卷三十一·吴太伯世家第一

卷三十一·吴太伯世家第一

司马迁

吴太伯，太伯弟仲雍，皆周太王之子，而王季历之兄也。季历贤，而有圣子昌，太王欲立季历以及昌，于是太伯、仲雍二人乃奔荆蛮，文身断发，示不可用，以避季历。季历果立，是为王季，而昌为文王。太伯之奔荆蛮，自号句吴。荆蛮义之，从而归之千余家，立为吴太伯。

太伯卒，无子，弟仲雍立，是为吴仲雍。仲雍卒，子季简立。季简卒，子叔达立。叔达卒，子周章立。是时周武王克殷，求太伯、仲雍之后，得周章。周章已君吴，因而封之。乃封周章弟虞仲于周之北故夏虚，是为虞仲，列为诸侯。

周章卒，子熊遂立，熊遂卒，子柯相立。柯相卒，子强鸠夷立。强鸠夷卒，子余桥疑吾立。余桥疑吾卒，子柯卢立。柯卢卒，子周繇立。周繇卒，子屈羽立。屈羽卒，子夷吾立。夷吾卒，子禽处立。禽处卒，子转立。转卒，子颇高立。颇高卒，子句卑立。是时晋献公灭周北虞公，以开晋伐虢也。句卑卒，子去齐立。去齐卒，子寿梦立。寿梦立而吴始益大，称王。

自太伯作吴，五世而武王克殷，封其后为二：其一虞，在中国；其一吴，在夷蛮。十二世而晋灭中国之虞。中国之虞灭二世，而夷蛮之吴兴。大凡从太伯至寿梦十九世。

王寿梦二年，楚之亡大夫申公巫臣怨楚将子反而奔晋，自晋使吴，教吴用兵乘车，令其子为吴行人，吴于是始通于中国。吴伐楚。十六年，楚共王伐吴，至衡山。

二十五年，王寿梦卒。寿梦有子四人，长曰诸樊，次曰余祭，次曰余眜，次曰季札。季札贤，而寿梦欲立之，季札让不可，于是乃立长子诸樊，摄行事当国。

王诸樊元年，诸樊已除丧，让位季札。季札谢曰：“曹宣公之卒也，诸侯与曹人不义曹君，将立子臧，子臧去之，以成曹君，君子曰‘能守节矣’。君义嗣，谁敢干君！有国，非吾节也。札虽不材，愿附于子臧之义。”吴人固立季札，季札弃其室而耕，乃舍之。秋，吴伐楚，楚败我师。四年，晋平公初立。

十三年，王诸樊卒。有命授弟余祭，欲传以次，必致国于季札而止，以称先王寿梦之意，且嘉季札之义，兄弟皆欲致国，令以渐至焉。季札封于延陵，故号曰延陵季子。

王余祭三年，齐相庆封有罪，自齐来奔吴。吴予庆封朱方之县，以为奉邑，以女妻之，富于在齐。

四年，吴使季札聘于鲁，请观周乐。为歌周南、召南。曰：“美哉，始基之矣，犹未也。然勤而不怨。”歌邶、鄘、卫。曰：“美哉，渊乎，忧而不困者也。吾闻卫康叔、武公之德如是，是其卫风乎？”歌王。曰：“美哉，思而不惧，其周之东乎？”歌郑。曰：“其细已甚，民不堪也，是其先亡乎？”歌齐。曰：“美哉，泱泱乎大风也哉。表东海者，其太公乎？国未可量也。”歌豳。曰：“美哉，荡荡乎，乐而不淫，其周公之东乎？”歌秦。曰：“此之谓夏声。夫能夏则大，大之至也，其周之旧乎？”歌魏。曰：“美哉，沨沨乎，大而宽，俭而易，行以德辅，此则盟主也。”歌唐。曰：“思深哉，其有陶唐氏之遗风乎？不然，何忧之远也？非令德之后，谁能若是！”歌陈。曰：“国无主，其能久乎？”自郐以下，无讥焉。歌小雅。曰：“美哉，思而不贰，怨而不言，其周德之衰乎？犹有先王之遗民也。”歌大雅。曰：“广哉，熙熙乎，曲而有直体，其文王之德乎？”歌颂。曰：“至矣哉，直而不倨，曲而不诎，近而不偪，远而不携，迁而不淫，复而不厌，哀而不愁，乐而不荒，用而不匮，广而不宣，施而不费，取而不贪，处而不厎，行而不流。五声和，八风平，节有度，守有序，盛德之所同也。”见舞象箾、南籥者，曰：“美哉，犹有感。”见舞大武，曰：“美哉，周之盛也其若此乎？”见舞韶护者，曰：“圣人之弘也，犹有惭德，圣人之难也！”见舞大夏，曰：“美哉，勤而不德！非禹其谁能及之？”见舞招箾，曰：“德至矣哉，大矣，如天之无不焘也，如地之无不载也，虽甚盛德，无以加矣。观止矣，若有他乐，吾不敢观。”

