郑世家 — Shiji

Duke Huan of Zheng, whose personal name was You, was the youngest son of King Li of Zhou and a younger half-brother of King Xuan. King Xuan, twenty-two years into his reign, first enfeoffed You at Zheng. Thirty-three years after this enfeoffment, the common people all found him lovable. King You then appointed him Situ. He harmonized and united the people of Zhou, who were all delighted with him; between the Yellow River and the Luo River, the people thought of him fondly. A year into his tenure as Situ, the royal house had grown troubled due to King You's love for the Bao consort, governance had fallen into many corrupt channels, and some lords had begun to rebel.

Duke Huan thereupon consulted the Grand Historian Bo: "The royal house faces many troubles—how might I escape death?" The Grand Historian Bo replied: "Only the lands east of the Luo, south of the Yellow and Ji Rivers, are fit to dwell in." The Duke asked, "Why?" The reply came: "The territory lies close to Guo and Kuai. Their rulers are greedy and fond of profit; their people do not cling to them. Now you, my lord, serve as Situ—the people all love you. If you sincerely request to settle there, those rulers, seeing how you are in a position of power, will lightly grant you portions of their lands. Should you truly take up residence there, their people will become your people."

The Duke said, "I wish to go south to the Yangtze region—what do you think?" The Grand Historian replied, "Of old, Zhurong served as the Fire Minister for Emperor Gaoxin; his achievements were great, yet among the states descended from him, none have yet risen in the Zhou realm. Chu is their descendant. When Zhou declines, Chu will surely rise—but that would not benefit Zheng."

The Duke said, "I wish to dwell in the west—what do you think?" The reply came, "Its people are greedy and fond of profit; it would be hard to settle there permanently." The Duke asked, "When Zhou declines, which states will rise?" The Grand Historian replied, "Would it not be Qi, Qin, Jin, and Chu? Qi bears the surname Jiang, descending from Boyi, who assisted Yao in regulating the ceremonies. Qin bears the surname Ying, descending from Boyi, who assisted Shun in bringing peace to the realm. The ancestors of Chu also performed great services for the empire. After King Wu of Zhou conquered Zhou, King Cheng enfeoffed Shu Yu at Tang, whose territory was strategically defensible. Because of the virtue there, and with Zhou in decline, Tang will surely flourish as well."

Duke Huan said, "Good." He then spoke to the king about the relocation, and moved his people eastward to Luoyang. Guo and Kuai indeed presented ten settlements, and Zheng eventually made them its own. Two years later, the Quanrong killed King You at the foot of Li Mountain, and also slew Duke Huan. The people of Zheng together raised his son Jue Tu, who became Duke Wu.

Duke Wu, in his tenth year, took the daughter of the Marquis of Shen as his wife, known as Wu Jiang. She gave birth to a crown prince named Kui Sheng—the birth was difficult, and upon his arrival, his mother did not love him. She later bore a younger son, Shu Duan, whose birth was easy, and she loved him dearly. In his twenty-seventh year, Duke Wu fell gravely ill. His wife begged him to name Shu Duan as heir apparent, but he would not listen. That year, Duke Wu died, and Kui Sheng succeeded him as Duke Zhuang.

Duke Zhuang thereupon relocated his mother Wu Jiang to Cheng Ying, swearing an oath: "Until we reach the underworld, we shall not meet." After more than a year, he regretted it and longed for his mother. An official of Ying named Kao Shu presented an offering to the Duke. The Duke granted him food. Kao Shu said, "Your servant has an elderly mother—may I beg the portion you have given me for her?" Duke Zhuang said, "I long greatly for my mother, but I am ashamed to break my oath. What can be done?" Kao Shu replied, "Dig through to where the underground waters flow—that would be reaching the underworld. Then you may meet." The Duke followed this counsel, and they met. Their reconciliation was complete.

In his twenty-fourth year, Duke Min of Song died. Prince Feng of Song fled to Zheng. Zheng then invaded Zhou territory and seized the grain. In the twenty-fifth year, Zhou Xu of Wei murdered his lord Duke Huan and made himself ruler, then joined with Song to attack Zheng on account of Prince Feng. In the twenty-seventh year, Zheng made its first formal court visit to King Huan of Zhou. The king, angry at the seizure of the grain, did not treat them with proper courtesy. In the twenty-ninth year, Duke Zhuang, resentful of Zhou's discourtesy, exchanged the fiefs of Fang and Xu with Lu. In the thirty-third year, Song killed Kong Fu. In the thirty-seventh year, Duke Zhuang did not visit Zhou. King Huan of Zhou led the armies of Chen, Cai, Guo, and Wei to attack Zheng.

