House of King Goujian of Yue

越王句踐，其先禹之苗裔，而夏后帝少康之庶子也。封於會稽，以奉守禹之祀。文身斷發，披草萊而邑焉。後二十餘世，至於允常。允常之時，與吳王闔廬戰而相怨伐。允常卒，子句踐立，是為越王。

King Goujian of Yue descended from Yu, through a younger son of Emperor Shaokang of the Xia royal house. He was enfeoffed at Kuaiji so that he could maintain Yu’s sacrifices. His people tattooed their bodies, cut their hair short, cleared the wild grasslands, and established settlements there. After more than twenty generations, the line came down to Yunchang. In Yunchang’s time, he fought King Helü of Wu, and the two states repeatedly attacked each other out of mutual resentment. When Yunchang died, his son Goujian came to the throne as king of Yue.

元年，吳王闔廬聞允常死，乃興師伐越。越王句踐使死士挑戰，三行，至吳陳，呼而自剄。吳師觀之，越因襲擊吳師，吳師敗於檇李，射傷吳王闔廬。闔廬且死，告其子夫差曰：「必毋忘越。」

In the first year, King Helü of Wu heard that Yunchang had died and raised troops to attack Yue. King Goujian of Yue sent condemned warriors forward to challenge Wu. In three ranks they reached the Wu lines, shouted, and cut their own throats. While the Wu army stared at them, Yue seized the moment to launch a surprise attack. Wu was defeated at Zuili, and King Helü of Wu was struck by an arrow. As Helü neared death, he told his son Fuchai, “You must never forget Yue.”

三年，句踐聞吳王夫差日夜勒兵，且以報越，越欲先吳未發往伐之。范蠡諫曰：「不可。臣聞兵者凶器也，戰者逆德也，爭者事之末也。陰謀逆德，好用凶器，試身於所末，上帝禁之，行者不利。」越王曰：「吾已決之矣。」遂興師。吳王聞之，悉發精兵擊越，敗之夫椒。越王乃以餘兵五千人保棲於會稽。吳王追而圍之。

In the third year, Goujian heard that King Fuchai of Wu was drilling troops day and night, intending to avenge himself on Yue. Yue wanted to strike Wu first, before Wu set out. Fan Li remonstrated, “This must not be done. I have heard that weapons are inauspicious instruments, that warfare is contrary to virtue, and that contention is the last resort of affairs. Secretly plotting against virtue, delighting in weapons of ill omen, and testing oneself in what should be a last resort are all forbidden by the Supreme Deity. Those who act this way will not prosper.” The king of Yue said, “I have already made my decision.” They then raised troops. When the king of Wu heard of it, he sent all his elite troops against Yue and defeated them at Fujiao. The king of Yue then gathered his remaining five thousand troops and held fast at Kuaiji. The Wu king pursued and surrounded them.

越王謂范蠡曰：「以不聽子故至於此，為之柰何？」蠡對曰：「持滿者與天，定傾者與人，節事者以地。卑辭厚禮以遺之，不許，而身與之市。」句踐曰：「諾。」乃令大夫種行成於吳，膝行頓首曰：「君王亡臣句踐使陪臣種敢告下執事：句踐請為臣，妻為妾。」吳王將許之。子胥言於吳王曰：「天以越賜吳，勿許也。」種還，以報句踐。句踐欲殺妻子，燔寶器，觸戰以死。種止句踐曰：「夫吳太宰嚭貪，可誘以利，請閒行言之。」於是句踐以美女寶器令種閒獻吳太宰嚭。嚭受，乃見大夫種於吳王。種頓首言曰：「願大王赦句踐之罪，盡入其寶器。不幸不赦，句踐將盡殺其妻子，燔其寶器，悉五千人觸戰，必有當也。」嚭因說吳王曰：「越以服為臣，若將赦之，此國之利也。」吳王將許之。子胥進諫曰：「今不滅越，後必悔之。句踐賢君，種、蠡良臣，若反國，將為亂。」吳王弗聽，卒赦越，罷兵而歸。

