釋氏稽古略 1.104

1.104

勾踐世家　史記曰。夏后帝少康封庶子於會稽。以奉守禹之祀。文身斷髮。披草萊而邑焉。後二十餘世至允常。允常之時與吳王闔廬戰而想怨伐。允常卒子勾踐立。是為越王。元年吳王闔廬聞允常死。方興師伐越。越王勾踐襲擊吳師。吳師敗於㰎李。射傷吳王闔廬（杜預曰。吳郡嘉興縣南有㰎李城）。闔廬且死。告其子夫差曰。必毋忘越。三年勾踐聞吳王夫差日夜勒兵。且以報越。越欲先吳未發往伐之。范蠡諫曰不可。臣聞兵者凶器也。戰者逆德也。爭者事之末也。陰謀逆德好用凶器。試身於所末上帝禁之。行者不利。越王曰。吾已決之矣。遂興師。吳王聞之悉發精兵擊越。敗之夫椒（杜預曰。夫椒在吳郡吳縣太湖中椒山是也）。越王乃以餘兵五千人保棲於會稽（杜預曰。上會稽山也）。吳王追而圍之。越王謂范蠡曰。以不聽子故至於此。為之奈何。蠡對曰。持滿者與天（韋昭曰。與天法天也。天道盈而不溢）。定傾者與人（虞翻曰。人道尚謙卑以自牧）。節事者以地（韋昭曰。時不至不可彊生。事不究不可彊成）。卑辭厚禮以遺之不許而身與之市（韋昭曰。市利也。謂委管籥屬國家以身隨之）勾踐曰諾。乃令大夫種行成於吳。膝行頓首曰。君王亡臣勾踐使陪臣種敢告下執事。勾踐請為臣妻為妾。吳王將許之。子胥言於吳王曰。天以越賜吳勿許也。種還以報勾踐。勾踐欲殺妻子燔寶器觸戰以死。種止勾踐曰。夫吳太宰噽貪。可誘以利請行告之。於是勾踐乃以美女寶器令種間獻吳太宰噽。噽受乃見大夫種於吳王。種頓首言。曰願大王赦勾踐之罪。盡入其寶器。不幸不赦。勾踐將盡殺其妻子燔其寶器。悉五千人觸戰必有當也。噽因說吳王曰。越以服為臣。若將赦之此國之利也。吳王將許之。子胥進諫曰。今不滅越後必悔之。勾踐賢君。種蠡良臣。若反國將為亂。吳王弗聽。卒赦越罷兵而歸。勾踐之困會稽也。喟然嘆曰。吾終於此乎。種曰湯繫夏臺。文王囚羑里。晉重耳犇翟。齊小白犇莒。其卒王霸。由是觀之。何遽不為福乎。吳既赦越。越王勾踐反國。乃苦身焦思置膽於坐。坐臥則仰膽。飲食亦嘗膽也。曰汝忘會稽之恥邪。身自耕作。夫人自織。食不如肉。衣不重裘。折節下賢人。厚遇賓客。振貧弔死。與百姓同其勞。欲使范蠡治國政。蠡對曰。兵甲之事。種不如蠡。鎮撫國家親院百姓。蠡不如種。於是舉國政屬大夫種。而使范蠡與大夫柘稽行成為質於吳。二歲而吳歸蠡。勾踐自會稽歸七年。拊循其士民。士民欲用以報吳。大夫逢同諫曰。國新流亡。今乃復殷給繕飾備利吳必懼。懼則難必至。且鷙鳥之擊也必匿其形。今夫吳兵加齊晉。怨深於楚越。名高天下。實害周室。德少而功多。必淫自矜。為越計莫若結齊親楚附晉以厚吳。吳之志廣必輕戰是。我連其權三國伐之。越承其弊可克也。勾踐曰善。居二年。吳王將伐齊。子胥諫曰。未可。臣聞勾踐食不重味。與百姓同苦樂。此人不死必為國患。吳有越腹心之疾。齊與吳疥㿅也。願王釋齊先越。吳王弗聽。遂伐齊敗之艾陵。虜齊高國以歸讓子胥。子胥曰。王毋喜。王怒。子胥欲自殺。王聞而止之。越大夫種曰。臣觀吳王政驕矣。請試甞之貸粟以卜其事請貸。吳王欲與。子胥諫勿與。王遂與之。越乃私喜。子胥言曰。王不聽諫。後三年吳其墟乎。太宰噽聞之乃數與子胥爭越議。因讒子胥曰。伍員貌忠而實忍人。其父兄不顧。安能顧王。王前欲伐齊。員彊諫已而有功用是反怨王。王不備伍員。員必為亂。與逢同共謀讒之王。王始不從。乃使子胥於齊。聞其託子於鮑氏。王乃大怒曰。伍員果欺寡人欲反。使人賜子胥屬鏤劒以自殺。子胥大笑曰。我令而父霸。我又立若。若初欲分吳國半予我。我不受已。今若反以讒誅我。嗟乎嗟乎一人固不能獨立。報使者曰。必取吾眼置吳東門。以觀越兵入也。於是吳任噽政居三年。勾踐召范蠡曰。吳已殺子胥。導諛者眾可乎。對曰未可。至明年春。吳王北會諸侯於潢池。吳國精兵從王。惟獨老弱與太子留守。勾踐復問范蠡。蠡曰可矣。乃發習流二千教士四萬人君子六千人（韋昭曰。君子王所親近有志行者。猶吳所謂資良齊所謂士也。虞翻曰。言君養之如子）諸御千人伐吳。吳師敗遂殺吳太子。吳告急於王。王方會諸侯於潢池。懼天下聞之乃祕之。吳王已盟潢池。乃使人厚禮以請成越。越自度亦未能滅吳。乃與吳平。其後四年。越復伐吳。吳士民罷弊輕銳盡死於齊晉。而越大破吳。因而留圍之三年。吳師敗已。越遂復棲吳王於姑蘇之山。吳王使公孫雄（虞翻曰吳大夫）肉袒膝行而前請成越王曰。孤臣夫差敢布腹心。異曰甞得罪於會稽。夫差不敢逆命。得與君王成以歸。今君王舉玉趾而誅孤臣。孤臣惟命是聽意者亦欲如會稽之赦孤臣之罪乎。勾踐不忍欲許之。范蠡曰。會稽之事天以越賜吳。吳不取。今天以吳賜越。越其可逆天乎。且夫君王蚤朝晏罷非為吳耶。謀之二十二年。一旦而棄之可乎。且夫天與弗取反受其咎。伐柯者其則不遠。君忘會稽之厄乎。勾踐曰。吾欲聽子言。吾不忍其使者。范蠡乃鼓進兵曰。王已屬政於執事（虞翻曰。執事蠡自謂也）。使者去。不者且得罪。吳使者泣而去。勾踐憐之。乃使人謂吳王曰。吾置王甬東君百家（杜預曰。甬東會稽句章縣東海中州也）。吳王謝曰。吾老矣不能事君王。遂自殺乃蔽其面曰。吾無面以見子胥也。越王乃葬吳王。而誅太宰噽。勾踐已平吳。乃以兵北渡淮。與齊晉諸侯會於徐州。致貢於周。周元王使人賜勾踐胙命為伯。當是時越兵橫行於江淮東。諸侯畢賀號稱霸王。范蠡遂去自齊。遺大夫種書曰。蜚鳥盡良弓藏。狡兔死走狗烹。越王為人長頸鳥喙可與共患難不可與共樂。子何不去。種見書稱病不朝。人或讒種且作亂。越王乃賜種劒曰。子教寡人伐吳七術。寡人用其三而敗吳。其四在子。子為我從先王試之。種遂自殺。勾踐卒。子王鼫與立。又五世王無彊伐楚。楚威王伐越。殺王無彊就除（史記）。

The Hereditary House of Goujian: The Shiji states: Emperor Shaokang of the Xia dynasty enfeoffed his concubine's son at Kuaiji in order to maintain the sacrificial rites to Yu. Tattoos on their bodies and cropped hair, cutting through weeds and overgrowth, they built their settlement there. Over twenty generations later came Yunchang. In Yunchang's time, they fought with King Helü of Wu, bearing mutual hatred and raiding each other. When Yunchang died, his son Goujian was enthroned; this was the King of Yue. In his first year, King Helü of Wu heard that Yunchang had died, and at that very moment raised an army to invade Yue. King Goujian of Yue launched a surprise attack on the Wu forces; the Wu forces were defeated at Zuili, and King Helü of Wu was wounded by an arrow (Du Yu said: "South of Jiaxing County in Wu Commandery lies Zuili City"). As Helü was about to die, he told his son Fuchai: "You must never forget Yue!" In his third year, Goujian heard that King Fuchai of Wu was drilling his troops day and night, about to avenge himself on Yue. Yue wished to march against him before Wu had mobilized. Fan Li remonstrated, saying: "It must not be done. Your servant has heard that weapons are instruments of ill omen; war is contrary to virtue; conflict is the base end