Duke Yin (Years 1-11)

鬥廉曰：“鄖人軍其郊，必不誡，且日虞四邑之至也。君次於郊郢，以御四邑。

Dou Lian said, "The men of Yun are camped in their own suburbs and will surely be off guard, and each day they are hoping for the four states to arrive. Do you encamp at Jiaoying to hold off the four states.

我以銳師宵加於鄖，鄖有虞心而恃其城，莫有鬥志。若敗鄖師，四邑必離。”莫敖曰：“盍請濟師於王？”對曰：“師克在和，不在眾。商、周之不敵，君之所聞也。成軍以出，又何濟焉？”莫敖曰：“卜之？”對曰：“卜以決疑，不疑何卜？”遂敗鄖師於蒲騷，卒盟而還。鄭昭公之敗北戎也，齊人將妻之，昭公辭。

(Dou Lian continued:) I will use picked troops to attack Yun by night. The men of Yun, hoping for relief and trusting in their walls, will have no will to fight. If the Yun army is defeated, the four states will surely scatter." The Mo'ao said, "Why not ask the Son of Heaven for more troops?" Dou Lian replied, "An army wins through harmony, not through numbers. That Shang and Zhou were not equal in strength is something you have heard. We are already formed up and setting out; what more troops would we add?" The Mo'ao said, "Shall we divine?" He replied, "Divination is used to settle doubts; if there is no doubt, why divine?" So they defeated the Yun army at Puso, and finally concluded the covenant and returned home. When Duke Zhao of Zheng defeated the Northern Rong, the men of Qi wished to marry their daughter to him, but Duke Zhao declined.

祭仲曰：“必取之。君多內寵，子無大援，將不立。三公子皆君也。”弗從。

Zhai Zhong said, "You must take her. Your father has many favored consorts, and without a strong outside ally you will not be able to stand. Three of the princes may all become ruler." Duke Zhao did not listen.

夏，鄭莊公卒。

In summer, Duke Zhuang of Zheng died.

初，祭封人仲足有寵於莊公，莊公使為卿。為公娶鄧曼，生昭公，故祭仲立之。宋雍氏女於鄭莊公，曰雍姞，生厲公。雍氏宗有寵於宋莊公，故誘祭仲而執之，曰：“不立突，將死。”亦執厲公而求賂焉。祭仲與宋人盟，以厲公歸而立之。

Earlier, Zhong Zu, border warden of the land of Zhai, was favored by Duke Zhuang, who made him a minister. He took Deng Man as wife for Duke Zhuang, and she bore Duke Zhao, and for this reason Zhai Zhong installed Duke Zhao. The Yong clan of Song married their daughter, named Yong Ji, to Duke Zhuang of Zheng, and she bore Duke Li. The kin of the Yong clan were favored by Duke Zhuang of Song, and so they tricked Zhai Zhong and seized him, saying, "If you do not install Tu, we will put you to death." They also seized Duke Li and demanded goods. Zhai Zhong made a covenant with the men of Song, and returned to the state with Duke Li and installed him as ruler.

秋九月丁亥，昭公奔衛。己亥，厲公立。

In autumn, in the ninth month, on dinghai, Duke Zhao fled to Wei. On jihai, Duke Li took the throne.

【經】十有二年春正月。夏六月壬寅，公會杞侯、莒子盟於曲池。秋七月丁亥，公會宋公、燕人盟於谷丘。八月壬辰，陳侯躍卒。公會宋公於虛。冬十有一月，公會宋公於龜。丙戌，公會鄭伯，盟於武父。丙戌，衛侯晉卒。十有二月，及鄭師伐宋。丁未，戰於宋。

[Classic] In the twelfth year, in spring, the first month. In summer, in the sixth month, on renyin, Duke Huan met the Marquis of Qi and the Viscount of Ju and made a covenant at Quchi. In autumn, in the seventh month, on dinghai, Duke Huan met the Duke of Song and the men of Yan and made a covenant at Guqiu. In the eighth month, on renchen, Yue, Marquis of Chen, died. Duke Huan met the Duke of Song at Xu. In winter, in the eleventh month, Duke Huan met the Duke of Song at Gui. On bingxu, Duke Huan met the Earl of Zheng and made a covenant at Wufu. On bingxu, Jin, Marquis of Wei, died. In the twelfth month, he attacked Song together with the army of Zheng. On dingwei, they fought in Song.

