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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 native of Chu, and his given name was Yuan. Yuan's father was Wu She. Yuan's elder brother was Wu Shang. His ancestor, Wu Ju, served King Zhuang of Chu with straightforward remonstrations and achieved distinction; therefore, his descendants were renowned in the state of Chu.
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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, and he appointed Wu She as his Taifu (Grand Tutor) and Fei Wujin as his Shaofu (Junior Tutor). Fei Wujin was disloyal to Crown Prince Jian. King Ping sent Fei Wujin to fetch a bride for the crown prince from Qin. The Qin woman was beautiful, and Fei Wujin hurried back to report to King Ping: "The daughter of Qin is extremely beautiful; Your Majesty may take her yourself and find another wife for the Crown Prince." King Ping then took the woman from Qin as his own concubine and greatly favored her, siring a son named Zhen. He arranged for another wife to be taken for the Crown Prince.
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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。 |
| | Having used the Qin woman to ingratiate himself with King Ping, Fei Wujin then abandoned the Crown Prince and served King Ping instead. Fearing that if King Ping died suddenly and the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he would be killed, Fei Wujin therefore slandered Crown Prince Jian. Jian's mother was a daughter of Cai and did not enjoy King Ping's favor. King Ping gradually became more distant toward Jian, assigning him to defend Chengfu in charge of border troops.
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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。 |
| | Soon after, Fei Wujin continued to speak against Crown Prince Jian before the king day and night, saying: "Because of the Qin woman, the Crown Prince cannot help but harbor resentment; Your Majesty should be cautious." "Ever since the Crown Prince was stationed at Chengfu, commanding troops and engaging in external diplomacy with feudal lords, he has been plotting to enter the capital and cause chaos." King Ping then summoned his Taifu Wu She for interrogation. Wu She, knowing that Fei Wujin had slandered the Crown Prince to King Ping, said: "How can Your Majesty allow a treacherous petty official to alienate you from your own flesh and blood?" Fei Wujin replied: "If Your Majesty does not act now, the matter will be beyond control. You will soon find yourself captured." King Ping became furious, imprisoned Wu She, and sent Chengfu's Sima Fenyang to go and kill the Crown Prince. Before he arrived, Fenyang had someone warn the Crown Prince first: "Prince Jian, flee quickly; otherwise you will be executed." Crown Prince Jian fled to Song.
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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。 |
| | Fei Wujin said to King Ping: "Wu She has two sons, both of whom are virtuous. If they are not executed, they will become a future concern for the state of Chu." "You may use their father as a hostage to summon them; otherwise, they will be a future threat to Chu." The king sent an envoy to Wu She and said: "If you can bring your two sons here, you will live; otherwise, you will die." Wu She replied: "Shang is a kind-hearted man; if summoned, he will surely come. Yuan is a rigid and ruthless person who can endure humiliation; he is capable of great achievements, so if he sees that coming means being captured along with me, he will certainly not come." The king did not listen and sent men to summon the two sons, saying: "Come, and I shall spare your father; if you do not come, I will kill Wu She today." Wu Shang wanted to go, but Yuan said: "Chu is summoning my brother and me not in order to spare our father, but out of fear that someone might escape and cause future trouble. Therefore, they are using our father as a hostage and falsely summoning the two of us. If both sons arrive, then all three of us—father and sons—will die together." What benefit would that bring to our father's life? lington Go and allow the enemy to escape without retribution. "It is better for us to flee to another state, seek support, and avenge our father's disgrace. If we all die together, it will be in vain." Wu Shang said: "I know that going there would ultimately not save my father's life. Yet I regret that if our father summoned me in hopes of saving his life and I do not go, later we will be unable to avenge the disgrace, and we shall forever be laughed at by all under heaven." He said to Yuan: "You may leave now! If you are able to avenge our father's murder, I shall return and face death." After Wu Shang was captured, the envoys went to arrest Wu Xu. Wu Xu strung his bow and held an arrow aimed at the envoys; fearing for their lives, the envoys did not advance, so Wu Xu fled. Having learned that Crown Prince Jian was in Song, he went to join him. Wu She heard of his son Wu Xu's escape and said: "The rulers and officials of the state of Chu will soon suffer from war." When Wu Shang arrived in Chu, the state executed both Wu She and Wu Shang.
