Duke Yin (Years 1-11)

公及齊大夫盟於蔇，齊無君也。

Duke Zhuang made a covenant with the high officers of Qi at Ji, because Qi had no ruler.

夏，公伐齊，納子糾。桓公自莒先入。

In summer, Duke Zhuang attacked Qi to escort Zi Jiu back. Duke Huan entered first from Ju.

秋，師及齊師戰於乾時，我師敗績，公喪戎路，傳乘而歸。秦子、梁子以公旗闢於下道，是以皆止。

In autumn, our army fought the army of Qi at Qianshi, and our army was badly defeated. Duke Zhuang lost his war chariot and returned home in another vehicle. Qinzi and Liangzi carried Duke Zhuang's banner and fled by a byway, and for this reason both were captured.

鮑叔帥師來言曰：“子糾，親也，請君討之。管、召、仇也，請受而甘心焉。”

Bao Shu led his army and came to deliver a message: "Zi Jiu is a kinsman; we ask that you, my lord, deal with him. Guan and Shao are our enemies; we ask that you hand them over to us to deal with as we please."

乃殺子糾於生竇，召忽死之。管仲請囚，鮑叔受之，及堂阜而稅之。歸而以告曰：“管夷吾治於高傒，使相可也。”公從之。

So Zi Jiu was killed at Shengdou, and Shao Hu died for him. Guan Zhong asked to be a prisoner, and Bao Shu accepted it and released him at Tangfu. Returning, he told Duke Huan: "Guan Yiwu's talent for governing surpasses that of Gao Xi; making him chief minister would do." Duke Huan agreed.

【經】十年春王正月，公敗齊師於長勺。二月，公侵宋。三月，宋人遷宿。

[Classic] In the spring of the tenth year, in the first month by the Zhou calendar, Duke Zhuang defeated the army of Qi at Changshao. In the second month, Duke Zhuang raided Song. In the third month, the men of Song relocated Su.

夏六月，齊師、宋師次於郎。公敗宋師於乘丘。秋九月，荊敗蔡師於莘，以蔡侯獻舞歸。冬十月，齊師滅譚，譚子奔莒。

In summer, in the sixth month, the armies of Qi and Song encamped at Lang. Duke Zhuang defeated the army of Song at Chengqiu. In autumn, in the ninth month, Chu defeated the army of Cai at Shen and took Xianwu, Marquis of Cai, back with it. In winter, in the tenth month, the army of Qi destroyed Tan, and the Viscount of Tan fled to Ju.

【傳】十年春，齊師伐我。公將戰，曹劌請見。其鄉人曰：“肉食者謀之，又何間焉。劌曰：“肉食者鄙，未能遠謀。”乃入見。問何以戰。公曰：“衣食所安，弗敢專也，必以分人。”對曰：“小惠未遍，民弗從也。”公曰：“犠牲玉帛，弗敢加也，必以信。”對曰：“小信未孚，神弗福也。”公曰：“小大之獄，雖不能察，必以情。”對曰：“忠之屬也，可以一戰，戰則請從。”

[Commentary] In the spring of the tenth year, the army of Qi came to attack our state. Duke Zhuang prepared to give battle, and Cao Gui asked for an audience. A man of his village said: "Those who eat meat are planning this matter; why must you take part?" Cao Gui said: "Those who eat meat are shallow in vision and cannot plan far ahead." So he went into the palace and had his audience. He asked what he would rely on to fight. Duke Zhuang said: "Clothing and food, the things that make life secure, I do not dare to keep to myself alone; I surely share them with others." Cao Gui answered: "Small kindnesses are not universal, and the people will not follow." Duke Zhuang said: "As for sacrificial animals, jade, and silk, I do not dare to misreport them; I surely rely on good faith." He answered: "Small good faith does not move the spirits; the spirits will not grant blessing." Duke Zhuang said: "For lawsuits great and small, even if I cannot examine each one, I surely handle them according to the facts." He answered: "That belongs to loyalty; with it you can fight one battle. When you fight, please let me follow you."