【傳】十二年夏，盟於曲池，平杞、莒也。

[Commentary] In the twelfth year, in summer, the covenant at Quchi was to bring about peace between Ji and Ju.

公欲平宋、鄭。秋，公及宋公盟於句瀆之丘。宋成未可知也，故又會於虛。

Duke Huan wished to bring about peace between Song and Zheng. In autumn, Duke Huan made a covenant with the Duke of Song at the mound of Judu. Whether Song would truly make peace was not yet known, and so they met again at Xu.

冬，又會於龜。宋公辭平，故與鄭伯盟於武父。遂帥師而伐宋，戰焉，宋無信也。

In winter, they met again at Gui. The Duke of Song refused peace, and so Duke Huan made a covenant with the Earl of Zheng at Wufu. Then he led the army to attack Song and fought there, because Song had no good faith.

君子曰：“苟信不繼，盟無益也。《詩》云：‘君子屢盟，亂是用長。’無信也。”

The gentleman said, "If good faith does not continue, a covenant is of no use. The Odes say: 'The gentleman repeatedly makes covenants, and disorder only grows.' This is because there is no good faith."

楚伐絞，軍其南門。莫敖屈瑕曰：“絞小而輕，輕則寡謀，請無扞採樵者以誘之。”從之。絞人獲三十人。明日，絞人爭出，驅楚役徒于山中。楚人坐其北門，而覆諸山下，大敗之，為城下之盟而還。

Chu attacked Jiao and encamped at the south gate. The Mo'ao Qu Xia said, "Jiao is small and frivolous; being frivolous, it makes few plans. Please do not protect the woodcutters, so as to lure them out." The men of Chu followed this advice. The men of Jiao seized thirty men. The next day, the men of Jiao vied to come out of the city and drove the Chu laborers into the mountains. The men of Chu sat guarding the north gate, and set an ambush at the foot of the mountain, and utterly defeated Jiao, and returned home after making a covenant under the city walls.

伐絞之役，楚師分涉於彭。羅人慾伐之，使伯嘉諜之，三巡，數之。

In the campaign against Jiao, the Chu army crossed the River Peng in separate groups. The men of Luo wished to attack them and sent Bo Jia to scout; he went around three times and counted the numbers.

【經】十有三年春二月，公會紀侯、鄭伯。己巳，及齊侯、宋公、衛侯、燕人戰。齊師、宋師、衛師、燕師敗績。三月，葬衛宣公。夏，大水。秋七月。冬十月。

[Classic] In the thirteenth year, in spring, in the second month, Duke Huan met the Marquis of Ji and the Earl of Zheng. On jisi, he fought with the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, and the men of Yan. The armies of Qi, Song, Wei, and Yan were utterly defeated. In the third month, Duke Xuan of Wei was buried. In summer, there was a great flood. In autumn, the seventh month. In winter, the tenth month.

【傳】十三年春，楚屈瑕伐羅，鬥伯比送之。還，謂其御曰：“莫敖必敗。

[Commentary] In the thirteenth year, in spring, Qu Xia of Chu attacked Luo, and Dou Bobi saw him off. On returning, he said to his charioteer, "The Mo'ao will surely fail.

舉趾高，心不固矣。”遂見楚子曰：“必濟師。”楚子辭焉。入告夫人鄧曼。鄧曼曰：“大夫其非眾之謂，其謂君撫小民以信，訓諸司以德，而威莫敖以刑也。

(Dou Bobi continued:) He lifts his feet high, so his mind is already unsteady." So he went to see the Viscount of Chu and said, "You must send more troops." The Viscount of Chu refused. He went in and told his wife Deng Man. Deng Man said, "What the grand officer means is not a matter of how many men, but that you should comfort the common people with good faith, instruct the officials with virtue, and awe the Mo'ao with punishment.

莫敖狃於蒲騷之役，將自用也，必小羅。君若不鎮撫，其不設備乎？夫固謂君訓眾而好鎮撫之，召諸司而勸之以令德，見莫敖而告諸天之不假易也。不然，夫豈不知楚師之盡行也？”楚子使賴人追之，不及。

(Deng Man continued:) The Mo'ao is accustomed to the victory at Puso and will be willful and self-reliant, and is sure to look down on Luo. If you do not go to restrain him, he probably will not set up defenses. What that man really meant is that you should instruct the troops and comfort them well, assemble the officials and encourage them with fine virtue, and when you see the Mo'ao tell him that Heaven will not forgive negligence. Otherwise, does he not know that the Chu army has all set out?" The Viscount of Chu sent a man of Lai to pursue, but he did not catch up.