Duke Zhuang mobilized his troops, with Ji Zhong and Gao Qu Mi, to relieve the siege. The royal army suffered a crushing defeat. Zhu Nian's arrow struck the king in the arm. Zhu Nian requested permission to pursue, but the Duke of Zheng stopped him, saying, "To encroach upon an elder is difficult enough—how much more so to oppress the Son of Heaven?" He then halted. That night he ordered Ji Zhong to inquire after the king's injury.

In the thirty-eighth year, the northern Rong attacked Qi. Qi sent envoys requesting aid, and Zheng dispatched Crown Prince Hu with troops to rescue Qi. Duke Li of Qi wished to give Hu his daughter in marriage, but Hu declined, saying, "We are a small state and no match for Qi." At the time, Ji Zhong was accompanying Hu and urged him to accept, saying, "The ruler has many favored consorts; without powerful backing, the crown prince will not hold his position. All three princes—yourself, your brother Tu, and your younger half-brother Zi Wei—could become lord."

In his forty-third year, Duke Zhuang of Zheng died. Earlier, Ji Zhong had been highly favored by Duke Zhuang, who made him a minister. The Duke had sent Hu to marry a daughter of Deng, who bore him Crown Prince Hu—hence Ji Zhong installed him, becoming Duke Zhao. The Duke had also taken a daughter of the Yong clan of Song, who bore him Li Gong Tu. The Yong clan was favored in Song. When Duke Zhuang of Song heard that Ji Zhong had installed Hu, he sent men to lure Ji Zhong and seize him, saying, "Install Tu or face death." He also detained Tu to demand tribute. Ji Zhong yielded to Song and formed an alliance with them. He brought Tu back and installed him as ruler.

Duke Zhao Hu learned that Ji Zhong had been coerced by Song to install his younger brother Tu. In the ninth month, on the day of Ding Hai, Hu fled to Wei. On the day of Ji Hai, Tu arrived at Zheng and was installed as Duke Li. In his fourth year, Duke Li found Ji Zhong's monopolization of state affairs troubling. Secretly he set his son-in-law, Yong Jiu, to kill Ji Zhong. Jiu's wife was Ji Zhong's daughter; when she learned of the plot, she asked her mother, "Who is closer to you—father or husband?" Her mother replied, "A father has only one; any man may become a husband." She reported everything to Ji Zhong, who turned around and killed Yong Jiu, executing him in the marketplace. Duke Li could do nothing about Ji Zhong, but vented his frustration on the plot, saying, "Consulting a woman in matters of strategy—death was well deserved!"

That summer, Duke Li went to reside at the border city of Li. Ji Zhong escorted Duke Zhao Hu back, and in the sixth month, on the day of Yi Hai, Hu re-entered Zheng and resumed the throne. That autumn, Duke Li Tu, relying on men of Li, killed his minister Dan Bo and took up residence there. When the lords heard Duke Li was in exile, they attacked Zheng but could not overcome it and withdrew. Song gave Duke Li substantial military support to hold Li, and Zheng therefore did not attack Li.

In the first year of Zi Wei's rule, in the seventh month, Duke Xiang of Qi met the lords at Shouzhi. The Zheng lord Zi Wei attended, with Gao Qu Mi as his companion. Ji Zhong claimed illness and did not go. The reason was that Zi Wei, when Duke Xiang was still a prince, had met him in a drinking bout and they had become enemies. When the lords were meeting, Ji Zhong begged Zi Wei not to go. Zi Wei said, "Qi is strong, and Duke Li is residing at Li. If I do not go, I will be leading the lords against myself to install Duke Li. It would be better for me to go—and how can I be certain to be humiliated, let alone killed!" He went in the end. Ji Zhong feared Qi would kill them both, so he claimed illness.

Duke Li thereupon said to Fu Jia, "Your service to the lord showed divided loyalty." He then executed him. Fu Jia said, "Great virtue meets no recompense—how true!"