The king of Yue said to Fan Li, “Because I did not listen to you, I have reached this pass. What should be done?” Fan Li replied, “When something is full, one should accord with Heaven; when something has overturned, one should accord with people; when regulating affairs, one should accord with the earth. Send them humble words and generous gifts. If they do not permit it, then you yourself must go and bargain with the Wu king in person.” Goujian said: “Yes.” He then ordered Grandee Zhong to go and make peace with Wu. Zhong walked on his knees, kowtowed, and said: “Goujian, fugitive servant of Your Majesty, sends his attendant minister Zhong to address those below you: Goujian asks to become your minister, and his wife your concubine.” The Wu king was about to permit it. Zixu spoke to the Wu king, saying: “Heaven grants Yue to Wu. Do not permit it.” Zhong returned to report to Gou Jian. Goujian wanted to kill his wife and children, burn his treasure vessels, and fight to the death. Zhong stopped Goujian and said, “The Grand Administrator Pi of Wu is greedy and can be tempted by profit. Please allow me to go secretly and speak with him.” Goujian then commanded Zhong to secretly offer beautiful women and treasure vessels to Pi, the Grand Administrator of Wu. Pi accepted and then presented Grandee Zhong to the Wu king. Zhong kowtowed and said: “I hope Your Majesty will pardon Goujian’s offense and accept all his precious vessels. If you do not pardon him, Goujian will kill his wife and children to the last, burn his treasure vessels, and send all five thousand men into a fight to the death. They will certainly resist fiercely.” Pi then persuaded the king of Wu, saying, “Yue has submitted as your minister. If you pardon it, the state will profit.” The Wu king was about to permit it. Zixu advanced and admonished, saying: “If we do not extinguish the state of Yue now, we will certainly regret it later. Goujian is a worthy lord, and Zhong and Li are good ministers. If they return to their country, they will stir up trouble.” The Wu king did not listen. He finally pardoned Yue, dismissed the troops, and returned.

句踐之困會稽也，喟然嘆曰：「吾終於此乎？」種曰：「湯系夏臺，文王囚羑里，晉重耳奔翟，齊小白奔莒，其卒王霸。由是觀之，何遽不為福乎？」

When Goujian was trapped at Kuaiji, he sighed deeply and said, “Is this where I end?” Zhong said, “Tang was bound at Xiatai, King Wen was imprisoned at Youli, Chong’er of Jin fled to the Di, and Xiaobai of Qi fled to Ju, yet in the end they became kings and hegemons. Seen in this light, how do we know that this will not become a blessing?”

吳既赦越，越王句踐反國，乃苦身焦思，置膽於坐，坐臥即仰膽，飲食亦嘗膽也。曰：「女忘會稽之恥邪？」身自耕作，夫人自織，食不加肉，衣不重采，折節下賢人，厚遇賓客，振貧弔死，與百姓同其勞。欲使范蠡治國政，蠡對曰：「兵甲之事，種不如蠡；填撫國家，親附百姓，蠡不如種。」於是舉國政屬大夫種，而使范蠡與大夫柘稽行成，為質於吳。二歲而吳歸蠡。

After Wu pardoned Yue, King Goujian of Yue returned to his state. He hardened his body and brooded bitterly, placing gall by his seat; whenever he sat or lay down he looked up at it, and whenever he ate or drank he tasted it. He would say, “Have you forgotten the humiliation at Kuaiji?” He personally tilled the fields, and his wife personally wove. His food had no extra meat, and his clothing no layered colors. He humbled himself before worthy men, treated guests generously, helped the poor, mourned the dead, and shared the labor of the common people. He wanted Fan Li to govern the affairs of the state. Fan Li replied, “In matters of armor and weapons, Zhong is not equal to me; but in pacifying the state and drawing the people close, I am not equal to Zhong.” Goujian then entrusted state affairs to Grandee Zhong, and sent Fan Li and Grandee Zheji to make peace and serve as hostages in Wu. After two years, Wu returned Li.

句踐自會稽歸七年，拊循其士民，欲用以報吳。大夫逢同諫曰：「國新流亡，今乃復殷給，繕飾備利，吳必懼，懼則難必至。且鷙鳥之擊也，必匿其形。今夫吳兵加齊、晉，怨深於楚、越，名高天下，實害周室，德少而功多，必淫自矜。為越計，莫若結齊，親楚，附晉，以厚吳。吳之志廣，必輕戰。是我連其權，三國伐之，越承其弊，可克也。」句踐曰：「善。」

Seven years after Goujian returned from Kuaiji, he comforted and cared for his officers and people, intending to use them to take revenge on Wu. Grandee Fengtong remonstrated: “The state has only recently recovered from flight and ruin. If we now become rich and well supplied again, repair our equipment, and sharpen our preparations, Wu will certainly be afraid; once it is afraid, disaster will surely come. Moreover, when a fierce bird is about to strike, it first conceals its form. Now Wu's troops press upon Qi and Jin. Its resentment runs deep with Chu and Yue. Its name is high in the world, but in substance it harms the Zhou royal house. Its virtue is scant, but its achievements are great. It will certainly grow insolent and self-conceited. For Yue's plan, nothing is better than allying with Qi, befriending Chu, and attaching to Jin to keep Wu complacent. Wu’s ambitions are broad. It will surely fight rashly. This will tie down Wu’s strength. When the three states attack it and Yue takes advantage of its exhaustion, we can defeat it.” Goujian said: “Good.”

