1
楚之先祖出自帝顓頊高陽。 高陽者，黃帝之孫，昌意之子也。 高陽生稱，稱生卷章，卷章生重黎。 重黎為帝嚳高辛居火正，甚有功，能光融天下，帝嚳命曰祝融。 共工氏作亂，帝嚳使重黎誅之而不盡。 帝乃以庚寅日誅重黎，而以其弟吳回為重黎後，復居火正，為祝融。
Chu’s founding ancestors descended from Emperor Zhuanxu of Gaoyang. Gao Yang was the Yellow Emperor's grandson and Chang Yi's son. Gao Yang begot a son named Cheng, who begot Juan Zhang, who in turn begot Chong Li. Chong Li served Emperor Ku Gao Xin as the fire official. He had great merit and could illuminate and unite the world. Emperor Ku named him Zhu Rong. The Gonggong clan rebelled. Emperor Ku sent Chong Li to execute them, but he did not complete it. The emperor then executed Chong Li on the gengyin day, and made his younger brother Wu Hui Chong Li's successor. He again served as the fire official and became Zhu Rong.
2
吳回生陸終。 陸終生子六人，坼剖而產焉。 其長一曰昆吾； 二曰參胡； 三曰彭祖； 四曰會人； 五曰曹姓； 六曰季連，羋姓，楚其後也。 昆吾氏，夏之時嘗為侯伯，桀之時湯滅之。 彭祖氏，殷之時嘗為侯伯，殷之末世滅彭祖氏。 季連生附沮，附沮生穴熊。 其後中微，或在中國，或在蠻夷，弗能紀其世。
Wu Hui begot Lu Zhong. Luzhong begot six sons, all born after their mother was cut open. His eldest was named Kun Wu; The second was named Shen Hu; The third was named Peng Zu; The fourth was named Hui Ren; The fifth was surnamed Cao; The sixth was named Ji Lian, surnamed Mi. Chu were their descendants. The Kunwu clan once served as regional lords during the Xia. In Jie's time, Tang destroyed them. The Pengzu clan once served as regional lords during the Yin. In Yin's final age, the Pengzu clan was extinguished. Ji Lian begot Fu Ju, who begot Xue Xiong. Their descendants later declined. Some lived in the central states, others among the Yi peoples, and their generations could no longer be recorded.
3
周文王之時，季連之苗裔曰鬻熊。 鬻熊子事文王，蚤卒。 其子曰熊麗。 熊麗生熊狂，熊狂生熊繹。 熊繹當周成王之時，舉文、武勤勞之後嗣，而封熊繹於楚蠻，封以子男之田，姓羋氏，居丹陽。 楚子熊繹與魯公伯禽、衛康叔子牟、晉侯燮、齊太公子呂伋俱事成王。
In King Wen of Zhou's time, Ji Lian's descendants included one named Yu Xiong. Yu Xiong served King Wen as a son, but died early. His son was named Xiong Li. Xiong Li begot Xiong Kuang, who begot Xiong Yi. Xiong Yi, in King Cheng of Zhou's time, was raised as one of Wen and Wu's diligent labor descendants, and Xiong Yi was enfeoffed in the Chu barbarian lands. He was enfeoffed with zi and nan fields, surnamed the Mi clan, and resided at Dan Yang. The Chu lord Xiong Yi, together with the Lu lord Bo Qin, Wei Kang Shu's son Mu, the Jin lord Xie, and Qi's eldest son Lü Ji, all served King Cheng.
4
熊繹生熊艾，熊艾生熊亶，熊亶生熊勝。 熊勝以弟熊楊為後。 熊楊生熊渠。
Xiong Yi begot a son named Xiong Ai, who begot Xiong Dan, who begot Xiong Sheng. Xiong Sheng appointed his younger brother Xiong Yang as successor. Xiong Yang begot Xiong Qu.
5
熊渠生子三年。 當周夷王之時，王室微，諸侯或不朝，相伐。 熊渠甚得江漢閒民和，乃興兵伐庸、楊蠆，至于鄂。 熊渠曰：「我蠻夷也，不與中國之號謚。」 乃立其長子康為句亶王，中子紅為鄂王，少子執疵為越章王，皆在江上楚蠻之地。 及周厲王之時，暴虐，熊渠畏其伐楚，亦去其王。
Xiong Qu begot three sons. In King Yi of Zhou's time, the royal house declined. Some feudal lords did not attend court and attacked each other. Xiong Qu greatly obtained harmony with the people between the Jiang and Han rivers, so he raised troops and attacked Yong and Yang Lao, reaching E. Xiong Qu said, "I am one of the Yi peoples and do not share in the titles and posthumous names of the central states." He then established his eldest son Kang as King of Gou Dan, his middle son Hong as King of E, and his youngest son Zhi Ci as King of Yue Zhang, all in the Chu barbarian lands on the Jiang River. When the time of King Li of Zhou came, he was tyrannical and cruel. Xiong Qu feared he would attack Chu, so he also removed their king titles.
6
後為熊毋康，毋康蚤死。 熊渠卒，子熊摯紅立。 摯紅卒，其弟弒而代立，曰熊延。 熊延生熊勇。
Later came Xiong Wu Kang, who died early. Xiong Qu died, and his son Xiong Zhihong came to the throne. Zhi Hong died, and his younger brother killed him and took the throne in his place; this was Xiong Yan. Xiong Yan begot Xiong Yong.
7
熊勇六年，而周人作亂，攻厲王，厲王出奔彘。 熊勇十年，卒，弟熊嚴為後。
In Xiong Yong's sixth year, the Zhou people rebelled, attacked King Li, and King Li fled to Zhi. In Xiong Yong's tenth year, he died, and his younger brother Xiong Yan became his successor.
8
熊嚴十年，卒。 有子四人，長子伯霜，中子仲雪，次子叔堪，少子季徇。 熊嚴卒，長子伯霜代立，是為熊霜。
In Xiong Yan's tenth year, he died. He had four sons: the eldest Bo Shuang, the middle Zhong Xue, the next Shu Kan, and the youngest Ji Xun. Xiong Yan died, and his eldest son Bo Shuang succeeded him. The one who was established became known as Xiong Shuang.
9
熊霜元年，周宣王初立。 熊霜六年，卒，三弟爭立。 仲雪死； 叔堪亡，避難於濮； 而少弟季徇立，是為熊徇。 熊徇十六年，鄭桓公初封於鄭。 二十二年，熊徇卒，子熊咢立。 熊咢九年，卒，子熊儀立，是為若敖。
In Xiong Shuang's first year, King Xuan of Zhou was first established. In Xiong Shuang's sixth year, he died, and his three younger brothers contended for the succession. Zhong Xue died; Shu Kan fled and took refuge at Pu. But the youngest brother Ji Xun ascended the throne. This became known as Xiong Xun. In Xiong Xun's sixteenth year, Duke Huan of Zheng was first enfeoffed at Zheng. In the twenty-second year, Xiong Xun died, and his son Xiong E came to the throne. In Xiong E's ninth year, he died, and his son Xiong Yi came to the throne; this was Ruo Ao.
10
若敖二十年，周幽王為犬戎所弒，周東徙，而秦襄公始列為諸侯。
In Ruo Ao's twentieth year, King You of Zhou was assassinated by the Quan Rong, Zhou moved east, and Duke Xiang of Qin began to be ranked as a feudal lord.
11
二十七年，若敖卒，子熊坎立，是為霄敖。 霄敖六年，卒，子熊眴立，是為蚡冒。 蚡冒十三年，晉始亂，以曲沃之故。 蚡冒十七年，卒。 蚡冒弟熊通弒蚡冒子而代立，是為楚武王。
In the twenty-seventh year, Ruo Ao died, and his son Xiong Kan came to the throne; this was Xiao Ao. In Xiao Ao's sixth year, he died, and his son Xiong Xun came to the throne; this was Fenmao. In Fen Mao's thirteenth year, Jin began to fall into disorder, because of the matter of Qu Wo. In Fen Mao's seventeenth year, he died. Fenmao's younger brother Xiong Tong killed Fenmao's son and took the throne in his place; this was King Wu of Chu.
12
武王十七年，晉之曲沃莊伯弒主國晉孝侯。 十九年，鄭伯弟段作亂。 二十一年，鄭侵天子之田。 二十三年，衛弒其君桓公。 二十九年，魯弒其君隱公。 三十一年，宋太宰華督弒其君殤公。
In King Wu's seventeenth year, Jin's Zhuang Bo of Qu Wo assassinated the main state's Duke Xiao of Jin. In the nineteenth year, Duan, the younger brother of the lord of Zheng, rebelled. In the twenty-first year, Zheng invaded the Son of Heaven's fields. In the twenty-third year, Wei assassinated their lord Duke Huan. In the twenty-ninth year, Lu assassinated their lord Duke Yin. In the thirty-first year, Song's grand steward Hua Du assassinated their lord Duke Shang.
13
三十五年，楚伐隨。 隨曰：「我無罪。」 楚曰：「我蠻夷也。 今諸侯皆為叛相侵，或相殺。 我有敝甲，欲以觀中國之政，請王室尊吾號。」 隨人為之周，請尊楚，王室不聽，還報楚。 三十七年，楚熊通怒曰：「吾先鬻熊，文王之師也，蚤終。 成王舉我先公，乃以子男田令居楚，蠻夷皆率服，而王不加位，我自尊耳。」 乃自立為武王，與隨人盟而去。 於是始開濮地而有之。
In the thirty-fifth year, Chu attacked Sui. Sui said, "I have committed no crime." Chu said: “I am a barbarian. Now the feudal lords have all become rebellious, invading and killing one another. I possess worn armor and wish to take part in the affairs of the Central States. I ask the royal house to honor my title.” The people of Sui went to Zhou on Chu's behalf and requested that Chu's title be honored, but the royal house would not listen. They returned and reported this to Chu. In the thirty-seventh year, Xiong Tong of Chu angrily said, “My ancestor Yuxiong was King Wen's teacher, but died early. King Cheng raised up my former lord and granted him a viscount's fief in Chu. The barbarian peoples all submitted, yet the king has not increased my rank. I will honor myself.” He then established himself as King Wu, made a covenant with the people of Sui, and left. From this point he began opening up the Pu lands and bringing them under his control.
14
五十一年，周召隨侯，數以立楚為王。 楚怒，以隨背己，伐隨。 武王卒師中而兵罷。 子文王熊貲立，始都郢。
In the fifty-first year, Zhou summoned the Sui lord and reproached him for establishing Chu as king. Chu was angry that Sui had turned against it, and attacked Sui. King Wu died while with the army, and the troops were dismissed. His son King Wen, Xiong Zi, came to the throne and first made Ying his capital.
15
文王二年，伐申過鄧，鄧人曰「楚王易取」，鄧侯不許也。 六年，伐蔡，虜蔡哀侯以歸，已而釋之。 楚彊，陵江漢閒小國，小國皆畏之。 十一年，齊桓公始霸，楚亦始大。
In King Wen's second year, he attacked Shen and passed through Deng. The people of Deng said, "The king of Chu could easily be captured," but the lord of Deng would not permit it. In the sixth year, he attacked Cai, captured Duke Ai of Cai and returned with him, and then released him. Chu was strong and overawed the small countries between the Jiang and Han rivers. The small countries all feared it. In the eleventh year, Duke Huan of Qi began his hegemony, and Chu also began to become great.
16
十二年，伐鄧，滅之。 十三年，卒，子熊艱立，是為莊敖。 莊敖五年，欲殺其弟熊惲，惲奔隨，與隨襲弒莊敖代立，是為成王。
In the twelfth year, he attacked Deng and brought it to an end. In the thirteenth year, he died, and his son Xiong Jian ascended the throne. This became known as Zhuang Ao. In Zhuang Ao's fifth year, he wanted to kill his younger brother Xiong Yun. Yun fled to Sui, then joined with Sui in a surprise attack, killed Zhuang Ao, and took the throne in his place; this was King Cheng.
17
成王惲元年，初即位，布德施惠，結舊好於諸侯。 使人獻天子，天子賜胙，曰：「鎮爾南方夷越之亂，無侵中國。」 於是楚地千里。
In King Cheng Yun's first year, when he first came to the throne, he spread virtue, bestowed favor, and renewed old friendships with the feudal lords. He sent men to present tribute to the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven granted him sacrificial meat, saying, “Pacify the disorder among the southern Yi and Yue, but do not invade the Central States.” Chu’s territory then extended a thousand li.
18
十六年，齊桓公以兵侵楚，至陘山。 楚成王使將軍屈完以兵御之，與桓公盟。 桓公數以周之賦不入王室，楚許之，乃去。
In the sixteenth year, Duke Huan of Qi with troops invaded Chu and arrived at Xing Mountain. King Cheng of Chu sent the general Qu Wan with troops to resist them and allied with Duke Huan. Duke Huan repeatedly reproached Chu because Zhou's tribute was not reaching the royal house. Chu agreed, and Duke Huan departed.
19
十八年，成王以兵北伐許，許君肉袒謝，乃釋之。 二十二年，伐黃。 二十六年，滅英。
In the eighteenth year, King Cheng led troops north to attack Xu. The lord of Xu bared his chest and apologized, so King Cheng released him. In the twenty-second year, he attacked Huang. In the twenty-sixth year, he extinguished Ying.
20
三十三年，宋襄公欲為盟會，召楚。 楚王怒曰：「召我，我將好往襲辱之。」 遂行，至盂，遂執辱宋公，已而歸之。 三十四年，鄭文公南朝楚。 楚成王北伐宋，敗之泓，射傷宋襄公，襄公遂病創死。
In the thirty-third year, Duke Xiang of Song desired to make an alliance meeting and summoned Chu. The king of Chu angrily said, 'Summon me, and I will gladly go to attack and humiliate him.' He then proceeded, arrived at Yu, then seized and humiliated the Song lord, and then returned him. In the thirty-fourth year, Duke Wen of Zheng attended court at Chu to the south. King Cheng of Chu attacked Song to the north, defeated them at Hong, shot and wounded Duke Xiang of Song. Duke Xiang then died from his illness and wound.
21
三十五年，晉公子重耳過楚，成王以諸侯客禮饗，而厚送之於秦。
In the thirty-fifth year, Jin's prince Chong Er passed through Chu. King Cheng feasted him with the feudal lords' guest ritual and generously sent him to Qin.
