蕭同叔子非他，寡君之母也。若以匹敵，則亦晉君之母也。吾子布大命於諸侯，而曰：‘必質其母以為信。’其若王命何？且是以不孝令也。《詩》曰：‘孝子不匱，永錫爾類。’若以不孝令於諸侯，其無乃非德類也乎？先王疆理天下物土之宜，而布其利，故《詩》曰：‘我疆我理，南東其畝。’今吾子疆理諸侯，而曰‘盡東其畝’而已，唯吾子戎車是利，無顧土宜，其無乃非先王之命也乎？反先王則不義，何以為盟主？其晉實有闕。四王之王也，樹德而濟同欲焉。五伯之霸也，勤而撫之，以役王命。今吾子求合諸侯，以逞無疆之慾。《詩》曰‘佈政優優，百祿是遒。’子實不優，而棄百祿，諸侯何害焉！不然，寡君之命使臣則有辭矣，曰：‘子以君師辱於敝邑，不腆敝賦，以犒從者。

The Jin army followed the Qi army, entered by Qiuyu, and attacked Maxing. The Marquis of Qi sent Bin Meiren to bribe them with the Ji vessel, jade chimes, and land. If they did not agree, he was to follow what the guests did. Bin Meiren presented the goods, but the people of Jin did not agree, saying: "We must have Xiao Tong Shuzi as a hostage, and make all the fields within Qi's borders run east." Bin Meiren replied: "Xiao Tong Shuzi is no one else; she is my ruler's mother. If we speak in terms of equals, she is also the mother of the ruler of Jin. You issue great commands to the feudal lords, yet say 'we must take another's mother as a hostage to win trust'; what will you do about the royal command? Moreover this is commanding by unfilial conduct. The Odes say: 'The filial piety of a filial son is never exhausted, and is forever bestowed on those of his kind.' If you command the feudal lords by unfilial conduct, I fear you are not of the same kind in virtue. The former kings laid out the world's boundaries and managed the land, arranging benefits according to the suitability of the soil, and so the Odes say: 'I lay out the boundaries and manage them, the fields run south and run east.' Now you lay out the boundaries of the feudal lords and say only 'let all the fields run east,' thinking only of the convenience of your war chariots without regard for what the land is suited for; I fear this is not the command of the former kings. To go against the former kings is unrighteous; by what right would you be leader of the covenant? Jin truly has a failing. The reason the four kings became kings was that they established virtue and fulfilled the common wishes. The reason the five hegemons became hegemons was that they labored and pacified, in order to serve the royal command. Now you seek to assemble the feudal lords in order to satisfy your boundless desires. The Odes say: 'Governing with gentleness, all kinds of blessings gather.' You are truly not gentle, and are discarding all kinds of blessings; what harm does that do the feudal lords! If not, my ruler commanded his envoy to say further: 'You have brought your ruler's army and honored our humble town with your presence; our humble town's meager military levy is to be used to feast your followers.

畏君之震，師徒橈敗，吾子惠徼齊國之福，不泯其社稷，使繼舊好，唯是先君之敝器、土地不敢愛。子又不許，請收合餘燼，背城借一。敝邑之幸，亦云從也。

(Bin Meiren continued his report:) Fearing Your Majesty's might, our army is crushed; if you condescend to seek blessings for Qi, not destroy our altars, and let us continue the old friendship, we do not dare to begrudge only our former ruler's worn-out vessels and land. If you again do not agree, please let us gather the remnants and fight to the death with our backs to the city wall. If our humble town is lucky, we will still obey you.

況其不幸，敢不唯命是聽。’”魯、衛諫曰：“齊疾我矣！其死亡者，皆親暱也。

(Bin Meiren continued his report:) How much more so if we are unlucky; how dare we not obey your command.'" Lu and Wei advised: "Qi hates us! Those who have died were all people close to them.

子若不許，仇我必甚。唯子則又何求？子得其國寶，我亦得地，而紓於難，其榮多矣！齊、晉亦唯天所授，豈必晉？”晉人許之，對曰：“群臣帥賦輿以為魯、衛請，若苟有以藉口而復於寡君，君之惠也。敢不唯命是聽。”

(Lu and Wei continued:) If you do not agree, their hatred of us will surely be deeper. What more do you seek? You have obtained their national treasures, we have obtained land and eased our calamities, and the glory is already great! Qi and Jin both look only to whom Heaven gives; is it certainly Jin?" The people of Jin agreed and replied: "My ministers led the military levy and chariots to ask on behalf of Lu and Wei; if we have something to report back to my ruler, it is Your Majesty's kindness. How dare we not obey your command."

