吴太伯世家 — Shiji

Wu Taibo and his younger brother Zhongyong were both sons of Zhou's King Taiwang and elder brothers of King Jili. Jili was a man of talent, and his son Chang showed signs of sageliness—so King Taiwang wished to establish Jili as his heir, that the succession might pass to Chang. Thereupon Taibo and Zhongyong fled to the southern barbarian territories, tattooing their bodies and cutting their hair short to signal that they were unfit for rule, thus stepping aside for Jili. Jili indeed became king, as King Jiwang, and Chang rose as King Wen. When Taibo fled to the southern lands, he called himself Gouwu. The southern barbarians admired his righteousness, and more than a thousand households rallied to his support, establishing him as Wu Taibo. Taibo died without sons, and his brother Zhongyong succeeded him, becoming Wu Zhongyong. Zhongyong was followed by his son Ji Jian, then Shu Da, then Zhou Zhang.

At this time King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang and searched for the descendants of Taibo and Zhongyong. He found Zhou Zhang, who was already ruling Wu, and confirmed him as lord. He enfeoffed Zhou Zhang's younger brother Yu Zhong in the northern domain of the former Xia lands, making him Duke Yu of Yu, a feudal lord. Zhou Zhang died and was succeeded by his son Xiong Sui, then by Ke Xiang, Qiang Jiuyi, Yu Qiao Yi, Ke Lu, Zhou Yao, Qu Yu, Yi Wu, Qin Chu, Zhuan, Po Gao, and finally Qu Bi. During this period Duke Xian of Jin destroyed the northern Duke of Yu, clearing the way for Jin's attack on Guo. Qu Bi died and was succeeded by Qu Qi, who was followed by Shoumeng.

When Shoumeng ascended the throne, Wu began to grow powerful and assumed the royal title. From the time Taibo established Wu, five generations had passed when King Wu conquered the Shang; he enfeoffed the descendants in two branches—one as the dukes of Yu in the central realm, the other as rulers of Wu among the southern barbarians. Twelve generations later, Jin destroyed the branch in the central realm. After two generations, the Yu dukes were extinguished, but Wu among the barbarians flourished. In all, nineteen generations passed from Taibo to Shoumeng.

In the second year of King Shoumeng's reign, Shen Gong Wuchen, an fugitive minister of Chu, resented the Chu general Zi Fan and fled to Jin. From Jin he was sent to Wu, where he taught Wu the arts of infantry and chariot warfare, arranging for his son to serve as a Wu diplomat. Thus Wu first gained contact with the central states. Wu attacked Chu. In the sixteenth year of Shoumeng's reign, King Gong of Chu attacked Wu, advancing as far as Hengshan. In the twenty-fifth year, King Shoumeng died.

In the third year of King Yuji's reign, the Qi minister Qing Feng, who had committed crimes, fled from Qi to Wu. Yuji granted him the county of Zhufang as a private domain, gave him a daughter 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, requesting to hear the music of Zhou.

He heard the songs of Zhounan and Shaonan and said: "How beautiful! A foundation is being laid, though not yet complete; still, there is diligence without resentment." He heard the songs of Beiqi and Yongwei and said: "How beautiful! How profound! Worried but not distressed. I have heard that Duke Kang of Wei and Duke Wu of Wei possessed such virtue—could this be the air of Wei?" He heard the songs of Wang and said: "How beautiful! Thoughtful but not fearful—perhaps this is the eastern reaches of Zhou?" He heard the songs of Zheng and said: "How ornate! The people cannot bear it. Might this precede their decline?" He heard the songs of Qi and said: "How magnificent! Truly a great wind. The Duke who stands as the pillar of the eastern sea, could it be the Great Duke? This state will know no bounds." He heard the songs of Bin and said: "How beautiful! How generous! Pleasing without being licentious—perhaps this is the Duke of Zhou eastward?" He heard the songs of Qin and said: "This is what is called Xia music. What begins with Xia grows great, and greatness itself—what could surpass this but the old Zhou?" He heard the songs of Wei and said: "How beautiful! How flowing! Great yet generous, thrifty yet easy, proceeding with virtue as its guide—this is what a true hegemon requires." He heard the songs of Tang and said: "How profound the thoughts! Could this be the legacy of the House of Tao Tang? If not, why should such worry reach so far? Only one descended from fine virtue could be thus." He heard the songs of Chen and said: "A kingdom without a sovereign—how could it endure?" He offered no comment on songs from Kuai and below.

