64 Tai Shi

A4.14

Two years later, after heard that Zhou the Tyrant became even crazier and more tyrannical than before, killed his Prince Bigan and imprisoned his uncle Jizi, and that Grand Tutor Zi and Junior Tutor Qiang both came to Zhou each with their musical instruments, King Wu made this announcement to the princes at that time: "King Zhou the Tyrant of Yin has committed a grave crime. It's impossible for us not to wipe him out." So everyone followed King Wen's will and led 300 chariots, 3,000 tiger fierce soldiers, and 45,000 soldiers in armor to attack the east. On Wuwu (戊午) the earth-fire day in the sexagenary cycle, of the twelfth month, of the eleventh year, all the troops crossed Mengjin and all the princes arrived. King Wu said: "You must work hard and never slack off!" King Wu then wrote "Tai Shi" and announced to everyone: "Now Zhou the Tyrant only listened to his wives and concubines. He cut off his destiny, violated the movement of the sun, moon, and the polar star, and alienated his fellow brothers.He abandoned the music of his ancestors and arbitrarily adopted lewd music to tamper with the elegant music. He did this to please his wives and concubines. So today I will respectfully execute the punishment on the behalf of Heaven. Work hard, the respectable nobles, this will not happen a second time, let alone a third time!"

居二年，闻纣昏乱暴虐滋甚，杀王子比干，囚箕子。太师疵、少师强抱其乐器而奔周。于是武王遍告诸侯曰：“殷有重罪，不可以不毕伐。”乃遵文王，遂率戎车三百乘，虎贲三千人，甲士四万五千人，以东伐纣。十一年十二月戊午，师毕渡盟津，诸侯咸会。曰：“孳孳无怠！”武王乃作太誓，告于众庶：“今殷王纣乃用其妇人之言，自绝于天，毁坏其三正，离逷其王父母弟，乃断弃其先祖之乐，乃为淫声，用变乱正声，怡说妇人。故今予发维共行天罚。勉哉夫子，不可再，不可三！”

63 White Fish and Red Bird

A4.13

In the ninth year, King Wu offered sacrifices to King Wen in Bi. Then he went east to inspect the troops and arrived at Mengjin. He made a wooden altar for King Wen as a deity, loaded it on a cart, and offered it to the troops. King Wu called himself Prince Fa, indicating that he was following King Wen's orders to conquer and did not dare to act arbitrarily. So he warned the Sima, Situ, Sikong, and other commanders: "All people being serious is being truely creditable! I don't know much, but my ancestors had ministers with great virtues, so I inherited the merits of my ancestors, and the court has clearly defined rewards and punishments to recognize the merits of my ancestors.” Finally, he set the troops forth to the conquest. Grand Tutor Shangfu ordered: "Gather you all, you will be given boats, and those who are late will be beheaded!" King Wuwang started to cross the Yellow River. When the boat was in the midstream of the river, a white fish jumped into King Wu's boat. King Wu leaned over and picked up the fish and did a sacrifice ceremony. After crossing the river, a ball of fire fell from the sky and landed on King Wu's roof, and it turned into a crow of red color, and made a rumbling sound when landing, shuddered clouds. At that time, the princes came to Mengjin for a gathering unexpectedly amounted to eight hundred. They all said, "It is time to attack Zhou the Tyrant." King Wu said, "You do not know the will of heaven. It is not possible yet." So he returned.

九年，武王上祭于毕。东观兵，至于盟津。为文王木主，载以车，中军。武王自称太子发，言奉文王以伐，不敢自专。乃告司马、司徒、司空、诸节：“齐栗，信哉！予无知，以先祖有德臣，小子受先功，毕立赏罚，以定其功。”遂兴师。师尚父号曰：“总尔众庶，与尔舟楫，后至者斩。”武王渡河，中流，白鱼跃入王舟中，武王俯取以祭。既渡，有火自上覆于下，至于王屋，流为乌，其色赤，其声魄云。是时，诸侯不期而会盟津者八百诸侯。诸侯皆曰：“纣可伐矣。”武王曰：“女未知天命，未可也。”乃还师归。