越王勾践世家

King Goujian of Yue traced his lineage to Yu the Great, being a son of the secondary line of Emperor Shao Kang of the Xia dynasty. He was enfeoffed at Kuaiji to maintain the sacrifices to Yu. The people tattooed their bodies and cut their hair, clearing the wilderness to establish settlements there. More than twenty generations later came Yun Chang. In Yun Chang's time, he fought with King Helü of Wu and nursed mutual grievances. When Yun Chang died, his son Goujian succeeded him—thus began the line of Yue kings.

Three years later, Goujian learned that King Fuchai of Wu was drilling troops day and night, preparing to avenge himself on Yue. Goujian wished to strike first, before Wu could mobilize. Fan Li remonstrated: "It should not be done. I have heard that weapons are implements of ill omen, that battle runs counter to virtue, and that dispute is the lowest of pursuits. To plot against virtue and delight in using implements of ill omen, to stake one's person upon such base matters—Heaven forbids it. Whoever proceeds will come to no good end." Goujian replied: "I have already decided." And he marched forth to Kuaiji.

When King Wu heard of this, he dispatched all his elite troops to attack Yue and defeated them at Fujiao. The King of Yue then took his remaining five thousand soldiers and retreated to defend themselves at Kuaiji. King Wu pursued and surrounded them. The King of Yue said to Fan Li: "Because I did not listen to you, I have come to this. What is to be done?" Fan Li replied: "He who would keep a full vessel must accord with Heaven; he who would stabilize a tottering state must accord with men; he who would regulate affairs must accord with the earth. Send humble words and rich gifts to him; if he does not accept, then offer your own person in servitude." Goujian said "Agreed."

When the King of Wu heard of this, he mobilized all his elite troops and met Yue at Fujiao, defeating them soundly. Goujian regrouped with only five thousand men and fortified himself at Kuaiji. The King of Wu pursued and laid siege. Goujian said to Fan Li: "Because I did not heed your counsel, we have come to this pass. What is to be done?" Fan Li answered: "One who maintains greatness receives Heaven's favor; one who stabilizes crisis receives the people's allegiance; one who orders affairs receives Earth's blessing. Send humble words and rich gifts to Wu. If they refuse, then offer your very self as collateral." "Very well," said Goujian. He then dispatched Lord Zhong to negotiate peace with Wu, crawling forward on his knees and touching his forehead to the ground: "Your Majesty, your banished subject Goujian sends his servant Zhong to inform your ministers below: Goujian begs to become your subject, and his wife to become your handmaiden."

When the King of Wu heard of this, he mobilized all his elite troops and met Yue at Fujiao, defeating them soundly. Goujian regrouped with only five thousand men and fortified himself at Kuaiji. The King of Wu pursued and laid siege. Goujian said to Fan Li: "Because I did not heed your counsel, we have come to this pass. What is to be done?" Fan Li answered: "One who maintains greatness receives Heaven's favor; one who stabilizes crisis receives the people's allegiance; one who orders affairs receives Earth's blessing. Send humble words and rich gifts to Wu. If they refuse, then offer your very self as collateral." "Very well," said Goujian. He then dispatched Lord Zhong to negotiate peace with Wu, crawling forward on his knees and touching his forehead to the ground: "Your Majesty, your banished subject Goujian sends his servant Zhong to inform your ministers below: Goujian begs to become your subject, and his wife to become your handmaiden."

The King of Wu was about to consent when Wu Zixu addressed him: "Heaven has given Yue to Wu—do not grant the request!" Lord Zhong returned and reported to Goujian. Goujian, in desperation, wished to kill his wife and children, burn the treasures, and die fighting. Zhong stopped him: "The Wu grand marshal Pǐ is greedy—he can be seduced by profit. Let me seek a private audience to speak with him." Goujian then sent beautiful women and precious objects through Zhong as a covert gift to Pǐ. Pǐ accepted, and in turn presented Lord Zhong to the King of Wu. Zhong knelt and entreated: "I beg Your Majesty to pardon Goujian's crimes and accept all his treasures. If you will not pardon him, Goujian will kill his wife and children, burn his treasures, and with his five thousand men will fight to the last—they will indeed inflict losses on you." Pǐ thereupon persuaded the King of Wu: "Yue has submitted as a subject; it would serve the state's interests to forgive them."

The King of Wu was inclined to agree. Wu Zixu pressed his objection: "If we do not destroy Yue now, we will surely regret it. Goujian is a capable ruler, and Zhong and Fan Li are loyal ministers. Once restored to his kingdom, he will surely cause trouble." The King of Wu would not listen. He pardoned Yue, disbanded the army, and withdrew.