去鲁，遂使齐。说晏平仲曰：“子速纳邑与政。无邑无政，乃免于难。齐国之政将有所归；未得所归，难未息也。”故晏子因陈桓子以纳政与邑，是以免于栾高之难。

去齐，使于郑。见子产，如旧交。谓子产曰：“郑之执政侈，难将至矣，政必及子。子为政，慎以礼。不然，郑国将败。”去郑，適卫。说蘧瑗、史狗、史、公子荆、公叔发、公子朝曰：“卫多君子，未有患也。”

自卫如晋，将舍于宿，闻钟声，曰：“异哉！吾闻之，辩而不德，必加于戮。夫子获罪于君以在此，惧犹不足，而又可以畔乎？夫子之在此，犹燕之巢于幕也。君在殡而可以乐乎？”遂去之。文子闻之，终身不听琴瑟。

適晋，说赵文子、韩宣子、魏献子曰：“晋国其萃于三家乎！”将去，谓叔向曰：“吾子勉之！君侈而多良，大夫皆富，政将在三家。吾子直，必思自免于难。”

季札之初使，北过徐君。徐君好季札剑，口弗敢言。季札心知之，为使上国，未献。还至徐，徐君已死，于是乃解其宝剑，系之徐君冢树而去。从者曰：“徐君已死，尚谁予乎？”季子曰：“不然。始吾心已许之，岂以死倍吾心哉！”

七年，楚公子围弑其王夹敖而代立，是为灵王。十年，楚灵王会诸侯而以伐吴之朱方，以诛齐庆封。吴亦攻楚，取三邑而去。十一年，楚伐吴，至雩娄。十二年，楚复来伐，次于乾溪，楚师败走。

十七年，王余祭卒，弟余眜立。王余眜二年，楚公子弃疾弑其君灵王代立焉。

四年，王余眜卒，欲授弟季札。季札让，逃去。于是吴人曰：“先王有命，兄卒弟代立，必致季子。季子今逃位，则王余眜后立。今卒，其子当代。”乃立王余眜之子僚为王。

王僚二年，公子光伐楚，败而亡王舟。光惧，袭楚，复得王舟而还。

五年，楚之亡臣伍子胥来奔，公子光客之。公子光者，王诸樊之子也。常以为吾父兄弟四人，当传至季子。季子即不受国，光父先立。即不传季子，光当立。阴纳贤士，欲以袭王僚。

八年，吴使公子光伐楚，败楚师，迎楚故太子建母于居巢以归。因北伐，败陈、蔡之师。九年，公子光伐楚，拔居巢、钟离。初，楚边邑卑梁氏之处女与吴边邑之女争桑，二女家怒相灭，两国边邑长闻之，怒而相攻，灭吴之边邑。吴王怒，故遂伐楚，取两都而去。

伍子胥之初奔吴，说吴王僚以伐楚之利。公子光曰：“胥之父兄为僇于楚，欲自报其仇耳。未见其利。”于是伍员知光有他志，乃求勇士专诸，见之光。光喜，乃客伍子胥。子胥退而耕于野，以待专诸之事。

十二年冬，楚平王卒。十三年春，吴欲因楚丧而伐之，使公子盖余、烛庸以兵围楚之六、灊。使季札于晋，以观诸侯之变。楚发兵绝吴兵后，吴兵不得还。于是吴公子光曰：“此时不可失也。”告专诸曰：“不索何获！我真王嗣，当立，吾欲求之。季子虽至，不吾废也。”专诸曰：“王僚可杀也。母老子弱，而两公子将兵攻楚，楚绝其路。方今吴外困于楚，而内空无骨鲠之臣，是无柰我何。”光曰：“我身，子之身也。”四月丙子，光伏甲士于窟室，而谒王僚饮。王僚使兵陈于道，自王宫至光之家，门阶户席，皆王僚之亲也，人夹持铍。公子光详为足疾，入于窟室，使专诸置匕首于炙鱼之中以进食。手匕首刺王僚，铍交于匈，遂弑王僚。公子光竟代立为王，是为吴王阖庐。阖庐乃以专诸子为卿。

季子至，曰：“苟先君无废祀，民人无废主，社稷有奉，乃吾君也。吾敢谁怨乎？哀死事生，以待天命。非我生乱，立者从之，先人之道也。”复命，哭僚墓，复位而待。吴公子烛庸、盖余二人将兵遇围于楚者，闻公子光弑王僚自立，乃以其兵降楚，楚封之于舒。

王阖庐元年，举伍子胥为行人而与谋国事。楚诛伯州犁，其孙伯嚭亡奔吴，吴以为大夫。

三年，吴王阖庐与子胥、伯嚭将兵伐楚，拔舒，杀吴亡将二公子。光谋欲入郢，将军孙武曰：“民劳，未可，待之。”四年，伐楚，取六与灊。五年，伐越，败之。六年，楚使子常囊瓦伐吴。迎而击之，大败楚军于豫章，取楚之居巢而还。

