1
伍子胥者，楚人也，名員。 員父曰伍奢。 員兄曰伍尚。 其先曰伍舉，以直諫事楚莊王，有顯，故其後世有名於楚。
Wu Zixu was a man from Chu, named Yuan. Yuan's father was named Wu She. Yuan's elder brother was named Wu Shang. His ancestor was named Wu Ju, who served King Zhuang of Chu with upright remonstration and gained prominence. His descendants therefore became famous in Chu.
2
楚平王有太子名曰建，使伍奢為太傅，費無忌為少傅。 無忌不忠於太子建。 平王使無忌為太子取婦於秦，秦女好，無忌馳歸報平王曰：「秦女絕美，王可自取，而更為太子取婦。」 平王遂自取秦女而絕愛幸之，生子軫。 更為太子取婦。
King Ping of Chu had a crown prince named Jian. He made Wu She Grand Tutor and Fei Wuji Junior Tutor. Fei Wuji proved disloyal to Crown Prince Jian. King Ping sent Wuji to take a wife for the crown prince from Qin. The Qin woman was beautiful, so Wuji galloped back to report to King Ping, saying: 'The Qin woman is exceptionally beautiful. The king can take her himself and get another wife for the crown prince.' King Ping then took the Qin woman himself and doted on her exclusively. She gave birth to a son named Zhen. He got another wife for the crown prince.
3
無忌既以秦女自媚於平王，因去太子而事平王。 恐一旦平王卒而太子立，殺己，乃因讒太子建。 建母，蔡女也，無寵於平王。 平王稍益疏建，使建守城父，備邊兵。
Wuji, having used the Qin woman to curry favor with King Ping, then left the crown prince and served King Ping. He feared that once King Ping died and the crown prince ascended, he would kill him, so he slandered Crown Prince Jian. Jian's mother was a woman from Cai, and she had no favor with King Ping. King Ping gradually grew more distant from Jian. He made Jian guard Chengfu and prepare the border troops.
4
頃之，無忌又日夜言太子短於王曰：「太子以秦女之故，不能無怨望，願王少自備也。 自太子居城父，將兵，外交諸侯，且欲入為亂矣。」 平王乃召其太傅伍奢考問之。 伍奢知無忌讒太子於平王，因曰：「王獨柰何以讒賊小臣疏骨肉之親乎？」 無忌曰：「王今不制，其事成矣。 王且見禽。」 於是平王怒，囚伍奢，而使城父司馬奮揚往殺太子。 行未至，奮揚使人先告太子：「太子急去，不然將誅。」 太子建亡奔宋。
After a while, Wuji again spoke day and night of the crown prince's faults to the king, saying: 'Because of the Qin woman's matter, the crown prince is bound to harbor resentment. I wish the king would prepare himself slightly. Ever since the crown prince took up residence at Chengfu, he has commanded troops, maintained outside relations with the feudal lords, and is now intending to enter the capital and raise disorder." King Ping therefore summoned Wu She, the crown prince's Grand Tutor, and questioned him. Wu She knew Wuji was slandering the crown prince to King Ping, so he said: 'Why must Your Majesty listen to a slanderous, traitorous petty official and estrange your own flesh-and-blood kin?' Wuji said: "If Your Majesty does not check him now, his plot will succeed. The king will soon be captured.' Then King Ping was angry, imprisoned Wu She, and sent the Chengfu commander Fu Yang to go kill the crown prince. Before arriving, Fu Yang sent someone to first warn the crown prince: 'Crown prince, flee quickly, otherwise you will be executed.' Crown Prince Jian fled to Song.
