吳太伯世家

Taibo of Wu and his younger brother Zhongyong were both sons of the Great King of Zhou and elder brothers of Prince Jili. Jili was a worthy man and had a sagely son, Chang. The Great King wished to establish Jili and thereby pass the succession to Chang. So Taibo and Zhongyong fled to the wilderness of Jing, tattooed their bodies and cut their hair, showing themselves unfit for rule, to make way for Jili. Jili was indeed established as heir — he became King Ji — and Chang became King Wen. When Taibo fled to the Jing wilderness, he called himself Gouwu. The people of the wilderness admired his righteousness. More than a thousand households followed and submitted to him, and they established him as Taibo of Wu.

Taibo died without sons. His younger brother Zhongyong succeeded — this was Zhongyong of Wu. When Zhongyong died, his son Jijian succeeded. When Jijian died, his son Shuda succeeded. When Shuda died, his son Zhouzhang succeeded. At this time King Wu of Zhou conquered Yin and sought out the descendants of Taibo and Zhongyong, finding Zhouzhang. Since Zhouzhang was already ruling Wu, he confirmed his enfeoffment. He then enfeoffed Zhouzhang's younger brother Yuzhong at the old Xia ruins north of the Zhou heartland — this was Yuzhong, listed among the lords.

When Zhouzhang died, his son Xiongsui succeeded. Successive rulers followed: Kexiang, Qiangjiu Yi, Yuqiao Yiwu, Kelu, Zhouyou, Quyu, Yiwu, Qinchu, Zhuan, Pogao, and Goubi. In Goubi's time, Duke Xian of Jin destroyed the Yu state north of the Zhou heartland, using it to open a route for Jin's attack on Guo. When Goubi died, his son Quqi succeeded. When Quqi died, his son Shoumeng succeeded. With Shoumeng's accession, Wu first grew great and claimed the title of King.

From Taibo's founding of Wu, five generations passed before King Wu conquered Yin and enfeoffed the line in two branches: one was Yu, in the Central States; the other was Wu, among the barbarians. Twelve generations later, Jin destroyed Yu of the Central States. Two generations after the destruction of Yu in the Central States, Wu among the barbarians rose to prominence. In all, from Taibo to Shoumeng was nineteen generations.

In the second year of King Shoumeng, Shengong Wuchen, a fugitive minister of Chu who bore a grudge against the Chu general Zifan, fled to Jin. From Jin he was sent to Wu, where he taught the Wu people chariot warfare and military tactics, and left his son to serve as Wu's diplomatic envoy. From this point Wu first opened communications with the Central States. Wu attacked Chu. In Shoumeng's sixteenth year, King Gong of Chu attacked Wu, reaching Hengshan.

In the twenty-fifth year, King Shoumeng died. Shoumeng had four sons: the eldest was Zhufan, the second Yuzai, the third Yumei, and the youngest Jizha. Jizha was a man of great worth, and Shoumeng wished to establish him as heir. Jizha declined, so the eldest son Zhufan was established, serving as regent and directing the affairs of state.

In the first year of King Zhufan, Zhufan had completed the mourning period and offered the throne to Jizha. Jizha refused, saying: "When Duke Xuan of Cao died, the lords and the Cao people considered the ruler illegitimate and wished to install Zizang. Zizang left the state to preserve the ruler's legitimacy, and the noble said, 'He kept his principles.' You are the rightful successor — who would dare interfere? To hold the state is not my principle. Though I am without talent, I wish to follow the righteousness of Zizang." The people of Wu insisted on establishing Jizha, but Jizha abandoned his household and went to plow the fields. They gave up the attempt. In autumn, Wu attacked Chu, but Chu defeated the Wu army. In the fourth year, Duke Ping of Jin first took the throne.

In the thirteenth year, King Zhufan died. He commanded that the throne pass to his brother Yuzai, intending that it be transmitted in sequence among the brothers until it finally reached Jizha — to fulfill the late King Shoumeng's wish and honor Jizha's righteousness. All the brothers wished to pass the state to Jizha, so they arranged for the succession to proceed gradually toward him. Jizha was enfeoffed at Yanling, and thus was called the Lord of Yanling.

