108 Baili Xi

A5.19 

In the fifth year (655 BC), Duke Xian of Jin destroyed Yu and Guo two states, and captured Lord Yu and his senior official Baili Xi. The Jin State had bribed Lord Yu with jade and fine horses, this is the result. Baili Xi was captured, and the Jin State sent him to the Qin State as a slave of the bribe of Duke Mu of Qin. Baili Xi fled from Qin to Wan and was captured by soldiers guarding the border of Chu. Duke Mu heard that Baili Xi was a virtuous and talented man, and wanted to redeem him with a large sum of money, but he was afraid that the people of Chu would not agree, so he sent someone to say to the people of Chu: "Is my wife’s slave Baili Xi at your place? Please let him be redeemed with five sheepskins." The people of Chu agreed to hand over Baili Xi to Qin. At this time, Baili Xi was already in his seventies. Duke Mu released him and discussed with him the issue of governing the country. Baili Xi declined and said, "I am a minister whose country has been destroyed. What is there to discuss?" Duke Mu said, "Lord Yu did not use you, so his country was destroyed. This is not your fault." Duke Mu insisted on asking him for advice, their discussion went on for three days. Duke Mu was very happy and handed over the state affairs to him, Baili Xi then was known as Minister Wugu the Five Sheepskins. Baili Xi refused with humility and said, "I am not as good as my friend Jian Shu. Jian Shu is a virtuous person but the world does not know it. When I was traveling in Qi State, I fell into a difficult situation and had to beg for food in Qi. It was Jian Shu who took me in.” Therefore, I wanted to serve King Wuzhi of Qi, but Jian Shu stopped me, so I avoided the chaos in Qi and came to the Zhou Dynasty. Prince Tui of Zhou liked cattle, so I tried to see him by raising cattle. When Prince Tui wanted to employ me, Jian Shu stopped me again, and I was able to leave and avoid being killed. So I prepared to serve Lord Yu, but it was still Jian Shu who stopped me. I knew clearly that Lord Yu would not use me, but I yearned for fame and fortune, so I decided to stay for the time being. I followed his advice twice and was able to save my own life. And once I didn’t do it, I fell into the disaster that Lord Yu’s country being destroyed. This shows how wise he is.” So Duke Mu sent someone to invite Jian Shu with a large sum of money and appointed him as a senior official.

五年，晋献公灭虞、虢，虏虞君与其大夫百里傒，以璧马赂于虞故也。既虏百里傒，以为秦缪公夫人媵于秦。百里傒亡秦走宛，楚鄙人执之。缪公闻百里傒贤，欲重赎之，恐楚人不与，乃使人谓楚曰：“吾媵臣百里傒在焉，请以五羖羊皮赎之。”。楚人遂许与之。当是时，百里傒年已七十余。缪公释其囚，与语国事。谢曰：“臣亡国之臣，何足问！”缪公曰：“虞君不用子，故亡，非子罪也。”固问，语三日，缪公大说，授之国政，号曰五羖大夫。百里傒让曰：“臣不及臣友蹇叔，蹇叔贤而世莫知。臣常游困于齐而乞食饣至人，蹇叔收臣。臣因而欲事齐君无知，蹇叔止臣，臣得脱齐难，遂之周。周王子穨好牛，臣以养牛干之。及穨欲用臣，蹇叔止臣，臣去，得不诛。事虞君，蹇叔止臣。臣知虞君不用臣，臣诚私利禄爵，且留。再用其言，得脱，一不用，及虞君难：是以知其贤。”于是缪公使人厚币迎蹇叔，以为上大夫。