1
吳太伯，太伯弟仲雍，皆周太王之子，而王季歷之兄也。 季歷賢，而有聖子昌，太王欲立季歷以及昌，於是太佰、仲雍二人乃奔荊蠻，文身斷發，示不可用，以避季歷。 季歷果立，是為王季，而昌為文王。 太伯之奔荊蠻，自號句吳。 荊蠻義之，從而歸之千餘家，立為吳太伯。
Taibo and his younger brother Zhongyong were both sons of King Tai of Zhou and elder brothers of King Jili. Jili was worthy and had the sage son Chang, so King Tai wanted to establish Jili and then Chang. Taibo and Zhongyong therefore fled to the Jing Man, tattooed their bodies, and cut their hair to show they could not be used, thereby yielding the succession to Jili. Jili was indeed established, and he became King Ji, while Chang became King Wen. When Taibo fled to the Jing Man, he called himself Gouwu. The Jing Man considered him righteous, and more than a thousand families followed and submitted to him, so he was established as Wu Taibo.
2
太伯卒，無子，弟仲雍立，是為吳仲雍。 仲雍卒，子季簡立。 季簡卒，子叔達立。 叔達卒，子周章立。 是時周武王克殷，求太伯、仲雍之後，得周章。 周章已君吳，因而封之。 乃封周章弟虞仲於周之北故夏虛，是為虞仲，列為諸侯。
Taibo died without a son, and his younger brother Zhongyong was established as Wu Zhongyong. When Zhongyong died, his son Jijian was established. When Jijian died, his son Shuda was established. When Shuda died, his son Zhouzhang was established. At this time, King Wu of Zhou conquered Yin and sought the descendants of Taibo and Zhongyong, and found Zhouzhang. Zhouzhang was already ruling Wu, so Zhou enfeoffed him there. Then they enfeoffed Zhouzhang’s younger brother Yuzhong in the former Xia capital north of Zhou, and he became Yuzhong, one of the feudal lords.
3
周章卒，子熊遂立，熊遂卒，子柯相立。 柯相卒，子彊鳩夷立。 彊鳩夷卒，子餘橋疑吾立。 餘橋疑吾卒，子柯盧立。 柯盧卒，子周繇立。 周繇卒，子屈羽立。 屈羽卒，子夷吾立。 夷吾卒，子禽處立。 禽處卒，子轉立。 轉卒，子頗高立。 頗高卒，子句卑立。 是時晉獻公滅周北虞公，以開晉伐虢也。 句卑卒，子去齊立。 去齊卒，子壽夢立。 壽夢立而吳始益大，稱王。
When Zhouzhang died, his son Xiongsui was established. When Xiongsui died, his son Kexiang was established. When Kexiang died, his son Qiang Jiuyi was established. When Qiang Jiuyi died, his son Yuqiaoyiwu was established. When Yuqiaoyiwu died, his son Kelu was established. When Kelu died, his son Zhouyu was established. When Zhouyu died, his son Quyu was established. When Quyu died, his son Yiyi was established. When Yiyi died, his son Qinchu was established. When Qinchu died, his son Zhuan was established. Zhuan died, and his son Pogao was established. Pogao died, and his son Goubei was established. At this time, Duke Xian of Jin extinguished the Duke of Yu north of Zhou, in order to open the way for Jin to attack Guo. Goubei died, and his son Quqi was established. Quqi died, and his son Shoumeng was established. When Shoumeng was established, Wu began to grow even greater and called itself king.
4
自太伯作吳，五世而武王克殷，封其後為二：其一虞，在中國； 其一吳，在夷蠻。 十二世而晉滅中國之虞。 中國之虞滅二世，而夷蠻之吳興。 大凡從太伯至壽夢十九世。
From when Taibo made Wu, five generations passed and King Wu conquered Yin, and he enfeoffed their descendants as two: one was Yu, in the central states; the other was Wu, among the barbarian Man. Twelve generations passed, and Jin extinguished the Yu of the central states. The Yu of the central states was extinguished after two generations, and the Wu of the barbarian Man rose. In general, from Taibo to Shoumeng there were nineteen generations.
5
王壽夢二年，楚之亡大夫申公巫臣怨楚將子反而奔晉，自晉使吳，教吳用兵乘車，令其子為吳行人，吳於是始通於中國。 吳伐楚。 十六年，楚共王伐吳，至衡山。
In the second year of King Shoumeng, Shen Gong Wuchen, a grand master who had fled from Chu, resented Chu's general Zifan and fled to Jin. From Jin, he was sent to Wu, taught Wu to use troops and ride chariots, and ordered his son to become a Wu envoy. Wu therefore began to be connected with the central states. Wu made war on Chu. In the sixteenth year, King Gong of Chu attacked Wu and reached Hengshan.
6
二十五年，王壽夢卒。 壽夢有子四人，長曰諸樊，次曰餘祭，次曰餘眛，次曰季札。 季札賢，而壽夢欲立之，季札讓不可，於是乃立長子諸樊，攝行事當國。
In the twenty-fifth year, King Shoumeng died. Shoumeng had four sons: the eldest was called Zhufan, the next was Yuji, the next was Yumei, and the next was Jizha. Jizha was worthy, and Shoumeng wanted to establish him, but Jizha declined and could not be persuaded. Therefore, they then established the eldest son, Zhufan, who acted as ruler and managed the state.