In the third year of King Yuzai, Qing Feng, the chief minister of Qi, having committed crimes, fled from Qi to Wu. Wu granted him the district of Zhufang as his stipend-estate, gave him a woman in marriage, and he became wealthier than he had been in Qi.

In the fourth year, Wu sent Jizha on a diplomatic mission to Lu, where he asked to observe the Zhou music. They performed for him the airs of Zhounan and Shaonan. He said: "Beautiful! This is the foundation being laid, though it is not yet complete. Yet it shows diligence without resentment." They sang the airs of Bei, Yong, and Wei. He said: "Beautiful! How profound — there is sorrow but no despair. I have heard that the virtue of Kang Shu and Duke Wu of Wei was like this. Is this the Wind of Wei?" They sang the airs of Wang. He said: "Beautiful! There is longing but no fear. Is this the Zhou after its eastward move?" They sang the airs of Zheng. He said: "It has become too fine-grained. The people cannot bear it. Will this state be the first to perish?" They sang the airs of Qi. He said: "Beautiful! How grand and sweeping — a great wind! The one who represents the Eastern Sea, is that not the Grand Duke? This state's future cannot be measured." They sang the airs of Bin. He said: "Beautiful! How broad and vast — joyful but not excessive. Is this the Duke of Zhou's eastward campaign?" They sang the airs of Qin. He said: "This is what is called the sound of Xia. To embody Xia is to be great, and this is greatness at its utmost. Is this the old domain of Zhou?" They sang the airs of Wei. He said: "Beautiful! How flowing — grand yet gentle, restrained yet easy, conducted with virtue as its guide. This is a leader of covenants." They sang the airs of Tang. He said: "How deep the thought! Does this have the lingering spirit of the Tao-Tang clan? If not, how could its concerns reach so far? Unless they are descendants of noble virtue, who could achieve this!" They sang the airs of Chen. He said: "A state without a master — can it last long?" From Kuai onward, he offered no critique. They sang the Lesser Odes. He said: "Beautiful! There is longing but no disloyalty, resentment but no accusation. Is this the decline of Zhou's virtue? Yet there remain subjects of the former kings." They sang the Greater Odes. He said: "How broad! How radiant! Complex yet possessing a core of uprightness. Is this the virtue of King Wen?" They sang the Hymns. He said: "The utmost! Upright without being arrogant, yielding without being craven, near without being oppressive, distant without being detached, moving without being licentious, returning without being repetitive, grieving without being despondent, joyful without being dissolute, employed without being exhausted, broad without being ostentatious, bestowing without being wasteful, taking without being greedy, resting without sinking, acting without drifting. The five tones are in harmony, the eight winds are balanced, rhythm has its measure, order has its sequence — this is what all great virtue shares." When he saw the Xiangsuo and Nanyue dances, he said: "Beautiful! There is still feeling in it." When he saw the Grand Military dance, he said: "Beautiful! Was the flourishing of Zhou like this?" When he saw the Shaohu dance, he said: "The sage's magnanimity — yet even he had cause for shame. How difficult it is to be a sage!" When he saw the Grand Xia dance, he said: "Beautiful! Diligent yet making no claim to virtue! Who but Yu could achieve this?" When he saw the Zhaosuo dance, he said: "Virtue has reached its utmost! How great — like Heaven that covers all, like Earth that supports all. Though one possessed the most flourishing virtue, one could add nothing to this. I have seen enough. If there are other performances, I dare not watch them."

Leaving Lu, he proceeded on his mission to Qi. He advised Yan Pingzhong: "Surrender your estates and political authority at once. Without estates and without office, you will be spared disaster. The government of Qi is destined to settle somewhere; until it finds its resting place, the troubles will not cease." Yanzi therefore used Chen Huanzi as an intermediary to surrender his governance and estates, and so escaped the disaster brought by Luan and Gao.

Leaving Qi, he went on his mission to Zheng. He met Zichan and they spoke as old friends. He told Zichan: "Zheng's chief ministers are extravagant. Disaster is approaching, and governance will certainly fall to you. When you govern, act carefully according to ritual. Otherwise, Zheng will be ruined." Leaving Zheng, he went to Wei. He told Qu Yuan, Shi Gou, Shi, Prince Jing, Gongshu Fa, and Prince Zhao: "Wei has many men of virtue. It will face no troubles."