九年，吴王阖庐请伍子胥、孙武曰：“始子之言郢未可入，今果如何？”二子对曰：“楚将子常贪，而唐、蔡皆怨之。王必欲大伐，必得唐、蔡乃可。”阖庐从之，悉兴师，与唐、蔡西伐楚，至于汉水。楚亦发兵拒吴，夹水陈。吴王阖庐弟夫槩欲战，阖庐弗许。夫槩曰：“王已属臣兵，兵以利为上，尚何待焉？”遂以其部五千人袭冒楚，楚兵大败，走。于是吴王遂纵兵追之。比至郢，五战，楚五败。楚昭王亡出郢，奔郧。郧公弟欲弑昭王，昭王与郧公奔随。而吴兵遂入郢。子胥、伯嚭鞭平王之尸以报父雠。

十年春，越闻吴王之在郢，国空，乃伐吴。吴使别兵击越。楚告急秦，秦遣兵救楚击吴，吴师败。阖庐弟夫槩见秦越交败吴，吴王留楚不去，夫槩亡归吴而自立为吴王。阖庐闻之，乃引兵归，攻夫槩。夫槩败奔楚。楚昭王乃得以九月复入郢，而封夫槩于堂溪，为堂溪氏。十一年，吴王使太子夫差伐楚，取番。楚恐而去郢徙鄀。

十五年，孔子相鲁。

十九年夏，吴伐越，越王句践迎击之槜李。越使死士挑战，三行造吴师，呼，自刭。吴师观之，越因伐吴，败之姑苏，伤吴王阖庐指，军卻七里。吴王病伤而死。阖庐使立太子夫差，谓曰：“尔而忘句践杀汝父乎？”对曰：“不敢！”三年，乃报越。

王夫差元年，以大夫伯嚭为太宰。习战射，常以报越为志。二年，吴王悉精兵以伐越，败之夫椒，报姑苏也。越王句践乃以甲兵五千人栖于会稽，使大夫种因吴太宰嚭而行成，请委国为臣妾。吴王将许之，伍子胥谏曰：“昔有过氏杀斟灌以伐斟寻，灭夏后帝相。帝相之妃后缗方娠，逃于有仍而生少康。少康为有仍牧正。有过又欲杀少康，少康奔有虞。有虞思夏德，于是妻之以二女而邑之于纶，有田一成，有众一旅。后遂收夏众，抚其官职。使人诱之，遂灭有过氏，复禹之绩，祀夏配天，不失旧物。今吴不如有过之强，而句践大于少康。今不因此而灭之，又将宽之，不亦难乎！且句践为人能辛苦，今不灭，后必悔之。”吴王不听，听太宰嚭，卒许越平，与盟而罢兵去。

七年，吴王夫差闻齐景公死而大臣争宠，新君弱，乃兴师北伐齐。子胥谏曰：“越王句践食不重味，衣不重采，吊死问疾，且欲有所用其众。此人不死，必为吴患。今越在腹心疾而王不先，而务齐，不亦谬乎！”吴王不听，遂北伐齐，败齐师于艾陵。至缯，召鲁哀公而徵百牢。季康子使子贡以周礼说太宰嚭，乃得止。因留略地于齐鲁之南。九年，为驺伐鲁，至，与鲁盟乃去。十年，因伐齐而归。十一年，复北伐齐。

越王句践率其众以朝吴，厚献遗之，吴王喜。唯子胥惧，曰：“是弃吴也。”谏曰：“越在腹心，今得志于齐，犹石田，无所用。且盘庚之诰有颠越勿遗，商之以兴。”吴王不听，使子胥于齐，子胥属其子于齐鲍氏，还报吴王。吴王闻之，大怒，赐子胥属镂之剑以死。将死，曰：“树吾墓上以梓，令可为器。抉吾眼置之吴东门，以观越之灭吴也。”

齐鲍氏弑齐悼公。吴王闻之，哭于军门外三日，乃从海上攻齐。齐人败吴，吴王乃引兵归。

十三年，吴召鲁、卫之君会于橐皋。

十四年春，吴王北会诸侯于黄池，欲霸中国以全周室。六月丙子，越王句践伐吴。乙酉，越五千人与吴战。丙戌，虏吴太子友。丁亥，入吴。吴人告败于王夫差，夫差恶其闻也。或泄其语，吴王怒，斩七人于幕下。七月辛丑，吴王与晋定公争长。吴王曰：“于周室我为长。”晋定公曰：“于姬姓我为伯。”赵鞅怒，将伐吴，乃长晋定公。吴王已盟，与晋别，欲伐宋。太宰嚭曰：“可胜而不能居也。”乃引兵归国。国亡太子，内空，王居外久，士皆罢敝，于是乃使厚币以与越平。

十五年，齐田常杀简公。

十八年，越益强。越王句践率兵复伐败吴师于笠泽。楚灭陈。

二十年，越王句践复伐吴。二十一年，遂围吴。二十三年十一月丁卯，越败吴。越王句践欲迁吴王夫差于甬东，予百家居之。吴王曰：“孤老矣，不能事君王也。吾悔不用子胥之言，自令陷此。”遂自刭死。越王灭吴，诛太宰嚭，以为不忠，而归。