22
三十九年，魯僖公來請兵以伐齊，楚使申侯將兵伐齊，取穀，置齊桓公子雍焉。 齊桓公七子皆奔楚，楚盡以為上大夫。 滅夔，夔不祀祝融、鬻熊故也。
In the thirty-ninth year, Duke Xi of Lu came and requested troops to attack Qi. Chu sent Shen Hou to lead troops and attack Qi, took Gu, and placed Duke Huan of Qi's son Yong there. Duke Huan of Qi's seven sons all fled to Chu, and Chu made them all into the upper grandees. He destroyed Kui because Kui did not sacrifice to Zhu Rong and Yuxiong.
23
夏，伐宋，宋告急於晉，晉救宋，成王罷歸。 將軍子玉請戰，成王曰：「重耳亡居外久，卒得反國，天之所開，不可當。」 子玉固請，乃與之少師而去。 晉果敗子玉於城濮。 成王怒，誅子玉。
In summer, he attacked Song. Song reported the urgency to Jin. Jin saved Song, and King Cheng dismissed the troops and returned. General Zi Yu requested battle, and King Cheng said: 'Chong Er fled and resided outside for a long time, and ultimately obtained return to his country. This is heaven's opening, and it cannot be resisted.' Zi Yu insisted on his request, so the king gave him a small force and departed. Jin indeed defeated Ziyu at Chengpu. King Cheng was angered and executed Ziyu.
24
四十六年，初，成王將以商臣為太子，語令尹子上。 子上曰：「君之齒未也，而又多內寵，絀乃亂也。 楚國之舉常在少者。 且商臣蜂目而豺聲，忍人也，不可立也。」 王不聽，立之。 後又欲立子職而絀太子商臣。 商臣聞而未審也，告其傅潘崇曰：「何以得其實？」 崇曰：「饗王之寵姬江羋而勿敬也。」 商臣從之。 江羋怒曰：「宜乎王之欲殺若而立職也。」 商臣告潘崇曰：「信矣。」 崇曰：「能事之乎？」 曰：「不能。」 「能亡去乎？」 曰：「不能。」 「能行大事乎？」 曰：「能。」 冬十月，商臣以宮衛兵圍成王。 成王請食熊蹯而死，不聽。 丁未，成王自絞殺。 商臣代立，是為穆王。
In the forty-sixth year, King Cheng initially intended to make Shang Chen crown prince and told the Lingyin Zi Shang. Zi Shang said: 'Your lordship's age is not yet advanced, and you have many favored women in the inner palace. If you demote the crown prince, then there will be rebellion. Chu's selections are often among the young ones. Moreover, Shang Chen has wasp eyes and a wolf voice. He is a cruel person and should not be established.' The king did not listen and established him instead. Later he again wished to establish his son Zhi and demote Crown Prince Shang Chen. Shang Chen heard of this but had not confirmed it. He told his tutor Pan Chong, 'How can I find out the truth?' Chong said: 'Feast the king's favored consort Jiang Mi but do not respect her.' Shang Chen followed it. Jiang Mi angrily said, 'No wonder the king wants to kill you and establish Zhi.' Shangchen told Pan Chong, saying, “It is true.” Chong said: 'Can you serve him?' He said: 'I cannot.' Pan Chong said, 'Can you flee away?' He said: 'I cannot.' Pan Chong said, “Can you undertake a great deed?” He said: 'I can.' In the tenth month of winter, Shang Chen with palace guard troops surrounded King Cheng. King Cheng requested to eat bear paws and then die, but they did not listen. On dingwei, King Cheng died by strangling himself. Shang Chen succeeded him. This became known as King Mu.
25
穆王立，以其太子宮予潘崇，使為太師，掌國事。 穆王三年，滅江。 四年，滅六、蓼。 六、蓼，皋陶之後。 八年，伐陳。 十二年，卒。 子莊王侶立。
King Mu ascended the throne and gave his crown prince's palace to Pan Chong, making him the grand tutor to grasp the state affairs. In King Mu's third year, he extinguished Jiang. In the fourth year, he brought Liu and Liao to an end. Liu and Liao were Gao Tao's descendants. In the eighth year, he attacked Chen. In the twelfth year, he died. His son, King Zhuang Lü, ascended the throne.
26
莊王即位三年，不出號令，日夜為樂，令國中曰：「有敢諫者死無赦！」 伍舉入諫。 莊王左抱鄭姬，右抱越女，坐鐘鼓之閒。 伍舉曰：「願有進隱。」 曰：「有鳥在於阜，三年不蜚不鳴，是何鳥也？」 莊王曰：「三年不蜚，蜚將沖天； 三年不鳴，鳴將驚人。 舉退矣，吾知之矣。」 居數月，淫益甚。 大夫蘇從乃入諫。 王曰：「若不聞令乎？」 對曰：「殺身以明君，臣之願也。」 於是乃罷淫樂，聽政，所誅者數百人，所進者數百人，任伍舉、蘇從以政，國人大說。 是歲滅庸。 六年，伐宋，獲五百乘。
King Zhuang ascended the throne for three years, did not issue commands, and day and night pursued pleasure. He ordered throughout the state, saying: 'Anyone who dares to admonish will die without pardon!' Wu Ju entered and admonished. King Zhuang embraced Zheng Ji on the left and a Yue woman on the right, sitting amidst bells and drums. Wu Ju said: 'I wish to advance a metaphor.' Wu Ju said, 'There is a bird on a mound. For three years it has neither flown nor cried. What kind of bird is it?' King Zhuang said: 'For three years it does not fly, but when it flies it will rush to heaven; For three years it does not cry, but when it cries it will startle people. Ju, you may retreat. I know it.' After several months, his licentiousness grew still worse. The grandee Su Cong then entered and remonstrated. The king said: 'Have you not heard the command?' He answered, 'To give my life in order to enlighten my lord is this minister's wish.' He then put aside licentious pleasures and attended to government. Several hundred people were executed, and several hundred were promoted. He entrusted Wu Ju and Su Cong with affairs of state, and the people of the state were greatly pleased. This year he extinguished Yong. In the sixth year, he attacked Song and captured five hundred war chariots.
27
八年，伐陸渾戎，遂至洛，觀兵於周郊。 周定王使王孫滿勞楚王。 楚王問鼎小大輕重，對曰：「在德不在鼎。」 莊王曰：「子無阻九鼎！ 楚國折鉤之喙，足以為九鼎。」 王孫滿曰：「嗚呼！ 君王其忘之乎？ 昔虞夏之盛，遠方皆至，貢金九牧，鑄鼎象物，百物而為之備，使民知神姦。 桀有亂德，鼎遷於殷，載祀六百。 殷紂暴虐，鼎遷於周。 德之休明，雖小必重； 其姦回昏亂，雖大必輕。 昔成王定鼎于郟鄏，卜世三十，卜年七百，天所命也。 周德雖衰，天命未改。 鼎之輕重，未可問也。」 楚王乃歸。
In the eighth year, he attacked the Luhun Rong, then reached Luo and reviewed his troops in the outskirts of Zhou. King Ding of Zhou sent Wang Sun Man to congratulate the Chu king. The Chu king asked about the tripods' size and weight, and he answered, saying: 'It lies in virtue, not in the tripods.' King Zhuang said, 'Do not stand in the way of the Nine Tripods! The broken spearheads of Chu alone would be enough to cast the Nine Tripods.' Wang Sun Man said, 'Alas! Has the lord king perhaps forgotten it? In the former flourishing age of Yu and Xia, distant regions all came to court. They contributed metal from the nine provinces and cast tripods bearing images of creatures. The hundred things were all represented on them, so the people could recognize spirits and strange beings. Jie's virtue was disordered, so the tripods moved to Yin and remained there for six hundred years of sacrifice. Zhou of Yin was tyrannical and cruel. The tripods moved to Zhou. When virtue is good and bright, though small it must be heavy; When it is wicked and perverse, dim and disordered, though great it must be light. Formerly King Cheng fixed the tripods at Jia Yu, divined thirty generations, divined seven hundred years. This was heaven's command. Though Zhou's virtue has declined, the heavenly mandate has not changed. The tripods' weight cannot yet be asked about.' The Chu king then returned.
28
九年，相若敖氏。 人或讒之王，恐誅，反攻王，王擊滅若敖氏之族。 十三年，滅舒。
In the ninth year, he appointed a member of the Ruo Ao clan as prime minister. Some people slandered them to the king. Fearing execution, they counterattacked the king. The king attacked and extinguished the Ruo Ao clan's lineage. In the thirteenth year, he extinguished Shu.
29
十六年，伐陳，殺夏徵舒。 徵舒弒其君，故誅之也。 已破陳，即縣之。 群臣皆賀，申叔時使齊來，不賀。 王問，對曰：「鄙語曰，牽牛徑人田，田主取其牛。 徑者則不直矣，取之牛不亦甚乎？ 且王以陳之亂而率諸侯伐之，以義伐之而貪其縣，亦何以復令於天下！」 莊王乃復國陳後。
In the sixteenth year, he attacked Chen and killed Xia Zhengshu. Zhengshu had assassinated his lord, and therefore King Zhuang executed him. After defeating Chen, he immediately made it a county. The group of ministers all congratulated. Shen Shu Shi came as an envoy from Qi and did not congratulate. The king asked, and he answered, saying: 'There is a vulgar saying: If you lead an ox through a person's field, the field owner takes the ox. The one who goes through is not in the right, but is taking the ox not also excessive? Moreover, the king because of Chen's disorder led the feudal lords to attack it, and with righteousness attacked it, but was greedy for its county. How then can he again command the world?' King Zhuang then restored the state of Chen afterward.
30
十七年春，楚莊王圍鄭，三月克之。 入自皇門，鄭伯肉袒牽羊以逆，曰：「孤不天，不能事君，君用懷怒，以及敝邑，孤之罪也。 敢不惟命是聽！ 賓之南海，若以臣妾賜諸侯，亦惟命是聽。 若君不忘厲、宣、桓、武，不絕其社稷，使改事君，孤之願也，非所敢望也。 敢布腹心。」 楚群臣曰：「王勿許。」 莊王曰：「其君能下人，必能信用其民，庸可絕乎！」 莊王自手旗，左右麾軍，引兵去三十里而舍，遂許之平。 潘尪入盟，子良出質。 夏六月，晉救鄭，與楚戰，大敗晉師河上，遂至衡雍而歸。
In the spring of the seventeenth year, King Zhuang of Chu surrounded Zheng and conquered it in three months. He entered from the Huang gate. The Zheng lord bared his flesh and led a sheep to welcome him, saying: 'This orphan has not received heaven's favor and cannot serve the lord. The lord has used cherished anger and reached this humble city. This is the orphan's crime. I dare not fail to listen only to your command! Make me a guest in the southern sea. If you grant me as a minister or concubine to the feudal lords, I also listen only to your command. If the lord does not forget Li, Xuan, Huan, and Wu, does not cut off their state sacrifices, and allows their descendants to serve the lord instead, this is the orphan's wish, not what I dare to hope for. I dare to spread my inner thoughts.' The Chu group of ministers said: 'The king should not permit it.' King Zhuang said: 'If their lord can humble himself before the others, he must be able to trust and use his people. How can we cut them off!' King Zhuang personally held the command flag and directed the army on either side. He led the troops thirty li away and made camp, then agreed to peace. Pan Wang entered to make an alliance, and Zi Liang went out as a hostage. In the sixth month of summer, Jin came to rescue Zheng and battled with Chu. They greatly defeated the Jin army on the river, then arrived at Heng Yong and returned.
31
二十年，圍宋，以殺楚使也。 圍宋五月，城中食盡，易子而食，析骨而炊。 宋華元出告以情。 莊王曰：「君子哉！」 遂罷兵去。
In the twentieth year, he besieged Song because Song had killed a Chu envoy. He besieged Song for five months. Food in the city ran out, so people exchanged children to eat and split bones for cooking fuel. Hua Yuan of Song went out and told the situation. King Zhuang said: 'He is indeed a superior man!' He then dismissed the troops and departed.
32
二十三年，莊王卒，子共王審立。
In the twenty-third year, King Zhuang died, and his son King Gong Shen ascended the throne.
33
共王十六年，晉伐鄭。 鄭告急，共王救鄭。 與晉兵戰鄢陵，晉敗楚，射中共王目。 共王召將軍子反。 子反嗜酒，從者豎陽穀進酒醉。 王怒，射殺子反，遂罷兵歸。
In King Gong's sixteenth year, Jin attacked Zheng. Zheng reported the urgent situation, and King Gong came to rescue Zheng. He battled with the Jin troops at Yan Ling. Jin defeated Chu and shot, hitting King Gong's eye. King Gong summoned the general Zi Fan. Zi Fan was fond of wine. His attendant Shu Yanggu offered him wine and made him drunk. The king was angered, shot Zi Fan dead, then dismissed the troops and returned.
34
三十一年，共王卒，子康王招立。 康王立十五年卒，子員立，是為郟敖。
In the thirty-first year, King Gong died, and his son King Kang Zhao ascended the throne. King Kang reigned for the fifteen years and died. His son Yuan was established as the king. This was Jia Ao.
35
康王寵弟公子圍、子比、子皙、棄疾。 郟敖三年，以其季父康王弟公子圍為令尹，主兵事。 四年，圍使鄭，道聞王疾而還。 十二月己酉，圍入問王疾，絞而弒之，遂殺其子莫及平夏。 使使赴於鄭。 伍舉問曰：「誰為後？」 對曰：「寡大夫圍。」 伍舉更曰：「共王之子圍為長。」 子比奔晉，而圍立，是為靈王。
King Kang favored his younger brothers, Prince Wei, Zi Bi, Zi Xi, and Qi Ji. In Jia Ao's third year, he made his young uncle, King Kang's younger brother Prince Wei, the Ling Yin in charge of military affairs. In the fourth year, Wei was an envoy to Zheng, but en route heard of the king's illness and returned. In the twelfth month on jiyou, Wei entered and inquired about the king's illness. He strangled and assassinated him, then killed his sons Mo and Ping Xia. He sent an envoy to announce this to Zheng. Wu Ju asked, saying: 'Who is the successor?' He answered, saying: 'Our grandee Wei.' Wu Ju then said: 'Gong Wang's son Wei is the eldest.' Zi Bi fled to Jin, and Wei ascended the throne. This was King Ling.
