卷三十二·齐太公世家第二
卷三十二·齐太公世家第二
司马迁
太公望吕尚者，东海上人。其先祖尝为四岳，佐禹平水土甚有功。虞夏之际封于吕，或封于申，姓姜氏。夏商之时，申、吕或封枝庶子孙，或为庶人，尚其后苗裔也。本姓姜氏，从其封姓，故曰吕尚。
吕尚盖尝穷困，年老矣，以渔钓奸周西伯。西伯将出猎，卜之，曰“所获非龙非彨，非虎非罴；所获霸王之辅”。于是周西伯猎，果遇太公于渭之阳，与语大说，曰：“自吾先君太公曰‘当有圣人適周，周以兴’。子真是邪？吾太公望子久矣。”故号之曰“太公望”，载与俱归，立为师。
或曰，太公博闻，尝事纣。纣无道，去之。游说诸侯，无所遇，而卒西归周西伯。或曰，吕尚处士，隐海滨。周西伯拘羑里，散宜生、闳夭素知而招吕尚。吕尚亦曰“吾闻西伯贤，又善养老，盍往焉”。三人者为西伯求美女奇物，献之于纣，以赎西伯。西伯得以出，反国。言吕尚所以事周虽异，然要之为文武师。
周西伯昌之脱羑里归，与吕尚阴谋修德以倾商政，其事多兵权与奇计，故后世之言兵及周之阴权皆宗太公为本谋。周西伯政平，及断虞芮之讼，而诗人称西伯受命曰文王。伐崇、密须、犬夷，大作丰邑。天下三分，其二归周者，太公之谋计居多。
文王崩，武王即位。九年，欲修文王业，东伐以观诸侯集否。师行，师尚父左杖黄钺，右把白旄以誓，曰：“苍兕苍兕，总尔众庶，与尔舟楫，后至者斩！”遂至盟津。诸侯不期而会者八百诸侯。诸侯皆曰：“纣可伐也。”武王曰：“未可。”还师，与太公作此太誓。
居二年，纣杀王子比干，囚箕子。武王将伐纣，卜龟兆，不吉，风雨暴至。群公尽惧，唯太公强之劝武王，武王于是遂行。十一年正月甲子，誓于牧野，伐商纣。纣师败绩。纣反走，登鹿台，遂追斩纣。明日，武王立于社，群公奉明水，卫康叔封布采席，师尚父牵牲，史佚策祝，以告神讨纣之罪。散鹿台之钱，发钜桥之粟，以振贫民。封比干墓，释箕子囚。迁九鼎，脩周政，与天下更始。师尚父谋居多。
于是武王已平商而王天下，封师尚父于齐营丘。东就国，道宿行迟。逆旅之人曰：“吾闻时难得而易失。客寝甚安，殆非就国者也。”太公闻之，夜衣而行，犁明至国。莱侯来伐，与之争营丘。营丘边莱。莱人，夷也，会纣之乱而周初定，未能集远方，是以与太公争国。
太公至国，脩政，因其俗，简其礼，通商工之业，便鱼盐之利，而人民多归齐，齐为大国。及周成王少时，管蔡作乱，淮夷畔周，乃使召康公命太公曰：“东至海，西至河，南至穆陵，北至无棣，五侯九伯，实得征之。”齐由此得征伐，为大国。都营丘。
盖太公之卒百有余年，子丁公吕伋立。丁公卒，子乙公得立。乙公卒，子癸公慈母立。癸公卒，子哀公不辰立。
哀公时，纪侯谮之周，周烹哀公而立其弟静，是为胡公。胡公徙都薄姑，而当周夷王之时。
哀公之同母少弟山怨胡公，乃与其党率营丘人袭攻杀胡公而自立，是为献公。献公元年，尽逐胡公子，因徙薄姑都，治临菑。
九年，献公卒，子武公寿立。武公九年，周厉王出奔，居彘。十年，王室乱，大臣行政，号曰“共和”。二十四年，周宣王初立。
二十六年，武公卒，子厉公无忌立。厉公暴虐，故胡公子复入齐，齐人欲立之，乃与攻杀厉公。胡公子亦战死。齐人乃立厉公子赤为君，是为文公，而诛杀厉公者七十人。
文公十二年卒，子成公脱立。成公九年卒，子庄公购立。
庄公二十四年，犬戎杀幽王，周东徙雒。秦始列为诸侯。五十六年，晋弑其君昭侯。
六十四年，庄公卒，子釐公禄甫立。
釐公九年，鲁隐公初立。十九年，鲁桓公弑其兄隐公而自立为君。
二十五年，北戎伐齐。郑使太子忽来救齐，齐欲妻之。忽曰：“郑小齐大，非我敌。”遂辞之。
三十二年，釐公同母弟夷仲年死。其子曰公孙无知，釐公爱之，令其秩服奉养比太子。
三十三年，釐公卒，太子诸儿立，是为襄公。
襄公元年，始为太子时，尝与无知斗，及立，绌无知秩服，无知怨。
四年，鲁桓公与夫人如齐。齐襄公故尝私通鲁夫人。鲁夫人者，襄公女弟也，自釐公时嫁为鲁桓公妇，及桓公来而襄公复通焉。鲁桓公知之，怒夫人，夫人以告齐襄公。齐襄公与鲁君饮，醉之，使力士彭生抱上鲁君车，因拉杀鲁桓公，桓公下车则死矣。鲁人以为让，而齐襄公杀彭生以谢鲁。
八年，伐纪，纪迁去其邑。
十二年，初，襄公使连称、管至父戍葵丘，瓜时而往，及瓜而代。往戍一岁，卒瓜时而公弗为发代。或为请代，公弗许。故此二人怒，因公孙无知谋作乱。连称有从妹在公宫，无宠，使之间襄公，曰“事成以女为无知夫人”。冬十二月，襄公游姑棼，遂猎沛丘。见彘，从者曰“彭生”。公怒，射之，彘人立而啼。公惧，坠车伤足，失屦。反而鞭主屦者茀三百。茀出宫。而无知、连称、管至父等闻公伤，乃遂率其众袭宫。逢主屦茀，茀曰：“且无入惊宫，惊宫未易入也。”无知弗信，茀示之创，乃信之。待宫外，令茀先入。茀先入，即匿襄公户间。良久，无知等恐，遂入宫。茀反与宫中及公之幸臣攻无知等，不胜，皆死。无知入宫，求公不得。或见人足于户间，发视，乃襄公，遂弑之，而无知自立为齐君。
桓公元年春，齐君无知游于雍林。雍林人尝有怨无知，及其往游，雍林人袭杀无知，告齐大夫曰：“无知弑襄公自立，臣谨行诛。唯大夫更立公子之当立者，唯命是听。”
初，襄公之醉杀鲁桓公，通其夫人，杀诛数不当，淫于妇人，数欺大臣，群弟恐祸及，故次弟纠奔鲁。其母鲁女也。管仲、召忽傅之。次弟小白奔莒，鲍叔傅之。小白母，卫女也，有宠于釐公。小白自少好善大夫高傒。及雍林人杀无知，议立君，高、国先阴召小白于莒。鲁闻无知死，亦发兵送公子纠，而使管仲别将兵遮莒道，射中小白带钩。小白详死，管仲使人驰报鲁。鲁送纠者行益迟，六日至齐，则小白已入，高傒立之，是为桓公。
桓公之中钩，详死以误管仲，已而载温车中驰行，亦有高、国内应，故得先入立，发兵距鲁。秋，与鲁战于乾时，鲁兵败走，齐兵掩绝鲁归道。齐遗鲁书曰：“子纠兄弟，弗忍诛，请鲁自杀之。召忽、管仲雠也，请得而甘心醢之。不然，将围鲁。”鲁人患之，遂杀子纠于笙渎。召忽自杀，管仲请囚。桓公之立，发兵攻鲁，心欲杀管仲。鲍叔牙曰：“臣幸得从君，君竟以立。君之尊，臣无以增君。君将治齐，即高傒与叔牙足也。君且欲霸王，非管夷吾不可。夷吾所居国国重，不可失也。”于是桓公从之。乃详为召管仲欲甘心，实欲用之。管仲知之，故请往。鲍叔牙迎受管仲，及堂阜而脱桎梏，斋祓而见桓公。桓公厚礼以为大夫，任政。
桓公既得管仲，与鲍叔、隰朋、高傒修齐国政，连五家之兵，设轻重鱼盐之利，以赡贫穷，禄贤能，齐人皆说。
二年，伐灭郯，郯子奔莒。初，桓公亡时，过郯，郯无礼，故伐之。
五年，伐鲁，鲁将师败。鲁庄公请献遂邑以平，桓公许，与鲁会柯而盟。鲁将盟，曹沬以匕首劫桓公于坛上，曰：“反鲁之侵地！”桓公许之。已而曹沬去匕首，北面就臣位。桓公后悔，欲无与鲁地而杀曹沬。管仲曰：“夫劫许之而倍信杀之，愈一小快耳，而弃信于诸侯，失天下之援，不可。”于是遂与曹沬三败所亡地于鲁。诸侯闻之，皆信齐而欲附焉。七年，诸侯会桓公于甄，而桓公于是始霸焉。
十四年，陈厉公子完，号敬仲，来奔齐。齐桓公欲以为卿，让；于是以为工正。田成子常之祖也。
二十三年，山戎伐燕，燕告急于齐。齐桓公救燕，遂伐山戎，至于孤竹而还。燕庄公遂送桓公入齐境。桓公曰：“非天子，诸侯相送不出境，吾不可以无礼于燕。”于是分沟割燕君所至与燕，命燕君复修召公之政，纳贡于周，如成康之时。诸侯闻之，皆从齐。
二十七年，鲁湣公母曰哀姜，桓公女弟也。哀姜淫于鲁公子庆父，庆父弑湣公，哀姜欲立庆父，鲁人更立釐公。桓公召哀姜，杀之。
二十八年，卫文公有狄乱，告急于齐。齐率诸侯城楚丘而立卫君。
二十九年，桓公与夫人蔡姬戏船中。蔡姬习水，荡公，公惧，止之，不止，出船，怒，归蔡姬，弗绝。蔡亦怒，嫁其女。桓公闻而怒，兴师往伐。
