Wu Taibo and his younger brother Zhong Yong were both sons of King Tai of Zhou, and older brothers of King Ji Li. Ji Li was a man of exceptional virtue, and he had a son named Chang, who was revered for his saintly qualities. King Tai wished to establish Ji Li as the heir, so that the throne could be passed to Chang. In order to ensure this, Taibo and Zhong Yong fled to the Jingman region, adopting the local customs by tattooing their bodies with intricate patterns and cutting their hair to signify their renouncement of the throne and their willingness to allow Ji Li to inherit it. As a result, Ji Li ascended the throne as King Ji, and Chang later became King Wen.
After Taibo’s death, without any heirs, his younger brother Zhong Yong succeeded him as King of Wu, known as Wu Zhong Yong. Upon Zhong Yong’s death, his son Ji Jian ascended the throne, followed by Ji Jian’s son, Shu Da. Shu Da’s son, Zhou Zhang, then took the throne. During this period, King Wu defeated the tyrant King Zhou of the Shang dynasty and sought out descendants of Taibo and Zhong Yong, eventually locating Zhou Zhang. By this time, Zhou Zhang was already the ruler of Wu, and he continued to reign as the Duke of Wu. Zhou Zhang’s younger brother, Yu Zhong, was appointed as the Duke of the northern border, at the site of the former capital of the Xia dynasty.
Following Zhou Zhang’s death, his son Xiong Sui succeeded him, and Xiong Sui’s son, Ke, took the throne next. Ke was succeeded by his son, Qiang Jiu Yi, who in turn was succeeded by his son, Yu Qiao Yi Wu. The throne passed through several generations until, during the reign of King Wu, the state of Jin conquered the state of Yu in the central plains, and thus the line of Wu continued to flourish in the southern and eastern regions.
By the time of King Wu, Wu had expanded and strengthened. In the second year of King Shou Meng (584 BCE), Shen Gong Wu Chen, a former minister of Chu who had fled due to his grievances with the Chu general Zi Fan, escaped to the state of Jin. From there, he traveled to Wu and taught them military tactics and chariot warfare. His son was appointed as a diplomatic official in Wu, marking the beginning of Wu’s interactions with the states of the Central Plains. Wu began to send forces against Chu. In the sixteenth year (570 BCE), King Gong of Chu launched an expedition against Wu, reaching Mount Heng.
In the twenty-fifth year (561 BCE), King Shou Meng passed away. Shou Meng had four sons: the eldest, Zhu Fan, the second, Yu Ji, the third, Yu Mei, and the fourth, Ji Zha. Ji Zha was known for his wisdom and virtuous nature, and Shou Meng had hoped to pass the throne to him. However, Ji Zha humbly declined the offer, and Zhu Fan succeeded his father, assuming control over various state affairs.
In the first year of King Zhu Fan’s reign (560 BCE), after completing his mourning period, he intended to hand the throne to Ji Zha. However, Ji Zha refused, citing the example of Duke Xuan of Cao, who had been revered for his sense of duty when he refused to claim the throne despite being the rightful heir. Ji Zha stated that as the eldest son, Zhu Fan had every right to the throne, and it would be against propriety for him to take it. The people of Wu insisted on making Ji Zha king, but he instead left his wealth and family to live as a common farmer. The people of Wu eventually abandoned their plan to make him king. In the autumn of that year, Wu again waged war against Chu, but was defeated by Chu’s forces.
In the fourth year (557 BCE), Duke Ping of Jin finally ascended the throne.
In the thirteenth year (548 BCE), King Zhu Fan passed away. His will stipulated that the throne should be passed to his younger brother Yu Ji, in accordance with the principle of succession from elder to younger brother, until the throne eventually reached Ji Zha, fulfilling the wishes of their late father, King Shou Meng. This was further supported by the brothers’ admiration for Ji Zha’s noble refusal of the throne, as they all wished to see the throne pass gradually to him. Ji Zha was later granted the title of Duke of Yanling and became known as Yanling Ji Zi.
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In the third year of King Yu Ji’s reign (545 BCE), Qi’s minister Qing Feng, who had fallen into disfavor, fled to Wu. The king of Wu awarded him the land of Zhu Fang and gave him his daughter in marriage. Qing Feng, as a result, became wealthier than he had been in Qi.