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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 arriving at Song, Wu Xu encountered a rebellion by the Hua clan in Song and thus fled with Crown Prince Jian to Zheng. The people of Zheng treated them very kindly. Crown Prince Jian then went to Jin, where King Qing of Jin said: "The Crown Prince has already won the favor of Zheng, and Zheng trusts him. If the Crown Prince can serve as my inside man while I attack from outside, we will surely destroy Zheng." "After destroying Zheng, I shall grant fiefdom to the Crown Prince." The Crown Prince then returned to Zheng. Before the plan could be carried out, it coincided with an incident in which Jian secretly intended to kill his followers. The followers learned of this plot and reported it to Zheng. Duke Ding of Zheng and Zi Chan executed Crown Prince Jian. Jian had a son named Sheng. Fearing for his safety, Wu Xu fled with Sheng to the state of Wu. When they arrived at Zhaoguan Pass, the guards there wanted to arrest them. Wu Xu then fled with Sheng on foot alone and barely escaped capture. The pursuers were close behind. When they reached the river, a fisherman was on a boat by the riverside and, knowing Wu Xu's urgency, ferried him across. After crossing the river, Wu Xu untied his sword and said: "This sword is worth a hundred gold pieces; I give it to you." The fisherman said: "According to the laws of Chu, whoever captures Wu Xu will be granted five thousand dan of grain and a noble title as Zhugui; it is not merely for a sword worth a hundred gold pieces!" He did not accept it. Before reaching Wu, Wu Xu fell ill and stopped halfway along the road, begging for food. When he finally arrived in Wu, King Liao of Wu was then in power, and Gongzi Guang served as a general. Wu Xu therefore used Gongzi Guang to request an audience with the king of Wu.
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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。 |
| | After a long time, King Ping of Chu, because the border town Zhongli and Wu's border settlement Biliangshi were both engaged in sericulture, had two women quarrel over mulberry trees and attack each other. He became greatly enraged, leading to full-scale military conflict between the two states. Wu sent Gongzi Guang to attack Chu; he captured Zhongli and Jucha before returning. Wu Zixu advised King Liao of Wu: "Chu can be defeated. I request that Gongzi Guang be sent again." Gongzi Guang said to King Wu: "Wu Xus father and elder brother were executed in Chu, yet he advises the king to attack Chu merely because he wishes to avenge his own grudge. Attacking Chu will not necessarily lead to its defeat." Wu Xu, knowing that Gongzi Guang had ambitions to kill the king and seize power for himself, realized it was not yet possible to persuade him about external matters. Therefore, Wu Xu recommended Zhuan Zhu to Gongzi Guang, then withdrew to farm in the fields with Crown Prince Jian's son Sheng.
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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 taken as his concubine bore a son named Zhen; after King Ping's death, Zhen eventually succeeded to the throne and became known as King Zhao. Taking advantage of Chu's mourning period for its late king, King Liao of Wu sent two princes with troops to launch a surprise attack on Chu. Chu mobilized forces to cut off the rear of Wu's army, preventing its return. With Wu's capital left vulnerable, Gongzi Guang ordered Zhuan Zhu to assassinate King Liao and seize the throne for himself; he became known as King Helu of Wu. After ascending the throne, King Helu achieved his ambitions and summoned Wu Yuan to serve as an envoy, consulting him on state affairs.
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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 high-ranking official Xi Wan and Bo Zhouli; the grandson of Bo Zhouli, Bo Pi, fled to Wu, where he was also appointed as a grand officer. The two princes King Liao had previously sent with troops to attack Chu found their route cut off and could not return. Later, upon hearing that King Helu had assassinated King Liao to seize the throne, they surrendered their forces to Chu, which granted them fiefs in Shu. Three years after ascending the throne, King Helu raised an army with Wu Xu and Bo Pi to attack Chu. They captured Shu and thus captured the two former Wu generals who had defected. King Helu then intended to march on Ying, but General Sun Wu said: "The people are exhausted; it is not yet the time. We should wait for now." Thus they returned.
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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 captured Liu and Qian. In the fifth year, Wu attacked Yue and defeated it. In the sixth year, King Zhao of Chu sent Gongzi Nangwa to lead an army against Wu. Wu dispatched Wu Yuan to intercept them, and at Yuzhang, the Wu forces decisively defeated the Chu army, capturing Jucha of Chu.