5
無忌言於平王曰：「伍奢有二子，皆賢，不誅且為楚憂。 可以其父質而召之，不然且為楚患。」 王使使謂伍奢曰：「能致汝二子則生，不能則死。」 伍奢曰：「尚為人仁，呼必來。 員為人剛戾忍訽，能成大事，彼見來之并禽，其勢必不來。」 王不聽，使人召二子曰：「來，吾生汝父； 不來，今殺奢也。」 伍尚欲往，員曰：「楚之召我兄弟，非欲以生我父也，恐有脫者後生患，故以父為質，詐召二子。 二子到，則父子俱死。 何益父之死？ 往而令讎不得報耳。 不如奔他國，借力以雪父之恥，俱滅，無為也。」 伍尚曰：「我知往終不能全父命。 然恨父召我以求生而不往，後不能雪恥，終為天下笑耳。」 謂員：「可去矣！ 汝能報殺父之讎，我將歸死。」 尚既就執，使者捕伍胥。 伍胥貫弓執矢向使者，使者不敢進，伍胥遂亡。 聞太子建之在宋，往從之。 奢聞子胥之亡也，曰：「楚國君臣且苦兵矣。」 伍尚至楚，楚并殺奢與尚也。
Wuji spoke to King Ping, saying: 'Wu She has two sons, both worthy. If not executed, they will be a worry for Chu. Use their father as a hostage to summon them. Otherwise, they will become a calamity for Chu.' The king sent an envoy to tell Wu She: 'If you can bring your two sons, then live; if you cannot, then die.' Wu She said: 'Shang is humane in character. If called, he will certainly come. Yuan is fierce and unyielding. He can endure humiliation and accomplish great things. Once he sees that coming means both brothers will be captured, he certainly will not come.' The king did not listen and sent someone to summon the two sons, saying: 'Come, I will let your father live; if you do not come, I will kill She now.' Wu Shang wished to go, but Yuan said: 'Chu's summoning of us brothers is not to let our father live. They fear that escapees will later cause trouble, so they use our father as hostage and deceitfully summon the two sons. If the two sons arrive, then father and sons will all die. What good would that do for our father's death? Going would just mean that the enemy cannot be avenged. Better to flee to another state, borrow strength to avenge father's humiliation. Being extinguished together would be of no benefit.' Wu Shang said: 'I know that going ultimately cannot save our father's life. But if our father summoned me in hope of living, and I did not go, and afterward I could not avenge the humiliation, I would become the laughingstock of the world.' He told Yuan: 'You can go! If you can avenge our father's murder, I will return and face death." Shang having been captured, the envoy then tried to capture Wu Zixu. Wu Zixu strung his bow and held arrows pointing at the envoy. The envoy dared not advance, so Wu Zixu then fled. He heard that Crown Prince Jian was in Song, so he went to follow him. When Wu She heard that Zixu had fled, he said: "The ruler and ministers of Chu will soon suffer the hardships of war." Wu Shang arrived in Chu, and Chu executed both She and Shang.
6
伍胥既至宋，宋有華氏之亂，乃與太子建俱奔於鄭。 鄭人甚善之。 太子建又適晉，晉頃公曰：「太子既善鄭，鄭信太子。 太子能為我內應，而我攻其外，滅鄭必矣。 滅鄭而封太子。」 太子乃還鄭。 事未會，會自私欲殺其從者，從者知其謀，乃告之於鄭。 鄭定公與子產誅殺太子建。 建有子名勝。 伍胥懼，乃與勝俱奔吳。 到昭關，昭關欲執之。 伍胥遂與勝獨身步走，幾不得脫。 追者在後。 至江，江上有一漁父乘船，知伍胥之急，乃渡伍胥。 伍胥既渡，解其劍曰：「此劍直百金，以與父。」 父曰：「楚國之法，得伍胥者賜粟五萬石，爵執珪，豈徒百金劍邪！」 不受。 伍胥未至吳而疾，止中道，乞食。 至於吳，吳王僚方用事，公子光為將。 伍胥乃因公子光以求見吳王。
After Wu Zixu reached Song, the Hua clan rebellion broke out there, so he and Crown Prince Jian fled together to Zheng. The Zheng people treated them very well. Crown Prince Jian again went to Jin. Duke Qing of Jin said: 'The crown prince is on good terms with Zheng, and Zheng trusts the crown prince. If the crown prince can be my internal supporter while I attack from outside, extinguishing Zheng is certain. Once Zheng is destroyed, I will enfeoff the crown prince there.' The crown prince then returned to Zheng. Before the matter could be carried out, Jian privately intended to kill his followers. They learned of his plot and reported it to Zheng. Duke Ding of Zheng and Zichan put Crown Prince Jian to death. Jian had a son named Sheng. Wu Zixu feared, so together with Sheng he fled to Wu. They arrived at Zhao Pass, where the guards wished to capture them. Wu Zixu then fled on foot with Sheng alone and nearly failed to escape. Pursuers were behind them. They reached the Jiang, where a fisherman in a boat saw Wu Zixu's urgency and ferried him across. After Wu Zixu crossed, he unfastened his sword and said: 'This sword is worth one hundred jin. I give it to you, elder.' The fisherman said: 'Under Chu law, whoever captures Wu Zixu receives fifty thousand shi of grain and the rank of Holder of the Jade Tablet. Why would I care only for a sword worth one hundred jin?' He did not accept. Before Wu Zixu reached Wu, he fell ill, stopped along the road, and begged for food. He arrived in Wu, where King Liao of Wu was in power and Prince Guang was general. Wu Zixu then sought an audience with the King of Wu through Prince Guang.
