117 Dukes Jing and Ai

A5.39|40 

In the fourth year of Duke Jing of Qin (573 BC), Luan Shu of Jin killed their king Duke Li of Jin. In the fifteenth year, Qin came to the rescue of Zheng and defeated the Jin army in Li. At that time, Duke Dao of Jin was the leader of the princes. In the eighteenth year, Duke Dao of Jin was powerful and held many alliances with the princes. He led the army to attack Qin and defeated the Qin army. The Qin army was defeated and fled. The Jin army crossed the Jing River and chased them to Yulin in their pursuit before withdrawing. In the twenty-seventh year, Duke Jing went to Jin and allied with Duke Ping of Jin, but soon the alliance was broken. In the thirty-sixth year, Prince Wei of Chu killed his king and established himself as King Ling of Chu. Houzi Qian, Duke Jing's brother of the same mother, was one of the king's favorites. He was very rich, and some people spoke ill of him, out of the fear that he could be killed, he fled to the State of Jin, his wealth filled up a thousand carts. Duke Ping of Jin asked, "Houzi, why did you flee when you are so rich?" He replied, "The King of Qin is a vicious man. I am afraid of getting killed. I want to wait till he dies before returning to Qin." In the 39th year, King Ling of Chu was powerful and held a meeting with the princes in Shen, became the leader and killed Qing Feng of Qi. Duke Jing died after 40 years in office, and his son Duke Ai succeeded him. Houzi returned to Qin.

In the eighth year of Duke Ai (529 BC), Prince Qi Ji of Chu killed King Ling and established himself as King Ping of Chu. In the eleventh year of Duke Ai, King Ping of Chu sent an envoy to Qin to ask for a Qin girl to be the wife of his crown prince Jian. Upon their arrival, King Ping saw that she was beautiful and took her as his own wife. In the fifteenth year, King Ping of Chu wanted to kill Prince Jian, but he escaped. Wu Zixu fled to Wu. The royal family of Jin was declining and the six nobles were powerful. They wanted to fight for power among themselves, so there was no war between Qin and Jin for a long time. In the thirty-first year, King Helu of Wu and Wu Zixu attacked Chu, and King Zhao of Chu fled to Sui, so the Wu army entered Ying. Shen Baoxu, a minister of Chu, came to Qin for help. He did not eat for seven days and cried from morning till night. So Qin dispatched 500 chariots to rescue Chu and defeated the Wu army. After the Wu army retreated, King Zhao of Chu was able to return to Ying. Duke Ai died in the 36th year of his reign. The crown prince was Duke Yi, who died very early and could not succeed to the throne. So Duke Yi's son was made king, Duke Hui of Qin.

景公四年，晋栾书弑其君厉公。十五年，救郑，败晋兵于栎。是时晋悼公为盟主。十八年，晋悼公强，数会诸侯，率以伐秦，败秦军。秦军走，晋兵追之，遂渡泾，至棫林而还。二十七年，景公如晋，与平公盟，已而背之。三十六年，楚公子围弑其君而自立，是为灵王。景公母弟后子针有宠，景公母弟富，或谮之，恐诛，乃奔晋，车重千乘。晋平公曰：“后子富如此，何以自亡？”对曰：“秦公无道，畏诛，欲待其后世乃归。”三十九年，楚灵王强，会诸侯于申，为盟主，杀齐庆封。景公立四十年卒，子哀公立。后子复来归秦。

哀公八年，楚公子弃疾弑灵王而自立，是为平王。十一年，楚平王来求秦女为太子建妻。至国，女好而自娶之。十五年，楚平王欲诛建，建亡；伍子胥奔吴。晋公室卑而六卿强，欲内相攻，是以久秦晋不相攻。三十一年，吴王阖闾与伍子胥伐楚，楚王亡奔随，吴遂入郢。楚大夫申包胥来告急，七日不食，日夜哭泣。于是秦乃发五百乘救楚，败吴师。吴师归，楚昭王乃得复入郢。哀公立三十六年卒。太子夷公，夷公蚤死，不得立，立夷公子，是为惠公。

116 Dukes Kang, Gong, and Huan of Qin

A5.36|37|38 

It was the first year of Duke Kang of Qin (620BC). A year before, Duke Mu of Qin died, and Duke Xiang of Jin also died; Duke Xiang of Jin's younger brother was named Yong, who was born to a Qin woman, so he had been living in Qin. Zhao Dun of Jin wanted to make Yong their king, so he sent Sui Hui to welcome Yong. Qin sent troops to escort Yong to Linghu. But at this time, the State of Jin had already supported Duke Xiang’s other son Xiang as king, so Jin troops were sent to meet the Qin army. The Qin army was defeated, and Sui Hui fled to the State of Qin. In the second year, Qin attacked Jin and occupied Wucheng in order to avenge Linghu's defeat. In the fourth year, the Jin state attacked the Qin state and occupied Shaoliang. In the sixth year, the Qin state attacked the Jin state and occupied Jima. The Qin army fought against the Jin army in Hequ and defeated the Jin army. The people of Jin were worried that Sui Hui would cause trouble to Jin in Qin, so they sent Wei Chouyu to pretend to rebel against Jin and conspire with Sui Hui, and kidnapped Sui Hui to return to Jin. Duke Kang of Qin died after twelve years on the throne, and his son Duke Gong of Qin succeeded him.

In the second year of Duke Gong of Qin (607 BC), Zhao Chuan of Jin killed its king Duke Ling of Jin. In the third year, King Zhuang of Chu became powerful and led his troops north to Luo and inquired about the size and weight of the Nine Tripod Cauldrons. Duke Gong of Qin died after five years in power and his son Duke Huan of Qin succeeded him. 

In the third year during the reign of Duke Huan of Qin, Jin defeated a general of Qin. In the tenth year, King Zhuang of Chu conquered Zheng and defeated the army of Jin on the Yellow River in the north. At that time, the State of Chu was the dominant power and summoned the princes to attend a meeting. In the 24th year, Duke Li of Jin had just ascended the throne and agreed on an alliance with Duke Huan of Qin across the Yellow River. But after returning to his country, Duke Huan of Qin broke the alliance and conspired with the Di people to attack the State of Jin. In the 26th year, the State of Jin led the other vassal states to attack the State of Qin. The Qin army was defeated and fled, and the Jin army chased them all the way to the Jing River before returning. Duke Huan of Qin died after reigning for twenty-seven years, and his son Duke Jing of Qin succeeded him.

康公元年。往岁缪公之卒，晋襄公亦卒；襄公之弟名雍，秦出也，在秦。晋赵盾欲立之，使随会来迎雍，秦以兵送至令狐。晋立襄公子而反击秦师，秦师败，随会来奔。二年，秦伐晋，取武城，报令狐之役。四年，晋伐秦，取少梁。六年，秦伐晋，取羁马。战于河曲，大败晋军。晋人患随会在秦为乱，乃使魏雠余详反，合谋会，诈而得会，会遂归晋。康公立十二年卒，子共公立。

共公二年，晋赵穿弑其君灵公。三年，楚庄王强，北兵至雒，问周鼎。共公立五年卒，子桓公立。

桓公三年，晋败我一将。十年，楚庄王服郑，北败晋兵于河上。当是之时，楚霸，为会盟合诸侯。二十四年，晋厉公初立，与秦桓公夹河而盟。归而秦倍盟，与翟合谋击晋。二十六年，晋率诸侯伐秦，秦军败走，追至泾而还。桓公立二十七年卒，子景公立。