莫敖使徇於師曰：“諫者有刑。”及鄢，亂次以濟。遂無次，且不設備。及羅，羅與盧戎兩軍之。大敗之。莫敖縊於荒谷，群帥囚於冶父以聽刑。楚子曰：“孤之罪也。”皆免之。

The Mo'ao went about the army giving the order, "Whoever remonstrates will be punished." On reaching Yan, they crossed the river in disorder. As a result there were no ranks, and no defenses were set up. On reaching Luo, Luo and the Lu Rong attacked from both sides and utterly defeated him. The Mo'ao hanged himself in Huanggu, and the other commanders were imprisoned at Yefu awaiting punishment. The Viscount of Chu said, "It is my fault," and pardoned them all.

宋多責賂於鄭，鄭不堪命。故以紀、魯及齊與宋、衛、燕戰。不書所戰，後也。

Song repeatedly demanded goods from Zheng, and Zheng could not bear it. So it led Ji and Lu in fighting Qi, Song, Wei, and Yan. The Spring and Autumn does not record the place of the battle because Lu arrived late.

鄭人來請修好。

The men of Zheng came to ask for the restoration of friendship.

【經】十有四年春正月，公會鄭伯於曹。無冰。夏五，鄭伯使其弟語來盟。

[Classic] In the fourteenth year, in spring, in the first month, Duke Huan met the Earl of Zheng at Cao. There was no ice. In summer, in the fifth month, the Earl of Zheng sent his younger brother Yu to make a covenant.

秋八月壬申，御廩災。乙亥，嘗。冬十有二月丁巳，齊侯祿父卒。宋人以齊人、蔡人、衛人、陳人伐鄭。

In autumn, in the eighth month, on renshen, the granary of the court caught fire. On yihai, the autumn sacrifice was performed. In winter, in the twelfth month, on dingsi, Lufu, Marquis of Qi, died. The men of Song, leading the men of Qi, Cai, Wei, and Chen, attacked Zheng.

【傳】十四年春，會於曹。曹人致餼，禮也。

[Commentary] In the fourteenth year, in spring, they met at Cao. The men of Cao sent provisions, which accorded with ritual.

夏，鄭子人來尋盟，且修曹之會。

In summer, Zi Ren of Zheng came to renew the covenant and to restore the meeting at Cao.

秋八月壬申，御廩災。乙亥，嘗。書，不害也。

In autumn, in the eighth month, on renshen, the granary of the court caught fire. On yihai, the autumn sacrifice was performed. The Spring and Autumn records this because it did not interfere with the sacrifice.

冬，宋人以諸侯伐鄭，報宋之戰也。焚渠門，入，及大逵。伐東郊，取牛首。

In winter, the men of Song led the feudal lords to attack Zheng, in revenge for the battle in Song. They burned the Qu gate, broke in, and reached the main road. They attacked the eastern suburb and took Niushou.

以大宮之椽歸，為盧門之椽。

They took the rafters of the grand temple of Zheng back with them and used them as rafters for the Lu gate.

【經】十有五年春二月，天王使家父來求車。三月乙未，天王崩。夏四月己巳，葬齊僖公。五月，鄭伯突出奔蔡。鄭世子忽復歸於鄭。許叔入於許。公會齊侯於艾。邾人、牟人、葛人來朝。秋九月，鄭伯突入於櫟。冬十有一月，公會宋公、衛侯、陳侯於衰，伐鄭。

[Classic] In the fifteenth year, in spring, in the second month, the Son of Zhou sent Jia Fu to ask for chariots. In the third month, on yiwei, the Son of Heaven died. In summer, in the fourth month, on jisi, Duke Xi of Qi was buried. In the fifth month, Tu, Earl of Zheng, fled to Cai. Hu, heir of Zheng, returned to Zheng again. Shu of Xu entered Xu. Duke Huan met the Marquis of Qi at Ai. The men of Zhu, the men of Mou, and the men of Ge came to court. In autumn, in the ninth month, Tu, Earl of Zheng, entered Li. In winter, in the eleventh month, Duke Huan met the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, and the Marquis of Chen at Cui, and attacked Zheng.