7
王諸樊元年，諸樊已除喪，讓位季札。 季札謝曰：「曹宣公之卒也，諸侯與曹人不義曹君，將立子臧，子臧去之，以成曹君，君子曰『能守節矣』。 君義嗣，誰敢干君！ 有國，非吾節也。 札雖不材，願附於子臧之義。」 吳人固立季札，季札棄其室而耕，乃捨之。 秋，吳伐楚，楚敗我師。 四年，晉平公初立。
In the first year of King Zhufan, Zhufan had already completed mourning and yielded the position to Jizha. Jizha declined and said: 'When Duke Xuan of Cao died, the feudal lords and the people of Cao did not consider the Cao ruler righteous and would have established Zizang. Zizang left it, to complete the Cao ruler, and gentlemen said, 'He could guard integrity. You, my lord, are the righteous successor. Who would dare to disturb you, my lord! To have a state is not my integrity. Although I, Zha, am not talented, I wish to attach myself to Zizang's righteousness.' The people of Wu firmly established Jizha, but Jizha abandoned his residence and farmed, so they then gave up on him. In autumn, Wu attacked Chu, and Chu defeated our army. In the fourth year, Duke Ping of Jin was initially established.
8
十三年，王諸樊卒。 有命授弟餘祭，欲傳以次，必致國於季札而止，以稱先王壽夢之意，且嘉季札之義，兄弟皆欲致國，令以漸至焉。 季札封於延陵，故號曰延陵季子。
In the thirteenth year, King Zhufan died. He had a command that gave it to his younger brother Yuji, wanting to transmit it in order. They must bring the state to Jizha and stop there, to match the former king Shoumeng's intention. Moreover, they praised Jizha's righteousness, and the brothers all wanted to bring the state to him, making it gradually reach there. Jizha was enfeoffed at Yanling, and therefore he was called Yanling Jizi.
9
王餘祭三年，齊相慶封有罪，自齊來奔吳。 吳予慶封朱方之縣，以為奉邑，以女妻之，富於在齊。
In the third year of King Yuji, Qing Feng, the chancellor of Qi, had committed a crime and came from Qi to flee to Wu. Wu gave Qing Feng the county of Zhufang as a support town, married a daughter to him, and he was richer than when he was in Qi.
10
四年，吳使季札聘於魯，請觀周樂。 為歌周南、召南。 曰：「美哉，始基之矣，猶未也。 然勤而不怨。」 歌邶、鄘、衛。 曰：「美哉，淵乎，憂而不困者也。 吾聞衛康叔、武公之德如是，是其衛風乎？」 歌王。 曰：「美哉，思而不懼，其周之東乎？」 歌鄭。 曰：「其細已甚，民不堪也，是其先亡乎？」 歌齊。 曰：「美哉，泱泱乎大風也哉。 表東海者，其太公乎？ 國未可量也。」 歌豳。 曰：「美哉，蕩蕩乎，樂而不淫，其周公之東乎？」 歌秦。 曰：「此之謂夏聲。 夫能夏則大，大之至也，其周之舊乎？」 歌魏。 曰：「美哉，沨沨乎，大而寬，儉而易，行以德輔，此則盟主也。」 歌唐。 曰：「思深哉，其有陶唐氏之遺風乎？ 不然，何憂之遠也？ 非令德之後，誰能若是！」 歌陳。 曰：「國無主，其能久乎？」 自鄶以下，無譏焉。 歌小雅。 曰：「美哉，思而不貳，怨而不言，其周德之衰乎？ 猶有先王之遺民也。」 歌大雅。 曰：「廣哉，熙熙乎，曲而有直體，其文王之德乎？」 歌頌。 曰：「至矣哉，直而不倨，曲而不詘，近而不偪遠而不攜，而遷不淫，復而不厭，哀而不愁，樂而不荒，用而不匱，廣而不宣，施而不費，取而不貪，處而不底，行而不流。 五聲和，八風平，節有度，守有序，盛德之所同也。」 見舞象箾、南籥者，曰：「美哉，猶有感。」 見舞大武，曰：「美哉，周之盛也其若此乎？」 見舞韶護者，曰：「聖人之弘也，猶有慚德，聖人之難也！」 見舞大夏，曰：「美哉，勤而不德！ 非禹其誰能及之？」 見舞招箾，曰：「德至矣哉，大矣，如天之無不燾也，如地之無不載也，雖甚盛德，無以加矣。 觀止矣，若有他樂，吾不敢觀。」
In the fourth year, Wu sent Jizha to visit Lu and requested to view the music of Zhou. They sang the Zhou Nan and Shao Nan. He said: 'Beautiful indeed! It has begun to lay the foundation, but it is still not complete. Yet it is diligent and does not resent.' They sang the Bei, Yong, and Wei. He said: 'Beautiful indeed, how deep! It is the one who is worried but not distressed. I have heard that the virtue of Kang Shu of Wei and Duke Wu was like this. Is this the Wei style?' They sang the Wang. He said: 'Beautiful indeed! Thoughtful and not fearful. Is this perhaps the east of Zhou?' They sang the Zheng. He said: 'Their refinement is already excessive, and the people cannot bear it. Will they be the first to perish?' They sang the Qi. He said: 'Beautiful indeed! How vast is the great wind! The one who manifests the Eastern Sea, is it perhaps Taigong? The state cannot be measured.' They sang the Bin. He said: 'Beautiful indeed! How broad! Joyful but not excessive. Is this perhaps the east of the Duke of Zhou?' They sang the Qin. He said: 'This is called the sound of Xia. If one can be like Xia, then one is great, great in the highest degree. Is this perhaps the old Zhou?' They sang the Wei. He said: 'Beautiful indeed! How grand! Great and broad, frugal and easy. When conduct