From Wei he traveled to Jin. When about to lodge at Su, he heard the sound of bells and said: "Strange! I have heard that one who is clever but without virtue will surely be put to death. The master has offended his lord and is here in exile — his fear should be unending, yet he dares to rebel? The master's situation here is like a swallow nesting on a tent flap. The lord is lying in his coffin — how can there be music?" He departed without stopping. When Wenzi heard of this, he never again listened to the qin or the se for the rest of his life.

Arriving in Jin, he told Zhao Wenzi, Han Xuanzi, and Wei Xianzi: "Jin will concentrate in the hands of your three houses!" As he was leaving, he told Shuxiang: "Exert yourself, sir! The ruler is extravagant despite having many good men; the great ministers are all wealthy; power will fall to the three houses. You, sir, are upright — you must think of how to preserve yourself from danger."

At the start of his mission, Jizha had passed through Xu to the north. The Lord of Xu admired Jizha's sword but did not dare say so. Jizha knew it in his heart, but since he was on a mission to the states above, he had not yet presented it. When he returned to Xu, the Lord of Xu had already died. He therefore unfastened his treasured sword and hung it on the tree by the Lord of Xu's tomb, and departed. His attendants said: "The Lord of Xu is dead — to whom are you giving it?" Jizha said: "Not so. In my heart I had already promised it to him. How could death cause me to betray my heart?"

In Yuzai's seventh year, the Chu prince Gongzi Wei murdered his king Jia'ao and took his place — this was King Ling of Chu. In Yuzai's tenth year, King Ling of Chu convened the lords and attacked Wu's district of Zhufang, punishing the Qi fugitive Qing Feng. Wu also attacked Chu, taking three towns before withdrawing. In the eleventh year, Chu attacked Wu, reaching Yulou. In the twelfth year, Chu attacked again, encamping at Qianxi, but the Chu army was defeated and fled.

In the seventeenth year, King Yuzai died, and his brother Yumei succeeded. In the second year of King Yumei, the Chu prince Qiji murdered his lord King Ling and took his place.

In Yumei's fourth year, King Yumei died, and the throne was to pass to his brother Jizha. Jizha declined and fled. The people of Wu then said: "The late kings commanded that when an elder brother dies, a younger brother succeeds, and the throne must reach Jizha. Since Jizha has now fled the throne, Yumei was the last to hold it by right. Now that he has died, his son should succeed." They established Yumei's son Liao as king.

In the second year of King Liao, Prince Guang attacked Chu but was defeated and lost the royal warship. Guang, fearing consequences, launched a surprise assault on Chu, recovered the warship, and returned.

In the fifth year, Wu Zixu, a fugitive minister of Chu, came seeking refuge. Prince Guang took him in as a guest. Prince Guang was the son of King Zhufan. He always held that his father and his father's three brothers were to pass the throne until it reached Jizha. Since Jizha would not accept the state, and Guang's father had been first to rule, then if the throne was not transmitted to Jizha, Guang himself should rule. He secretly recruited men of talent, intending to strike against King Liao.

In the eighth year, Wu sent Prince Guang to attack Chu. He defeated the Chu army and brought back the mother of the former Chu crown prince Jian from Juchao. He then campaigned northward and defeated the armies of Chen and Cai. In the ninth year, Prince Guang attacked Chu and took Juchao and Zhongli. Earlier, a young woman from the Chu border town of Beiliang and a woman from a Wu border town had quarreled over mulberry leaves. The two families attacked each other in rage, and the border commanders of both states, hearing of it, attacked in anger, destroying the Wu border town. The king of Wu was furious and launched a campaign against Chu, taking two cities before withdrawing.

When Wu Zixu first fled to Wu, he urged King Liao to attack Chu, arguing the advantages. Prince Guang said: "Zixu's father and brother were executed by Chu — he merely wishes to avenge his personal feud. I see no advantage in it." Wu Yuan then understood that Guang had other ambitions. He sought out the brave warrior Zhuan Zhu and presented him to Guang. Guang was pleased and took Wu Zixu in as his guest. Zixu then withdrew to plow in the countryside, waiting for Zhuan Zhu to carry out the deed.

