Duke Cheng (Years 1 to 18)

趙旃將新軍，郤至佐之。郤毅御戎，欒針為右。孟獻子曰：“晉帥乘和，師必有大功。”五月丁亥，晉師以諸侯之師及秦師戰於麻隧。秦師敗績，獲秦成差及不更女父。曹宣公卒於師。師遂濟涇，及侯麗而還。迓晉侯於新楚。

Zhao Zhan commanded the new army, with Xi Zhi assisting. Xi Yi drove the war chariot, and Luan Zhen served as chariot-right. Meng Xianzi said: "When the commander of Jin and the chariots are in harmony, the army will surely achieve great merit." On the dinghai day of the fifth month, the army of Jin, leading the armies of the feudal lords, fought the army of Qin at Masui. The army of Qin was badly defeated, and Chengcha and Bugeng Nufu of Qin were captured. Duke Xuan of Cao died in the army. The army then crossed the Jing River, reached Houli, and went back. They met the Marquis of Jin at Xinchu.

成肅公卒於瑕。

Duke Su of Cheng died at Xia.

六月丁卯夜，鄭公子班自訾求入於大宮，不能，殺子印、子羽。反軍於市，己巳，予駟帥國人盟於大宮，遂從而盡焚之，殺子如、子駹、孫叔、孫知。

On the night of the dingmao day of the sixth month, Prince Ban of Zheng asked from Zi to enter the Grand Palace, but could not, and killed Ziyin and Ziyu. He returned and garrisoned in the market. On the jisi day, Zi Si led the people of the state in making a covenant in the Grand Palace. (The base text has a variant character for "Zi" in Zi Si.) Then they followed up and burned them all, and killed Ziru, Zi Mang, Sun Shu, and Sun Zhi.

曹人使公子負芻守，使公子欣時逆曹伯之喪。秋，負芻殺其大子而自立也。

The men of Cao sent Prince Fuchu to stay and guard, and sent Prince Xinshi to receive the coffin of the Earl of Cao. In autumn, Fuchu killed the crown prince and installed himself.

諸侯乃請討之，晉人以其役之勞，請俟他年。冬，葬曹宣公。既葬，子臧將亡，國人皆將從之。成公乃懼，告罪，且請焉，乃反，而致其邑。

The feudal lords then asked to attack him, but the men of Jin, because of the hardship of this campaign, asked to wait until another year. In winter, Duke Xuan of Cao was buried. When the burial was finished, Zizang was about to flee, and the people of the state were all going to follow him. Duke Cheng then became afraid, admitted his fault, and asked him to stay, and only then did he return and hand back his own cities.

【經】十有四年春王正月，莒子朱卒。夏，衛孫林父自晉歸於衛。秋，叔孫僑如如齊逆女。鄭公子喜帥師伐許。九月，僑如以夫人婦姜氏至自齊。冬十月庚寅，衛侯臧卒。秦伯卒。

[Classic] In the spring of the fourteenth year, in the first month by the Zhou calendar, Zhu, Viscount of Ju, died. In summer, Sun Linfu of Wei returned to Wei from Jin. In autumn, Shusun Qiaoru went to Qi to receive the Lady. Prince Xi of Zheng led an army to attack Xu. In the ninth month, Qiaoru returned from Qi with the Lady Fu Jiang. In winter, on the gengyin day of the tenth month, Zang, Marquis of Wei, died. The Earl of Qin died.

【傳】十四年春，衛侯如晉，晉侯強見孫林父焉，定公不可。夏，衛侯既歸，晉侯使郤犨送孫林父而見之。衛侯欲辭，定姜曰：“不可。是先君宗卿之嗣也，大國又以為請，不許，將亡。雖惡之，不猶愈於亡乎？君其忍之！安民而宥宗卿，不亦可乎？”衛侯見而復之。

[Commentary] In the spring of the fourteenth year, the Marquis of Wei went to Jin, and the Marquis of Jin forced him to see Sun Linfu, but Duke Ding did not agree. In summer, after the Marquis of Wei had already gone back, the Marquis of Jin sent Xi Chou to escort Sun Linfu to see him. The Marquis of Wei wished to decline, but Dingjiang said: "No. This is the descendant of the former ruler's senior minister of the clan, and a great state also makes this request; if you do not agree, you will perish. Even if you hate him, is it not better to restore him than to perish? Please be patient, my lord! To settle the people and forgive the senior minister of the clan, would that not also be acceptable?" The Marquis of Wei received him and restored him.

衛侯饗苦成叔，甯惠子相。苦成叔傲。寧子曰：“苦成家其亡乎！古之為享食也，以觀威儀、省禍福也。故《詩》曰：‘兕觥其觩，旨酒思柔，彼交匪傲，萬福來求。’今夫子傲，取禍之道也。”

The Marquis of Wei gave a banquet to entertain Kucheng Shu, with Ning Huizi assisting in the ceremony. Kucheng Shu was arrogant. Ning Zi said: "The Kucheng family will probably perish! In ancient times, banquets were given in order to observe dignified conduct and examine fortune and misfortune. So the Odes say: 'The rhinoceros horn cup is curved, the fine wine is mild; in exchanging cups without arrogance, ten thousand blessings come to seek.' Now this man's arrogance is the road to calamity."

