| | 闔閭三年: |
三年，吳將欲伐楚，未行。伍子胥、白喜相謂曰：「吾等為王養士，畫其策謀，有利於國，而王故伐楚。出其令，託而無興師之意，奈何？」有頃，吳王問子胥、白喜曰：「寡人欲出兵於二子，何如？」子胥、白喜對曰：「臣願用命。」吳王內計二子皆怨楚，深恐以兵往破滅而已。登臺向南風而嘯，有頃而嘆，群臣莫有曉王意者。子胥深知王之不定，乃薦孫子於王。 |
| | In the third year, the Wu general wanted to attack Chu, but did not proceed. Wu Zixu and Bai Xi said to each other, "We have been raising soldiers for the king and devising strategies and plans that are beneficial to the state, yet the king insists on attacking Chu. He issues his orders, but they are merely formalities with no real intention of mobilizing troops. What should we do about this?" After a while, King Wu asked Zi Xu and Bai Xi, "I wish to send troops with the two of you. What do you think?" Zi Xu and Bai Xi replied, "We are willing to obey your command." King Wu inwardly calculated that both men harbored resentment toward Chu, and he deeply feared that sending troops would only lead to their destruction. He ascended a platform, faced southward, and howled into the wind; after a while he sighed, but none of his ministers understood the king's intent. Zi Xu deeply understood that the king was indecisive, so he recommended Sunzi to the king.
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| | 闔閭三年: |
孫子者，名武，吳人也，善為兵法。辟隱深居，世人莫知其能。胥乃明知鑒辯，知孫子可以折衝銷敵，乃一旦與吳王論兵，七薦孫子。吳王曰：子胥託言進士，欲以自納。 |
| | Sunzi, whose given name was Wu, was a native of Wu and skilled in military strategy. He lived in seclusion, and the world did not know his abilities. Zi Xu was perceptive and discerning, knowing that Sunzi could repel enemies and weaken their strength. Therefore, he suddenly discussed military matters with King Wu and recommended Sunzi seven times in one day. King Wu said, "Zi Xu is using the pretext of recommending a scholar to further his own interests."
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| | 闔閭三年: |
而召孫子，問以兵法，每陳一篇，王不知口之稱善。其意大悅。問曰：「兵法寧可以小試耶？」孫子曰：「可，可以小試於後宮之女。」王曰：「諾。」孫子曰：「得大王寵姬二人以為軍隊長，各將一隊。」令三百人皆被甲兜鍪，操劍盾而立，告以軍法，隨鼓進退，左右迴旋，使知其禁。乃令曰：「一鼓皆振，二鼓操進，三鼓為戰形。」於是宮女皆掩口而笑。孫子乃親自操枹擊鼓，三令五申，其笑如故。孫子顧視諸女，連笑不止。孫子大怒，兩目忽張，聲如駭虎，髮上衝冠，項旁絕纓。顧謂執法曰：「取鈇鑕。」孫子曰：「約束不明，申令不信，將之罪也。既以約束，三令五申，卒不卻行，士之過也。軍法如何？」執法曰：「斬！」武乃令斬隊長二人，即吳王之寵姬也。吳王登臺觀望，正見斬二愛姬，馳使下之令曰：「寡人已知將軍用兵矣。寡人非此二姬食不甘味，宜勿斬之。」孫子曰：「臣既已受命為將，將法在軍，君雖有令，臣不受之。」孫子復撝鼓之，當左右進退，迴旋規矩，不敢瞬目，二隊寂然無敢顧者。於是乃報吳王，曰：「兵已整齊，願王觀之，惟所欲用，使赴水火猶無難矣，而可以定天下。」吳王忽然不悅，曰：「寡人知子善用兵，雖可以霸，然而無所施也。將軍罷兵就舍，寡人不願。」孫子曰：「王徒好其言，而不用其實。」 |
| | Nevertheless, he summoned Sunzi and questioned him about military strategy. For each section that was presented, the king could not help but praise it highly. He was greatly pleased with his ideas. He asked, "Can the art of war be tested on a small scale?" Sunzi said, "Yes. It can be tested on a small scale with the women in the palace." The king said, "Agreed." Sunzi said, "I will take two of the king's favored concubines to serve as commanders for each unit, leading one team each." He ordered three hundred women to don armor and helmets, take up swords and shields, and stand in formation. He explained the military laws to them, instructing them to advance and retreat with the drumbeats and turn left or right as directed, so that they would understand the prohibitions. He then gave orders: "At one drumbeat, all shall raise their weapons; at two beats, they will advance with their weapons ready; and at three beats, they are to form a battle formation." The