| | 僖公二年: |
二年春，王正月，城楚丘。楚丘者何？衛邑也。國而曰城，此邑也，其曰城何也？封衛也。則其不言城衛何也？衛未遷也。其不言衛之遷焉何也？不與齊侯專封也。其言城之者，專辭也。故非天子不得專封諸侯。諸侯不得專封諸侯，雖通其仁以義而不與也。故曰仁不勝道。 |
| | In the second year, spring, the first month of the reign of King Wáng, they built a city at Chuqiu. What was Chuqiu? It was a walled district of the State of Wei. A state is referred to as "cheng," but this was merely a walled district; why then is it called "cheng"? Because the State of Wei was being granted (a territory). Then why is it not stated as "building a city at Wei"? Because the capital of Wei had not yet been moved. Then why is it not mentioned that the State of Wei was relocating its capital? Because it did not endorse Duke Qi's unilateral granting (of territory). The mention of "building a city" is an expression of exclusive authority. Therefore, unless one was the Son of Heaven, he could not unilaterally grant fiefs to feudal lords. Feudal lords could not unilaterally enfeoff other feudal lords; even if they did so out of benevolence and righteousness, it was still not endorsed. Therefore it is said that benevolence cannot prevail over the Way.
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| | 僖公二年: |
夏，五月辛巳，葬我小君哀姜。虞師、晉師滅夏陽。非國而曰滅，重夏陽也。虞無師，其曰師何也？以其先晉，不可以不言師也。其先晉何也？為主乎滅夏陽也。夏陽者，虞虢之塞邑也。滅夏陽而虞虢舉矣。虞之為主乎滅夏陽何也？晉獻公欲伐虢，荀息曰：「君何不以屈產之乘、垂棘之璧而借道乎虞也？」公曰：「此晉國之寶也，如受吾幣而不借吾道，則如之何？」荀息曰：「此小國之所以事大國也。彼不借吾道，必不敢受吾幣。如受吾幣而借吾道，則是我取之中府而藏之外府，取之中廄而置之外廄也。」公曰：「宮之奇存焉，必不使受之也。」荀息曰：「宮之奇之為人也，達心而懦，又少長於君，達心則其言略，懦則不能強諫，少長於君則君輕之。且夫玩好在耳目之前，而患在一國之後，此中知以上乃能慮之，臣料虞君中知以下也。」公遂借道而伐虢。宮之奇諫曰：「晉國之使者，其辭卑而幣重，必不便於虞。」虞公弗聽，遂受其幣而借之道。宮之奇諫曰：「語曰：『脣亡則齒寒。』其斯之謂與！」挈其妻子以奔曹。獻公亡虢，五年而後舉虞。荀息牽馬操璧而前曰：「璧則猶是也，而馬齒加長矣！」 |
| | In summer, on the Xinsi day of the fifth month, our late Lady Aijiang was buried. The armies of Yu and Jin annihilated Xiayang. It was not a state, yet it is referred to as "annihilated"—this emphasizes the importance of Xiayang. Yu did not have an army; then why is it called an "army"? Because Yu acted before Jin, it could not be omitted from being referred to as an "army." Why did Yu act before Jin? Because it was the leader in annihilating Xiayang. Xiayang was a frontier walled district of Yu and Guo. After Xiayang was annihilated, the states of Yu and Guo were doomed. Why did Yu take the lead in annihilating Xiayang? Duke Xian of Jin wanted to attack Guo. Xun Xi said, "Why does Your Majesty not offer the war chariots from Quchan and the jade disc from Chuiji in order to borrow a passage through Yu?" The duke said, "These are treasures of the State of Jin. If they accept our gifts but do not lend us a passage, then what shall we do?" Xun Xi said, "This is how small states serve great states. If they do not lend us the passage, they will certainly dare not accept our gifts." "If they accept our gifts and lend us the passage, then it is as if we take them from our central treasury to store in an outer treasury, or move them from our inner stables to place in outer stables." The duke said, "Gong Zhiqi is still there; he will certainly not allow them to accept it." Xun Xi said, "Gong Zhiqi's character is such that he has insight but is timid. Moreover, he is only slightly older than the ruler. Insight means his words will be brief; timidity means he cannot strongly advise against it; and being only slightly older means the ruler looks down on him." "Moreover, pleasures and luxuries are right before one's eyes, while the disaster lies behind an entire state. Only those of moderate wisdom or above can foresee this; I estimate that Duke Yu is below average in wisdom." The duke then borrowed the passage and attacked Guo. Gong Zhiqi advised, "The envoys of the State of Jin spoke humbly but offered heavy gifts; this must be disadvantageous to Yu." Duke Yu did not listen. He accepted their gifts and lent them the passage. Gong Zhiqi advised again, "It is said: 'When lips are lost, teeth feel cold.' Is this not what that means?" He took his wife and children with him to flee to Cao. Duke Xian destroyed Guo, and five years later the State of Yu was also doomed. Xun Xi led a horse while holding the jade disc and said, "The jade disc is still as it was, but the horse's teeth have grown older!"
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| | 僖公二年: |
秋，九月，齊侯、宋公、江人、黃人盟於貫。貫之盟，不期而至者，江人、黃人也。江人、黃人者，遠國之辭也。中國稱齊、宋，遠國稱江、黃，以為諸侯皆來至也。 |
| | In autumn, on the ninth month, Duke Qi, Gong of Song, the people of Jiang, and the people of Huang formed an alliance at Guan. At the alliance in Guan, those who came without prior appointment were the people of Jiang and Huang. Jiang and Huang are terms referring to distant states. Nearby states were referred to as Qi and Song, while distant states were called Jiang and Huang, implying that feudal lords from all regions had come.
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| | 僖公二年: |
冬，十月，不雨。不雨者，勤雨也。楚人侵鄭。 |
| | In winter, on the tenth month, it did not rain. "Not raining" means a prolonged drought. The people of Chu invaded Zheng.
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