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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 Helu of Wu said to Zixu and Sun Wu: "Initially you said Ying was not yet ready for attack; now, what do you think?" The two men replied: "Chu's general Nangwa is greedy, and the states of Tang and Cai both resent him. If Your Majesty wishes to launch a major attack on Chu, you must first secure the support of Tang and Pian." King Helu heeded their advice and mobilized his entire army together with the states of Tang and Cai to attack Chu, confronting the Chu forces across the Hanshui River. King Helu's younger brother Fu Gai requested to lead troops and join the campaign, but the king did not approve. Thus, Fu Gai led his own contingent of five thousand men to attack Chu's general Zichang. On the Jimao day (June 24, 506 BC), King Zhao of Chu fled. On the Gengchen day (July 5, 506 AD), King Wu entered Ying. Zichang was defeated and fled to Zheng. Taking advantage of the victory, Wu pressed forward, winning five battles in succession until they reached Ying.
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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 Yunmeng; bandits attacked the king, forcing him to flee to Yun. Yun Gong's younger brother Huai said: "King Ping killed my father; is it not just for me to kill his son!" Fearing that his brother would kill the king, Yun Gong fled with King Zhao to Sui. Wu's forces surrounded Sui and told its people: "All descendants of the Zhou dynasty in the Han River region have been completely exterminated by Chu." The people of Sui wanted to kill the king, but Prince Qi concealed King Zhao and took his place as a substitute. The people of Sui divined whether they should hand over the king to Wu, but it was considered inauspicious; thus, they apologized to Wu and refused to surrender the king.
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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。 |
| | Originally, Wu Yuan was on friendly terms with Shen Baoxu. When Yuan fled, he told Baoxu: "I will certainly destroy Chu." Baoxu said: "I will surely preserve it [Chu]." When Wu's troops entered Ying, Wu Zixu sought King Zhao. Failing to find him, he dug up the tomb of King Ping of Chu, pulled out his corpse, and flogged it three hundred times before finally ceasing. Shen Baoxu fled into the mountains and sent a message to Zi Xu, saying: "Is your revenge truly so excessive?" I have heard that numbers of people can overcome Heaven; but Heaven's will is also capable of defeating men. You were once a minister to King Ping, personally serving him with your face turned north. Now you have come to the point of humiliating and killing his corpse—how could this not be an extreme violation of Heavenly principles!" Wu Zixu said: "Tell Shen Baoxu for me, 'My days are numbered and my path is long; therefore, I have acted in reverse and contrary ways.'" At this time, Shen Baoxu hurried to Qin to plead for help, seeking assistance from the state of Qin. Qin did not agree. Baoxu stood in the court of Qin, weeping day and night for seven days and nights without ceasing his cries. King Ai of Qin took pity on him and said: "Although Chu has been unjust, it has a minister like this; how can it not be preserved!" He then dispatched five hundred chariots to rescue Chu and attack Wu. In the sixth month, they defeated Wu's forces at Ji. While King Wu remained in Chu for a long time seeking King Zhao, Helu's younger brother Fugai fled back and declared himself king. Upon hearing this, Helu abandoned his campaign in Chu and returned to attack his younger brother Fugai. Fugai was defeated and fled, eventually going into exile in Chu. King Zhao of Chu saw that Wu had internal strife and thus returned to Ying. He granted Fugai the fief at Tangxi, establishing the Tangxi clan. Chu once again fought against Wu and defeated them; King Wu of Wu then returned.
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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。 |
| | Two years later, Helu sent Crown Prince Fucha to lead troops in an attack on Chu and captured Fan. Fearing that Wu would launch a large-scale invasion again, Chu abandoned Ying and moved its capital to Ruo. At that time, Wu, through the strategies of Wu Zixu and Sun Wu, defeated mighty Chu in the west, imposed its authority on Qi and Jin in the north, and subjugated the Yue people to the south.
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其後四年，孔子相魯。 |
| | Four years later, Confucius served as prime minister of Lu.