三十年春，齐桓公率诸侯伐蔡，蔡溃。遂伐楚。楚成王兴师问曰：“何故涉吾地？”管仲对曰：“昔召康公命我先君太公曰：‘五侯九伯，若实征之，以夹辅周室。’赐我先君履，东至海，西至河，南至穆陵，北至无棣。楚贡包茅不入，王祭不具，是以来责。昭王南征不复，是以来问。”楚王曰：“贡之不入，有之，寡人罪也，敢不共乎！昭王之出不复，君其问之水滨。”齐师进次于陉。夏，楚王使屈完将兵扞齐，齐师退次召陵。桓公矜屈完以其众。屈完曰：“君以道则可；若不，则楚方城以为城，江、汉以为沟，君安能进乎？”乃与屈完盟而去。过陈，陈袁涛涂诈齐，令出东方，觉。秋，齐伐陈。是岁，晋杀太子申生。
三十五年夏，会诸侯于葵丘。周襄王使宰孔赐桓公文武胙、彤弓矢、大路，命无拜。桓公欲许之，管仲曰“不可”，乃下拜受赐。秋，复会诸侯于葵丘，益有骄色。周使宰孔会。诸侯颇有叛者。晋侯病，后，遇宰孔。宰孔曰：“齐侯骄矣，弟无行。”从之。是岁，晋献公卒，里克杀奚齐、卓子，秦穆公以夫人入公子夷吾为晋君。桓公于是讨晋乱，至高梁，使隰朋立晋君，还。
是时周室微，唯齐、楚、秦、晋为强。晋初与会，献公死，国内乱。秦穆公辟远，不与中国会盟。楚成王初收荆蛮有之，夷狄自置。唯独齐为中国会盟，而桓公能宣其德，故诸侯宾会。于是桓公称曰：“寡人南伐至召陵，望熊山；北伐山戎、离枝、孤竹；西伐大夏，涉流沙；束马悬车登太行，至卑耳山而还。诸侯莫违寡人。寡人兵车之会三，乘车之会六，九合诸侯，一匡天下。昔三代受命，有何以异于此乎？吾欲封泰山，禅梁父。”管仲固谏，不听；乃说桓公以远方珍怪物至乃得封，桓公乃止。
三十八年，周襄王弟带与戎、翟合谋伐周，齐使管仲平戎于周。周欲以上卿礼管仲，管仲顿首曰：“臣陪臣，安敢！”三让，乃受下卿礼以见。三十九年，周襄王弟带来奔齐。齐使仲孙请王，为带谢。襄王怒，弗听。
四十一年，秦穆公虏晋惠公，复归之。是岁，管仲、隰朋皆卒。管仲病，桓公问曰：“群臣谁可相者？”管仲曰：“知臣莫如君。”公曰：“易牙如何？”对曰：“杀子以適君，非人情，不可。”公曰：“开方如何？”对曰：“倍亲以適君，非人情，难近。”公曰：“竖刀如何？”对曰：“自宫以適君，非人情，难亲。”管仲死，而桓公不用管仲言，卒近用三子，三子专权。
四十二年，戎伐周，周告急于齐，齐令诸侯各发卒戍周。是岁，晋公子重耳来，桓公妻之。
四十三年。初，齐桓公之夫人三：曰王姬、徐姬、蔡姬，皆无子。桓公好内，多内宠，如夫人者六人，长卫姬，生无诡；少卫姬，生惠公元；郑姬，生孝公昭；葛嬴，生昭公潘；密姬，生懿公商人；宋华子，生公子雍。桓公与管仲属孝公于宋襄公，以为太子。雍巫有宠于卫共姬，因宦者竖刀以厚献于桓公，亦有宠，桓公许之立无诡。管仲卒，五公子皆求立。冬十月乙亥，齐桓公卒。易牙入，与竖刀因内宠杀群吏，而立公子无诡为君。太子昭奔宋。
桓公病，五公子各树党争立。及桓公卒，遂相攻，以故宫中空，莫敢棺。桓公尸在床上六十七日，尸虫出于户。十二月乙亥，无诡立，乃棺赴。辛巳夜，敛殡。
桓公十有余子，要其后立者五人：无诡立三月死，无谥；次孝公；次昭公；次懿公；次惠公。孝公元年三月，宋襄公率诸侯兵送齐太子昭而伐齐。齐人恐，杀其君无诡。齐人将立太子昭，四公子之徒攻太子，太子走宋，宋遂与齐人四公子战。五月，宋败齐四公子师而立太子昭，是为齐孝公。宋以桓公与管仲属之太子，故来征之。以乱故，八月乃葬齐桓公。
六年春，齐伐宋，以其不同盟于齐也。夏，宋襄公卒。七年，晋文公立。
十年，孝公卒，孝公弟潘因卫公子开方杀孝公子而立潘，是为昭公。昭公，桓公子也，其母曰葛嬴。
昭公元年，晋文公败楚于城濮，而会诸侯践土，朝周，天子使晋称伯。六年，翟侵齐。晋文公卒。秦兵败于殽。十二年，秦穆公卒。
十九年五月，昭公卒，子舍立为齐君。舍之母无宠于昭公，国人莫畏。昭公之弟商人以桓公死争立而不得，阴交贤士，附爱百姓，百姓说。及昭公卒，子舍立，孤弱，即与众十月即墓上弑齐君舍，而商人自立，是为懿公。懿公，桓公子也，其母曰密姬。
懿公四年春，初，懿公为公子时，与丙戎之父猎，争获不胜，及即位，断丙戎父足，而使丙戎仆。庸职之妻好，公内之宫，使庸职骖乘。五月，懿公游于申池，二人浴，戏。职曰：“断足子！”戎曰：“夺妻者！”二人俱病此言，乃怨。谋与公游竹中，二人弑懿公车上，弃竹中而亡去。
懿公之立，骄，民不附。齐人废其子而迎公子元于卫，立之，是为惠公。惠公，桓公子也。其母卫女，曰少卫姬，避齐乱，故在卫。
惠公二年，长翟来，王子城父攻杀之，埋之于北门。晋赵穿弑其君灵公。
十年，惠公卒，子顷公无野立。初，崔杼有宠于惠公，惠公卒，高、国畏其偪也，逐之，崔杼奔卫。
顷公元年，楚庄王强，伐陈；二年，围郑，郑伯降，已复国郑伯。
六年春，晋使郤克于齐，齐使夫人帷中而观之。郤克上，夫人笑之。郤克曰：“不是报，不复涉河！”归，请伐齐，晋侯弗许。齐使至晋，郤克执齐使者四人河内，杀之。八年。晋伐齐，齐以公子强质晋，晋兵去。十年春，齐伐鲁、卫。鲁、卫大夫如晋请师，皆因郤克。晋使郤克以车八百乘为中军将，士燮将上军，栾书将下军，以救鲁、卫，伐齐。六月壬申，与齐侯兵合靡笄下。癸酉，陈于鞍。逄丑父为齐顷公右。顷公曰：“驰之，破晋军会食。”射伤郤克，流血至履。克欲还入壁，其御曰：“我始入，再伤，不敢言疾，恐惧士卒，愿子忍之。”遂复战。战，齐急，丑父恐齐侯得，乃易处，顷公为右，车絓于木而止。晋小将韩厥伏齐侯车前，曰“寡君使臣救鲁、卫”，戏之。丑父使顷公下取饮，因得亡，脱去，入其军。晋郤克欲杀丑父。丑父曰：“代君死而见僇，后人臣无忠其君者矣。”克舍之，丑父遂得亡归齐。于是晋军追齐至马陵。齐侯请以宝器谢，不听；必得笑克者萧桐叔子，令齐东亩。对曰：“叔子，齐君母。齐君母亦犹晋君母，子安置之？且子以义伐而以暴为后，其可乎？”于是乃许，令反鲁、卫之侵地。
十一年，晋初置六卿，赏鞍之功。齐顷公朝晋，欲尊王晋景公，晋景公不敢受，乃归。归而顷公弛苑囿，薄赋敛，振孤问疾，虚积聚以救民，民亦大说。厚礼诸侯。竟顷公卒，百姓附，诸侯不犯。
十七年，顷公卒，子灵公环立。
灵公九年，晋栾书弑其君厉公。十年，晋悼公伐齐，齐令公子光质晋。十九年，立子光为太子，高厚傅之，令会诸侯盟于钟离。二十七年，晋使中行献子伐齐。齐师败，灵公走入临菑。晏婴止灵公，灵公弗从。曰：“君亦无勇矣！”晋兵遂围临菑，临菑城守不敢出，晋焚郭中而去。
二十八年，初，灵公取鲁女，生子光，以为太子。仲姬，戎姬。戎姬嬖，仲姬生子牙，属之戎姬。戎姬请以为太子，公许之。仲姬曰：“不可。光之立，列于诸侯矣，今无故废之，君必悔之。”公曰：“在我耳。”遂东太子光，使高厚傅牙为太子。灵公疾，崔杼迎故太子光而立之，是为庄公。庄公杀戎姬。五月壬辰，灵公卒，庄公即位，执太子牙于句窦之丘，杀之。八月，崔杼杀高厚。晋闻齐乱，伐齐，至高唐。
庄公三年，晋大夫栾盈奔齐，庄公厚客待之。晏婴、田文子谏，公弗听。四年，齐庄公使栾盈间入晋曲沃为内应，以兵随之，上太行，入孟门。栾盈败，齐兵还，取朝歌。
六年，初，棠公妻好，棠公死，崔杼取之。庄公通之，数如崔氏，以崔杼之冠赐人。待者曰：“不可。”崔杼怒，因其伐晋，欲与晋合谋袭齐而不得间。庄公尝笞宦者贾举，贾举复侍，为崔杼间公以报怨。五月，莒子朝齐，齐以甲戌飨之。崔杼称病不视事。乙亥，公问崔杼病，遂从崔杼妻。崔杼妻入室，与崔杼自闭户不出，公拥柱而歌。宦者贾举遮公从官而入，闭门，崔杼之徒持兵从中起。公登台而请解，不许；请盟，不许；请自杀于庙，不许。皆曰：“君之臣杼疾病，不能听命。近于公宫。陪臣争趣有淫者，不知二命。”公逾墙，射中公股，公反坠，遂弑之。晏婴立崔杼门外，曰：“君为社稷死则死之，为社稷亡则亡之。若为己死己亡，非其私暱，谁敢任之！”门开而入，枕公尸而哭，三踊而出。人谓崔杼：“必杀之。”崔杼曰：“民之望也，舍之得民。”
丁丑，崔杼立庄公异母弟杵臼，是为景公。景公母，鲁叔孙宣伯女也。景公立，以崔杼为右相，庆封为左相。二相恐乱起，乃与国人盟曰：“不与崔庆者死！”晏子仰天曰：“婴所不获，唯忠于君利社稷者是从！”不肯盟。庆封欲杀晏子，崔杼曰：“忠臣也，舍之。”齐太史书曰“崔杼弑庄公”，崔杼杀之。其弟复书，崔杼复杀之。少弟复书，崔杼乃舍之。