太史公曰：孔子言“太伯可谓至德矣，三以天下让，民无得而称焉”。余读春秋古文，乃知中国之虞与荆蛮句吴兄弟也。延陵季子之仁心，慕义无穷，见微而知清浊。呜呼，又何其闳览博物君子也！

Volume 31 · The Hereditary House of Taibo of Wu, First

司马迁

Taibo of Wu, and Taibo's younger brother Zhongyong, were both sons of the Great King of Zhou and elder brothers of King Jili. Jili was worthy, and he had a sage son, Chang; and the Great King wished to set up Jili so that the succession might come to Chang. Thereupon Taibo and Zhongyong, the two of them, fled to the Jing Man, tattooed their bodies and cut short their hair, to show that they could not be employed, and so made way for Jili. Jili was duly set up, and became King Ji, and Chang became King Wen. When Taibo fled to the Jing Man, he styled himself Gouwu. The Jing Man held him righteous, and more than a thousand households followed and gave their allegiance to him, and set him up as Taibo of Wu.

Taibo died without a son, and his younger brother Zhongyong was set up: this was Zhongyong of Wu. Zhongyong died, and his son Jijian was set up. Jijian died, and his son Shuda was set up. Shuda died, and his son Zhouzhang was set up. At this time King Wu of Zhou overcame the Yin and sought out the descendants of Taibo and Zhongyong, and found Zhouzhang. Zhouzhang was already lord of Wu, and so he was invested there. And Zhouzhang's younger brother Yu Zhong was enfeoffed in the old ruins of Xia north of Zhou: this was Yu Zhong, and he was ranked among the feudal lords.

Zhouzhang died, and his son Xiongsui was set up. Xiongsui died, and his son Kexiang was set up. Kexiang died, and his son Qiangjiuyi was set up. Qiangjiuyi died, and his son Yuqiaoyiwu was set up. Yuqiaoyiwu died, and his son Kelu was set up. Kelu died, and his son Zhouyao was set up. Zhouyao died, and his son Quyu was set up. Quyu died, and his son Yiwu was set up. Yiwu died, and his son Qinchu was set up. Qinchu died, and his son Zhuan was set up. Zhuan died, and his son Pogao was set up. Pogao died, and his son Goubei was set up. At this time Duke Xian of Jin destroyed the Duke of Yu north of Zhou, so as to open the way for Jin's attack on Guo. Goubei died, and his son Quqi was set up. Quqi died, and his son Shoumeng was set up. When Shoumeng was set up, Wu first grew greater and took the title of king.

From Taibo's founding of Wu, in the fifth generation King Wu overcame the Yin, and enfeoffed his descendants in two lines: the one, Yu, in the Central States; the other, Wu, among the Yi and the Man. In the twelfth generation Jin destroyed the Yu of the Central States. Two generations after the Yu of the Central States was destroyed, the Wu of the Yi and the Man rose. In all, from Taibo to Shoumeng, nineteen generations.

In the second year of King Shoumeng, Wuchen the Duke of Shen, a grandee who had fled from Chu, bearing a grudge against the Chu general Zifan, fled to Jin, and went from Jin as envoy to Wu; he taught Wu the use of troops and of chariots, and had his son made Wu's envoy-master; and Wu thereupon first had dealings with the Central States. Wu attacked Chu. In the sixteenth year, King Gong of Chu attacked Wu and came as far as Mount Heng.

In the twenty-fifth year King Shoumeng died. Shoumeng had four sons: the eldest was called Zhufan, the next Yuji, the next Yumei, the next Ji Zha. Ji Zha was worthy, and Shoumeng wished to set him up; but Ji Zha declined and would not have it, and thereupon the eldest son Zhufan was set up, and acted in charge of affairs and took the state in hand.

In the first year of King Zhufan, Zhufan, having put off his mourning, offered to yield the throne to Ji Zha. Ji Zha declined, saying: "When Duke Xuan of Cao died, the feudal lords and the men of Cao held the lord of Cao to be unrighteous, and were about to set up Zizang; and Zizang left the state, so as to establish the lord of Cao, and the gentlemen said, 'He could keep to his principle.' My lord is the rightful heir; who dares meddle with my lord? To hold the state is no principle of mine. Though Zha is without talent, he wishes to attach himself to the principle of Zizang." The men of Wu insisted on setting up Ji Zha, and Ji Zha abandoned his house and went to plough, and so they let him be. In the autumn Wu attacked Chu, and Chu defeated our army. In the fourth year Duke Ping of Jin was newly set up.

In the thirteenth year King Zhufan died. He had left a charge handing the throne to his younger brother Yuji, wishing it to be passed on in order until the state should in the end come to Ji Zha and stop there, to fulfil the intent of the former king Shoumeng and to honour Ji Zha's righteousness; the brothers all wished the state to come to him, and meant it to reach him by degrees. Ji Zha was enfeoffed at Yanling, and so was styled Jizi of Yanling.

In the third year of King Yuji, Qing Feng, chancellor of Qi, having committed an offence, fled from Qi to Wu. Wu gave Qing Feng the county of Zhufang as his revenue-town and married a daughter to him, and he was richer than he had been in Qi.