公與之乘。戰於長勺。公將鼓之。劌曰；“未可。”齊人三鼓，劌曰：“可矣。”齊師敗績。公將馳之。劌曰：“未可。”下，視其轍，登，軾而望之，曰：“可矣。”遂逐齊師。

Duke Zhuang rode in the same chariot with him. They fought at Changshao. Duke Zhuang was about to beat the drum to advance the army. Cao Gui said: "Not yet." After the men of Qi had beaten the drum three times, Cao Gui said: "Now." The army of Qi was badly defeated. Duke Zhuang was about to drive on in pursuit. Cao Gui said: "Not yet." He got down and looked at the tracks of the chariots of Qi, then climbed onto the chariot, leaned on the crossbar, and looked into the distance, and said: "Now." So they pursued the army of Qi.

既克，公問其故。對曰：“夫戰，勇氣也，一鼓作氣，再而衰，三而竭。彼竭我盈，故克之。夫大國難測也，懼有伏焉。吾視其轍亂，望其旗靡，故逐之。”

After the victory, Duke Zhuang asked the reason. Cao Gui answered: "In battle, what counts is courage. The first drumbeat stirs up the troops' spirit, the second weakens it, and by the third it is exhausted. They were exhausted and we were full, so we won. A great state is hard to fathom, and I feared an ambush. I saw that their wheel tracks were in disorder and saw that their banners had fallen, so I pursued them."

夏六月，齊師、宋師次於郎。公子偃曰：“宋師不整，可敗也。宋敗，齊必還，請擊之。”公弗許。自雩門竊出，蒙皋比而先犯之。公從之。大敗宋師於乘丘。齊師乃還。

In summer, in the sixth month, the armies of Qi and Song encamped at Lang. Prince Yan said: "The army of Song is not in order and can be defeated. If Song is defeated, Qi will surely go back; please let me strike." Duke Zhuang did not agree. Prince Yan slipped out through the Yu Gate, covered in a tiger skin, and charged first. Duke Zhuang followed him. At Chengqiu they inflicted a great defeat on the army of Song. The army of Qi then went back.

蔡哀侯娶於陳，息侯亦娶焉。息媯將歸，過蔡。蔡侯曰：“吾姨也。”止而見之，弗賓。息侯聞之，怒，使謂楚文王曰：“伐我，吾求救於蔡而伐之。”楚子從之。秋九月，楚敗蔡師於莘，以蔡侯獻舞歸。

Marquis Ai of Cai took a wife from Chen, and the Marquis of Xi also took a wife from Chen. Xi Gui was about to be married and passed through Cai. The Marquis of Cai said: "She is my wife's younger sister." He kept her and met her, not treating her with the courtesy due a guest. The Marquis of Xi heard of it and in anger sent a man to tell King Wen of Chu: "Attack me, and I will ask Cai for help; then you can attack Cai." The Viscount of Chu agreed. In autumn, in the ninth month, Chu defeated the army of Cai at Shen and took Xianwu, Marquis of Cai, back with it.

齊侯之出也，過譚，譚不禮焉。及其入也，諸侯皆賀，譚又不至。冬，齊師滅譚，譚無禮也。譚子奔莒，同盟故也。

When the Marquis of Qi had fled into exile, he passed through Tan, and Tan did not treat him with courtesy. When he returned to his state, the feudal lords all came to congratulate him, and Tan again did not come. In winter, the army of Qi destroyed Tan, because Tan had been discourteous. The Viscount of Tan fled to Ju, because of their alliance.

【經】十有一年春王正月。夏五月，戊寅，公敗宋師於鄑。秋，宋大水。

[Classic] In the spring of the eleventh year, in the first month by the Zhou calendar. In summer, on the wuyin day of the fifth month, Duke Zhuang defeated the army of Song at Zi. In autumn, there was a great flood in Song.

冬，王姬歸於齊。

In winter, Princess Ji of the royal house was married to Qi.