秋，宣伯如齊逆女。稱族，尊君命也。

In autumn, Xuan Bo went to Qi to receive the Lady. The record gives the clan name, out of respect for the ruler's command.

八月，鄭子罕伐許，敗焉。戊戌，鄭伯復伐許。庚子，入其郛。許人平以叔申之封。

In the eighth month, Zi Han of Zheng attacked Xu and was defeated. On the wuxu day, the Earl of Zheng attacked Xu again. On the gengzi day, he entered the outer wall. The men of Xu made peace by offering the fief of Shu Shen.

九月，僑如以夫人婦姜氏至自齊。舍族，尊夫人也。故君子曰：“《春秋》之稱，微而顯，志而晦，婉而成章，盡而不汙，懲惡而勸善。非聖人誰能修之？”衛侯有疾，使孔成子、甯惠子立敬姒之子衎以為大子。冬十月，衛定公卒。

In the ninth month, Qiaoru returned from Qi with the Lady Fu Jiang. The clan name is not recorded, out of respect for the Lady. So the gentleman said: "The language of the Spring and Autumn Annals is subtle yet clear, records yet is implicit, is indirect yet forms a pattern, is thorough yet not distorted, and warns against evil and encourages good. If not a sage, who could have compiled it?" The Marquis of Wei was ill and had Kong Chengzi and Ning Huizi install Kan, son of Jingsi, as crown prince. In winter, in the tenth month, Duke Ding of Wei died.

夫人姜氏既哭而息，見大子之不哀也，不內酌飲。嘆曰：“是夫也，將不唯衛國之敗，其必始於未亡人！烏呼！天禍衛國也夫！吾不獲鱄也使主社稷。”大夫聞之，無不聳懼。孫文子自是不敢舍其重器於衛，盡置諸戚，而甚善晉大夫。

The Lady Jiang, after weeping and resting, saw that the crown prince was not grieved and did not take water or drink. She sighed and said: "This man will not only ruin Wei; it will surely begin with me, the widow! Alas! Heaven must be sending calamity to Wei! I did not get Zhuan to preside over the altars of the state." When the high officers heard of it, none was not alarmed. From then on Sun Wenzi dared not keep valuable utensils in the capital of Wei, but put all of them in Qi, and cultivated friendship with the high officers of Jin extensively.

【經】十有五年春王二月，葬衛定公。三月乙巳，仲嬰齊卒。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。公至自會。夏六月，宋公固卒。楚子伐鄭。秋八月庚辰，葬宋共公。宋華元出奔晉。宋華元自晉歸於宋。宋殺其大夫山。宋魚石出奔楚。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、邾人會吳於鍾離。

[Classic] In the spring of the fifteenth year, in the second month by the Zhou calendar, Duke Ding of Wei was buried. On the yisi day of the third month, Zhong Yingqi died. On the guichou day, Duke Cheng, together with the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Cao, Cheng, heir of Song, Guo Zuo of Qi, and the men of Zhu, made a covenant at Qi. The Marquis of Jin seized the Earl of Cao and sent him to the royal capital. Duke Cheng returned from the meeting. In summer, in the sixth month, Gu, Duke of Song, died. The Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng. In autumn, on the gengchen day of the eighth month, Duke Gong of Song was buried. Hua Yuan of Song fled to Jin. Hua Yuan of Song returned to Song from Jin. Song killed its high officer Shan. Yu Shi of Song fled to Chu. 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, a prince of Zheng, and the men of Zhu, and met Wu at Zhongli.

許遷於葉。

Xu moved to Ye.

【傳】十五年春，會於戚，討曹成公也。執而歸諸京師。書曰：“晉侯執曹伯。”不及其民也。凡君不道於其民，諸侯討而執之，則曰某人執某侯。不然，則否。

[Commentary] In the spring of the fifteenth year, the meeting at Qi was to punish Duke Cheng of Cao. He was seized and sent to the royal capital. The Spring and Autumn Annals records: "The Marquis of Jin seized the Earl of Cao." This is because his offense did not extend to the people. As a rule, when a ruler is without the Way toward the people, and the feudal lords attack and seize him, it says "so-and-so seized such-and-such marquis." Otherwise it is not written this way.

諸侯將見子臧於王而立之，子臧辭曰：“《前志》有之，曰：‘聖達節，次守節，下失節。’為君，非吾節也。雖不能聖，敢失守乎？”遂逃，奔宋。

The feudal lords were about to have Zizang present himself to the Son of Heaven and install him, but Zizang declined, saying: "The Former Annals has the words: 'The sage comprehends the principles of propriety, the next keeps to the principles of propriety, and the lowest loses the principles of propriety.' To be ruler is not my principle. Even if I cannot become a sage, how dare I lose my keeping?" So he fled to Song.