景公元年，初，崔杼生子成及强，其母死，取东郭女，生明。东郭女使其前夫子无咎与其弟偃相崔氏。成有罪，二相急治之，立明为太子。成请老于崔，崔杼许之，二相弗听，曰：“崔，宗邑，不可。”成、强怒，告庆封。庆封与崔杼有郤，欲其败也。成、强杀无咎、偃于崔杼家，家皆奔亡。崔杼怒，无人，使一宦者御，见庆封。庆封曰：“请为子诛之。”使崔杼仇卢蒲{敝女}攻崔氏，杀成、强，尽灭崔氏，崔杼妇自杀。崔杼毋归，亦自杀。庆封为相国，专权。
三年十月，庆封出猎。初，庆封已杀崔杼，益骄，嗜酒好猎，不听政令。庆舍用政，已有内郤。田文子谓桓子曰：“乱将作。”田、鲍、高、栾氏相与谋庆氏。庆舍发甲围庆封宫，四家徒共击破之。庆封还，不得入，奔鲁。齐人让鲁，封奔吴。吴与之朱方，聚其族而居之，富于在齐。其秋，齐人徙葬庄公，僇崔杼尸于市以说众。
九年，景公使晏婴之晋，与叔向私语曰：“齐政卒归田氏。田氏虽无大德，以公权私，有德于民，民爱之。”十二年，景公如晋，见平公，欲与伐燕。十八年，公复如晋，见昭公。二十六年，猎鲁郊，因入鲁，与晏婴俱问鲁礼。三十一年，鲁昭公辟季氏难，奔齐。齐欲以千社封之，子家止昭公，昭公乃请齐伐鲁，取郓以居昭公。
三十二年，彗星见。景公坐柏寝，叹曰：“堂堂！谁有此乎？”群臣皆泣，晏子笑，公怒。晏子曰：“臣笑群臣谀甚。”景公曰：“彗星出东北，当齐分野，寡人以为忧。”晏子曰：“君高台深池，赋敛如弗得，刑罚恐弗胜，茀星将出，彗星何惧乎？”公曰：“可禳否？”晏子曰：“使神可祝而来，亦可禳而去也。百姓苦怨以万数，而君令一人禳之，安能胜众口乎？”是时景公好治宫室，聚狗马，奢侈，厚赋重刑，故晏子以此谏之。
四十二年，吴王阖闾伐楚，入郢。
四十七年，鲁阳虎攻其君，不胜，奔齐，请齐伐鲁。鲍子谏景公，乃囚阳虎。阳虎得亡，奔晋。
四十八年，与鲁定公好会夹谷。犁鉏曰：“孔丘知礼而怯，请令莱人为乐，因执鲁君，可得志。”景公害孔丘相鲁，惧其霸，故从犁鉏之计。方会，进莱乐，孔子历阶上，使有司执莱人斩之，以礼让景公。景公惭，乃归鲁侵地以谢，而罢去。是岁，晏婴卒。
五十五年，范、中行反其君于晋，晋攻之急，来请粟。田乞欲为乱，树党于逆臣，说景公曰：“范、中行数有德于齐，不可不救。”及使乞救而输之粟。
五十八年夏，景公夫人燕姬適子死。景公宠妾芮姬生子荼，荼少，其母贱，无行，诸大夫恐其为嗣，乃言愿择诸子长贤者为太子。景公老，恶言嗣事，又爱荼母，欲立之，惮发之口，乃谓诸大夫曰：“为乐耳，国何患无君乎？”秋，景公病，命国惠子、高昭子立少子荼为太子，逐群公子，迁之莱。景公卒，太子荼立，是为晏孺子。冬，未葬，而群公子畏诛，皆出亡。荼诸异母兄公子寿、驹、黔奔卫，公子驵、阳生奔鲁。莱人歌之曰：“景公死乎弗与埋，三军事乎弗与谋，师乎师乎，胡党之乎？”
晏孺子元年春，田乞伪事高、国者，每朝，乞骖乘，言曰：“子得君，大夫皆自危，欲谋作乱。”又谓诸大夫曰：“高昭子可畏，及未发，先之。”大夫从之。六月，田乞、鲍牧乃与大夫以兵入公宫，攻高昭子。昭子闻之，与国惠子救公。公师败，田乞之徒追之，国惠子奔莒，遂反杀高昭子。晏圉奔鲁。八月，齐秉意兹。田乞败二相，乃使人之鲁召公子阳生。阳生至齐，私匿田乞家。十月戊子，田乞请诸大夫曰：“常之母有鱼菽之祭，幸来会饮。”会饮，田乞盛阳生橐中，置坐中央，发橐出阳生，曰：“此乃齐君矣！”大夫皆伏谒。将与大夫盟而立之，鲍牧醉，乞诬大夫曰：“吾与鲍牧谋共立阳生。”鲍牧怒曰：“子忘景公之命乎？”诸大夫相视欲悔，阳生前，顿首曰：“可则立之，否则已。”鲍牧恐祸起，乃复曰：“皆景公子也，何为不可！”乃与盟，立阳生，是为悼公。悼公入宫，使人迁晏孺子于骀，杀之幕下，而逐孺子母芮子。芮子故贱而孺子少，故无权，国人轻之。
悼公元年，齐伐鲁，取讙、阐。初，阳生亡在鲁，季康子以其妹妻之。及归即位，使迎之。季姬与季鲂侯通，言其情，鲁弗敢与，故齐伐鲁，竟迎季姬。季姬嬖，齐复归鲁侵地。
鲍子与悼公有郤，不善。四年，吴、鲁伐齐南方。鲍子弑悼公，赴于吴。吴王夫差哭于军门外三日，将从海入讨齐。齐人败之，吴师乃去。晋赵鞅伐齐，至赖而去。齐人共立悼公子壬，是为简公。
简公四年春，初，简公与父阳生俱在鲁也，监止有宠焉。及及即位，使为政。田成子惮之，骤顾于朝。御鞅言简公曰：“田、监不可并也，君其择焉。”弗听。子我夕，田逆杀人，逢之，遂捕以入。田氏方睦，使囚病而遗守囚者酒，醉而杀守者，得亡。子我盟诸田于陈宗。初，田豹欲为子我臣，使公孙言豹，豹有丧而止。后卒以为臣，幸于子我。子我谓曰：“吾尽逐田氏而立女，可乎？”对曰：“我远田氏矣。且其违者不过数人，何尽逐焉！”遂告田氏。子行曰：“彼得君，弗先，必祸子。”子行舍于公宫。
夏五月壬申，成子兄弟四乘如公。子我在幄，出迎之，遂入，闭门。宦者御之，子行杀宦者。公与妇人饮酒于檀台，成子迁诸寝。公执戈将击之，太史子余曰：“非不利也，将除害也。”成子出舍于库，闻公犹怒，将出，曰：“何所无君！”子行拔剑曰：“需，事之贼也。谁非田宗？所不杀子者有如田宗。”乃止。子我归，属徒攻闱与大门，皆弗胜，乃出。田氏追之。丰丘人执子我以告，杀之郭关。成子将杀大陆子方，田逆请而免之。以公命取车于道，出雍门。田豹与之车，弗受，曰：“逆为余请，豹与余车，余有私焉。事子我而有私于其雠，何以见鲁、卫之士？”
庚辰，田常执简公于俆州。公曰：“余蚤从御鞅言，不及此。”甲午，田常弑简公于袪州。田常乃立简公弟骜，是为平公。平公即位，田常相之，专齐之政，割齐安平以东为田氏封邑。
平公八年，越灭吴。二十五年卒，子宣公积立。
宣公五十一年卒，子康公贷立。田会反廪丘。
康公二年，韩、魏、赵始列为诸侯。十九年，田常曾孙田和始为诸侯，迁康公海滨。
二十六年，康公卒，吕氏遂绝其祀。田氏卒有齐国，为齐威王，强于天下。
太史公曰：吾適齐，自泰山属之琅邪，北被于海，膏壤二千里，其民阔达多匿知，其天性也。以太公之圣，建国本，桓公之盛，修善政，以为诸侯会盟，称伯，不亦宜乎？洋洋哉，固大国之风也！
Volume 32 · The Hereditary House of the Grand Duke of Qi, Second
司马迁
Taigong Wang, Lü Shang, was a man of the shores of the Eastern Sea. His remote ancestors had once been Masters of the Four Peaks, and had done great service in assisting Yu to bring order to the waters and the soil. At the turn from Yu to Xia they were enfeoffed at Lü, or else at Shen, and their surname was Jiang. In the times of Xia and Shang, Shen and Lü sometimes enfeoffed the sons and grandsons of collateral branches, and sometimes these became common men; and Shang was of their remote posterity. His proper surname was Jiang, but he took the surname from the fief, and so was called Lü Shang.