36
靈王三年六月，楚使使告晉，欲會諸侯。 諸侯皆會楚于申。 伍舉曰：「昔夏啟有鈞臺之饗，商湯有景亳之命，周武王有盟津之誓，成王有岐陽之閒，康王有豐宮之朝，穆王有涂山之會，齊桓有召陵之師，晉文有踐土之盟，君其何用？」 靈王曰：「用桓公。」 時鄭子產在焉。 於是晉、宋、魯、衛不往。 靈王已盟，有驕色。 伍舉曰：「桀為有仍之會，有緡叛之。 紂為黎山之會，東夷叛之。 幽王為太室之盟，戎、翟叛之。 君其慎終！」
In the sixth month of King Ling's third year, Chu sent an envoy to tell Jin, desiring to meet with the feudal lords. The feudal lords all met with Chu at Shen. Wu Ju said: 'Formerly, Xia Qi had the Gou Tai feast, Shang Tang had the Jing Bo command, King Wu of Zhou had the Meng Jin oath, King Cheng had the Qi Yang meeting, King Kang had the Feng Gong court, King Mu had the Tu Shan assembly, Duke Huan of Qi had the Zhao Ling army, and Duke Wen of Jin had the Jian Tu alliance. What will the lord use?' King Ling said: 'I will use Duke Huan.' At the time, Zi Chan of Zheng was there. Jin, Song, Lu, and Wei therefore did not attend. King Ling had already made the alliance and had an arrogant expression. Wu Ju said: 'Jie held the You Reng assembly, and You Min rebelled against him. Zhou held the assembly at Lishan, and the eastern Yi rebelled against him. King You held the Tai Shi alliance, and the Rong and Di rebelled against him. The lord should be careful of the end!'
37
七月，楚以諸侯兵伐吳，圍朱方。 八月，克之，囚慶封，滅其族。 以封徇，曰：「無效齊慶封弒其君而弱其孤，以盟諸大夫！」 封反曰：「莫如楚共王庶子圍弒其君兄之子員而代之立！」 於是靈王使（棄）疾殺之。
In the seventh month, Chu attacked Wu with the feudal lords' troops and surrounded Zhu Fang. In the eighth month, he conquered it, imprisoned Qing Feng, and exterminated his clan. He paraded Feng and said: 'Do not imitate Qing Feng of Qi, who assassinated his lord, weakened his orphan heir, and formed alliances with the grandees!' Feng countered, saying: 'Nothing compares with Wei, the concubine-born son of King Gong of Chu, who assassinated his lord, the son Yuan of his elder brother, and took his place on the throne!' King Ling then sent Qi Ji to kill him.
38
七年，就章華臺，下令內亡人實之。
In the seventh year, he completed the Zhang Hua Tai and issued an order for those who had fled within to fill it.
39
八年，使公子棄疾將兵滅陳。 十年，召蔡侯，醉而殺之。 使棄疾定蔡，因為陳蔡公。
In the eighth year, he sent Prince Qi Ji to lead troops and extinguish Chen. In the tenth year, he summoned the marquis of Cai, made him drunk, and killed him. He sent Qi Ji to pacify Cai and made him the Chen Cai gong.
40
十一年，伐徐以恐吳。 靈王次於乾豀以待之。 王曰：「齊、晉、魯、衛，其封皆受寶器，我獨不。 今吾使使周求鼎以為分，其予我乎？」 析父對曰：「其予君王哉！ 昔我先王熊繹辟在荊山，蓽露藍蔞以處草莽，跋涉山林以事天子，唯是桃弧棘矢以共王事。 齊，王舅也； 晉及魯、衛，王母弟也：楚是以無分而彼皆有。 周今與四國服事君王，將惟命是從，豈敢愛鼎？」 靈王曰：「昔我皇祖伯父昆吾舊許是宅，今鄭人貪其田，不我予，今我求之，其予我乎？」 對曰：「周不愛鼎，鄭安敢愛田？」 靈王曰：「昔諸侯遠我而畏晉，今吾大城陳、蔡、不羹，賦皆千乘，諸侯畏我乎？」 對曰：「畏哉！」 靈王喜曰：「析父善言古事焉。」
In the eleventh year, he attacked Xu in order to frighten Wu. King Ling lodged at Qianxi to await them. The king said: 'Qi, Jin, Lu, and Wei, their enfeoffments all received precious vessels, but I alone did not. Now I send an envoy to Zhou to seek tripods as my share. Will they give them to me?' Xi Fu answered, saying: 'They will give them to the lord king! Formerly our former king Xiong Yi avoided being at Jing Shan. He exposed himself to dew and blue vines to dwell in the grass wilds. He trudged through mountains and forests to serve the Son of Heaven, contributing only peach bows and thorn arrows to the king's affairs. Qi is the king's maternal uncle; Jin, Lu, and Wei are the king's maternal younger brothers. Chu therefore has no share, but they all have one. Zhou now with the four states serves the lord king and will only follow your command. How dare we cherish the tripods?' King Ling said: 'Formerly my imperial ancestor uncle Kun Wu's old residence was at Xu. Now the Zheng people are greedy for its fields and do not give them to me. Now I seek them. Will they give them to me?' He answered, saying: 'If Zhou does not cherish the tripods, how dare Zheng cherish the fields?' King Ling said: 'Formerly the feudal lords were distant from me and feared Jin. Now I have greatly walled Chen, Cai, and Bu Geng, and the levies are all a thousand chariots. Do the feudal lords fear me?' He answered, saying: 'They fear indeed!' King Ling was pleased and said: 'Xi Fu is good at speaking of ancient matters.'
41
十二年春，楚靈王樂乾豀，不能去也。 國人苦役。 初，靈王會兵於申，僇越大夫常壽過，殺蔡大夫觀起。 起子從亡在吳，乃勸吳王伐楚，為閒越大夫常壽過而作亂，為吳閒。 使矯公子棄疾命召公子比於晉，至蔡，與吳、越兵欲襲蔡。 令公子比見棄疾，與盟於鄧。 遂入殺靈王太子祿，立子比為王，公子子皙為令尹，棄疾為司馬。 先除王宮，觀從從師于乾豀，令楚眾曰：「國有王矣。 先歸，復爵邑田室。 後者遷之。」 楚眾皆潰，去靈王而歸。
In the spring of the twelfth year, King Ling of Chu enjoyed Qian Xi and could not depart. The people of the state suffered from the corvee. Initially, King Ling assembled troops at Shen, executed the Yue grandee Chang Shou Guo, and killed the Cai grandee Guan Qi. Qi's son Cong fled and was in Wu. He then urged the Wu king to attack Chu, to alienate the Yue grandee Chang Shou Guo and make him rebel, acting as a spy for Wu. He sent a falsified command from Prince Qi Ji to summon Prince Bi from Jin. He arrived at Cai and, with Wu and Yue troops, sought to attack Cai. He commanded Prince Bi to see Qi Ji and make an alliance at Deng. They then entered and killed King Ling's crown prince Lu. They established Zi Bi as king, Prince Zi Xi as Ling Yin, and Qi Ji as Sima. First they cleared the king's palace. Guan Cong followed the army at Qian Xi and commanded the Chu masses, saying: 'The state has a king. Those who return first will have their ranks, fiefs, fields, and houses restored. Those who return later will be moved.' The Chu forces all collapsed, abandoned King Ling, and returned home.
42
靈王聞太子祿之死也，自投車下，而曰：「人之愛子亦如是乎？」 侍者曰：「甚是。」 王曰：「余殺人之子多矣，能無及此乎？」 右尹曰：「請待於郊以聽國人。」 王曰：「眾怒不可犯。」 曰：「且入大縣而乞師於諸侯。」 王曰：「皆叛矣。」 又曰：「且奔諸侯以聽大國之慮。」 王曰：「大福不再，祗取辱耳。」 於是王乘舟將欲入鄢。 右尹度王不用其計，懼俱死，亦去王亡。
When King Ling heard of crown prince Lu's death, he threw himself under the chariot and said: 'Do people love their sons like this?' The attendant said: 'Very much so.' The king said, 'I have killed many people's sons. How could it not come to this?' The Right Yin said: 'Please wait at the suburbs to listen to the people of the state.' The king said, “The anger of the masses cannot be withstood.” The Right Yin said, 'Then enter a large county and request troops from the feudal lords.' The king said: 'They have all rebelled.' The Right Yin again said, 'Then flee to the feudal lords and await the plans of the great states.' The king said: 'Great fortune does not come again. I will only take humiliation.' The king then boarded a boat and tried to enter Yan. The Right Yin saw that the king would not use his plan. Fearing that they would die together, he too left the king and fled.
43
靈王於是獨傍偟山中，野人莫敢入王。 王行遇其故鋗人，謂曰：「為我求食，我已不食三日矣。」 鋗人曰：「新王下法，有敢閒王從王者，罪及三族，且又無所得食。」 王因枕其股而臥。 鋗人又以土自代，逃去。 王覺而弗見，遂饑弗能起。 芋尹申無宇之子申亥曰：「吾父再犯王命，王弗誅，恩孰大焉！」 乃求王，遇王饑於釐澤，奉之以歸。 夏五月癸丑，王死申亥家，申亥以二女從死，并葬之。
King Ling was then alone on Mount Sao, and none of the villagers dared shelter him. The king, while walking, encountered his former armor smith and told him, saying: 'Seek food for me. I have not eaten for three days.' The armor smith said, 'The new king has issued a law: anyone who dares to associate with the king or follow him will have the crime extended to three clans. Besides, there is no food to be had.' The king then pillowed his head on the armor smith's thigh and lay down. The armor smith again used a lump of earth as a substitute for himself and escaped. The king awoke and did not see him. He was so hungry that he could not rise. Shen Hai, son of Yu Yin Shen Wu Yu, said: 'My father twice violated the king's command, and the king did not execute him. What favor is greater than this!' He then sought the king. He encountered the king hungry at Xi Ze and served him to return. In the fifth month of summer, on the guichou day, the king died at Shen Hai's home. Shen Hai had his two daughters follow him in death and buried them together.
44
是時楚國雖已立比為王，畏靈王復來，又不聞靈王死，故觀從謂初王比曰：「不殺棄疾，雖得國猶受禍。」 王曰：「余不忍。」 從曰：「人將忍王。」 王不聽，乃去。 棄疾歸。 國人每夜驚，曰：「靈王入矣！」 乙卯夜，棄疾使船人從江上走呼曰：「靈王至矣！」 國人愈驚。 又使曼成然告初王比及令尹子皙曰：「王至矣！ 國人將殺君，司馬將至矣！ 君蚤自圖，無取辱焉。 眾怒如水火，不可救也。」 初王及子皙遂自殺。 丙辰，棄疾即位為王，改名熊居，是為平王。
At this time, though Chu had already established Bi as king, they feared King Ling would return again and had not yet heard of his death. Therefore, Guan Cong told the new king Bi, saying: 'If you do not kill Qi Ji, then even if you obtain the state, you will still bring calamity upon yourself.' The king said: 'I cannot bear it.' Cong said: 'The people will bear with the king.' The king did not listen and departed. Qi Ji returned. The people of the state were alarmed every night, saying: 'King Ling has entered!' On the yimao night, Qi Ji sent boat people from the upper reaches of the Jiang running and calling, saying: 'King Ling has arrived!' The people of the state were increasingly alarmed. He again sent Man Cheng Ran to tell the new king Bi and Ling Yin Zi Xi, saying: 'The king has arrived! The people of the state will kill the lord, and the Sima will arrive! Lord, plan for yourself early. Do not bring humiliation upon yourself. The anger of the masses is like water and fire, and cannot be saved.' The new king and Zi Xi then committed suicide. On the bingchen day, Qi Ji ascended the throne as king. He changed his name to Xiong Ju. This was King Ping.
45
平王以詐弒兩王而自立，恐國人及諸侯叛之，乃施惠百姓。 復陳蔡之地而立其後如故，歸鄭之侵地。 存恤國中，修政教。 吳以楚亂故，獲五率以歸。 平王謂觀從：「恣爾所欲。」 欲為卜尹，王許之。
King Ping had assassinated two kings through deception and established himself. He feared the people of the state and the feudal lords would rebel against him, so he bestowed favor on the common people. He restored the lands of Chen and Cai and reestablished their descendants as before. He returned the lands taken from Zheng. He preserved and cared for the people in the state and restored government and instruction. Because of Chu’s disorder, Wu obtained five generals and returned. King Ping told Guan Cong, “Indulge your desires.” He wished to become the Divination Director, and the king permitted it.
46
初，共王有寵子五人，無適立，乃望祭群神，請神決之，使主社稷，而陰與巴姬埋璧於室內，召五公子齋而入。 康王跨之，靈王肘加之，子比、子皙皆遠之。 平王幼，抱其上而拜，壓紐。 故康王以長立，至其子失之； 圍為靈王，及身而弒； 子比為王十餘日，子皙不得立，又俱誅。 四子皆絕無後。 唯獨棄疾後立，為平王，竟續楚祀，如其神符。
Initially, King Gong had five favored sons and no proper heir to establish. He then gazed and sacrificed to the host of spirits, asking the spirits to decide who should preside over the state altars. He secretly buried jade in the room with Ba Ji, and summoned the five princes, who purified themselves and entered. King Kang straddled the jade. King Ling placed his elbow on it. Zi Bi and Zi Xi both distanced themselves from it. King Ping was young. He held the upper part of the jade and bowed, pressing its knob. Therefore, King Kang was established as the eldest, but when it reached his son, he lost it; Wei became King Ling, and when it reached his person, he was assassinated; Zi Bi was king for more than ten days. Zi Xi could not be established, and both were executed. All four sons were cut off and left no descendants. Only Qiji was later established. He became King Ping and in the end continued the sacrifices of Chu, just as the spirit's token had foretold.