【傳】十一年夏，宋為乘丘之役故侵我。公御之，宋師未陳而薄之，敗諸鄑。

[Commentary] In the summer of the eleventh year, Song raided our state because of the battle at Chengqiu. Duke Zhuang resisted, pressed on the army of Song before it had formed its lines, and defeated it at Zi.

凡師，敵未陳曰敗某師，皆陳曰戰，大崩曰敗績，得俊曰克，覆而敗之曰取某師，京師敗曰王師敗績於某。

As a rule, when the enemy has not yet formed ranks, it is called "defeating such-and-such army"; when both sides have formed ranks, it is called "battle"; complete collapse is called "defeat"; capturing the enemy's outstanding men is called "conquest"; defeating by ambush is called "taking such-and-such army"; and when the Son of Heaven's army is defeated it is called "the royal army suffered a defeat at such-and-such place".

秋，宋大水。公使吊焉，曰：“天作淫雨，害於粢盛，若之何不弔？”對曰：“孤實不敬，天降之災，又以為君憂，拜命之辱。”臧文仲曰：“宋其興乎。禹、湯罪己，其興也悖焉，桀、紂罪人，其亡也忽焉。且列國有兇稱孤，禮也。言懼而名禮，其庶乎。”既而聞之曰公子御說之辭也。臧孫達曰：“是宜為君，有恤民之心。”

In autumn, there was a great flood in Song. Duke Zhuang sent a man to offer condolences, saying: "Heaven sent down excessive rain and harmed the grain for sacrifice; how could we not offer condolences?" The Duke of Song answered: "It is truly because I was not respectful that Heaven sent down calamity, and it has further caused you, my lord, to be concerned; I bow in thanks for your gracious message." Zang Wenzhong said: "Song will probably flourish. Yu and Tang blamed themselves, and their rise was swift; Jie and Zhou blamed others, and their ruin was rapid. Moreover, when a feudal state has a misfortune and the ruler calls himself 'the orphan', this accords with ritual. His speech is cautious and his title accords with ritual; he is probably nearly there." Before long it was heard that those were the words of Prince Yuyue. Zang Sunda said: "This man is fit to be ruler; he has a heart that cares for the people."

冬，齊侯來逆共姬。

In winter, the Marquis of Qi came to receive Gong Ji in marriage.

乘丘之役，公以金僕姑射南宮長萬，公右遄孫生搏之。宋人請之，宋公靳之，曰：“始吾敬子，今子，魯囚也。吾弗敬子矣。”病之。

At the battle of Chengqiu, Duke Zhuang struck Nangong Changwan with the Jinpugu arrow, and his chariot-right Chuan Sun captured him alive. The men of Song asked for his return, and the Duke of Song mocked him, saying: "At first I respected you; now you are a prisoner of Lu, and I no longer respect you." Nangong Changwan was pained by this.

【經】十有二年春王三月，紀叔姬歸於酅。夏四月。秋八月甲午，宋萬弒其君捷及其大夫仇牧。十月，宋萬出奔陳。

[Classic] In the spring of the twelfth year, in the third month by the Zhou calendar, Shu Ji of Ji returned to Xi. In summer, the fourth month. In autumn, on the jiawu day of the eighth month, Song Wan murdered his ruler Jie and his high officer Chou Mu. In the tenth month, Song Wan fled to Chen.

【傳】十二年秋，宋萬弒閔公於蒙澤。遇仇牧於門，批而殺之。遇大宰督於東宮之西，又殺之。立子游。群公子奔蕭。公子御說奔亳。南宮牛、猛獲帥師圍亳。

[Commentary] In the autumn of the twelfth year, Song Wan murdered Duke Min at Mengze. He met Chou Mu at the gate and struck him dead with a backhand blow. West of the Eastern Palace he met the Grand Steward Du and killed him too. He installed Ziyou. The princes fled to Xiao. Prince Yuyue fled to Bo. Nangong Niu and Meng Huo led troops to besiege Bo.