In the twelfth year, in winter, King Ping of Chu died. In the spring of the thirteenth year, Wu wished to exploit Chu's mourning to attack, and sent the princes Gaiyu and Zhuyong with troops to besiege the Chu towns of Liu and Qian. Jizha was dispatched to Jin to observe how the lords would react. Chu sent troops to cut off the Wu armies' retreat, trapping them. Prince Guang said: "This moment must not be lost." He told Zhuan Zhu: "If you do not seek, how can you obtain? I am the true royal heir and should rule. I intend to claim what is mine. Even if Jizha returns, he will not depose me." Zhuan Zhu said: "King Liao can be killed. His mother is old, his sons are young, and the two princes are leading armies against Chu while Chu has cut their line of retreat. At this moment Wu is beset from without by Chu and hollow within, with no ministers of backbone. There is nothing they can do to us." Guang said: "My person is your person."

On the bingzi day of the fourth month, Guang concealed armored soldiers in a basement chamber and invited King Liao to a banquet. King Liao deployed guards along the road from the royal palace to Guang's house — at every gate, stair, door, and mat stood Liao's kinsmen, each holding a dagger-axe. Prince Guang feigned a foot ailment and withdrew to the basement chamber. He had Zhuan Zhu conceal a dagger inside a roasted fish and bring it forward to serve. Zhuan Zhu drew the dagger and stabbed King Liao. The guards' blades pierced Zhuan Zhu's chest, but King Liao was slain. Prince Guang then seized the throne — he was King Helü of Wu. Helü made Zhuan Zhu's son a minister.

When Jizha returned, he said: "So long as the former kings' sacrifices are not abandoned, the people are not without a ruler, and the altars of state are tended — then he is my sovereign. Whom would I dare resent? I will mourn the dead and serve the living, and await the will of Heaven. I did not create this disorder; whoever is established, I follow him. That is the way of our ancestors." He reported on his mission, wept at Liao's tomb, resumed his position, and waited. The two princes Zhuyong and Gaiyu, who had been leading armies and were trapped by Chu, heard that Prince Guang had killed King Liao and seized the throne. They surrendered their forces to Chu, and Chu enfeoffed them at Shu.

In the first year of King Helü, he appointed Wu Zixu as diplomatic envoy and consulted him on affairs of state. Chu executed Bo Zhouli, and his grandson Bo Pi fled to Wu, where he was made a minister.

In the third year, King Helü, together with Zixu and Bo Pi, led an army against Chu, took Shu, and killed the two fugitive Wu princes. Helü planned to enter the Chu capital Ying, but General Sun Wu said: "The people are weary. It cannot be done yet. Wait." In the fourth year, they attacked Chu and took Liu and Qian. In the fifth year, they attacked Yue and defeated it. In the sixth year, Chu sent Zichang Nangwa to attack Wu. Wu met and struck them, inflicting a great defeat on the Chu army at Yuzhang, and took Juchao before returning.

In the ninth year, King Helü asked Wu Zixu and Sun Wu: "At first you said Ying could not yet be entered. What do you say now?" The two replied: "The Chu general Zichang is greedy, and Tang and Cai both resent him. If Your Majesty truly wishes to launch a great campaign, you must secure Tang and Cai's support." Helü followed their counsel, raised the full army, and marched west against Chu with Tang and Cai, reaching the Han River. Chu also deployed troops to resist Wu, and the two armies faced each other across the water. Helü's younger brother Fugai wished to attack. Helü refused. Fugai said: "The king has entrusted troops to me. In war, advantage is paramount — what are we waiting for?" He then led his detachment of five thousand men in a surprise assault on the Chu lines. The Chu army was routed and fled. King Helü then unleashed the full army in pursuit. By the time they reached Ying, they had fought five battles, and Chu lost all five. King Zhao of Chu fled from Ying to Yun. The younger brother of the Lord of Yun plotted to kill King Zhao, so King Zhao and the Lord of Yun fled to Sui. Wu forces entered Ying. Zixu and Bo Pi flogged the corpse of King Ping to avenge their fathers.