is assisted by virtue, this is then the alliance lord.' They sang the Tang. He said: 'How deep is the thought! Does it have the remaining style of the Taotang clan? If not so, why would the worry be so far? If not the descendants of excellent virtue, who could be like this!' They sang the Chen. He said: 'If a state has no lord, can it last long?' From Kuai and below, there was no criticism. They sang the “Xiaoya.” He said: “How beautiful! Thoughtful and not duplicitous, resentful and yet silent. Is this perhaps because Zhou’s virtue is declining? Still, there are remnants of the former kings’ people.” They sang the “Daya.” He said: “How broad and radiant! Bent, yet with an upright body. Is this the virtue of King Wen?” They sang the “Song.” He said: “How sublime! Straight yet not arrogant, curved yet not bent, near yet not pressuring, far yet not dragging away; when moving, not excessive; when returning, not weary; sorrowful yet not despondent; joyful yet not wild; in use, not exhausted; in breadth, not diffuse; in giving, not wasteful; in taking, not greedy; in staying, not sinking; in movement, not drifting. The five sounds are harmonious, the eight winds are balanced, the measures are restrained, and the observances have order: this is what flourishing virtue shares.” When he saw the dance of Xiangshuo and Nanyue, he said: “How beautiful! There is still feeling in it.” When he saw the dance of the Great Martial, he said: “How beautiful! Is this the flourishing of Zhou?” When he saw the dance of Shaohu, he said: “How great is the sage’s breadth! Yet there is still shame in virtue. How hard it is to be a sage!” When he saw the dance of Great Xia, he said: “How beautiful! Diligent, yet not claiming virtue! If not Yu, who could have achieved this?” When he saw the dance of Zhaoshuo, he said: “Virtue has reached its utmost! How great! It covers all like heaven and carries all like earth. Even in such abundant virtue, there is nothing more to add. The viewing stops here. If there is any other music, I do not dare to watch.”
11
去魯，遂使齊。 說晏平仲曰：「子速納邑與政。 無邑無政，乃免於難。 齊國之政將有所歸； 未得所歸，難未息也。」 故晏子因陳桓子以納政與邑，是以免於欒高之難。
He left Lu and went as an envoy to Qi. He persuaded Yan Pingzhong, saying: “You should quickly surrender your city and your office. Without city and office, you can avoid disaster. Qi’s government will then have somewhere to return; until it has somewhere to return, the danger will not cease.” So Yan Zi, through Chen Huanzi, surrendered his office and city, and thus escaped the disaster of Luan and Gao.
12
去齊，使於鄭。 見子產，如舊交。 謂子產曰：「鄭之執政侈，難將至矣，政必及子。 子為政，慎以禮。 不然，鄭國將敗。」 去鄭，適衛。 說蘧瑗、史狗、史、公子荊、公叔發、公子朝曰：「衛多君子，未有患也。」
He left Qi and went to Zheng as an envoy. He met Zichan, and it was like meeting an old friend. He told Zichan: “Zheng’s rulers are extravagant, and disaster is coming. The government will surely come to you. When you govern, be careful to follow the rites. If not, Zheng will fall.” He left Zheng and went to Wei. He advised Qu Yuan, Shigou, Shi, Gongzi Jing, Gongshu Fa, and Gongzi Zhao: “Wei has many gentlemen, so there is no danger yet.”
13
自衛如晉，將舍於宿，聞鐘聲，曰：「異哉！ 吾聞之，辯而不德，必加於戮。 夫子獲罪於君以在此，懼猶不足，而又可以畔乎？ 夫子之在此，猶燕之巢于幕也。 君在殯而可以樂乎？」 遂去之。 文子聞之，終身不聽琴瑟。
On his way from Wei to Jin, he was about to lodge at Su when he heard the sound of bells. He said: “Strange indeed! I have heard that one who is clever without virtue will certainly be punished. The master offended his ruler and lives here in exile; even fear is not enough—how then could he yet indulge in disloyalty? The master, dwelling here, is like a swallow nesting under a tent. The ruler is still lying in state. How could one indulge in music?” So he left. Wenzi heard this and, for the rest of his life, did not listen to the qin or se.