47
初，子比自晉歸，韓宣子問叔向曰：「子比其濟乎？」 對曰：「不就。」 宣子曰：「同惡相求，如市賈焉，何為不就？」 對曰：「無與同好，誰與同惡？ 取國有五難：有寵無人，一也； 有人無主，二也； 有主無謀，三也； 有謀而無民，四也； 有民而無德，五也。 子比在晉十三年矣，晉、楚之從不聞通者，可謂無人矣； 族盡親叛，可謂無主矣； 無釁而動，可謂無謀矣； 為羈終世，可謂無民矣； 亡無愛徵，可謂無德矣。 王虐而不忌，子比涉五難以弒君，誰能濟之！ 有楚國者，其棄疾乎？ 君陳、蔡，方城外屬焉。 苛慝不作，盜賊伏隱，私欲不違，民無怨心。 先神命之，國民信之。 羋姓有亂，必季實立，楚之常也。 子比之官，則右尹也； 數其貴寵，則庶子也； 以神所命，則又遠之； 民無懷焉，將何以立？」 宣子曰：「齊桓、晉文不亦是乎？」 對曰：「齊桓，衛姬之子也，有寵於釐公。 有鮑叔牙、賓須無、隰朋以為輔，有莒、衛以為外主，有高、國以為內主。 從善如流，施惠不倦。 有國，不亦宜乎？ 昔我文公，狐季姬之子也，有寵於獻公。 好學不倦。 生十七年，有士五人，有先大夫子餘、子犯以為腹心，有魏犫、賈佗以為股肱，有齊、宋、秦、楚以為外主，有欒、郤、狐、先以為內主。 亡十九年，守志彌篤。 惠、懷棄民，民從而與之。 故文公有國，不亦宜乎？ 子比無施於民，無援於外，去晉，晉不送； 歸楚，楚不迎。 何以有國！」 子比果不終焉，卒立者棄疾，如叔向言也。
Initially, when Zi Bi returned from the state of Jin, Han Xuan Zi asked Shu Xiang, saying: 'Will Zi Bi succeed?' He answered, saying: 'He will not succeed.' Xuan Zi said: 'Those with the same evil seek each other, like market merchants. Why will he not succeed?' He answered, saying: 'If there is no one with the same good, who will be with the same evil? Taking a state has five difficulties: to have favor but no people is the first; to have people but no master is the second; to have a master but no plan is the third; to have a plan but no people is the fourth; to have people but no virtue is the fifth. Zi Bi has been in Jin for thirteen years. The followers of Jin and Chu have not been heard to communicate. This can be called having no people; the clan is exhausted and kin have rebelled. This can be called having no master; to move without a rift can be called having no plan; To be a hostage for one's entire life can be called having no people; He fled without any auspicious signs; this may be called having no virtue. The king is cruel and not cautious. Zi Bi crossed five difficulties to assassinate the lord. Who can succeed him! The one who will have Chu state, is it perhaps Qi Ji? He rules Chen and Cai, and the lands beyond Fangcheng belong to him. Harsh evils do not arise; robbers and bandits go into hiding; private desires do not transgress; and the people harbor no resentment. The former spirits commanded it. The people of the state believe it. When the Mi surname has disorder, the youngest brother must actually be established. This is Chu's constant. As for Zi Bi's office, it is the Right Yin; as for counting his noble favor, he is a concubine son; as for what the spirits commanded, he is even farther from it; the people do not cherish him. How will he be established?' Xuan Zi said: 'Were not the Duke Huan of Qi and the Duke Wen of Jin also so?' He answered, saying: 'Qi Huan was the son of Wei Ji and had favor with Duke Xi. He had Bao Shu Ya, Bin Xu Wu, and Xi Peng as assistants. He had the states of Ju and Wei as outer masters, and Gao and Guo as inner masters. He followed goodness like flowing water and bestowed favor without tiring. To have a state, is it not also fitting? Formerly our Duke Wen was the son of Hu Jiji and had favor with Duke Xian. He delighted in learning and never tired of it. At seventeen years old, he had five scholars. He had the former grandees Zi Yu and Zi Fan as his inner heart, Wei Chou and Jia Tuo as his limbs, the states of Qi, Song, Qin, and Chu as outer masters, and Luan, Xi, Hu, and Xian as inner masters. He spent nineteen years in exile and guarded his resolve ever more firmly. Hui and Huai abandoned the people, but the people followed him and gave themselves to him. Therefore, Duke Wen had a state. Is it not also fitting? Zi Bi bestowed nothing on the people and had no aid from outside. When he departed Jin, Jin did not send him off; when he returned to Chu, Chu did not welcome him. How can he have a state!' Zi Bi indeed did not succeed. The one finally established was Qiji, just as Shu Xiang had said.
48
平王二年，使費無忌如秦為太子建取婦。 婦好，來，未至，無忌先歸，說平王曰：「秦女好，可自娶，為太子更求。」 平王聽之，卒自娶秦女，生熊珍。 更為太子娶。 是時伍奢為太子太傅，無忌為少傅。 無忌無寵於太子，常讒惡太子建。 建時年十五矣，其母蔡女也，無寵於王，王稍益疏外建也。
In King Ping's second year, he sent Fei Wu Ji to Qin to take a wife for crown prince Jian. The wife was good. She was coming but had not yet arrived. Wu Ji first returned and persuaded King Ping, saying: 'The Qin woman is good. You can marry her yourself, and seek another for the crown prince.' King Ping listened and finally married the Qin woman himself, and she gave birth to Xiong Zhen. He married again for the crown prince. At this time Wu She was the crown prince's grand tutor, and Wuji was the junior tutor. Wuji had no favor with the crown prince and constantly slandered Crown Prince Jian. Jian was fifteen years old at the time. His mother was a Cai woman with no favor from the king. The king gradually distanced himself increasingly from Jian.
49
六年，使太子建居城父，守邊。 無忌又日夜讒太子建於王曰：「自無忌入秦女，太子怨，亦不能無望於王，王少自備焉。 且太子居城父，擅兵，外交諸侯，且欲入矣。」 平王召其傅伍奢責之。 伍奢知無忌讒，乃曰：「王柰何以小臣疏骨肉？」 無忌曰：「今不制，後悔也。」 於是王遂囚伍奢。 ［而召其二子而告以免父死］乃令司馬奮揚召太子建，欲誅之。 太子聞之，亡奔宋。
In the sixth year, he sent Crown Prince Jian to reside at Chengfu and guard the border. Wu Ji again slandered crown prince Jian to the king day and night, saying: 'Since Wu Ji brought the Qin woman, the crown prince is resentful and also cannot help but have expectations of the king. The king should slightly prepare himself. Moreover, the crown prince resides at Cheng Fu, monopolizes troops, and has foreign relations with the feudal lords. Moreover, he desires to enter.' King Ping summoned Wu She, the crown prince’s tutor, and rebuked him. Wu She knew that Wu Ji had slandered, then said: 'How can the king use a petty official to distance himself from his own flesh and blood?' Wu Ji said: 'If you do not control him now, you will regret it later.' The king then imprisoned Wu She. [And summoned his two sons and told them to save their father from death] Then he commanded the Sima Fen Yang to summon crown prince Jian, desiring to execute him. The crown prince heard of this and fled to Song.
50
無忌曰：「伍奢有二子，不殺者為楚國患。 盍以免其父召之，必至。」 於是王使使謂奢：「能致二子則生，不能將死。」 奢曰：「尚至，胥不至。」 王曰：「何也？」 奢曰：「尚之為人，廉，死節，慈孝而仁，聞召而免父，必至，不顧其死。 胥之為人，智而好謀，勇而矜功，知來必死，必不來。 然為楚國憂者必此子。」 於是王使人召之，曰：「來，吾免爾父。」 伍尚謂伍胥曰：「聞父免而莫奔，不孝也； 父戮莫報，無謀也； 度能任事，知也。 子其行矣，我其歸死。」 伍尚遂歸。 伍胥彎弓屬矢，出見使者，曰：「父有罪，何以召其子為？」 將射，使者還走，遂出奔吳。 伍奢聞之，曰：「胥亡，楚國危哉。」 楚人遂殺伍奢及尚。
Wu Ji said: 'Wu She has two sons. If you do not kill them, they will be a calamity for Chu state. Why not summon them with the promise to save their father? They will certainly arrive.' The king then sent an envoy to tell She, saying: 'If you can bring your two sons here, then you will live. If you cannot, you will die.' She said: 'Shang will arrive, but Xu will not arrive.' The king said: 'Why is that?' She said: 'Shang's character is upright. He will die for integrity. He is filial, compassionate, and benevolent. When he hears the summons to save his father, he will certainly arrive and not consider his own death. Xu's character is wise and good at the art of planning. He is brave and proud of his merit. He knows that if he comes, he will certainly die, so he will certainly not come. However, the one who will worry Chu state is certainly this son.' The king then sent a man to summon them, saying: 'Come, and I will pardon your father.' Wu Shang told Wu Xu, saying: 'To hear that our father may be pardoned and not hasten there would be unfilial; if father is executed and not avenged, there is no plan; to assess what one can undertake is wisdom. You go, and I will return to die.' Wu Shang then returned. Wu Xu bent his bow and set an arrow to it. He went out to see the envoy and said: 'If my father has committed a crime, why summon his sons for it?' He was about to shoot when the envoy turned and ran away. He then fled to Wu. Wu She heard it and said: 'Xu has fled. The Chu state is in danger!' The people of Chu then killed Wu She and Wu Shang.
51
十年，楚太子建母在居巢，開吳。 吳使公子光伐楚，遂敗陳、蔡，取太子建母而去。 楚恐，城郢。 初，吳之邊邑卑梁與楚邊邑鐘離小童爭桑，兩家交怒相攻，滅卑梁人。 卑梁大夫怒，發邑兵攻鐘離。 楚王聞之怒，發國兵滅卑梁。 吳王聞之大怒，亦發兵，使公子光因建母家攻楚，遂滅鐘離、居巢。 楚乃恐而城郢。
In the tenth year, the Chu crown prince Jian's mother was at Ju Chao and opened it to Wu. Wu sent Prince Guang to attack Chu. He then defeated Chen and Cai, took the crown prince Jian's mother, and departed. Chu feared and walled Ying. At first, boys from Wu's border town Beiliang and Chu's border town Zhongli quarreled over mulberries. The two families grew angry and attacked each other, wiping out the people of Beiliang. The grandee of Beiliang was angered and mobilized the town's troops to attack Zhongli. The king of Chu heard of it and was angered. He mobilized the state's troops and destroyed Beiliang. The Wu king heard and was greatly angered. He also mobilized troops and sent Prince Guang to attack Chu through Jian's mother's home. He then extinguished Zhongli and Ju Chao. Chu then feared and walled Ying.
52
十三年，平王卒。 將軍子常曰：「太子珍少，且其母乃前太子建所當娶也。」 欲立令尹子西。 子西，平王之庶弟也，有義。 子西曰：「國有常法，更立則亂，言之則致誅。」 乃立太子珍，是為昭王。
In the thirteenth year, King Ping died. General Zi Chang said: 'Crown prince Zhen is young, and his mother was the woman whom the former crown prince Jian should have married.' He wished to establish the lingyin Zixi. Zi Xi was King Ping's concubine younger brother and had righteousness. Zi Xi said: 'The state has constant law. To change the establishment brings disorder, and to speak of it brings execution.' They then established crown prince Zhen. This was King Zhao.
53
昭王元年，楚眾不說費無忌，以其讒亡太子建，殺伍奢子父與郤宛。 宛之宗姓伯氏子及子胥皆奔吳，吳兵數侵楚，楚人怨無忌甚。 楚令尹子常誅無忌以說眾，眾乃喜。
In King Zhao's first year, the Chu masses were not pleased with Fei Wu Ji because his slander caused crown prince Jian to flee. They killed Wu She and his sons, and Xi Wan. Wan's clan surname Bai clan sons and Zi Xu all fled to Wu. Wu troops frequently invaded Chu, and the Chu people resented Wu Ji very much. The Chu Ling Yin Zi Chang executed Wu Ji to please the masses, and the masses were then happy.
54
四年，吳三公子奔楚，楚封之以捍吳。 五年，吳伐取楚之六、潛。 七年，楚使子常伐吳，吳大敗楚於豫章。
In the fourth year, three Wu princes fled to Chu. Chu enfeoffed them to defend against Wu. In the fifth year, Wu attacked and took Chu's Liu and Qian. In the seventh year, Chu sent Zichang to attack Wu, but Wu greatly defeated Chu at Yuzhang.
55
十年冬，吳王闔閭、伍子胥、伯與唐、蔡俱伐楚，楚大敗，吳兵遂入郢，辱平王之墓，以伍子胥故也。 吳兵之來，楚使子常以兵迎之，夾漢水陣。 吳伐敗子常，子常亡奔鄭。 楚兵走，吳乘勝逐之，五戰及郢。 己卯，昭王出奔。 庚辰，吳人入郢。
In the winter of the tenth year, King Helu of Wu, wuzi Xu, Bai Yu, Tang, and Cai all attacked Chu. Chu was greatly defeated. Wu troops then entered Ying and humiliated King Ping's tomb because of wuzi Xu. When the Wu troops came, Chu sent Zi Chang with troops to welcome them, arrayed flanking the Han River. Wu attacked and defeated Zichang, and Zichang fled to Zheng. The Chu troops fled. Wu rode their victory and pursued them. After five battles they reached Ying. On the jimao day, King Zhao fled out. On the gengchen day, the Wu people entered Ying.
56
昭王亡也至雲夢。 雲夢不知其王也，射傷王。 王走鄖。 鄖公之弟懷曰：「平王殺吾父，今我殺其子，不亦可乎？」 鄖公止之，然恐其弒昭王，乃與王出奔隨。 吳王聞昭王往，即進擊隨，謂隨人曰：「周之子孫封於江漢之閒者，楚盡滅之。」 欲殺昭王。 王從臣子綦乃深匿王，自以為王，謂隨人曰：「以我予吳。」 隨人卜予吳，不吉，乃謝吳王曰：「昭王亡，不在隨。」 吳請入自索之，隨不聽，吳亦罷去。
King Zhao, while fleeing, arrived at Yun Meng. Yun Meng did not know their king and shot, wounding the king. The king fled to Yun. The Yun gong's younger brother Huai said: 'King Ping killed my father. Now I kill his son. Is it not also fitting?' Yun gong stopped him, but feared he would assassinate King Zhao. He then fled out with the king to Sui. The Wu king heard that King Zhao had gone there and immediately advanced to attack Sui. He told the Sui people, saying: 'The Zhou descendants enfeoffed between the Jiang and Han: Chu has wiped them out.' He desired to kill King Zhao. The king's follower Zi Qi then deeply hid the king. He himself pretended to be the king and told the Sui people, saying: 'Give me to Wu.' The Sui people divined about giving him to Wu, and it was not auspicious. They then apologized to the Wu king, saying: 'King Zhao has fled and is not in Sui.' Wu requested to enter and search for him themselves. Sui did not listen. The Wu forces also dismissed and departed.