When Goujian was cornered at Kuaiji, he sighed bitterly: "Shall I end my days here?" Zhong answered: "Tang was imprisoned at Xiatai; King Wen was confined at Youli; Chong'er of Jin fled to Di; Duke Xiao of Qi fled to Ju—yet all of them ultimately became hegemon-kings. Looking at it this way, how can we know this may not yet prove a blessing?"

When Wu finally pardoned him, King Goujian returned to Yue. He then underwent severe self-discipline and tireless exertion. He placed a gall bladder at his seat; whenever he sat or lay down, he would look up at it; when eating or drinking, he would taste it. "Have you forgotten the shame of Kuaiji?" he would ask himself. He personally worked the fields; his wife personally wove cloth. He ate plain food and wore simple clothing. He humbled himself before the worthy, treated guests generously, aided the poor and mourned the dead—he shared all hardships with his people.

When Wu finally pardoned him, King Goujian returned to Yue. He then underwent severe self-discipline and tireless exertion. He placed a gall bladder at his seat; whenever he sat or lay down, he would look up at it; when eating or drinking, he would taste it. "Have you forgotten the shame of Kuaiji?" he would ask himself. He personally worked the fields; his wife personally wove cloth. He ate plain food and wore simple clothing. He humbled himself before the worthy, treated guests generously, aided the poor and mourned the dead—he shared all hardships with his people.

When Wu finally pardoned him, King Goujian returned to Yue. He then underwent severe self-discipline and tireless exertion. He placed a gall bladder at his seat; whenever he sat or lay down, he would look up at it; when eating or drinking, he would taste it. "Have you forgotten the shame of Kuaiji?" he would ask himself. He personally worked the fields; his wife personally wove cloth. He ate plain food and wore simple clothing. He humbled himself before the worthy, treated guests generously, aided the poor and mourned the dead—he shared all hardships with his people.

He wished to entrust Fan Li with affairs of state, but Fan Li replied: "In matters of military command, Zhong surpasses me. In comforting the nation and winning the people's hearts, I fall short of Zhong." Goujian therefore placed all governmental affairs in Lord Zhong's hands, while sending Fan Li and Lord Zheji to Wu as hostages. Two years later, Wu released Fan Li.

Seven years after Goujian's return from Kuaiji, he had nurtured his officers and people, ready to use them against Wu. Lord Feng Tong advised: "The nation has barely recovered from its losses. Now that we are prosperous again, so well equipped, Wu will surely grow wary—and wary opponents are hard to overcome. Moreover, a bird of prey, when it strikes, must conceal its form. Now Wu's armies are engaged against Qi and Jin, and their animosity toward Chu and Yue runs deep. Their reputation soars throughout the realm, yet this actually harms the Zhou court. With little virtue but great accomplishments, they are bound to become arrogant."

Seven years after Goujian's return from Kuaiji, he had nurtured his officers and people, ready to use them against Wu. Lord Feng Tong advised: "The nation has barely recovered from its losses. Now that we are prosperous again, so well equipped, Wu will surely grow wary—and wary opponents are hard to overcome. Moreover, a bird of prey, when it strikes, must conceal its form. Now Wu's armies are engaged against Qi and Jin, and their animosity toward Chu and Yue runs deep. Their reputation soars throughout the realm, yet this actually harms the Zhou court. With little virtue but great accomplishments, they are bound to become arrogant."

"For Yue's sake, the best strategy is to ally with Qi, strengthen ties with Chu, and draw close to Jin—thus bolstering Wu. Wu's ambitions will expand, and they will make light of war. We shall unite these three powers and strike together, while Yue exploits the chaos. That is how we can defeat them."

Goujian approved. Two years passed, and the King of Wu prepared to attack Qi. Wu Zixu warned: "Not yet. I have heard that Goujian eats plain food and shares weal and woe with his people. This man, if he lives, will surely bring disaster to our state. Yue is a wound in our vitals; Qi and Wu are merely a skin ailment. I beg Your Majesty to release Qi and turn your attention first to Yue."

The King of Wu refused and attacked Qi, defeating them at Ailing and capturing the nobles of Gao and Guo. He then rebuked Zixu. Zixu said: "Do not rejoice, O King!" The King's anger flared, and Zixu considered taking his own life, but the King intervened to stop him.

Yue's Lord Zhong observed: "I see that the King of Wu's government has grown arrogant. Let me test him—let us request a loan of grain, to gauge his response." He requested the loan. The King of Wu wished to grant it, but Zixu advised against it. The King gave the grain anyway, and Yue privately rejoiced. Zixu declared: "If the King refuses to heed counsel, within three years Wu will be in ruins!"

Yue's Lord Zhong observed: "I see that the King of Wu's government has grown arrogant. Let me test him—let us request a loan of grain, to gauge his response." He requested the loan. The King of Wu wished to grant it, but Zixu advised against it. The King gave the grain anyway, and Yue privately rejoiced. Zixu declared: "If the King refuses to heed counsel, within three years Wu will be in ruins!"