14
適晉，說趙文子、韓宣子、魏獻子曰：「晉國其萃於三家乎！」 將去，謂叔向曰：「吾子勉之！ 君侈而多良，大夫皆富，政將在三家。 吾子直，必思自免於難。」
He went to Jin and advised Zhao Wenzi, Han Xuanzi, and Wei Xianzi: “The state of Jin is likely to come under the power of the three families.” When he was about to leave, he told Shuxiang: “My son, make an effort! The ruler is extravagant and has many favorites, and the grandees are all rich. The government will end up in the hands of the three families. You are upright, so you must think of how to keep yourself safe from disaster.”
15
季札之初使，北過徐君。 徐君好季札劍，口弗敢言。 季札心知之，為使上國，未獻。 還至徐，徐君已死，於是乃解其寶劍，系之徐君冢樹而去。 從者曰：「徐君已死，尚誰予乎？」 季子曰：「不然。 始吾心已許之，豈以死倍吾心哉！」
When Jizha first went as an envoy, he passed north by the ruler of Xu. The ruler of Xu liked Jizha’s sword, but did not dare to say so. Jizha knew this in his heart, but because he was an envoy to the upper states, he had not yet presented it. When he returned to Xu, the ruler of Xu had already died. He therefore untied his precious sword and tied it to a tree at the ruler of Xu’s tomb before leaving. His followers said: “The ruler of Xu is already dead. To whom are you giving it?” Jizi said: “No. From the start my heart had already promised it to him. How could death make me betray my heart?”
16
七年，楚公子圍弒其王夾敖而代立，是為靈王。 十年，楚靈王會諸侯而以伐吳之朱方，以誅齊慶封。 吳亦攻楚，取三邑而去。 十一年，楚伐吳，至雩婁。 十二年，楚復來伐，次於乾谿，楚師敗走。
In the seventh year, Chu’s Gongzi Wei assassinated his king, Jia Ao, and took his place as ruler. This was King Ling. In the tenth year, King Ling of Chu assembled the feudal lords and used the attack on Zhu Fang of Wu as a pretext to execute Qing Feng of Qi. Wu also attacked Chu, took three towns, and withdrew. In the eleventh year, Chu attacked Wu and reached Yulou. In the twelfth year, Chu came again to attack and camped at Qianxi, but the Chu army was defeated and fled.
17
十七年，王餘祭卒，弟餘眛立。 王餘眛二年，楚公子棄疾弒其君靈王代立焉。
In the seventeenth year, King Yuji died, and his younger brother Yumei was established. In the second year of King Yumei, Chu’s Gongzi Qiji assassinated his ruler, King Ling, and took his place.
18
四年，王餘眛卒，欲授弟季札。 季札讓，逃去。 於是吳人曰：「先王有命，兄卒弟代立，必致季子。 季子今逃位，則王餘眛後立。 今卒，其子當代。」 乃立王餘眛之子僚為王。
In the fourth year, King Yumei died and wanted to hand the throne to his younger brother Jizha. Jizha declined and fled. At this point the people of Wu said: “The former king left a command that when an elder brother dies, a younger brother must succeed him, and Jizi must be brought back. Now Jizi has fled the throne, so King Yumei has been established instead. Now that he has died, his son should succeed.” So they established King Yumei’s son Liao as king.
19
王僚二年，公子光伐楚，敗而亡王舟。 光懼，襲楚，復得王舟而還。
In the second year of King Liao, Gongzi Guang attacked Chu, was defeated, and lost the king’s boat. Guang was alarmed, so he raided Chu, recovered the king’s boat, and returned.
20
五年，楚之亡臣伍子胥來奔，公子光客之。 公子光者，王諸樊之子也。 常以為吾父兄弟四人，當傳至季子。 季子即不受國，光父先立。 即不傳季子，光當立。 陰納賢士，欲以襲王僚。
In the fifth year, Chu’s exiled minister Wu Zixu fled to Wu, and Gongzi Guang treated him as a guest. Gongzi Guang was the son of King Zhufan. He often thought: The four brothers of my father should have passed the throne to Jizi. If Jizi would not accept the state, then my father should have been established first. If it was not to be passed to Jizi, then I should be the one established. So he secretly gathered worthy men, hoping to use them to attack King Liao.
21
八年，吳使公子光伐楚，敗楚師，迎楚故太子建母於居巢以歸。 因北伐，敗陳、蔡之師。 九年，公子光伐楚，拔居巢、鐘離。 初，楚邊邑卑梁氏之處女與吳邊邑之女爭桑，二女家怒相滅，兩國邊邑長聞之，怒而相攻，滅吳之邊邑。 吳王怒，故遂伐楚，取兩都而去。
In the eighth year, Wu sent Gongzi Guang to attack Chu. He defeated the Chu army and brought back the mother of Chu’s former crown prince Jian from Juchao. He then attacked north and defeated the armies of Chen and Cai. In the ninth year, Gongzi Guang attacked Chu and captured Juchao and Zhongli. At first, a girl from the Beiliang clan in a Chu border town quarreled with a girl from a Wu border town over mulberry trees. The two families became angry and destroyed each other, and when the officials of the border towns heard of it, they too became angry and attacked one another, destroying Wu’s border town. The king of Wu was angered, so he attacked Chu, took two capitals, and withdrew.