夏六月，宋共公卒。

In summer, in the sixth month, Duke Gong of Song died.

楚將北師。子囊曰：“新與晉盟而背之，無乃不可乎？”子反曰：“敵利則進，何盟之有？”申叔時老矣，在申，聞之，曰：“子反必不免。信以守禮，禮以庇身，信禮之亡，欲免得乎？”楚子侵鄭，及暴隧，遂侵衛，及首止。鄭子罕侵楚，取新石。欒武子欲報楚，韓獻子曰：“無庸，使重其罪，民將叛之。無民，孰戰？”秋八月，葬宋共公。於是華元為右師，魚石為左師，蕩澤為司馬，華喜為司徒，公孫師為司城，向為人為大司寇，鱗朱為少司寇，向帶為大宰，魚府為少宰。

Chu was about to send troops north. Zi Nang said: "Having newly made a covenant with Jin, to break it, it probably will not do?" Zi Fan said: "If it benefits against the enemy we advance; what covenant is there?" Shen Shushi was already old and in Shen, and on hearing this said: "Zi Fan will surely not escape. Good faith is used to guard ritual, and ritual is used to shield oneself; when good faith and ritual are lost, can one hope to avoid calamity?" The Viscount of Chu raided Zheng, reached Baosui, and then raided Wei, reaching Shouzhi. Zi Han of Zheng raided Chu and took Xinshi. Luan Wuzi wished to take revenge on Chu, and Han Xianzi said: "Not necessary; let them increase their guilt, and the people will turn against them. Without the people, who will fight?" In autumn, in the eighth month, Duke Gong of Song was buried. At this time Hua Yuan was Right Minister of the Host, Yu Shi was Left Minister, Dang Ze was Minister of War, Hua Xi was Minister of the Multitude, Gongsun Shi was Minister of Works, Xiang Weiren was Grand Minister of Justice, Lin Zhu was Junior Minister of Justice, Xiang Dai was Grand Steward, and Yu Fu was Junior Steward.

蕩澤弱公室，殺公子肥。華元曰：“我為右師，君臣之訓，師所司也。今公室卑而不能正，吾罪大矣。不能治官，敢賴寵乎？”乃出奔晉。

Dang Ze weakened the ducal house and killed Prince Fei. Hua Yuan said: "I am Right Minister of the Host, and the teaching of ruler and subject is what the Host is in charge of. Now the ducal house is humbled and I cannot correct it; my fault is great. If I cannot govern my office, how dare I rely on favor?" So he fled to Jin.

二華，戴族也；司城，莊族也；六官者，皆桓族也。魚石將止華元，魚府曰：“右師反，必討，是無桓氏也。”魚石曰：“右師苟獲反，雖許之討，必不敢。

The two Hua clans were of the Dai lineage; the Minister of Works was of the Zhuang lineage; the six officials were all of the Huan lineage. Yu Shi was about to stop Hua Yuan, but Yu Fu said: "When the Right Minister returns, he will surely take vengeance, and then there will be no Huan clan." Yu Shi said: "If the Right Minister can return, even if he is allowed to take vengeance, he will surely not dare.

且多大功，國人與之，不反，懼桓氏之無祀於宋也。右師討，猶有戌在，桓氏雖亡，必偏。”魚石自止華元於河上。請討，許之，乃反。使華喜、公孫師帥國人攻蕩氏，殺子山。書曰：“宋殺大夫山。”言背其族也。

(Yu Shi continued:) Moreover, his merit is great and the people of the state cling to him; if he does not return, I fear the Huan clan will have no sacrifices in Song. If the Right Minister takes vengeance, Xu is still here, and even if the Huan clan is destroyed, it will surely be only in part." Yu Shi himself went to the Yellow River to stop Hua Yuan. Hua Yuan asked to take vengeance, and it was granted, and only then did he return. He had Hua Xi and Gongsun Shi lead the people of the state to attack the Dang clan and killed Zishan. The Spring and Autumn Annals records: "Song killed its high officer Shan." This means he had turned against his own clan.

魚石、向為人、鱗朱、向帶、魚府出舍於睢上。華元使止之，不可。冬十月，華元自止之，不可。乃反。魚府曰：“今不從，不得入矣。右師視速而言疾，有異志焉。若不我納，今將馳矣。”登丘而望之，則馳。聘而從之，則決睢澨，閉門登陴矣。左師、二司寇、二宰遂出奔楚。華元使向戌為左師，老佐為司馬，樂裔為司寇，以靖國人。

Yu Shi, Xiang Weiren, Lin Zhu, Xiang Dai, and Yu Fu left the city and stayed by the Sui River. Hua Yuan sent a man to stop them, but they did not agree. In winter, in the tenth month, Hua Yuan went in person to stop them, and they did not agree. So he returned. Yu Fu said: "If we do not follow now, we will not be able to enter the city. The Right Minister's gaze is quick and his speech hurried; he has another plan. If he does not take us in, he will be galloping his chariot now." They climbed a mound to look, and indeed he was galloping the chariot. They drove after him, but Hua Yuan had already breached the embankment of the Sui River, closed the city gate, and climbed up on the battlements. The Left Minister, the two Ministers of Justice, and the two Stewards then fled to Chu. Hua Yuan made Xiang Xu Left Minister, Lao Zuo Minister of War, and Yue Yi Minister of Justice, to settle the people of the state.