57
昭王之出郢也，使申鮑胥請救於秦。 秦以車五百乘救楚，楚亦收餘散兵，與秦擊吳。 十一年六月，敗吳於稷。 會吳王弟夫概見吳王兵傷敗，乃亡歸，自立為王。 闔閭聞之，引兵去楚，歸擊夫概。 夫概敗，奔楚，楚封之堂谿，號為堂谿氏。
When King Zhao fled Ying, he sent Shen Bao Xu to request aid from the state of Qin. Qin sent five hundred chariots to save Chu. Chu also gathered their remaining scattered troops and attacked Wu together with the Qin forces. In the sixth month of the eleventh year, they defeated Wu at Ji. Fu Gai, the Wu king's younger brother, saw that the Wu king's troops were wounded and defeated. He then fled back and established himself as king. Helu heard this, led his troops away from Chu, and returned to attack Fu Gai. Fu Gai was defeated and fled to Chu. Chu enfeoffed him at Tangxi, and he was called the Tangxi clan.
58
楚昭王滅唐九月，歸入郢。 十二年，吳復伐楚，取番。 楚恐，去郢，北徙都鄀。
King Zhao of Chu extinguished Tang after nine months and returned to enter Ying. In the twelfth year, Wu attacked Chu again and took Fan. Chu was afraid and left Ying, moving the capital north to Ruo.
59
十六年，孔子相魯。 二十年，楚滅頓，滅胡。 二十一年，吳王闔閭伐越。 越王句踐射傷吳王，遂死。 吳由此怨越而不西伐楚。
In the sixteenth year, Confucius took office as prime minister of Lu. In the twentieth year, Chu extinguished Dun and Hu. In the twenty-first year, King Helu of Wu attacked Yue. King Gou Jian of Yue shot and wounded the Wu king, who then died. Wu therefore resented Yue and did not attack Chu in the west.
60
二十七年春，吳伐陳，楚昭王救之，軍城父。 十月，昭王病於軍中，有赤雲如鳥，夾日而蜚。 昭王問周太史，太史曰：「是害於楚王，然可移於將相。」 將相聞是言，乃請自以身禱於神。 昭王曰：「將相，孤之股肱也，今移禍，庸去是身乎！」 弗聽。 卜而河為祟，大夫請禱河。 昭王曰：「自吾先王受封，望不過江、漢，而河非所獲罪也。」 止不許。 孔子在陳，聞是言，曰：「楚昭王通大道矣。 其不失國，宜哉！」
In the spring of the twenty-seventh year, Wu attacked Chen. King Zhao of Chu saved it and camped at Cheng Fu. In the tenth month, King Zhao fell ill in the army camp. There were red clouds like a bird that flanked the sun and flew. King Zhao asked the Zhou grand astrologer, and the grand astrologer said: 'This harms the Chu king, however it can be shifted to the generals and ministers.' When the generals and ministers heard these words, they requested permission to offer themselves in prayer to the spirits. King Zhao said: 'The generals and ministers are my limbs. Now to shift the calamity, how can I abandon these bodies!' He did not listen. Divination showed that the River had caused the calamity. The grandees requested to pray to the River. King Zhao said: 'Since my former king received enfeoffment, our gaze has not exceeded the Jiang and Han, and the River is not what we have offended.' He stopped and did not permit it. Confucius was in Chen when he heard these words and said: 'King Zhao of Chu has penetrated the great way. That he did not lose the state is fitting!'
61
昭王病甚，乃召諸公子大夫曰：「孤不佞，再辱楚國之師，今乃得以天壽終，孤之幸也。」 讓其弟公子申為王，不可。 又讓次弟公子結，亦不可。 乃又讓次弟公子閭，五讓，乃後許為王。 將戰，庚寅，昭王卒於軍中。 子閭曰：「王病甚，捨其子讓群臣，臣所以許王，以廣王意也。 今君王卒，臣豈敢忘君王之意乎！」 乃與子西、子綦謀，伏師閉涂，迎越女之子章立之，是為惠王。 然後罷兵歸，葬昭王。
King Zhao's illness became severe, and he then summoned the princes and grandees, saying: 'This orphan is not talented and has twice humiliated the armies of Chu. Now I am able to die at Heaven's allotted span. This is my good fortune.' He yielded the kingship to his younger brother Prince Shen, but it was not accepted. He again yielded to his next younger brother Prince Jie, but this too was not accepted. He then again yielded to his next younger brother Prince Lü. Only after five refusals was he permitted to be king. About to battle, on the gengyin day, King Zhao died in the army camp. Zi Lv said: 'The king's illness was severe. He abandoned his son and yielded to the group of ministers. The minister so permitted the king to broaden the king's intent. Now the lord king has died. How dare the minister forget the lord king's intent!' He then planned with Zi Xi and Zi Qi. They hid troops and closed the roads. They welcomed the Yue woman's son Zhang and established him. This was King Hui. They then dismissed the troops and returned. They buried King Zhao.
62
惠王二年，子西召故平王太子建之子勝於吳，以為巢大夫，號曰白公。 白公好兵而下士，欲報仇。 六年，白公請兵令尹子西伐鄭。 初，白公父建亡在鄭，鄭殺之，白公亡走吳，子西復召之，故以此怨鄭，欲伐之。 子西許而未為發兵。 八年，晉伐鄭，鄭告急楚，楚使子西救鄭，受賂而去。 白公勝怒，乃遂與勇力死士石乞等襲殺令尹子西、子綦於朝，因劫惠王，置之高府，欲弒之。 惠王從者屈固負王亡走昭王夫人宮。 白公自立為王。 月餘，會葉公來救楚，楚惠王之徒與共攻白公，殺之。 惠王乃復位。 是歲也，滅陳而縣之。
In King Hui's second year, Zi Xi summoned the former King Ping's crown prince Jian's son Sheng from Wu. He made him the Chao grandee and called him White Gong. White Gong loved military affairs and humbled himself before worthy men, wishing to take revenge. In the sixth year, Bai Gong requested troops from the lingyin Zixi to attack Zheng. Initially, White Gong's father Jian fled and was in Zheng. Zheng killed him. White Gong fled to Wu. Zi Xi summoned him again. Therefore, he resented the state of Zheng with this and desired to attack it. Zixi agreed but had not yet mobilized the troops. In the eighth year, Jin attacked Zheng. Zheng sent an urgent report to Chu, and Chu sent Zi Xi to rescue Zheng, but he accepted a bribe and withdrew. White Gong Sheng was enraged. He then joined with Shi Qi and other brave men ready to die, launched a surprise attack, and killed Ling Yin Zi Xi and Zi Qi at court. He then seized King Hui and placed him in the Gao residence, intending to murder him. King Hui's follower Qu Gu carried the king and fled to King Zhao's lady's palace. White Gong established himself as king. More than a month later, Ye Gong came to save Chu. King Hui of Chu's followers attacked White Gong together with him and killed him. King Hui then restored his position. That year, they extinguished Chen and made it a county.
63
十三年，吳王夫差彊，陵齊、晉，來伐楚。 十六年，越滅吳。 四十二年，楚滅蔡。 四十四年，楚滅杞。 與秦平。 是時越已滅吳而不能正江、淮北； 楚東侵，廣地至泗上。
In the thirteenth year, King Fu Chai of Wu was strong. He overawed Qi and Jin and came to attack Chu. In the sixteenth year, Yue extinguished Wu. In the forty-second year, Chu extinguished Cai. In the forty-fourth year, Chu brought the state of Qi to an end. They made peace with Qin. At this time Yue had already extinguished Wu but could not control the north of the Jiang and Huai; Chu invaded east and broadened its land to the upper reaches of the Si.
64
五十七年，惠王卒，子簡王中立。
In the fifty-seventh year, King Hui died, and his son King Jian Zhong ascended the throne.
65
簡王元年，北伐滅莒。 八年，魏文侯、韓武子、趙桓子始列為諸侯。
In King Jian's first year, they attacked north and extinguished Ju. In the eighth year, Marquis Wen of Wei, Wuzi of Han, and Huanzi of Zhao first began to be ranked among the feudal lords.
66
二十四年，簡王卒，子聲王當立。 聲王六年，盜殺聲王，子悼王熊疑立。 悼王二年，三晉來伐楚，至乘丘而還。 四年，楚伐周。 鄭殺子陽。 九年，伐韓，取負黍。 十一年，三晉伐楚，敗我大梁、榆關。 楚厚賂秦，與之平。 二十一年，悼王卒，子肅王臧立。
In the twenty-fourth year, King Jian died, and his son King Sheng Dang ascended the throne. In King Sheng's sixth year, a robber killed King Sheng, and his son King Dao Xiong Yi ascended the throne. In King Dao's second year, the three Jin came to attack Chu, arrived at Cheng Qiu, and returned. In the fourth year, Chu attacked Zhou. Zheng killed Zi Yang. In the ninth year, they attacked Han and took Fushu. In the eleventh year, the Three Jin attacked Chu and defeated our forces at Daliang and Yuguan. Chu heavily bribed Qin and made peace with it. In the twenty-first year, King Dao died, and his son King Su Zang ascended the throne.
67
肅王四年，蜀伐楚，取茲方。 於是楚為捍關以距之。 十年，魏取我魯陽。 十一年，肅王卒，無子，立其弟熊良夫，是為宣王。
In King Su's fourth year, Shu attacked Chu and took Ci Fang. Chu then built Hanguan Pass against them. In the tenth year, Wei took our Luyang. In the eleventh year, King Su died with no sons. They established his younger brother Xiong Liang Fu. This was King Xuan.
68
宣王六年，周天子賀秦獻公。 秦始復彊，而三晉益大，魏惠王、齊威王尤彊。 三十年，秦封衛鞅於商，南侵楚。 是年，宣王卒，子威王熊商立。
In King Xuan's sixth year, the Zhou Son of Heaven congratulated Duke Xian of Qin. Qin began to be strong again, and the three Jin became increasingly great. King Hui of Wei and King Wei of Qi were especially strong. In the thirtieth year, Qin enfeoffed Wei Yang at Shang, and Wei Yang invaded Chu to the south. This year, King Xuan died, and his son King Wei Xiong Shang ascended the throne.
69
威王六年，周顯王致文武胙於秦惠王。
In King Wei's sixth year, King Xian of Zhou presented the Wen and Wu offerings to King Hui of Qin.
70
七年，齊孟嘗君父田嬰欺楚，楚威王伐齊，敗之於徐州，而令齊必逐田嬰。 田嬰恐，張丑偽謂楚王曰：「王所以戰勝於徐州者，田盼子不用也。 盼子者，有功於國，而百姓為之用。 嬰子弗善而用申紀。 申紀者，大臣不附，百姓不為用，故王勝之也。 今王逐嬰子，嬰子逐，盼子必用矣。 復搏其士卒以與王遇，必不便於王矣。」 楚王因弗逐也。
In the seventh year, Tian Ying, father of Lord Mengchang of Qi, deceived Chu. King Wei of Chu attacked Qi, defeated it at Xuzhou, and ordered Qi to expel Tian Ying. Tian Ying feared. Zhang Chou falsely told the Chu king, saying: 'The reason the king achieved victory at Xu Zhou was that Tian Pan Zi was not used. Pan Zi had rendered service to the state, and the common people were willing to serve him. Tian Ying’s son was unworthy and employed Shen Ji. As for Shen Ji, the ministers were not attached to him, and the common people were not used for him. Therefore, the king defeated him. Now if the king expels Ying's son, and he is driven out, Pan Zi will certainly be employed. If they again gather their officers and soldiers to meet the king, it will certainly be inconvenient for the king.' The King of Chu therefore did not expel him.
71
十一年，威王卒，子懷王熊槐立。 魏聞楚喪，伐楚，取我陘山。
In the eleventh year, King Wei died, and his son King Huai Xiong Huai ascended the throne. Wei heard that Chu was in mourning and attacked Chu, taking our Xingshan.
72
懷王元年，張儀始相秦惠王。 四年，秦惠王初稱王。
In King Huai's first year, Zhang Yi began as prime minister to King Hui of Qin. In the fourth year, King Hui of Qin first called himself king.
73
六年，楚使柱國昭陽將兵而攻魏，破之於襄陵，得八邑。 又移兵而攻齊，齊王患之。 陳軫適為秦使齊，齊王曰：「為之柰何？」 陳軫曰：「王勿憂，請令罷之。」 即往見昭陽軍中，曰：「願聞楚國之法，破軍殺將者何以貴之？」 昭陽曰：「其官為上柱國，封上爵執珪。」 陳軫曰：「其有貴於此者乎？」 昭陽曰：「令尹。」 陳軫曰：「今君已為令尹矣，此國冠之上。 臣請得譬之。 人有遺其舍人一卮酒者，舍人相謂曰：『數人飲此，不足以遍，請遂畫地為蛇，蛇先成者獨飲之。』 一人曰：『吾蛇先成。』 舉酒而起，曰：『吾能為之足。』 及其為之足，而後成人奪之酒而飲之，曰：『蛇固無足，今為之足，是非蛇也。』 今君相楚而攻魏，破軍殺將，功莫大焉，冠之上不可以加矣。 今又移兵而攻齊，攻齊勝之，官爵不加於此； 攻之不勝，身死爵奪，有毀於楚：此為蛇為足之說也。 不若引兵而去以德齊，此持滿之術也。」 昭陽曰：「善。」 引兵而去。
In the sixth year, Chu sent the zhuguo Zhao Yang to lead troops against Wei. He defeated them at Xiangling and gained eight towns. He again shifted troops to attack Qi, and the Qi king was worried. Chen Zhen happened to be a Qin envoy to Qi. The Qi king said: 'What should we do about it?' Chen Zhen said: 'The king should not worry. Please allow me to command them to stop it.' He immediately went to see Zhao Yang in the army camp and said: 'I wish to hear the law of Chu state. How do you reward one who breaks an army and kills a general?' Zhao Yang said: 'His office becomes the upper pillar state, and he is enfeoffed with the upper rank and holds a jade tablet.' Chen Zhen said, “Is there any honor greater than this?” Zhao Yang said: 'The Ling Yin.' Chen Zhen said: 'Now the lord is already the Ling Yin. This is above the state crown. The minister requests to use a parable for it. Someone left his attendants one cup of wine. The attendants said to each other: 'Several people drinking this is not sufficient to go around. Please then draw a snake on the ground, and the one whose snake is completed first will drink it alone. One person said: 'My snake is completed first. He raised the wine and rose, saying: 'I can add feet to it. When he had finished making feet for it, then another person seized the wine and drank it, saying: 'A snake originally has no feet. Now that you have made feet for it, this is not a snake. Now the lord, as prime minister of Chu, attacked Wei, broke the army and killed the general. No merit is greater. Nothing can be added above the crown. Now you again shift troops to attack the state of Qi. If you attack Qi and win, your office and rank will not be added to this; if you attack and do not win, you will die, your rank will be seized, and there will be harm to Chu. This is the saying of adding feet to a snake. It would be better to lead troops away and bestow virtue on Qi. This is the technique of holding what is full.' Zhao Yang said: 'Good.' He led troops and departed.