of affairs. To plot in secret contrary to virtue, to delight in using instruments of ill omen, and to put oneself at risk in what is lowest—the High Lord forbids it, and it will bring no fortune to the one who does it." The King of Yue said: "My mind is made up." He thereupon raised an army. When the King of Wu heard of it, he mobilized all his crack troops to strike Yue, defeating them at Fujiao (Du Yu said: "Fujiao is Jiao Mountain in Lake Tai, Wu County, Wu Commandery"). The King of Yue then retreated with his remaining five thousand soldiers to entrench himself atop Mount Kuaiji (Du Yu said: "Mounting atop Mount Kuaiji"). The King of Wu pursued and besieged him. The King of Yue said to Fan Li: "It is because I did not listen to you that matters have come to this. What shall I do about it?" Li replied: "One who maintains fullness accords with Heaven (Wei Zhao said: "'Accords with Heaven' means modeling upon Heaven. The Way of Heaven fills but does not overflow"); one who stabilizes the toppling accords with humankind (Yu Fan said: "The way of humankind values humility and submissiveness to pastor oneself"); one who regulates affairs conforms to Earth (Wei Zhao said: "If the time has not arrived, it cannot be forced into being; if the matter is not ripe, it cannot be forced to succeed"). Use humble words and generous gifts to present to him; if he refuses, trade yourself to him (Wei Zhao said: "'Trade' means profit; this refers to relinquishing the keys of the treasury and the state, and following him in person")." Goujian said: "Agreed." He then ordered Grand Master Zhong to sue for peace with Wu. Kneeling and kowtowing, [Zhong] said: "Your Majesty's ruined servant Goujian has sent his humble servant Zhong to presume to speak to your attendants: Goujian requests to become your subject, and his wife your concubine." The King of Wu was inclined to grant it. Zixu said to the King of Wu: "Heaven has bestowed Yue upon Wu; do not grant it!" Zhong returned and reported to Goujian. Goujian wanted to kill his wife and children, burn his treasured vessels, and charge into battle to die. Zhong stopped Goujian, saying: "The Grand Chancellor of Wu, Pi, is greedy; he can be lured with profit. Please allow me to go and speak to him." Thereupon Goujian sent Zhong to secretly present beautiful women and treasured vessels to Grand Chancellor Pi of Wu. Pi accepted them and then introduced Grand Master Zhong to the King of Wu. Zhong kowtowed and said: "We beseech Your Great Majesty to pardon Goujian's offense, and he will surrender all his treasured vessels. If unhappily you will not pardon him, Goujian will kill all his wives and children, burn all his treasured vessels, and charge into battle with all five thousand men, where he will surely inflict casualties!" Pi then persuaded the King of Wu, saying: "Yue has submitted to become a subject; if you pardon them, this will be of benefit to the state." The King of Wu was inclined to grant it. Zixu stepped forward to remonstrate: "If you do not destroy Yue now, you will surely regret it later. Goujian is a capable ruler, and Zhong and Li are excellent ministers; if they return to their state, they will bring turmoil." The King of Wu would not listen; in the end he pardoned Yue, withdrew his troops, and returned. When Goujian was trapped at Kuaiji, he sighed deeply and said: "Shall I meet my end here?" Zhong said: "Tang was imprisoned at the Xia Tower; King Wen was confined at Youli; Chong'er of Jin fled to the Di; Xiaobai of Qi fled to Ju. In the end they all became