In the spring of the tenth year, Yue learned that the king of Wu was at Ying and the homeland was empty, and so attacked Wu. Wu dispatched a separate force to strike Yue. Chu sent an urgent appeal to Qin, and Qin sent troops to rescue Chu and attack Wu. The Wu army was defeated. Helü's brother Fugai, seeing that both Qin and Yue had defeated Wu and that the king lingered in Chu without returning, fled back to Wu and proclaimed himself king. When Helü heard of this, he led his army home and attacked Fugai. Fugai was defeated and fled to Chu. King Zhao of Chu was thus able to re-enter Ying in the ninth month, and enfeoffed Fugai at Tangxi, where he became the Tangxi clan. In the eleventh year, the king of Wu sent Crown Prince Fuchai to attack Chu and take Fan. Chu, in alarm, abandoned Ying and moved its capital to Ruo.

In the fifteenth year, Confucius served as minister in Lu.

In the summer of the nineteenth year, Wu attacked Yue. King Goujian of Yue met them at Zuili. Yue sent death-warriors to provoke battle: three ranks advanced to the Wu lines, shouted, and cut their own throats. While the Wu soldiers stared, Yue launched its attack, defeated Wu at Gusu, and wounded King Helü's finger. The Wu army retreated seven li. King Helü died of his wound. Before dying, Helü ordered that Crown Prince Fuchai be established, and said to him: "Will you forget that Goujian killed your father?" Fuchai replied: "I would not dare!" Three years later, he took revenge on Yue.

In the first year of King Fuchai, he made the minister Bo Pi Grand Steward. He drilled his troops in warfare and archery, keeping vengeance against Yue as his constant purpose. In the second year, the king of Wu mustered his entire crack army to attack Yue and defeated them at Fuzhao — avenging Gusu. King Goujian of Yue, with his remaining five thousand armored troops, retreated to Mount Kuaiji. He sent the minister Wen Zhong to approach the Wu Grand Steward Bo Pi and negotiate a peace, requesting to submit his state and serve as vassal. The king of Wu was about to agree when Wu Zixu remonstrated: "In the past, the Youguo clan killed the Zhenguang and attacked the Zhenxun, destroying the Xia sovereign Emperor Xiang. Emperor Xiang's consort Houmin was pregnant, and she fled to Youreng, where she gave birth to Shaokang. Shaokang became the herdsman-chief of Youreng. Youguo then sought to kill Shaokang too, and Shaokang fled to Youyu. Youyu remembered the virtue of Xia and gave him two daughters in marriage and a town at Lun, with one cheng of farmland and one lü of men. Shaokang eventually gathered the remnants of Xia, restored its officials, used agents to lure the enemy, destroyed the Youguo clan, restored Yu's legacy, made Xia sacrifices equal to Heaven, and lost none of the old heritage. Now Wu is not as strong as Youguo was, and Goujian is greater than Shaokang. If we do not destroy him now and instead let him go, will that not bring disaster? Moreover, Goujian is a man who can endure hardship. If we do not destroy him now, we will certainly regret it later." The king of Wu did not listen. He heeded the Grand Steward Bo Pi, and in the end granted Yue peace, made a covenant, and withdrew his troops.

In the seventh year, King Fuchai heard that Duke Jing of Qi had died, that his great ministers were competing for favor, and that the new ruler was weak. He raised an army and marched north to attack Qi. Zixu remonstrated: "King Goujian of Yue eats only simple food, wears only plain clothes, mourns the dead and visits the sick, and intends to employ his people for some purpose. If this man does not die, he will surely become a mortal threat to Wu. Yue is a disease in your vitals, yet the king ignores it to pursue Qi — is this not a grave error?" The king of Wu did not listen. He marched north against Qi and defeated the Qi army at Ailing. At Zeng, he summoned Duke Ai of Lu and demanded a hundred sets of sacrificial animals. Ji Kangzi sent Zigong to persuade the Grand Steward Bo Pi with Zhou ritual precedents, and the demand was dropped. He lingered to seize territory south of Qi and Lu. In the ninth year, he attacked Lu on behalf of Zou, making peace with Lu before withdrawing. In the tenth year, he attacked Qi and returned. In the eleventh year, he again marched north against Qi.