7
久之，楚平王以其邊邑鐘離與吳邊邑卑梁氏俱蠶，兩女子爭桑相攻，乃大怒，至於兩國舉兵相伐。 吳使公子光伐楚，拔其鐘離、居巢而歸。 伍子胥說吳王僚曰：「楚可破也。 願復遣公子光。」 公子光謂吳王曰：「彼伍胥父兄為戮於楚，而勸王伐楚者，欲以自報其讎耳。 伐楚未可破也。」 伍胥知公子光有內志，欲殺王而自立，未可說以外事，乃進專諸於公子光，退而與太子建之子勝耕於野。
Some time later, people from Zhongli, a Chu border town, and the Bei Liang clan, a Wu border settlement, were both tending silkworms. Two women quarreled over mulberry leaves and came to blows. The dispute enraged both sides, until the two states raised troops against each other. Wu sent Prince Guang to attack Chu. He captured Zhongli and Ju Chao, then returned. Wu Zixu advised King Liao of Wu, saying: 'Chu can be broken. I wish to send Prince Guang again.' Prince Guang told the King of Wu: 'Wu Zixu's father and elder brother were slaughtered by Chu. He advises Your Majesty to attack Chu only because he wants to avenge his private grievance. Chu cannot yet be broken by an attack.' Wu Zixu knew Prince Guang harbored ambitions within Wu and intended to kill the king and establish himself. Since Guang could not yet be persuaded about campaigns abroad, Zixu introduced Zhuan Zhu to him, then withdrew to farm in the fields with Sheng, the son of Crown Prince Jian.
8
五年而楚平王卒。 初，平王所奪太子建秦女生子軫，及平王卒，軫竟立為後，是為昭王。 吳王僚因楚喪，使二公子將兵往襲楚。 楚發兵絕吳兵之後，不得歸。 吳國內空，而公子光乃令專諸襲刺吳王僚而自立，是為吳王闔廬。 闔廬既立，得志，乃召伍員以為行人，而與謀國事。
Five years later, King Ping of Chu died. Initially, the Qin woman whom King Ping had seized from Crown Prince Jian gave birth to a son named Zhen. When King Ping died, Zhen was finally established as heir. This was King Zhao. King Liao of Wu took advantage of Chu's mourning and sent two princes to lead troops and invade Chu. Chu sent troops to cut off the rear of the Wu troops, so they could not return. Wu's interior was empty, so Prince Guang ordered Zhuan Zhu to assassinate King Liao of Wu and establish himself. This was King Helü of Wu. Once Helü had taken the throne and achieved his ambition, he summoned Wu Yuan to serve as envoy and planned state affairs with him.
9
楚誅其大臣郤宛、伯州犁，伯州犁之孫伯嚭亡奔吳，吳亦以嚭為大夫。 前王僚所遣二公子將兵伐楚者，道絕不得歸。 後聞闔廬弒王僚自立，遂以其兵降楚，楚封之於舒。 闔廬立三年，乃興師與伍胥、伯嚭伐楚，拔舒，遂禽故吳反二將軍。 因欲至郢，將軍孫武曰：「民勞，未可，且待之。」 乃歸。
Chu executed its ministers Xi Wan and Bo Zhouli. Bo Zhouli's grandson Bo Pi fled to Wu, where Wu also made him a grandee. The two princes whom the former King Liao had sent to lead troops and attack Chu had their way cut off and could not return. Later they heard that Helü had assassinated King Liao and established himself, so they surrendered their troops to Chu. Chu enfeoffed them at Shu. Three years after Helü was established, he raised troops and with Wu Zixu and Bo Pi attacked Chu. He captured Shu and captured the two former Wu generals who had rebelled. He then wished to press on to Ying, but General Sun Wu said: 'The people are exhausted. It cannot be done yet. Wait a little longer.' They then returned.