kings and hegemons. Looking at it from this perspective, why should this not turn into good fortune?" Once Wu pardoned Yue, King Goujian of Yue returned to his state. He then emaciated his body and racked his mind, placing a gall bladder by his seat; whether sitting or lying down he would gaze at the gall bladder, and when eating or drinking he would also taste the gall bladder, saying: "Have you forgotten the disgrace of Kuaiji?" He ploughed the fields himself, and his wife wove cloth herself. In eating he did not add meat; in clothing he did not wear double furs. He lowered himself to treat worthy men with respect, was generous in receiving guests, relieved the poor, consoled the bereaved, and shared the toil of the common people. He wished to have Fan Li manage the administration of the state. Li replied: "In matters of arms and armor, Zhong cannot match Li; in pacifying the state and cherishing the common people, Li cannot match Zhong." Thereupon he entrusted the entire state administration to Grand Master Zhong, and sent Fan Li together with Grand Master Zheji to sue for peace and serve as hostages in Wu. After two years, Wu returned Li. In the seven years after returning from Kuaiji, Goujian nurtured his soldiers and people; the soldiers and people wished to be employed to avenge themselves on Wu. Grand Master Feng Tong remonstrated, saying: "The state has only recently escaped ruin and exile. If now we are again bountiful, refurbish equipment, and prepare sharp weapons, Wu will surely take fright; if they take fright, calamity will surely arrive. Furthermore, when a bird of prey strikes, it is sure to conceal its form. Now Wu's army is pressing upon Qi and Jin, and its rancor runs deeper in Chu and Yue; its fame is high throughout the realm, but it truly harms the Zhou royal house. With little virtue but many achievements, it will surely become licentious and boastful. For Yue's strategy, nothing is better than allying with Qi, befriending Chu, and attaching to Jin, while being generous toward Wu. Wu's ambitions are expansive, so it will surely make light of battle; thus we can align their strength, have the three states attack it, and Yue, taking advantage of its exhaustion, will be able to overcome it." Goujian said: "Excellent!" Two years later, the King of Wu was about to invade Qi. Zixu remonstrated, saying: "It must not be done. Your servant has heard that Goujian does not eat dishes of multiple flavours, and shares hardship and pleasure with his people; if this man does not die, he will surely become a disaster for our state. Wu has Yue as a disease of the vital organs, whereas Qi is to Wu but an itch and scabies. May Your Majesty lay aside Qi and deal first with Yue." The King of Wu would not listen, and thereupon invaded Qi, defeating them at Ailing. He captured Gao and Guo of Qi and returned, rebuking Zixu. Zixu said: "Your Majesty should not rejoice." The King was enraged. Zixu wished to kill himself, but the King heard of it and stopped him. Grand Master Zhong of Yue said: "Your servant observes that the governance of the King of Wu has grown arrogant; please let us test it by borrowing grain to divine their intent." They requested to borrow grain; the King of Wu wished to give it, but Zixu remonstrated against giving it. The King gave it nonetheless. Yue was secretly delighted. Zixu said: "The King does not listen to remonstrance; three years hence, will Wu not be reduced to ruins?" When Grand Chancellor Pi heard of this, he repeatedly disputed with Zixu over policies regarding