palace women then covered their mouths and laughed. Sunzi personally took up the drumstick and struck the drum, issuing orders three times and reiterating them five times; yet they continued to laugh as before. Sunzi looked at the women and saw that their laughter did not cease. Sunzi became greatly enraged, his eyes suddenly wide open, his voice like that of a startled tiger. His hair stood on end as if reaching for his hat, and the ribbon around his neck snapped in two. He turned to the officer in charge of law enforcement and said, "Bring out the axes." Sunzi said, "If the rules are not clear and the orders are not trusted, that is the commander's fault. Now that the rules have been clearly stated and the commands repeated three times and five times, yet the soldiers still refuse to obey — this is the fault of the troops. "How should military law be applied?" The officer in charge of law said, "They must be executed!" Sun Wu then ordered the execution of the two female commanders — they were King Wu's favored concubines. King Wu was on a platform watching when he saw the two beloved concubines being executed. He quickly sent an envoy to order, "I now understand how General Sun uses troops. Without these two concubines, I cannot eat or find pleasure in food; you should not execute them." Sunzi said, "I have already accepted my command as a general. Military law is supreme in the army; even though Your Majesty has given an order, I cannot accept it." Sunzi then struck the drum again. The two units advanced and retreated, turned left and right in perfect formation — not daring to blink an eye; they stood silently without anyone looking around. He then reported to King Wu, saying, "The troops are now well-disciplined. I wish Your Majesty would observe them; they can be used as you desire. They could rush into water and fire without hesitation — such is their readiness to stabilize the world." King Wu suddenly became displeased and said, "I know you are skilled in using troops. Although you could achieve dominance, there is nowhere to apply it. General, disband your troops and return home; I do not wish for this." Sunzi said, "The king only likes the words but does not apply their meaning in practice."
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| | 闔閭三年: |
子胥諫曰：「臣聞，兵者凶事，不可空試。故為兵者，誅伐不行，兵道不明。今大王虔心思士，欲興兵戈以誅暴楚，以霸天下而威諸侯，非孫武之將，而誰能涉淮踰泗，越千里而戰者乎？」於是吳王大悅，因鳴鼓會軍，集而攻楚。孫子為將，拔舒，殺吳亡將二公子蓋餘、燭傭。謀欲入郢，孫武曰：「民勞，未可，恃也。」 |
| | Zi Xu advised, "I have heard that war is a dangerous matter and cannot be tested lightly. Therefore, those who deal with military affairs must not act recklessly in attacks or fail to understand the principles of warfare. Now, Your Majesty sincerely seeks capable men and wishes to raise arms to punish the tyrannical state of Chu, to dominate the world and awe the feudal lords. If not Sun Wu as a general, who else could cross the Huai River, pass through the Si River, and fight across a thousand li?" Thus King Wu was greatly pleased. He then beat the drum to assemble his troops and gathered them for an attack on Chu. Sunzi, as general, captured Shu and killed two of Wu's exiled generals, Gongzizi Gaiyu and Zhuyong. Plans were made to enter Ying, but Sun Wu said, "The people are exhausted; it is not yet the time, and we cannot rely on this."