He saw the dance of "Elephant and Shuo" and "Southern Yue" and said: "How beautiful! Yet something is lacking." He saw the dance of the Great Warrior and said: "How beautiful! Zhou in its splendor—could it be thus?" He saw the dance of Shao Hu and said: "The sage's greatness is apparent, yet even the sage found virtue difficult." He saw the dance of Great Xia and said: "How beautiful! Labor without self-regard. Who but Yu could have achieved this?" He saw the dance of Zhao Shuo and said: "Virtue reaches its ultimate—how vast! Like heaven that covers all, like earth that carries all. Even the highest virtue cannot add to this." He declared: "I have witnessed perfection. Should there be other music, I would not dare to observe it."

Leaving Lu, he proceeded to Qi. He said to Yan Ying: "Quickly surrender your estate and office. Without estate or office, you will escape disaster. The governance of Qi is about to find its proper resting place; until it does, the danger will not cease." Yan Ying thus used Chen Huanzi to transfer his office and estate, thereby escaping the disaster brought by Luan and Gao.

From Qi he journeyed to Zheng. He met Zi Chan as though they were old friends and said to him: "The ministers of Zheng are extravagant; disaster approaches. Power will surely reach you. If you govern, be cautious and rule by ritual. If you do not, Zheng will fall."

Leaving Zheng, he arrived at Wei. He spoke with Qu Yuan, Shi Gou, Shi Qiu, Gongzi Jing, Gongshe Fa, and Gongzi Chao, saying: "Wealth and honor abound in Wei; none here cause for concern."

He arrived at Jin and spoke with Zhao Wenzi, Han Xuanzi, and Wei Xianzi: "The power of Jin will surely concentrate in three families!" As he was leaving, he said to Shu Xiang: "Take care, my friend. The lord is extravagant but surrounded by able men; the great officers are wealthy, and power will pass to three families. If you are straightforward, you must find a way to escape disaster."

When Jizha first traveled north, he passed through Xu. The lord of Xu admired Jizha's sword but dared not speak of it. Jizha knew his wish, but as he was on a mission to the central states, he did not offer it. On returning through Xu, the lord had already died. Jizha thereupon unbuckled his sword, hung it on a tree above the lord's tomb, and departed. His follower said: "The lord is dead—whom will you give it to?" Jizha replied: "Not so. I had already resolved in my heart to give it—how could I break my resolve because of death?"

In the second year of King Liao's reign, Prince Guang attacked Chu but was defeated and lost the royal warship. Frightened, he raided Chu and recovered the warship before returning. In the fifth year, Chu's fugitive minister Wu Zixu came to Wu, and Prince Guang received him as a guest. Prince Guang was the son of King Zhufan. He had always believed that since their father and his brothers were four men, the succession should pass to Jizha. If Jizha would not accept the kingdom, then his father should have received it; if not to Jizha, then Guang should be the one to rule. Secretly he gathered worthy men, intending to strike against King Liao.

In the twelfth year, winter, King Ping of Chu died. In the thirteenth year, spring, Wu wished to attack Chu, taking advantage of the mourning. Wu sent Prince Gaiyu and Prince Zuyong with troops to besiege Chu's Liu and Qian; it also sent Jizha to Jin to observe the reactions of the lords. Chu dispatched troops to cut off the Wu forces from behind; the Wu army could not retreat. The Wu Prince Guang then said: "This moment must not be lost!" He said to Zhuan Zhu: "Without seeking, how can one obtain? I am the rightful heir—I wish to claim the throne. Even if Jizha arrives, he cannot depose me." Zhuan Zhu replied: "King Liao can be killed. But his mother is aged, his sons are young, and the two princes are leading troops against Chu, which has cut off our retreat. Now Wu is externally pressed by Chu and internally lacks loyal ministers. What can they do to us?" Guang said: "My body shall be your body."

In the fourth month, on the day of bingzi, Prince Guang concealed armed men in a cellar. He invited King Liao to a banquet. King Liao stationed troops along the route from his palace to Guang's residence; guards lined the gates, steps, doors, and mats—all were King Liao's trusted men, each holding a ceremonial spear. Prince Guang pretended to have foot pain and entered the cellar. He had Zhuan Zhu place a dagger in a roasted fish and present it as food. He drew the dagger and stabbed King Liao; the spears crossed over Zhuan Zhu's chest, and he was killed along with King Liao. Prince Guang then succeeded to the throne as King Helü. Helü made Zhuan Zhu's son a minister.