居二年，吳王將伐齊。子胥諫曰：「未可。臣聞句踐食不重味，與百姓同苦樂。此人不死，必為國患。吳有越，腹心之疾，齊與吳，疥癬也。願王釋齊先越。」吳王弗聽，遂伐齊，敗之艾陵，虜齊高、國以歸。讓子胥。子胥曰：「王毋喜！」王怒，子胥欲自殺，王聞而止之。越大夫種曰：「臣觀吳王政驕矣，請試嘗之貸粟，以卜其事。」請貸，吳王欲與，子胥諫勿與，王遂與之，越乃私喜。子胥言曰：「王不聽諫，後三年吳其墟乎！」太宰嚭聞之，乃數與子胥爭越議，因讒子胥曰：「伍員貌忠而實忍人，其父兄不顧，安能顧王？王前欲伐齊，員彊諫，已而有功，用是反怨王。王不備伍員，員必為亂。」與逢同共謀，讒之王。王始不從，乃使子胥於齊，聞其託子於鮑氏，王乃大怒，曰：「伍員果欺寡人！」役反，使人賜子胥屬鏤劍以自殺。子胥大笑曰：「我令而父霸，我又立若，若初欲分吳國半予我，我不受，已，今若反以讒誅我。嗟乎，嗟乎，一人固不能獨立！」報使者曰：「必取吾眼置吳東門，以觀越兵入也！」於是吳任嚭政。

After two years, the Wu king was about to attack Qi. Wu Zixu remonstrated: “Not yet. I have heard that Goujian does not eat richly varied dishes and shares hardship and joy with the common people. If this man does not die, he will certainly become a danger to the state. For Wu, Yue is a disease in its very vitals; Qi is only a skin ailment. I hope the king will set Qi aside and deal with Yue first.” The Wu king did not listen. He then attacked Qi, defeated them at Ai Ling, captured Gao and Guo of Qi, and returned. He reproached Wu Zixu. Zixu said: “King, do not rejoice!” The king was angered. Zi Xu desired to commit suicide. The king heard and stopped him. Grandee Zhong of Yue said: “I observe that the king of Wu’s government has grown arrogant. Let us test him by asking to borrow grain, and thereby read how matters stand.” They requested to borrow. The Wu king desired to give. Zi Xu admonished not to give. The king then gave it. Yue then privately rejoiced. Wu Zixu said, “If the king does not listen to remonstrance, within three years Wu may lie in ruins!” The Grand Administrator Pi heard this and repeatedly argued with Wu Zixu over Yue policy. He then slandered Wu Zixu, saying, “Wu Yuan appears loyal, but in truth he is cruel. He did not get his way when advising against Yue, and since then he has resented Your Majesty. Earlier, when the king wished to attack Qi, Wu Yuan forcefully remonstrated. After the campaign succeeded, he took this as a reason to resent the king. If the king does not guard against Wu Yuan, Yuan will certainly rebel.” Together with Feng Tong they plotted and slandered to the king. The king at first did not follow this advice, and later sent Zixu to Qi. When he heard that Zixu had entrusted his son to the Bao clan, the king became furious and said: “Wu Yuan has indeed deceived me!” When the campaign returned, the king sent someone to present Wu Zixu with the Zhulou sword and order him to kill himself. Wu Zixu laughed loudly and said: “I made your father hegemon, and I established you as well. At first, you wished to divide the state of Wu in half and give it to me, but I did not accept it. Now you instead execute me on slander. Alas, alas—a lone man truly cannot stand alone!” He told the envoy, “Take my eyes and set them on Wu’s eastern gate, so that I may watch the Yue army enter!” Wu then entrusted the government to Pi.

居三年，句踐召范蠡曰：「吳已殺子胥，導諛者眾，可乎？」對曰：「未可。」

After three years, Goujian summoned Fan Li and said, “Wu has already killed Zixu, and many men are leading the king astray with flattery. Is the time right?” Fan Li replied, “Not yet.”

至明年春，吳王北會諸侯於黃池，吳國精兵從王，惟獨老弱與太子留守。句踐復問范蠡，蠡曰「可矣」。乃發習流二千人，教士四萬人，君子六千人，諸御千人，伐吳。吳師敗，遂殺吳太子。吳告急於王，王方會諸侯於黃池，懼天下聞之，乃祕之。吳王已盟黃池，乃使人厚禮以請成越。越自度亦未能滅吳，乃與吳平。

By the next spring, the king of Wu went north to meet the feudal lords at Huangchi. Wu’s elite troops accompanied the king, leaving only the old, the weak, and the crown prince to defend the state. Goujian again asked Fan Li. Fan Li said, “Now it can be done.” He then sent two thousand men trained for river warfare, forty thousand drilled soldiers, six thousand noble retainers, and one thousand royal attendants to attack Wu. The Wu troops were defeated, and Yue killed the Wu crown prince. Wu sent urgent word to its king, but the king was then meeting the feudal lords at Huangchi. Fearing that the realm would hear of it, he kept the news secret. After the king of Wu concluded the covenant at Huangchi, he sent someone with generous gifts to request peace from Yue. Yue judged that it still could not destroy Wu, and so made peace with Wu.

