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 first ancestors came from Emperor Zhuan Xu Gao Yang. 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 Gong Gong clan made rebellion. Emperor Ku sent Chong Li to execute them, but he did not complete it. The emperor then executed Chong Li on the Geng Yin 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. Lu Zhong begot six sons. They were born by splitting 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 Kun Wu clan, in Xia times, once was a marquis elder. In Jie's time, Tang extinguished it. The Peng Zu clan, in Yin times, once was a marquis elder. In Yin's last age, the Peng Zu clan was extinguished. Ji Lian begot Fu Ju, who begot Xue Xiong. Their descendants declined in the middle period. Some were in the central states, some in the barbarian Yi. They could not record their generations.
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 made his younger brother Xiong Yang his 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 a barbarian Yi, and I do not use 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 he became Xiong Wu Kang, and Wu Kang died early. Xiong Qu died, and his son Xiong Zhi Hong was established. Zhi Hong died, and his younger brother assassinated him and replaced him as established, named 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 made rebellion, 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 replaced him as established. 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 establishment. Zhong Xue died; Shu Kan fled and took refuge at Pu. But the youngest brother Ji Xun was established. 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 was established. In Xiong E's ninth year, he died, and his son Xiong Yi was established. The one who was established became known as 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 was established. This became known as Xiao Ao. In Xiao Ao's sixth year, he died, and his son Xiong Shen was established. The one who was established became known as Fen Mao. 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. Fen Mao's younger brother Xiong Tong assassinated Fen Mao's son and replaced him as established. The one who was established became known as 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, the Zheng lord's younger brother Duan made rebellion. 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 Yi. Now the feudal lords have all become rebels who mutually invade, or mutually kill. I have worn armor and desire to observe the governance of the central states. I request the royal house to honor my title.' The Sui people acted as intermediaries for them and requested to honor Chu. The royal house did not listen and returned to report to Chu. In the thirty-seventh year, Chu's Xiong Tong angrily said: 'My ancestor Yu Xiong was King Wen's teacher, but he ended early. King Cheng raised my first duke, then with zi and nan fields ordered him to reside in Chu. The barbarian Yi all led and submitted, but the king did not add to my position. I will honor myself.' He then established himself as King Wu, allied with the Sui people, and departed. Thereupon he began to open the Pu lands and possess them.
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 angered because Sui turned back on them and attacked Sui. King Wu died in the midst of the army and the troops were dismissed. His son King Wen Xiong Zi was established and began to make Ying the 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 Deng people said 'The Chu king is easy to capture', but the Deng lord did 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 extinguished it. In the thirteenth year, he died, and his son Xiong Jian was established. This became known as Zhuang Ao. In Zhuang Ao's fifth year, he desired to kill his younger brother Xiong Yun. Yun fled to Sui and with the Sui people attacked, assassinated Zhuang Ao, and replaced him as established. The one who was established became known as 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, initially ascending the throne, he spread virtue and applied favor, tying old friendships with the feudal lords. He sent people to offer tribute to the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven granted a blessing, saying: 'Pacify the disorder of the southern Yi and Yue, and do not invade the central states.' Thereupon Chu's lands extended for 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 reproached that Zhou's taxes did not enter the royal house. Chu permitted it, and he then 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 with troops attacked Xu to the north. The Xu lord bared his flesh and apologized, so he 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 Chu king angrily said: 'He summons me. I will properly go and 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 extinguished Kui because Kui did not sacrifice to Zhu Rong and Yu Xiong.
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 firmly requested, so he gave him few troops and departed. Jin indeed defeated Zi Yu at Cheng Pu. King Cheng was angered and executed Zi Yu.
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, initially, King Cheng would make Shang Chen the crown prince and told the Ling Yin Zi Shang. Zi Shang said: 'Your lordship's age is not yet advanced, and moreover you have many inner favorites. 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. Later he again desired to establish his son Zhi and demote the crown prince Shang Chen. Shang Chen heard but had not confirmed it, and told his tutor Pan Chong, saying: 'How can I obtain the truth of it?' Chong said: 'Feast the king's favored consort Jiang Mi but do not respect her.' Shang Chen followed it. Jiang Mi angrily said: 'It is fitting that the king desires to kill you and establish Zhi.' Shang Chen told Pan Chong, saying: 'It is true.' Chong said: 'Can you serve him?' He said: 'I cannot.' 'Can you flee away?' He said: 'I cannot.' 'Can you do 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 Ding Wei, King Cheng strangled himself and died. Shang Chen replaced him as established. 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 was established 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 extinguished Liu and Liao. 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 Lu was established.
