| | In winter, Duke Wen of Jin died. On the Gengchen day, they were about to bury him in Quwo; when leaving Jiang, there was a sound from the coffin like that of an ox. Boyan instructed the officials to perform a bowing ceremony, saying: "The lord has been commanded by Heaven for great affairs. Soon an army from the west will overtake us; if we attack them, we shall surely achieve a great victory." Qi Zi sent word to Qin from Zheng, saying: "The people of Zheng have appointed me to be in charge of the key to their northern gate. If you secretly send an army here, we can capture the state." Duke Mu consulted Jianshu, who said: "To exhaust an army in order to launch a surprise attack on a distant target is something I have never heard of. The troops will be weary and their strength exhausted, while the distant ruler will certainly be prepared; is this not unwise? Whatever the army does, Zheng must know about it. To work hard without purpose will surely lead to rebellious thoughts. Moreover, marching a thousand li, who would not know about it?" The duke dismissed the advice and summoned Mengming, Xiqi, and Baiyi, ordering them to lead an army out beyond the eastern gate. Jianshu wept as he said: "Lady Meng, I shall see the army depart but not return!" The duke sent someone to say to him: "What do you know?" "If your life span is only medium, the trees over your grave will already be growing together!" Jianshu's son joined the army and wept as he sent him off, saying: "The people of Jin will surely intercept our forces at Yao. There are two hills in Yao; the southern hill is the tomb of Xia Hou Gao, and the northern hill is where King Wen took shelter from wind and rain. You will surely die between these two hills; I shall collect your bones there." Thus, the army of Qin proceeded eastward.
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