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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。 |
| | Five years after that, Wu launched a campaign against Yue. King Goujian of Yue met them in battle and defeated Wu at Gu Su, wounding King Helu's finger and forcing the Wu army to retreat. Helu, suffering from his wounds and on the verge of death, said to Crown Prince Fucha: "Have you forgotten that Goujian killed your father?" Fucha replied: "I dare not forget." That night, Helu died. After Fucha was enthroned as king, he appointed Bo Pi as Taizai and trained in warfare and archery. Two years later, Wu launched an attack on Yue and defeated them at Fuqiu. King Goujian of Yue then led his remaining five thousand soldiers to take refuge on Mount Kuaiji, and sent Minister Zhong with rich gifts to Wu's Taizai Bo Pi in order to request peace, offering to surrender his state and serve as a subject or concubine. King Wu was about to agree to the terms. Wu Zixu advised: "King Goujian is a man who can endure hardship and toil. If the king does not now destroy him, we will surely regret it later." King Wu did not listen and followed Taizai Bo Pi's plan, making peace with Yue.
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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, King Wu of Wu heard that Duke Jing of Qi had died and the ministers were vying for favor, with the new ruler being weak. He then raised an army to launch a northern campaign against Qi. Wu Zixu advised: "Goujian eats without double flavors, mourns the dead and inquires after the sick; he is preparing to use them [his people] for something. This man will not die, and must become a future trouble for Wu. Now that Wu has Yue as an adversary, it is like having a disease in one's vital organs. Yet the king does not first deal with Yue but instead focuses on Qi—does this not seem mistaken!" King Wu did not listen. He attacked Qi and decisively defeated its army at Ailing, then returned with the rulers of Zou and Lu cowed by his might. He became increasingly dismissive of Wu Zixu's strategies.
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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 King Wu of Wu prepared to launch a northern campaign against Qi, King Goujian of Yue followed the plan of Zi Gong and led his people to assist Wu, presenting rich treasures as gifts to Taizai Bo Pi. After receiving many bribes from Yue, Taizai Bo Pi loved and trusted Yue especially highly, speaking of them day and night to King Wu. King Wu placed trust in and followed Bo Pi's plans. Wu Zixu advised: "Yue is a disease in the vital organs. Now, you trust their empty words and deceptions for the sake of greed over Qi. Defeating Qi is like cultivating barren stone fields—it will be of no use to you. Moreover, the 诰 (gào) of Pangeng says: "For those who are rebellious and disrespectful, cut them off completely, so that no descendants remain to be nurtured, nor allow their kind to take root in this land." This is why the Shang dynasty was able to rise. I wish the king would abandon Qi and deal with Yue first; Otherwise, it will be too late to regret it." But King Wu did not listen and sent Wu Zixu to Qi. Before leaving, Wu Zixu told his son: "I have repeatedly advised the king, but he did not listen. I now see that Wu is doomed to fall. It would be of no benefit for you to perish with Wu." He entrusted his son to Bao Mu of Qi and returned to report to Wu.
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| | 伍子胥列... : |
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。 |
| | Since Taizai Bo Pi had already been at odds with Wu Zixu, he slandered him by saying: "Wu Zixu is a harsh and ruthless man, lacking in kindness. He is suspicious and treacherous; his resentment may bring great disaster. The other day when the king wanted to attack Qi, Wu Zixu thought it inadvisable; yet the king proceeded and achieved great success. Wu Zixu felt ashamed that his strategy was not followed, so he became resentful instead. Now that the king is once again about to attack Qi, Wu Zixu stubbornly insists and strongly advises against it, obstructing those in charge. He merely hopes for Wu's defeat so he can prove his own strategy was correct. Now that the king himself is leading the campaign and mobilizing all the state's military strength to attack Qi, yet Wu Zixu advises against it without success. He then abruptly withdraws in resentment, feigning illness and refusing to go along. The king cannot afford to be unprepared; this man is not hard to provoke into causing trouble. Moreover, Bo Pi had people secretly watching him. When Wu Zixu was sent to Qi, he entrusted his son to the Bao family there. As a minister, he is discontent within and seeks support from foreign states; considering himself a strategist of the former kings, now that his advice is not followed, he constantly harbors resentment. I beg the king to deal with him early." King Wu said: "Without your words, I would have also suspected him." He then sent an envoy to present Wu Zixu with a decorated sword and said: "You should use this to die." Wu Zixu looked up at the sky and sighed, saying: "Alas! The slanderous minister Bo Pi has caused chaos; yet the king now turns around to execute me. I helped your father achieve dominance. When you had not yet ascended the throne, various princes vied for power; I fought to secure your position before the late king at the risk of my life, and nearly failed. After you had already ascended, you wished to grant me a portion of Wu's territory; yet I did not dare hope for such an honor. Yet now you listen to flatterers' words and kill an elder statesman." He then told his attendants: "Be sure to plant a zhi tree on my grave, so that it may be made into utensils; and pluck out my eyes and hang them above the eastern gate of Wu, so I can witness how the Yue invaders will destroy Wu." He then committed suicide by cutting his throat. King Wu, upon hearing this, was furious and took Wu Zixu's corpse, placed it in a leather container made from Chi Yi hide, and floated it down the river. The people of Wu pitied him and built a shrine for him by the riverbank; they named the hill after him, calling it Xushan.