Lü Shang, it seems, had once been poor and in straits, and was old; and by fishing and angling he sought to attach himself to the Earl of the West of Zhou. The Earl of the West was about to go out hunting and divined about it, and the answer was: "What you take will be neither dragon nor hornless dragon, neither tiger nor bear; what you take will be the helper of a hegemon and king." Thereupon the Earl of the West of Zhou hunted, and did indeed meet the Grand Duke on the northern bank of the Wei; and talking with him he was greatly pleased, and said: "From the time of my late lord the Great Duke it was said, 'There shall be a sage who comes to Zhou, and by him Zhou shall rise.' Are you truly he? My Great Duke has looked for you long." And so he styled him "Taigong Wang," the Great Duke's Hope, and carried him home in his carriage, and set him up as his teacher.
Some say that the Grand Duke was widely learned and had once served Zhou the tyrant; and that Zhou being without the Way, he left him, travelled about persuading the feudal lords, met with no one to take him, and in the end went west and gave his allegiance to the Earl of the West of Zhou. Others say that Lü Shang was a retired scholar hidden away by the seashore; that when the Earl of the West of Zhou was held prisoner at Youli, San Yisheng and Hong Yao, who had long known of him, called Lü Shang in; and that Lü Shang too said, "I have heard that the Earl of the West is worthy, and further is good at nourishing the aged; why not go to him?" The three of them sought out beautiful women and rare things for the Earl of the West and presented them to Zhou, so as to ransom the Earl of the West. The Earl of the West was thus able to come out and return to his state. Though the accounts of how Lü Shang came to serve Zhou differ, the sum of it is that he was teacher to Wen and Wu.
When Chang, the Earl of the West of Zhou, had escaped from Youli and returned, he and Lü Shang secretly planned how to cultivate power so as to overturn the government of Shang; and their business was much of it military strategy and extraordinary devices. Therefore later ages, in speaking of war and of Zhou's hidden strategy, all took the Grand Duke as the source of their plans. The Earl of the West's government was level and fair, and it settled the dispute between Yu and Rui; and the poets said that the Earl of the West had received the mandate, calling him King Wen. He attacked Chong, Mixu and the Quanyi, and built the great city of Feng. When the empire was divided in three and two parts of it gave allegiance to Zhou, the plans of the Grand Duke had the larger share in it.
King Wen died and King Wu came to the throne. In the ninth year, wishing to carry on King Wen's work, he attacked eastward to see whether the feudal lords would gather. When the army marched out, the Master Shangfu held in his left hand the yellow battle-axe and in his right grasped the white yak-tail standard, and gave the oath, saying: "Grey rhinoceros, grey rhinoceros! Gather your multitudes and bring your boats and oars; whoever comes late shall be beheaded!" So they came to Mengjin. The feudal lords who came together without appointment were eight hundred. The feudal lords all said: "Zhou may be attacked." King Wu said: "Not yet." He led the army back, and with the Grand Duke composed this Great Oath.
Two years later, Zhou killed the prince Bigan and imprisoned Jizi. King Wu was about to attack Zhou and divined by the tortoise; the cracks were not auspicious, and wind and rain came on violently. All the dukes were afraid; only the Grand Duke pressed it and urged King Wu on, and King Wu thereupon went. On the day jiazi of the first month of the eleventh year, he swore the oath at Muye and attacked Zhou of Shang. Zhou's army was crushed. Zhou turned and fled, and went up the Deer Terrace; and they pursued and beheaded Zhou. The next day King Wu stood at the altar of the soil; all the dukes bore the bright water, Kangshu Feng of Wei spread out the figured mat, the Master Shangfu led the victim, and the scribe Yi read the prayer from the tablets, announcing to the spirits the punishment of Zhou's crimes. They scattered the cash of the Deer Terrace and opened the grain of Juqiao to relieve the poor people. They raised a mound over Bigan's grave and released Jizi from prison. They moved the Nine Tripods, put the government of Zhou in order, and made a fresh beginning with the empire. In this the plans of the Master Shangfu had the larger share.
Thereupon King Wu, having pacified Shang and become king over the empire, enfeoffed the Master Shangfu at Yingqiu in Qi. He went east to take up his state, lodging on the road and travelling slowly. A man of the inn said: "I have heard that the moment is hard to get and easy to lose. This guest sleeps very soundly; he is surely not one going to take up a state." The Grand Duke heard it, dressed in the night and went on, and reached his state at first light. The lord of Lai came and attacked, and contended with him for Yingqiu. Yingqiu bordered on Lai. The men of Lai were Yi; taking the occasion of Zhou's disorder and the Zhou house being but newly settled and unable to gather in the distant regions, they contended with the Grand Duke for the state.
The Grand Duke reached his state and put the government in order: he went along with their customs, simplified their rites, opened up the business of trade and craft and made easy the profits of fish and salt; and the people in great numbers gave their allegiance to Qi, and Qi became a great state. And when King Cheng of Zhou was young and Guan and Cai made their rebellion and the Huai Yi revolted from Zhou, the Duke of Shao Kang was sent to charge the Grand Duke, saying: "East as far as the sea, west as far as the He, south as far as Muling, north as far as Wudi — the five ranks of lords and the nine chiefs, these you may indeed campaign against." Qi from this got the right of campaign and became a great state. Its capital was Yingqiu.
It was more than a hundred years, it seems, after the Grand Duke's death that his son Duke Ding, Lü Ji, was set up. Duke Ding died, and his son Duke Yi, De, was set up. Duke Yi died, and his son Duke Gui, Cimu, was set up. Duke Gui died, and his son Duke Ai, Buchen, was set up.
In Duke Ai's time the lord of Ji slandered him to Zhou, and Zhou boiled Duke Ai and set up his younger brother Jing: this was Duke Hu. Duke Hu moved the capital to Bogu, and this was in the time of King Yi of Zhou.
Shan, the younger brother of Duke Ai by the same mother, bore a grudge against Duke Hu, and so with his faction led the men of Yingqiu in a surprise attack and killed Duke Hu, and set himself up: this was Duke Xian. In the first year of Duke Xian, he drove out all the sons of Duke Hu, and accordingly moved the capital from Bogu and governed from Linzi.
In the ninth year Duke Xian died, and his son Duke Wu, Shou, was set up. In the ninth year of Duke Wu, King Li of Zhou fled out and dwelt at Zhi. In the tenth year the royal house was in disorder, and the great ministers carried on the government; it was styled "the Gonghe." In the twenty-fourth year, King Xuan of Zhou was newly set up.
In the twenty-sixth year Duke Wu died, and his son Duke Li, Wuji, was set up. Duke Li was cruel and oppressive, and so a son of Duke Hu came back into Qi; the men of Qi wished to set him up, and so joined him in attacking and killing Duke Li. Duke Hu's son also died in the fighting. The men of Qi then set up Duke Li's son Chi as lord: this was Duke Wen; and they put to death seventy of those who had killed Duke Li.
Duke Wen died in his twelfth year, and his son Duke Cheng, Tuo, was set up. Duke Cheng died in his ninth year, and his son Duke Zhuang, Gou, was set up.
In the twenty-fourth year of Duke Zhuang, the Quanrong killed King You, and Zhou moved east to Luo. Qin was for the first time ranked among the feudal lords. In the fifty-sixth year, Jin killed its lord Marquis Zhao.
In the sixty-fourth year Duke Zhuang died, and his son Duke Xi, Lufu, was set up.
In the ninth year of Duke Xi, Duke Yin of Lu was newly set up. In the nineteenth year, Duke Huan of Lu killed his elder brother Duke Yin and set himself up as lord.
In the twenty-fifth year the Northern Rong attacked Qi. Zheng sent its heir apparent Hu to come to Qi's rescue, and Qi wished to give him a wife. Hu said: "Zheng is small and Qi is great; she is no match for me." And so he declined.
In the thirty-second year Yi Zhongnian, Duke Xi's younger brother by the same mother, died. His son was called Gongsun Wuzhi, and Duke Xi was fond of him, and had his emoluments, robes and maintenance made equal to the heir apparent's.
In the thirty-third year Duke Xi died, and the heir apparent Zhu'er was set up: this was Duke Xiang.
In the first year of Duke Xiang — when he was first heir apparent he had once quarrelled with Wuzhi; and when he was set up he cut down Wuzhi's emoluments and robes, and Wuzhi bore him a grudge.
In the fourth year, Duke Huan of Lu with his wife went to Qi. Duke Xiang of Qi had formerly had an intrigue with the wife of Lu. The wife of Lu was Duke Xiang's younger sister, who from Duke Xi's time had been married as the wife of Duke Huan of Lu; and when Duke Huan came, Duke Xiang resumed the intrigue. Duke Huan of Lu learned of it and was angry with his wife, and the wife told Duke Xiang of Qi. Duke Xiang of Qi drank with the lord of Lu and made him drunk, and had the strong man Peng Sheng carry the lord of Lu up into his carriage, and there crush him to death; and when Duke Huan was taken down from the carriage he was dead. The men of Lu made this a reproach, and Duke Xiang of Qi killed Peng Sheng to make his apology to Lu.
In the eighth year he attacked Ji, and Ji moved away from its town.
In the twelfth year — earlier, Duke Xiang had sent Lian Cheng and Guan Zhifu to garrison Kuiqiu; they went at the time of melons, and were to be relieved when the melons came again. They went on garrison for a year, and when the melon season came round at last the duke did not send their relief. Someone asked relief for them, and the duke would not allow it. So these two men were angry, and through Gongsun Wuzhi plotted to make a rebellion. Lian Cheng had a cousin in the duke's palace who was without favour, and they had her spy on Duke Xiang, saying, "When the business succeeds we shall make you Wuzhi's wife." In the twelfth month of winter, Duke Xiang travelled to Gufen and went on to hunt at Peiqiu. He saw a boar, and his attendants said, "It is Peng Sheng." The duke was angry and shot at it, and the boar stood up like a man and shrieked. The duke was afraid, fell from his carriage and hurt his foot, and lost a shoe. On his return he had Fei, the keeper of his shoes, flogged three hundred strokes. Fei went out of the palace. And Wuzhi, Lian Cheng, Guan Zhifu and the rest, hearing that the duke was hurt, thereupon led their followers in a surprise attack on the palace. They met Fei the keeper of shoes, and Fei said: "Do not go in yet and alarm the palace; once alarmed, the palace is not easily entered." Wuzhi did not believe him, and Fei showed him his wounds, and then he believed him. They waited outside the palace, and had Fei go in first. Fei went in first and at once hid Duke Xiang between the doors. After a good while, Wuzhi and the rest grew uneasy and went into the palace. Fei turned about and with those in the palace and the duke's favoured retainers attacked Wuzhi and the rest; they did not prevail, and all died. Wuzhi entered the palace and looked for the duke without finding him. Then someone saw a man's foot between the doors, and they opened it and looked, and it was Duke Xiang; and so they killed him, and Wuzhi set himself up as lord of Qi.