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.' He said: 'There is a bird on a mound. For three years it has not flown and has not cried. What kind of bird is this?' 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 increased even more. The grandee Su Cong then entered and admonished. The king said: 'Have you not heard the command?' He answered, saying: 'To kill my body to enlighten the lord is this minister's wish.' Thereupon he dismissed licentious pleasure and listened to governance. Those executed numbered several hundred people. Those advanced numbered several hundred people. He entrusted Wu Ju and Su Cong with governance, and the state people were greatly pleased. This year he extinguished Yong. In the sixth year, he attacked Song and captured five hundred 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 Lu Hun Rong, then arrived at Luo, and displayed troops in Zhou's outskirts. 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 hinder the nine tripods! Chu state's broken hook tips are sufficient to make the nine tripods.' Wang Sun Man said: 'Alas! Has the lord king perhaps forgotten it? Has the lord king perhaps forgotten it? In the former flourishing of Yu and Xia, distant places all arrived. They contributed gold from the nine regions and cast tripods imaging things. The hundred things were prepared for them, making people know divine wickedness. Jie had chaotic virtue. The tripods moved to Yin and endured for six hundred sacrifices. 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 made the Ruo Ao clan 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 Zheng Shu. Zheng Shu had assassinated his lord, therefore he executed him. Having already broken 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, and does not cut off their altars and soil, and makes them change to serve the lord, 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 flag and waved the army with his left and right. He led the troops to depart thirty li and camped, then permitted 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 surrounded Song because they had killed a Chu envoy. He surrounded Song for five months. Food in the city was exhausted. They exchanged sons to eat and split bones to cook. 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 was established.
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 addicted to wine. His follower Shu Yang Gu presented wine and got him drunk. The king was angered, shot and killed Zi Fan, 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 was established. 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 the younger brothers, who were Gong zi Wei, Zi Bi, Zi Xi, and Qi Ji. In Jia Ao's third year, he made his young uncle King Kang's younger brother Gong zi Wei the Ling Yin to master 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 Ji You, 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 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 was established. 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. Thereupon Jin, Song, Lu, and Wei did not go. 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 Li Shan assembly, 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 extinguished his clan. He paraded Feng and said: 'Do not imitate Qi Qing Feng, who assassinated his lord and weakened his orphan, to ally with the various grandees!' Feng countered, saying: 'Nothing is like Chu Gong Wang's concubine son Wei, who assassinated the lord elder brother's son Yuan and replaced him to be established!' Thereupon King Ling 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 Gong zi Qi Ji to lead troops and extinguish Chen. In the tenth year, he summoned the Cai hou, got 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 to frighten Wu. King Ling lodged at Qian Xi 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 Gong zi Qi Ji to summon Gong zi Bi from Jin. He arrived at Cai and, with Wu and Yue troops, desired to attack Cai. He commanded Gong zi 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 the king, Gong zi Zi Xi as the Ling Yin, and Qi Ji as the Si Ma. 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 chambers restored. Those who return later will be moved.' The Chu masses all collapsed and departed from King Ling to return.