禽鄭自師逆公。

Qin Zheng welcomed Duke Cheng from the army.

秋七月，晉師及齊國佐盟於爰婁，使齊人歸我汶陽之田。公會晉師於上鄍，賜三帥先路三命之服，司馬、司空、輿帥、候正、亞旅，皆受一命之服。

In autumn, in the seventh month, the Jin army made a covenant with Guo Zuo of Qi at Yuanlou, and had the people of Qi return the fields north of the Wen River to our state. Duke Cheng met the Jin army at Shangyong, and gave the three commanders the senior chariots and the ceremonial robes of the third rank, while the Minister of War, Minister of Works, chariot commander, scouting commander, and junior troop commanders all received the ceremonial robes of the first rank.

八月，宋文公卒。始厚葬，用蜃炭，益車馬，始用殉。重器備，槨有四阿，棺有翰檜。

In the eighth month, Duke Wen of Song died. For the first time, a lavish burial was used, with clam-shell lime, additional chariots and horses, and for the first time living persons were buried with him. Vessels and equipment were increased, the outer coffin had four-pitched eaves, and the inner coffin had han and kuai coverings.

君子謂：“華元、樂舉，於是乎不臣。臣治煩去惑者也，是以伏死而爭。今二子者，君生則縱其惑，死又益其侈，是棄君於惡也。何臣之為？”九月，衛穆公卒，晉二子自役吊焉，哭於大門之外。衛人逆之，婦人哭於門內，送亦如之。遂常以葬。

The gentleman held: "Hua Yuan and Yue Ju, in this matter, did not act as ministers should. A minister is one who manages confusion and removes delusion, and therefore he argues and remonstrates at the risk of his life. Now these two, while the ruler was alive, indulged his delusion, and after his death increased his extravagance, abandoning their ruler in evil. What kind of ministers are they?" In the ninth month, Duke Mu of Wei died, and the two Jin commanders, coming from the campaign, came to offer condolences and wept outside the great gate. The people of Wei welcomed them, and the women wept inside the gate, and the same at the send-off. From then on this became the constant rule of funerals.

楚之討陳夏氏也，莊王欲納夏姬，申公巫臣曰：“不可。君召諸侯，以討罪也。今納夏姬，貪其色也。貪色為淫，淫為大罰。《周書》曰：‘明德慎罰。’文王所以造周也。明德，務崇之之謂也；慎罰，務去之之謂也。若興諸侯，以取大罰，非慎之也。君其圖之！”王乃止。子反欲取之，巫臣曰：“是不祥人也！是夭子蠻，殺御叔，弒靈侯，戮夏南，出孔、儀，喪陳國，何不祥如是？人生實難，其有不獲死乎？天下多美婦人，何必是？”子反乃止。王以予連尹襄老。襄老死於邲，不獲其屍，其子黑要烝焉。巫臣使道焉，曰：“歸！吾聘女。”又使自鄭召之，曰：“屍可得也，必來逆之。”姬以告王，王問諸屈巫。對曰：“其信！知犖之父，成公之嬖也，而中行伯之季弟也，新佐中軍，而善鄭皇戌，甚愛此子。其必因鄭而歸王子與襄老之屍以求之。鄭人懼於邲之役而欲求媚於晉，其必許之。”王遣夏姬歸。將行，謂送者曰：“不得屍，吾不反矣。”巫臣聘諸鄭，鄭伯許之。及共王即位，將為陽橋之役，使屈巫聘於齊，且告師期。巫臣盡室以行。申叔跪從其父將適郢，遇之，曰：“異哉！夫子有三軍之懼，而又有《桑中》之喜，宜將竊妻以逃者也。”及鄭，使介反幣，而以夏姬行。將奔齊，齊師新敗，曰：“吾不處不勝之國。”遂奔晉，而因郤至，以臣於晉。晉人使為邢大夫。子反請以重幣錮之，王曰：“止！其自為謀也，則過矣。其為吾先君謀也，則忠。忠，社稷之固也，所蓋多矣。且彼若能利國家，雖重幣，晉將可乎？若無益於晉，晉將棄之，何勞錮焉。”

