| | 僖公四年: |
四年春，王正月，公會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、曹伯侵蔡，蔡潰。潰者何？下叛上也。國曰潰，邑曰叛。 |
| | In spring of the fourth year, in the first lunar month of King [Wang], the Duke met with Duke Qi, Duke Song, Duke Chen, Duke Wei, Lord Zheng, Master Xu, and Duke Cao to invade Cai; Cai collapsed. What does "kui" mean? It means the subordinates rebelled against their superiors. For a state, it is called "kui"; for a city, it is called "pan."
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| | 僖公四年: |
遂伐楚，次于陘。其言次于陘何？有俟也。孰俟？俟屈完也。 |
| | They then proceeded to attack Chu and encamped at Xing. What is the significance of saying "encamped at Xing"? It indicates that they were waiting for something. Who or what were they waiting for? They were waiting for Qu Wan.
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| | 僖公四年: |
夏，許男新臣卒。楚屈完來盟于師，盟于召陵。屈完者何？楚大夫也。何以不稱使？尊屈完也。曷為尊屈完？以當桓公也。其言盟于師、盟于召陵何？師在召陵也。師在召陵，則曷為再言盟？喜服楚也。何言乎喜服楚？楚有王者則後服，無王者則先叛。夷狄也，而亟病中國，南夷與北狄交。中國不絕若線，桓公救中國，而攘夷狄，卒帖荊，以此為王者之事也。其言來何？與桓為主也。前此者有事矣，後此者有事矣，則曷為獨於此焉？與桓公為主，序績也。 |
| | In summer, Xinchen, Master of Xu, died. Chu's Qu Wan came to make an alliance with the allied forces; they made the alliance at Zhao Ling. Who was Qu Wan? He was a minister of Chu. Why is he not referred to as an envoy? Because Qu Wan was respected. Why was Qu Wan respected? Because he confronted Duke Huan of Qi. What is the significance of stating "made an alliance with the allied forces" and "made the alliance at Zhao Ling"? Because the allied forces were stationed in Zhao Ling. If the allied forces were already at Zhao Ling, then why is "made an alliance" mentioned twice? It indicates joy over the submission of Chu. Why is it said to express joy over the submission of Chu? When Chu had a worthy ruler, it submitted later; when it lacked a worthy ruler, it rebelled first. They were Yi and Di barbarians who frequently troubled the Central States, with southern Yi and northern Di converging together. The Central States were barely holding on like a thread; Duke Huan of Qi rescued the Central States and repelled the Yi and Di barbarians, ultimately pacifying Jing. This is why it was considered an act befitting a Son of Heaven. What does "came" signify here? It indicates that Qu Wan came in agreement with Duke Huan as the leader. There were events before this and after this, so why is this particular instance singled out? It was to affirm Duke Huan as the leader, recording his achievements in order.
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| | 僖公四年: |
齊人執陳袁濤涂。濤涂之罪何？辟軍之道也。其辟軍之道奈何？濤涂謂桓公曰：「君既服南夷矣，何不還師濱海而東，服東夷且歸？」桓公曰：「諾。」於是還師濱海而東，大陷于沛澤之中。顧而執濤涂。執者曷為或稱侯？或稱人？稱侯而執者，伯討也。稱人而執者，非伯討也。此執有罪，何以不得為伯討？古者周公東征則西國怨，西征則東國怨。桓公假涂于陳而伐楚，則陳人不欲其反由己者，師不正故也。不修其師而執濤涂，古人之討，則不然也。 |
| | The people of Qi arrested Yuan Taotu of Chen. What was Yuan Taotu's crime? He obstructed the military route. How did he obstruct the military route? Yuan Taotu said to Duke Huan, "Since you have already subdued the southern Yi, why not return your troops to the coastal area and move eastward to subdue the eastern Yi and then return?" Duke Huan said, "Agreed." So they turned back their troops to the coastal area and moved eastward, but fell into a great trap in Pei Ze. They then captured Yuan Taotu as a result. Why are some captives referred to by their titles of marquess? Or why are others simply called "people"? Those referred to by their marquess title and captured were punished by the hegemon. Those simply called "people" and captured were not punished by the hegemon. This was a case of capturing someone guilty of a crime; why, then, could it not be considered an action taken by the hegemon? In ancient times, when Duke Zhou campaigned eastward, western states resented him; when he campaigned westward, eastern states resented him. Duke Huan passed through Chen to attack Chu; the people of Chen did not want him to return by their territory, because his campaign was unjust. Capturing Yuan Taotu without properly organizing the troops does not conform to the righteous punitive actions of ancient times.
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| | 僖公四年: |
秋，及江人、黃人伐陳。八月，公至自伐楚。楚已服矣，何以致伐楚？叛盟也。 |
| | In autumn, they joined with the people of Jiang and Huang to attack Chen. In the eighth month, the Duke returned from his campaign against Chu. Chu had already submitted; then why did they go to attack it? Because Chu violated the alliance.
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| | 僖公四年: |
葬許繆公。冬，十有二月，公孫慈帥師會齊人、宋人、衛人、鄭人、許人、曹人侵陳。 |
| | The funeral of Duke Miu of Xu took place. In winter, on the twelfth day of the twelfth month, Gongsun Ci led troops to join with Qi, Song, Wei, Zheng, Xu, and Cao people in an invasion of Chen.
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