Duke Xiang (Years 1 to 31)

二月庚寅，寧喜、右宰谷伐孫氏，不克。伯國傷。寧子出舍於郊。伯國死，孫氏夜哭。國人召寧子，寧子復攻孫氏，克之。辛卯，殺子叔及大子角。書曰：“寧喜弒其君剽。”言罪之在寧氏也。孫林父以戚如晉。書曰：“入於戚以叛。”

On the gengyin day of the second month, Ning Xi and Youzai Gu attacked the Sun clan and did not prevail. Boguo was wounded. Master Ning went out and lived in the outskirts. Boguo died, and the Sun clan wept by night. The people of the state summoned Master Ning, and Master Ning attacked the Sun clan again and prevailed. On the xinmao day, they killed Zishu and Crown Prince Jue. The Annals records "Ning Xi killed his ruler, Piao," meaning that the guilt lay with the Ning clan. Sun Linfu went to Jin with Qi. The Annals records "entered Qi and rebelled."

罪孫氏也。臣之祿，君實有之。義則進，否則奉身而退，專祿以周旋，戮也。

This puts the blame on the Sun clan. A minister's salary in fact belongs to the ruler. If it accords with righteousness, one advances; otherwise one protects oneself and withdraws. To monopolize the salary and maneuver is deserving of death.

甲午，衛侯入。書曰：“復歸。”國納之也。大夫逆於竟者，執其手而與之言。道逆者，自車揖之。逆於門者，頷之而已。公至，使讓大叔文子曰：“寡人淹恤在外，二三子皆使寡人朝夕聞衛國之言，吾子獨不在寡人。古人有言曰：‘非所怨勿怨。’寡人怨矣。”對曰：“臣知罪矣！臣不佞不能負羈洩，以紲扌幹牧圉，臣之罪一也。有出者，有居者。臣不能貳，通外內之言以事君，臣之罪二也。有二罪，敢忘其死？”乃行，從近關出。公使止之。

On the jiawu day, the Marquis of Wei entered. The Annals records "returned again," meaning that the state received him. Grand officers who met him at the border took his hand and spoke with him. Those who met him on the road bowed from their chariots. Those who met him at the city gate only nodded. When the duke arrived, he sent someone to reproach Da Shu Wenzi: "While I was in distress abroad, these gentlemen all let me hear of Wei morning and evening, and you alone did not take me to heart. The ancients had a saying: 'Do not resent where resentment is not due.' I have resented." He answered: "Your servant knows his guilt! Your servant is without talent and could not carry the bridle and reins to lead the oxen and horses; this is my first guilt. Some went out and some stayed. Your servant could not have a divided heart and carry words between inside and outside to serve the ruler; this is my second guilt. With two guilts, how would I dare forget death?" So he left, going out by the nearest pass. The duke sent someone to stop him.

衛人侵戚東鄙，孫氏愬於晉，晉戍茅氏。殖綽伐茅氏，殺晉戍三百人。孫蒯追之，弗敢擊。文子曰：“厲之不如！”遂從衛師，敗之圉。雍鉏獲殖綽。復愬於晉。

The people of Wei raided the eastern border of Qi, and the Sun clan appealed to Jin, and Jin garrisoned Maoshi. Zhi Chuo attacked Maoshi and killed three hundred Jin garrison soldiers. Sun Kuai pursued but did not dare to attack. Wenzi said: "You are worse than a ghost!" So he pursued the Wei army and defeated it at Yu. Yong Chu captured Zhi Chuo. Again they appealed to Jin.

鄭伯賞入陳之功。三月甲寅朔，享子展，賜之先路、三命之服，先八邑。賜子產次路、再命之服，先六邑。子產辭邑，曰：“自上以下，隆殺以兩，禮也。

The Earl of Zheng rewarded the achievement of entering Chen. On the first day of the third month, the jiayin day, he feasted Zizhan and gave him the first carriage and the robes of the third rank, with eight cities to begin with. He gave Zichan the second carriage and the robes of the second rank, with six cities to begin with. Zichan declined the cities, saying: "From above to below, the grandeur is reduced by twos in steps; this is ritual.

臣之位在四，且子展之功也。臣不敢及及賞禮，請辭邑。”公固予之，乃受三邑。

My place is fourth, and moreover it was Zizhan's achievement. Your servant dares not reach for the ritual of the reward; I beg to decline the cities." (The base text has a doubled character here, a copyist's error.) The duke insisted on giving, and so he accepted three cities.

公孫揮曰：“子產其將知政矣！讓不失禮。”

Gongsun Hui said: "Zichan will probably take charge of the government! He is modest and does not lose ritual."

晉人為孫氏故，召諸侯，將以討衛也。夏，中行穆子來聘，召公也。

Because of the Sun clan, the people of Jin summoned the lords and were about to punish Wei. In summer, Zhonghang Muzi came on a courtesy visit, which was a summons to Duke Xiang.

楚子、秦人侵吳，及雩婁，聞吳有備而還。遂侵鄭，五月，至於城麇。鄭皇頡戍之，出，與楚師戰，敗。穿封戌囚皇頡，公子圍與之爭之。正於伯州犁，伯州犁曰：“請問於囚。”乃立囚。伯州犁曰：“所爭，君子也，其何不知？”上其手，曰：“夫子為王子圍，寡君之貴介弟也。”下其手，曰：“此子為穿封戌，方城外之縣尹也。誰獲子？”囚曰：“頡遇王子，弱焉。”戌怒，抽戈逐王子圍，弗及。楚人以皇頡歸。

The Viscount of Chu and the people of Qin raided Wu, reached Yulou, and heard that Wu was prepared and went back. They then raided Zheng, and in the fifth month reached Chengjun. Huang Jie of Zheng was on garrison duty, went out of the city to fight with the Chu army and was defeated. Chuanfeng Xu took Huang Jie prisoner, and Prince Wei contended with him for the credit. They asked Bo Zhouli to judge, and Bo Zhouli said: "Please ask the prisoner." So he had the prisoner stand. Bo Zhouli said: "Those contending are gentlemen; what would they not know?" He raised his hand and said: "That gentleman is Prince Wei, the honored younger brother of our lord." He lowered his hand and said: "This one is Chuanfeng Xu, a county magistrate beyond Fangcheng. Who captured you?" The prisoner said: "Jie met the prince and was no match for him." Xu was angry, drew his dagger-axe and chased Prince Wei, but did not catch him. The people of Chu took Huang Jie back with them.