22
伍子胥之初奔吳，說吳王僚以伐楚之利。 公子光曰：「胥之父兄為僇於楚，欲自報其仇耳。 未見其利。」 於是伍員知光有他志，乃求勇士專諸，見之光。 光喜，乃客伍子胥。 子胥退而耕於野，以待專諸之事。
When Wu Zixu first fled to Wu, he told King Liao of the benefits of attacking Chu. Gongzi Guang said: “Xu’s father and brothers were executed by Chu. He only wants to avenge that wrong. I do not yet see the benefit.” So Wu Yuan understood that Guang had other ambitions and sought out the brave warrior Zhuan Zhu, then presented him to Guang. Guang was pleased and treated Wu Zixu as a guest. Zixu withdrew to farm in the fields, waiting for Zhuan Zhu’s opportunity.
23
十二年冬，楚平王卒。 十三年春，吳欲因楚喪而伐之，使公子蓋餘、燭庸以兵圍楚之六、𤅬。 使季札於晉，以觀諸侯之變。 楚發兵絕吳兵後，吳兵不得還。 於是吳公子光曰：「此時不可失也。」 告專諸曰：「不索何獲！ 我真王嗣，當立，吾欲求之。 季子雖至，不吾廢也。」 專諸曰：「王僚可殺也。 母老子弱，而兩公子將兵攻楚，楚絕其路。 方今吳外困於楚，而內空無骨鯁之臣，是無柰我何。」 光曰：「我身，子之身也。」 四月丙子，光伏甲士於窟室，而謁王僚飲。 王僚使兵陳於道，自王宮至光之家，門階戶席，皆王僚之親也，人夾持鈹。 公子光詳為足疾，入于窟室，使專諸置匕首於炙魚之中以進食。 手匕首刺王僚，鈹交於匈，遂弒王僚。 公子光竟代立為王，是為吳王闔廬。 闔廬乃以專諸子為卿。
In the winter of the twelfth year, King Ping of Chu died. In the spring of the thirteenth year, Wu wanted to take advantage of Chu’s mourning to attack it, so it sent Gongzi Gaiyu and Zhuyong with troops to surround Liu and Xi of Chu. They sent Jizha to Jin to observe the changes among the feudal lords. Chu sent troops to cut off the rear of the Wu army, and the Wu troops could not return. At this point, Gongzi Guang of Wu said: “This opportunity must not be lost.” He told Zhuan Zhu: “If we do not seek it, how can we gain anything? I am the true heir to the throne and should be established. I intend to pursue that. Even if Jizi arrives, he will not depose me.” Zhuan Zhu said: “King Liao can be killed. His mother is old, and his son is weak, while the two princes are leading troops to attack Chu. Chu has cut off their retreat. At present Wu is outwardly constrained by Chu and inwardly empty of firm ministers, so there is nothing they can do to us.” Guang said: “My body is your body.” On Bingzi day of the fourth month, Guang hid armored men in a cave room and invited King Liao to drink. King Liao deployed troops along the road from the palace to Guang’s house, and all the attendants at the gates, steps, and mats were King Liao’s own kin, holding halberds on either side. Gongzi Guang pretended to have a foot ailment and entered the cave room, while Zhuan Zhu placed a dagger inside a roasted fish to present with the meal. He seized the dagger and stabbed King Liao. The halberds crossed at his chest, and King Liao was assassinated. Gongzi Guang then took his place as king; this was King Helu of Wu. Helu then made Zhuan Zhu’s son a minister.
24
季子至，曰：「茍先君無廢祀，民人無廢主，社稷有奉，乃吾君也。 吾敢誰怨乎？ 哀死事生，以待天命。 非我生亂，立者從之，先人之道也。」 復命，哭僚墓，復位而待。 吳公子燭庸、蓋餘二人將兵遇圍於楚者，聞公子光弒王僚自立，乃以其兵降楚，楚封之於舒。
When Jizi arrived, he said: “If the late lord’s sacrifices are not neglected and the people have not abandoned their ruler, and the state still has support, then he is my lord. How could I resent anyone? I mourn the dead and serve the living, awaiting the decree of Heaven. I did not make the chaos. Whoever is established, I follow; that is the way of the ancestors.” He completed the mission, mourned at Liao’s tomb, returned to his post, and waited. The two Wu princes Zhuyong and Gaiyu, who had been leading troops and were trapped by Chu, heard that Gongzi Guang had assassinated King Liao and taken the throne, so they surrendered to Chu with their armies, and Chu enfeoffed them at Shu.
25
王闔廬元年，舉伍子胥為行人而與謀國事。 楚誅伯州犁，其孫伯嚭亡奔吳，吳以為大夫。
In the first year of King Helu, Wu raised Wu Zixu to the post of envoy and consulted him on state affairs. Chu executed Bo Zhouli, and his grandson Bo Pi fled to Wu, which made him a grand master.