In the fourth year, Wu sent Ji Zha on a mission to Lu, and he asked to be shown the music of Zhou. They sang him the Zhounan and the Shaonan. He said: "Beautiful! It is the laying of the foundation, but not yet complete. Still, there is toil without resentment." They sang the Bei, the Yong and the Wei (卫). He said: "Beautiful, and deep! Sorrowing yet not brought to straits. I have heard that the power of Kangshu and Duke Wu of Wei was like this; is this then the airs of Wei?" They sang the Wang. He said: "Beautiful! Full of longing yet without fear; is this then Zhou after the move east?" They sang the Zheng. He said: "Its fineness is excessive; the people cannot bear it. Will this be the first to perish?" They sang the Qi. He said: "Beautiful! Vast and deep, a great air indeed! He who stands for the Eastern Sea — is it the Grand Duke? The state's measure cannot be taken." They sang the Bin. He said: "Beautiful! Broad and flowing; joyful without excess. Is this the Duke of Zhou in the east?" They sang the Qin. He said: "This is what is called the sound of Xia. Being able to be Xia, it is great; and greatness at its utmost — is this the old domain of Zhou?" They sang the Wei (魏). He said: "Beautiful! Floating and easy; great yet liberal, sparing yet unlaboured; carried on with power to support it, this is the mark of a lord of covenants." They sang the Tang. He said: "How deep the brooding! Has it the surviving air of the house of Taotang? If not, how should its sorrow reach so far? Who but the descendants of fine power could be like this?" They sang the Chen. He said: "A state without a master — how can it last?" From Kuai downward he passed no comment. They sang the Lesser Ya. He said: "Beautiful! Brooding yet not of two minds; resentful yet not speaking out. Is this the waning of Zhou's power? Yet there are still the people left from the former kings." They sang the Greater Ya. He said: "How broad! Harmonious and bright; winding, yet with a straight body to it. Is this the power of King Wen?" They sang the Hymns. He said: "It is the utmost! Upright without arrogance, winding without cringing; near without crowding, far without breaking away; shifting without licence, repeating without tedium; grieving without wretchedness, rejoicing without dissipation; used without being used up; broad without display; bestowing without cost; taking without greed; at rest without stagnation; moving without drifting. The five notes are in harmony and the eight winds at peace; the measures have their limits and the parts their order. This is what all abundant power has in common." When he saw the dances Xiangshuo and Nanyue, he said: "Beautiful! Yet there is still something felt as wanting." When he saw the dance Dawu, he said: "Beautiful! Was the flourishing of Zhou like this?" When he saw the dance Shaohu, he said: "The greatness of the sage! And yet there is still a shame upon his power — how hard it is to be a sage!" When he saw the dance Daxia, he said: "Beautiful! Toiling and yet claiming no power for it. Who but Yu could match this?" When he saw the dance Shaoshuo, he said: "Power at its utmost, and great indeed! Like Heaven, which covers all; like Earth, which bears all. Though power were ever so abundant, nothing could be added to this. Here the looking stops; if there is other music, I dare not look at it."

Leaving Lu, he went on as envoy to Qi. He advised Yan Pingzhong, saying: "Hand in your town and your office quickly. Without a town and without office, you will escape the trouble. The government of Qi is going to pass to someone; until it has passed, the trouble will not cease." So Yanzi, through Chen Huanzi, handed in his office and his town, and by this escaped the trouble of Luan and Gao.

Leaving Qi, he went as envoy to Zheng. He met Zichan, and it was as though they were old friends. He said to Zichan: "Those who hold the government of Zheng are extravagant; trouble is coming, and the government will surely fall to you. When you govern, be careful and go by ritual. If not, the state of Zheng will be ruined." Leaving Zheng, he went to Wei (卫). He was pleased with Qu Yuan, Shi Gou, Shi, Prince Jing, Gongshu Fa and Prince Chao, and said: "Wei has many gentlemen; it will have no troubles."

Going from Wei (卫) to Jin, he was about to lodge at Su when he heard the sound of bells, and said: "Strange! I have heard that to be clever without power is to bring execution upon oneself. This gentleman has offended against his lord and is therefore here; fear would still not be enough, and can he yet make music? This gentleman's being here is like a swallow nesting on a tent-curtain. The lord lies unburied — and can there be music?" And he went on. When Wenzi heard of it, he never listened to zither or lute again as long as he lived.

Going to Jin, he was pleased with Zhao Wenzi, Han Xuanzi and Wei Xianzi, and said: "The state of Jin will be gathered into these three houses!" As he was leaving he said to Shuxiang: "Do your best, sir! Your lord is extravagant and has many good men about him, and the grandees are all rich; the government will pass to the three houses. You, sir, are upright; you must think how to keep yourself clear of trouble."