印堇父與皇頡戍城麇，楚人囚之，以獻於秦。鄭人取貨於印氏以請之，子大叔為令正，以為請。子產曰：“不獲。受楚之功而取貨於鄭，不可謂國，秦不其然。若曰：‘拜君之勤鄭國，微君之惠，楚師其猶在敝邑之城下。’其可。”弗從，遂行。秦人不予。更幣，從子產而後獲之。

Yin Jinfu and Huang Jie were on garrison duty at Chengjun, and the people of Chu imprisoned him and presented him to Qin. The people of Zheng sought wealth from the Yin clan to request his release, and Zi Dashu was Director of Orders and made the request with it. Zichan said: "You will not get him. To accept Chu's merit and then take wealth from Zheng cannot be called a state, and Qin will not do this. If you say: 'We bow in thanks for Your Lordship's labor on behalf of Zheng; without Your Lordship's kindness, the Chu army would perhaps still be beneath our humble city,' that would do." He did not follow this and went. The people of Qin did not release him. He changed the gift and followed Zichan's advice, and then got him.

六月，公會晉趙武、宋向戌、鄭良霄、曹人於澶淵以討衛，疆戚田。取衛西鄙懿氏六十以與孫氏。趙武不書，尊公也。向戌不書，後也。鄭先宋，不失所也。

In the sixth month, Duke Xiang met Zhao Wu of Jin, Xiang Xu of Song, Liang Xiao of Zheng and the men of Cao at Chanyuan to punish Wei, and fixed the boundary fields of Qi. They took sixty cities of Yishi on Wei's western border and gave them to the Sun clan. The Annals does not record Zhao Wu, out of respect for Duke Xiang. It does not record Xiang Xu, because he arrived late. Zheng is placed before Song because it had not lost its place.

於是衛侯會之。晉人執寧喜、北宮遺，使女齊以先歸。衛侯如晉，晉人執而囚之於士弱氏。

At the time the Marquis of Wei attended the meeting. The people of Jin seized Ning Xi and Beigong Yi and had Nüqi take them back first. The Marquis of Wei went to Jin, and the people of Jin seized and imprisoned him in the house of Shi Ruo.

秋七月，齊侯、鄭伯為衛侯故，如晉，晉侯兼享之。晉侯賦《嘉樂》。國景子相齊侯，賦《蓼蕭》。子展相鄭伯，賦《緇衣》。叔向命晉侯拜二君曰：“寡君敢拜齊君之安我先君之宗祧也，敢拜鄭君之不貳也。”國子使晏平仲私於叔向，曰：“晉君宣其明德於諸侯，恤其患而補其闕，正其違而治其煩，所以為盟主也。

In autumn, in the seventh month, the Marquis of Qi and the Earl of Zheng went to Jin on behalf of the Marquis of Wei, and the Marquis of Jin feasted them together. The Marquis of Jin recited "Joyful." Guo Jingzi assisted the Marquis of Qi and recited "Luxiao." Zizhan assisted the Earl of Zheng and recited "Black Robes." Shu Xiang had the Marquis of Jin bow in thanks to the two rulers, saying: "Our lord dares to thank the lord of Qi for settling our former lords' ancestral temple, and dares to thank the lord of Zheng for having no divided heart." Guo Zi had Yan Pingzhong say privately to Shu Xiang: "The lord of Jin proclaims bright virtue to the lords, shows concern for distress, makes up for deficiencies, corrects errors and orders disorder, and so is leader of the covenant.

今為臣執君，若之何？”叔向告趙文子，文子以告晉侯。晉侯言衛侯之罪，使叔向告二君。國子賦《轡之柔矣》，子展賦《將仲子兮》，晉侯乃許歸衛侯。叔向曰：“鄭七穆，罕氏其後亡者也。子展儉而壹。”

Now, for the sake of a minister, he has seized a ruler; what is to be done?" Shu Xiang told Zhao Wenzi, and Wenzi told the Marquis of Jin. The Marquis of Jin stated the crimes of the Marquis of Wei and sent Shu Xiang to tell the two rulers. Guo Zi recited "The Reins Are Soft," Zizhan recited "I Beg You, Zhong Zi," and the Marquis of Jin then agreed to release the Marquis of Wei. Shu Xiang said: "Among the seven Mu houses of Zheng, the Han clan will be the last to perish. Zizhan is frugal and single-minded."

初，宋芮司徒生女子，赤而毛，棄諸堤下，共姬之妾取以入，名之曰棄。長而美。平公入夕，共姬與之食。公見棄也，而視之，尤。姬納諸御，嬖，生佐。

Earlier, Rui, the Minister of the Masses of Song, had a daughter whose skin was red and covered with hair, and he threw her away beneath an embankment. A concubine of Gong Ji took her in and named her Qi. When she grew up she was beautiful. Duke Ping went in at night and Gong Ji was dining with him. The duke saw Qi, looked at her, and found her especially beautiful. Ji sent her into the ranks of the consorts. She was favored and bore Zuo.

惡而婉。大子痤美而很，合左師畏而惡之。寺人惠牆伊戾為大子內師而無寵。

His appearance was ugly but he was gentle. The crown prince Cuo was handsome but fierce, and the Master of the Left, He, feared and loathed him. The eunuch Hui Qiangyi Li was the crown prince's inner tutor but was not favored.

秋，楚客聘於晉，過宋。大子知之，請野享之。公使往，伊戾請從之。公曰：“夫不惡女乎？”對曰：“小人之事君子也，惡之不敢遠，好之不敢近。敬以待命，敢有貳心乎？縱有共其外，莫共其內，臣請往也。”遣之。至，則臽欠，用牲，加書，徵之，而聘告公曰：“大子將為亂，既與楚客盟矣。”公曰：“為我子，又何求？”對曰：“欲速。”公使視之，則信有焉。問諸夫人與左師，則皆曰：“固聞之。”公囚大子。大子曰：“唯佐也能免我。”召而使請，曰：“日中不來，吾知死矣。”左師聞之，聒而與之語。過期，乃縊而死。佐為大子。公徐聞其無罪也，乃亨伊戾。

In autumn, a guest from Chu went to Jin on a courtesy visit, passing through Song. The crown prince was acquainted with him and asked to feast him in the countryside. The duke let him go, and Yi Li asked to accompany him. The duke said: "Does he not loathe you?" He answered: "A petty man who serves a gentleman does not dare keep far from what he hates nor come near what he likes. I will respectfully await orders; would I dare have a divided heart? Even if someone supplies things outside, there is no one to supply them inside; I beg to go." He was sent. On arriving, he dug a pit, made a sacrifice, added a covenant text, took them as evidence, ran to tell the duke, and said: "The crown prince is about to rebel; he has already made a covenant with the Chu guest." (The base text has a variant character for the pit.) The duke said: "He is my son; what more does he seek?" He answered: "He wants it quickly." The duke sent someone to look, and it was indeed so. He asked the consort and the Master of the Left, and both said: "We had heard of it." The duke imprisoned the crown prince. The crown prince said: "Only Zuo can save me." He summoned him and had him make a request, saying: "If you do not come by noon, I will know I am to die." The Master of the Left heard of this and chatted with him at length. The deadline passed and the crown prince hanged himself and died. Zuo became crown prince. The duke gradually heard that he had been innocent, and so he boiled Yi Li alive.