74
燕、韓君初稱王。 秦使張儀與楚、齊、魏相會，盟齧桑。
The Yan and Han lords first called themselves king. Qin sent Zhang Yi to meet with Chu, Qi, and Wei. They formed an alliance at Nie Sang.
75
十一年，蘇秦約從山東六國共攻秦，楚懷王為從長。 至函谷關，秦出兵擊六國，六國兵皆引而歸，齊獨後。 十二年，齊湣王伐敗趙、魏軍，秦亦伐敗韓，與齊爭長。
In the eleventh year, Su Qin allied the six states east of the mountains for a joint attack on Qin. King Huai of Chu was the alliance leader. They arrived at Han Gu pass. Qin sent troops to attack the six states. The six states' troops all withdrew and returned. Qi alone was later. In the twelfth year, King Min of Qi attacked and defeated the Zhao and Wei armies. Qin also attacked and defeated Han. They contended for leadership with Qi.
76
十六年，秦欲伐齊，而楚與齊從親，秦惠王患之，乃宣言張儀免相，使張儀南見楚王，謂楚王曰：「敝邑之王所甚說者無先大王，雖儀之所甚願為門闌之廝者亦無先大王。 敝邑之王所甚憎者無先齊王，雖儀之所甚憎者亦無先齊王。 而大王和之，是以敝邑之王不得事王，而令儀亦不得為門闌之廝也。 王為儀閉關而絕齊，今使使者從儀西取笔秦所分楚商於之地方六百里，如是則齊弱矣。 是北弱齊，西德於秦，私商於以為富，此一計而三利俱至也。」 懷王大悅，乃置相璽於張儀，日與置酒，宣言「吾復得吾商於之地」。 群臣皆賀，而陳軫獨弔。 懷王曰：「何故？」 陳軫對曰：「秦之所為重王者，以王之有齊也。 今地未可得而齊交先絕，是楚孤也。 夫秦又何重孤國哉，必輕楚矣。 且先出地而後絕齊，則秦計不為。 先絕齊而後責地，則必見欺於張儀。 見欺於張儀，則王必怨之。 怨之，是西起秦患，北絕齊交。 西起秦患，北絕齊交，則兩國之兵必至。 臣故弔。」 楚王弗聽，因使一將軍西受封地。
In the sixteenth year, Qin desired to attack Qi, but Chu was allied closely with Qi. King Hui of Qin worried about it, then proclaimed that Zhang Yi was dismissed as prime minister, and sent Zhang Yi south to see the Chu king. He told the Chu king, saying: 'What pleases the king of my humble state most has none before the great king. Though what I most wish to be is a gate barrier servant, there is also none before the great king. What the king of my humble state hates most has none before the Qi king. Though what I hate most also has none before the Qi king. But the great king allies with him. Therefore, the king of my humble state cannot serve the king, and this causes Yi also not to be able to be a gate barrier servant. The king, for Yi, closes the pass and cuts off Qi. Now send an envoy to follow Yi west to take the land of six hundred li that Qin divided from Chu at Shang Yu. Like this, then Qi will be weak. This weakens Qi to the north, bestows virtue on Qin to the west, and privately makes Shang Yu wealth. This one plan brings three benefits all at once.' King Huai was greatly pleased, then placed the prime minister seal on Zhang Yi, daily set wine with him, and proclaimed: 'I again obtain my Shang Yu land.' The ministers all offered congratulations, but Chen Zhen alone mourned. King Huai said: 'What is the reason?' Chen Zhen answered, saying: 'The reason Qin respects the king is that the king has Qi. Now the land has not yet been obtained, but the alliance with Qi has already been cut off. This will leave Chu isolated. Indeed, why would Qin respect an isolated state? It will certainly slight Chu. Moreover, if we first receive the land and only then cut off Qi, Qin’s scheme will not work. If we cut off Qi first and only then demand the land, Zhang Yi will certainly deceive us. Once deceived by Zhang Yi, the king will certainly resent him. Resenting it will raise Qin calamity to the west and cut off the Qi alliance to the north. Raising Qin calamity to the west and cutting off the Qi alliance to the north will cause both states' troops to certainly arrive. The minister therefore mourns.' The King of Chu did not listen. He therefore sent a general west to receive the promised enfeoffed land.
77
張儀至秦，詳醉墜車，稱病不出三月，地不可得。 楚王曰：「儀以吾絕齊為尚薄邪？」 乃使勇士宋遺北辱齊王。 齊王大怒，折楚符而合於秦。 秦齊交合，張儀乃起朝，謂楚將軍曰：「子何不受地？ 從某至某，廣袤六里。」 楚將軍曰：「臣之所以見命者六百里，不聞六里。」 即以歸報懷王。 懷王大怒，興師將伐秦。 陳軫又曰：「伐秦非計也。 不如因賂之一名都，與之伐齊，是我亡於秦，取償於齊也，吾國尚可全。 今王已絕於齊而責欺於秦，是吾合秦齊之交而來天下之兵也，國必大傷矣。」 楚王不聽，遂絕和於秦，發兵西攻秦。 秦亦發兵擊之。
Zhang Yi arrived in Qin, pretended to be drunk, and fell from his chariot. He claimed illness and did not appear for three months, so the land could not be obtained. The Chu king said: 'Does Yi still consider my cutting off Qi to be insufficient?' He then sent the brave warrior Song Yi north to insult the Qi king. The Qi king was greatly angered. He broke the Chu tally and allied with Qin. Qin and Qi allied. Zhang Yi then rose at court and told the Chu general, saying: 'Why do you not accept the land? From such-and-such to such-and-such, the breadth and length are six li.' The Chu general said: 'What the minister received in command was six hundred li. I have not heard of six li.' He immediately returned with this and reported to King Huai. King Huai was furious. He raised troops and prepared to attack Qin. Chen Zhen again said: 'Attacking Qin is not a plan. It would be better to bribe it with one famous city and attack the state of Qi together with it. This way we lose to Qin but take compensation from Qi. Our state can still be preserved. Now the king has already cut off from Qi but demands to be deceived by Qin. This makes us unite the Qin and Qi alliance and bring the world's troops. The state will certainly be greatly harmed.' The King of Chu did not listen. He then broke off peace with Qin and mobilized troops to attack Qin in the west. Qin also mobilized troops and attacked it.
78
十七年春，與秦戰丹陽，秦大敗我軍，斬甲士八萬，虜我大將軍屈丐、裨將軍逢侯丑等七十餘人，遂取漢中之郡。 楚懷王大怒，乃悉國兵復襲秦，戰於藍田，大敗楚軍。 韓、魏聞楚之困，乃南襲楚，至於鄧。 楚聞，乃引兵歸。
In the spring of the seventeenth year, we battled with Qin at Dan Yang. Qin greatly defeated our army, beheaded eighty thousand armored soldiers, captured our grand general Qu Gai, deputy general Feng Hou Chou, and more than seventy others, and then took the Hanzhong commandery. King Huai of Chu was greatly angered. He then sent all the state's troops to again attack Qin. They battled at Lan Tian, and Qin greatly defeated the Chu army. Han and Wei heard of Chu's distress and then attacked Chu from the south, reaching Deng. Chu heard of this and then led the troops back.
79
十八年，秦使使約復與楚親，分漢中之半以和楚。 楚王曰：「願得張儀，不願得地。」 張儀聞之，請之楚。 秦王曰：「楚且甘心於子，柰何？」 張儀曰：「臣善其左右靳尚，靳尚又能得事於楚王幸姬鄭袖，袖所言無不從者。 且儀以前使負楚以商於之約，今秦楚大戰，有惡，臣非面自謝楚不解。 且大王在，楚不宜敢取儀。 誠殺儀以便國，臣之願也。」 儀遂使楚。
In the eighteenth year, Qin sent an envoy promising to renew friendly relations with Chu and to divide half of Hanzhong as the price of peace. The King of Chu said: 'I want Zhang Yi, not land.' Zhang Yi heard this and requested permission to go to Chu. The Qin king said: 'Chu has set its heart on you. What is to be done?' Zhang Yi said: 'I am on good terms with Jin Shang, one of his attendants. Jin Shang can also gain the service of Zheng Xiu, the King of Chu's favored concubine. Whatever Xiu says, nothing is refused. Moreover, when I previously served as envoy, I wronged Chu over the Shangyu agreement. Now Qin and Chu have fought a great battle and become enemies; I must personally apologize to Chu to resolve it. Moreover, with the great king present, Chu would not dare to take Yi. Truly, if killing Yi would benefit the state, that is the minister's wish.' Yi then went as envoy to Chu.
80
至，懷王不見，因而囚張儀，欲殺之。 儀私於靳尚，靳尚為請懷王曰：「拘張儀，秦王必怒。 天下見楚無秦，必輕王矣。」 又謂夫人鄭袖曰：「秦王甚愛張儀，而王欲殺之，今將以上庸之地六縣賂楚，以美人聘楚王，以宮中善歌者為之媵。 楚王重地，秦女必貴，而夫人必斥矣。 夫人不若言而出之。」 鄭袖卒言張儀於王而出之。 儀出，懷王因善遇儀，儀因說楚王以叛從約而與秦合親，約婚姻。 張儀已去，屈原使從齊來，諫王曰：「何不誅張儀？」 懷王悔，使人追儀，弗及。 是歲，秦惠王卒。
When he arrived, King Huai did not see him. Therefore, the king imprisoned Zhang Yi and desired to kill him. Yi privately met with Jin Shang. Jin Shang then requested of King Huai, saying: 'If we detain Zhang Yi, the Qin king will certainly be angry. If the world sees Chu without Qin, it will certainly slight the king.' He again told the lady Zheng Xiu, saying: 'The Qin king very much loves Zhang Yi, but the king desires to kill him. Now Qin will bribe Chu with the land of Shang Yong's six counties, betroth the Chu king with a beauty, and provide palace singers as attendants. The King of Chu values land. The Qin woman will certainly be honored, and Your Ladyship will certainly be demoted. It would be better for the lady to speak and have him released.' Zheng Xiu finally spoke to the king and secured Zhang Yi’s release. After Zhang Yi was released, King Huai treated him well. Zhang Yi then persuaded the King of Chu to break the alliance agreement, become close to Qin, and agree to a marriage alliance. Zhang Yi had already departed when Qu Yuan's envoy came from Qi and admonished the king, saying: 'Why did you not execute Zhang Yi?' King Huai regretted this and sent men to pursue Zhang Yi, but they did not catch him. This year, King Hui of Qin died.
81
二十［六］年，齊湣王欲為從長，惡楚之與秦合，乃使使遺楚王書曰：「寡人患楚之不察於尊名也。 今秦惠王死，武王立，張儀走魏，樗裏疾、公孫衍用，而楚事秦。 夫樗裏疾善乎韓，而公孫衍善乎魏； 楚必事秦，韓、魏恐，必因二人求合於秦，則燕、趙亦宜事秦。 四國爭事秦，則楚為郡縣矣。 王何不與寡人并力收韓、魏、燕、趙，與為從而尊周室，以案兵息民，令於天下？ 莫敢不樂聽，則王名成矣。 王率諸侯并伐，破秦必矣。 王取武關、蜀、漢之地，私吳、越之富而擅江海之利，韓、魏割上黨，西薄函谷，則楚之彊百萬也。 且王欺於張儀，亡地漢中，兵銼藍田，天下莫不代王懷怒。 今乃欲先事秦！ 願大王孰計之。」
In the twenty-[six]th year, King Min of Qi desired to be the alliance leader and hated Chu's alliance with Qin. He then sent an envoy who delivered a letter to the Chu king, saying: 'I worry that Chu does not discern the honorable name. Now King Hui of Qin has died, and King Wu has been established. Zhang Yi has fled to Wei. Chuli Ji and Gongsun Yan are employed, yet Chu serves Qin. Indeed, Chuli Ji is friendly with Han, and Gongsun Yan is friendly with Wei; The state of Chu will certainly serve Qin. The states of Han and Wei will fear and certainly seek to unite with Qin through these two people. Then the states of Yan and Zhao will also appropriately serve Qin. If the four states compete to serve Qin, then Chu will be reduced to commanderies and counties. Why does the king not combine strength with me to gather Han, Wei, Yan, and Zhao, form an alliance with them to honor the Zhou chamber, quell the troops and rest the people, and command the world? None will dare not to happily obey. Then the king's reputation will be complete. If the king leads the feudal lords in a united attack, he will certainly break Qin. If the king takes the lands of Wu Guan, Shu, and Han, privately enjoys Wu and Yue's wealth and monopolizes the Jiang and Hai profits, and if Han and Wei cede Shang Dang and approach Han Gu to the west, then Chu's strength will be a million. Moreover, the king was deceived by Zhang Yi, lost the land of Hanzhong, and saw his troops defeated at Lantian. Everyone in the world harbors anger on the king's behalf. And now you desire to be the first to serve Qin! This is unacceptable! I wish the great king to carefully plan it.'