When Chu attacked the Xia clan of Chen, King Zhuang wished to take in Xia Ji, but Wuchen, Lord of Shen, said: "It cannot be done. Your Majesty assembled the feudal lords in order to punish crimes. Now taking in Xia Ji would be coveting her beauty. Coveting beauty is licentiousness, and licentiousness is a great punishment. The Book of Zhou says: 'Make virtue bright and be careful with punishment.' This is how King Wen founded Zhou. 'Make virtue bright' means one must strive to honor it; 'be careful with punishment' means one must strive to remove it. If you mobilize the feudal lords and then incur a great punishment, that is not being careful. Please, Your Majesty, consider!" King Zhuang then stopped. Zi Fan wished to marry her, and Wuchen said: "This is an ill-omened person! She caused the early death of Zi Man, killed Yu Shu, caused the assassination of Marquis Ling, killed Xia Nan, drove Kong Ning and Yi Xingfu to flee, and destroyed the state of Chen; what ill omen is there like this? Human life is truly hard, and I fear she will not die a good death. The world has many beautiful women; why must it be her?" Zi Fan then stopped. King Zhuang gave her to Lian Yin Xiang Lao. Xiang Lao died at Bi and his body was not recovered, and his son Hei wished to have relations with her. Wuchen sent someone to guide her, saying: "Go back! I will betroth you." He also sent someone from Zheng to summon her, saying: "The body can be recovered; you must come to receive it." Xia Ji told the King of Chu, and the King asked Qu Wu. He answered: "That is credible! Zhi Luo's father was a favorite of Duke Cheng and the younger brother of Zhonghang Bo, who recently assisted the central army, is on good terms with Huang Xu of Zheng, and loves this son very much. He will surely use Zheng's return of the prince and Xiang Lao's body to seek Zhi Luo. The people of Zheng fear the battle of Bi and wish to curry favor with Jin, and will surely agree." The King of Chu sent Xia Ji back. As she was about to leave, she said to those seeing her off: "If I cannot get the body, I will not return." Wuchen betrothed her in Zheng, and the Earl of Zheng agreed. When King Gong took the throne and the battle of Yangqiao was about to be fought, he sent Qu Wu on a mission to Qi and also to announce the date for sending out troops. Wuchen set out with all his household. Shen Shugui, following his father who was about to go to Ying, met him and said: "How strange! This man has the wariness of three armies and also the delight of 'Sang Zhong'; he must be going to steal a wife and run off." On reaching Zheng, he had his deputy envoy send back the betrothal gifts and left with Xia Ji. He prepared to flee to Qi, but the Qi army had recently been defeated, and he said: "I will not live in a state that cannot win." So he fled to Jin, through Xi Zhi, and became a subject in Jin. The people of Jin made him a grandee of Xing. Zi Fan asked to bar him from office with heavy gifts, but the King of Chu said: "Stop! That he planned for himself was a fault. That he planned for our former ruler was loyalty. Loyalty is the firmness of the altars of the state and shelters many. Moreover, if he can benefit Jin, would Jin agree even to heavy gifts? If he is of no use to Jin, Jin will abandon him; why bar him?"

晉師歸，範文子後入。武子曰：“無為吾望爾也乎？”對曰：“師有功，國人喜以逆之，先入，必屬耳目焉，是代帥受名也，故不敢。”武子曰：“吾知免矣。”

The Jin army went back, and Fan Wenzi entered the city later. Wuzi said: "Was it not because I was looking forward to you?" He answered: "When the army has merit, the people of the state welcome them gladly; one who enters first will surely become the focus of eyes and ears, receiving the fame in place of the commander, and so I did not dare." Wuzi said: "I know I can escape disaster."