【傳】十五年春，天王使家父來求車，非禮也。諸侯不貢車、服，天子不私求財。

[Commentary] In the fifteenth year, in spring, the Son of Zhou sent Jia Fu to ask for chariots, which was contrary to ritual. The feudal lords do not offer chariots or garments as tribute, and the Son of Heaven does not privately seek goods for himself.

祭仲專，鄭伯患之，使其婿雍糾殺之。將享諸郊。雍姬知之，謂其母曰：“父與夫孰親？”其母曰：“人盡夫也，父一而已，胡可比也？”遂告祭仲曰：“雍氏舍其室而將享子於郊，吾惑之，以告。”祭仲殺雍糾，屍諸周氏之汪。公載以出，曰：“謀及婦人，宜其死也。”夏，厲公出奔蔡。

Zhai Zhong monopolized power, and the Earl of Zheng was troubled and sent his son-in-law Yong Jiu to kill him. He was going to give Zhai Zhong a banquet in the suburbs. Yong Ji learned of it and asked her mother, "Who is closer, one's father or one's husband?" Her mother said, "Anyone can be a husband, but one has only one father; how can they be compared?" So she told Zhai Zhong, "The Yong clan is leaving its own house to give you a banquet in the suburbs, and I feel doubtful, and so I have come to tell you." Zhai Zhong killed Yong Jiu and exposed his body by the pond of the Zhou family. Duke Li carried Yong Jiu's body out with him as he fled, saying, "He consulted a woman; it serves him right to die." In summer, Duke Li fled to Cai.

六月乙亥，昭公入。

In the sixth month, on yihai, Duke Zhao entered the capital.

許叔入於許。

Shu of Xu entered Xu.

公會齊侯於艾，謀定許也。

Duke Huan met the Marquis of Qi at Ai to discuss settling the state of Xu.

秋，鄭伯因櫟人殺檀伯，而遂居櫟。

In autumn, the Earl of Zheng relied on the men of Li to kill Tan Bo, and so lived in Li.

冬，會於衰，謀伐鄭，將納厲公也。弗克而還。

In winter, they met at Cui to discuss attacking Zheng, intending to restore Duke Li. They did not succeed and returned.

【經】十有六年春正月，公會宋公、蔡侯、衛侯於曹。夏四月，公會宋公、衛侯、陳侯、蔡侯伐鄭。秋七月，公至自伐鄭。冬，城向。十有一月，衛侯朔出奔齊。

[Classic] In the sixteenth year, in spring, in the first month, Duke Huan met the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Cai, and the Marquis of Wei at Cao. In summer, in the fourth month, Duke Huan joined the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Marquis of Chen, and the Marquis of Cai in attacking Zheng. In autumn, in the seventh month, Duke Huan returned from attacking Zheng. In winter, walls were built at Xiang. In the eleventh month, Shuo, Marquis of Wei, fled to Qi.

【傳】十六年春正月，會於曹，謀伐鄭也。

[Commentary] In the sixteenth year, in spring, in the first month, the meeting at Cao was to discuss attacking Zheng.

夏，伐鄭。

In summer, they attacked Zheng.

秋七月，公至自伐鄭，以飲至之禮也。

In autumn, in the seventh month, Duke Huan returned from attacking Zheng and performed the ceremony of drinking on return.

冬，城向，書，時也。

In winter, walls were built at Xiang; the Spring and Autumn records this because it was in accord with the season.

初，衛宣公烝於夷姜，生急子，屬諸右公子。為之娶於齊，而美，公取之，生壽及朔，屬壽於左公子。夷姜縊。宣姜與公子朔構急子。公使諸齊，使盜待諸莘，將殺之。壽子告之，使行。不可，曰：“棄父之命，惡用子矣！有無父之國則可也。”及行，飲以酒，壽子載其旌以先，盜殺之。急子至，曰：“我之求也。

Earlier, Duke Xuan of Wei had relations with Yi Jiang and she bore Jizi, whom he entrusted to the Right Prince. He took a wife for him from Qi; the woman was beautiful, and Duke Xuan took her himself, and she bore Shou and Shuo; he entrusted Shou to the Left Prince. Yi Jiang hanged herself. Xuan Jiang and Prince Shuo slandered Jizi. Duke Xuan sent Jizi to Qi and sent bandits to wait at Shen, intending to kill him. Shou told Jizi and urged him to flee. He would not, saying, "If I abandon my father's command, what use is a son? Only if there were a country without fathers could it be done." When he set out, Shou gave him wine to drink and himself carried Jizi's banner and went ahead; the bandits killed Shou. Jizi arrived and said, "It is I whom they were looking for.