Duke Li Tu's first year after restoration, Duke Huan of Qi began his hegemonic rule. In his fifth year, Yan, Wei, and the Zhou king Hui's brother Prince Ti attacked the king. The king fled to Wen, and Prince Ti was installed as king. In the sixth year, King Hui urgently requested Zheng's help. Duke Li mobilized troops to attack Zhou Prince Ti but could not defeat him, so he returned King Hui to his capital at Li. In the seventh year, in spring, Duke Li Tu and the Guo lord assassinated Prince Ti and restored King Hui to Zhou. That autumn, Duke Li died. His son, Duke Wen Jie, succeeded him.

Duke Wen, in his seventeenth year, used armed force to defeat Cai, then attacked Chu, reaching Shao Ling. In his twenty-fourth year, Duke Wen's low-ranking concubine named Yan Ji dreamed that the heavens gave her an orchid. "I am Bo Chou," the dream-voice said. "I am your ancestor. Raise this child as your own—for the orchid bears the fragrance of a kingdom." She told the dream to Duke Wen, who favored her and gave her an orchid as a token. She consequently bore a son, whom she named Lan.

In the thirty-seventh year, in spring, the Jin prince Chong'er returned to his state and became Duke Wen. That autumn, Zheng attacked Hua. Hua submitted, then reneged and allied with Wei. Zheng therefore attacked Hua. King Xiang of Zhou sent Bo Guo to plead for Hua. Duke Wen of Zheng resented that King Hui had taken refuge at Li when exiled, and that his father Duke Li had restored him, yet King Hui had not granted Duke Li noble rank or emoluments. He also resented that King Xiang had allied with Wei against Hua, so he refused King Xiang's plea and imprisoned Bo Guo. The king, enraged, allied with the Di people to attack Zheng, but could not take it. That winter, the Di attacked King Xiang, who fled. The king took refuge at Fan, and Duke Wen of Zheng housed him there.

Duke Wen of Jin wished to take Shu Zhan as a hostage to coerce Zheng. Duke Wen of Zheng feared this and did not dare speak of it to Shu Zhan. Shu Zhan heard of it and addressed the lord of Zheng: "Your minister advised you, but you would not heed. Jin has indeed become a source of trouble. Yet the reason Jin besieged Zheng was to get me. If I die but Zheng is spared, that is what I wish." He then killed himself. Zheng sent Shu Zhan's corpse to Jin. Duke Wen of Jin said, "I must see the lord of Zheng—humiliate him and then depart." The people of Zheng were alarmed and privately entreated Qin: "If Zheng is destroyed, it only benefits Jin—this is not in Qin's interest." Qin's forces withdrew. Duke Wen of Jin wished to install Lan as heir and informed Zheng of this.

In his forty-fifth year, Duke Wen died. Lan succeeded him as Duke Mu. In Duke Mu's first year, Duke Mu of Qin sent three generals with forces to make a surprise attack on Zheng. When they reached Hua, they encountered Zheng merchant Xian Gao, who tricked them by presenting twelve oxen as a gift to the army, claiming they were sent by Zheng. The Qin forces, believing Zheng was prepared, turned back. Jin then defeated Qin at Yao. Earlier, when Duke Wen of Zheng had died, the Zheng minister Simao Zeng He had sold information to Qin, so Qin forces came. In the third year, Zheng mobilized forces to follow Jin in attacking Qin and defeated them at Wang.

The previous year, Chu Crown Prince Shang Chen murdered his father King Cheng and usurped the throne. In the twenty-first year, Zheng allied with Song's Hua Yuan to attack Zheng. Hua Yuan had meat prepared for the soldiers but refused to share it with his charioteer Yang Zhen. Yang Zhen, enraged, drove the chariot into Zheng's forces. Zheng captured Hua Yuan. Song ransomed him, but Hua Yuan also escaped. Jin sent Zhao Chuan with forces to attack Zheng. In the twenty-second year, Duke Mu of Zheng died. His son Yi succeeded him as Duke Ling.

In Duke Ling's first year, Chu presented a giant soft-shelled turtle to Duke Ling. Zi Jia and Zi Gong were preparing to attend Duke Ling when Zi Gong's index finger spasmed. He said to Zi Jia, "Whenever my finger moves like this, I am certain to be served something unusual."