When Ji Zha first went out on his mission, he passed north by the lord of Xu. The lord of Xu was taken with Ji Zha's sword, but did not dare to say so. Ji Zha knew it in his heart, but as he was on a mission to the upper states, he did not present it. On his return he came to Xu, and the lord of Xu was already dead; and thereupon he loosed his precious sword, tied it to the tree on the lord of Xu's grave-mound, and went away. His followers said: "The lord of Xu is dead; to whom are you giving it?" Jizi said: "Not so. At the first my heart had already promised it; how should I, because of his death, go back on my own heart?"

In the seventh year, Prince Wei of Chu killed his king Jia'ao and took his place: this was King Ling. In the tenth year King Ling of Chu assembled the feudal lords and with them attacked Zhufang of Wu, in order to put Qing Feng of Qi to death. Wu also attacked Chu, took three towns and withdrew. In the eleventh year Chu attacked Wu and came as far as Yulou. In the twelfth year Chu came to attack again and halted at Ganxi, and the army of Chu was defeated and fled.

In the seventeenth year King Yuji died, and his younger brother Yumei was set up. In the second year of King Yumei, Prince Qiji of Chu killed his lord King Ling and took his place.

In the fourth year King Yumei died, wishing to hand the throne to his younger brother Ji Zha. Ji Zha declined and fled away. Thereupon the men of Wu said: "The former king left a charge that when an elder brother died the younger should take his place, until it should come to Jizi. Jizi has now fled from the position; then King Yumei was the last set up, and now that he is dead his son ought to take his place." So Liao, the son of King Yumei, was set up as king.

In the second year of King Liao, Prince Guang attacked Chu, was defeated, and lost the king's boat. Guang was afraid, and made a surprise attack on Chu, recovered the king's boat and returned.

In the fifth year Wu Zixu, a minister who had fled from Chu, came over, and Prince Guang received him as a guest. Prince Guang was the son of King Zhufan. He had always thought: my father and his brothers were four, and the succession ought to pass down to Jizi; and if Jizi will not receive the state, then my father was the first of them set up, and if it is not to pass to Jizi, then I, Guang, ought to be set up. So he secretly took in men of worth, meaning by them to make a surprise attack on King Liao.

In the eighth year Wu sent Prince Guang to attack Chu; he defeated the army of Chu, and fetched back from Juchao the mother of Jian, the former heir apparent of Chu. Thereupon he attacked northward and defeated the armies of Chen and Cai. In the ninth year Prince Guang attacked Chu and took Juchao and Zhongli. Earlier, a girl of the Beiliang family in a border town of Chu had quarrelled over mulberry leaves with a girl of a border town of Wu; the two girls' families grew angry and destroyed one another, and the heads of the two states' border towns, hearing of it, grew angry and attacked one another, and the border town of Wu was destroyed. The king of Wu was angry, and so went on to attack Chu, and took two cities and withdrew.

When Wu Zixu first fled to Wu, he urged King Liao of Wu on the advantage of attacking Chu. Prince Guang said: "Xu's father and elder brother were put to death by Chu; he only wishes to avenge himself. No advantage is to be seen in it." Thereupon Wu Yun knew that Guang had other designs, and so sought out the brave man Zhuan Zhu and presented him to Guang. Guang was pleased, and so made Wu Zixu his guest. Zixu withdrew and ploughed in the countryside, waiting upon the business of Zhuan Zhu.

In the winter of the twelfth year King Ping of Chu died. In the spring of the thirteenth year Wu wished to take advantage of Chu's mourning and attack it, and sent Princes Gaiyu and Zhuyong with troops to besiege Lu and Qian of Chu, and sent Ji Zha to Jin, to observe what changes there might be among the feudal lords. Chu sent out troops to cut off the rear of the Wu forces, and the Wu troops could not get back. Thereupon Prince Guang of Wu said: "This moment must not be lost." He said to Zhuan Zhu: "Without seeking, what is got? I am the true heir of the king and ought to be set up, and I mean to seek it. Though Jizi come, he will not depose me." Zhuan Zhu said: "King Liao can be killed. His mother is old and his son is young, and the two princes are leading troops against Chu, and Chu has cut off their road. Just now Wu is hard pressed without by Chu, and within is empty and has no ministers of backbone; so there is nothing they can do against us." Guang said: "My body is your body." On the day bingzi of the fourth month, Guang hid armed men in a cellar and invited King Liao to drink. King Liao had troops ranged along the road from the royal palace to Guang's house; at the gate, on the steps, at the door and by the mat were all King Liao's own kinsmen, and the men stood in pairs holding lances. Prince Guang, pretending a pain in his foot, went into the cellar, and had Zhuan Zhu put a dagger inside a roast fish and bring it in as food. He took the dagger in his hand and stabbed King Liao; the lances crossed in Zhuan Zhu's breast, but King Liao was killed. Prince Guang at last took his place as king: this was King Helü of Wu. Helü then made Zhuan Zhu's son a minister.

Jizi arrived and said: "If the sacrifices of the former lords are not abandoned and the people are not left without a master, and the altars of soil and grain are served, then he is my lord. Whom should I dare to blame? To mourn the dead and serve the living, and so await the mandate of Heaven — it was not I who made the disorder; to follow whoever is set up is the way of our forefathers." He made his report, wept at Liao's grave, and returned to his post and waited. The two princes of Wu, Zhuyong and Gaiyu, who were leading the troops and were surrounded by Chu, heard that Prince Guang had killed King Liao and set himself up, and so surrendered with their troops to Chu, and Chu enfeoffed them at Shu.