In 544 BCE, King of Wu sent Ji Zha on a diplomatic mission to Lu, requesting a performance of the Zhou dynasty’s music. Ji Zha asked to listen to the court music of the Zhou. The musicians of Lu performed “Zhou Nan” and “Shao Nan” for him. After listening, Ji Zha remarked, “How beautiful! From the music, I can hear that the foundation of the Zhou dynasty’s rule has been laid, but it has yet to reach its final triumph. The melody carries the emotion of hard work, yet without complaint.”
The musicians then played “Bei Feng,” “Yong Feng,” and “Wei Feng.” Ji Zha said, “How profound! Though the people have faced hardships, their spirit remains unbroken. I have heard that Wei Kangshu and Wei Wugong were of such noble virtue. This must be the song of Wei Feng?” They played “Wang Feng,” and Ji Zha responded, “How beautiful! The emotions are sorrowful, but there is no trace of fear or weakness. This must be a song from after the Zhou dynasty moved eastward.” Next came “Zheng Feng,” and Ji Zha remarked, “The music is delicate and intricate, reflecting the country’s harsh and overly detailed policies, making it difficult for the people to bear. This state may soon be doomed.” Then came “Qi Feng,” and Ji Zha said, “How magnificent! The melody is grand and deep, truly the music of a great nation. It must be the legacy of Jiang Taigong! This nation’s future is boundless!” They played “Bin Feng,” and Ji Zha responded, “How beautiful! The music is broad and open, cheerful without excess, a song from the Zhou Gong’s eastern expedition.” Next was “Qin Feng,” and Ji Zha said, “This is the sound of summer. If the music evolves into the sound of summer, the nation will grow strong, reaching the peak of Zhou’s founding power.” Then came “Wei Feng,” and Ji Zha said, “How beautiful! The melody is wide, vast, and harmonious, simple yet approachable. With governance and moral principles, the ruler will become wise and virtuous.” The musicians played “Tang Feng,” and Ji Zha remarked, “The depth of thought is remarkable! This must be the legacy of the Tao Tang family. Only those with virtue can produce such profound music.”
They then played “Chen Feng,” and Ji Zha commented, “A country without a good ruler cannot possibly survive for long.” When the musicians began playing the local melodies from Kuai Feng onward, Ji Zha made no further remarks. When “Xiao Ya” was played, Ji Zha said, “How beautiful! The music is full of sorrow, but without any intent of rebellion. The emotions are restrained yet heartfelt, a song from the decline of Zhou’s virtue, but still with the feelings of the old kings.” When “Da Ya” was played, Ji Zha said, “The music is broad and harmonious, peaceful and joyful, with a melody that is both winding and graceful, yet its fundamental tone remains strong and resolute. This must symbolize the virtue of King Wen of Zhou.”
They then performed the “Song” (Ode), and Ji Zha said, “This is the pinnacle of music. The melody is strong and unwavering, yet without arrogance; the tone is gentle and beautiful, yet without excessive intricacy; the rhythm is tight yet not hurried, and when relaxed, it is smooth without becoming detached. The changes are rich yet never indulgent, the repetitions never tiresome. The sadness is well-expressed, yet not overwhelming, and the joy is perfectly balanced, without being indulgent. The sound is like that of a sage’s wisdom—vast and inexhaustible. The virtue is broad and modest, never excessive. The governance is compassionate, yet never wasteful, and the people’s needs are met without greed. The music flows forward without stagnation and remains grounded. The harmony of the five tones, the balance of the eight instruments, the symmetry of the beats, and the adherence to melodic rules reflect the common virtues of all great rulers.”