晉三郤害伯宗，譖而殺之，及欒弗忌。伯州犁奔楚。韓獻子曰：“郤氏其不免乎！善人，天地之紀也，而驟絕之，不亡何待？”初，伯宗每朝，其妻必戒之曰：“‘盜憎主人，民惡其上。’子好直言，必及於難。”

The three Xi clansmen of Jin slandered Bo Zong, framing and killing him, together with Luan Fuji. Bo Zhouli fled to Chu. Han Xianzi said: "The Xi clan will probably not escape! Good men are the guiding threads of heaven and earth, and yet they are repeatedly exterminated; if they do not perish, what are they waiting for?" Earlier, each time Bo Zong went to court, his wife would warn him: "'Robbers hate the master of the house, and the people hate those above them.' You like to speak frankly, and will surely meet calamity."

十一月，會吳於鍾離，始通吳也。

In the eleventh month, the meeting with Wu at Zhongli was the beginning of dealings with Wu.

許靈公畏逼於鄭，請遷於楚。辛丑，楚公子申遷許於葉。

Duke Ling of Xu feared the pressure from Zheng and asked to move to Chu. On the xinchou day, Prince Shen of Chu moved Xu to Ye.

【經】十有六年春王正月，雨，木冰。夏四月辛未，滕子卒。鄭公子喜帥師侵宋。六月丙寅朔，日有食之。晉侯使欒黶來乞師。甲午晦，晉侯及楚子、鄭伯戰於鄢陵。楚子、鄭師敗績。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。公至自會。公會尹子、晉侯、齊國佐、邾人伐鄭。

[Classic] In the spring of the sixteenth year, in the first month by the Zhou calendar, it rained and the trees were covered with ice. In summer, on the xinwei day of the fourth month, the Viscount of Teng died. Prince Xi of Zheng led an army to raid Song. On the bingyin first day of the sixth month, there was a solar eclipse. The Marquis of Jin sent Luan Yan to ask for troops. On the last day of the jiawu month, the Marquis of Jin fought the Viscount of Chu and the Earl of Zheng at Yanling. The Viscount of Chu and the army of Zheng were badly defeated. Chu killed its high officer Prince Ce. In autumn, Duke Cheng met the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Marquis of Wei, Hua Yuan of Song, and the men of Zhu at Shasui, but the Marquis did not see Duke Cheng. Duke Cheng returned from the meeting. Duke Cheng joined Yin Zi, the Marquis of Jin, Guo Zuo of Qi, and the men of Zhu in attacking Zheng.

曹伯歸自京師。九月，晉人執季孫行父，舍之於苕丘。冬十月乙亥，叔孫僑如出奔齊。十有二月乙丑，季孫行父及晉郤犨盟於扈。公至自會。乙酉，刺公子偃。

The Earl of Cao returned from the royal capital. In the ninth month, the men of Jin seized Ji Sun Xingfu and placed him at Tiaoqiu. In winter, on the yihai day of the tenth month, Shusun Qiaoru fled to Qi. On the yichou day of the twelfth month, Ji Sun Xingfu made a covenant with Xi Chou of Jin at Hu. Duke Cheng returned from the meeting. On the yiyou day, Prince Yan was stabbed to death.

【傳】十六年春，楚子自武城使公子成以汝陰之田求成於鄭。鄭叛晉，子駟從楚子盟於武城。

[Commentary] In the spring of the sixteenth year, the Viscount of Chu sent Prince Cheng from Wucheng to ask Zheng for peace with the fields of Ruyin. Zheng turned against Jin, and Zi Si followed the Viscount of Chu in making a covenant at Wucheng.

夏四月，滕文公卒。

In summer, in the fourth month, Duke Wen of Teng died.

鄭子罕伐宋，宋將鉏、樂懼敗諸汋陂。退，舍於夫渠，不儆，鄭人覆之，敗諸汋陵，獲將鉏、樂懼。宋恃勝也。

Zi Han of Zheng attacked Song, and Jiang Chu and Yue Ju of Song defeated them at Zhuobei. The army of Song withdrew and stayed at Fuqu, and did not take precautions; the men of Zheng set an ambush and defeated them at Zhuoling, capturing Jiang Chu and Yue Ju. This was because Song relied on its victory.

衛侯伐鄭，至於鳴雁，為晉故也。

The Marquis of Wei attacked Zheng, reaching Mingyan, for the sake of Jin.