26
三年，吳王闔廬與子胥、伯嚭將兵伐楚，拔舒，殺吳亡將二公子。 光謀欲入郢，將軍孫武曰：「民勞，未可，待之。」 四年，伐楚，取六與𤅬。 五年，伐越，敗之。 六年，楚使子常囊瓦伐吳。 迎而擊之，大敗楚軍於豫章，取楚之居巢而還。
In the third year, King Helu of Wu, together with Zixu and Bo Pi, led troops against Chu, captured Shu, and killed the two exiled Wu princes. Guang had planned to enter Ying, but General Sun Wu said: “The people are exhausted; it is not yet possible. Wait.” In the fourth year, they attacked Chu and took Liu and Xi. In the fifth year, they attacked Yue and defeated it. In the sixth year, Chu sent Zichang and Nang Wa to attack Wu. Wu met them and struck back, defeating the Chu army badly at Yuzhang, capturing Juchao from Chu, and returning.
27
九年，吳王闔廬請伍子胥、孫武曰：「始子之言郢未可入，今果如何？」 二子對曰：「楚將子常貪，而唐、蔡皆怨之。 王必欲大伐，必得唐、蔡乃可。」 闔廬從之，悉興師，與唐、蔡西伐楚，至於漢水。 楚亦發兵拒吳，夾水陳。 吳王闔廬弟夫欲戰，闔廬弗許。 夫曰：「王已屬臣兵，兵以利為上，尚何待焉？」 遂以其部五千人襲冒楚，楚兵大敗，走。 於是吳王遂縱兵追之。 比至郢，五戰，楚五敗。 楚昭王亡出郢，奔鄖。 鄖公弟欲弒昭王，昭王與鄖公奔隨。 而吳兵遂入郢。 子胥、伯嚭鞭平王之尸以報父讎。
In the ninth year, King Helu of Wu asked Wu Zixu and Sun Wu: “At first you said Ying could not yet be entered. How is it now?” The two men replied: “Chu’s general Zichang is greedy, and Tang and Cai both resent him. If the king wants a major campaign, then Tang and Cai must be taken first.” Helu followed their advice, raised the entire army, and together with Tang and Cai attacked Chu to the west, reaching the Han River. Chu also sent troops to resist Wu and arrayed them along the opposite bank. King Helu’s younger brother Fu wanted to battle, but Helu would not permit it. Fu said: “The king has already entrusted the army to me. In war, advantage comes first. What are we waiting for?” So with his own five thousand men he attacked Chu by surprise. The Chu army was badly defeated and fled. Then the king of Wu unleashed his troops in pursuit. By the time they reached Ying, there had been five battles and Chu had been defeated five times. King Zhao of Chu fled out of Ying and ran to Yun. The younger brother of the Duke of Yun wanted to assassinate King Zhao, so King Zhao and the Duke of Yun fled to Sui. Then the Wu troops entered Ying. Zixu and Bo Pi lashed the corpse of King Ping to avenge their fathers.
28
十年春，越聞吳王之在郢，國空，乃伐吳。 吳使別兵擊越。 楚告急秦，秦遣兵救楚擊吳，吳師敗。 闔廬弟夫見秦越交敗吳，吳王留楚不去，夫亡歸吳而自立為吳王。 闔廬聞之，乃引兵歸，攻夫。 夫敗奔楚。 楚昭王乃得以九月復入郢，而封夫槩於堂谿，為堂谿氏。 十一年，吳王使太子夫差伐楚，取番。 楚恐而去郢徙鄀。
In the spring of the tenth year, Yue heard that the king of Wu was in Ying and the state was empty, so it attacked Wu. Wu sent a separate force to attack Yue. Chu sent an urgent appeal to Qin, and Qin sent troops to rescue Chu and attack Wu. The Wu army was defeated. Helu’s younger brother Fu saw that Qin and Yue together had defeated Wu, while the king of Wu remained in Chu and did not leave. Fu fled back to Wu and declared himself king. When Helu heard this, he led his troops home and attacked Fu. Fu was defeated and fled to Chu. Then King Zhao of Chu was able to re-enter Ying in the ninth month, and he enfeoffed Fugai at Tangxi, creating the Tangxi lineage. In the eleventh year, Wu’s king sent the crown prince Fuchai to attack Chu and take Fan. Chu was alarmed and left Ying, moving to Ruo.
29
十五年，孔子相魯。
In the fifteenth year, Confucius served as minister in Lu.
30
十九年夏，吳伐越，越王句踐迎擊之檇李。 越使死士挑戰，三行造吳師，呼，自剄。 吳師觀之，越因伐吳，敗之姑蘇，傷吳王闔廬指，軍卻七里。 吳王病傷而死。 闔廬使立太子夫差，謂曰：「爾而忘句踐殺汝父乎？」 對曰：「不敢！」 三年，乃報越。
In the summer of the nineteenth year, Wu attacked Yue, and King Goujian of Yue met them at Guili and fought. Yue sent death warriors to provoke battle. In three lines they approached the Wu army, shouted, and slit their own throats. The Wu army watched them, and Yue then attacked Wu, defeating it at Gusu, wounding King Helu’s finger, and forcing the army back seven li. The king of Wu died of the wound. Helu established the crown prince Fuchai and said: “Will you forget that Goujian killed your father?” He replied: “I do not dare!” Three years later, he avenged Yue.