此何罪？請殺我乎！”又殺之。二公子故怨惠公。

(Jizi continued:) What crime has this man committed? Please kill me!" They killed him as well. The two princes resented Duke Hui because of this.

十一月，左公子洩、右公子職立公子黔牟。惠公奔齊。

In the eleventh month, the Left Prince Xie and the Right Prince Zhi installed Prince Qianmou. Duke Hui fled to Qi.

【經】十有七年春正月丙辰，公會齊侯、紀侯盟於黃。二月丙午，公會邾儀父，盟於趡。夏五月丙午，及齊師戰於奚。六月丁丑，蔡侯封人卒。秋八月，蔡季自陳歸於蔡。癸巳，葬蔡桓侯。及宋人、衛人伐邾。冬十月朔，日有食之。

[Classic] In the seventeenth year, in spring, in the first month, on bingchen, Duke Huan met the Marquis of Qi and the Marquis of Ji and made a covenant at Huang. In the second month, on bingwu, Duke Huan met Yifu of Zhu and made a covenant at Zhui. In summer, in the fifth month, on bingwu, he fought the army of Qi at Xi. In the sixth month, on dingchou, Feng Ren, Marquis of Cai, died. In autumn, in the eighth month, Jiji of Cai returned to Cai from Chen. On guisi, Marquis Huan of Cai was buried. He attacked Zhu together with the men of Song and Wei. In winter, in the tenth month, on the first day, there was an eclipse of the sun.

【傳】十七年春，盟於黃，平齊、紀，且謀衛故也。

[Commentary] In the seventeenth year, in spring, the covenant at Huang was to bring about peace between Qi and Ji, and to discuss matters of Wei.

乃邾儀父盟於趡，尋蔑之盟也。

The covenant with Yifu of Zhu at Zhui (the base text reads "nai Zhu Yifu"; "nai" is a corruption of "ji") was to renew the covenant at Mie.

夏，及齊師戰於奚，疆事也。於是齊人侵魯疆，疆吏來告，公曰：“疆場之事，慎守其一，而備其不虞。姑盡所備焉。事至而戰，又何謁焉？”蔡桓侯卒。蔡人召蔡季於陳。

In summer, the battle with the army of Qi at Xi concerned a matter on the border. At that time the men of Qi were encroaching on Lu's border, and the border officer came to report. Duke Huan said, "In matters on the frontier, guard your own side carefully and be ready for the unexpected. For the time being, do the preparing that is due. When something comes, fight; why then ask for instructions?" Marquis Huan of Cai died. The men of Cai summoned Jiji back from Chen.

秋，蔡季自陳歸於蔡，蔡人嘉之也。

In autumn, Jiji returned to Cai from Chen, and the men of Cai approved of him.

伐邾，宋志也。

The attack on Zhu was at Song's wish.

冬十月朔，日有食之。不書日，官失之也。天子有日官，諸侯有日御。日官居卿以厎日，禮也。日御不失日，以授百官於朝。

In winter, in the tenth month, on the first day, there was an eclipse of the sun. The Spring and Autumn does not record the day by its stem-and-branch because the court historian failed in his duty. The Son of Heaven has a Day Officer, and the feudal lords have a Day Keeper. The Day Officer, holding the rank of a minister, calculates the calendar, and this accords with ritual. The Day Keeper does not omit the dates and hands them out at court to the officials.

初，鄭伯將以高渠彌為卿，昭公惡之，固諫，不聽，昭公立，懼其殺己也。

Earlier, the Earl of Zheng wished to make Gao Qumi a minister, but Duke Zhao disliked him and remonstrated firmly, though Duke Zhuang did not listen. When Duke Zhao took the throne, Gao Qumi feared that Duke Zhao would kill him.

辛卯，弒昭公，而立公子亹。

On xinmao, he assassinated Duke Zhao and installed Prince Wei.

君子謂昭公知所惡矣。公子達曰：“高伯其為戮乎？復惡已甚矣。”

The gentleman held that Duke Zhao knew whom to dislike. Prince Da said, "Gao Bo will probably be killed. His revenge for an old grudge was excessive."