晉侯將伐鄭，範文子曰：“若逞吾願，諸侯皆叛，晉可以逞。若唯鄭叛，晉國之憂，可立俟也。”欒武子曰：“不可以當吾世而失諸侯，必伐鄭。”乃興師。

The Marquis of Jin was about to attack Zheng, and Fan Wenzi said: "If my wish were fulfilled, and all the feudal lords turned against us, Jin could then be relieved. If only Zheng turns against us, Jin's troubles can be awaited standing." Luan Wuzi said: "We must not lose the feudal lords in our generation; we must attack Zheng." So they raised troops.

欒書將中軍，士燮佐之。郤錡將上軍，荀偃佐之。韓厥將下軍，郤至佐新軍，荀罃居守。郤犨如衛，遂如齊，皆乞師焉。欒黶來乞師，孟獻子曰：“有勝矣。”

Luan Shu commanded the central army, with Shi Xie assisting. Xi Qi commanded the upper army, with Xun Yan assisting. Han Jue commanded the lower army, with Xi Zhi assisting the new army, and Xun Ying stayed behind to guard. Xi Chou went to Wei and then to Qi, asking for troops in both. Luan Yan came to ask for troops, and Meng Xianzi said: "There is a chance of victory."

戊寅，晉師起。

On the wuyin day, the army of Jin set out.

鄭人聞有晉師，使告於楚，姚句耳與往。楚子救鄭，司馬將中軍，令尹將左，右尹子辛將右。過申，子反入見申叔時，曰：“師其何如？”對曰：“德、刑、詳、義、禮、信，戰之器也。德以施惠，刑以正邪，詳以事神，義以建利，禮以順時，信以守物。民生厚而德正，用利而事節，時順而物成。上下和睦，周旋不逆，求無不具，各知其極。故《詩》曰：‘立我烝民，莫匪爾極。’是以神降之福，時無災害，民生敦龐，和同以聽，莫不盡力以從上命，致死以補其闕。此戰之所由克也。今楚內棄其民，而外絕其好，瀆齊盟，而食話言，奸時以動，而疲民以逞。民不知信，進退罪也。人恤所厎，其誰致死？子其勉之！吾不復見子矣。”

The men of Zheng heard that there was an army of Jin and sent a man to tell Chu, and Yao Juer went together. The Viscount of Chu rescued Zheng, with the Minister of War commanding the central army, the prime minister commanding the left army, and the Right Minister Zi Xin commanding the right army. Passing through Shen, Zi Fan went in to see Shen Shushi and said: "How will the army fare?" He answered: "Virtue, punishment, auspiciousness, righteousness, ritual, and good faith are the instruments of battle. Virtue is used to extend kindness, punishment to correct deviance, auspiciousness to serve the spirits, righteousness to establish advantage, ritual to accord with the seasons, and good faith to guard things. When the people's livelihood is abundant, virtue is upright; when tools are convenient, affairs are orderly; when the seasons are in accord, all things succeed. When superiors and inferiors are in harmony, and their dealings are not contrary, there is no need that is not met, and each knows the standard. So the Odes say: 'Settle our multitude of people, none that is not your standard.' Therefore the spirits send down blessings, the seasons have no calamities, the people's livelihood is rich and full, they are in harmony and obedient, there is none who does not exert himself to obey orders from above, and they fill gaps with their deaths. This is the reason why battles are won. Now Chu, at home, abandons the people, abroad, breaks off friendship, profanes common covenants, does not keep its word, moves against the seasons, and wearies the people to indulge its pleasure. The people do not know good faith, and in advancing or retreating they are at fault. Each worries about his own end; who will be willing to die? You must strive! I will not see you again."

姚句耳先歸，子駟問焉，對曰：“其行速，過險而不整。速則失志，不整喪列。

Yao Juer returned first, and Zisi asked him; he replied, "They march fast, but when passing difficult ground they are not in order. Being fast, they lose deliberation; being disordered, they lose their ranks.

志失列喪，將何以戰？楚懼不可用也。”

(Yao Juer continued:) With deliberation lost and ranks lost, what will they fight with? Chu is probably no longer usable."

五月，晉師濟河。聞楚師將至，範文子欲反，曰：“我偽逃楚，可以紓憂。

In the fifth month, the Jin army crossed the river. Hearing that the Chu army was about to arrive, Fan Wenzi wished to turn back, saying, "If we pretend to avoid Chu, we can ease our troubles.

夫合諸侯，非吾所能也，以遺能者。我若群臣輯睦以事君，多矣。”武子曰：“不可。”

(Fan Wenzi continued:) Gathering the feudal lords is not something I can do; let it be left to those who can. If we ministers serve the ruler in harmony, that is enough." Wuzi said, "No."

六月，晉、楚遇於鄢陵。範文子不欲戰，郤至曰：“韓之戰，惠公不振旅。

In the sixth month, Jin and Chu met at Yanling. Fan Wenzi did not want to fight. Xi Zhi said, "At the battle of Han, Duke Hui could not bring the army back in order.

箕之役，先軫不反命，邲之師，荀伯不復從。皆晉之恥也。子亦見先君之事矣。

(Xi Zhi continued:) At the battle of Ji, Xian Zhen could not return to report; at Bi, Xun Bo could no longer follow the army. All these are disgraces to Jin. You have also seen what happened in the former rulers' time.