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| | 伍子胥列... : |
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 King Wu had executed Wu Zixu, he proceeded to attack Qi. The Bao clan of Qi killed their ruler Duke Dao and installed Yangsheng as the new king. King Wu wanted to punish those responsible for the murder, but failed in his campaign and withdrew. Two years later, King Wu summoned the rulers of Lu and Wei to a conference at Tuogao. The following year, he held a grand assembly of feudal lords in Huangchi to assert authority over the Zhou royal house. King Goujian of Yue launched a surprise attack and killed Wu's crown prince, defeating Wu's army. Upon hearing this news, King Wu returned and sent envoys with rich gifts to make peace with Yue. Nine years later, King Goujian of Yue finally destroyed Wu and killed King Fucha; and executed Taizai Bo Pi for his disloyalty to the king and for accepting heavy bribes from outside, conspiring with others against Wu.
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| | 伍子胥列... : |
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。 |
| | Wu Zixu's initial companion who had fled together with the former Crown Prince Jian of Chu, whose son was Sheng, was in Wu. During King Fucha's reign, King Huai of Chu wanted to summon Sheng back to Chu. Ye Gong advised, "Sheng is fond of bravery and secretly seeks assassins; there might be some hidden intentions!" King Huai did not listen. He then summoned Sheng and assigned him to live in Yanyi, a border town of Chu, giving him the title "Bai Gong." Three years after Bai Gong returned to Chu, Wu executed Zi Xu.
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| | 伍子胥列... : |
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 returning to Chu, Bai Gong Sheng resented the State of Zheng for having killed his father and thus secretly nurtured assassins in order to take revenge on Zheng. Five years after returning to Chu, he requested permission to attack Zheng, and Lord Zi Xi, the Minister of Works of Chu, agreed. Before the troops could be dispatched, Jin attacked Zheng, and Zheng requested military aid from Chu. Chu sent Zi Xi to go to Zheng's rescue, concluded an alliance with them, and then returned. Bai Gong Sheng was furious and said, "My enemy is not Zheng, but Zi Xi." Sheng sharpened his sword by himself. Someone asked, "What are you doing?" Sheng said, "I want to use it to kill Zi Xi." Zi Xi heard this and laughed, saying, "Sheng is like an egg; what can he possibly do?"
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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, Bai Gong Sheng and Shi Qi launched a surprise attack in the court and killed Zi Xi, Minister of Works of Chu, and Zi Qi, the Grand Marshal. Shi Qi said, "Unless we kill the king, it will not be possible." They then seized the king and took him to Gao Fu. Shi Qi's follower Qu Gu carried King Huai of Chu and fled to the palace of Lady Zhao. Ye Gong, upon hearing that Bai Gong had rebelled, led his people in an attack against Bai Gong. Bai Gong's followers were defeated and fled into the mountains, where they committed suicide. They captured Shi Qi and asked him where Bai Gong's body was; when he did not speak, they were going to boil him alive. Shi Qi said, "If the matter succeeded, I would be a high official; if it failed, being boiled is my due fate." In the end, he refused to reveal where Bai Gong's body was. They then boiled Shi Qi and sought out King Huai, reinstating him on 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！ |
| | Grand Historian Sima Qian said: How deeply resentment can affect people! Even a king cannot prevent such feelings among his ministers, let alone among equals! Had Wu Zixu followed Shē in death, what would he have been different from a worm or an ant? Abandoning minor righteousness to avenge great humiliation, his name was recorded in later generations—how tragic! When Wu Zixu found himself cornered by the river, begging for food along the way, could his mind have ever momentarily forgotten Ying? Therefore, only through enduring humiliation and hardship to achieve glory and fame could such a feat be accomplished—what kind of valiant man but Wu Zixu could reach this? If Bai Gong had not attempted to establish himself as a ruler, his achievements and strategies would have been remarkable enough to be recounted endlessly!
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