冬十月，蕭叔大心及戴、武、宣、穆、莊之族以曹師伐之。殺南宮牛於師，殺子游於宋，立桓公。猛獲奔衛。南宮萬奔陳，以乘車輦其母，一日而至。

In winter, in the tenth month, Daxin of Xiao, together with the clans of Dai, Wu, Xuan, Mu, and Zhuang, led the army of Cao to attack. They killed Nangong Niu within the army, killed Ziyou in the capital of Song, and installed Duke Huan. Meng Huo fled to Wei. Nangong Wan fled to Chen, carrying his mother in a carriage, and arrived in a single day.

宋人請猛獲於衛，衛人慾勿與，石祁子曰：“不可。天下之惡一也，惡於宋而保於我，保之何補？得一夫而失一國，與惡而棄好，非謀也。”衛人歸之。亦請南宮萬於陳，以賂。陳人使婦人飲之酒，而以犀革裹之。比及宋，手足皆見。

The men of Song asked Wei to hand over Meng Huo. The men of Wei wished to refuse, but Shi Qizi said: "No. The wickedness of all the world is the same; if he did evil in Song yet is protected here, what benefit is there in protecting him? To gain a single commoner and lose a state, to ally with an evildoer and discard friendship, is not a good course." The men of Wei returned him. They also asked Chen to hand over Nangong Wan, using goods as payment. The men of Chen had women give him wine, and wrapped him in rhinoceros hide. By the time he was delivered to Song, his hands and feet had come out.

宋人皆醢之。

The men of Song chopped them both into mince.

【經】十有三年春，齊侯、宋人、陳人、蔡人、邾人會於北杏。夏六月，齊人滅遂。秋七月。冬，公會齊侯盟於柯。

[Classic] In the spring of the thirteenth year, the Marquis of Qi and the men of Song, Chen, Cai, and Zhu met at Beixing. In summer, in the sixth month, the men of Qi destroyed Sui. In autumn, the seventh month. In winter, Duke Zhuang met the Marquis of Qi and made a covenant at Ke.

【傳】十三年春，會於北杏，以平宋亂。遂人不至。

[Commentary] In the spring of the thirteenth year, the meeting at Beixing was to settle the disorder in Song. The men of Sui did not come.

夏，齊人滅遂而戍之。

In summer, the men of Qi destroyed Sui and garrisoned it.

冬，盟於柯，始及齊平也。

In winter, a covenant was made at Ke, beginning peace with Qi.

宋人背北杏之會。

The men of Song went back on the meeting at Beixing.

【經】十有四年春，齊人、陳人、曹人伐宋。夏，單伯會伐宋。秋七月，荊入蔡。冬，單伯會齊侯、宋公、衛侯、鄭伯於鄄。

[Classic] In the spring of the fourteenth year, the men of Qi, Chen, and Cao attacked Song. In summer, Shan Bo joined them to attack Song. In autumn, in the seventh month, Chu invaded Cai. In winter, Shan Bo met the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, and the Earl of Zheng at Juan.

【傳】十四年春，諸侯伐宋，齊請師於周。夏，單伯會之，取成於宋而還。

[Commentary] In the spring of the fourteenth year, the feudal lords attacked Song, and Qi asked Zhou to send troops. In summer, Shan Bo joined them, and after reaching a peace agreement with Song, returned home.

鄭厲公自櫟侵鄭，及大陵，獲傅瑕。傅瑕曰：“苟舍我，吾請納君。”與之盟而赦之。六月甲子，傅瑕殺鄭子及其二子而納厲公。

Duke Li of Zheng raided the capital of Zheng from Li, reached Daling, and captured Fu Xia. Fu Xia said: "If you release me, I ask to escort you back." A covenant was made with him and he was pardoned. On the jiazi day of the sixth month, Fu Xia killed Zi of Zheng and his two sons, and escorted Duke Li back.