今我闢楚，又益恥也。”文子曰：“吾先君之亟戰也，有故。秦、狄、齊、楚皆強，不盡力，子孫將弱。今三強服矣，敵楚而已。唯聖人能外內無患，自非聖人，外寧必有內憂。盍釋楚以為外懼乎？”甲午晦，楚晨壓晉軍而陳。軍吏患之。範匄趨進，曰：“塞井夷灶，陳于軍中，而疏行首。晉、楚唯天所授，何患焉？”文子執戈逐之，曰：“國之存亡，天也。童子何知焉？”欒書曰：“楚師輕窕，固壘而待之，三日必退。退而擊之，必獲勝焉。”郤至曰：“楚有六間，不可失也：其二卿相惡；王卒以舊；鄭陳而不整；蠻軍而不陳；陳不違晦；在陳而囂，合而加囂，各顧其後，莫有鬥心。舊不必良，以犯天忌。我必克之。”

(Xi Zhi continued:) Now if we avoid Chu, we add to the disgrace." Wenzi said, "Our former rulers fought repeatedly for a reason. Qin, the Di, Qi, and Chu were all strong, and if we did not exert ourselves, our descendants would grow weak. Now three strong states have submitted, and the only enemy left is Chu. Only a sage can be free from trouble both inside and out; if we are not sages, peace outside will surely bring trouble within. Why not leave Chu as an external cause for caution?" On the last day of the month, jiawu, the Chu army pressed up at dawn and formed ranks against the Jin army. The army officers were worried. Fan Gai quickly came forward and said, "Fill in the wells and level the stoves, form ranks in the camp, and open the front of the lines. Jin and Chu, we need only see to whom Heaven gives it; what is there to worry about?" Wenzi took a spear and drove him off, saying, "The survival or fall of the state lies with Heaven. What does a child know?" Luan Shu said, "The Chu army is frivolous; if we fortify our camp and wait, in three days they will surely withdraw. When they withdraw, we attack, and will surely win." Xi Zhi said, "Chu has six openings which must not be lost: the two ministers hate each other; the king's own troops are made up of old men; the Zheng army forms ranks but not in order; the Man form an army but do not draw up ranks; they draw up ranks without avoiding the end of the month; they are clamorous in the ranks, and after joining become more clamorous, each looking behind him, with no heart to fight. The old men are not necessarily good, and they offend Heaven's taboo. We will surely win."

楚子登巢車以望晉軍，子重使大宰伯州犁侍於王后。王曰：“騁而左右，何也？”曰：“召軍吏也。”“皆聚于軍中矣！”曰：“合謀也。”“張幕矣。”

The Viscount of Chu climbed a nest-chariot to look at the Jin army, and Zichong had the Grand Steward Bo Zhouli stand in attendance behind the king. The king said, "They are galloping left and right; what are they doing?" He said, "Summoning the army officers." "They have all gathered in the camp!" He said, "Consulting together." "They have put up the tents."

曰：“虔卜於先君也。”“徹幕矣！”曰：“將發命也。”“甚囂，且塵上矣！”曰：“將塞井夷灶而為行也。”“皆乘矣，左右執兵而下矣！”曰：“聽誓也。”

(Bo Zhouli continued:) "They are divining sincerely before the former rulers." "The tents are taken down!" He said, "They are about to issue orders." "They are very noisy, and dust is rising!" He said, "They are about to fill in the wells and level the stoves and form ranks." "They have all mounted their chariots, and the men on left and right have taken up weapons and dismounted again!" He said, "They are listening to the oath."

“戰乎？”曰：“未可知也。”“乘而左右皆下矣！”曰：“戰禱也。”伯州犁以公卒告王。苗賁皇在晉侯之側，亦以王卒告。皆曰：“國士在，且厚，不可當也。”苗賁皇言於晉侯曰：“楚之良，在其中軍王族而已。請分良以擊其左右，而三軍萃於王卒，必大敗之。”公筮之，史曰：“吉。其卦遇《復》ⅱⅲ，曰：‘南國戚，射其元王中厥目。’國戚王傷，不敗何待？”公從之。有淖於前，乃皆左右相違於淖。步毅御晉厲公，欒針為右。彭名御楚共王，潘黨為右。石首御鄭成公，唐苟為右。欒、範以其族夾公行，陷於淖。欒書將載晉侯，針曰：“書退！國有大任，焉得專之？且侵官，冒也；失官，慢也；離局，奸也。有三罪焉，不可犯也。”乃掀公以出於淖。