82
楚王業已欲和於秦，見齊王書，猶豫不決，下其議群臣。 群臣或言和秦，或曰聽齊。 昭雎曰：「王雖東取地於越，不足以刷恥； 必且取地於秦，而後足以刷恥於諸侯。 王不如深善齊、韓以重樗裏疾，如是則王得韓、齊之重以求地矣。 秦破韓宜陽，而韓猶復事秦者，以先王墓在平陽，而秦之武遂去之七十里，以故尤畏秦。 不然，秦攻三川，趙攻上黨，楚攻河外，韓必亡。 楚之救韓，不能使韓不亡，然存韓者楚也。 韓已得武遂於秦，以河山為塞，所報德莫如楚厚，臣以為其事王必疾。 齊之所信於韓者，以韓公子眛為齊相也。 韓已得武遂於秦，王甚善之，使之以齊、韓重樗裏疾，疾得齊、韓之重，其主弗敢棄疾也。 今又益之以楚之重，樗里子必言秦，復與楚之侵地矣。」 於是懷王許之，竟不合秦，而合齊以善韓。
The Chu king already desired peace with Qin. He saw the Qi king's letter and hesitated undecided. He put it to the group of ministers to discuss. The group of ministers, some said to make peace with Qin, others said to listen to Qi. Zhao Ju said: 'Though the king takes land from Yue to the east, it is not sufficient to wash away the shame; He must also take land from Qin; only then will it be enough to wash away the shame before the feudal lords. The king should form deep friendships with Qi and Han in order to add weight to Chuli Ji. In this way, the king can use the influence of Han and Qi to seek land. Qin broke Han's Yi Yang, but the state of Han still again served Qin because their former king's tombs were in Ping Yang, and Qin's Wu Sui was only seventy li distant. Therefore, they especially feared Qin. Not so. If Qin attacks San Chuan, Zhao attacks Shang Dang, and Chu attacks He Wai, the state of Han will certainly perish. Chu’s rescue of Han cannot keep Han from perishing, yet the one who preserves Han is Chu. Han has already received Wusui from Qin and uses the rivers and mountains as a barrier. No one repays virtue more generously than Chu; I believe Han will certainly serve the king. The reason Qi is trusted by Han is that Han's Prince Mei serves as Qi's prime minister. Han has already obtained Wusui from Qin. If the king treats Han generously and uses the weight of Qi and Han to support Chuli Ji, then Ji will have the backing of Qi and Han, and his lord will not dare abandon him. Now if we again add Chu's weight to it, Chulizi will certainly speak to Qin, and the lands Qin seized from Chu will be returned.' King Huai then permitted it. In the end he did not ally with Qin, but allied with Qi in order to befriend Han.
83
二十四年，倍齊而合秦。 秦昭王初立，乃厚賂於楚。 楚往迎婦。 二十五年，懷王入與秦昭王盟，約於黃棘。 秦復與楚上庸。 二十六年，齊、韓、魏為楚負其從親而合於秦，三國共伐楚。 楚使太子入質於秦而請救。 秦乃遣客卿通將兵救楚，三國引兵去。
In the twenty-fourth year, he turned against Qi and allied with Qin. King Zhao of Qin was first established and then heavily bribed Chu. Chu went to welcome the bride. In the twenty-fifth year, King Huai entered and allied with King Zhao of Qin, with the agreement at Huang Ji. Qin again gave Shang Yong to Chu. In the twenty-sixth year, because Chu betrayed the close alliance and allied with Qin, the three states of Qi, Han, and Wei jointly attacked Chu. Chu sent the crown prince to Qin as a hostage and requested aid. Qin then sent the guest minister Tong to lead troops and rescue Chu. The three states withdrew their armies and departed.
84
二十七年，秦大夫有私與楚太子鬬，楚太子殺之而亡歸。 二十八年，秦乃與齊、韓、魏共攻楚，殺楚將唐眛，取我重丘而去。 二十九年，秦復攻楚，大破楚，楚軍死者二萬，殺我將軍景缺。 懷王恐，乃使太子為質於齊以求平。 三十年，秦復伐楚，取八城。 秦昭王遺楚王書曰：「始寡人與王約為弟兄，盟于黃棘，太子為質，至驩也。 太子陵殺寡人之重臣，不謝而亡去，寡人誠不勝怒，使兵侵君王之邊。 今聞君王乃令太子質於齊以求平。 寡人與楚接境壤界，故為婚姻，所從相親久矣。 而今秦楚不驩，則無以令諸侯。 寡人願與君王會武關，面相約，結盟而去，寡人之願也。 敢以聞下執事。」 楚懷王見秦王書，患之。 欲往，恐見欺； 無往，恐秦怒。 昭雎曰：「王毋行，而發兵自守耳。 秦虎狼，不可信，有并諸侯之心。」 懷王子子蘭勸王行，曰：「柰何絕秦之驩心！」 於是往會秦昭王。 昭王詐令一將軍伏兵武關，號為秦王。 楚王至，則閉武關，遂與西至咸陽，朝章臺，如蕃臣，不與亢禮。 楚懷王大怒，悔不用昭子言。 秦因留楚王，要以割巫、黔中之郡。 楚王欲盟，秦欲先得地。 楚王怒曰：「秦詐我而又彊要我以地！」 不復許秦。 秦因留之。
In the twenty-seventh year, a Qin grandee privately fought with the Chu crown prince. The Chu crown prince killed him and fled back to Chu. In the twenty-eighth year, Qin then together with Qi, Han, and Wei attacked Chu. They killed the Chu general Tang Mei, took our Chong Qiu, and departed. In the twenty-ninth year, Qin again attacked Chu and shattered the Chu army. Twenty thousand Chu soldiers died, and our general Jing Que was killed. King Huai grew afraid and sent the crown prince as a hostage to Qi to seek peace. In the thirtieth year, Qin once more attacked Chu and took eight cities. King Zhao of Qin sent the Chu king a letter, saying: 'At the beginning, I and the king agreed to be brothers, allied at Huang Ji, with the crown prince as hostage, and we arrived at harmony. The crown prince insulted and killed my important minister. He did not apologize and fled away. I truly cannot bear the anger and sent troops to invade the lord king's borders. Now I hear that the lord king has commanded the crown prince to be hostage in Qi to seek peace. My borders and territories connect with Chu. For this reason, we made marriage alliances, and our relations have long been close. But now Qin and Chu are not in harmony. In that case, there is no way to command the feudal lords. I wish to meet with the lord king at Wu Guan, face to face agree, form an alliance and depart. This is my wish. I dare to inform your lower servants.' King Huai of Chu saw the Qin king's letter and was worried by it. He desired to go but feared to be deceived; If he did not go, he feared Qin's anger. Zhao Ju said, “The king should not go. You should simply mobilize troops and defend yourself. Qin is a tiger and a wolf. It cannot be trusted, and it harbors the ambition to annex the feudal lords.” King Huai’s son Zilan urged the king to go, saying, “How can we cut off Qin’s goodwill?” He then went to meet with King Zhao of Qin. King Zhao deceitfully ordered a general to hide troops at Wuguan and present himself as the King of Qin. When the King of Chu arrived, Qin closed Wuguan and took him west to Xianyang. At Zhangtai he attended court like a vassal minister and was denied equal ceremony. King Huai of Chu was greatly angered and regretted not using Zhao Zi's words. Qin then detained the King of Chu and demanded that he cede Wu and Qianzhong commanderies. The King of Chu wanted to conclude a covenant, but Qin demanded the land first. The King of Chu said angrily, “Qin deceived me, and now it tries to force me to surrender land!” He refused to agree to Qin again. Qin therefore detained him.
85
楚大臣患之，乃相與謀曰：「吾王在秦不得還，要以割地，而太子為質於齊，齊、秦合謀，則楚無國矣。」 乃欲立懷王子在國者。 昭雎曰：「王與太子俱困於諸侯，而今又倍王命而立其庶子，不宜。」 乃詐赴於齊，齊湣王謂其相曰：「不若留太子以求楚之淮北。」 相曰：「不可，郢中立王，是吾抱空質而行不義於天下也。」 或曰：「不然。 郢中立王，因與其新王市曰『予我下東國，吾為王殺太子，不然，將與三國共立之』，然則東國必可得矣。」 齊王卒用其相計而歸楚太子。 太子橫至，立為王，是為頃襄王。 乃告于秦曰：「賴社稷神靈，國有王矣。」
The Chu ministers were troubled and plotted together, saying, “Our king is in Qin and cannot return, and Qin is demanding land from us. The crown prince is a hostage in Qi; if Qi and Qin join together, Chu will be finished.” They then wished to establish one of King Huai’s sons who was still in the state. Zhao Ju said, “The king and crown prince are both trapped among the feudal lords. Now to go against the king’s command and establish one of his lesser sons would not be proper.” They then sent a false announcement of mourning to Qi. King Min of Qi said to his chancellor, “It would be better to detain the crown prince and demand Chu’s Huaibei lands.” The chancellor said, “That will not do. If Ying establishes a king, then we will be holding an empty hostage and acting unrighteously before the world.” Someone said: “Not so. If Ying has established a king, we can bargain with its new ruler, saying, ‘Give us your lower eastern lands, and I will kill the crown prince for you; otherwise, I will join Qin, Han, and Wei in attacking you.’" The King of Qi ultimately followed his chancellor’s plan and returned the Chu crown prince. Crown Prince Heng arrived and was set up as king; this was King Qingxiang. They then informed Qin, “Relying on the spirits of the altars of soil and grain, the state now has a king.”
86
頃襄王橫元年，秦要懷王不可得地，楚立王以應秦，秦昭王怒，發兵出武關攻楚，大敗楚軍，斬首五萬，取析十五城而去。 二年，楚懷王亡逃歸，秦覺之，遮楚道，懷王恐，乃從閒道走趙以求歸。 趙主父在代，其子惠王初立，行王事，恐，不敢入楚王。 楚王欲走魏，秦追至，遂與秦使復之秦。 懷王遂發病。 頃襄王三年，懷王卒于秦，秦歸其喪于楚。 楚人皆憐之，如悲親戚。 諸侯由是不直秦。 秦楚絕。
In King Qingxiang Heng’s first year, Qin demanded land from King Huai but could not obtain it. Chu had established a king in response to Qin, and King Zhao of Qin was angry. He sent troops out of Wuguan to attack Chu, greatly defeated the Chu army, beheaded fifty thousand, and took sixteen cities. In the second year, King Huai of Chu escaped and tried to return. Qin learned of this and blocked the road to Chu, so King Huai grew afraid and fled by a side road to Zhao, hoping Zhao would receive him. Zhao Zhufu was in Dai. His son King Hui had just taken the throne and was managing royal affairs; he was afraid and did not dare receive the King of Chu. The King of Chu wanted to flee to Wei, but Qin caught up with him, and he returned to Qin with the Qin envoy. King Huai then fell ill. In King Qing Xiang's third year, King Huai died in Qin. Qin returned his funeral to the state of Chu. All the people of Chu pitied him, as if grieving for a relative. The feudal lords therefore judged Qin unjust. Qin and Chu broke off relations.
87
六年，秦使白起伐韓於伊闕，大勝，斬首二十四萬。 秦乃遺楚王書曰：「楚倍秦，秦且率諸侯伐楚，爭一旦之命。 願王之飭士卒，得一樂戰。」 楚頃襄王患之，乃謀復與秦平。 七年，楚迎婦於秦，秦楚復平。
In the sixth year, Qin sent Bai Qi to attack Han at Yi Que. He was greatly victorious and beheaded twenty-four thousand. Qin then sent the King of Chu a letter, saying, “Chu has betrayed Qin. Qin is about to lead the feudal lords in attacking Chu and settle the matter in a single day. I hope the king will ready his soldiers, so that we may have the pleasure of one battle.” King Qingxiang of Chu was troubled by this and planned to seek peace with Qin again. In the seventh year, Chu welcomed a bride from Qin. Qin and Chu were again at peace.
88
十一年，齊秦各自稱為帝； 月餘，復歸帝為王。
In the eleventh year, Qi and Qin each called themselves emperor; A little more than a month later, they abandoned the imperial title and went back to calling themselves kings.
89
十四年，楚頃襄王與秦昭王好會于宛，結和親。 十五年，楚王與秦、三晉、燕共伐齊，取淮北。 十六年，與秦昭王好會於鄢。 其秋，復與秦王會穰。
In the fourteenth year, King Qing Xiang of Chu and King Zhao of Qin had a friendly meeting at Wan and formed a peace marriage alliance. In the fifteenth year, the King of Chu joined Qin, the Three Jin, and Yan in attacking Qi and taking Huaibei. In the sixteenth year, he had a friendly meeting with King Zhao of Qin at Yan. That autumn, he again met with the Qin king at Rang.