左師見夫人之步馬者，問之，對曰：“君夫人氏也。”左師曰：“誰為君夫人？餘胡弗知？”圉人歸，以告夫人。夫人使饋之錦與馬，先之以玉，曰：“君之妾棄使某獻。”左師改命曰：“君夫人。”而後再拜稽首受之。

The Master of the Left saw the consort's horse groom and asked him, and he answered: "It is the Lady of the Ruler." The Master of the Left said: "Who is the Lady of the Ruler? Why do I not know?" The groom went back and told the consort. The consort sent brocade and horses as a gift, first presenting jade, and said: "Qi, the concubine of the ruler, sends so-and-so to offer these." The Master of the Left changed his form of address and said: "Lady of the Ruler." Then he bowed twice, kowtowed and accepted.

鄭伯歸自晉，使子西如晉聘，辭曰：“寡君來煩執事，懼不免於戾，使夏謝不敏。”君子曰：“善事大國。”

The Earl of Zheng returned from Jin and sent Zi Xi to Jin on a diplomatic visit, with the message: "Our humble ruler came and troubled Your Lordship's officials, and feared he would not escape blame, and so sent Xia to thank you for his lack of acuity." The gentleman said: "He is good at serving a great state."

初，楚伍參與蔡太師子朝友，其子伍舉與聲子相善也。伍舉娶於王子牟，王子牟為申公而亡，楚人曰：“伍舉實送之。”伍舉奔鄭，將遂奔晉。聲子將如晉，遇之於鄭郊，班荊相與食，而言復故。聲子曰：“子行也！吾必復子。”及宋向戌將平晉、楚，聲子通使於晉。還如楚，令尹子木與之語，問晉故焉，且曰：“晉大夫與楚孰賢？”對曰：“晉卿不如楚，其大夫則賢，皆卿材也。如杞、梓、皮革，自楚往也。雖楚有材，晉實用之。”子木曰：“夫獨無族姻乎？”對曰：“雖有，而用楚材實多。歸生聞之：‘善為國者，賞不僣而刑不濫。’賞僣，則懼及淫人；刑濫，則懼及善人。若不幸而過，寧僣無濫。與其失善，寧其利淫。

Earlier, Wu Can of Chu was friendly with Zi Chao, the Grand Master of Cai, and his son Wu Ju was friendly with Sheng Zi. Wu Ju took as wife the daughter of Prince Mou. Prince Mou, who was Lord of Shen, fled, and the people of Chu said: "In fact it was Wu Ju who sent him away." Wu Ju fled to Zheng and was about to flee on to Jin. Sheng Zi was about to go to Jin, and met him in the suburbs of Zheng; they spread brambles, sat and ate together, and talked about returning to his state. Sheng Zi said: "Go on! I will certainly have you return." When Xiang Xu of Song was about to bring about peace between Jin and Chu, Sheng Zi went to Jin as an envoy. On returning to Chu, the Prime Minister Zi Mu spoke with him and asked about Jin, and said: "Which are more worthy, the high officials of Jin or of Chu?" He replied: "The ministers of Jin are not as good as those of Chu, but its high officials are worthy, all of ministerial caliber. Like the qi and zi trees and leather, they go from Chu. Although Chu has talented people, in fact it is Jin that uses them." Zi Mu said: "Do they not have kinsmen and in-laws?" He replied: "Although they do, in using Chu's talent they are truly many. Gui Sheng has heard: 'One who is good at governing a state does not give rewards excessively and does not punish excessively.' If rewards are excessive, one fears they fall on the licentious; if punishments are excessive, one fears they fall on good people. If, unfortunately, one goes too far, it is better to err on the side of excessive reward than excessive punishment. Rather than lose good people, it is better to benefit the licentious.

無善人，則國從之。《詩》曰：‘人之雲亡，邦國殄瘁。’無善人之謂也。故《夏書》曰：‘與其殺不辜，寧失不經。’懼失善也。《商頌》有之曰：‘不僣不濫，不敢怠皇，命於下國，封建厥福。’此湯所以獲天福也。古之治民者，勸賞而畏刑，恤民不倦。賞以春夏，刑以秋冬。是以將賞，為之加膳，加膳則飫賜，此以知其勸賞也。將刑，為之不舉，不舉則徹樂，此以知其畏刑也。夙興夜寐，朝夕臨政，此以知其恤民也。三者，禮之大節也。有禮無敗。今楚多淫刑，其大夫逃死於四方，而為之謀主，以害楚國，不可救療，所謂不能也。子儀之亂，析公奔晉。晉人置諸戎車之殿，以為謀主。繞角之役，晉將遁矣，析公曰：‘楚師輕窕，易震盪也。若多鼓鈞聲，以夜軍之，楚師必遁。’晉人從之，楚師宵潰。

Without good people, the state follows to its end. The Ode says: 'When the people are lost, the state is distressed.' This refers to having no good people. Therefore the Book of Xia says: 'Rather than kill the innocent, it is better to lose one who does not keep the constant law.' This is the fear of losing good people. The Hymns of Shang have the words: 'Not excessive and not extravagant, not daring to be negligent or hasty, he commands the lower states and distributes those blessings.' This is why Tang obtained Heaven's blessing. In ancient times, those who governed the people were diligent in rewards and in awe of punishment, and tireless in caring for the people. Rewards were in spring and summer, punishments in autumn and winter. Therefore when about to give a reward, he would add to his meals, and when meals were added he would give generously to the full; thus one knew he was diligent in rewards. When about to impose punishment, he would for this reason not slaughter animals or serve a full feast, and without a full feast he would have the music removed; thus one knew he was in awe of punishment. Rising early and retiring late, attending to government morning and evening, one knew he cared for the people. These three are the great principles of ritual. With ritual there is no ruin. Now Chu has many excessive punishments, and its high officials flee from death to the four quarters and become the chief planners there, to harm Chu, which cannot be remedied; this is what is called incompetence. In the disorder of Zi Yi, Xi Gong fled to Jin. The people of Jin placed him behind the war chariots and made him chief planner. In the battle of Raojiao, when Jin was about to flee, Xi Gong said: 'The Chu army is frivolous and easily shaken. If drums are beaten in many places with the same sound and the whole army attacks at night, the Chu army will certainly flee.' The people of Jin followed this, and the Chu army collapsed in the night.

晉遂侵蔡，襲沈，獲其君；敗申、息之師於桑隧，獲申麗而還。鄭於是不敢南面。

Jin then invaded Cai, raided Shen and captured its ruler; at Sangsui it defeated the armies of Shen and Xi, captured Shen Liran, and went back. Zheng then did not dare to go south.

楚失華夏，則析公之為也。雍子之父兄譖雍子，君與大夫不善是也。雍子奔晉。

That Chu lost the Chinese states was the doing of Xi Gong. The father and elder brother of Yong Zi slandered Yong Zi, and the ruler and high officials could not handle it properly. Yong Zi fled to Jin.