When Ji Zha watched the dance performances, including “Xiang Zhuo” and “Nan Yue,” he commented, “How beautiful! But there is still a slight flaw.” Upon watching the dance “Da Wu,” he said, “How magnificent! This must be a symbol of the grandeur of Zhou’s virtue.” When the dancers performed “Shao Hu,” Ji Zha remarked, “This truly represents the noble virtue of the sage, but there is still a sense of humility. The difficulty of reaching the sage’s standard is evident.” Watching the dance “Da Xia,” he said, “How beautiful! It symbolizes the hard work for the people, never presuming superiority. Only Dayu could have achieved this.” Finally, when the “Shao Zhuo” dance was performed, Ji Zha said, “This is the pinnacle of virtue—grand and vast, like heaven covering all things, like the earth carrying everything. There is no greater display of virtue than what is symbolized in this dance, the virtue of Shun. I have seen enough music for now. If there are any other pieces, I dare not continue listening.”
After leaving Lu, Ji Zha traveled to Qi, where he advised Yan Pingzhong, “Quickly relinquish your land and title. Only then can you avoid disaster. The government in Qi is about to change, and before it does, the chaos will not subside.” As a result, Yan Zi gave up his title and lands through Chen Huanzi, sparing himself from the ensuing violence between the Luans and Gaos.
After leaving Qi, Ji Zha visited Zheng and met with Zi Chan, greeting him as an old friend. He told him, “The rulers of Zheng are indulgent and arrogant, a great disaster is coming. The government will soon fall to you. When you take power, be cautious and govern with propriety, or Zheng will decline.” Leaving Zheng, Ji Zha then went to Wei, where he greatly admired figures like Qu Yuan, Shi Gou, Shi Qiu, Gongzi Jing, Gongshu Fa, and Gongzi Chao, saying, “Wei has many noble men, so the state will be safe.”
After Wei, Ji Zha arrived in Jin and planned to stay in Suyi. Hearing the sound of drums and bells, he remarked, “Strange! I have heard that those who have talent but lack virtue will bring disaster upon themselves. Sun Wenzi has offended the ruler in this way. He must be very careful, yet can he still enjoy music? With Sun Wenzi here, it is like a swallow nesting above the curtain—dangerous. Furthermore, the ruler is still lying in his coffin. How can there be music?” Ji Zha left immediately. Upon hearing this, Sun Wenzi never again listened to music for the rest of his life.
When Ji Zha arrived in the State of Jin, he admired the prominent figures Zhao Wenzi, Han Xuanzi, and Wei Xianzi, remarking, “The political power in Jin will soon fall to these three families.” As he was about to leave Jin, he said to Shu Xiang, “You must be diligent in your efforts! The ruler of Jin indulges in luxury and excess, yet many capable ministers surround him. The noble families are wealthy, and political power will soon rest with the Han, Zhao, and Wei clans. You, being upright and principled, must carefully consider how to avoid disaster.”
Upon his first diplomatic mission, Ji Zha visited the ruler of Xu during his journey north. The ruler of Xu admired Ji Zha’s treasured sword but did not openly express his desire. Ji Zha, understanding the ruler’s intentions, chose not to present the sword, as he still had to visit other states. After completing his diplomatic duties, Ji Zha passed through Xu again, only to find that the ruler had passed away. Ji Zha removed the sword and hung it on a tree at the ruler’s tomb before departing. One of his attendants said, “The ruler of Xu has passed. To whom shall the sword be returned?” Ji Zha replied, “No, I had promised it to him in my heart. How could I break my promise simply because he has died?”
In the seventh year (541 BC), the Prince of Chu, Wei, killed King Jiao of Chu and proclaimed himself the new king, known as King Ling. Three years later, in 538 BC, King Ling of Chu allied with the feudal lords to campaign against the Wu state, which had been engaged in the execution of Qi Qingfeng. Wu retaliated, capturing three Chu cities before retreating. In 537 BC, Chu attacked Wu again, advancing as far as Yulou. In 536 BC, Chu launched another campaign against Wu, stationing troops at Qianxi for several days, only to retreat in defeat.
In the seventeenth year (531 BC), King Yu died, and his brother Yu Mei succeeded him. Two years later, in 529 BC, the Prince of Chu, Ji Ji, assassinated King Ling and declared himself ruler. In 527 BC, King Yu Mei died, intending to pass the throne to his brother Ji Zha. However, Ji Zha declined the offer and fled. The people of Wu said, “The former king’s will stated that when a brother dies, the throne must pass to the next brother. Since Ji Zha refuses the throne, the last man of his brothers to rule is Yu Mei. Now that Yu Mei has passed, his son should succeed him as king.” Thus, Yu Mei’s son, Liao, was crowned the King of Wu.