In the spring of the first year of Duke Huan, Wuzhi, lord of Qi, travelled to Yonglin. The men of Yonglin had once had a grudge against Wuzhi, and when he came there on his travels the men of Yonglin made a surprise attack and killed Wuzhi, and reported to the grandees of Qi, saying: "Wuzhi killed Duke Xiang and set himself up; your servants have carried out the punishment with all respect. Let the grandees set up afresh whichever of the princes ought to be set up; we will obey the command."
Earlier, when Duke Xiang in his drunkenness killed Duke Huan of Lu and had the intrigue with his wife, and his killings and punishments were often unwarranted, and he was licentious with women and repeatedly deceived his great ministers, his younger brothers feared that the disaster would reach them; and so the next brother, Jiu, fled to Lu. His mother was a woman of Lu. Guan Zhong and Shao Hu were his tutors. The next brother, Xiaobai, fled to Ju, and Bao Shu was his tutor. Xiaobai's mother was a woman of Wei, and had been favoured by Duke Xi. From his youth Xiaobai had been on good terms with the grandee Gao Xi. When the men of Yonglin killed Wuzhi and there was deliberation on setting up a lord, the Gao and Guo families first secretly summoned Xiaobai from Ju. Lu, hearing that Wuzhi was dead, also sent out troops to escort Prince Jiu, and sent Guan Zhong with a separate force to block the road from Ju; and he shot Xiaobai and hit his belt-hook. Xiaobai feigned death, and Guan Zhong sent a man galloping to report to Lu. Those escorting Jiu from Lu went the more slowly, and took six days to reach Qi, by which time Xiaobai had already entered and Gao Xi had set him up: this was Duke Huan.
When Duke Huan was hit on the hook he feigned death so as to mislead Guan Zhong; and afterwards he was carried in a closed carriage and went at a gallop, and he had besides the support of the Gao and Guo families within, and so was able to enter first and be set up, and sent out troops to hold off Lu. In the autumn they fought with Lu at Ganshi; the troops of Lu were defeated and fled, and the troops of Qi closed in and cut off Lu's road home. Qi sent a letter to Lu saying: "Prince Jiu is our brother, and we cannot bear to put him to death; we ask that Lu kill him itself. Shao Hu and Guan Zhong are our enemies; we ask to have them, that we may satisfy our hearts by pickling them. If not, we shall besiege Lu." The men of Lu were distressed at it, and so killed Prince Jiu at Shengdu. Shao Hu killed himself; Guan Zhong asked to be put in bonds. When Duke Huan was set up and sent out troops to attack Lu, it was in his heart to kill Guan Zhong. Bao Shuya said: "Your servant has been fortunate to follow my lord, and my lord has in the end been set up. To my lord's eminence your servant can add nothing. If my lord means merely to govern Qi, then Gao Xi and Shuya are enough. But if my lord means to be hegemon and king, then it cannot be done without Guan Yiwu. In whatever state Yiwu is, that state is weighty; he must not be lost." Thereupon Duke Huan followed this. So he pretended to be summoning Guan Zhong in order to satisfy his heart, while really he meant to employ him. Guan Zhong knew it, and so asked to go. Bao Shuya went to meet and receive Guan Zhong, and at Tangfu took off his fetters, purified and cleansed himself, and presented him to Duke Huan. Duke Huan treated him with rich ceremony, made him a grandee, and put the government in his charge.
Duke Huan, having got Guan Zhong, with Bao Shu, Xi Peng and Gao Xi put the government of Qi in order: he joined the troops of every five households, set up the profits of the balancing of light and heavy and of fish and salt, so as to provide for the poor and destitute, and gave salaries to the worthy and able; and the men of Qi were all pleased.
In the second year he attacked and destroyed Tan, and the viscount of Tan fled to Ju. Earlier, when Duke Huan was a fugitive, he had passed through Tan, and Tan had been discourteous, and so he attacked it.
In the fifth year he attacked Lu, and the Lu commander's army was defeated. Duke Zhuang of Lu asked to present the town of Sui in order to make peace, and Duke Huan consented, and met Lu at Ke to make a covenant. As they were about to swear, Cao Mo with a dagger seized Duke Huan upon the altar-mound and said: "Give back the lands you have taken from Lu!" Duke Huan consented. Thereupon Cao Mo put away the dagger and faced north and took his place among the ministers. Duke Huan repented afterwards, and wished not to give Lu the lands and to kill Cao Mo. Guan Zhong said: "To consent under duress and then to break faith and kill him would gratify one small satisfaction, but would throw away your good faith among the feudal lords and lose the support of the empire; it cannot be done." Thereupon he gave back to Lu the lands lost in the three defeats by Cao Mo. The feudal lords heard of it, and all trusted Qi and wished to attach themselves to it. In the seventh year the feudal lords met Duke Huan at Zhen, and Duke Huan from this first became hegemon.
In the fourteenth year Wan, son of Duke Li of Chen, styled Jingzhong, came as a fugitive to Qi. Duke Huan of Qi wished to make him a minister; he declined, and so was made Master of Works. He was the ancestor of Tian Chengzi Chang.
In the twenty-third year the Mountain Rong attacked Yan, and Yan appealed urgently to Qi. Duke Huan of Qi rescued Yan, and went on to attack the Mountain Rong, reaching Guzhu before turning back. Duke Zhuang of Yan then escorted Duke Huan into the borders of Qi. Duke Huan said: "Except for the Son of Heaven, feudal lords do not escort one another beyond their borders; I cannot be discourteous to Yan." Thereupon he cut a ditch at the point the lord of Yan had reached and gave that land to Yan, and charged the lord of Yan to restore the government of the Duke of Shao and render tribute to Zhou as in the time of Cheng and Kang. The feudal lords heard of it and all followed Qi.
In the twenty-seventh year — the mother of Duke Min of Lu was called Ai Jiang, and was Duke Huan's younger sister. Ai Jiang had an intrigue with Prince Qingfu of Lu; Qingfu killed Duke Min, and Ai Jiang wished to set up Qingfu, but the men of Lu set up Duke Xi instead. Duke Huan summoned Ai Jiang and killed her.
In the twenty-eighth year Duke Wen of Wei had trouble from the Di and appealed urgently to Qi. Qi led the feudal lords to wall Chuqiu and set up the lord of Wei.
In the twenty-ninth year Duke Huan was sporting with his wife Cai Ji in a boat. Cai Ji was used to the water and rocked the duke; the duke was frightened and told her to stop, and she did not stop. He came out of the boat and in anger sent Cai Ji home, without breaking off the marriage. Cai too was angry, and married the woman elsewhere. Duke Huan heard of it and was angry, and raised an army and went to attack.
In the spring of the thirtieth year, Duke Huan of Qi led the feudal lords in an attack on Cai, and Cai collapsed. He went on to attack Chu. King Cheng of Chu raised an army and asked: "For what cause do you cross into my land?" Guan Zhong answered: "Of old the Duke of Shao Kang charged our former lord the Grand Duke: 'The five ranks of lords and the nine chiefs — you may indeed campaign against them, so as to be a support on either hand to the house of Zhou.' He granted our former lord the bounds he might tread: east as far as the sea, west as far as the He, south as far as Muling, north as far as Wudi. Chu's tribute of bundled rushes has not come in, and the king's sacrifices are not furnished; therefore we have come to call you to account. King Zhao went south and did not return; therefore we have come to ask about it." The king of Chu said: "That the tribute has not come in — that is so, and it is my fault; how should I not supply it? That King Zhao went out and did not return — let my lord ask of that on the water's edge." The army of Qi advanced and halted at Xing. In the summer the king of Chu sent Qu Wan with troops to hold off Qi, and the army of Qi withdrew and halted at Zhaoling. Duke Huan made a display of his host to Qu Wan. Qu Wan said: "If my lord uses the Way, it may be so; if not, then Chu has Fangcheng for its wall and the Jiang and the Han for its moat — how shall my lord be able to advance?" So he made a covenant with Qu Wan and went away. Passing through Chen, Yuan Taotu of Chen deceived Qi and had it go out by the eastern route; and it was found out. In the autumn Qi attacked Chen. In that year Jin killed the heir apparent Shensheng.
In the summer of the thirty-fifth year he assembled the feudal lords at Kuiqiu. King Xiang of Zhou sent Prime Minister Kong to bestow on Duke Huan the sacrificial meat of Wen and Wu, a red bow and arrows, and a great carriage, with the command that he need not bow. Duke Huan wished to accept this, but Guan Zhong said, "It cannot be"; and so he went down and bowed and received the gifts. In the autumn he again assembled the feudal lords at Kuiqiu, and had an ever more arrogant air. Zhou sent Prime Minister Kong to the assembly. A good many of the feudal lords were falling away. The marquis of Jin was ill and came late, and met Prime Minister Kong. Prime Minister Kong said: "The marquis of Qi has grown arrogant; you had better not go." He followed this. In that year Duke Xian of Jin died; Li Ke killed Xiqi and Zhuozi; and Duke Mu of Qin, by means of his wife, brought in Prince Yiwu as lord of Jin. Duke Huan thereupon dealt with the disorder in Jin, came as far as Gaoliang, sent Xi Peng to set up the lord of Jin, and returned.