晉人與之鄐，以為謀主。彭城之役，晉、楚遇於靡角之谷。晉將遁矣。雍子發命于軍曰：‘歸老幼，反孤疾，二人役，歸一人，簡兵蒐乘，秣馬蓐食，師陳焚次，明日將戰。’行歸者而逸楚囚，楚師宵潰。晉降彭城而歸諸宋，以魚石歸。

The people of Jin gave him Zhu and made him chief planner. In the battle of Pengcheng, Jin and Chu met in the valley of Mijiao. Jin was about to flee. Yong Zi issued orders to the army: 'The old and the young go back, orphans and the sick return, of two men from one household serving, one goes back; select the soldiers, review the chariots, feed the horses and have the men eat their fill, the army will form ranks and burn the camp, and tomorrow we shall fight.' He let those who were to go back leave and released the Chu prisoners, and the Chu army collapsed in the night. Jin subdued Pengcheng and returned it to Song, and went back with Yu Shi.

楚失東夷，子辛死之，則雍子之為也。子反與子靈爭夏姬，而雍害其事，子靈奔晉。晉人與之邢，以為謀主。扞禦北狄，通吳於晉，教吳叛楚，教之乘車、射御、驅侵，使其子孤庸為吳行人焉。吳於是伐巢、取駕、克棘、入州來，楚罷於奔命，至今為患，則子靈之為也。若敖之亂，伯賁之子賁皇奔晉。晉人與之苗，以為謀主。鄢陵之役，楚晨壓晉軍而陳，晉將遁矣。苗賁皇曰：‘楚師之良，在其中軍王族而已。若塞井夷灶，成陳以當之，欒、範易行以誘之，中行、二郤必克二穆。

That Chu lost the eastern Yi, for which Zi Xin died, was the doing of Yong Zi. Zi Fan and Zi Ling contended over Xia Ji, and he obstructed Zi Ling's affair, so Zi Ling fled to Jin. The people of Jin gave him Xing and made him chief planner. He resisted the northern Di, had Wu communicate with Jin, taught Wu to rebel against Chu, taught them to ride in chariots, shoot, drive and gallop in raids, and had his son Hu Yong serve as Wu's envoy. Wu then attacked Chao, took Jia, conquered Ji, and entered Zhoulai, and Chu was worn out running to respond, and it is still a calamity today; this was the doing of Zi Ling. In the disorder of Ruoao, Bo Ben's son Ben Huang fled to Jin. The people of Jin gave him Miao and made him chief planner. In the battle of Yanling, the Chu army pressed upon the Jin army's formation in the morning, and Jin was about to flee. Miao Benhuang said: 'The excellence of the Chu army lies only in its central army, the royal clan. If we fill in wells and level stoves, form ranks to resist, with Luan and Fan changing their lines to lure them, then Zhonghang and the two Xi will certainly defeat the two Mu clans.

吾乃四萃於其王族，必大敗之。’晉人從之，楚師大敗，王夷師熸，子反死之。

We then concentrate from all four sides on the royal clan and are certain to defeat them badly.' The people of Jin followed this, the Chu army was badly defeated, the king was wounded, the army's morale was extinguished, and Zi Fan died of it.

鄭叛吳興，楚失諸侯，則苗賁皇之為也。”子木曰：“是皆然矣。”聲子曰：“今又有甚於此。椒舉娶於申公子牟，子牟得戾而亡，君大夫謂椒舉：‘女實遣之！’懼而奔鄭，引領南望曰：‘庶幾赦餘！’亦弗圖也。今在晉矣。晉人將與之縣，以比叔向。彼若謀害楚國，豈不為患？”子木懼，言諸王，益其祿爵而復之。聲子使椒鳴逆之。

That Zheng rebelled, Wu rose, and Chu lost the feudal lords was the doing of Miao Benhuang." Zi Mu said: "All this is true." Sheng Zi said: "Now there is something worse than this. Jiao Ju took the daughter of Prince Mou of Shen as wife, and Prince Mou committed an offense and fled, and the king and high officials said to Jiao Ju: 'In fact it was you who sent him off!' Fearful, he fled to Zheng, craned his neck toward the south and said: 'Perhaps I shall be pardoned!' He did not scheme either. Now he is in Jin. The people of Jin are about to give him a county, to match Shu Xiang. If he plots to harm Chu, will that not be a calamity?" Zi Mu was afraid, told the king, and increased his stipend and rank to let him return. Sheng Zi sent Jiao Ming to meet him.

許靈公如楚，請伐鄭，曰：“師不興，孤不歸矣！”八月，卒於楚。楚子曰：“不伐鄭，何以求諸侯？”冬十月，楚子伐鄭。鄭人將御之，子產曰：“晉、楚將平，諸侯將和，楚王是故昧於一來。不如使逞而歸，乃易成也。夫小人之性，釁於勇，嗇於禍，以足其性而求名焉者，非國家之利也。若何從之？”子展說，不禦寇。十二月乙酉，入南里，墮其城。涉於樂氏，門於師之梁。縣門發，獲九人焉。涉入氾而歸，而後葬許靈公。

Duke Ling of Xu went to Chu and asked to attack Zheng, saying: "If the army does not move, I shall not go back!" In the eighth month he died in Chu. The Viscount of Chu said: "If we do not attack Zheng, what shall we use to seek the feudal lords?" In winter, in the tenth month, the Viscount of Chu attacked Zheng. The people of Zheng were about to resist, but Zi Chan said: "Jin and Chu are about to make peace and the feudal lords will be harmonious, and the king of Chu has come on this one occasion rashly for that reason. It is better to let him succeed and go back, and then it will be easy to achieve success. The nature of petty men is to pick quarrels over bravery and to be stingy over misfortune, using these to satisfy their nature and seek fame; this is not the benefit of a state. How can we follow them?" Zi Zhan was pleased and did not resist the invaders. In the twelfth month, on the day yiyou, they entered Nanli and tore down its wall. They crossed the river at Leshi and attacked Shiliang. The portcullis was lowered, and nine men were captured. They crossed the river, entered Fan and went back, and then buried Duke Ling of Xu.

衛人歸衛姬於晉，乃釋衛侯。君子是以知平公之失政也。

The people of Wei sent Wei Ji to Jin, and so released the Marquis of Wei. The gentleman therefore knew that Duke Ping had lost his hold on government.

晉韓宣子聘於周。王使請事。對曰：“晉士起將歸時事於宰旅，無他事矣。”

Han Xuanzi of Jin went to Zhou on a diplomatic visit. The Son of Heaven sent someone to ask what business he had. He replied: "Qi, a officer of Jin, is about to deliver the tribute of the four seasons to the officials of the royal household; there is no other business."

王聞之曰：“韓氏其昌阜於晉乎！辭不失舊。”

The Son of Heaven heard of it and said: "The Han clan will probably flourish in Jin! His words do not lose the old canons."