10
四年，吳伐楚，取六與灊。 五年，伐越，敗之。 六年，楚昭王使公子囊瓦將兵伐吳。 吳使伍員迎擊，大破楚軍於豫章，取楚之居巢。
In the fourth year, Wu attacked Chu and took Liu and Qian. In the fifth year, they attacked Yue and defeated them. In the sixth year, King Zhao of Chu sent Prince Nang Wa to lead troops and attack Wu. Wu sent Wu Zixu to meet and attack them. He greatly defeated the Chu army at Yu Zhang and took Chu's Ju Chao.
11
九年，吳王闔廬謂子胥、孫武曰：「始子言郢未可入，今果何如？」 二子對曰：「楚將囊瓦貪，而唐、蔡皆怨之。 王必欲大伐之，必先得唐、蔡乃可。」 闔廬聽之，悉興師與唐、蔡伐楚，與楚夾漢水而陳。 吳王之弟夫概將兵請從，王不聽，遂以其屬五千人擊楚將子常。 己卯，楚昭王出奔。 庚辰，吳王入郢。 子常敗走，奔鄭。 於是吳乘勝而前，五戰，遂至郢。
In the ninth year, King Helü of Wu told Wu Zixu and Sun Wu: 'Initially you said Ying could not be entered. Now indeed, how is it?' The two replied: 'The Chu general Nang Wa is greedy, and Tang and Cai all resent him. If the king insists on launching a major attack, he must first secure Tang and Cai. Only then can it be done.' Helü listened to them. He raised all his troops and attacked Chu together with Tang and Cai. They lined up against Chu across the Han River. The Wu king's younger brother Fu Gai led troops and asked to join the campaign. The king refused, so Fu Gai took five thousand of his own followers and attacked the Chu general Zichang. On jimao day, King Zhao of Chu fled. On gengchen day, the Wu king entered Ying. Zi Chang was defeated and fled to Zheng. Then Wu took advantage of their victory and advanced. After five battles, they arrived at Ying.
12
昭王出亡，入雲夢； 盜擊王，王走鄖。 鄖公弟懷曰：「平王殺我父，我殺其子，不亦可乎！」 鄖公恐其弟殺王，與王奔隨。 吳兵圍隨，謂隨人曰：「周之子孫在漢川者，楚盡滅之。」 隨人欲殺王，王子綦匿王，己自為王以當之。 隨人卜與王於吳，不吉，乃謝吳不與王。
King Zhao fled and entered Yun Meng; Bandits attacked the king, so the king fled to Yun. The Duke of Yun's younger brother Huai said: 'King Ping killed my father. If I kill his son, would that not also be acceptable!' The Duke of Yun feared his younger brother would kill the king, so he fled to Sui with the king. Wu troops surrounded Sui and told the Sui people: 'The Zhou descendants in the Han region: Chu has wiped them out.' The Sui people wished to kill the king. Prince Qi hid the king and himself became king to take his place. The Sui people divined giving the king to Wu. It was not auspicious, so they declined Wu and did not give the king.