At this time the house of Zhou was weak, and only Qi, Chu, Qin and Jin were strong. Jin had at first joined the assemblies, but Duke Xian died and there was disorder within the state. Duke Mu of Qin was remote and out of the way and did not join the assemblies and covenants of the Central States. King Cheng of Chu had only just gathered in the Jing Man and possessed them, and set himself up as a Yi and Di. So Qi alone held the assemblies and covenants of the Central States, and Duke Huan was able to make his power known, and therefore the feudal lords came as guests to his assemblies. Thereupon Duke Huan declared: "I attacked south as far as Zhaoling and gazed on Mount Xiong; I attacked north against the Mountain Rong, Lizhi and Guzhu; I attacked west against Daxia and crossed the drifting sands; I bound up my horses and slung my chariots and climbed the Taihang, and came as far as Mount Bi'er before turning back. Not one of the feudal lords has gone against me. I have had three assemblies with chariots of war and six with chariots of peace: nine times I have brought the feudal lords together and set the empire right at a stroke. When the Three Dynasties of old received the mandate, wherein was it different from this? I wish to perform the feng on Mount Tai and the shan at Liangfu." Guan Zhong remonstrated firmly, and was not heeded; so he argued to Duke Huan that only when rare and marvellous things arrived from distant parts could the feng be performed, and Duke Huan then desisted.
In the thirty-eighth year, Dai, younger brother of King Xiang of Zhou, plotted with the Rong and the Di to attack Zhou, and Qi sent Guan Zhong to make peace between Zhou and the Rong. Zhou wished to treat Guan Zhong with the ceremony due a senior minister; Guan Zhong bowed his head to the ground and said: "Your servant is a vassal's vassal; how should I dare?" Three times he declined, and then received the ceremony of a junior minister for his audience. In the thirty-ninth year, Dai, younger brother of King Xiang of Zhou, came as a fugitive to Qi. Qi sent Zhongsun to petition the king and make apology for Dai. King Xiang was angry and would not listen.
In the forty-first year Duke Mu of Qin took Duke Hui of Jin prisoner and then sent him back. In that year Guan Zhong and Xi Peng both died. When Guan Zhong was ill, Duke Huan asked him: "Which of my ministers may be made chancellor?" Guan Zhong said: "No one knows the minister as the lord does." The duke said: "What of Yi Ya?" He answered: "He killed his own son to suit his lord; it is against human feeling, and will not do." The duke said: "What of Kaifang?" He answered: "He turned his back on his parents to suit his lord; it is against human feeling, and he is hard to have near." The duke said: "What of Shu Diao?" He answered: "He castrated himself to suit his lord; it is against human feeling, and he is hard to be intimate with." Guan Zhong died, and Duke Huan did not use Guan Zhong's words, but in the end had these three near him and employed them, and the three of them engrossed the power.
In the forty-second year the Rong attacked Zhou, and Zhou appealed urgently to Qi, and Qi ordered the feudal lords each to send troops to garrison Zhou. In that year Prince Chonger of Jin came, and Duke Huan gave him a wife.
The forty-third year. Earlier, Duke Huan of Qi had three consorts: Wang Ji, Xu Ji and Cai Ji, and none of them had sons. Duke Huan was fond of the inner apartments and had many favourites within; those who ranked as consorts were six. The elder Wei Ji bore Wugui; the younger Wei Ji bore Duke Hui, Yuan; Zheng Ji bore Duke Xiao, Zhao; Ge Ying bore Duke Zhao, Pan; Mi Ji bore Duke Yi, Shangren; the lady Hua of Song bore Prince Yong. Duke Huan and Guan Zhong entrusted Duke Xiao to Duke Xiang of Song, making him heir apparent. Yongwu was favoured by Wei Gongji, and through the eunuch Shu Diao made rich presents to Duke Huan, and was likewise favoured; and Duke Huan promised him to set up Wugui. When Guan Zhong died, all five princes sought to be set up. On the day yihai of the tenth month of winter, Duke Huan of Qi died. Yi Ya went in, and with Shu Diao, by means of the favourites within, killed the body of officers and set up Prince Wugui as lord. The heir apparent Zhao fled to Song.
When Duke Huan was ill, the five princes each raised a faction and contended to be set up. When Duke Huan died they fell to attacking one another, and for that reason the palace was empty and none dared to coffin him. Duke Huan's corpse lay on its couch sixty-seven days, and the worms from the corpse came out at the door. On the day yihai of the twelfth month Wugui was set up, and only then was the body coffined and the death announced. On the night of xinsi it was dressed and laid in the coffin.
Duke Huan had ten and more sons, and of these the ones afterwards set up were five: Wugui was set up and died in three months, and has no posthumous title; next Duke Xiao; next Duke Zhao; next Duke Yi; next Duke Hui. In the third month of the first year of Duke Xiao, Duke Xiang of Song led the troops of the feudal lords escorting Zhao the heir apparent of Qi and attacked Qi. The men of Qi were afraid and killed their lord Wugui. The men of Qi were about to set up the heir apparent Zhao when the partisans of the four princes attacked the heir apparent, and the heir apparent fled to Song; and Song then fought with the men of Qi and the four princes. In the fifth month Song defeated the armies of the four princes of Qi and set up the heir apparent Zhao: this was Duke Xiao of Qi. Song, because Duke Huan and Guan Zhong had entrusted the heir apparent to it, had come to summon him. Because of the disorder, it was only in the eighth month that Duke Huan of Qi was buried.
In the spring of the sixth year Qi attacked Song, because it had not joined in covenant with Qi. In the summer Duke Xiang of Song died. In the seventh year Duke Wen of Jin was set up.
In the tenth year Duke Xiao died; Duke Xiao's younger brother Pan, through Prince Kaifang of Wei, killed Duke Xiao's son and set up Pan: this was Duke Zhao. Duke Zhao was a son of Duke Huan, and his mother was called Ge Ying.
In the first year of Duke Zhao, Duke Wen of Jin defeated Chu at Chengpu, assembled the feudal lords at Jiantu, paid court to Zhou, and the Son of Heaven had Jin styled chief. In the sixth year the Di invaded Qi. Duke Wen of Jin died. The troops of Qin were defeated at Yao. In the twelfth year Duke Mu of Qin died.
In the fifth month of the nineteenth year Duke Zhao died, and his son She was set up as lord of Qi. She's mother was without favour with Duke Zhao, and the people of the state held them in no awe. Shangren, Duke Zhao's younger brother, had contended to be set up when Duke Huan died and had not succeeded; he made secret ties with men of worth and attached the hundred families to him by kindness, and the hundred families were pleased with him. When Duke Zhao died and his son She was set up, being orphaned and weak, Shangren with his following killed She the lord of Qi at the graveside in the tenth month, and set himself up: this was Duke Yi. Duke Yi was a son of Duke Huan, and his mother was called Mi Ji.
In the spring of the fourth year of Duke Yi — earlier, when Duke Yi was a prince, he had hunted with the father of Bing Rong and contended over the take and lost; and when he came to the throne he cut off the foot of Bing Rong's father and made Bing Rong his charioteer. The wife of Yong Zhi was beautiful, and the duke took her into the palace and made Yong Zhi his side-rider. In the fifth month Duke Yi was travelling at Shenchi, and the two men were bathing and jesting. Zhi said: "Son of the man whose foot was cut off!" Rong said: "Man whose wife was taken!" Both men were stung by these words and grew resentful. They plotted, and while travelling with the duke among the bamboos the two men killed Duke Yi in his carriage, threw him among the bamboos, and fled away.
Duke Yi, having been set up, was arrogant, and the people did not attach themselves to him. The men of Qi set aside his son and fetched Prince Yuan from Wei and set him up: this was Duke Hui. Duke Hui was a son of Duke Huan. His mother was a woman of Wei called the younger Wei Ji; she had fled the disorders of Qi, and so was in Wei.
In the second year of Duke Hui a Tall Di came, and Prince Chengfu attacked and killed him and buried him at the northern gate. Zhao Chuan of Jin killed his lord Duke Ling.
In the tenth year Duke Hui died, and his son Duke Qing, Wuye, was set up. Earlier, Cui Zhu had been favoured by Duke Hui, and when Duke Hui died the Gao and Guo families, fearing his encroachment, drove him out, and Cui Zhu fled to Wei.
In the first year of Duke Qing, King Zhuang of Chu was strong, and attacked Chen; in the second year he besieged Zheng, and the earl of Zheng surrendered, and afterwards he restored the earl of Zheng to his state.
In the spring of the sixth year Jin sent Xi Ke to Qi, and Qi had its ladies watch him from behind a curtain. As Xi Ke went up, the ladies laughed at him. Xi Ke said: "If this is not repaid, I will not cross the He again!" On his return he asked to attack Qi, and the marquis of Jin would not allow it. When envoys of Qi came to Jin, Xi Ke seized four of the Qi envoys at Henei and killed them. The eighth year. Jin attacked Qi, and Qi gave Prince Qiang as hostage to Jin, and the Jin troops withdrew. In the spring of the tenth year Qi attacked Lu and Wei. The grandees of Lu and Wei went to Jin to ask for troops, and both went through Xi Ke. Jin sent Xi Ke with eight hundred chariots as general of the central army, Shi Xie commanding the upper army and Luan Shu the lower army, to rescue Lu and Wei and attack Qi. On the day renshen of the sixth month they joined battle with the marquis of Qi below Miji. On guiyou they drew up at An. Feng Choufu was the marquis of Qi's right-hand man. Duke Qing said: "Charge them; we will break the Jin army and then eat together." Xi Ke was wounded by an arrow, and the blood ran down to his shoe. Ke wished to turn back within the ramparts, but his driver said: "Since I came in I have been twice wounded, and have not dared to speak of the pain, for fear of frightening the soldiers; I beg you, sir, to endure it." So they fought on. In the fighting Qi was hard pressed, and Choufu, fearing that the marquis of Qi would be taken, changed places with him, Duke Qing becoming the right-hand man; and the chariot caught on a tree and stopped. Han Jue, a junior general of Jin, prostrated himself before the marquis of Qi's chariot and said, "My unworthy lord sent his servant to rescue Lu and Wei" — mocking him. Choufu sent Duke Qing down to fetch water, and he thus got away and escaped into his own army. Xi Ke of Jin wished to kill Choufu. Choufu said: "If a man who took his lord's death upon himself is put to death for it, then hereafter no servant will be loyal to his lord." Ke let him go, and Choufu got away home to Qi. Thereupon the Jin army pursued Qi as far as Maling. The marquis of Qi asked to make apology with his treasure vessels, and was not heeded; they demanded to have Xiao Tong Shuzi, who had laughed at Ke, and that Qi's field-furrows be made to run east. The answer was: "Shuzi is the mother of the lord of Qi. The mother of the lord of Qi is as the mother of the lord of Jin; where will you put her? And you came attacking in the name of right; is it fitting to make violence the end of it?" Thereupon they consented, and ordered the return of the lands taken from Lu and Wei.