In the second year of King Liao’s reign (525 BC), Prince Guang of Wu led an army to attack Chu, suffering a defeat and losing the royal boat. Fearing punishment, he conducted a surprise attack on the Chu army, recovering the royal boat before returning.
In 522 BC, Wu Zixu, a fugitive from Chu, fled to Wu, where Prince Guang treated him with respect. Prince Guang, the son of King Zhuo of Wu, believed that “my father had four brothers, and the throne should have passed to Ji Zha. Since Ji Zha refuses the throne, my father was the first to rule. Now, since the throne is not passing to Ji Zha, I should inherit my father’s position.” Secretly, he began to gather loyal and capable men, planning to overthrow King Liao.
In 519 BC, King Liao of Wu sent Prince Guang to lead an army against Chu. Prince Guang achieved a great victory, capturing the former Chu crown prince’s mother and returning her to Wu. He used this victory to launch a northern campaign, defeating the armies of Chen and Cai. In 518 BC, Prince Guang attacked Chu again, capturing the cities of Juchao and Zhongli. Initially, a dispute between a Wu girl and a Chu girl over mulberry leaves had escalated into violence between the families. The authorities of both sides, enraged by the conflict, launched attacks against one another. This led to the destruction of Wu’s border settlements, and the Wu state, angered, retaliated by taking Juchao and Zhongli.
When Wu Zixu first arrived in Wu, he advised King Liao on the benefits of attacking Chu. Prince Guang, however, dismissed Zixu’s suggestion, saying, “Zixu’s father and brother were killed by King Chu. His counsel to attack Chu is driven by personal vengeance, not the good of Wu.” Zixu realized that Prince Guang had ulterior motives. He then sought out a warrior named Zhuan Zhu and introduced him to Prince Guang. Delighted, Prince Guang treated Zixu with respect and welcomed him as a guest. Zixu retired to the countryside, living modestly, and awaited the moment when Zhun Zhu’s mission would succeed.
In the winter of 515 BC, King Ping of Chu died. In the spring of 514 BC, King Liao of Wu saw an opportunity, as Chu was in mourning, and decided to attack. He sent Prince Gai and Zhu Yong to besiege two Chu cities, Liu and Qian. Meanwhile, Ji Zha was sent on a diplomatic mission to Jin to observe the movements of the feudal lords. Unbeknownst to them, Chu sent an elite force to sever their escape route, trapping the Wu army. At this moment, Prince Guang saw an opportunity and told Zhuan Zhu, “This moment must not be wasted.” He informed him, “I am the true heir to the throne. It is my destiny to rule, and Ji Zha, when he returns, will not oppose me.” Zhuan Zhu said, “The conditions are ripe for the death of King Liao. The only people left in the palace are his elderly mother and young child, while his two brothers are campaigning against Chu, unable to return. With Chu besieging our borders, there is no loyal official to protect him.” Prince Guang said, “My life is your life, and our fate is shared.” On the day of Bingzi in the fourth month, Prince Guang concealed his soldiers in the basement and invited King Liao to a banquet. King Liao’s personal guards, armed with swords, lined the path from the palace to Prince Guang’s home. As King Liao arrived, Prince Guang pretended to have a sore foot and hid in the basement. He instructed Zhuan Zhu to hide a dagger inside a roasted fish, which was served to King Liao. When King Liao took the fish, Zhuan Zhu drew the dagger from its belly and stabbed him. Despite the efforts of the guards to strike Zhuan Zhu down, King Liao was already dead. Prince Guang succeeded him as the new king, known as King Helu of Wu. He appointed Zhuan Zhu’s son to a high office.
Ji Zha returned to Wu and said, “As long as the sacrifices to the late monarch are not discontinued, the people will still recognize the king, and the state will continue to receive offerings. That is my king. How could I bear to blame anyone? My duty is to mourn the deceased and serve the living, following the divine mandate. I do not bring disorder, but rather comply with the newly established monarch. This is the principle of our ancestors.” He then visited the tomb of Wang Liao, reported the completion of his diplomatic mission, and mourned Wang Liao’s death. Afterward, he returned to his position in the court, waiting for the new monarch’s orders.