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| | 闔閭三年: |
楚聞吳使孫子、伍子胥、白喜為將，楚國苦之，群臣皆怨，咸言費無忌讒殺伍奢、白州犁，而吳侵境，不絕於寇，楚國群臣有一朝之患。於是司馬成乃謂子常曰：「太傅伍奢，左尹白州犁，邦人莫知其罪，君與王謀誅之，流謗於國，至于今日，其言不絕，誠惑之。蓋聞仁者殺人以掩謗者，猶弗為也。今子殺人以興謗於國，不亦異乎？夫費無忌，楚之讒口，民莫知其過。今無辜殺三賢士，以結怨於吳，內傷忠臣之心，外為鄰國所笑。且郤伍之家，出奔於吳，吳新有伍員、白喜，秉威銳志，結讎於楚。故彊敵之兵，日駭楚國，有事，子即危矣。夫智者除讒以自安，愚者受佞以自亡。今子受讒，國以危矣。」子常曰：「是曩之罪也，敢不圖之，」九月，子常與昭王共誅費無忌，遂滅其族，國人乃謗止。 |
| | Chu heard that Wu had appointed Sunzi, Wu Zixu, and Bai Xi as generals. The state of Chu was greatly troubled by this; the ministers all resented it, and many spoke against Fei Wujian for falsely accusing and killing Wu She and Bai Zhouli. Because of Wu's incursions, border raids were constant, and thus the ministers of Chu faced a crisis in one day. Thus, Sima Cheng said to Zichang, "The Grand Tutor Wu She and the Left Minister Bai Zhouli — no one in the state knew of their crimes. You conspired with the king to execute them, spreading slander throughout the country. Until today, people still speak against it without ceasing; this is truly misleading." I have heard that a benevolent person would not kill someone to suppress slander, and still less would they do so. Now you have killed people, yet the slander in the country has only grown — is this not strange?" That Fei Wujian is a slanderer of Chu; no one knows his faults. Now, without cause you have executed three virtuous men, thus creating a grudge with Wu. Internally, this harms the hearts of loyal ministers; externally, it invites mockery from neighboring states. Moreover, the descendants of Wu She have fled to Wu; now Wu has Wu Yuan and Bai Xi who hold fierce resolve and are determined to take revenge on Chu. Therefore, the powerful enemy's troops are daily alarming the state of Chu; if a crisis arises, you will be in danger. A wise person removes slanderers to ensure his own safety, while a foolish one accepts flatterers and brings about his own downfall. Now you accept slander — the state is in danger." Zichang said, "This is the fault of past actions. How dare I not address it?" In September, Zichang and King Zhao conspired to execute Fei Wujian, exterminating his clan; thus, the people's slander ceased.
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| | 闔閭三年: |
吳王有女滕玉，因謀伐楚，與夫人及女會蒸魚，王前嘗半而與女，女怒曰：「王食魚辱我，不忘久生。」乃自殺。闔閭痛之，葬於國西閶門。外鑿池積土，文石為槨，題湊為中，金鼎玉杯、銀樽珠襦之寶，皆以送女。乃舞白鶴於吳市中，令萬民隨而觀之，還使男女與鶴俱入羨門，因發機以掩之。殺生以送死，國人非之。 |
| | King Wu had a daughter named Tengyu. When he was planning to attack Chu, he held a fish feast with his wife and daughters. Before the king, he tasted half of the fish and gave the other half to his daughter. The daughter became angry and said, "The king has humiliated me by eating my fish; I will not forget this for long." She then committed suicide. Helu was deeply grieved and buried her west of the capital at Changmen Gate. Outside, he dug a pond and piled up earth; carved stone formed the coffin, with finely arranged wood forming its core. Treasures such as bronze tripods, jade cups, silver goblets, and pearl-embroidered robes were all used to accompany his daughter in death. He then had white cranes dance in the middle of Wu's capital, ordering ten thousand people to follow and watch. He later made men and women enter the 羡门 (Xianmen) together with the cranes, and activated a mechanism to trap them inside. Killing the living to accompany the dead was condemned by the people of the state.
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| | 闔閭三年: |
湛盧之劍，惡闔閭之無道也，乃去而出，水行如楚。 |
| | The sword Zhanlu, resenting King Helu's tyrannical rule, left on its own and traveled by water toward Chu.