其後四年，越復伐吳。吳士民罷弊，輕銳盡死於齊、晉。而越大破吳，因而留圍之三年，吳師敗，越遂復棲吳王於姑蘇之山。吳王使公孫雄肉袒膝行而前，請成越王曰：「孤臣夫差敢布腹心，異日嘗得罪於會稽，夫差不敢逆命，得與君王成以歸。今君王舉玉趾而誅孤臣，孤臣惟命是聽，意者亦欲如會稽之赦孤臣之罪乎？」句踐不忍，欲許之。范蠡曰：「會稽之事，天以越賜吳，吳不取。今天以吳賜越，越其可逆天乎？且夫君王蚤朝晏罷，非為吳邪？謀之二十二年，一旦而棄之，可乎？且夫天與弗取，反受其咎。『伐柯者其則不遠』，君忘會稽之蚯？」句踐曰：「吾欲聽子言，吾不忍其使者。」范蠡乃鼓進兵，曰：「王已屬政於執事，使者去，不者且得罪。」吳使者泣而去。句踐憐之，乃使人謂吳王曰：「吾置王甬東，君百家。」吳王謝曰：「吾老矣，不能事君王！」遂自殺。乃蔽其面，曰：「吾無面以見子胥也！」越王乃葬吳王而誅太宰嚭。

Four years later, Yue again attacked Wu. Wu’s officers and people were exhausted and worn down, and all its light and elite troops had perished in the wars against Qi and Jin. Yue then inflicted a great defeat on Wu and remained there to besiege it for three years. After defeating the Wu army, Yue once again confined the king of Wu on Mount Gusu. The king of Wu sent Gongsun Xiong, who bared his upper body and advanced on his knees, to ask the king of Yue for peace, saying: “Your isolated servant Fuchai dares to lay bare his innermost thoughts. On a former day I offended you at Kuaiji, but Fuchai did not dare defy your command and was allowed to make peace with Your Majesty and return. Now Your Majesty raises his jade feet to execute your isolated servant, and your isolated servant will obey your command. Perhaps you also wish to pardon your servant’s offense, as Wu pardoned Yue at Kuaiji?” Goujian could not endure it and wanted to agree. Fan Li said, “In the affair at Kuaiji, Heaven gave Yue to Wu, but Wu did not take it. Now Heaven gives Wu to Yue. How can Yue act against Heaven? Moreover, Your Majesty has risen early and retired late; was this not all for Wu? You planned this for twenty-two years. Can you throw it away in a single morning? Moreover, when Heaven gives something and one does not take it, one receives the blame instead. The saying goes, ‘When cutting an axe handle, the model is not far away.’ Has Your Majesty forgotten the humiliation at Kuaiji?” Goujian said, “I want to follow your words, but I cannot bear to look at his envoy.” Fan Li then beat the drums and advanced the troops, saying: “The king has already entrusted the government to his officers. Envoy, leave, or you will incur guilt.” The Wu envoy wept and departed. Goujian pitied him and sent someone to tell the king of Wu: “I will settle the king at Yongdong and let him rule a hundred households.” The king of Wu declined, saying, “I am old. I cannot serve Your Majesty!” He then committed suicide. He then covered his face and said, “I have no face with which to see Zixu!” The king of Yue then gave the king of Wu burial and executed the Grand Administrator Pi.

句踐已平吳，乃以兵北渡淮，與齊、晉諸侯會於徐州，致貢於周。周元王使人賜句踐胙，命為伯。句踐已去，渡淮南，以淮上地與楚，歸吳所侵宋地於宋，與魯泗東方百里。當是時，越兵橫行於江、淮東，諸侯畢賀，號稱霸王。

After Goujian pacified Wu, he led his troops north across the Huai, met the feudal lords of Qi and Jin at Xuzhou, and presented tribute to Zhou. King Yuan of Zhou sent someone to bestow sacrificial meat on Goujian and appoint him hegemon. After Goujian departed, he crossed south of the Huai, gave Chu the lands along the Huai, returned to Song the lands Wu had seized from Song, and gave Lu a hundred li of land east of the Si River. At that time, Yue troops ranged freely east of the Yangtze and Huai. All the feudal lords congratulated him, and he was styled hegemon.

范蠡遂去，自齊遺大夫種書曰：「蜚鳥盡，良弓藏；狡兔死，走狗烹。越王為人長頸鳥喙，可與共患難，不可與共樂。子何不去？」種見書，稱病不朝。人或讒種且作亂，越王乃賜種劍曰：「子教寡人伐吳七術，寡人用其三而敗吳，其四在子，子為我從先王試之。」種遂自殺。

Fan Li then departed. From Qi he sent Grandee Zhong a letter, saying, “When the flying birds are gone, the fine bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the swift hound is cooked. The king of Yue has a long neck and a beak like a bird's. One can share hardship and danger with him, but not joy. Why do you not leave?” When Zhong saw the letter, he claimed illness and stopped attending court. Someone slandered Zhong, saying that he was about to rebel. The king of Yue then bestowed a sword on Zhong and said, “You taught me seven strategies for attacking Wu. I used three of them and defeated Wu. Zhong then committed suicide.