90
十八年，楚人有好以弱弓微繳加歸鴈之上者，頃襄王聞，召而問之。 對曰：「小臣之好射鶀鴈，羅鸗，小矢之發也，何足為大王道也。 且稱楚之大，因大王之賢，所弋非直此也。 昔者三王以弋道德，五霸以弋戰國。 故秦、魏、燕、趙者，鶀鴈也； 齊、魯、韓、衛者，青首也； 騶、費、郯、邳者，羅鸗也。 外其餘則不足射者。 見鳥六雙，以王何取？ 王何不以聖人為弓，以勇士為繳，時張而射之？ 此六雙者，可得而囊載也。 其樂非特朝昔之樂也，其獲非特鳧鴈之實也。 王朝張弓而射魏之大梁之南，加其右臂而徑屬之於韓，則中國之路絕而上蔡之郡壞矣。 還射圉之東，解魏左肘而外擊定陶，則魏之東外棄而大宋、方與二郡者舉矣。 且魏斷二臂，顛越矣； 膺擊郯國，大梁可得而有也。 王綪繳蘭臺，飲馬西河，定魏大梁，此一發之樂也。 若王之於弋誠好而不厭，則出寶弓，碆新繳，射噣鳥於東海，還蓋長城以為防，朝射東莒，夕發浿丘，夜加即墨，顧據午道，則長城之東收而太山之北舉矣。 西結境於趙而北達於燕，三國布鶴，則從不待約而可成也。 北遊目於燕之遼東而南登望於越之會稽，此再發之樂也。 若夫泗上十二諸侯，左縈而右拂之，可一旦而盡也。 今秦破韓以為長憂，得列城而不敢守也； 伐魏而無功，擊趙而顧病，則秦魏之勇力屈矣，楚之故地漢中、析、酈可得而復有也。 王出寶弓，碆新繳，涉鄳塞，而待秦之倦也，山東、河內可得而一也。 勞民休眾，南面稱王矣。 故曰秦為大鳥，負海內而處，東面而立，左臂據趙之西南，右臂傅楚鄢郢，膺擊韓魏，垂頭中國，處既形便，勢有地利，奮翼鼓鶴，方三千里，則秦未可得獨招而夜射也。」 欲以激怒襄王，故對以此言。 襄王因召與語，遂言曰：「夫先王為秦所欺而客死於外，怨莫大焉。 今以匹夫有怨，尚有報萬乘，白公、子胥是也。 今楚之地方五千里，帶甲百萬，猶足以踴躍中野也，而坐受困，臣竊為大王弗取也。」 於是頃襄王遣使於諸侯，復為從，欲以伐秦。 秦聞之，發兵來伐楚。
In the eighteenth year, there was a man of Chu who liked using a weak bow and fine cord to shoot returning geese. King Qingxiang heard of him and summoned him for questioning. He replied, “Your humble servant’s hobby is shooting wild geese and netting ducks with small arrows. What is there in that worth telling Your Majesty? But if we speak of Chu’s greatness and Your Majesty’s worthiness, the quarry is not merely such birds. In ancient times, the Three Kings hunted for morality and virtue, and the Five Hegemons hunted among the Warring States. Thus, Qin, Wei, Yan, and Zhao are wild geese; Qi, Lu, Han, and Wei are the blue-headed ducks; Zou, Fei, Tan, and Pi are the ducks caught in nets. The other states are not worth a shot. I see six pairs of birds. Which ones will the king choose? Why does the king not use sages as his bow and brave warriors as his cord, drawing at the proper moment and shooting them? These six pairs could be bagged and carried off. The pleasure would not merely be the pleasure of a morning or evening, and the catch would not merely be the flesh of ducks and geese. If the king draws his bow in the morning and shoots south of Daliang in Wei, fastens onto its right arm, and links directly to Han, then the road through the Central States will be cut off, and Shangcai will be exposed. If he turns and shoots east of Yu, loosens Wei’s left elbow, and strikes Dingtao from outside, then Wei’s eastern exterior will be abandoned, and the two commanderies of Dasong and Fangyu can be taken. If Wei loses both arms, it will be overturned; if he strikes Tan in the chest, Daliang can be taken and held. If the king draws the cord at Lantai, waters his horses at Xihe, and settles matters at Daliang in Wei, this will be the pleasure of the first shot. If Your Majesty truly delights in hunting and does not tire of it, then bring out the precious bow, sharpen the new cord, shoot the long-beaked bird on the Eastern Sea, turn back and fix your gaze on Yan’s northern side, take in Zhao’s center, and make Han and Wei your assistants. If in the west you join your borders to Zhao and in the north reach Yan, the three states will be spread out like cranes, and the vertical alliance can be completed without waiting. Letting your gaze roam north to Yan’s Liaodong and climbing south to look toward Yue’s Kuaiji would be the pleasure of the second shot. As for the twelve feudal lords along the Si River, if you wheel around them on the left and sweep them on the right, they can all be exhausted in a single morning. Now Qin defeated Han and made it a lasting worry; it gained a line of cities but did not dare garrison them; when it attacked Wei it achieved nothing, and when it struck Zhao it had to look back in distress. Thus, the courage and strength of Qin and Wei are bent, and Chu’s old lands of Hanzhong, Xi, and Li can be recovered. If the king brings out the precious bow, sharpens the new cord, crosses the Mingsai barrier, and waits for Qin to grow weary, Shandong and Henei can be taken and united. You would relieve the people, rest the multitudes, face south, and be called king. Thus, it is said that Qin is a great bird, bearing all within the seas as it dwells there. It stands facing east, its left arm occupying southwestern Zhao, its right arm touching Chu’s Yan and Ying, its breast striking Han and Wei, and its head hanging over the Central States. Its position is already convenient, and its terrain gives it advantage. When it spreads its wings and beats them like a crane, it covers three thousand li square. Qin therefore cannot be summoned alone and shot by night.” He wished to stir King Qingxiang to anger, and therefore answered with these words. King Qingxiang therefore summoned him and spoke with him. He then said, “The former king was deceived by Qin and died abroad as a hostage. No resentment is greater than this. Now, when even a common man has a grievance, he can still take revenge on a state of ten thousand chariots; Bai Gong and Zixu are examples. Chu now has territory five thousand li square and a million armored troops, enough to leap across the central plains. Sitting still and receiving distress is not a course I would choose for Your Majesty.” King Qingxiang then sent envoys to the feudal lords, formed another vertical alliance, and intended to attack Qin. Qin heard of this and mobilized troops to attack Chu.
91
楚欲與齊韓連和伐秦，因欲圖周。 周王赧使武公謂楚相昭子曰：「三國以兵割周郊地以便輸，而南器以尊楚，臣以為不然。 夫弒共主，臣世君，大國不親； 以眾脅寡，小國不附。 大國不親，小國不附，不可以致名實。 名實不得，不足以傷民。 夫有圖周之聲，非所以為號也。」 昭子曰：「乃圖周則無之。 雖然，周何故不可圖也？」 對曰：「軍不五不攻，城不十不圍。 夫一周為二十晉，公之所知也。 韓嘗以二十萬之眾辱於晉之城下，銳士死，中士傷，而晉不拔。 公之無百韓以圖周，此天下之所知也。 夫怨結兩周以塞騶魯之心，交絕於齊，聲失天下，其為事危矣。 夫危兩周以厚三川，方城之外必為韓弱矣。 何以知其然也？ 西周之地，絕長補短，不過百里。 名為天下共主，裂其地不足以肥國，得其眾不足以勁兵。 雖無攻之，名為弒君。 然而好事之君，喜攻之臣，發號用兵，未嘗不以周為終始。 是何也？ 見祭器在焉，欲器之至而忘弒君之亂。 今韓以器之在楚，臣恐天下以器讎楚也。 臣請譬之。 夫虎肉臊，其兵利身，人猶攻之也。 若使澤中之麋蒙虎之皮，人之攻之必萬於虎矣。 裂楚之地，足以肥國； 詘楚之名，足以尊主。 今子將以欲誅殘天下之共主，居三代之傳器，吞三翮六翼，以高世主，非貪而何？ 《周書》曰『欲起無先』，故器南則兵至矣。」 於是楚計輟不行。
Chu wished to make peace with Qi and Han in order to attack Qin, and therefore wanted to plot against Zhou. King Nan of Zhou sent Duke Wu to tell Zhaozi, the Chu chancellor, “The three states intend to use troops to cut off the suburban lands of Zhou for easier transport, and to move the vessels south in order to honor Chu. I do not think this is right. Murdering the common lord and reducing a hereditary ruler to ministerial status will not draw the great states close; coercing the few with the many will not make the small states attach themselves. If the great states are not close and the small states do not attach themselves, reputation and substance cannot be achieved. If reputation and substance are not obtained, this is not worth injuring the people. To bear the reputation of plotting against Zhou is not a proper banner to raise.” Zhaozi said, “As for plotting against Zhou, there is no such thing. Even so, why could Zhou not be plotted against?” He replied, “An army does not attack unless it is five times as strong; a city is not besieged unless the besieging force is ten times as strong. One Zhou is worth twenty Jin states. You know this. Han once brought two hundred thousand men and was humiliated below the walls of Jin. Its elite soldiers died, its middle ranks were wounded, and still Jin was not taken. You do not possess a hundred Han states with which to plot against Zhou. This is known throughout the world. To make enemies of the two Zhou states would close the hearts of Zou and Lu, sever relations with Qi, and lose your reputation throughout the world. The affair would be dangerous. To endanger the two Zhou states in order to enrich Sanchuan would certainly weaken Han’s lands outside Fangcheng. How do we know it is so? The lands of Western Zhou, even if the long parts were cut off to fill out the short, would not exceed one hundred li. Although Zhou is called the common lord of the world, dividing its land would not be enough to enrich a state, and obtaining its people would not be enough to strengthen an army. Even without attacking it, one would still bear the name of murdering a ruler. However, lords who love affairs and ministers who love attacking, whenever they issue orders and use troops, invariably make Zhou their beginning and end. What is this? They see the sacrificial vessels there and desire to obtain them, forgetting the disorder caused by assassinating the lord. Now because the vessels are in Chu, the minister fears the world will make Chu an enemy because of the vessels. The minister requests to make a parable of it. Indeed, a tiger's meat is rancid, its weapons are sharp and its body strong, yet people still attack it. If a deer in the marsh wears tiger skin, people attacking it will certainly be ten thousand times more numerous than those attacking a tiger. Splitting Chu's lands is sufficient to enrich the state; Bending Chu’s reputation is enough to honor the lord. Now you intend, out of desire, to destroy and mutilate the common lord of the world and occupy the transmitted vessels of the Three Dynasties. You would swallow up the three pinions and six wings in order to exalt yourself above the rulers of the age. If this is not greed, then what is? The 'Zhou Book' says: 'If one desires to rise, there is no first.' Therefore, if the vessels go south, then troops will arrive.' Chu’s plan then stopped and was not carried out.
92
十九年，秦伐楚，楚軍敗，割上庸、漢北地予秦。 二十年，秦將白起拔我西陵。 二十一年，秦將白起遂拔我郢，燒先王墓夷陵。 楚襄王兵散，遂不復戰，東北保於陳城。 二十二年，秦復拔我巫、黔中郡。
In the nineteenth year, Qin attacked Chu. The Chu army was defeated, and Chu ceded the lands of Shangyong and Hanbei to Qin. In the twentieth year, the Qin general Bai Qi took our Xi Ling. In the twenty-first year, the Qin general Bai Qi then took our Ying and burned the former king's tombs at Yi Ling. King Xiang of Chu's troops scattered. He then no longer fought and defended northeast at the city of Chen. In the twenty-second year, Qin again took our Wu and Qianzhong commanderies.
93
二十三年，襄王乃收東地兵，得十餘萬，復西取秦所拔我江旁十五邑以為郡，距秦。 二十七年，使三萬人助三晉伐燕。 復與秦平，而入太子為質於秦。 楚使左徒侍太子於秦。
In the twenty-third year, King Xiang then gathered troops from the east lands, obtaining more than one hundred thousand. He again took to the west the fifteen cities Qin had taken along our Jiang River to make a commandery and resisted Qin. In the twenty-seventh year, he sent thirty thousand men to help the Three Jin attack Yan. He again made peace with Qin and sent the crown prince into Qin as a hostage. Chu sent the left attendant to accompany the crown prince in Qin.
94
三十六年，頃襄王病，太子亡歸。 秋，頃襄王卒，太子熊元代立，是為考烈王。 考烈王以左徒為令尹，封以吳，號春申君。
In the thirty-sixth year, King Qing Xiang fell ill. The crown prince fled back. In autumn, King Qing Xiang died. The crown prince Xiong Yuan replaced him and ascended, becoming King Kao Lie. King Kao Lie made the left follower Ling Yin, enfeoffed him with Wu, and named him Chun Shen Jun.
95
考烈王元年，納州于秦以平。 是時楚益弱。
In King Kao Lie's first year, he gave Zhou to Qin to make peace. At this time Chu grew increasingly weak.
96
六年，秦圍邯鄲，趙告急楚，楚遣將軍景陽救趙。 七年，至新中。 秦兵去。 十二年，秦昭王卒，楚王使春申君弔祠于秦。 十六年，秦莊襄王卒，秦王趙政立。 二十二年，與諸侯共伐秦，不利而去。 楚東徙都壽春，命曰郢。
In the sixth year, Qin surrounded Handan. Zhao urgently informed Chu, and Chu sent the general Jing Yang to rescue Zhao. In the seventh year, he reached Xinzhong. The Qin troops departed. In the twelfth year, King Zhao of Qin died. The Chu king sent Chun Shen Jun to offer condolences and sacrifices in Qin. In the sixteenth year, King Zhuang Xiang of Qin died. The Qin king Zhao Zheng ascended the throne. In the twenty-second year, together with the feudal lords, he attacked Qin, but the campaign went badly and he departed. Chu moved its capital east to Shouchun and named it Ying.
97
二十五年，考烈王卒，子幽王悍立。 李園殺春申君。 幽王三年，秦、魏伐楚。 秦相呂不韋卒。 九年，秦滅韓。 十年，幽王卒，同母弟猶代立，是為哀王。 哀王立二月餘，哀王庶兄負芻之徒襲殺哀王而立負芻為王。 是歲，秦虜趙王遷。
In the twenty-fifth year, King Kao Lie died. His son King You Han ascended the throne. Li Yuan killed Chun Shen Jun. In the third year of King You, Qin and Wei attacked Chu. The Qin prime minister Lu Bu Wei died. In the ninth year, Qin extinguished Han. In the tenth year, King You died. His same-mother younger brother You replaced him and ascended the throne, becoming King Ai. King Ai was established for more than two months. King Ai's concubine elder brother Fu Chu's followers raided and killed King Ai, establishing Fu Chu as the king. This year, Qin captured King Qian of Zhao.
98
王負芻元年，燕太子丹使荊軻刺秦王。 二年，秦使將軍伐楚，大破楚軍，亡十餘城。 三年，秦滅魏。 四年，秦將王翦破我軍於蘄，而殺將軍項燕。
In King Fu Chu's first year, the Yan crown prince Dan sent Jing Ke to assassinate the Qin king. In the second year, Qin sent a general to attack Chu. He greatly defeated the Chu army, which lost more than ten cities. In the third year, Qin extinguished Wei. In the fourth year, the Qin general Wang Jian broke our army at Qi and killed general Xiang Yan.
99
五年，秦將王翦、蒙武遂破楚國，虜楚王負芻，滅楚名為［楚］郡云。
In the fifth year, the Qin generals Wang Jian and Meng Wu then broke the Chu state, captured King Fu Chu of Chu, extinguished Chu, and named it the [Chu] commandery.
100
太史公曰：楚靈王方會諸侯於申，誅齊慶封，作章華臺，求周九鼎之時，志小天下； 及餓死于申亥之家，為天下笑。 操行之不得，悲夫！ 勢之於人也，可不慎與？ 棄疾以亂立，嬖淫秦女，甚乎哉，幾再亡國！
The Grand Historian said: When King Ling of Chu just assembled the feudal lords at Shen, executed Qing Feng of Qi, built Zhang Hua Tai, and sought the Zhou nine tripods, his ambitions were small to the world; He came near starving to death at Shenhai’s home and became the laughingstock of the world. Conduct was not obtained. How sorrowful! Power to people, can one not be careful? Qi Ji was established through disorder, favored a lewd Qin woman. How extreme! He nearly again perished the state!