郤伯見，公曰：“子之力也夫！”對曰：“君之訓也，二三子之力也，臣何力之有焉！”范叔見，勞之如郤伯，對曰：“庚所命也，克之制也，燮何力之有焉！”欒伯見，公亦如之，對曰：“燮之詔也，士用命也，書何力之有焉！”宣公使求好於楚。莊王卒，宣公薨，不克作好。公即位，受盟於晉，會晉伐齊。衛人不行使於楚，而亦受盟於晉，從於伐齊。故楚令尹子重為陽橋之役以求齊。將起師，子重曰：“君弱，群臣不如先大夫，師眾而後可。《詩》曰：‘濟濟多士，文王以寧。’夫文王猶用眾，況吾儕乎？且先君莊王屬之曰：‘無德以及遠方，莫如惠恤其民，而善用之。’”乃大戶，已責，逮鰥，救乏，赦罪，悉師，王卒盡行。彭名御戎，蔡景公為左，許靈公為右。二君弱，皆強冠之。

Xi Bo came in to see the Marquis, who said: "It must have been your strength!" He answered: "It was Your Majesty's instruction and the strength of several others; what strength have I!" Fan Shu came in to see him, and he consoled him as he had consoled Xi Bo, and he answered: "It was what Geng commanded and what Ke controlled; what strength has Xie!" Luan Bo came in to see him, and the Marquis did likewise, and he answered: "It was Xie's instruction and the soldiers obeying commands; what strength has Shu!" Duke Xuan sent men to Chu to seek friendship. King Zhuang died and Duke Xuan died, and no friendship was made. Duke Cheng took the throne, received a covenant in Jin, and joined Jin in attacking Qi. The people of Wei did not send envoys to Chu, but also received a covenant in Jin and followed in attacking Qi. Therefore Zi Zhong, chief minister of Chu, launched the battle of Yangqiao to rescue Qi. As they were about to set out, Zi Zhong said: "The ruler is young, and the ministers are not equal to the former grandees; only with many troops can it be done. The Odes say: 'Numerous are the many officers, and so King Wen was at peace.' King Wen still used the multitude; how much more should we? Moreover our former ruler King Zhuang charged: 'If virtue does not reach far, it is better to be generous and care for the people and use them well.'" So they carried out a large registration of households, canceled debts, extended kindness to widowers, relieved the needy, pardoned criminals, and sent out all the army, with the King of Chu's own units all marching. Peng Ming drove the war chariot, with Duke Jing of Cai on the left and Duke Ling of Xu on the right. The two rulers were young, and both were made to undergo the capping ceremony reluctantly.

冬，楚師侵衛，遂侵我，師於蜀。使臧孫往，辭曰：“楚遠而久，固將退矣。

In winter, the Chu army raided and attacked Wei, then raided and attacked our state and camped at Shu. They sent Zang Sun to go, declining and saying: "Chu is far away and has been here a long time, so it was about to retreat anyway.

無功而受名，臣不敢。”楚侵及陽橋，孟孫請往，賂之以執斫、執針、織紝，皆百人。公衡為質，以請盟，楚人許平。

(Zang Sun continued:) To receive fame without merit, I dare not." The Chu army raided and attacked as far as Yangqiao, and Meng Sun asked to go, bribing them with a hundred carpenters, a hundred needleworkers, and a hundred weavers. Gong Heng went as a hostage and asked to make a covenant, and the people of Chu agreed to make peace.

十一月，公及楚公子嬰齊、蔡侯、許男、秦右大夫說、宋華元、陳公孫寧、衛孫良夫、鄭公子去疾及齊國之大夫盟於蜀。卿不書，匱盟也。於是乎畏晉而竊與楚盟，故曰匱盟。蔡侯、許男不書，乘楚車也，謂之失位。君子曰：“位其不可不慎也乎！蔡、許之君，一失其位，不得列於諸侯，況其下乎？《詩》曰：‘不解於位，民之攸塈。’其是之謂矣。”

In the eleventh month, Duke Cheng made a covenant at Shu with Prince Yingqi of Chu, the Marquis of Cai, the Baron of Xu, Yue, Right Grand Master of Qin, Hua Yuan of Song, Gongsun Ning of Chen, Sun Liangfu of Wei, Prince Qujii of Zheng, and the grandees of Qi. The names of the ministers are not recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals, because this was a covenant lacking substance. At this time they feared Jin and secretly made a covenant with Chu, and so it was called a covenant of lack. The Marquis of Cai and the Baron of Xu are not recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals because they rode in Chu's chariots, which is called losing one's rank. The gentleman said: "One cannot but be careful about rank! The rulers of Cai and Xu, once they lost their rank, could not be listed among the feudal lords; how much more those below them? The Odes say: 'Do not slack in your position, and so the people are at rest.' This is what is meant."