句踐卒，子王鼫與立。王鼫與卒，子王不壽立。王不壽卒，子王翁立。王翁卒，子王翳立。王翳卒，子王之侯立。王之侯卒，子王無彊立。

When Goujian died, his son King Shuyu succeeded him. When King Shuyu died, his son King Bushou succeeded him. King Bushou died, and his son King Weng succeeded him. King Weng died, and his son King Yi succeeded him. King Yi died, and his son King Zhihou succeeded him. King Zhihou died, and his son King Wuqiang succeeded him.

王無彊時，越興師北伐齊，西伐楚，與中國爭彊。當楚威王之時，越北伐齊，齊威王使人說越王曰：「越不伐楚，大不王，小不伯。圖越之所為不伐楚者，為不得晉也。韓、魏固不攻楚。韓之攻楚，覆其軍，殺其將，則葉、陽翟危；魏亦覆其軍，殺其將，則陳、上蔡不安。故二晉之事越也，不至於覆軍殺將，馬汗之力不效。所重於得晉者何也？」越王曰：「所求於晉者，不至頓刃接兵，而況于攻城圍邑乎？願魏以聚大梁之下，願齊之試兵南陽莒地，以聚常、郯之境，則方城之外不南，淮、泗之閒不東，商、於、析、酈、宗胡之地，夏路以左，不足以備秦，江南、泗上不足以待越矣。則齊、秦、韓、魏得志於楚也，是二晉不戰分地，不耕而穫之。不此之為，而頓刃於河山之閒以為齊秦用，所待者如此其失計，柰何其以此王也！」齊使者曰：「幸也越之不亡也！吾不貴其用智之如目，見豪毛而不見其睫也。今王知晉之失計，而不自知越之過，是目論也。王所待於晉者，非有馬汗之力也，又非可與合軍連和也，將待之以分楚眾也。今楚眾已分，何待於晉？」越王曰：「柰何？」曰：「楚三大夫張九軍，北圍曲沃、於中，以至無假之關者三千七百里，景翠之軍北聚魯、齊、南陽，分有大此者乎？且王之所求者，鬬晉楚也；晉楚不鬬，越兵不起，是知二五而不知十也。此時不攻楚，臣以是知越大不王，小不伯。復讎、龐、長沙，楚之粟也；竟澤陵，楚之材也。越窺兵通無假之關，此四邑者不上貢事於郢矣。臣聞之，圖王不王，其敝可以伯。然而不伯者，王道失也。故願大王之轉攻楚也。」

During Wang Wu Qiang's time, Yue raised troops to attack Qi in the north and Chu in the west, contending for strength with the Central Plains. At the time of King Wei of Chu, Yue attacked Qi in the north. King Wei of Qi sent someone to persuade the king of Yue, saying: “If Yue does not attack Chu, it will neither become great enough to claim kingship nor even strong enough to become hegemon. Consider what Yue does by not attacking Chu—it is because it cannot obtain the state of Jin. Han and Wei surely will not attack Chu. If Han attacks Chu, overturns its army, and kills its general, then the cities of Ye and Yang Di will be in danger; If Wei also overturns its army and kills its general, then the cities of Chen and Shang Cai will not be peaceful. Therefore, when the two Jin states serve Yue, they will not go so far as to overthrow armies and kill generals; they will not exert even enough effort to make their horses sweat. What is the value in obtaining Jin?” The king of Yue said, “What we seek from Jin does not require clashing blades or joining battle, much less attacking cities and besieging towns. I want Wei to gather below Daliang, and I want Qi to test its troops in Nanyang and the lands of Ju, gathering at the borders of Chang and Tan. Then the territory beyond Fangcheng will not be able to move south, the region between the Huai and Si will not be able to move east, the lands of Shang, Yu, Xi, Li, and Zonghu west of the Xia road will not be enough to guard against Qin, and Jiangnan and the Si River region will not be enough to withstand Yue. Then Qi, Qin, Han, and Wei will realize their ambitions against Chu. The two Jin states will divide territory without fighting and reap a harvest without plowing. If they do not do this, but instead clash blades among the rivers and mountains and let themselves be used by Qi and Qin, then the plan they are waiting on is badly mistaken. How could they use this to become kings?” The Qi envoy said: “It is fortunate that Yue has not perished! I do not value the sort of wisdom that resembles the eye: it can see fine hairs, yet cannot see its own eyelashes. Now the king recognizes Jin's mistaken plan, but does not recognize Yue's own fault. This is judgment like the eye's. What the king awaits from Jin is not the hard labor of sweating horses, nor can Jin join armies with him in alliance; he is waiting for Jin to divide Chu's forces. Now that Chu's forces are already divided, what do you await from Jin?” The Yue king said: “What is to be done?” He said, “Chu’s three grandees have spread out nine armies. In the north they surround Quwo and Yuzhong, reaching as far as the Wujia Pass, a distance of three thousand seven hundred li. Jing is the point where Chu and Xia meet. Moreover, what the king seeks is to make Jin and Chu fight; If Jin and Chu do not fight, Yue’s troops will not rise. This is to know two and five, but not ten. If Yue does not attack Chu at this moment, I know that Yue will neither become great enough to claim kingship nor even strong enough to become hegemon. Fuqiu, Pang, and Changsha are Chu’s granaries; Jingzeling is Chu’s timberland. If Yue’s troops press through to the Wujia Pass, these four cities will no longer send tribute or service to Ying. I have heard that when one plans for kingship but does not become king, the setback may still allow one to become hegemon. But if one fails even to become hegemon, the kingly Way is lost. Therefore, I ask Your Majesty to turn and attack Chu.”