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. Can it not reach 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 violated.' He said: 'Moreover, enter a large county and beg for troops from the feudal lords.' The king said: 'They have all rebelled.' He again said: 'Moreover, flee to the feudal lords to listen to the great states' considerations.' The king said: 'Great fortune does not come again. I will only take humiliation.' Thereupon the king boarded a boat and desired to enter Yan. The Right Yin saw that the king would not use his plan. He feared they would die together and also departed from 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 beside Sao Mountain. No wild people dared to approach the king. 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. Those who dare to secretly follow the king will have their crime reach three clans. Moreover, there is also no food to be obtained.' The king then pillowed his head on the armor smith's thigh and lay down. The armor smith again used earth to substitute for himself and escaped. The king awoke and did not see him. He was then hungry and 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 Gui Chou 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 state had already established Bi as king, they feared King Ling would return again, and moreover had not heard of King Ling's death. Therefore Guan Cong told the new king Bi, saying: 'If you do not kill Qi Ji, though you obtain the state, you will still receive calamity.' The king said: 'I cannot bear it.' Cong said: 'The people will bear with the king.' The king did not listen and then departed. Qi Ji returned. The people of the state were alarmed every night, saying: 'King Ling has entered!' On the Yi Mao 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 Si Ma 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 Bing Chen 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 established their descendants as before. He returned Zheng's invaded lands. He preserved and sympathized with those in the state, and repaired the government and teachings. Wu, because of Chu's disorder, obtained five generals and returned. King Ping told Guan Cong: 'Indulge your desires.' He desired to be the Bu Yin, 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 group of spirits, requesting the spirits to decide it and make one master of the altars and soil. He secretly buried jade in the room with Ba Ji, and summoned the five gong zi, 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 embraced its upper part and bowed, pressing the button. 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 the king for more than ten days. Zi Xi was not able to be established, and both were executed. All four sons were cut off with no descendants. Only Qi Ji alone was later established. He became King Ping and finally continued the Chu sacrifices, just like the spirit's talisman.
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 with no beloved signs. This can 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. Fang Cheng belongs to the outer regions. Harsh evils do not arise. Robbers and bandits hide and conceal themselves. Private desires are not violated. The people have no resentful heart. 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 moreover far 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 good like a stream and bestowed favor without tiring. To have a state, is it not also fitting? Formerly our Duke Wen was the son of Hu Ji Ji and had favor with Duke Xian. He loved 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 fled for nineteen years and guarded his will increasingly firmly. Hui and Huai abandoned the people, but the people followed 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 Qi Ji, just as Shu Xiang 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 Wu Ji was the junior tutor. Wu Ji had no favor with the crown prince and constantly slandered and hated 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 Cheng Fu 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 his tutor Wu She 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.' Thereupon the king imprisoned Wu She. [And summoned his two sons and told them to save their father from death] Then he commanded the Si Ma Fen Yang to summon crown prince Jian, desiring to execute him. The crown prince heard 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.' Thereupon the king sent an envoy to tell She, saying: 'If you can bring your two sons, 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.' Thereupon the king sent a person to summon them, saying: 'Come, and I will pardon your father.' Wu Shang told Wu Xu, saying: 'To hear that the father is pardoned and not hasten is 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 attached an arrow. He went out to see the envoy and said: 'If father has a crime, why summon his son for it?' He was about to shoot when the envoy turned and ran away. He then fled out to Wu. Wu She heard it and said: 'Xu has fled. The Chu state is in danger!' The Chu people then killed Wu She and 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 Gong zi Guang to attack Chu. He then defeated Chen and Cai, took the crown prince Jian's mother, and departed. Chu feared and walled Ying. Initially, Wu's border town Bei Liang and Chu's border town Zhong Li had young boys disputing over mulberries. The two families became mutually angered and attacked each other, extinguishing the Bei Liang people. The Bei Liang grandee was angered and mobilized town troops to attack Zhong Li. The Chu king heard and was angered. He mobilized state troops and extinguished Bei Liang. The Wu king heard and was greatly angered. He also mobilized troops and sent Gong zi Guang to attack Chu through Jian's mother's home. He then extinguished Zhong Li 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 moreover his mother was the one that the former crown prince Jian should have married.' He desired to establish Ling Yin Zi Xi. 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, Wu's three gong zi 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 Zi Chang to attack Wu. Wu greatly defeated Chu at Yu Zhang.
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 He Lu of Wu, Wu Zi 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 Wu Zi Xu's reason. When the Wu troops came, Chu sent Zi Chang with troops to welcome them, arrayed flanking the Han River. Wu attacked and defeated Zi Chang. Zi Chang fled to Zheng. The Chu troops fled. Wu rode their victory and pursued them. After five battles they reached Ying. On the Ji Mao day, King Zhao fled out. On the Geng Chen 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 completely extinguished them.' 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. He Lu heard this and led troops to depart from Chu. He returned to attack Fu Gai. Fu Gai was defeated and fled to Chu. Chu enfeoffed him at Tang Xi and called him the Tang Xi 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 again attacked Chu and took Fan. Chu feared and departed from Ying. They moved the capital north to Dui.