"Will they fight?" He said, "It is not yet known." "They have mounted, and the men on left and right have all dismounted again!" He said, "It is a prayer before battle." Bo Zhouli told the king about the Marquis of Jin's own troops. Miao Benhuang, beside the Marquis of Jin, also told the Marquis of Jin about the king of Chu's own troops. The people all said, "Scholars of the state are there, and the men are numerous; they cannot be resisted." Miao Benhuang said to the Marquis of Jin, "The elite of Chu are only in the royal clan in the central army. Please split off our elite to attack its left and right, and have the three armies concentrate on the king's own troops, and we will surely defeat them utterly." The Marquis of Jin divined about this, and the historian said, "Auspicious. The hexagram is Fu, and says: 'The southern state is grieved; shoot its leader, the king, and hit his eye.' The state grieved and the king wounded; what is there to wait for but defeat?" The Marquis of Jin followed this. In front there was a marsh, and so they all avoided it by going to the left and right. Bu Yi drove the chariot for Duke Li of Jin, and Luan Zhen was the spearman at his right. Peng Ming drove for King Gong of Chu, and Pan Dang was his spearman. Shi Shou drove for Duke Cheng of Zheng, and Tang Gou was his spearman. The Luan and Fan clans, bringing their kin, flanked the Marquis of Jin and advanced, and the chariot sank into the mire. Luan Shu wanted the Marquis of Jin to ride in his own chariot, but Zhen said, "Shu, step back! The state has a great charge, how can you take it on alone? Moreover, to encroach on another's office is an offense, to neglect one's office is negligence, and to leave one's post is wickedness. These are three offenses, and they must not be committed." So he lifted the Marquis of Jin's chariot out of the mire.

癸巳，潘尫之黨與養由基蹲甲而射之，徹七札焉。以示王，曰：“君有二臣如此，何憂於戰？”王怒曰：“大辱國。詰朝，爾射，死藝。”呂錡夢射月，中之，退入於泥。占之，曰：“姬姓，日也。異姓，月也，必楚王也。射而中之，退入於泥，亦必死矣。”及戰，射共王，中目。王召養由基，與之兩矢，使射呂錡，中項，伏弢。以一矢覆命。

On guisi, Dang, the son of Pan Wang, and Yang Youji piled up armor and shot through it, piercing seven layers. They showed it to the king, saying, "Your Majesty has two such ministers; what is there to worry about in battle?" The king grew angry and said, "You greatly disgrace the state. Tomorrow morning, when you shoot, you will die by your skill." Lü Qi dreamed of shooting at the moon, hit it, then retreated and sank into mud. He divined, and it was said, "The Ji surname is the sun. The other surnames are the moon, and it must be the king of Chu. You hit it, and retreating sank into mud, so you too will certainly die." When the battle came, he shot King Gong and hit his eye. The king summoned Yang Youji, gave him two arrows, and had him shoot Lü Qi; he hit his neck, and Lü Qi fell upon his bow case. Youji reported back with the remaining arrow.

郤至三遇楚子之卒，見楚子，必下，免冑而趨風。楚子使工尹襄問之以弓，曰：“方事之殷也，有韎韋之跗注，君子也。識見不穀而趨，無乃傷乎？”郤至見客，免冑承命，曰：“君之外臣至，從寡君之戎事，以君之靈，間蒙甲冑，不敢拜命，敢告不寧君命之辱，為事之故，敢肅使者。”三肅使者而退。

Xi Zhi met the troops of the Viscount of Chu three times, and whenever he saw the Viscount of Chu, he dismounted, took off his helmet and hurried away like the wind. The Viscount of Chu sent Gongyin Xiang to greet him with a bow, saying, "In the thick of the fighting, there was one in a light red tanned leather leg-wrap, a gentleman. As soon as he saw me, he hurried away; I fear he may be wounded." Xi Zhi received the visitor, took off his helmet and received the message, saying, "Zhi, the king's outside minister, following our humble ruler's military affairs, relying on the king's divine power, am taking part in wearing armor and helmet; I dare not bow to receive the command, but dare to report my disquiet, and shamed to receive the king's order, on account of military affairs, I dare to make a respectful bow to the envoy." He made three respectful bows to the envoy and withdrew.

晉韓厥從鄭伯，其御杜溷羅曰：“速從之！其御屢顧，不在馬，可及也。”

Han Jue of Jin pursued the Earl of Zheng, and his charioteer Du Hunluo said, "Quick, catch up! His charioteer keeps looking back and is not concentrating on driving the horses; we can overtake him."

韓厥曰：“不可以再辱國君。”乃止。郤至從鄭伯，其右茀翰胡曰：“諜輅之，餘從之乘而俘以下。”郤至曰：“傷國君有刑。”亦止。石首曰：“衛懿公唯不去其旗，是以敗於熒。”乃內旌於弢中。唐苟謂石首曰：“子在君側，敗者壹大。

Han Jue said, "We must not again humiliate a ruler." So he stopped. Xi Zhi pursued the Earl of Zheng, and his spearman Fu Hanhu said, "Send scouts to intercept him, and I will follow his chariot and pull him down." Xi Zhi said, "There is a punishment for harming a ruler." He too stopped. Shi Shou said, "Duke Yi of Wei was defeated at Ying only because he did not take down his banner." So he put the banner into the bow case. Tang Gou said to Shi Shou, "You are beside the ruler; on the defeated side, all attention is on the large target.