齊人城郟之歲，其夏，齊烏餘以廩丘奔晉，襲衛羊角，取之；遂襲我高魚。

In the year that the people of Qi built the wall of Jia, in summer of that year, Wu Yu of Qi took Linqiu and went over to Jin, raided Yangjiao of Wei and took it, and then raided Gaoyu of our state.

有大雨，自其竇入，介於其庫，以登其城，克而取之。又取邑於宋。於是範宣子卒，諸侯弗能治也，及趙文子為政，乃卒治之。文子言於晉侯曰：“晉為盟主。

There was heavy rain, and they went in through the water channel of the city wall, put on armor in the arsenal, climbed the wall, conquered and took it. They also took cities from Song. At that time Fan Xuanzi died, and the feudal lords could not be governed, until Zhao Wenzi took charge of government, and finally order was restored. Wenzi said to the Marquis of Jin: "Jin is the leader of the covenant.

諸侯或相侵也，則討而使歸其地。今烏餘之邑，皆討類也，而貪之，是無以為盟主也。請歸之！”公曰：“諾。孰可使也？”對曰：“胥梁帶能無用師。”晉侯使往。

When feudal lords attack one another, we punish them and have them return the land. Now Wu Yu's cities are all of a kind that should be punished, and yet we covet them; in this way we cannot be leader of the covenant. Please return them!" The duke said: "Good. Who can be sent?" He replied: "Xu Liangdai can do it without using an army." The Marquis of Jin sent him.

【經】二十有七春，齊侯使慶封聘。夏，叔孫豹會晉趙武、楚屈建、蔡公孫歸生、衛石惡、陳孔奐、鄭良霄、許人、曹人於宋。衛殺其大夫寧喜。衛侯之弟鱄出奔晉。秋七月辛巳，豹及諸侯之大夫盟於宋。冬十有二月乙卯朔，日有食之。

[Classic] In the twenty-seventh year, in spring, the Marquis of Qi sent Qing Feng on a diplomatic visit. [Note: the original text lacks the word "year" after "twenty-seven".] In summer, Shusun Bao met Zhao Wu of Jin, Qu Jian of Chu, Gongsun Gui Sheng of Cai, Shi E of Wei, Kong Huan of Chen, Liang Xiao of Zheng, the people of Xu and the people of Cao in Song. Wei killed its high official Ning Xi. Zhuan, the younger brother of the Marquis of Wei, fled to Jin. In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day xinsi, Bao and the high officials of the feudal lords made a covenant in Song. In winter, in the twelfth month, on the new moon day yimao, there was a solar eclipse.

【傳】二十七年春，胥梁帶使諸喪邑者具具車徒以受地，必周。使烏余車徒以受封，烏餘以眾出。使諸侯偽效烏餘之封者，而遂執之，盡獲之。皆取其邑而歸諸侯，諸侯是以睦於晉。

[Commentary] In the twenty-seventh year, in spring, Xu Liangdai had those who had lost cities prepare chariots and infantry to receive the land, and it must be thorough. He had Wu Yu's chariots and infantry receive the fief, and Wu Yu came out with his men. He had the feudal lords' men pretend to present Wu Yu's fief, and then seized him and captured them all. All the cities were taken back and returned to the feudal lords, and the feudal lords therefore became harmonious with Jin.

齊慶封來聘，其車美。孟孫謂叔孫曰：“慶季之車，不亦美乎？”叔孫曰：“豹聞之：‘服美不稱，必以惡終。’美車何為？”叔孫與慶封食，不敬。為賦《相鼠》，亦不知也。衛寧喜專，公患之。公孫免餘請殺之。公曰：“微寧子不及此，吾與之言矣。事未可知，只成惡名，止也。”對曰：“臣殺之，君勿與知。”

Qing Feng of Qi came on a diplomatic visit, and his carriage was splendid. Meng Sun said to Shu Sun: "Is Qing Ji's carriage not splendid?" Shu Sun said: "Bao has heard: 'When clothing and carriage are splendid but do not match one's virtue, one will certainly come to a bad end.' What is a splendid carriage for?" Shu Sun feasted Qing Feng and was not respectful. For this he recited the ode Xiangshu, but he did not understand it either. In Wei, Ning Xi monopolized power, and the duke was troubled. Gongsun Mianyu asked to kill him. The duke said: "Without Ning Zi we would not have reached this point, and I have spoken with him. The matter cannot be known, and it will only bring a bad name; stop." He replied: "Your servant will kill him, and Your Lordship need not know of it."

乃與公孫無地、公孫臣謀，使攻寧氏。弗克，皆死。公曰：“臣也無罪，父子死餘矣！”夏，免餘復攻寧氏，殺寧喜及右宰谷，屍諸朝。石惡將會宋之盟，受命而出。衣其屍，枕之股而哭之。欲斂以亡，懼不免，且曰：“受命矣。”乃行。

So he plotted with Gongsun Wudi and Gongsun Chen and sent them to attack the Ning clan. They did not succeed and both died. The duke said: "The ministers were without fault, yet father and son died for me!" In summer, Mianyu attacked the Ning clan again and killed Ning Xi and the Right Steward Gu, and displayed their corpses at court. Shi E, about to attend the meeting in Song, received orders and went out. They dressed him in his clothes, and he wept with his head on the thigh. He wanted to flee after the burial, but feared he would not escape, and said: "I have already received the orders." So he left.

子鮮曰：“逐我者出，納我者死，賞罰無章，何以沮勸？君失其信，而國無刑。不亦難乎！且鱄實使之。”遂出奔晉。公使止之，不可。及河，又使止之。

Zi Xian said: "Those who drove me out have left, and those who took me in have died; rewards and punishments have no rule, so how can evil be stopped and good encouraged? The ruler has lost good faith and the state has no punishments. Is that not hard! Besides, in fact it was Zhuan who caused him to do this." So he fled to Jin. The duke sent someone to stop him, but he would not be stopped. When he reached the Yellow River, the duke again sent someone to stop him.

止使者而盟於河，托於木門，不鄉衛國而坐。木門大夫勸之仕，不可，曰：“仕而廢其事，罪也。從之，昭吾所以出也。將準愬乎？吾不可以立於人之朝矣。”

The messenger who stopped him made a covenant with him at the Yellow River, and he lodged at Mumen and did not sit facing Wei. The high official of Mumen urged him to take office, but he would not, saying: "To take office and neglect its duties is a crime. To follow the duties would reveal the reason I left. To whom would I appeal? I cannot stand in another man's court." [Note: the original text has a variant form for the word "who".]

終身不仕。公喪之，如稅服，終身。

He never held office for the rest of his life. The duke wore mourning for him, like the mourning of a lower grade, until the end of the duke's life.