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 became prime minister of Lu. In the twentieth year, Chu extinguished Dun and extinguished Hu. In the twenty-first year, King He Lu 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 to 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.' The generals and ministers heard these words and then requested to pray to the spirits with their own bodies. 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. They divined and the River caused 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 various gong zi and grandees, saying: 'This orphan is not talented and twice humiliated the Chu state's troops. Now I am able to end with heaven's longevity. This is the orphan's fortune.' He yielded to his younger brother Gong zi Shen to be king, but it was not possible. He again yielded to his next younger brother Gong zi Jie, but it was also not possible. He then again yielded to his next younger brother Gong zi Lv. After five yields, he was afterward permitted to be the king. About to battle, on the Geng Yin 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 troops and lowered himself to scholars. He desired to avenge. In the sixth year, White Gong requested troops from Ling Yin Zi Xi 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. Zi Xi permitted it but did not yet mobilize troops. In the eighth year, Jin attacked Zheng. Zheng reported urgent to Chu. Chu sent Zi Xi to save Zheng, but he received a bribe and departed. White Gong Sheng was angered. He then, with brave and strong dead soldiers like Shi Qi, surprise killed Ling Yin Zi Xi and Zi Qi at court. Therefore he kidnapped King Hui and placed him at the high office, desiring to assassinate 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. This 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 extinguished Qi. 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 was established.
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, Wei Wen Hou, Han Wu Zi, and Zhao Zhuan Zi began to be listed as 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 was established. In King Sheng's sixth year, a robber killed King Sheng, and his son King Dao Xiong Yi was established. 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 Fu Shu. In the eleventh year, the three Jin attacked Chu and defeated our Da Liang and Yu Guan. Chu heavily bribed Qin and made peace with them. In the twenty-first year, King Dao died, and his son King Su Zang was established.
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. Thereupon Chu made a defense pass to block them. In the tenth year, Wei took our Lu Yang. 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 invaded Chu to the south. This year, King Xuan died, and his son King Wei Xiong Shang was established.
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, the father of Meng Chang Jun of Qi, deceived Chu. King Wei of Chu attacked Qi, defeated them at Xu Zhou, and commanded that Qi must 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 merit for the state, and the common people were used for him. Ying's son was not good and used 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 Ying's son is expelled, Pan Zi will certainly be used. If they again gather their officers and soldiers to meet the king, it will certainly be inconvenient for the king.' The Chu king 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 was established. Wei heard of Chu's mourning and attacked Chu, taking our Xing Shan.
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 Zhu Guo Zhao Yang to lead troops and attack Wei. He broke them at Xiang Ling and obtained 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 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, your body will die and 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 to together attack 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 cannot 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 group of ministers all congratulated, but Chen Zhen alone mourned. King Huai said: 'What is the reason?' Chen Zhen answered, saying: 'The reason Qin respects the king is because the king has Qi. Now the land is not yet obtainable but the Qi alliance is first cut off. This makes Chu isolated. Indeed, what does Qin respect about an isolated state? They will certainly slight Chu. Moreover, if we first give the land and then cut off Qi, then Qin's plan will not work. If we first cut off Qi and then demand the land, we will certainly be deceived by Zhang Yi. Being deceived by Zhang Yi, the king will certainly resent it. 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 Chu king did not listen. He therefore sent one general west to receive the 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 at Qin. He pretended to be drunk and fell from his chariot. He claimed illness and did not come out for three months. The land was not obtainable. 