In the eleventh year Jin first established the six ministers, rewarding the merit of An. Duke Qing of Qi paid court to Jin and wished to honour Duke Jing of Jin as king, and Duke Jing of Jin did not dare receive it, and so he went home. On his return Duke Qing threw open his parks and preserves, lightened the taxes, relieved the orphaned and asked after the sick, and emptied his stores to save the people; and the people too were greatly pleased. He treated the feudal lords with rich ceremony. To the end of Duke Qing's life the hundred families were attached to him and the feudal lords did not encroach on him.
In the seventeenth year Duke Qing died, and his son Duke Ling, Huan, was set up.
In the ninth year of Duke Ling, Luan Shu of Jin killed his lord Duke Li. In the tenth year Duke Dao of Jin attacked Qi, and Qi sent Prince Guang as hostage to Jin. In the nineteenth year his son Guang was made heir apparent, with Gao Hou as his tutor, and was sent to meet the feudal lords in covenant at Zhongli. In the twenty-seventh year Jin sent Zhonghang Xianzi to attack Qi. The army of Qi was defeated, and Duke Ling fled into Linzi. Yan Ying tried to stop Duke Ling, and Duke Ling would not follow him. He said: "My lord has no courage either!" The Jin troops then besieged Linzi; Linzi held its walls and did not dare come out, and Jin burned the outer town and went away.
The twenty-eighth year. Earlier, Duke Ling had taken a woman of Lu, who bore a son, Guang, and he made him heir apparent. There was Zhong Ji, and there was Rong Ji. Rong Ji was the favourite; Zhong Ji bore a son, Ya, and entrusted him to Rong Ji. Rong Ji asked that he be made heir apparent, and the duke consented. Zhong Ji said: "It cannot be. Guang's establishment has been made known among the feudal lords; to depose him now without cause, my lord will surely repent it." The duke said: "It rests with me." So he sent the heir apparent Guang east and had Gao Hou tutor Ya as heir apparent. When Duke Ling fell ill, Cui Zhu fetched the former heir apparent Guang and set him up: this was Duke Zhuang. Duke Zhuang killed Rong Ji. On the day renchen of the fifth month Duke Ling died, and Duke Zhuang came to the throne, seized the heir apparent Ya at the hill of Goudou and killed him. In the eighth month Cui Zhu killed Gao Hou. Jin heard of the disorder in Qi and attacked Qi, coming as far as Gaotang.
In the third year of Duke Zhuang, Luan Ying, a grandee of Jin, fled to Qi, and Duke Zhuang entertained him richly as a guest. Yan Ying and Tian Wenzi remonstrated, and the duke would not listen. In the fourth year Duke Zhuang of Qi sent Luan Ying to slip into Quwo in Jin as a confederate within, and followed him with troops, going up the Taihang and entering Mengmen. Luan Ying was defeated, and the Qi troops turned back and took Zhaoge.
The sixth year. Earlier, the wife of the Duke of Tang was beautiful; the Duke of Tang died, and Cui Zhu took her. Duke Zhuang had an intrigue with her, and went repeatedly to the Cui household, and gave away Cui Zhu's cap to someone. His attendants said: "It cannot be done." Cui Zhu was angry, and because of the duke's attack on Jin he wished to plot with Jin to make a surprise attack on Qi, but could get no opening. Duke Zhuang had once flogged the eunuch Jia Ju; Jia Ju was again in attendance, and for Cui Zhu he spied on the duke to repay the grudge. In the fifth month the viscount of Ju paid court to Qi, and Qi feasted him on the day jiaxu. Cui Zhu pleaded illness and did not attend to business. On yihai the duke asked after Cui Zhu's illness, and then went after Cui Zhu's wife. Cui Zhu's wife went into an inner room and with Cui Zhu shut the door and did not come out, and the duke clasped a pillar and sang. The eunuch Jia Ju shut out the duke's attendant officers and went in and closed the gate, and Cui Zhu's followers with weapons rose up from within. The duke went up a terrace and asked to be let off, and was refused; asked to swear a covenant, and was refused; asked to kill himself in the ancestral temple, and was refused. They all said: "My lord's servant Zhu is sick and cannot attend to commands. This is near the ducal palace. We vassals' vassals are hunting after a lecher, and know of no second command." The duke climbed the wall; they shot and hit him in the thigh, and the duke fell back down, and so they killed him. Yan Ying stood outside Cui Zhu's gate and said: "If a lord dies for the altars of the state, then die with him; if he flees for the altars of the state, then flee with him. But if it is for his own sake that he dies or flees, who but his private intimates would dare take it on?" The gate was opened and he went in, pillowed the duke's corpse on his lap and wept, leapt three times, and went out. Men said to Cui Zhu: "You must kill him." Cui Zhu said: "He is one the people look to; let him go and we gain the people."
On dingchou Cui Zhu set up Chujiu, Duke Zhuang's younger brother by another mother: this was Duke Jing. Duke Jing's mother was a daughter of Shusun Xuanbo of Lu. When Duke Jing was set up, Cui Zhu was made chancellor of the right and Qing Feng chancellor of the left. The two chancellors, fearing that disorder would break out, made a covenant with the people of the state, saying: "Whoever is not with Cui and Qing shall die!" Yanzi looked up to heaven and said: "If Ying does not obtain it, let him follow only those who are loyal to the lord and profit the altars of the state!" and would not swear. Qing Feng wished to kill Yanzi; Cui Zhu said: "He is a loyal minister; let him go." The Grand Scribe of Qi wrote: "Cui Zhu killed Duke Zhuang," and Cui Zhu killed him. His younger brother wrote it again, and Cui Zhu killed him again. The youngest brother wrote it again, and Cui Zhu then let him be.
The first year of Duke Jing. Earlier, Cui Zhu had begotten sons Cheng and Qiang; their mother died, and he took a woman of the Dongguo family, who bore Ming. The Dongguo woman had her son by a former husband, Wujiu, and her younger brother Yan made stewards of the Cui house. Cheng committed an offence, and the two stewards dealt with him harshly, and set up Ming as heir. Cheng asked to retire to Cui, and Cui Zhu consented; but the two stewards would not have it, saying: "Cui is the ancestral town; it cannot be." Cheng and Qiang were angry and told Qing Feng. Qing Feng had a quarrel with Cui Zhu and wished to see him ruined. Cheng and Qiang killed Wujiu and Yan in Cui Zhu's house, and the whole household fled. Cui Zhu was enraged; having no one left, he had a single eunuch drive him, and went to see Qing Feng. Qing Feng said: "Let me punish them for you." He had Lupu Pie, an enemy of Cui Zhu, attack the Cui house; he killed Cheng and Qiang and wiped out the whole Cui house, and Cui Zhu's wife killed herself. Cui Zhu, having nowhere to go home to, also killed himself. Qing Feng became chancellor of state and engrossed the power.
In the tenth month of the third year Qing Feng went out hunting. Earlier, Qing Feng, having killed Cui Zhu, had grown the more arrogant; he was greedy for wine and fond of hunting, and did not attend to government and orders. Qing She carried on the government, and there was already a rift between them. Tian Wenzi said to Huanzi: "Disorder is about to break out." The Tian, Bao, Gao and Luan families together plotted against the Qing. Qing She called out armoured men and surrounded Qing Feng's palace, and the followers of the four houses together struck and broke them. Qing Feng returned and could not get in, and fled to Lu. The men of Qi reproached Lu, and Feng fled to Wu. Wu gave him Zhufang, and he gathered his kin and dwelt there, and was richer than he had been in Qi. In the autumn of that year the men of Qi moved Duke Zhuang's body and buried it anew, and exposed Cui Zhu's corpse in the market to satisfy the multitude.
In the ninth year Duke Jing sent Yan Ying to Jin, and privately he said to Shuxiang: "The government of Qi will in the end go to the Tian. The Tian, though they have no great power, use the lord's authority for their private ends and have done kindness to the people, and the people love them." In the twelfth year Duke Jing went to Jin and saw Duke Ping, wishing to join him in attacking Yan. In the eighteenth year the duke went again to Jin and saw Duke Zhao. In the twenty-sixth year he hunted in the outskirts of Lu, and thereupon entered Lu, and with Yan Ying asked about the rites of Lu. In the thirty-first year Duke Zhao of Lu, avoiding the trouble from the Ji clan, fled to Qi. Qi wished to enfeoff him with a thousand she; Zijia stopped Duke Zhao, and Duke Zhao then asked Qi to attack Lu, and they took Yun for Duke Zhao to live in.
In the thirty-second year a comet appeared. Duke Jing was sitting in the Cypress Chamber and sighed, saying: "How stately! Who shall possess this?" The ministers all wept, and Yanzi laughed, and the duke was angry. Yanzi said: "Your servant laughs because the ministers flatter so grossly." Duke Jing said: "The comet has come out in the north-east, over the field allotted to Qi; I take it for a trouble." Yanzi said: "My lord has high terraces and deep pools, and levies taxes as though he could never get enough, and punishes as though he feared he could not do enough; the Bristling Star is about to come out — why fear a comet?" The duke said: "Can it be averted by sacrifice?" Yanzi said: "If the spirits can be prayed to and made to come, then they can be sacrificed to and made to go. The hundred families' bitterness and resentment are counted in tens of thousands, and my lord orders one man to avert it; how can he prevail against the mouths of the multitude?" At this time Duke Jing was fond of building palaces, gathered dogs and horses, was extravagant, and taxed heavily and punished harshly; and so Yanzi used this to remonstrate with him.