31
王夫差元年，以大夫伯嚭為太宰。 習戰射，常以報越為志。 二年，吳王悉精兵以伐越，敗之夫椒，報姑蘇也。 越王句踐乃以甲兵五千人棲於會稽，使大夫種因吳太宰嚭而行成，請委國為臣妾。 吳王將許之，伍子胥諫曰：「昔有過氏殺斟灌以伐斟尋，滅夏后帝相。 帝相之妃后緡方娠，逃於有仍而生少康。 少康為有仍牧正。 有過又欲殺少康，少康奔有虞。 有虞思夏德，於是妻之以二女而邑之於綸，有田一成，有眾一旅。 後遂收夏眾，撫其官職。 使人誘之，遂滅有過氏，復禹之績，祀夏配天，不失舊物。 今吳不如有過之彊，而句踐大於少康。 今不因此而滅之，又將寬之，不亦難乎！ 且句踐為人能辛苦，今不滅，後必悔之。」 吳王不聽，聽太宰嚭，卒許越平，與盟而罷兵去。
In the first year of King Fuchai, he appointed the grand master Bo Pi as prime minister. He trained for war and archery, and always took revenge on Yue as his goal. In the second year, the king of Wu sent all his elite troops against Yue and defeated them at Fuchiao, avenging Gusu. King Goujian of Yue then took five thousand armored men and took refuge at Kuaiji. He sent the grand master Zhong to negotiate peace through Wu’s prime minister Pi, asking to surrender the state and become a subject. The king of Wu was about to agree, but Wu Zixu remonstrated: “In the past, the Youguo state killed Zhen Guan and attacked Zhen Xun, and thus extinguished Emperor Xiang of the Xia. When Emperor Xiang’s consort Houmin was pregnant, she fled to Youren and gave birth to Shaokang. Shao Kang served as herd-master for Youren. You Guo again wanted to kill Shao Kang, so Shao Kang fled to Youyu. Youyu remembered the virtue of Xia, so he gave him two daughters in marriage and enfeoffed him at Lun, with one settled field and one retinue. Later he gathered the remnants of Xia and restored their offices. He sent men to lure them, then destroyed the Youguo clan, restored Yu’s achievements, sacrificed to Xia in rank with Heaven, and did not lose the old order. Now Wu is not as strong as Youguo was, while Goujian is greater than Shaokang. If we do not use this chance to destroy them and instead relax our grip, would that not be difficult? 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 would not listen to him, but he did listen to Prime Minister Pi, and in the end granted Yue peace, made an alliance, and withdrew his troops.
32
七年，吳王夫差聞齊景公死而大臣爭寵，新君弱，乃興師北伐齊。 子胥諫曰：「越王句踐食不重味，衣不重采，弔死問疾，且欲有所用其眾。 此人不死，必為吳患。 今越在腹心疾而王不先，而務齊，不亦謬乎！」 吳王不聽，遂北伐齊，敗齊師於艾陵。 至繒，召魯哀公而徵百牢。 季康子使子貢以周禮說太宰嚭，乃得止。 因留略地於齊魯之南。 九年，為騶伐魯，至與魯盟乃去。 十年，因伐齊而歸。 十一年，復北伐齊。
In the seventh year, King Fuchai of Wu heard that Duke Jing of Qi had died, that the ministers were competing for favor, and that the new ruler was weak, so he raised troops and attacked Qi in the north. Zixu remonstrated: “King Goujian of Yue eats no repeated delicacies, wears no repeated finery, mourns the dead and visits the sick, and is trying to make use of his people. If that man is not destroyed, he will certainly become Wu’s calamity. Now Yue is a hidden illness in the body, yet the king does not attack it first and instead turns to Qi. Is that not mistaken?” The king of Wu did not listen, then attacked Qi to the north and defeated the Qi troops at Ai Ling. He arrived at Zeng, summoned Duke Ai of Lu, and exacted one hundred sets of sacrificial animals. Jikangzi sent Zigong to persuade the prime minister Pi with Zhou rites, and then they got to stop. Therefore, he stayed and raided lands to the south of Qi and Lu. In the ninth year, he attacked Lu on behalf of Zou, then withdrew after making an alliance with Lu. In the tenth year, he attacked Qi and then returned. In the eleventh year, he again marched north against Qi.
33
越王句踐率其眾以朝吳，厚獻遺之，吳王喜。 唯子胥懼，曰：「是棄吳也。」 諫曰：「越在腹心，今得志於齊，猶石田，無所用。 且盤庚之誥有顛越勿遺，商之以興。」 吳王不聽，使子胥於齊，子胥屬其子於齊鮑氏，還報吳王。 吳王聞之，大怒，賜子胥屬鏤之劍以死。 將死，曰：「樹吾墓上以梓，令可為器。 抉吾眼置之吳東門，以觀越之滅吳也。」
King Goujian of Yue led his troops to court Wu and sent lavish gifts, and the king of Wu was pleased. Only Zixu was alarmed and said: “This is to abandon Wu.” He remonstrated: “Yue lies within our very heart and belly. Now that we have won our way in Qi, it is like stone fields, useless. Moreover, in the proclamations of Pan Geng it is said, ‘Do not spare those who overturn the order’; it was thus that Shang rose.” The king of Wu would not listen and sent Zixu to Qi. Zixu entrusted his son to the Bao clan of Qi, then returned and reported to the king of Wu. When the king of Wu heard of it, he was greatly angered and gave Zixu the Zhulou sword so he might die. As he was about to die, he said: “Plant catalpa trees on my tomb, so they may later become vessels. Gouge out my eyes and place them at Wu’s east gate so I can watch Yue destroy Wu.”