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 greatly angered. He raised troops and was about 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 Chu king did not listen. He then cut off peace with Qin and mobilized troops to attack Qin to 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 Han Zhong 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 who promised to again become close with Chu and divided half of Han Zhong to make peace with Chu. The Chu king said: 'I wish to obtain Zhang Yi, not to obtain land.' Zhang Yi heard this and requested to go to Chu. The Qin king said: 'Chu is moreover content with you. What is to be done?' Zhang Yi said: 'The minister is friendly with his attendants Jin Shang. Jin Shang moreover can obtain service with the Chu king's favored concubine Zheng Xiu. Whatever Xiu says, none is not followed. Moreover, I previously as envoy wronged Chu with the Shang Yu agreement. Now Qin and Chu have had a great battle with enmity. I must apologize to Chu in person 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 Chu king values land. The Qin woman will certainly be noble, but the lady 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 had Zhang Yi released. Yi was released. King Huai therefore treated Yi well. Yi therefore persuaded the Chu king to break the alliance agreement and become close with Qin, agreeing to marriage. 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 it and sent people to pursue 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 is established. Zhang Yi has fled to Wei. Chu Li Ji and Gong Sun Yan are employed, but the state of Chu serves Qin. Indeed, Chu Li Ji is friendly with the state of Han, and Gong Sun Yan is friendly with the state of 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 four states contend to serve Qin, then Chu will become mere 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 Han Zhong, and his troops were worn at Lan Tian. The world none do not harbor anger on the king's behalf. Now you moreover desire to first 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 moreover take land from Qin, and only then will it be sufficient to wash away the shame before the feudal lords. The king should deeply befriend Qi and Han to give weight to Chu Li Ji. Like this, the king will obtain Han and Qi's importance 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 saving of Han cannot make Han not perish, however the one who preserves Han is Chu. Han has already obtained Wu Sui from Qin, using river and mountains as a barrier. What repays virtue is none thicker than Chu. The minister thinks they will serve the king certainly quickly. The reason Qi is trusted by Han is because Han's Gong zi Mei serves as Qi's prime minister. Han has already obtained Wu Sui from Qin. The king very much befriended it and sent it with Qi and Han's weight to Chu Li Ji. Ji obtained Qi and Han's weight. His master does not dare abandon Ji. Now if we again increase it with Chu's weight, Chu Li Zi will certainly speak to Qin and again give Chu the invaded lands.' Thereupon King Huai permitted it. He finally did not ally with the state of Qin, but allied with the state of Qi to befriend the state of 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 betrayed 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 alliance's closeness and allied with Qin, the three states of Qi, Han, and Wei together attacked Chu. Chu sent the crown prince to enter as hostage in Qin and requested aid. Qin then sent guest minister Tong to lead troops and save Chu. The three states withdrew their troops 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. 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 greatly broke Chu. Twenty thousand of the Chu army died. They killed our general Jing Que. King Huai feared and then sent the crown prince as hostage to Qi to seek peace. In the thirtieth year, Qin again 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. I connect borders and territories with Chu. Therefore we made marriage alliances. What we followed has been mutually close for a long time. But now Qin and Chu are not harmonious. Then 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, but mobilize troops to defend yourself. Qin is a tiger and wolf. It cannot be trusted. It has the heart to annex the feudal lords.' King Huai's son Zi Lan urged the king to go, saying: 'How can we cut off Qin's harmonious heart!' Thereupon he went to meet King Zhao of Qin. King Zhao deceived and commanded one general to hide troops at Wu Guan, calling himself the Qin king. The Chu king arrived. They then closed Wu Guan and proceeded west to Xian Yang. He attended at Zhang Tai like a vassal minister and was not given equal ceremony. King Huai of Chu was greatly angered and regretted not using Zhao Zi's words. Qin therefore detained the Chu king and demanded the cession of the Wu and Qian Zhong commanderies. The Chu king desired an alliance. Qin desired to first obtain the land. The Chu king was angered and said: 'Qin deceived me and moreover strongly demanded land from me!' He no longer permitted Qin. 