In the forty-second year King Helü of Wu attacked Chu and entered Ying.
In the forty-seventh year Yang Hu of Lu attacked his lord, did not prevail, fled to Qi, and asked Qi to attack Lu. Master Bao remonstrated with Duke Jing, and so Yang Hu was imprisoned. Yang Hu managed to escape and fled to Jin.
In the forty-eighth year he held a friendly meeting with Duke Ding of Lu at Jiagu. Li Chu said: "Confucius knows the rites but is timid; let the men of Lai be ordered to make music, and we may take the lord of Lu and so get our will." Duke Jing was troubled that Confucius was chancellor of Lu and feared that Lu would become hegemon, and so followed Li Chu's plan. Just as the meeting began, the Lai music was brought forward; Confucius went up the steps and had the officers seize the men of Lai and behead them, and rebuked Duke Jing by the rites. Duke Jing was ashamed, and so returned the lands taken from Lu by way of apology, and broke off and went away. In that year Yan Ying died.
In the fifty-fifth year the Fan and Zhonghang families revolted against their lord in Jin; Jin attacked them hard, and they came to ask for grain. Tian Qi wished to make a rebellion and to plant a faction among the rebel ministers, and argued to Duke Jing: "The Fan and Zhonghang have often done kindness to Qi; they must be rescued." So Qi was sent to rescue them and to convey grain to them.
In the summer of the fifty-eighth year the son by Duke Jing's principal consort Yan Ji died. Duke Jing's favoured concubine Rui Ji bore a son, Tu; Tu was young, and his mother was of low birth and ill-conducted, and the grandees, fearing that he would be the successor, said that they wished to choose the eldest and worthiest of the sons as heir apparent. Duke Jing was old and hated talk of the succession, and further loved Tu's mother and wished to set him up, but shrank from putting it into words; so he said to the grandees: "Let us enjoy ourselves; why should the state be troubled about having no lord?" In the autumn Duke Jing fell ill, and charged Guo Huizi and Gao Zhaozi to set up his youngest son Tu as heir apparent, and to drive out the other princes and remove them to Lai. Duke Jing died and the heir apparent Tu was set up: this was the Young Ruler Yan. In the winter, before the burial, the other princes, fearing to be put to death, all fled the state. Tu's elder brothers by other mothers, Princes Shou, Ju and Qian, fled to Wei; Princes Zu and Yangsheng fled to Lu. The men of Lai sang of it: "Duke Jing dead, and we had no part in his burying; the business of the three armies, and we had no part in the planning; O host, O host, whose party shall we go to?"
In the spring of the first year of the Young Ruler Yan, Tian Qi pretended to serve the Gao and Guo families; at every court he rode as their side-rider and said: "You have the lord's favour, and the grandees are all in fear for themselves and mean to plot a rebellion." And he said to the grandees: "Gao Zhaozi is to be feared; get in before him, while he has not moved." The grandees followed him. In the sixth month Tian Qi and Bao Mu with the grandees entered the ducal palace with troops and attacked Gao Zhaozi. Zhaozi heard of it, and with Guo Huizi went to the rescue of the duke. The duke's forces were defeated, and Tian Qi's followers pursued them; Guo Huizi fled to Ju, and they turned back and killed Gao Zhaozi. Yan Yu fled to Lu. In the eighth month, Bing Yizi of Qi. Tian Qi, having defeated the two chancellors, then sent a man to Lu to summon Prince Yangsheng. Yangsheng reached Qi and was hidden privately in Tian Qi's house. On the day wuzi of the tenth month Tian Qi invited the grandees, saying: "Chang's mother has a sacrifice of fish and beans; be so good as to come and drink with us." At the drinking, Tian Qi had Yangsheng put in a sack and set in the middle of the company; he opened the sack and brought out Yangsheng, and said: "This is the lord of Qi!" The grandees all prostrated themselves in homage. They were about to make a covenant with the grandees and set him up; Bao Mu was drunk, and Qi falsely told the grandees: "I and Bao Mu planned together to set up Yangsheng." Bao Mu said angrily: "Have you forgotten Duke Jing's charge?" The grandees looked at one another and were about to draw back. Yangsheng came forward, bowed his head to the ground and said: "If it may be, set me up; if not, let it be." Bao Mu, fearing that disaster would break out, then said again: "They are all Duke Jing's sons; why should it not be?" So they made the covenant and set up Yangsheng: this was Duke Dao. Duke Dao entered the palace and sent men to remove the Young Ruler Yan to Tai, and killed him under the tent-awning, and drove out the Young Ruler's mother Rui Zi. Rui Zi had been of low birth and the Young Ruler was young, and so they had no power, and the people of the state made light of them.
In the first year of Duke Dao Qi attacked Lu and took Huan and Chan. Earlier, when Yangsheng was a fugitive in Lu, Ji Kangzi had given him his younger sister to wife. When he went home and came to the throne, he sent to fetch her. Ji Ji had an intrigue with Ji Fanghou, and told him how things stood, and Lu did not dare give her up; and so Qi attacked Lu, and in the end fetched Ji Ji. Ji Ji was favoured, and Qi gave back to Lu the lands it had taken.
Master Bao had a quarrel with Duke Dao and was on bad terms with him. In the fourth year Wu and Lu attacked the southern part of Qi. Master Bao killed Duke Dao, and the death was announced to Wu. King Fuchai of Wu wept for three days outside the gate of his camp, and was about to go in by sea to punish Qi. The men of Qi defeated him, and the army of Wu then went away. Zhao Yang of Jin attacked Qi, came as far as Lai and went away. The men of Qi together set up Duke Dao's son Ren: this was Duke Jian.
The spring of the fourth year of Duke Jian. Earlier, when Duke Jian and his father Yangsheng were both in Lu, Jian Zhi had been in favour with him; and when he came to the throne he put him in charge of the government. Tian Chengzi was wary of him, and kept glancing round at him in court. His driver Yang said to Duke Jian: "Tian and Jian cannot both be kept; let my lord choose between them." He would not listen. Ziwo was at the evening court; Tian Ni had killed a man, and he met him and so arrested him and brought him in. The Tian were then in concord; they had the prisoner feign illness and send the guard wine, and when he was drunk killed the guard, and so he escaped. Ziwo made a covenant with the Tian in the ancestral house of Chen. Earlier, Tian Bao had wished to be Ziwo's retainer, and had Gongsun speak for Bao; Bao had a death in the family and it was dropped. Afterwards he did become his retainer and was favoured by Ziwo. Ziwo said to him: "If I drive out the whole Tian clan and set you up, will that do?" He answered: "I am a distant branch of the Tian. And of them only a few are disaffected; why drive out the whole clan?" And he went and told the Tian. Zixing said: "They have the lord's favour; if you do not get in first, they will surely bring disaster on you." And Zixing lodged in the ducal palace.
On the day renshen of the fifth month of summer, Chengzi and his brothers went to the duke in four chariots. Ziwo was in the canopy; he came out to meet them, and they went in and shut the gate. A eunuch resisted them, and Zixing killed the eunuch. The duke was drinking with his women on the Sandalwood Terrace, and Chengzi moved him to the sleeping chamber. The duke took up a dagger-axe and was about to strike him, and the Grand Scribe Ziyu said: "It is not that they mean harm; they mean to remove a danger." Chengzi went out and lodged in the armoury; hearing that the duke was still angry, he was about to leave, and said: "Where shall I be without a lord?" Zixing drew his sword and said: "Hesitation is the ruin of business. Who here is not of the Tian line? If I do not kill you, may the Tian ancestors deal with me!" And so he stayed. Ziwo went home and gathered his followers to attack the side gate and the main gate; neither prevailed, and so he went out. The Tian pursued him. A man of Fengqiu seized Ziwo and reported it, and he was killed at the Guo Pass. Chengzi was about to kill Dalu Zifang, and Tian Ni asked for him and he was let off. With the duke's authority he took a carriage on the road and went out by the Yong Gate. Tian Bao gave him a carriage, and he would not take it, saying: "Ni asked for me, and Bao gives me a carriage; that would be a private tie for me. To have served Ziwo and yet have private ties with his enemies — with what face should I meet the gentlemen of Lu and Wei?"
On gengchen Tian Chang seized Duke Jian at Xuzhou. The duke said: "Had I followed the driver Yang's words early, I should not have come to this." On jiawu Tian Chang killed Duke Jian at Quzhou. Tian Chang then set up Duke Jian's younger brother Ao: this was Duke Ping. When Duke Ping came to the throne, Tian Chang was his chancellor and engrossed the government of Qi, and cut off the land of Qi from Anping eastward as the Tian family's fief.
In the eighth year of Duke Ping, Yue destroyed Wu. He died in the twenty-fifth year, and his son Duke Xuan, Ji, was set up.
Duke Xuan died in his fifty-first year, and his son Duke Kang, Dai, was set up. Tian Hui revolted at Linqiu.
In the second year of Duke Kang, Han, Wei and Zhao were first ranked among the feudal lords. In the nineteenth year Tian He, great-grandson of Tian Chang, first became a feudal lord, and moved Duke Kang to the seashore.
In the twenty-sixth year Duke Kang died, and the Lü line thus had its sacrifices cut off. The Tian in the end possessed the state of Qi, and became King Wei of Qi, strong in the empire.
The Lord Grand Astrologer says: I went to Qi. From Mount Tai it stretches to Langye, and northward reaches the sea: two thousand li of rich soil. Its people are open and broad, and many of them keep their cleverness hidden — it is their inborn nature. With the sageness of the Grand Duke, who founded the state's root, and the flourishing of Duke Huan, who cultivated good government and by it made assemblies and covenants among the feudal lords and was styled chief — is it not fitting? How vast and ample! Truly the manner of a great state!