At this time, two noblemen from Wu, Zhu Yong and Gai Yu, were leading troops and were surrounded by the Chu army. Upon hearing that Prince Guang had killed Wang Liao and declared himself king, they led their troops to surrender to Chu. The King of Chu granted them land in Shudi.
In the first year of King Helu of Wu (514 BCE), he appointed Wu Zixu as an official in charge of foreign relations and governance. When King Chu killed Bo Zhouli, his grandson, Bo Pi, fled to Wu, where King Helu appointed him as a minister.
In the third year (512 BCE), King Helu, accompanied by Wu Zixu and Bo Pi, led an army to campaign against Chu, capturing the city of Shuyi and killing the fleeing Wu princes Gai Yu and Zhu Yong. Helu then planned to press on and attack the Chu capital, Ying, but General Sun Wu advised, “The troops and people are already exhausted from battle. We cannot attack Ying yet. We must wait for a more favorable moment.”
In the fourth year (511 BCE), Wu again attacked Chu, capturing six cities, including Zhuangyi. In the fifth year (510 BCE), Wu fought against Yue and defeated their forces. In the sixth year (509 BCE), Chu sent Zichang to lead an army against Wu. The King of Wu met the enemy head-on, decisively defeating the Chu forces in Yuzhang, and captured their strategic position in Juchao before returning to Wu.
In the ninth year (506 BCE), King Helu asked Wu Zixu and Sun Wu, “You both previously advised against attacking Ying, so what do you think of the situation now?” They responded, “Chu’s general, Zichang, is greedy and has earned the enmity of Tang and Cai states. If you wish to wage a full-scale war against Chu, we must ally with Tang and Cai to succeed.” Helu agreed, assembling his entire army and forming an alliance with Tang and Cai. Together, they marched west toward Chu, reaching the banks of the Han River. Chu also mobilized its forces in opposition, and the two sides faced each other across the river. Helu’s younger brother, Fu Kai, was eager for battle, but Helu forbade him. Fu Kai argued, “Your Majesty has entrusted the army to me; it is essential to seize the right opportunity to attack. What are we waiting for?” He then led 5,000 men in a surprise assault on the Chu forces, decisively defeating them. The Wu army pursued them until they reached Ying, where five major battles were fought, and the Chu army was defeated each time. King Zhao of Chu fled Ying, eventually seeking refuge in Yun County. His brother, the Duke of Yun, plotted to kill him, but the king managed to escape to the state of Sui. Meanwhile, the Wu army entered Ying. Wu Zixu and Bo Pi exhumed the body of King Ping of Chu from his tomb and whipped it as revenge for the murder of their fathers.
In the tenth year (505 BCE), during spring, the King of Yue, upon hearing that King Helu of Wu had stationed his forces in Ying, seized the opportunity to attack Wu, knowing that Wu’s defenses were weakened. Wu sent another army to counter the Yue forces. At the same time, Chu sent a distress call to the state of Qin, which sent reinforcements to rescue Chu and attacked Wu. The Wu army was defeated. Seeing that both the Qin and Yue forces had defeated Wu, and with King Helu still staying in Chu, Fu Kai returned to Wu and declared himself king. Upon hearing this, King Helu led his troops back to Wu and attacked Fu Kai. Fu Kai was defeated and fled to Chu. King Zhao of Chu was able to return to Ying in September and granted Fu Kai a fief in Tangxi, where he became known as the Tangxi clan.
In the eleventh year (504 BCE), King Helu ordered his son, Prince Fuchai, to attack Chu. Prince Fuchai succeeded in capturing the city of Fanyi. In response, King Zhao of Chu, fearing further loss, moved the capital from Ying to Ruo.
In the fifteenth year (500 BCE), Confucius served as the acting prime minister of the state of Lu.