13
始伍員與申包胥為交，員之亡也，謂包胥曰：「我必覆楚。」 包胥曰：「我必存之。」 及吳兵入郢，伍子胥求昭王。 既不得，乃掘楚平王墓，出其尸，鞭之三百，然後已。 申包胥亡於山中，使人謂子胥曰：「子之報讎，其以甚乎！ 吾聞之，人眾者勝天，天定亦能破人。 今子故平王之臣，親北面而事之，今至於僇死人，此豈其無天道之極乎！」 伍子胥曰：「為我謝申包胥曰，吾日莫途遠，吾故倒行而逆施之。」 於是申包胥走秦告急，求救於秦。 秦不許。 包胥立於秦廷，晝夜哭，七日七夜不絕其聲。 秦哀公憐之，曰：「楚雖無道，有臣若是，可無存乎！」 乃遣車五百乘救楚擊吳。 六月，敗吳兵於稷。 會吳王久留楚求昭王，而闔廬弟夫概乃亡歸，自立為王。 闔廬聞之，乃釋楚而歸，擊其弟夫概。 夫概敗走，遂奔楚。 楚昭王見吳有內亂，乃復入郢。 封夫概於堂谿，為堂谿氏。 楚復與吳戰，敗吳，吳王乃歸。
Initially Wu Zixu and Shen Bao Xu were friends. When Zixu fled, he told Bao Xu: 'I must overturn Chu.' Bao Xu said: 'I must preserve it.' When Wu's troops entered Ying, Wu Zixu searched for King Zhao. Unable to find him, Wu Zixu dug up King Ping of Chu's tomb, dragged out the corpse, and whipped it three hundred times before stopping. Shen Baoxu fled into the mountains and sent someone to tell Wu Zixu: 'Has your revenge not gone too far? I have heard that when people are many, they can overcome Heaven; but when Heaven's decree is fixed, it too can break men. You were once King Ping's minister and personally served him, facing north before his throne. Now you have gone so far as to mutilate a dead man. Is this not the utmost violation of Heaven's Way?' Wu Zixu said: 'Convey my thanks to Shen Baoxu and tell him: The sun is setting, and the road is long, so I must walk backward and act against the usual order.' Then Shen Baoxu went to Qin to report the emergency and seek aid. Qin refused. Baoxu stood in the Qin court and wept day and night. For seven days and seven nights his cries did not cease. Duke Ai of Qin pitied him and said: 'Though Chu has lost the Way, it has a minister like this. How could it not be preserved?' He then sent five hundred chariots to save Chu and attack Wu. In the sixth month, they defeated the Wu troops at Ji. It happened that the Wu king stayed long in Chu seeking King Zhao, while Helü's younger brother Fu Gai fled back and established himself as king. When Helü heard this, he abandoned the campaign in Chu and returned to attack his younger brother Fu Gai. Fu Gai was defeated and fled, then went to Chu. King Zhao of Chu saw that Wu was in internal disorder, so he returned to Ying. He enfeoffed Fu Gai at Tangxi, and Fu Gai became ancestor of the Tangxi clan. Chu again battled Wu, defeated Wu, and the Wu king then returned.
14
後二歲，闔廬使太子夫差將兵伐楚，取番。 楚懼吳復大來，乃去郢，徙於鄀。 當是時，吳以伍子胥、孫武之謀，西破彊楚，北威齊晉，南服越人。
After two years, Helü made Crown Prince Fu Chai lead troops to attack Chu and took Fan. Chu feared that Wu would return in force, so it abandoned Ying and moved to Ruo. At this time, Wu used the strategies of Wu Zixu and Sun Wu to break mighty Chu in the west, overawe Qi and Jin in the north, and subdue the Yue people in the south.
15
其後四年，孔子相魯。
Four years later, Confucius became chancellor of Lu.
16
後五年，伐越。 越王句踐迎擊，敗吳於姑蘇，傷闔廬指，軍卻。 闔廬病創將死，謂太子夫差曰：「爾忘句踐殺爾父乎？」 夫差對曰：「不敢忘。」 是夕，闔廬死。 夫差既立為王，以伯嚭為太宰，習戰射。 二年後伐越，敗越於夫湫。 越王句踐乃以餘兵五千人棲於會稽之上，使大夫種厚幣遺吳太宰嚭以請和，求委國為臣妾。 吳王將許之。 伍子胥諫曰：「越王為人能辛苦。 今王不滅，後必悔之。」 吳王不聽，用太宰嚭計，與越平。
After five years, they attacked Yue. King Goujian of Yue met them in battle, defeated Wu at Gusu, wounded Helü's finger, and forced the army to retreat. Helü, ill from his wound and about to die, told Crown Prince Fu Chai: 'Do you forget that Goujian killed your father?' Fu Chai replied: 'I dare not forget.' That night, Helü died. After Fuchai became king, he made Bo Pi grand steward and drilled his troops in warfare and archery. After two years, he attacked Yue and defeated Yue at Fu Qiu. King Goujian of Yue then withdrew with his remaining five thousand troops to Mount Kuaiji. He had the grandee Zhong send rich gifts to Wu's grand steward Pi to request peace, offering to hand over his state and serve as a vassal. The Wu king was about to agree. Wu Zixu remonstrated: 'King Goujian is a man who can endure hardship. If Your Majesty does not destroy him now, you will surely regret it later.' The Wu king did not listen and used Grand Steward Pi's plan to make peace with Yue.