The people of Zheng wanted to install Duke Ling's younger brother Qu Jin, but Qu Jin declined, saying: "If it must be a worthy man, then Qu Jin is unworthy; if it must be someone in proper succession, then Prince Jian is the eldest." Prince Jian was Duke Ling's half-brother, Qu Jin's elder brother. So they installed Prince Jian, who became Duke Xiang.

In the eighth year, King Zhuang of Chu, having learned that Zheng had allied with Jin, marched against Zheng and laid siege to the capital for three months. Zheng surrendered and offered the city to Chu. King Zhuang entered through the imperial gates. Duke Xiang of Zheng came out to greet him with bared chest and a rope around his neck, saying: "Your servant cannot rule the border territories, allowing Your Majesty's anger to reach our humble state—this is my crime. I dare not refuse any command. Should Your Majesty relocate us to the lands south of the Yangtze, or bestow us upon the vassal lords, I would obey. If Your Majesty, remembering Kings Li and Xuan, and Dukes Huan and Wu, in your benevolence does not wish to abandon our altars, and would grant us an uncultivated land so we may serve Your Majesty once more—that is what I desire, though I dare not presume to hope for it. I venture to speak my mind and await your command."

When Jin learned of Chu's attack on Zheng, it sent troops to assist. Jin's commanders hesitated at the border, so they arrived late; by the time they reached the river, Chu's forces had already withdrawn. Jin's commanders disagreed—some wished to cross the river, others to retreat—but they ultimately crossed. King Zhuang heard of this and turned back to attack. Zheng, however, sided with Chu and together they defeated Jin's army decisively on the riverbank.

In the tenth year, Jin attacked Zheng because Zheng had abandoned Jin for Chu. In the eleventh year, King Zhuang of Chu marched against Song. Song appealed urgently to Jin for help. Duke Jing of Jin considered sending troops, but Bo Zong advised: "Heaven is currently strengthening Chu; we should not attack." He then sought a bold warrior and found Xie Yang from Huoren, also called Zi Hu, whom he deceived into going to Chu with orders to tell Song not to surrender.

King Zhuang was furious and ordered Xie Yang's execution. Xie Yang said: "A ruler who can control his commands acts with righteousness; a minister who can carry out his commands acts with good faith. Having received my ruler's commission, I came forth; I would rather die than fail my duty." King Zhuang asked: "You agreed to my terms, then went back on your word—where is your good faith?" Xie Yang replied: "My agreement with you was made so I could fulfill my ruler's commission. Now I am about to die, and I say to the Chu army: 'A minister should never forget to die loyal to his purpose.'"

King Zhuang's younger brothers all pleaded for Xie Yang's life, and he was pardoned and sent home. Jin ennobled him as Senior Minister.

In the eighteenth year, Duke Xiang died, and his son, Duke Dao Xi, succeeded him.

In Duke Xi's fifth year, the minister Zi Si attended Duke Xi's court. Duke Xi failed to show him proper courtesy. Zi Si was offended and ordered the cooks to poison Duke Xi, then reported to the lords that "Duke Xi died suddenly of illness." Duke Xi's son Jia was installed; he was only five years old and became Duke Jian.

Duke Jian wished to make peace with Jin, but Chu detained Zheng's envoy. In the twelfth year, Duke Jian was angry that the minister Zi Kong held too much power and executed him, appointing Zi Chan as minister.

In the twenty-third year, the noble sons fought among themselves. They also wanted to kill Zi Chan. Someone remonstrated: "Zi Chan is a benevolent man—Zheng survives because of him. Do not kill him!" They stopped.

"In ancient times, Jin Tian Shi had a descendant named Mei, who served as master of the Dark Water Spirit. He had a son named Yun Ge and another named Tai Di. Tai Di was able to inherit his father's office, channeling the Fen and Tao rivers and blocking the great marshes, to settle the Taiyuan region. The Emperor rewarded him and established him in the Fen River region. The clans of Shen, Si, Ru, and Huang faithfully maintained his sacrifices. Now the ruler of Jin has destroyed them along the Fen River. From this we see that Tai Di is the spirit of the Fen and Tao."