於是越遂釋齊而伐楚。楚威王興兵而伐之，大敗越，殺王無彊，盡取笔吳地至浙江，北破齊於徐州。而越以此散，諸族子爭立，或為王，或為君，濱於江南海上，服朝於楚。

Yue then released Qi and attacked Chu. King Wei of Chu raised troops and attacked Yue. He inflicted a great defeat on Yue, killed King Wuqiang, took all the former Wu lands as far as the Zhejiang, and in the north defeated Qi at Xuzhou. Because of this, Yue broke apart. Sons of its clans contended to establish themselves, some as kings and some as lords. Along the Jiangnan coast, they submitted and paid court to Chu.

後七世，至閩君搖，佐諸侯平秦。漢高帝復以搖為越王，以奉越後。東越，閩君，皆其後也。

After seven generations came Yao, Lord of Min, who assisted the feudal lords in pacifying Qin. Emperor Gao of Han again made Yao king of Yue in order to maintain the Yue line. Eastern Yue and the Lords of Min were all descended from him.

范蠡事越王句踐，既苦身力，與句踐深謀二十餘年，竟滅吳，報會稽之恥，北渡兵於淮以臨齊、晉，號令中國，以尊周室，句踐以霸，而范蠡稱上將軍。還反國，范蠡以為大名之下，難以久居，且句踐為人可與同患，難與處安，為書辭句踐曰：「臣聞主憂臣勞，主辱臣死。昔者君王辱於會稽，所以不死，為此事也。今既以雪恥，臣請從會稽之誅。」句踐曰：「孤將與子分國而有之。不然，將加誅于子。」范蠡曰：「君行令，臣行意。」乃裝其輕寶珠玉，自與其私徒屬乘舟浮海以行，終不反。於是句踐表會稽山以為范蠡奉邑。

Fan Li served King Goujian of Yue, hardened his body, exerted his strength, and planned deeply with Goujian for more than twenty years. In the end they destroyed Wu, avenged the shame of Kuaiji, moved their troops north across the Huai to confront Qi and Jin, issued commands to the Central States in order to honor the Zhou royal house, and Goujian became hegemon, while Fan Li was called Supreme General. After returning to the state, Fan Li thought that it was hard to remain long beneath a great reputation. Moreover, Goujian was a man with whom one could share hardship, but not peace. He wrote a letter resigning from Goujian, saying: “I have heard that when the lord is anxious, the minister toils; when the lord is humiliated, the minister dies. When Your Majesty was humiliated at Kuaiji, I did not die because of this task. Now that the shame has been avenged, I ask to submit to the punishment owed from Kuaiji.” Goujian said, “I will divide the state with you and let you share possession of it with me. If you refuse, I will punish you.” Fan Li said: “The lord executes commands, and the minister executes intentions.” He then packed his light treasures of pearls and jade, and himself with his private followers rode a boat and floated on the sea to go. He finally did not return. Goujian then designated Mount Kuaiji as Fan Li's revenue fief.

范蠡浮海出齊，變姓名，自謂鴟夷子皮，耕于海畔，苦身戮力，父子治產。居無幾何，致產數十萬。齊人聞其賢，以為相。范蠡喟然嘆曰：「居家則致千金，居官則至卿相，此布衣之極也。久受尊名，不祥。」乃歸相印，盡散其財，以分與知友鄉黨，而懷其重寶，閒行以去，止于陶，以為此天下之中，交易有無之路通，為生可以致富矣。於是自謂陶朱公。復約要父子耕畜，廢居，候時轉物，逐什一之利。居無何，則致貲累巨萬。天下稱陶朱公。

Fan Li crossed the sea and went to Qi. He changed his name and called himself Chiyi Zipi. He farmed by the seashore, worked hard, and managed property together with his son. Before long, he had acquired property worth several tens of thousands. The people of Qi heard of his worth and made him prime minister. Fan Li sighed and said: “To live at home and acquire a thousand gold, then to serve in office and reach the rank of minister and chancellor—this is the height of achievement for a commoner. To enjoy an honored name for too long is inauspicious.” He then returned the prime minister's seal and distributed his wealth among his acquaintances and fellow villagers. But he carried his heavy treasures and secretly went away, stopping at Tao. He thought this was the world's center, where trade and commerce routes converged, and that doing business there could make one rich. He then called himself Tao Zhu Gong. Again he and his son agreed to farm, raise livestock, buy and store goods, wait for the right time to sell them, and pursue a ten-percent profit. Before long, he had accumulated wealth in the hundreds of thousands. The world called him Tao Zhu Gong.