In the nineteenth year (496 BCE), in summer, the Wu army marched against Yue. King Goujian of Yue led his forces to resist at Zui Li. The Yue forces sent their death squads to challenge the Wu army, charging three times into the Wu ranks, shouting battle cries before committing suicide in front of the enemy. The Wu soldiers, bewildered by this strange spectacle, let their guard down, and the Yue army seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. In the ensuing battle at Gusu, the Wu army was decisively defeated. King Helu of Wu was injured, with a wound to his toe, and the army retreated seven miles. King Helu died from his injuries. On his deathbed, he named his son, Prince Fuchai, as the successor and said to him, “Can you forget that Goujian killed your father?” Prince Fuchai replied, “I dare not forget!” Three years later, Wu finally avenged itself on Yue.
In the first year of King Fuchai of Wu’s reign (495 BCE), he appointed the nobleman Bo Yue as the Grand Minister. Wu continued its military training, harboring intentions of avenging its defeat by the state of Yue. In the second year (494 BCE), King Fuchai of Wu led his entire elite army in an invasion of Yue, decisively defeating Yue’s forces at the site of Fuzhao, finally avenging the loss at Gusu. King Goujian of Yue, defeated and desperate, withdrew with his 5,000 armored soldiers to Mount Kuaiji, sending his minister Wen Zhong to Bo Yue, the Grand Minister of Wu, to request peace, offering to make Yue a vassal state under Wu.
King Fuchai was inclined to accept, but the renowned general Wu Zixu counseled otherwise, saying: “In the past, the Guo clan killed the Zhen Guan clan and conquered the Zhen Xun clan, wiping out the Xia dynasty’s imperial power. The wife of the late Emperor of the Xia dynasty, Empress Houmin, was pregnant when she fled to the state of You. There, she gave birth to Shaokang, who later became the governor of You. The Guo clan, seeing Shaokang grow in strength, sought to eliminate him, forcing him to flee to the state of Youyu, which cherished the legacy of the Xia dynasty. The ruler of Youyu married two daughters to Shaokang and granted him the town of Luan, though at the time he controlled only a small territory of ten miles with merely five hundred followers.
But Shaokang gathered the surviving people of the Xia dynasty, reformed the bureaucratic system, and secretly infiltrated the Guo clan’s ranks, eventually vanquishing them and restoring the legacy of Emperor Yu of the Xia. He performed sacrifices to the ancestors of the Xia, and all the artifacts of the Xia dynasty were restored. Wu is not as powerful as the Guo clan was at its peak, and Goujian is even stronger than Shaokang was back then. If we fail to completely eliminate Yue now, it will only come back to haunt us. Goujian is resilient and capable of enduring hardship. If we do not destroy him now, we will regret it later.”
But King Fuchai did not heed Wu Zixu’s warning and instead followed Bo Yue’s advice. Peace was eventually made with Yue, and the two nations signed a treaty, with Wu withdrawing its forces.
In the seventh year (489 BCE), upon hearing of internal power struggles in the state of Qi following the death of Duke Jing of Qi, with the new ruler still a child and lacking power, King Fuchai of Wu mobilized his forces to march north against Qi. Wu Zixu again urged caution, saying, “King Goujian of Yue only eats simple meals with no more than two dishes and wears clothes of no more than two colors. His sympathy for the deceased and his care for the sick indicate his intention to use the people to avenge Wu. Goujian, as long as he lives, will be a grave threat to Wu. Yue is our most pressing danger, and you should focus on them, not on Qi, which, at this moment, should not concern you!”
King Fuchai ignored his advice and attacked Qi, defeating Qi’s forces at Ailing. When the army reached Zengyi, he summoned Duke Ai of Lu and demanded the land of Bailao. Ji Kangzi, a prominent figure from Lu, sent Zizhu to remind the Grand Minister Bo Yue of the Zhou rituals, which led King Fuchai to halt his demands. The King took a small portion of Qi and Lu’s southern territories and returned.
In the ninth year (487 BCE), King Fuchai waged war against the state of Lu in response to a rebellion from Zuo. After establishing an alliance with Lu, he returned. In the tenth year (486 BCE), taking advantage of Qi’s weakened state, he launched another attack. In the eleventh year (485 BCE), he again marched north to invade Qi.