初，內蛇與外蛇鬥於鄭南門中，內蛇死。六年而厲公入。公聞之，問於申繻曰：“猶有妖乎？”對曰：“人之所忌，其氣焰以取之，妖由人興也。人無釁焉，妖不自作。人棄常則妖興，故有妖。”

Earlier, a snake inside the city and a snake outside the city fought inside the south gate of Zheng, and the snake inside the city died. Six years later Duke Li entered. When Duke Li heard of it, he asked Shen Xu: "Are there still prodigies?" Shen Xu answered: "What people fear is brought about by their own ill temper; prodigies arise from people. When people have no gap, prodigies do not act of themselves. When people abandon the constant way, prodigies arise, and therefore there are prodigies."

厲公入，遂殺傅瑕。使謂原繁曰：“傅瑕貳，周有常刑，既伏其罪矣。納我而無二心者，吾皆許之上大夫之事，吾願與伯父圖之。且寡人出，伯父無裡言，入，又不念寡人，寡人憾焉。”對曰：“先君桓公命我先人典司宗祏。社稷有主而外其心，其何貳如之？苟主社稷，國內之民其誰不為臣？臣無二心，天之制也。子儀在位十四年矣，而謀召君者，庸非二乎。莊公之子猶有八人，若皆以官爵行賂勸貳而可以濟事，君其若之何？臣聞命矣。”乃縊而死。

After Duke Li entered, he killed Fu Xia. He sent a man to tell Yuan Fan: "Fu Xia had a divided heart; Zhou has fixed punishments, and he has already paid for his crime. Those who escorted me back and have no divided heart, I allow all of them the duties of senior high officers, and I am willing to plan together with my uncle. Moreover, when I left the state, my uncle sent me no word from within the borders; and when I returned, he did not think of me; this I regret." Yuan Fan answered: "The former ruler Duke Huan commanded my ancestor to take charge of the stone chamber of the ancestral temple. If the altars of the state have a master and yet one's heart is turned outside, what divided heart is like this? If one presides over the altars, then among the people of the state who is not a subject? That a subject has no divided heart is the institution of Heaven. Zi Yi has been in the seat for fourteen years, and those who plotted to summon you back, are they not of divided heart? Duke Zhuang has eight other sons; if all were to use office and rank as bribes to persuade people to have a divided heart and thereby succeed, what would you do, my lord? I have heard your command." Then he hanged himself and died.

蔡哀侯為莘故，繩息媯以語楚子。楚子如息，以食入享，遂滅息。以息媯歸，生堵敖及成王焉，未言。楚子問之，對曰：“吾一婦人而事二夫，縱弗能死，其又奚言？”楚子以蔡侯滅息，遂伐蔡。秋七月，楚入蔡。

Because of the battle at Shen, Marquis Ai of Cai praised Xi Gui before the Viscount of Chu. The Viscount of Chu went to Xi, entered with food and was entertained, and then destroyed Xi. He took Xi Gui back, and she bore Du'ao and King Cheng, but she did not speak. The Viscount of Chu asked her, and she answered: "I, a woman, served two husbands; even if I cannot die, what more is there to say?" The Viscount of Chu had destroyed Xi because of the Marquis of Cai, and so he attacked Cai. In autumn, in the seventh month, Chu invaded Cai.

君子曰：“《商書》所謂‘惡之易也，如火之燎於原，不可鄉邇，其猶可撲滅’者，其如蔡哀侯乎。”

The gentleman said: "What the Book of Shang says, 'The spread of evil is like fire burning on a plain; it cannot be approached, so how can it be put out?', is just like this case of Marquis Ai of Cai."

冬，會於鄄，宋服故也。

In winter, the meeting at Juan was because Song had already submitted.

【經】十有五年春，齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯會於鄄。夏，夫人姜氏如齊。秋，宋人、齊人、邾人伐郳。鄭人侵宋。冬十月。

[Classic] In the spring of the fifteenth year, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei, and the Earl of Zheng met at Juan. In summer, the Lady Jiang went to Qi. In autumn, the men of Song, Qi, and Zhu attacked Ni. The men of Zheng raided Song. In winter, the tenth month.