When Jizha arrived, he said: "If the former king still has sacrificial offerings, if the people still have a lord, if the altars of soil and grain are maintained—then he is our ruler. How could I bear grudges? I mourn the dead and serve the living, awaiting the will of heaven. Not that I would cause chaos; one follows the one who stands. This is the way of our ancestors." He completed his mourning at Liao's tomb, then returned to his post to await further orders.

The Wu princes Zhuyong and Gaiyu, who were leading troops besieged by Chu, heard that Prince Guang had murdered King Liao and made himself king. They surrendered with their armies to Chu, and Chu enfeoffed them at Shu. King Helü assumed the throne in his first year, appointing Wu Zixu as a senior minister to assist in governing. In his third year, Wu Zixu and Bo Pi led troops to attack Chu, capturing Shu and killing the two rebel princes. Prince Guang had wished to enter Ying, but the general Sun Wu said: "The people are exhausted—wait."

In the fourth year, Wu attacked Chu, capturing Liu and Qian. In the fifth year, Wu attacked Yue and defeated them. In the sixth year, Chu sent Zi Chang and Nang Wo to attack Wu. Wu met them head-on and dealt them a crushing defeat at Yuzhang, capturing Chu's Ju Chao and returning. In the ninth year, King Helü asked Wu Zixu and Sun Wu: "Your earlier advice about Ying—was it not possible to enter? How has it turned out?" They replied: "The Chu general Zi Chang is greedy, and both Tang and Cai resent him. If Your Majesty truly wishes a great campaign, you must obtain Tang and Cai." Helü agreed, mustering all forces and, with Tang and Cai, marching west against Chu as far as the Han River. Chu also sent troops to oppose Wu, deploying on the opposite bank. King Helü's brother Fugai wished to engage, but Helü would not permit it.

Fukai said, "The king has entrusted me with his forces. In war, advantage is what matters most—why should I wait?" With his five thousand men he struck Chu while it was unprepared. The Chu forces suffered a devastating defeat and fled. King Fuchu then committed his entire army to the pursuit. By the time they reached Ying, five battles had been fought and Chu had lost all five. King Zhaowen of Chu fled Ying and took refuge in Yun, where the Yun lord's brother attempted to assassinate him. He fled with the Yun lord to Sui. Wu's forces then entered Ying. Wu Yu and Bo Pi beat the corpse of King Ping to avenge their fathers.

In the spring of the tenth year, Yue heard that the Wu king was in Ying with his forces depleted, and launched an attack. Wu sent separate forces to meet them. Chu appealed urgently to Qin, which dispatched troops to help Chu and strike Wu. The Wu army was defeated. When Helü's brother Fukai saw that Qin and Yue were both attacking Wu while the Wu king remained in Chu, he deserted and returned to Wu, declaring himself king. When Helü heard of this, he led his forces home and attacked Fukai. Fukai was defeated and fled to Chu. King Zhaowen of Chu was then restored to Ying in the ninth month. Fukai was enfeoffed at Tangxi, and his descendants took Tangxi as their surname.

In the eleventh year, the Wu king sent Crown Prince Fu Chai to attack Chu and captured Pan. Frightened, Chu abandoned Ying and moved its capital to Ruo. In the fifteenth year, Confucius served as minister of Justice in Lu. In the nineteenth year, summer, Wu attacked Yue. King Goujian of Yue met them at Zuili. Yue sent elite warriors to challenge them. They advanced in three ranks toward the Wu position, shouted, and cut their own throats. The Wu forces watched in astonishment. Yue then seized the opportunity to strike, defeating them at Gusu and wounding King Helü in the finger. The army retreated seven li. The king died of his wounds. Helü had his heir Fu Chai brought before him and said, "Will you forget that Goujian killed your father?" Fu Chai replied, "I dare not!" Three years later, he would repay Yue.

Wu Zixu remonstrated: "Long ago, the state of Youguo killed the lord of Zhenguan and conquered Zhengxun, destroying the Xia dynasty. Emperor Xiang's concubine, Houmin, was pregnant and fled to youreng, where she gave birth to Shaokang. Shaokang became the livestock officer at youreng. Youguo sought to kill him as well; Shaokang fled to youyu. The lord of youyu, remembering the virtue of Xia, gave him two daughters in marriage and established him at Lun, with a domain of ten li and a following of five hundred men. He then gathered the scattered people of Xia, restored the officials of the Xia line, sent agents to lure Youguo's followers, and eventually destroyed Youguo, resuming the legacy of Yu. Thus he offered sacrifices to the Xia ancestors and maintained the old order without loss." Wu Zixu continued: "Now Wu is not as strong as Youguo was, and Goujian is far more capable than Shaokang. If we do not seize this moment to destroy him, but instead show him mercy, will it not be difficult to contain him later? Moreover, Goujian is a man who can endure hardship. If we do not destroy him now, we will surely regret it."