King Goujian of Yue, at the head of his court ministers, visited King Fuchai of Wu to pay tribute and present valuable gifts, which greatly pleased King Fuchai. However, Wu Zixu harbored deep misgivings and warned the king: “This is the beginning of the end for Wu.” He advised King Fuchai once more, saying: “Yue lies in our heartland, and while we may defeat Qi, it is like plowing barren land—of no real use. As the ancient text Pan Geng Zhi Gao says, only by eradicating the root of disorder can a dynasty thrive.” King Fuchai, however, disregarded this counsel and sent Wu Zixu as an envoy to Qi, entrusting his son to the noble family of Bao in Qi as a token of goodwill. Upon hearing this, King Fuchai was furious, and ordered Wu Zixu to commit suicide with a sword inscribed with the command. As Wu Zixu faced death, he proclaimed, “Plant a Catalpa tree on my grave, and when it grows large enough to be used for tools, the kingdom of Wu will be no more. Dig out my eyes and place them at the eastern gate of the capital, so I can witness the fall of Wu at the hands of Yue.”
Afterward, the noble Bao clan of Qi killed Duke Dao of Qi. Hearing of the incident, King Fuchai mourned for three days at the gates of his military camp and then began preparations to send troops by sea to attack Qi. However, the Qi forces defeated Wu’s army, forcing King Fuchai to return to Wu.
In the thirteenth year (483 BCE), King Fuchai summoned the rulers of Lu and Wei to a diplomatic gathering at Tuogao. In the fourteenth year (482 BCE), during the spring, he traveled north to the Yellow Pool to meet with other feudal lords, hoping to solidify his dominance in the Central Plains and protect the Zhou dynasty. On the sixth day of the sixth month, King Goujian of Yue launched another attack on Wu. On the seventh day, Yue’s army captured the crown prince of Wu, and on the ninth day, they entered Wu’s capital. The news reached King Fuchai, who was enraged, suspecting that there was a leak in the ranks. In his fury, he executed seven people in front of his tent.
In July, King Fuchai contended with Duke Ding of Jin for the position of the paramount leader of the feudal alliance. King Fuchai declared, “Among the Zhou royal family, my ancestors hold the highest rank.” Duke Ding of Jin replied, “Among the states of the Ji family, only my state of Jin has held the position of hegemon.” Zhao Yang, a minister of Jin, became enraged and threatened to attack King Fuchai. As a result, Duke Ding of Jin became the leader of the alliance.
After the meeting, King Fuchai parted ways with Duke Ding and turned his attention to attacking the state of Song. However, Bo Yue warned him, saying, “You may defeat Song, but you cannot hold onto it.” Therefore, King Fuchai returned to Wu. Wu now faced a power vacuum, as there was no crown prince, and the troops were exhausted from the prolonged military campaigns. King Fuchai sent emissaries to Yue with generous gifts to seek peace.
In the fifteenth year (481 BCE), the nobleman Tian Chang of Qi killed Duke Jian of Qi. In the eighteenth year (478 BCE), Yue grew even stronger. King Goujian led his forces to defeat Wu in the Battle of Lize. The state of Chu conquered the state of Chen.
In the twentieth year (476 BCE), King Goujian attacked Wu once more, and in the twenty-first year (475 BCE), Yue’s forces besieged Wu. In the twenty-third year (473 BCE), on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Yue defeated Wu. King Goujian, now victorious, considered exiling King Fuchai of Wu to the eastern region of Yong, where he would live under the protection of ten thousand households. King Fuchai lamented, “I am old and no longer able to serve King Goujian. I regret not heeding Wu Zixu’s advice, which has brought me to this fate.” He then took his own life.
After the fall of Wu, King Goujian executed Bo Yue, as he had been disloyal to his ruler, and then led his troops back to Yue.
The Grand Historian, Sima Qian, wrote: Confucius once said, “Tai Bo can be considered the pinnacle of morality, as he gave up the throne three times, and the people could scarcely find words to praise him.” Reading the Spring and Autumn Annals, I learned that the state of Yu, located in the Central Plains, and the state of Wu, situated in the southern regions of the Jing and Miao, were brothers. The benevolent heart of Ji Zi of Yanling, his lifelong pursuit of virtue, and his ability to discern right from wrong, exemplify a truly broad-minded and learned gentleman. How vast is his knowledge and understanding!