楚師及宋，公衡逃歸。臧宣叔曰：“衡父不忍數年之不宴，以棄魯國，國將若之何？誰居？後之人必有任是夫！國棄矣。”

The Chu army reached Song, and Gong Heng fled back. Zang Xuanshu said: "Hengfu could not endure a few years of unease and abandoned Lu; what will the state do? Who will stay? Someone of those who come after must bear this! The state has been abandoned."

是行也，晉闢楚，畏其眾也。君子曰：“眾之不可以已也。大夫為政，猶以眾克，況明君而善用其眾乎？《大誓》所謂商兆民離，周十人同者眾也。”

On this expedition, Jin avoided Chu because it feared its numbers. The gentleman said: "The multitude cannot be dispensed with. When a grandee governs, he still relies on the multitude to win; how much more a wise ruler who knows how to use the multitude? What the Great Declaration says, that the hundreds of millions of the Shang were of divided hearts while the ten of Zhou were of one heart, is about the multitude."

晉侯使鞏朔獻齊捷於周，王弗見，使單襄公辭焉，曰：“蠻夷戎狄，不式王命，淫湎毀常，王命伐之，則有獻捷，王親受而勞之，所以懲不敬，勸有功也。

The Marquis of Jin sent Gong Shuo to the Zhou court to present Qi captives, and the Son of Heaven did not see him, but sent Duke Xiang of Shan to decline, saying: "As to the barbarians, Rong, and Di, who do not follow the royal command and indulge in dissipation and ruin the constant way, the king commands that they be attacked, and then there is the presentation of spoils, and the Son of Heaven receives it in person and gives comfort, in order to warn against disrespect and encourage merit.

兄弟甥舅，侵敗王略，王命伐之，告事而已，不獻其功，所以敬親暱，禁淫慝也。

(Duke Xiang of Shan continued:) As to the states of brothers, nephews, and maternal uncles, when they trespass against and ruin the king's standards, and the king commands that they be attacked, one only reports the matter and does not present achievements, in order to honor kinship and forbid license.

今叔父克遂，有功於齊，而不使命卿鎮撫王室，所使來撫餘一人，而鞏伯實來，未有職司於王室，又奸先王之禮，餘雖欲於鞏伯、其敢廢舊典以忝叔父？夫齊，甥舅之國也，而大師之後也，寧不亦淫從其欲以怒叔父，抑豈不可諫誨？”士莊伯不能對。王使委於三吏，禮之如侯伯克敵使大夫告慶之禮，降於卿禮一等。王以鞏伯宴，而私賄之。使相告之曰：“非禮也，勿籍。”

(Duke Xiang of Shan continued:) Now my uncle has been successful and has merit in Qi, yet has not sent a minister with an official appointment to pacify the royal house; the one he sent to console me alone is in fact Gong Bo, who has no post in the royal house, and also transgresses the ritual of the former kings. Though I like Gong Bo, how dare I abolish the old codes and so disgrace my uncle? Qi is a state of nephews and maternal uncles and a descendant of the Grand Preceptor; is it not that it indulged desire to anger my uncle, or that it could not be admonished and instructed?" Shi Zhuangbo could not answer. The Son of Heaven entrusted the matter to the three officers, and received him with the ritual by which a marquis or earl who has defeated an enemy sends a grandee to report the happy news, one grade lower than the ritual for a minister. The Son of Heaven feasted with Gong Bo and privately gave him goods. He had the one assisting in the rites tell him: "This is against ritual; do not record it."

【經】三年春王正月，公會晉侯、宋公、衛侯、曹伯伐鄭。辛亥，葬衛穆公。

[Classic] In the third year, in spring, in the first month of the Zhou king's calendar, Duke Cheng joined the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, and the Earl of Cao in attacking Zheng. On the day xinhai, Duke Mu of Wei was buried.