公與免餘邑六十，辭曰：“唯卿備百邑，臣六十矣。下有上祿，亂也，臣弗敢聞。且寧子唯多邑，故死。臣懼死之速及也。”公固與之，受其半。以為少師。

The duke gave Mianyu sixty towns, but he declined, saying: "Only a minister is equipped with a hundred towns, and your servant already has sixty. For a lower rank to have the stipend of a higher rank is disorder, and your servant dares not hear of it. Besides, Ning Zi died only because he had many towns. Your servant fears death would come quickly." The duke insisted on giving, and he accepted half. He became Junior Preceptor.

公使為卿，辭曰：“大叔儀不貳，能贊大事。君其命之！”乃使文子為卿。

The duke wished to make him a minister, but he declined, saying: "Da Shuyi has no divided loyalty and can assist in great affairs. Your Lordship should rather command him!" So Wenzi was made a minister.

宋向戌善於趙文子，又善於令尹子木，欲弭諸侯之兵以為名。如晉，告趙孟。

Xiang Xu of Song was on good terms with Zhao Wenzi and also with the Prime Minister Zi Mu, and wished to stop the armies of the feudal lords in order to gain a reputation. He went to Jin and told Zhao Meng.

趙孟謀於諸大夫，韓宣子曰：“兵，民之殘也，財用之蠹，小國之大災也。將或弭之，雖曰不可，必將許之。弗許，楚將許之，以召諸侯，則我失為盟主矣。”

Zhao Meng consulted with the various high officials, and Han Xuanzi said: "War harms the people, is a weevil on resources, and is a great calamity for small states. If someone is going to stop it, even if we say it is impossible, we must agree. If we do not agree, Chu will agree and summon the feudal lords, and we shall lose our position as leader of the covenant."

晉人許之。如楚，楚亦許之。如齊，齊人難之。陳文子曰：“晉、楚許之，我焉得已。且人曰弭兵，而我弗許，則固攜吾民矣！將焉用之？”齊人許之。告於秦，秦亦許之。皆告於小國，為會於宋。

The people of Jin agreed. He went to Chu, and Chu also agreed. He went to Qi, and the people of Qi found it difficult. Chen Wenzi said: "Jin and Chu have agreed; how can we refuse? Besides, if others speak of stopping war and we do not agree, we would be alienating our own people! What use would that be?" The people of Qi agreed. He informed Qin, and Qin also agreed. All the small states were informed, and they met in Song.

五月甲辰，晉趙武至於宋。丙午，鄭良霄至。六月丁未朔，宋人享趙文子，叔向為介。司馬置折俎，禮也。仲尼使舉是禮也，以為多文辭。戊申，叔孫豹、齊慶封、陳須無、衛石惡至。甲寅，晉荀盈從趙武至。丙辰，邾悼公至。壬戌，楚公子黑肱先至，成言於晉。丁卯，宋向戌如陳，從子木成言於楚。戊辰，滕成公至。子木謂向戌：“請晉、楚之從交相見也。”庚午，向戌復於趙孟。趙孟曰：“晉、楚、齊、秦，匹也。晉之不能於齊，猶楚之不能於秦也。楚君若能使秦君辱於敝邑，寡君敢不固請於齊？”壬申，左師復言於子木。子木使馹謁諸王，王曰：“釋齊、秦，他國請相見也。”秋七月戊寅，左師至。是夜也，趙孟及子皙盟，以齊言。庚辰，子木至自陳。陳孔奐、蔡公孫歸生至。曹、許之大夫皆至。

In the fifth month, on the day jiachen, Zhao Wu of Jin arrived in Song. On bingwu, Liang Xiao of Zheng arrived. In the sixth month, on the new moon day dingwei, the people of Song feasted Zhao Wenzi, with Shu Xiang as his deputy. The Minister of War set out the cut-up offerings, which was in accord with ritual. Zhongni had this ritual recorded, considering the language of it ample. On wushen, Shusun Bao, Qing Feng of Qi, Chen Xuwu, and Shi E of Wei arrived. On jiayin, Xun Ying of Jin arrived following Zhao Wu. On bingchen, Duke Dao of Zhu arrived. On renxu, Gongzi Heigong of Chu arrived first and reached agreement with Jin. On dingmao, Xiang Xu of Song went to Chen and reached agreement with Chu following Zi Mu. On wuchen, Duke Cheng of Teng arrived. Zi Mu said to Xiang Xu: "Please have the allies of Jin and Chu pay court to each other." On gengwu, Xiang Xu reported back to Zhao Meng. Zhao Meng said: "Jin, Chu, Qi and Qin are equals. Jin cannot command Qi, just as Chu cannot command Qin. If the ruler of Chu can have the ruler of Qin condescend to visit our humble city, how could our humble ruler dare not firmly request Qi?" On renshen, the Left Chief Minister spoke again to Zi Mu. Zi Mu sent a post carriage to ask the king, and the king said: "Leave aside Qi and Qin; let the other states pay court to each other." In autumn, in the seventh month, on wuyin, the Left Chief Minister arrived. That night, Zhao Meng and Zi Xi made a covenant, unifying the wording. On gengchen, Zi Mu arrived from Chen. Kong Huan of Chen and Gongsun Gui Sheng of Cai arrived. The high officials of Cao and Xu all arrived.

以藩為軍，晉、楚各處其偏。伯夙謂趙孟曰：“楚氛甚惡，懼難。”趙孟曰：“吾左還，入於宋，若我何？”辛巳，將盟於宋西門之外，楚人衷甲。伯州犁曰：“合諸侯之師，以為不信，無乃不可乎？夫諸侯望信於楚，是以來服。若不信，是棄其所以服諸侯也。”固請釋甲。子木曰：“晉、楚無信久矣，事利而已。苟得志焉，焉用有信？”大宰退，告人曰：“令尹將死矣，不及三年。求逞志而棄信，志將逞乎？志以發言，言以出信，信以立志，參以定之。信亡，何以及三？”趙孟患楚衷甲，以告叔向。

They used hedges as the camp, with Jin and Chu each on one side. Bo Su said to Zhao Meng: "The mood among Chu is very bad; I fear trouble." Zhao Meng said: "If I turn left and enter Song, what can they do to me?" On xinsi, they were to make the covenant outside the west gate of Song, and the people of Chu wore armor under their clothes. Bo Zhouli said: "We have assembled the armies of the feudal lords, yet do something faithless; is that not improper? The feudal lords look to Chu for good faith, and so have come to submit. If there is no good faith, it is to discard what made the feudal lords submit." He insisted on asking that the armor be removed. Zi Mu said: "Jin and Chu have long been without good faith; one only looks at whether things are advantageous. If one gets one's ambition, what need is there for good faith?" The Grand Steward withdrew and told others: "The Prime Minister is going to die, within three years. He seeks to fulfill his ambition yet discards good faith; can his ambition then be fulfilled? Ambition is used to speak, speech is used to issue good faith, good faith is used to establish ambition, and the three are used for stability. If good faith is lost, how can he last three years?" Zhao Meng was troubled that the people of Chu wore armor under their clothes and told Shu Xiang.