17
其後五年，而吳王聞齊景公死而大臣爭寵，新君弱，乃興師北伐齊。 伍子胥諫曰：「句踐食不重味，弔死問疾，且欲有所用之也。 此人不死，必為吳患。 今吳之有越，猶人之有腹心疾也。 而王不先越而乃務齊，不亦謬乎！」 吳王不聽，伐齊，大敗齊師於艾陵，遂威鄒魯之君以歸。 益疏子胥之謀。
Five years later, the Wu king heard that Duke Jing of Qi had died and ministers were contending for favor, with the new ruler weak. He raised troops and attacked Qi to the north. Wu Zixu remonstrated: 'Goujian eats no second dish, mourns the dead and visits the sick. He means to put all this to use. If this man is not killed, he will surely become a calamity for Wu. For Wu to have Yue beside it is like a man carrying a disease in his heart and belly. Yet Your Majesty does not deal with Yue first, and instead devotes himself to Qi. Is this not a mistake?' The Wu king did not listen and attacked Qi. He greatly defeated the Qi troops at Ailing, then awed the rulers of Zou and Lu and returned. He increasingly estranged Wu Zixu's strategies.
18
其後四年，吳王將北伐齊，越王句踐用子貢之謀，乃率其眾以助吳，而重寶以獻遺太宰嚭。 太宰嚭既數受越賂，其愛信越殊甚，日夜為言於吳王。 吳王信用嚭之計。 伍子胥諫曰：「夫越，腹心之病，今信其浮辭詐偽而貪齊。 破齊，譬猶石田，無所用之。 且盤庚之誥曰：『有顛越不恭，劓殄滅之，俾無遺育，無使易種于茲邑。』 此商之所以興。 願王釋齊而先越； 若不然，後將悔之無及。」 而吳王不聽，使子胥於齊。 子胥臨行，謂其子曰：「吾數諫王，王不用，吾今見吳之亡矣。 汝與吳俱亡，無益也。」 乃屬其子於齊鮑牧，而還報吳。
Four years later, when the Wu king was about to attack Qi to the north, King Goujian of Yue used Zi Gong's strategy. He led his multitudes to help Wu and offered heavy treasures to Grand Steward Pi. Grand Steward Pi, having several times received Yue's bribes, loved and trusted Yue extremely. Day and night he spoke on their behalf to the Wu king. The Wu king trusted and used Pi's plans. Wu Zixu remonstrated: 'Yue is an abdominal heart disease. Now the king believes their empty words and deception while being greedy for Qi. Breaking Qi is like a stone field—nothing can be used from it. Moreover, Pan Geng's admonition said: 'Those who have overturning disrespect, cut them off and extinguish them. Make no remaining descendants, do not allow changing the seed in this city. This is why Shang rose. I wish the king to release Qi and put Yue first; if not, later you will regret it without being able to reach it.' The Wu king did not listen and sent Wu Zixu to Qi. Wu Zixu, about to depart, told his son: 'I have repeatedly remonstrated with the king, but the king did not use my advice. I now see Wu's perishing. For you to perish together with Wu would be of no benefit.' He then entrusted his son to Bao Mu of Qi and returned to report to Wu.