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 worried about it and then mutually planned, saying: 'Our king in Qin cannot return and demands the cession of land, but the crown prince is hostage in Qi. If Qi and Qin combine in a plot, then Chu will have no state.' They then desired to establish a son of King Huai who was in the state. Zhao Ju said: 'The king and crown prince are both distressed by the feudal lords, but now we again betray the king's command and establish his concubine son. This is not proper.' They then deceptively announced to Qi. King Min of Qi told his prime minister, saying: 'It would be better to detain the crown prince to seek Chu's Huai Bei.' The prime minister said: 'It is not possible. If Ying has established a king, this means we hold an empty hostage and practice unrighteousness in the world.' Some said: 'Not so. If Ying has established a king, then we can bargain with their new king, saying: 'Give me the lower eastern state, and I will kill the crown prince for the king. Otherwise, I will together with the three states establish him.' Then the eastern state will certainly be obtainable.' The Qi king finally used his prime minister's plan and returned the Chu crown prince. Crown prince Heng arrived and was established as king. This was King Qing Xiang. They then informed Qin, saying: 'Relying on the altars of soil and spirits, the state 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 Qing Xiang Heng's first year, Qin demanded that King Huai give land but could not obtain it. Chu established a king to respond to Qin. King Zhao of Qin was angered and mobilized troops out of Wu Guan to attack Chu. He greatly defeated the Chu army, beheaded fifty thousand, took Xi's fifteen cities, and departed. In the second year, King Huai of Chu fled and escaped to return. Qin became aware and blocked the Chu road. King Huai feared and then fled to Zhao by a byway to seek return. Zhao Zhu Fu was in Dai. His son King Hui had first been established and was conducting king affairs. He feared and did not dare receive the Chu king. The Chu king desired to flee to Wei. Qin pursued and reached him. He then went with the Qin envoy again to Qin. 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 Chu people pitied him, like grieving relatives. The feudal lords therefore did not consider Qin upright. Qin and Chu cut 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 Chu king a letter, saying: 'Chu betrayed Qin. Qin moreover will lead the feudal lords to attack Chu and contend for one morning's fate. I wish the king to prepare the soldiers and obtain one happy battle.' King Qing Xiang of Chu was worried by it and then planned to make peace with Qin again. In the seventh year, Chu welcomed a bride from Qin. Qin and Chu were at peace again.
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; After more than a month, they again returned from emperor to king.
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 Chu king together with Qin, the three Jin, and Yan attacked Qi and took Huai Bei. 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 Chu person who enjoyed using a weak bow with slight string to add to returning geese above. King Qing Xiang heard of it and summoned him to question. He replied, saying: 'The small minister's hobby of shooting wild geese and netting ducks with small arrow releases, what is sufficient for the great king to speak of? Moreover, praising Chu's greatness and because of the great king's virtue, what is hunted is not just this. Formerly the three kings hunted with morality and virtue, the five hegemons hunted with the warring states. Therefore Qin, Wei, Yan, and Zhao are wild geese; Qi, Lu, Han, and Wei are green heads; Zou, Fei, Tan, and Pi are net ducks. Besides these, the remaining are not worth shooting. I see six pairs of birds. What will the king take? Why does the king not use sages as the bow and brave warriors as the string, and timely draw and shoot them? These six pairs can be obtained and carried in bags. Its joy is not just the joy of morning and evening, its gain is not just the substance of ducks and geese. The king in the morning draws his bow and shoots south of Wei's Da Liang, adds to its right arm and directly attaches it to Han. Then the Central Plains road is cut off and Shang Cai's commandery is ruined. Returning to shoot east of Yu, loosening Wei's left elbow and outward striking Ding Tao, then Wei's east outside is abandoned and the two commanderies of Da Song and Fang Yu are raised. Moreover, if Wei's two arms are cut, it will be overturned; Striking the Tan state chest-wise, Da Liang can be obtained and possessed. The king draws his string at Lan Tai, waters his horse at Xi He, and settles Wei's Da Liang. This is the joy of one shot. If the king sincerely enjoys hunting and is not weary, then take the precious bow, sharpen the new string, shoot big birds at the East Sea, return and cover the Long Wall as defense. Morning shoot East Ju, evening shoot Pei Qiu, night add Ji Mo, look back and occupy Wu Dao. Then the east of the Long Wall is collected and the north of Tai Shan is raised. West connecting borders with Zhao and north reaching Yan, the three states spread like cranes. Then the alliance can be completed without waiting for agreement. North roaming the eyes at Yan's Liao Dong and south climbing to view Yue's Kui Ji, this is the joy of the second shot. As for the twelve feudal lords on the Si, entwining left and sweeping right, they can be exhausted in one morning. Now Qin broke Han as a long worry and obtained row cities but did not dare guard them; Attacking the state of Wei without merit and striking the state of Zhao and looking back ill, then Qin and Wei's brave strength is bent. Chu's old lands of Han Zhong, Xi, and Li can be obtained and possessed again. The king takes the precious bow, sharpens the new string, fords the Meng barrier, and waits for Qin to weary. Then Shan Dong and He Nei can be obtained