我不如子，子以君免，我請止。”乃死。

(Tang Gou continued:) I am not your equal; you take the ruler out of danger, and I ask to stop here." And he died in battle.

楚師薄於險，叔山冉謂養由基曰：“雖君有命，為國故，子必射！”乃射。

The Chu army was pressed onto dangerous ground, and Shushan Ran said to Yang Youji, "Even though the king has given orders, for the sake of the state you must shoot!" So he shot.

再發，盡殪。叔山冉搏人以投，中車，折軾。晉師乃止。囚楚公子茷。

He shot again, and killed all. Shushan Ran seized a man and hurled him, struck a chariot and broke its crossbar. The Jin army then stopped. They imprisoned Prince Fa of Chu.

欒針見子重之旌，請曰：“楚人謂夫旌，子重之麾也。彼其子重也。日臣之使於楚也，子重問晉國之勇。臣對曰：‘好以眾整。’曰：‘又何如？’臣對曰：‘好以暇。’今兩國治戎，行人不使，不可謂整。臨事而食言，不可謂暇。

Luan Zhen saw Zichong's banner and requested, "The men of Chu say that banner is Zichong's standard. That man is Zichong. Formerly, when I went on a mission to Chu, Zichong asked about the courage of Jin. I replied: 'It likes to use its many men in good order.' He said: 'What else?' I replied: 'It likes composure.' Now when two states are in battle, to send no envoy cannot be called order. To fail to keep one's word at the moment of action cannot be called composure.

請攝飲焉。”公許之。使行人執榼承飲，造於子重，曰：“寡君乏使，使針御持矛。是以不得犒從者，使某攝飲。”子重曰：“夫子嘗與吾言於楚，必是故也，不亦識乎！”受而飲之。免使者而復鼓。

(Luan Zhen continued:) Please send someone to deliver wine for me." The Marquis of Jin permitted it. He sent an envoy carrying a wine vessel full of wine to Zichong, saying, "Our humble ruler lacks envoys and has made Zhen carry a spear in the chariot. For that reason he cannot feast your attendants, and has sent so-and-so to deliver wine for him." Zichong said, "That man once spoke with me in Chu, and it must be for this reason; does he not remember well!" He accepted and drank it. He let the envoy go and then sounded the drums again.

旦而戰，見星未已。子反命軍吏察夷傷，補卒乘，繕甲兵，展車馬，雞鳴而食，唯命是聽。晉人患之。苗賁皇徇曰：“蒐乘補卒，秣馬利兵，修陳固列，蓐食申禱，明日復戰。”乃逸楚囚。王聞之，召子反謀。穀陽豎獻飲於子反，子反醉而不能見。王曰：“天敗楚也夫！餘不可以待。”乃宵遁。晉入楚軍，三日谷。

The battle began at dawn and when the stars were seen it was not yet over. Zifan ordered the army officers to examine the wounded, replenish the infantry and chariots, repair armor and weapons, line up chariots and horses, eat at cockcrow, and wait for orders. The men of Jin were worried. Miao Benhuang went about saying, "Inspect the chariots, replenish the soldiers, feed the horses well and sharpen the weapons, arrange the ranks and strengthen the lines, eat early and pray repeatedly, and tomorrow fight again." Then he released the Chu prisoners. The king of Chu heard of it and summoned Zifan to consult. Gu Yang Shu offered wine to Zifan, and Zifan was drunk and could not appear. The king said, "Heaven has Chu defeated! I cannot wait." So he fled by night. The men of Jin entered the Chu camp and ate the captured grain for three days.

範文子立於戎馬之前，曰：“君幼，諸臣不佞，何以及此？君其戒之！《周書》曰‘唯命不於常’，有德之謂。”

Fan Wenzi stood in front of the Marquis of Jin's war horses and said, "Your Majesty is young and the ministers are untalented; how could we have come to this? Your Majesty, be on guard! The Book of Zhou says 'the Mandate of Heaven is not constant,' meaning it goes to the virtuous."

楚師還，及瑕，王使謂子反曰：“先大夫之覆師徒者，君不在。子無以為過，不穀之罪也。”子反再拜稽首曰：“君賜臣死，死且不朽。臣之卒實奔，臣之罪也。”子重複謂子反曰：“初隕師徒者，而亦聞之矣！盍圖之？”對曰：“雖微先大夫有之，大夫命側，側敢不義？側亡君師，敢忘其死。”王使止之，弗及而卒。

The Chu army went back and reached Xia, and the king of Chu sent someone to say to Zifan, "When the former grand officer lost the army, the ruler was not with the troops. Do not think it was your own fault; it is my crime." Zifan bowed twice and touched his head to the ground and said, "Your Majesty grants me death, and I would die honored. My troops did indeed flee, and it is my crime." Zichong also said to Zifan, "You have heard of the one who earlier lost the army! Why not consider it?" He replied, "Even if there were not that affair of the former grand officer, if the grand officer orders Ce, would Ce dare to do something unrighteous? Ce lost the ruler's army and dares not forget that he must die." The king of Chu sent someone to stop him, but did not reach him before he had died.