King Goujian of Yue led his people to pay court to Wu and presented lavish gifts. The king of Wu was pleased. Only Zixu was alarmed, saying: "This means the abandonment of Wu." He remonstrated: "Yue is in your vitals. Your successes against Qi are like fields of stone — useless. Moreover, Pan Geng's proclamation says 'Overturn and uproot — leave nothing behind,' and this is how Shang rose." The king of Wu did not listen. He sent Zixu on a mission to Qi. Zixu entrusted his son to the Bao family of Qi and returned to report to the king of Wu. When the king heard of this, he was furious and bestowed the Shulou sword upon Zixu, commanding him to die. As he was about to die, Zixu said: "Plant catalpa trees on my tomb, so the wood can be used for vessels. Gouge out my eyes and place them on the eastern gate of Wu, so I may watch Yue destroy Wu."

The Bao family of Qi murdered Duke Dao of Qi. The king of Wu heard of it, wept at the army gate for three days, then attacked Qi by sea. The Qi defeated Wu, and the king withdrew his forces.

In the thirteenth year, Wu summoned the lords of Lu and Wei to meet at Tuogao.

In the spring of the fourteenth year, the king of Wu went north to convene the lords at Huangchi, seeking hegemony over the Central States to bolster the Zhou royal house. On the bingzi day of the sixth month, King Goujian of Yue attacked Wu. On the yiyou day, five thousand Yue troops engaged the Wu forces. On the bingxu day, they captured the Wu crown prince You. On the dinghai day, they entered Wu. When the Wu people reported the defeat to King Fuchai, Fuchai hated to have it known. When someone leaked the news, the king was furious and beheaded seven men beneath the tent. On the xinqiu day of the seventh month, the king of Wu contested precedence with Duke Ding of Jin. The king of Wu said: "In the Zhou royal house, I am senior." Duke Ding of Jin said: "Among the Ji surname, I am the head." Zhao Yang was enraged and prepared to attack Wu, so they yielded precedence to Duke Ding of Jin. After the covenant was sworn, Wu parted from Jin and considered attacking Song. The Grand Steward Bo Pi said: "We could win but could not hold it." So they led the army home. The crown prince was lost, the interior was empty, the king had been abroad too long, and the troops were all exhausted. They therefore 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 ever stronger. King Goujian led his troops and defeated the Wu army at Lize. Chu destroyed Chen.

In the twentieth year, King Goujian again attacked Wu. In the twenty-first year, he besieged Wu. In the eleventh month of the twenty-third year, on the dingmao day, Yue defeated Wu. King Goujian wished to relocate King Fuchai to Yongdong, giving him a hundred households to live among. The king of Wu said: "I am old. I cannot serve Your Majesty. I regret not heeding the words of Zixu, which has brought me to this." He then cut his own throat. The king of Yue destroyed Wu, executed the Grand Steward Bo Pi for disloyalty, and returned home.

The Grand Historian says: Confucius declared, "Taibo may be called a man of supreme virtue. Three times he yielded All-Under-Heaven, and the people could find no words to praise him." When I read the ancient texts of the Spring and Autumn chronicles, I came to understand that Yu of the Central States and Gouwu of the southern wilderness were brothers. The benevolent heart of the Lord of Yanling, Jizha — his admiration for righteousness was boundless, and from the subtlest sign he could discern the pure from the turbid. Ah! What a man of broad vision and vast learning!

Tabio founded Wu, nobly yielding his grand design. Zhouzhang received the state, separately enfeoffed at Yu. Shoumeng first rose to hegemony, first employing war chariots. Three sons succeeded in turn, but Yanling would not take the throne. Guang seized power by usurpation, calling himself Helü. King Liao was slain — the assassin was Zhuan Zhu. Fuchai took Yue lightly and met defeat at Gusu. The shame of Yongdong — in vain did he feel remorse toward Wu Zixu.