In the first year of King Helü, Wu Zixu was raised to be envoy-master and joined in planning the affairs of state. Chu put Bo Zhouli to death, and his grandson Bo Pi fled to Wu, and Wu made him a grandee.

In the third year King Helü of Wu, with Zixu and Bo Pi, led troops to attack Chu, took Shu, and killed the two princes, the Wu generals who had gone over. Guang planned to enter Ying, but the general Sun Wu said: "The people are worn out; it cannot be yet. Wait." In the fourth year he attacked Chu and took Lu and Qian. In the fifth year he attacked Yue and defeated it. In the sixth year Chu sent Zichang, Nang Wa, to attack Wu. Wu met and struck him, and greatly defeated the army of Chu at Yuzhang, took Juchao from Chu, and returned.

In the ninth year King Helü of Wu asked Wu Zixu and Sun Wu: "At first you said that Ying could not be entered. What of it now?" The two answered: "The Chu general Zichang is greedy, and Tang and Cai both bear him a grudge. If Your Majesty is determined on a great attack, you must get Tang and Cai, and then it can be done." Helü followed this, raised the whole army, and with Tang and Cai attacked Chu in the west, coming as far as the waters of the Han. Chu also sent out troops to resist Wu, and they drew up their lines on either side of the water. Fugai, the younger brother of King Helü of Wu, wished to fight, and Helü would not allow it. Fugai said: "The king has already committed troops to me; in war the advantage comes first — what is there to wait for?" So with his own detachment of five thousand men he fell upon Chu, and the Chu troops were heavily defeated and fled. Thereupon the king of Wu loosed his troops in pursuit. By the time they reached Ying there had been five engagements, and Chu had been five times beaten. King Zhao of Chu fled out of Ying to Yun. The younger brother of the Duke of Yun wished to kill King Zhao, and King Zhao fled with the Duke of Yun to Sui. And the troops of Wu thereupon entered Ying. Zixu and Bo Pi flogged the corpse of King Ping to avenge their fathers.

In the spring of the tenth year, Yue heard that the king of Wu was at Ying and the state was empty, and attacked Wu. Wu sent a separate force to strike at Yue. Chu appealed urgently to Qin, and Qin sent troops to rescue Chu and strike at Wu, and the army of Wu was defeated. Fugai, Helü's younger brother, seeing that Qin and Yue had between them defeated Wu while the king of Wu stayed on in Chu and would not leave, fled home to Wu and set himself up as king of Wu. Helü heard of it and led his troops home and attacked Fugai. Fugai was defeated and fled to Chu. King Zhao of Chu was thus able in the ninth month to re-enter Ying, and he enfeoffed Fugai at Tangxi, whence the Tangxi clan. In the eleventh year the king of Wu sent the heir apparent Fuchai to attack Chu and take Pan. Chu was afraid and left Ying and moved to Ruo.

In the fifteenth year Confucius was chancellor of Lu.

In the summer of the nineteenth year Wu attacked Yue, and King Goujian of Yue met and struck them at Zuili. Yue sent men sworn to die to give the challenge; in three ranks they went up to the Wu army, shouted, and cut their own throats. While the Wu army was looking on, Yue took the moment to attack Wu and defeated it at Gusu; they wounded a toe of King Helü of Wu, and the army fell back seven li. The king of Wu died of the wound. Helü had the heir apparent Fuchai set up, and said to him: "Will you forget that Goujian killed your father?" He answered: "I dare not!" In three years he took his revenge upon Yue.

In the first year of King Fuchai, he made the grandee Bo Pi Grand Steward. He drilled in fighting and archery, and constantly made revenge upon Yue his purpose. In the second year the king of Wu with all his best troops attacked Yue and defeated them at Fujiao, avenging Gusu. King Goujian of Yue then took refuge on Kuaiji with five thousand armoured men, and sent the grandee Zhong, through Pi the Grand Steward of Wu, to make peace, asking to give over his state and become a vassal and servant. The king of Wu was about to consent, when Wu Zixu remonstrated, saying: "Of old the house of Youguo killed Zhenguan in order to attack Zhenxun, and destroyed Xiang, the sovereign of Xia. The consort of the sovereign Xiang, Houmin, was then with child, and fled to Youreng and bore Shaokang. Shaokang became master of the herds for Youreng. Youguo further wished to kill Shaokang, and Shaokang fled to Youyu. Youyu longed for the power of Xia, and so gave him two daughters to wife and gave him the town of Lun, with a single cheng of fields and a single brigade of men. Afterwards he gathered the host of Xia and took its offices in hand; he sent men to lure them on, and so destroyed the house of Youguo, restored the achievement of Yu, and sacrificed to Xia as the counterpart of Heaven, not losing what was of old. Now Wu is not so strong as Youguo was, and Goujian is greater than Shaokang. If we do not take this occasion to destroy him, and are moreover going to be lenient with him, shall we not have trouble? Besides, Goujian as a man can endure hardship; if he is not destroyed now, there will surely be regret for it later." The king of Wu would not listen, but listened to the Grand Steward Pi, and in the end granted Yue peace, made a covenant with them, and withdrew his troops and went away.