34
齊鮑氏弒齊悼公。 吳王聞之，哭於軍門外三日，乃從海上攻齊。 齊人敗吳，吳王乃引兵歸。
The Bao clan of Qi assassinated Duke Dao of Qi. When the king of Wu heard this, he wept outside the army gate for three days, then attacked Qi by way of the sea. The people of Qi defeated Wu, and the king of Wu then led his troops home.
35
十三年，吳召魯、衛之君會於橐皋。
In the thirteenth year, Wu summoned the rulers of Lu and Wei to meet at Tuogao.
36
十四年春，吳王北會諸侯於黃池，欲霸中國以全周室。 六月（戊）［丙］子，越王句踐伐吳。 乙酉，越五千人與吳戰。 丙戌，虜吳太子友。 丁亥，入吳。 吳人告敗於王夫差，夫差惡其聞也。 或泄其語，吳王怒，斬七人於幕下。 七月辛丑，吳王與晉定公爭長。 吳王曰：「於周室我為長。」 晉定公曰：「於姬姓我為伯。」 趙鞅怒，將伐吳，乃長晉定公。 吳王已盟，與晉別，欲伐宋。 太宰嚭曰：「可勝而不能居也。」 乃引兵歸國。 國亡太子，內空，王居外久，士皆罷敝，於是乃使厚幣以與越平。
In the spring of the fourteenth year, the king of Wu met the feudal lords at Huangchi in the north, hoping to hegemonize the Central States and preserve the house of Zhou. On Bingzi day of the sixth month, King Goujian of Yue attacked Wu. On Yiyou day, five thousand Yue men fought Wu. On Bingxu day, they captured the Wu crown prince You. On Dinghai day, they entered Wu. The people of Wu reported the defeat to King Fuchai, who hated to hear it. When the report leaked, the king of Wu was furious and beheaded seven men under the tent. On Xinchou day of the seventh month, the king of Wu contended for seniority with Duke Ding of Jin. The king of Wu said: “Regarding the Zhou house, I am the elder.” Duke Ding of Jin said: “Regarding the Ji clan, I am the elder.” Zhao Yang was angered and was about to attack Wu, so they made Duke Ding senior. The king of Wu had already made the alliance and parted from Jin, and now wanted to attack Song. Prime Minister Pi said: “We can conquer it, but we cannot occupy it.” So he led the troops home. The state had lost its crown prince, the inner court was empty, the king had been away for a long time, and the soldiers were exhausted. So they sent rich gifts and made peace with Yue.
37
十五年，齊田常殺簡公。
In the fifteenth year, Tian Chang of Qi killed Duke Jian.
38
十八年，越益彊。 越王句踐率兵（使）［復］伐敗吳師於笠澤。 楚滅陳。
In the eighteenth year, Yue grew stronger. King Goujian of Yue again led troops and defeated the Wu army at Lize. Chu conquered Chen.
39
二十年，越王句踐復伐吳。 二十一年，遂圍吳。 二十三年十一月丁卯，越敗吳。 越王句踐欲遷吳王夫差於甬東，予百家居之。 吳王曰：「孤老矣，不能事君王也。 吾悔不用子胥之言，自令陷此。」 遂自剄死。 越王滅吳，誅太宰嚭，以為不忠，而歸。
In the twentieth year, King Goujian of Yue again attacked Wu. In the twenty-first year, they surrounded Wu. In the twenty-third year, on the dingmao day of the eleventh month, Yue defeated Wu. King Goujian of Yue wanted to move King Fuchai of Wu to Yongdong and assigned him a hundred households there. The king of Wu said: “I am old and lonely, and I can no longer serve the lord king. I regret not following Zixu’s advice, and have brought this upon myself.” So he slit his own throat and died. The king of Yue destroyed Wu, executed Prime Minister Pi as disloyal, and returned.
40
太史公曰：孔子言「太伯可謂至德矣，三以天下讓，民無得而稱焉」。 余讀春秋古文，乃知中國之虞與荊蠻句吳兄弟也。 延陵季子之仁心，慕義無窮，見微而知清濁。 嗚呼，又何其閎覽博物君子也！
The Grand Historian said: Confucius said, “Taibo can be called a man of utmost virtue. Three times he yielded the world, and the people could find no words to praise him.” Reading the ancient Spring and Autumn text, I came to know that the Yu of the Central States and the Jing-Man Gouwu were brothers. Jizi of Yanling had a benevolent heart that admired righteousness without end; he saw the slightest sign and knew the difference between clarity and turbidness. Alas, what a man of broad vision and wide learning he was!