19
吳太宰嚭既與子胥有隙，因讒曰：「子胥為人剛暴，少恩，猜賊，其怨望恐為深禍也。 前日王欲伐齊，子胥以為不可，王卒伐之而有大功。 子胥恥其計謀不用，乃反怨望。 而今王又復伐齊，子胥專愎彊諫，沮毀用事，徒幸吳之敗以自勝其計謀耳。 今王自行，悉國中武力以伐齊，而子胥諫不用，因輟謝，詳病不行。 王不可不備，此起禍不難。 且嚭使人微伺之，其使於齊也，乃屬其子於齊之鮑氏。 夫為人臣，內不得意，外倚諸侯，自以為先王之謀臣，今不見用，常鞅鞅怨望。 願王早圖之。」 吳王曰：「微子之言，吾亦疑之。」 乃使使賜伍子胥屬鏤之劍，曰：「子以此死。」 伍子胥仰天嘆曰：「嗟乎！ 讒臣嚭為亂矣，王乃反誅我。 我令若父霸。 自若未立時，諸公子爭立，我以死爭之於先王，幾不得立。 若既得立，欲分吳國予我，我顧不敢望也。 然今若聽諛臣言以殺長者。」 乃告其舍人曰：「必樹吾墓上以梓，令可以為器； 而抉吾眼縣吳東門之上，以觀越寇之入滅吳也。」 乃自剄死。 吳王聞之大怒，乃取子胥尸盛以鴟夷革，浮之江中。 吳人憐之，為立祠於江上，因命曰胥山。
Wu's Grand Steward Pi, already having enmity with Wu Zixu, therefore slandered: 'Wu Zixu in character is firm and violent, with little kindness, suspicious and treacherous. His resentment fears becoming a deep calamity. Previously the king wished to attack Qi. Wu Zixu considered it not possible, but the king finally attacked and had great merit. Wu Zixu, ashamed that his plans and strategies were not used, then reversed and resented. Now that the king is attacking Qi again, Wu Zixu stubbornly remonstrates, obstructs affairs, and hopes only for Wu's defeat so that his own plans may be proved right. Now the king is going in person, using all the state's military strength to attack Qi. When Wu Zixu's remonstrations were not accepted, he withdrew, made excuses, feigned illness, and refused to go. Your Majesty must be on guard. It would not be difficult for him to raise disaster. Moreover, Pi made people secretly spy on him. When he was envoy to Qi, he entrusted his son to the Bao clan of Qi. As a minister, he is discontent at home and relies abroad on the feudal lords. He considers himself a strategist of the former king, and now that he is not being used, he is constantly resentful. I hope Your Majesty will make plans against him early.' The king of Wu said: "Had you not spoken, I too would have remained doubtful." He then sent an envoy to give Wu Zixu the Shulou sword, saying: 'Die with this.' Wu Zixu gazed at heaven and sighed: 'Alas! The slanderous minister Pi has caused disorder. The king instead executes me. I made your father a hegemon. Before you were established, when the princes were contending for the succession, I argued for you with the former king at risk of death. You nearly did not gain the throne. After you gained the throne, you wished to divide the state of Wu and give me a share, yet I never dared expect such a thing. Yet now you listen to the words of a flattering minister and kill an elder.' He then told his attendants: 'Plant catalpa trees above my grave, so that they may one day be made into vessels; and dig out my eyes and hang them above Wu's eastern gate, so I may watch the Yue invaders enter and destroy Wu.' He then slit his own throat and died. When the Wu king heard this, he was furious. He took Wu Zixu's corpse, sealed it in a leather wineskin, and cast it into the Jiang. The people of Wu pitied him. They established a shrine on the Jiang and named the place Xu Mountain.
20
吳王既誅伍子胥，遂伐齊。 齊鮑氏殺其君悼公而立陽生。 吳王欲討其賊，不勝而去。 其後二年，吳王召魯衛之君會之橐皋。 其明年，因北大會諸侯於黃池，以令周室。 越王句踐襲殺吳太子，破吳兵。 吳王聞之，乃歸，使使厚幣與越平。 後九年，越王句踐遂滅吳，殺王夫差； 而誅太宰嚭，以不忠於其君，而外受重賂，與己比周也。
After executing Wu Zixu, the Wu king attacked Qi. The Qi Bao clan killed their ruler Duke Dao and established Yang Sheng. The Wu king wished to punish the killers, but he failed to win and withdrew. Two years later, the Wu king summoned the rulers of Lu and Wei to assemble at Tuo Gao. The next year, he held a great assembly of the feudal lords in the north at Huangchi, seeking to command the Zhou royal house. King Goujian of Yue launched a surprise attack, killed the Wu crown prince, and defeated the Wu army. When the Wu king heard this, he returned and sent an envoy with generous gifts to make peace with Yue. Nine years later, King Goujian of Yue destroyed Wu and killed King Fuchai; he also executed Grand Steward Pi, because Pi had been disloyal to his ruler, accepted heavy bribes from abroad, and conspired with him.