叔向曰：“何害也？匹夫一為不信，猶不可，單斃其死。若合諸侯之卿，以為不信，必不捷矣。食言者不病，非子之患也。夫以信召人，而以僣濟之。必莫之與也，安能害我？且吾因宋以守病，則夫能致死，與宋致死，雖倍楚可也。子何懼焉？又不及是。曰弭兵以召諸侯，而稱兵以害我，吾庸多矣，非所患也。”

Shu Xiang said: "What harm is there? Even a common man who is once faithless cannot be tolerated and perishes alone. If one assembles the ministers of the feudal lords yet does something faithless, one will certainly not succeed. One who does not keep his word does not trouble others, and it is not your worry. One who summons people with good faith but achieves things by overstepping will certainly have no one to cling to him; how can he harm us? Besides, we rely on Song to hold out against hardship, and those people can fight to the death; if they fight to the death with Song, even doubling Chu's strength would be possible. What do you fear? And it will not come to that. If he says he is stopping war to gather the feudal lords but moves troops to harm us, our merit will be great, and it is not something to worry about."

季武子使謂叔孫以公命，曰：“視邾、滕。”既而齊人請邾，宋人請滕，皆不與盟。叔孫曰：“邾、滕，人之私也；我，列國也，何故視之？宋、衛，吾匹也。”乃盟。故不書其族，言違命也。

Ji Wuzi sent someone to tell Shusun Bao, in the name of Duke Xiang's command: "Take Zhu and Teng as the model." Afterward the people of Qi asked that Zhu be made their dependency, and the people of Song asked that Teng be made theirs, and neither took part in the covenant. Shusun said: "Zhu and Teng are the private dependents of others; we are a state of our own rank; why should we be compared with them? Song and Wei are our equals." So the covenant was made. That is why the Spring and Autumn Annals does not record his clan name, saying he disobeyed the order.

晉、楚爭先。晉人曰：“晉固為諸侯盟主，未有先晉者也。”楚人曰：“子言晉、楚匹也，若晉常先，是楚弱也。且晉、楚狎主諸侯之盟也久矣！豈專在晉？”叔向謂趙孟曰：“諸侯歸晉之德只，非歸其屍盟也。子務德，無爭先！且諸侯盟，小國固必有屍盟者。楚為晉細，不亦可乎？”乃先楚人。書先晉，晉有信也。

Jin and Chu contended over who should go first. The people of Jin said: "Jin has always been the leader of the feudal lords, and none has gone ahead of Jin." The people of Chu said: "You said Jin and Chu are equals; if Jin is always first, that means Chu is weak. Besides, Jin and Chu have long taken turns presiding over the covenants of the feudal lords! Is it exclusively Jin's?" Shu Xiang said to Zhao Meng: "What the feudal lords turn to is only the virtue of Jin, not its presiding over the covenant. You should strive for virtue and not contend for precedence! Besides, in a covenant of feudal lords, small states always have someone who presides. If Chu does the minor tasks for Jin, would that not also be acceptable?" So Chu was put first. The Spring and Autumn Annals records Jin as first, because Jin had good faith.

壬午，宋公兼享晉、楚之大夫，趙孟為客。子木與之言，弗能對。使叔向侍言焉，子木亦不能對也。

On renwu, the Duke of Song feasted the high officials of Jin and Chu together, with Zhao Meng as guest of honor. Zi Mu spoke with him, and he could not respond. Shu Xiang was asked to attend and converse, and Zi Mu also could not respond.

乙酉，宋公及諸侯之大夫盟於蒙門之外。子木問於趙孟曰：“範武子之德何如？”對曰：“夫人之家事治，言於晉國無隱情。其祝史陳信於鬼神，無愧辭。”

On yiyou, the Duke of Song and the high officials of the feudal lords made a covenant outside the Meng Gate. Zi Mu asked Zhao Meng: "What was the virtue of Fan Wuzi like?" He replied: "That man managed his household well, and in speaking to Jin he held nothing back. His invocators and scribes declared sincerity to the spirits and had no words of shame.

子木歸，以語王。王曰：“尚矣哉！能歆神人，宜其光輔五君以為盟主也。”子木又語王曰：“宜晉之伯也！有叔向以佐其卿，楚無以當之，不可與爭。”晉荀寅遂如楚蒞盟。

Zi Mu went back and told the king. The king said: "Noble indeed! One who can make both spirits and men glad should be able to illuminate and assist five rulers in leading the covenant." Zi Mu also said to the king: "It is right that Jin should be hegemon! With Shu Xiang assisting its ministers, Chu has nothing that can resist it, and should not contend with it." Xun Yin of Jin then went to Chu to take part in the covenant.

鄭伯享趙孟於垂隴，子展、伯有、子西、子產、子大叔、二子石從。趙孟曰：“七子從君，以寵武也。請皆賦以卒君貺，武亦以觀七子之志。”子展賦《草蟲》，趙孟曰：“善哉！民之主也。抑武也不足以當之。”伯有賦《鶉之賁賁》，趙孟曰：“床第之言不逾閾，況在野乎？非使人之所得聞也。”子西賦《黍苗》之四章，趙孟曰：“寡君在，武何能焉？”子產賦《隰桑》，趙孟曰：“武請受其卒章。”子大叔賦《野有蔓草》，趙孟曰：“吾子之惠也。”印段賦《蟋蟀》，趙孟曰：“善哉！保家之主也，吾有望矣！”公孫段賦《桑扈》，趙孟曰：“‘匪交匪敖’，福將焉往？若保是言也，欲辭福祿，得乎？”卒享。文子告叔向曰：“伯有將為戮矣！詩以言志，志誣其上，而公怨之，以為賓榮，其能久乎？幸而後亡。”叔向曰：“然。已侈！所謂不及五稔者，夫子之謂矣。”文子曰：“其餘皆數世之主也。子展其後亡者也，在上不忘降。印氏其次也，樂而不荒。樂以安民，不淫以使之，後亡，不亦可乎？”宋左師請賞，曰：“請免死之邑。”公與之邑六十。以示子罕，子罕曰：“凡諸侯小國，晉、楚所以兵威之。畏而後上下慈和，慈和而後能安靖其國家，以事大國，所以存也。無威則驕，驕則亂生，亂生必滅，所以亡也。天生五材，民並用之，廢一不可，誰能去兵？兵之設久矣，所以威不軌而昭文德也。聖人以興，亂人以廢，廢興存亡昏明之術，皆兵之由也。而子求去之，不亦誣乎？以誣道蔽諸侯，罪莫大焉。縱無大討，而又求賞，無厭之甚也！”削而投之。左師辭邑。向氏欲攻司城，左師曰：“我將亡，夫子存我，德莫大焉，又可攻乎？”君子曰：“‘彼己之子，邦之司直。’樂喜之謂乎？‘何以恤我，我其收之。’向戌之謂乎？”齊崔杼生成及強而寡。娶東郭姜，生明。