二月，公至自伐鄭。甲子，新宮災。三日哭。乙亥，葬宋文公。夏，公如晉。鄭公子去疾帥師伐許。公至自晉。秋，叔孫僑如帥師圍棘。大雩。晉郤克、衛孫良夫伐嗇咎如。冬十有一月，晉侯使荀庚來聘。衛侯使孫良夫來聘。丙午，及荀庚盟。丁未，及孫良夫盟。鄭伐許。

In the second month, Duke Cheng returned from attacking Zheng. On the day jiazi, the New Palace caught fire. They wept for three days. On the day yihai, Duke Wen of Song was buried. In summer, Duke Cheng went to Jin. Prince Qujii of Zheng led troops and attacked Xu. Duke Cheng returned from Jin. In autumn, Shu Sun Qiaoru led troops and besieged Ji. The great rain-sacrifice was held. Xi Ke of Jin and Sun Liangfu of Wei attacked Qiangjiuru. In winter, in the eleventh month, the Marquis of Jin sent Xun Geng on a visit of courtesy. The Marquis of Wei sent Sun Liangfu on a visit of courtesy. On the day bingwu, a covenant was made with Xun Geng. On the day dingwei, a covenant was made with Sun Liangfu. Zheng attacked Xu.

【傳】三年春，諸侯伐鄭，次於伯牛，討邲之役也，遂東侵鄭。鄭公子偃帥師御之，使東鄙覆諸鄤，敗諸丘輿。皇戌如楚獻捷。

[Commentary] In the third year, in spring, the feudal lords attacked Zheng and camped at Boniu, to punish them for the battle at Bi, and then raided and attacked Zheng toward the east. Prince Yan of Zheng led troops to resist, and had the eastern border set an ambush at Man, and defeated them at Qiuyu. Huang Xu went to Chu to present captives.

夏，公如晉，拜汶陽之田。

In summer, Duke Cheng went to Jin to give thanks for the fields north of the Wen River.

許恃楚而不事鄭，鄭子良伐許。

Xu relied on Chu and did not serve Zheng, so Zi Liang of Zheng attacked Xu.

晉人歸公子谷臣與連尹襄老之屍於楚，以求知罃。於是荀首佐中軍矣，故楚人許之。王送知罃，曰：“子其怨我乎？”對曰：“二國治戎，臣不才，不勝其任，以為俘馘。執事不以釁鼓，使歸即戮，君之惠也。臣實不才，又誰敢怨？”王曰：“然則德我乎？”對曰：“二國圖其社稷，而求紓其民，各懲其忿以相宥也，兩釋累囚以成其好。二國有好，臣不與及，其誰敢德？”王曰：“子歸，何以報我？”對曰：“臣不任受怨，君亦不任受德，無怨無德，不知所報。”王曰：“雖然，必告不穀。”對曰：“以君之靈，累臣得歸骨於晉，寡君之以為戮，死且不朽。若從君之惠而免之，以賜君之外臣首；首其請於寡君而以戮於宗，亦死且不朽。若不獲命，而使嗣宗職，次及於事，而帥偏師以修封疆，雖遇執事，其弗敢違。其竭力致死，無有二心，以盡臣禮，所以報也。”王曰：“晉未可與爭。”

The men of Jin returned the bodies of Prince Guchen and Lianyin Xianglao to Chu, in order to ask for Zhi Ying. By this time Xun Shou was already assisting in the central army, and so the men of Chu agreed. The King of Chu, seeing Zhi Ying off, said: "Do you resent me?" He answered: "When two states cross arms, I, your servant, was without talent and unable to bear the task, and became a captive. That you did not use my blood to smear the drum, but let me go back to face punishment, is Your Majesty's kindness. I am truly without talent, so whom would I dare resent?" The King said: "Then are you grateful to me?" He answered: "Two states, planning for their own altars of the state and seeking to relieve their people, each restrain their anger and forgive one another, and both release their prisoners to complete a friendship. Between the two states there is friendship, in which I, your servant, have no part; whom would I dare thank?" The King said: "When you go back, how will you repay me?" He answered: "I cannot bear to resent, and Your Majesty cannot bear to be thanked; with neither resentment nor gratitude, I do not know what to repay." The King said: "Even so, you must tell me." He answered: "By the grace of Your Majesty's might, I, a captive, can bring my bones back to Jin. If our ruler has me killed, I will die with honor. If I am spared death through Your Majesty's kindness and am given to your outside minister Shou, and Shou asks our ruler to have me killed in the ancestral temple, I will also die with honor. If permission is not granted, and I am allowed to inherit the duties of my clan, and when my turn comes in order I hold a military post, leading a flank force to put the frontier in order, then even if I meet your officers I will not dare evade them. I will strive to the death without a divided heart, in fulfillment of a subject's duty; that will be my repayment." The King of Chu said: "Jin cannot be contended with."

