| | The King of Jin, Xian Gong, made Li Ji his wife and appointed Xi Qi as crown prince. Li Ke led the people of the state to attack and kill him. Xun Xi placed his younger brother Gongzi Zhuo on the throne; after he was buried, Li Ke once again led the people of the state in an attack and killed him. Thus, the State of Jin had no ruler. Gongzi Yi Wu heavily bribed the State of Qin with territory in order to gain entry. Duke Mu of Qin led an army to admit him, and the people of Jin installed him as ruler; this was King Hui. After King Hui had stabilized his position in Jin, he repaid Qin's kindness by refusing to cede the promised territory. Duke Mu of Qin led his army in an attack on Jin, and King Hui of Jin met him in battle. The two sides fought at the plain of Hanyuan. The army of Jin suffered a crushing defeat, and Qin captured King Hui and brought him back, imprisoning him at Lingtai. In the tenth month, they made peace with Jin, returned King Hui, and took Crown Prince Yu as a hostage. The crown prince Yu escaped and returned. King Hui died, and Yu ascended the throne as ruler; this was King Huai. Duke Mu of Qin, angry at Yu's escape and return, raised up Gongzi Chong Er to attack King Huai. They killed him at Gaoliang and placed Chong Er on the throne; this was Duke Wen. Duke Wen distributed relief, revived neglected matters, assisted those in need, rescued the distressed, averted disasters, prohibited immoral acts, reduced taxes and levies, pardoned crimes, controlled expenditures, employed the people at appropriate times, defeated the Chu forces at Chengpu, stabilized King Xiang, liberated Song, relieved Gu Shu's garrison, and thus both within and beyond the borders submitted. Only then did disorder in Jin cease. Therefore, King Xian Gong listened to Li Ji, favored Liang Wu and You Shi, killed the crown prince Shen Sheng, and five great calamities followed. Three rulers died, one was captured, and hundreds of high-ranking officials and ministers perished; misfortune persisted for twenty years. Since ancient times, disorder has never occurred just once. Yet the calamities caused by those who bring chaos are all said to be merely one instance—this is a matter of differing considerations and circumstances. Differences in matters, deliberations, and circumstances arise from differences in the mind. Therefore, all those who incite disorder rarely escape misfortune befalling themselves.
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