朱公居陶，生少子。少子及壯，而朱公中男殺人，囚於楚。朱公曰：「殺人而死，職也。然吾聞千金之子不死於市。」告其少子往視之。乃裝黃金千溢，置褐器中，載以一牛車。且遣其少子，朱公長男固請欲行，朱公不聽。長男曰：「家有長子曰家督，今弟有罪，大人不遣，乃遺少弟，是吾不肖。」欲自殺。其母為言曰：「今遣少子，未必能生中子也，而先空亡長男，柰何？」朱公不得已而遣長子，為一封書遺故所善莊生。曰：「至則進千金于莊生所，聽其所為，慎無與爭事。」長男既行，亦自私齎數百金。

Zhu Gong resided in Tao and had a young son. After the youngest son reached adulthood, Zhu Gong's middle son killed someone and was imprisoned in Chu. Zhu Gong said: “One who kills a person should die for it; that is the law. However, I have heard that the son of a thousand gold does not die at the market.” He told his youngest son to go attend to the matter. He then packed a thousand yi of yellow gold, placed it in plain containers, and loaded it onto an ox cart. He intended to send his youngest son. Zhu Gong's eldest son, however, firmly requested to go, but Zhu Gong would not listen. The eldest son said: “The family's firstborn son is called the family supervisor. Now my younger brother has committed a crime. The great person does not send me, but instead sends the youngest brother. This shows I am unworthy.” He desired to commit suicide. His mother spoke on his behalf, saying: “If we now send the youngest son, we may not be able to save the middle son, and we will first lose the eldest son for nothing. What should we do?” Zhu Gong had no choice but to send the eldest son. He prepared a sealed letter for his old friend Zhuang Sheng. He said: “When you arrive, advance a thousand gold at Zhuang Sheng's place. Listen to what he does, and be careful not to contend with him over affairs.” After the eldest son set out, he also privately carried several hundred pieces of gold of his own.

至楚，莊生家負郭，披藜藋到門，居甚貧。然長男發書進千金，如其父言。莊生曰：「可疾去矣，慎毋留！即弟出，勿問所以然。」長男既去，不過莊生而私留，以其私齎獻遺楚國貴人用事者。

When he arrived in Chu, Zhuang Sheng's home backed onto the outer city wall. He had to push through weeds and thistles to reach the gate; Zhuang Sheng lived in deep poverty. Nevertheless, the eldest son opened the letter and presented the thousand gold, as his father had instructed. Zhuang Sheng said: “You can quickly go. Be careful not to stay! When your younger brother is released, do not ask the reason.” After the eldest son left, he did not return by way of Zhuang Sheng but stayed in secret, using the gold he had brought privately to make gifts to powerful nobles in Chu.

莊生雖居窮閻，然以廉直聞於國，自楚王以下皆師尊之。及朱公進金，非有意受也，欲以成事後復歸之以為信耳。故金至，謂其婦曰：「此朱公之金。有如病不宿誡，後復歸，勿動。」而朱公長男不知其意，以為殊無短長也。

Although Zhuang Sheng lived in a poor lane, he was known throughout the state for integrity and uprightness. Everyone from the king of Chu on down honored him as a teacher. When Zhu Gong presented the gold, Zhuang Sheng had not intended to keep it. He meant to complete the affair and then return it as proof of good faith. Therefore, when the gold arrived, he told his wife, saying: “This is Zhu Gong's gold. If I later return it, as one does after giving warning of an illness that will not pass overnight, do not touch it.” But Zhu Gong's eldest son did not understand his intention and thought there was no chance of success.

莊生閒時入見楚王，言「某星宿某，此則害於楚」。楚王素信莊生，曰：「今為柰何？」莊生曰：「獨以德為可以除之。」楚王曰：「生休矣，寡人將行之。」王乃使使者封三錢之府。楚貴人驚告朱公長男曰：「王且赦。」曰：「何以也？」曰：「每王且赦，常封三錢之府。昨暮王使使封之。」朱公長男以為赦，弟固當出也，重千金虛棄莊生，無所為也，乃復見莊生。莊生驚曰：「若不去邪？」長男曰：「固未也。初為事弟，弟今議自赦，故辭生去。」莊生知其意欲復得其金，曰：「若自入室取金。」長男即自入室取金持去，獨自歡幸。