The king would not listen. He heeded Grand Tutor Bo Pi and finally agreed to a peace with Yue. A treaty was signed and the army withdrew.

In the seventh year, King Fu Chai heard that Duke Jing of Qi had died and his ministers were fighting for power, while the new lord was weak. He raised an army and marched north against Qi. Wu Zixu remonstrated: "King Goujian of Yue does not eat elaborate food or wear multicolored robes. He mourns the dead and visits the sick, and is preparing his people for something. This man, if he lives, will surely become a threat to Wu. Now Yue is a disease in our vitals, yet you do not address it first, but instead pursue Qi. Is this not absurd?" The king would not listen. He marched north against Qi and defeated the Qi forces at Ailing. He stopped at Zeng and summoned Duke Ai of Lu, demanding a hundred ritual offerings. Ji Kangzi sent Zigong to reason with Grand Tutor Bo Pi according to the rites of Zhou, and the demand was finally dropped. Wu then remained to seize territory in the south of Lu and Qi.

In the ninth year, Wu attacked Lu. In the tenth year, after attacking Qi, he returned home. In the eleventh year, he attacked Qi again. King Goujian of Yue led his people to pay respects at Wu, bringing rich gifts. The king was delighted. Only Wu Zixu was alarmed, saying, "This is the destruction of Wu." He remonstrated: "Yue is in our vitals. Now you have gained the advantage over Qi—what good is that? It is like trying to cultivate a stone field." He also cited the commands in the 'Admonition of Pangeng': "Do not spare those who are perverted or rebellious; this is how Shang rose to power." The king would not listen. He sent Wu Zixu to Qi. Wu Zixu entrusted his son to the Bao family of Qi. When he returned and reported to the king, Fu Chai, upon hearing of it, flew into a rage. He gave Wu Zixu the sword named Shulu and ordered him to die. Near death, Wu Zixu said, "Plant a catalpa tree on my grave, so it may be made into vessels. Put my eyes on the east gate of Wu, so I may watch Yue destroy Wu."

In the fifteenth year, Tian Chang of Qi murdered Duke Jian. In the eighteenth year, Yue grew ever stronger. King Goujian of Yue led his forces and defeated the Wu army at Lize. Chu destroyed Chen. In the twentieth year, King Goujian of Yue attacked Wu again. In the twenty-first year, he laid siege to Wu. In the twenty-third year, on the day of dingchou in the eleventh month, Yue defeated Wu. King Goujian of Yue intended to relocate Wu's King Fu Chai to Yongdong, granting him a hundred households. The Wu king said, "I am old and cannot serve your majesty. I regret not heeding Zixu's words, which brought me to this pass." He cut his own throat and died. The king of Yue destroyed Wu and executed Grand Tutor Bo Pi, saying he had been disloyal. Then he returned.

Chu destroyed Chen. In his twentieth year, King Goujian of Yue once more attacked Wu. In the twenty-first year, he besieged Wu. In the twenty-third year, on the day dingmao of the eleventh month, Yue defeated Wu. King Goujian of Yue wished to relocate King Fuchai of Wu to Yongdong, granting him one hundred households to dwell there. The King of Wu said, 'I am old and can no longer serve a ruler. I regret not having heeded Wu Zixu's counsel, and have brought this upon myself.' Then he cut his throat and died.

King Goujian of Yue destroyed Wu, executed Grand Steward Pi for disloyalty, and returned. The Grand Historian remarks: 'Confucius said that Taibo may be said to have possessed the highest virtue: three times he yielded the empire, and the people could find no words sufficient to praise him. When I read the ancient text of the Spring and Autumn Annals, I realized that the Yu state in the central lands and Gouwu among the Jing barbarians were ruled by brothers. The benevolent heart of Jizi of Yanling was limitless in its admiration of righteousness; by observing the slightest signs he could distinguish purity from corruption. Ah, what a broad-minded and erudite gentleman he was!'