When Pǐ heard of this, he began competing with Zixu over policy toward Yue, and poisoned the King's mind against him: "Wu Ren appears loyal but is inwardly ruthless—he shows no concern for his own father and brothers, so how could he care for Your Majesty? The King wished to attack Qi; Zixu pressed objections; when we achieved victory anyway, Zixu turned resentful. If Your Majesty does not guard against Zixu, he will surely cause rebellion."

Pǐ conspired with Feng Tong to denounce Zixu before the King. The King initially refused to act, but then sent Zixu to Qi. Learning that Zixu had entrusted his son to the Bo family, the King flew into a rage: "Wu Zixu has truly deceived me!" On Zixu's return, the King sent him a sword called Shulu and ordered him to take his own life.

Pǐ conspired with Feng Tong to denounce Zixu before the King. The King initially refused to act, but then sent Zixu to Qi. Learning that Zixu had entrusted his son to the Bo family, the King flew into a rage: "Wu Zixu has truly deceived me!" On Zixu's return, the King sent him a sword called Shulu and ordered him to take his own life.

Zixu laughed aloud: "I made your father hegemon, and I installed you on the throne. When you first wished to divide Wu with me, I refused—and now you execute me with slander. Alas! One man cannot stand alone." To the messenger he said: "Gouge out my eyes and place them at Wu's east gate—I wish to see Yue's armies enter!"

The King of Wu then placed Pǐ in power. Three years passed, and Goujian summoned Fan Li: "Wu has executed Zixu; his court is filled with sycophants. Are we ready now?" Fan Li replied: "Not yet."

The following spring, the King of Wu held a gathering of nobles at Huangchi in the north. Wu's elite forces accompanied him; only the elderly and weak, along with the Crown Prince, remained behind. Goujian questioned Fan Li again. "Now we can," said Fan Li.

He mobilized two thousand trained troops, forty thousand trained soldiers, six thousand nobles, and a thousand various officers, and marched against Wu. Wu's forces were defeated, and they killed the Wu Crown Prince. Wu sent urgent appeals to the King, who was in conference at Huangchi. Fearing that word would spread, he kept the news secret. Once the treaty at Huangchi was concluded, the King of Wu sent lavish gifts to negotiate peace with Yue. Goujian, knowing he could not yet destroy Wu, agreed to terms.

Four years later, Yue attacked Wu again. Wu's soldiers and people were exhausted; its best troops had all perished against Qi and Jin. Yue inflicted a crushing defeat and laid siege to Wu for three years. Wu's forces were vanquished, and Goujian drove King Fuchai up Mount Gusu.

Fuchai sent Duke Gongsun Xiong, stripped to the waist and crawling forward on his knees, to sue for peace: "Your Majesty's servant Fuchai dares to speak from the bottom of his heart. In days past I offended against Kuaiji; Fuchai did not dare defy your destiny, and I was allowed to return with Your Majesty in peace. Now Your Majesty has come in person to punish your servant. Your servant awaits only your command. Might I hope for clemency such as was shown at Kuaiji?"

Goujian was moved and wished to grant terms. Fan Li said: "At Kuaiji, Heaven gave Yue to Wu, and Wu refused to take it. Now Heaven gives Wu to Yue—can Yue defy Heaven? And consider, Your Majesty: did you not rise early and rest late for twenty-two years precisely for this? Will you abandon it all now? Moreover, what Heaven offers and one refuses, one shall surely suffer for. As the saying goes, 'The ax that splits the wood is not far from the pattern.' Have you forgotten the shame of Kuaiji?"

Goujian was moved and wished to grant terms. Fan Li said: "At Kuaiji, Heaven gave Yue to Wu, and Wu refused to take it. Now Heaven gives Wu to Yue—can Yue defy Heaven? And consider, Your Majesty: did you not rise early and rest late for twenty-two years precisely for this? Will you abandon it all now? Moreover, what Heaven offers and one refuses, one shall surely suffer for. As the saying goes, 'The ax that splits the wood is not far from the pattern.' Have you forgotten the shame of Kuaiji?"

Goujian replied: "I wish to heed your counsel, but I cannot bear to reject this messenger." Fan Li then drummed the troops forward: "The King has entrusted all affairs to me. Leave now, messenger, or you shall be held accountable."

Goujian replied: "I wish to heed your counsel, but I cannot bear to reject this messenger." Fan Li then drummed the troops forward: "The King has entrusted all affairs to me. Leave now, messenger, or you shall be held accountable."

The Wu envoy wept and departed. Goujian, feeling pity, sent word to the King of Wu: "I will settle you at Mount Yong with a hundred households." The King replied: "I am too old to serve Your Majesty." He took his own life. Covering his face, he said: "I dare not face Wu Zixu!"