and united. Labor the people and rest the masses, face south and be called king. Therefore it is said that Qin is a great bird, bearing all under heaven and residing, facing east and standing, left arm occupying Zhao's southwest, right arm attaching to Chu's Yan Ying, chest striking Han and Wei, hanging head over the Central Plains. Its place already has convenient form, its situation has land profit. It rouses wings and beats like a crane, square three thousand li. Then Qin cannot be obtained alone by beckoning and shooting at night.' He desired to anger King Xiang, therefore replied with these words. King Xiang therefore summoned him and spoke with him, then said: 'Indeed, the former king was deceived by Qin and died as a guest outside. There is no resentment greater than this. Now with a commoner having resentment, there is still repaying ten thousand chariots. Bai Gong and Zi Xu are examples. Now Chu's territory is five thousand li, with armored troops of one hundred thousand. It is still sufficient to leap in the middle field, but to sit and receive distress, the minister secretly thinks the great king should not take this.' Thereupon King Qing Xiang sent envoys to the feudal lords, again formed an alliance, desiring to attack Qin. Qin heard it and mobilized troops to come 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 desired to connect in peace with Qi and Han to attack Qin, therefore desired to plot against Zhou. King Nan of Zhou sent Wu Gong to tell the Chu prime minister Zhao Zi, saying: 'The three states with troops cut Zhou's suburb land to facilitate transport and south vessels to honor Chu. The minister thinks this is not so. Indeed, to assassinate the common lord and minister the hereditary lord, the great states will not be close; Coercing the few with the many, small states will not attach. If the great states are not close and the small states do not attach, one cannot achieve name and substance. If name and substance are not obtained, it is not sufficient to harm the people. Indeed, having the reputation of plotting against Zhou is not what to call a banner.' Zhao Zi said: 'As for plotting against Zhou, there is none. Although, why cannot Zhou be plotted against?' He replied, saying: 'An army not five times larger will not attack, a city not ten times larger will not be surrounded. Indeed, one Zhou equals twenty Jin states. This is what the duke knows. The state of Han once with two hundred thousand troops was humiliated below Jin's city walls. Sharp soldiers died, middle soldiers were injured, but Jin was not taken. The duke has no hundred Han states to plot against Zhou. This is what the world knows. Indeed, resentment tying the two Zhou states will block Zou and Lu's hearts. Relations cut with Qi, reputation lost in the world. Its affairs will be dangerous. Indeed, endangering the two Zhou states to thicken San Chuan, outside Fang Cheng will certainly become weak for Han. How do we know it is so? Western Zhou's lands, cutting the long to supplement the short, do not exceed one hundred li. Named the world's common lord, splitting its land is not sufficient to enrich the state, and obtaining its masses is not sufficient to strengthen the troops. Though not attacking it, it is named assassinating the lord. However, lords who love good affairs and ministers who love attacking, issuing orders and using troops, never fail to make Zhou the beginning and end. What is this? Seeing sacrificial vessels there, desiring the vessels to arrive and forgetting the disorder of 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 than attacking a tiger. Splitting Chu's lands is sufficient to enrich the state; Bending Chu's reputation is sufficient to honor the lord. Now you will with desire execute and harm the world's common lord, dwell with the three dynasties' transmitted vessels, swallow three pinions and six wings, to elevate the world's lord. If not greedy, then what? The 'Zhou Book' says: 'If one desires to rise, there is no first.' Therefore, if the vessels go south, then troops will arrive.' Thereupon Chu's plan 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 cut Shang Yong and Han Bei lands to give 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 Qian Zhong 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 people to help the three Jin attack Yan. He again made peace with Qin and entered the crown prince as hostage in Qin. Chu sent the left follower to attend 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 Han Dan. Zhao urgently informed Chu. Chu sent general Jing Yang to save Zhao. In the seventh year, he arrived at Xin Zhong. 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 was established. In the twenty-second year, together with the feudal lords he attacked Qin, but it was unfavorable and he departed. Chu moved the capital east to Shou Chun 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 was established. Li Yuan killed Chun Shen Jun. In King You's third year, 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 was established, 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 broke the Chu army and 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 reached the point of starving to death at Shen Hai's home and became the world's laughingstock. 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!