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| | 闔閭三年: |
楚昭王臥而寤得吳王湛盧之劍於床。昭王不知其故，乃召風湖子而問曰：「寡人臥覺而得寶劍，不知其名，是何劍也？」風湖子曰：「此謂湛盧之劍。」昭王曰：「何以言之？」風湖子曰：「臣聞吳王得越所獻寶劍三枚：一曰魚腸，二曰磐郢，三曰湛盧。魚腸之劍，已用殺吳王僚也；磐郢以送其死女；今湛盧入楚也。」昭王曰：「湛盧所以去者何也？」風湖子曰：「臣聞越王元常使歐冶子造劍五枚以示薛燭，燭對曰：『魚腸劍逆理不順，不可服也，臣以殺君，子以殺父。』故闔閭以殺王僚。『一名磐郢，亦曰豪曹，不法之物，無益於人。』故以送死。『一名湛盧，五金之英，太陽之精，寄氣託靈，出之有神，服之有威，可以折衝拒敵。然人君有逆理之謀，其劍即出，故去無道以就有道。』今吳王無道，殺君謀楚，故湛盧入楚。」昭王曰：「其直幾何？」風湖子曰：「臣聞此劍在越之時，客有酬其直者：有市之鄉三十，駿馬千匹，萬戶之都二。是其一也。薛燭對曰：『赤堇之山已令無雲，若耶之溪深而莫測，群臣上天，歐冶死矣。雖傾城量金，珠玉盈河，猶不能得此寶，而況有市之鄉，駿馬千匹，萬戶之都，何足言也？』」昭王大悅，遂以為寶。 |
| | King Zhao of Chu awoke from his sleep to find King Wu's Zhanlu sword lying on the bed. King Zhao did not know why this was, so he summoned Fenghu Zi and asked, "While I slept, I awoke to find a precious sword. I do not know its name — what kind of sword is it?" Fenghu Zi said, "This is called the Zhanlu Sword." King Zhao asked, "How do you know this?" Fenghu Zi said, "I have heard that King Wu received three precious swords presented by Yue: the first was Yuchang, the second Panying, and the third Zhanlu. The sword Yuchang has already been used to kill King Wu Liao of Wu; Panying was used to accompany his deceased daughter; Now Zhanlu has entered Chu." King Zhao asked, "Why did Zhanlu leave?" Fenghu Zi said, "I have heard that King Yuan of Yue once ordered Ouyezi to forge five swords and showed them to Xuezhu. Xuezhu replied, 'The Yuchang sword has an inverted grain — it is not in harmony; it cannot be worn, for a minister will use it to kill his lord, and a son will use it to kill his father.' That is why Helu used it to kill King Liao. "One was called Panying, also known as Hao Cao — an unlawful object, of no benefit to people." Therefore, it was used to accompany the deceased. "One is called Zhanlu — it embodies the essence of five metals and the brilliance of the sun. It carries spirit and divine power; when drawn, it is supernatural, and when worn, it brings authority. It can repel enemies and resist attacks. "Yet if a ruler has unjust intentions, the sword will leave him — thus it departs from tyranny to seek righteousness." "Now King Wu is tyrannical; he killed his lord and plotted against Chu, so Zhanlu has come into Chu." King Zhao asked, "What is its worth?" Fenghu Zi said, "I have heard that when this sword was in Yue, a guest once offered to buy it: thirty market towns, a thousand fine horses, and two cities with ten thousand households. That is for one such sword. Xuezhu replied, "The red clouds have already vanished from the mountain of Chi Jin; the river Ruo Ye is deep and unfathomable. The ministers ascended to heaven, and Ouyezi has died. Though the entire city were to be weighed in gold and rivers filled with pearls and jade, it would still not be enough to obtain this treasure. How much less so are thirty market towns, a thousand swift horses, or two cities of ten thousand households — what is that worth?" King Zhao was greatly pleased and thus regarded it as a treasure.
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| | 闔閭三年: |
闔閭聞楚得湛盧之劍，因斯發怒，遂使孫武、伍胥、白喜伐楚。子胥陰令宣言於楚曰：「楚用子期為將，吾即得而殺之；子常用兵，吾即去之。楚聞之，因用子常，退子期。吳拔六與潛二邑。 |
| | When King Helu heard that Chu had obtained the Zhanlu sword, he became furious and immediately sent Sun Wu, Wu Xun, and Bai Xi to attack Chu. Wu Xun secretly ordered a proclamation made in Chu: "If Chu appoints Ziqi as general, I will capture and kill him; if Zichang commands the troops, we shall withdraw." Chu heard this and therefore appointed Zichang as general while recalling Ziqi. Wu captured the two towns of Liu and Qian.
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