【傳】十五年春，復會焉，齊始霸也。

[Commentary] In the spring of the fifteenth year, they met there again, and Qi began to hold hegemony.

秋，諸侯為宋伐郳。鄭人間之而侵宋。

In autumn, the feudal lords attacked Ni on behalf of Song. The men of Zheng took the opportunity to raid Song.

【經】十有六年春王正月。夏，宋人、齊人、衛人伐鄭。秋，荊伐鄭。冬十有二月，會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、滑伯、滕子同盟於幽。邾子克卒。

[Classic] In the sixteenth year, in spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar. In summer, the men of Song, Qi, and Wei attacked Zheng. In autumn, Chu attacked Zheng. In winter, in the twelfth month, he met the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Baron of Xu, the Earl of Hua, and the Viscount of Teng, and they made a covenant together at You. Ke, Viscount of Zhu, died.

【傳】十六年夏，諸侯伐鄭，宋故也。

[Commentary] In the sixteenth year, in summer, the feudal lords attacked Zheng because of Song.

鄭伯自櫟入，緩告於楚。秋，楚伐鄭，及櫟，為不禮故也。

The Earl of Zheng entered the capital from Li, but was late in reporting to Chu. In autumn, Chu attacked Zheng and reached Li, because Zheng had not treated it with proper ritual.

鄭伯治與於雍糾之亂者。九月，殺公子閼，刖強鉏。公父定叔出奔衛。三年而復之，曰：“不可使共叔無後於鄭。”使以十月入，曰：“良月也，就盈數焉。”

The Earl of Zheng punished those who had taken part in the disorder of Yong Jiu. In the ninth month, he killed Prince E and cut off the feet of Qiang Zu. Gongfu Dingshu fled to Wei. Three years later he let him return, saying, "We cannot let Uncle Gong have no descendants in Zheng." He had him enter in the tenth month, saying, "This is an excellent month, to make up a full number."

君子謂：“強鉏不能衛其足。”

The gentleman held: "Qiang Zu could not protect his own feet."

冬，同盟於幽，鄭成也。

In winter, the covenant together at You was because Zheng had already made peace.

王使虢公命曲沃伯以一軍為晉侯。

The Son of Heaven sent Duke Guo to order the Earl of Quwo to be Marquis of Jin with a single army's establishment.

初，晉武公伐夷，執夷詭諸。蒍國請而免之。既而弗報。故子國作亂，謂晉人曰：“與我伐夷而取其地。”遂以晉師伐夷，殺夷詭諸。周公忌父出奔虢。惠王立而復之。

Earlier, Duke Wu of Jin attacked Yi and seized Yi Guizhu. The state of Wei pleaded for him and he was pardoned, but afterward he did not repay them. For this reason Ziguo made disorder, and said to the men of Jin, "Attack Yi with me and seize its land." So he led the Jin army to attack Yi and killed Yi Guizhu. Jifu, Duke of Zhou, fled to Guo. After King Hui took the throne he let him return.

【經】十有七年春，齊人執鄭詹。夏，齊人殲於遂。秋，鄭詹自齊逃來。冬，多麋。

[Classic] In the seventeenth year, in spring, the men of Qi seized Zhan of Zheng. In summer, the men of Qi were wiped out at Sui. In autumn, Zhan of Zheng escaped from Qi and came here. In winter, deer were numerous.

【傳】十七年春，齊人執鄭詹，鄭不朝也。

[Commentary] In the seventeenth year, in spring, the men of Qi seized Zhan of Zheng because Zheng did not come to court.

夏，遂因氏，頜氏、工婁氏、須遂氏饗齊戍，醉而殺之，齊人殲焉。

In summer, the Yin, He, Gongliu, and Xusui clans of Sui feasted the Qi garrison troops, made them drunk and killed them, and the men of Qi wiped out these clans.