The Earl of Zheng feasted Zhao Meng at Chuilong, with Zi Zhan, Bo You, Zi Xi, Zi Chan, Zi Da Shu and the two Zi Shi in attendance. Zhao Meng said: "Seven are following your ruler, which is a favor to Wu. Please all recite odes to complete His Lordship's bestowal, and Wu will also use it to observe the aims of the seven of you." Zi Zhan recited Caochong, and Zhao Meng said: "Good! You are the master of the people. But Wu is not worthy of it." Bo You recited Chun zhi Benben, and Zhao Meng said: "Words of the bedchamber do not cross the threshold, much less in the open country? It is not something an envoy should hear." Zi Xi recited the fourth stanza of Shumiao, and Zhao Meng said: "With my ruler present, what can Wu do?" Zi Chan recited Xisang, and Zhao Meng said: "Wu asks to accept its final stanza." Zi Da Shu recited Ye you man cao, and Zhao Meng said: "This is your kindness." Yin Duan recited Xishuai, and Zhao Meng said: "Good! You are the master who will preserve the house; I have hope!" Gongsun Duan recited Sanghu, and Zhao Meng said: "'Not associating improperly and not being arrogant,' where will blessings go? If one keeps these words, even if one wished to decline blessings and stipends, could one?" The banquet ended. Wenzi told Shu Xiang: "Bo You is going to be killed! Odes are used to express aims; if the aim slanders one's superior, and is openly resentful, and is used to bring honor to guests, can it last? Only by luck will he perish later." Shu Xiang said: "Yes. He is already extravagant! The one who will not last five years, as is said, is this gentleman." Wenzi said: "The others are masters who can last several generations. Zi Zhan will be the last to perish, for above he does not forget to humble himself. The Yin clan is next, being joyful without becoming dissolute. Joy is used to pacify the people and not to overwork them; to perish later, is that not acceptable?" The Left Chief Minister of Song asked for a reward, saying: "Please give me cities of exemption from death." The duke gave him sixty towns. He showed them to Zi Han, and Zi Han said: "All the small states of the feudal lords are overawed by the military power of Jin and Chu. Only through fear are there love and harmony above and below, and only with love and harmony can the state be secure, so that they serve great states and so can continue to exist. Without awe there is arrogance, arrogance gives rise to disorder, and when disorder arises one is certainly destroyed; this is how one perishes. Heaven produces the five materials and the people all use them, and not one can be discarded; who can do away with arms? Arms have been established for a long time, used to overawe the unlawful and display civil virtue. The sages arose through them, and disorderly men are abolished by them; the way of abolition and rise, survival and destruction, confusion and clarity all comes from arms. Yet you seek to do away with them; is that not deceitful? To deceive the feudal lords with a deceitful principle, there is no greater offense. Even without a great punishment, you also ask for a reward; this is the height of greed!" He shaved the bamboo slip and threw it away. The Left Chief Minister declined the towns. The Xiang clan wished to attack the Minister of Works, and the Left Chief Minister said: "I am going to perish, and this gentleman preserves me; there is no greater kindness than this, so how could I attack him?" The gentleman said: "'That man is the one who upholds uprightness for the state.' This speaks of Yue Xi? 'How will you take pity on me? I will take it.' This speaks of Xiang Xu?" Cui Zhu of Qi, after bearing Cheng and Qiang, lost his wife. He took Dongguo Jiang and had Ming.

東郭姜以孤入，曰棠無咎，與東郭偃相崔氏。崔成有疾，而廢之，而立明。成請老於崔，崔子許之。偃與無咎弗予，曰：“崔，宗邑也，必在宗主。”成與強怒，將殺之。告慶封曰：“夫子之身亦子所知也，唯無咎與偃是從，父兄莫得進矣。大恐害夫子，敢以告。”慶封曰：“子姑退，吾圖之。”告盧蒲弊。盧蒲弊曰：“彼，君之仇也。天或者將棄彼矣。

Dongguo Jiang came in with an orphan, called Tang Wujiu, who with Dongguo Yan assisted the Cui clan. Cui Cheng was ill and was deposed, and Ming was installed. Cheng asked to retire in the Cui fief, and Cui Zi agreed. Yan and Wujiu did not give it, saying: "Cui is the ancestral town and must be with the head of the clan." Cheng and Qiang were angered and were about to kill them. They told Qing Feng: "The gentleman's situation is also known to you; he follows only Wujiu and Yan, and his father and brothers cannot speak to him. We greatly fear it will harm the gentleman, and so dare to tell you." Qing Feng said: "You may withdraw for now, and I shall plan." He told Lupu Bi. Lupu Bi said: "He is the enemy of the ruler. Heaven may be about to abandon him.

彼實家亂，子何病焉！崔之薄，慶之厚也。”他日又告。慶封曰：“苟利夫子，必去之！難，吾助女。”

In fact it is trouble within his own household; what do you worry about! If the Cui clan grows thin, the Qing clan will grow thick." Another day they told him again. Qing Feng said: "If it benefits the gentleman, they must be removed! If there is trouble, I shall help you."

九月庚辰，崔成、崔強殺東郭偃、棠無咎於崔氏之朝。崔子怒而出，其眾皆逃，求人使駕，不得。使圉人駕，寺人御而出。且曰：“崔氏有福，止餘猶可。”

In the ninth month, on the day gengchen, Cui Cheng and Cui Qiang killed Dongguo Yan and Tang Wujiu in the court of the Cui clan. Cui Zi, angered, went out, and his people all fled; he looked for someone to drive the chariot but could not find anyone. He had a groom drive it, and a eunuch drove out. He also said: "If the Cui clan has fortune, leaving only me will do."

遂見慶封。慶封曰：“崔、慶一也。是何敢然？請為子討之。”使盧蒲弊帥甲以攻崔氏。崔氏堞其宮而守之，弗克。使國人助之，遂滅崔氏，殺成與強，而盡俘其家。其妻縊。弊覆命於崔子，且御而歸之。至，則無歸矣，乃縊。崔明夜闢諸大墓。辛巳，崔明來奔，慶封當國。

So he saw Qing Feng. Qing Feng said: "Cui and Qing are one family. How dare these people do this? Please let me punish them for you." He sent Lupu Bi to lead armed men to attack the Cui clan. The Cui clan raised the palace wall higher to defend, and he did not succeed. He had the people of the state help, and so destroyed the Cui clan, killed Cheng and Qiang, and captured his entire household. His wife hanged herself. Bi reported to Cui Zi and also drove him back. When they arrived, there was nowhere left to return to, and so he hanged himself. Cui Ming hid in the great tomb at night. On xinsi, Cui Ming came to take refuge, and Qing Feng took charge of the state.