21
伍子胥初所與俱亡故楚太子建之子勝者，在於吳。 吳王夫差之時，楚惠王欲召勝歸楚。 葉公諫曰：「勝好勇而陰求死士，殆有私乎！」 惠王不聽。 遂召勝，使居楚之邊邑鄢，號為白公。 白公歸楚三年而吳誅子胥。
Sheng, the son of the former Chu Crown Prince Jian, had originally fled with Wu Zixu and was living in Wu. During the time of King Fuchai of Wu, King Hui of Chu wished to summon Sheng back to Chu. Ye Gong warned him: "Sheng loves bravery and is secretly recruiting men willing to die for him; he may well have private ambitions!" King Hui did not listen. He then summoned Sheng and settled him in Yan, a Chu border town, with the title Duke of Bai. Three years after Bai Gong returned to Chu, Wu executed Zixu.
22
白公勝既歸楚，怨鄭之殺其父，乃陰養死士求報鄭。 歸楚五年，請伐鄭，楚令尹子西許之。 兵未發而晉伐鄭，鄭請救於楚。 楚使子西往救，與盟而還。 白公勝怒曰：「非鄭之仇，乃子西也。」 勝自礪劍，人問曰：「何以為？」 勝曰：「欲以殺子西。」 子西聞之，笑曰：「勝如卵耳，何能為也。」
After Duke Bai Sheng returned to Chu, he nursed resentment over Zheng's killing of his father. He secretly maintained men willing to die for him, seeking revenge against Zheng. Five years after returning to Chu, he requested permission to attack Zheng. Chu's prime minister Zixi granted it. Before the troops had set out, Jin attacked Zheng, and Zheng requested aid from Chu. Chu sent Zixi to rescue Zheng. He made an alliance with Zheng and returned. Duke Bai Sheng was enraged and said: 'The enemy is not Zheng, but Zixi.' Sheng personally sharpened his sword. People asked: 'What is it for?' Sheng said: 'I mean to kill Zixi with it.' Zixi heard this and laughed, saying: 'Sheng is like an egg. What can he do?'
23
其後四歲，白公勝與石乞襲殺楚令尹子西、司馬子綦於朝。 石乞曰：「不殺王，不可。」 乃劫（之）王如高府。 石乞從者屈固負楚惠王亡走昭夫人之宮。 葉公聞白公為亂，率其國人攻白公。 白公之徒敗，亡走山中，自殺。 而虜石乞，而問白公尸處，不言將亨。 石乞曰：「事成為卿，不成而亨，固其職也。」 終不肯告其尸處。 遂亨石乞，而求惠王復立之。
Four years later, Duke Bai Sheng and Shi Qi made a surprise attack at court and killed Chu's prime minister Zixi and commander Ziqi. Shi Qi said: 'Unless we kill the king, this cannot succeed.' They then coerced the king to the Gao residence. Shi Qi's follower Qu Gu carried King Hui of Chu on his back and fled to Lady Zhao's palace. Lord Ye heard that Duke Bai had raised disorder and led the people of his domain to attack him. Bai Gong's followers were defeated. They fled into the mountains and committed suicide. They captured Shi Qi and questioned him about where Duke Bai's corpse was hidden, threatening to boil him if he would not speak. Shi Qi said: 'If the affair had succeeded, I would have become a minister. Since it failed, and I am to be boiled, that too is part of my office.' To the end, he refused to reveal where Duke Bai's corpse was. They then boiled Shi Qi and sought out King Hui to restore him to the throne.
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太史公曰：怨毒之於人甚矣哉！ 王者尚不能行之於臣下，況同列乎！ 向令伍子胥從奢俱死，何異螻蟻。 棄小義，雪大恥，名垂於後世，悲夫！ 方子胥窘於江上，道乞食，志豈嘗須臾忘郢邪？ 故隱忍就功名，非烈丈夫孰能致此哉？ 白公如不自立為君者，其功謀亦不可勝道者哉！
The Grand Historian said: How terrible resentment and hatred are in men! If even kings cannot indulge them toward ministers and subordinates, how much less can men of equal rank do so toward one another! If Wu Zixu had followed Wu She and died with him, how would he have differed from an ant? He abandoned a lesser righteousness, avenged a great humiliation, and left his name to later generations. How tragic! When Wu Zixu was trapped on the Jiang and begging for food along the road, could his purpose have forgotten Ying for even a moment? Thus, he hid his feelings and endured until he achieved merit and renown. Who but a fierce and resolute man could have done this? Had Duke Bai not tried to set himself up as ruler, both his achievements and his plans would have been beyond full telling!