In his leisure time Zhuang Sheng went in to see the king of Chu and said: “A certain star lodges in a certain place. This harms Chu.” The Chu king usually trusted Zhuang Sheng and said: “What should be done now?” Zhuang Sheng said: “Only with virtue can one remove it.” The Chu king said: “Master Sheng, rest. I will carry it out.” The king then sent an envoy to seal the three money treasuries. The Chu nobles were alarmed and told Zhu Gong's eldest son, saying: “The king is about to issue a pardon.” He said: “Why is this?” He said: “Whenever the king is about to issue a pardon, he always seals the three money treasuries. Last evening the king sent an envoy and sealed them.” Zhu Gong’s eldest son thought this meant a pardon would be issued and that his younger brother would certainly be released. Resenting that the thousand gold pieces left with Zhuang Sheng would have been wasted, he went to see Zhuang Sheng again. Zhuang Sheng was startled and said: “Have you not gone?” The eldest son said, “Not yet. At first, I came because of my younger brother’s case. Now my younger brother is apparently to be pardoned, so I have come to bid you farewell before leaving.” Zhuang Sheng knew that he intended to recover his gold and said, “Go into the room yourself and take it.” The eldest son immediately went into the room, took the gold, and left, privately rejoicing in his good fortune.

莊生羞為兒子所賣，乃入見楚王曰：「臣前言某星事，王言欲以修德報之。今臣出，道路皆言陶之富人朱公之子殺人囚楚，其家多持金錢賂王左右，故王非能恤楚國而赦，乃以朱公子故也。」楚王大怒曰：「寡人雖不德耳，柰何以朱公之子故而施惠乎！」令論殺朱公子，明日遂下赦令。朱公長男竟持其弟喪歸。

Zhuang Sheng was ashamed at having been betrayed by the young man, so he went in to see the King of Chu and said, “Earlier I spoke to Your Majesty about the matter of a certain star. Now when I went out, everyone on the road was saying that the son of Zhu Gong, a rich man of Tao, had killed someone and been imprisoned in Chu; that his family had brought a great deal of gold and bribed the king’s attendants; and that Your Majesty’s pardon was not meant to show compassion for Chu, but only for Zhu Gong’s son.” The King of Chu was furious and said, “Though I lack virtue, how could I bestow favor merely for Zhu Gong’s son?” He ordered Zhu Gong’s son tried and executed, and issued the pardon order the next day. Zhu Gong's eldest son finally brought his younger brother's body home for burial.

至，其母及邑人盡哀之，唯朱公獨笑，曰：「吾固知必殺其弟也！彼非不愛其弟，顧有所不能忍者也。是少與我俱，見苦，為生難，故重棄財。至如少弟者，生而見我富，乘堅驅良逐狡兔，豈知財所從來，故輕棄之，非所惜吝。前日吾所為欲遣少子，固為其能棄財故也。而長者不能，故卒以殺其弟，事之理也，無足悲者。吾日夜固以望其喪之來也。」

When he arrived, his mother and the city people all grieved for him. Only Zhu Gong laughed and said: “I knew he would kill his younger brother! It is not that he did not love his younger brother; rather, there was something in the matter that he could not bear. When he was young he was with me. He saw the hardship and that living was difficult. Therefore, he valued abandoning wealth. As for the young younger brother, he was born seeing me rich, riding firm carriages and driving good horses to pursue cunning rabbits. How did he know where wealth came from? Therefore, he lightly abandoned it. It was not what he cherished and was stingy about. The other day, when I wished to send the younger son, it was precisely because he is able to cast wealth aside. But the elder son could not. In the end, therefore, he caused his younger brother's death. Such is the logic of the matter; there is nothing to grieve over. Day and night, I fully expected his funeral to come.”

故范蠡三徙，成名於天下，非茍去而已，所止必成名。卒老死于陶，故世傳曰陶朱公。

Thus Fan Li moved three times and achieved fame throughout the world. He did not simply wander away; wherever he settled, he made a name for himself. He finally aged and died in Tao. Therefore, the world transmitted the name Tao Zhu Gong.

太史公曰：禹之功大矣，漸九川，定九州，至于今諸夏艾安。及苗裔句踐，苦身焦思，終滅彊吳，北觀兵中國，以尊周室，號稱霸王。句踐可不謂賢哉！蓋有禹之遺烈焉。范蠡三遷皆有榮名，名垂後世。臣主若此，欲毋顯得乎！

The Grand Historian said: Yu's merit was great. He regulated the nine rivers and settled the nine provinces. Down to the present, the Xia lands have remained peaceful. And his descendant Goujian hardened his body and brooded bitterly, finally destroyed mighty Wu, marched his troops north into the Central States to honor the Zhou royal house, and was styled hegemon. Can Gou Jian not be called worthy! Indeed, he has Yu's remaining illustrious deeds. Fan Li's three moves all had glorious names. His name hung for later generations. With minister and lord like this, how could they fail to achieve renown!

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