In the seventh year King Fuchai of Wu heard that Duke Jing of Qi was dead and the great ministers were contending for favour and the new lord was weak, and so raised an army and attacked Qi in the north. Zixu remonstrated, saying: "King Goujian of Yue does not eat two dishes at a meal or wear two colours; he mourns the dead and asks after the sick, meaning to have some use for his people. While that man lives, he will surely be Wu's affliction. Now Yue is a sickness in our very vitals, and Your Majesty does not deal with it first, but busies himself with Qi — is this not perverse?" The king of Wu would not listen, and went on to attack Qi in the north, defeating the army of Qi at Ailing. Coming to Zeng, he summoned Duke Ai of Lu and demanded a hundred sets of victims. Ji Kangzi sent Zigong to argue with the Grand Steward Pi from the rites of Zhou, and so it was stopped. He then stayed on and seized territory south of Qi and Lu. In the ninth year, for the sake of Zou he attacked Lu; when he arrived he made a covenant with Lu and then left. In the tenth year he took occasion to attack Qi and returned. In the eleventh year he again attacked Qi in the north.

King Goujian of Yue led his people to pay court to Wu and made rich presents, and the king of Wu was pleased. Only Zixu was afraid, and said: "This is throwing Wu away." He remonstrated, saying: "Yue is in our vitals. Now that we have got our will of Qi, it is like a field of stone — of no use. And the proclamation of Pangeng has it that the overturning and unruly were not to be left, and by this Shang rose." The king of Wu would not listen, and sent Zixu to Qi. Zixu entrusted his son to the Bao clan of Qi, and returned to report to the king of Wu. The king of Wu heard of it and was greatly enraged, and sent Zixu the sword Shulü that he might die. As he was about to die he said: "Plant catalpas on my grave, so that they may be made into vessels. Gouge out my eyes and set them on the eastern gate of Wu, that I may watch Yue destroy Wu."

The Bao clan of Qi killed Duke Dao of Qi. The king of Wu heard of it, wept for three days outside the gate of his camp, and then attacked Qi by way of the sea. The men of Qi defeated Wu, and the king of Wu then led his troops home.

In the thirteenth year Wu summoned the lords of Lu and Wei (卫) to an assembly at Tuogao.

In the spring of the fourteenth year the king of Wu went north to meet the feudal lords at Huangchi, wishing to be hegemon over the Central States so as to keep the house of Zhou whole. On the day bingzi of the sixth month, King Goujian of Yue attacked Wu. On the day yiyou, five thousand men of Yue fought with Wu. On the day bingxu they took prisoner You, the heir apparent of Wu. On the day dinghai they entered Wu. The men of Wu reported the defeat to King Fuchai, and Fuchai hated that it should be heard of. Someone let out the news, and the king of Wu was enraged and beheaded seven men beneath his tent. On the day xinchou of the seventh month, the king of Wu contended for precedence with Duke Ding of Jin. The king of Wu said: "In the house of Zhou I am the elder." Duke Ding of Jin said: "Among those of the Ji surname I am the chief." Zhao Yang was angry and was about to attack Wu, and so Duke Ding of Jin was made the elder. The king of Wu, having made the covenant, parted from Jin and wished to attack Song. The Grand Steward Pi said: "We can beat them, but we cannot hold the place." So he led his troops home. The state had lost its heir apparent and was empty within; the king had been long away, and the officers were all worn out; and thereupon he sent rich gifts to make peace with Yue.

In the fifteenth year Tian Chang of Qi killed Duke Jian.

In the eighteenth year Yue grew still stronger. King Goujian of Yue led his troops and again attacked and defeated the army of Wu at Lize. Chu destroyed Chen.

In the twentieth year King Goujian of Yue again attacked Wu. In the twenty-first year he went on to besiege Wu. On the day dingmao of the eleventh month of the twenty-third year, Yue defeated Wu. King Goujian of Yue wished to move King Fuchai of Wu to Yongdong and give him a hundred households to live on. The king of Wu said: "I am old, and cannot serve a lord and king. I repent that I did not use Zixu's words, and so brought myself to this." And he cut his own throat and died. The king of Yue destroyed Wu, put the Grand Steward Pi to death for disloyalty, and went home.

The Lord Grand Astrologer says: Confucius said, "Taibo may be called a man of the utmost power; three times he yielded the empire, and the people found no way to praise him." I read the ancient text of the Spring and Autumn, and so came to know that the Yu of the Central States and the Gouwu of the Jing Man were brothers. The benevolent heart of Jizi of Yanling, his boundless longing after righteousness, his seeing the slightest sign and knowing the clear from the muddy! Ah, and what a gentleman of vast learning and wide acquaintance with things he was!