重為之禮而歸之。

He treated him with a grand ceremony and sent him back.

秋，叔孫僑如圍棘，取汶陽之田。棘不服，故圍之。

In autumn, Shusun Qiaoru besieged Ji and took the fields north of the Wen River. Ji did not submit, and so was besieged.

晉郤克、衛孫良夫伐嗇咎如，討赤狄之餘焉。嗇咎如潰，上失民也。

Xi Ke of Jin and Sun Liangfu of Wei attacked Qiangjiu Ru, to attack the remnants of the Red Di. Qiangjiu Ru collapsed, because above him had lost the people.

冬十一月，晉侯使荀庚來聘，且尋盟。衛侯使孫良夫來聘，且尋盟。公問諸臧宣叔曰：“中行伯之於晉也，其位在三。孫子之於衛也，位為上卿，將誰先？”對曰：“次國之上卿當大國之中，中當其下，下當其上大夫。小國之上卿當大國之下卿，中當其上大夫，下當其下大夫。上下如是，古之制也。衛在晉，不得為次國。晉為盟主，其將先之。”丙午，盟晉，丁未，盟衛，禮也。

In winter, in the eleventh month, the Marquis of Jin sent Xun Geng to come on a friendly visit and renew the covenant. The Marquis of Wei sent Sun Liangfu to come on a friendly visit and renew the covenant. Duke Cheng asked Zang Xuanshu: "Earl Zhonghang in Jin ranks third. Sun Zi in Wei is the senior minister; whom should we put first?" He answered: "The senior minister of a secondary state is equal to the middle minister of a great state, the middle minister to its junior minister, and the junior minister to its senior grand officer. The senior minister of a small state is equal to the junior minister of a great state, the middle minister to its senior grand officer, and the junior minister to its junior grand officer. Such are the ranks, an institution of antiquity. Wei, in relation to Jin, cannot count as a secondary state. Jin is the leader of the covenant, so let it come first." On the bingwu day a covenant was made with Jin, and on the dingwei day a covenant was made with Wei; this accorded with ritual.

十二月甲戌，晉作六軍。韓厥、趙括、鞏朔、韓穿、荀騅、趙旃皆為卿，賞鞍之功也。

In the twelfth month, on the jiaxu day, Jin set up six armies. Han Jue, Zhao Kuo, Gong Shuo, Han Chuan, Xun Zhui, and Zhao Zhan were all made ministers, as a reward for the merit at An.

齊侯朝於晉，將授玉。郤克趨進曰：“此行也，君為婦人之笑辱也，寡君未之敢任。”晉侯享齊侯。齊侯視韓厥，韓厥曰：“君知厥也乎？”齊侯曰：“服改矣。”韓厥登，舉爵曰：“臣之不敢愛死，為兩君之在此堂也。”

The Marquis of Qi went to Jin to pay court and was about to present the jade. Xi Ke hurried forward and said: "On this trip, Your Majesty was insulted because of a woman's laughter; our ruler dares not accept it." The Marquis of Jin gave a banquet to entertain the Marquis of Qi. The Marquis of Qi looked at Han Jue, and Han Jue said: "Does Your Majesty recognize me?" The Marquis of Qi said: "Your clothes have changed." Han Jue went up into the hall, raised his cup, and said: "I dare not spare my life, because the two rulers are in this hall."

荀罃之在楚也，鄭賈人有將置諸褚中以出。既謀之，未行，而楚人歸之。

When Xun Ying was in Chu, a merchant of Zheng planned to hide him in a sack and carry him out. When it had been arranged but not yet carried out, the men of Chu sent him back.

賈人如晉，荀罃善視之，如實出己，賈人曰：“吾無其功，敢有其實乎？吾小人，不可以厚誣君子。”遂適齊。

When the merchant came to Jin, Xun Ying treated him well, as if the man had truly brought him out. The merchant said: "I have no such merit; how dare I accept such a reward? I am a petty man and must not greatly deceive a gentleman." So he went to Qi.