Yue, and took the opportunity to slander Zixu, saying: "Wu Yuan's outward appearance is loyal, but in truth he is a cruel man; he gave no thought to his own father and brother, so how could he give thought to Your Majesty? Previously, when Your Majesty wished to invade Qi, Yuan vehemently remonstrated; yet afterward when there was success, on this account he now resents Your Majesty. If Your Majesty does not take precautions against Wu Yuan, Yuan will surely cause rebellion." Together with Feng Tong, he plotted to slander him before the King. The King at first did not comply, but sent Zixu on an envoy mission to Qi; hearing that he had entrusted his son to the Bao clan, the King became greatly enraged and said: "Wu Yuan has indeed deceived Us and intends to rebel!" He sent a man to bestow the sword Zhulou upon Zixu so that he would commit suicide. Zixu laughed heartily and said: "I caused your father to become hegemon, and I also established you. At first you wished to divide the state of Wu in half to give to me, but I did not accept it. Now you instead execute me based on slander! Alas, alas! One person indeed cannot stand alone!" He said to the messenger: "You must take my eyes and place them above the eastern gate of Wu, so that I may watch the Yue army enter!" Thereupon Wu entrusted the administration to Pi. Three years later, Goujian summoned Fan Li and said: "Wu has already killed Zixu, and flatterers are numerous; can we strike?" He replied: "Not yet." In the spring of the following year, the King of Wu went north to meet the feudal lords at Huangchi; the crack troops of the state of Wu accompanied the King, and only the aged, the weak, and the Crown Prince remained behind to guard it. Goujian again asked Fan Li, and Li said: "It is possible now." Thereupon he mobilized two thousand sailors accustomed to currents, forty thousand trained soldiers, six thousand "gentlemen" (Wei Zhao said: "'Gentlemen' are those close to the king who have ambition and conduct, like what Wu calls 'men of quality' and Qi calls 'knights'." Yu Fan said: "This means the ruler nurtured them like sons"), and a thousand royal guards to attack Wu. The Wu forces were defeated, and they subsequently killed the Crown Prince of Wu. Wu sent an urgent report to the King; the King was just then meeting the feudal lords at Huangchi, and fearing that the world would hear of it, he kept it secret. After the King of Wu had concluded the covenant at Huangchi, he sent men with generous gifts to sue for peace with Yue. Yue calculated that it was not yet able to destroy Wu, and so made peace with Wu. Four years later, Yue attacked Wu again. The soldiers and people of Wu were exhausted, and their light and elite troops had all perished in Qi and Jin; Yue dealt Wu a great defeat, and thereupon remained and besieged them for three years. The Wu forces were defeated, and Yue then once again confined the King of Wu atop Mount Gusu. The King of Wu sent Gongsun Xiong (Yu Fan said: "A grand master of Wu") bared to the waist, crawling forward on his knees to sue for peace with the King of Yue, saying: "Your isolated servant Fuchai dares to reveal his innermost heart. In past days, I once offended you at Kuaiji, yet Fuchai did not dare to disobey your commands, and was able to make peace with Your Majesty and return. Now Your Majesty has lifted your jade feet to execute your isolated servant; your isolated servant will only obey your command, yet wonders whether you might also wish to pardon your isolated servant's offense just as at Kuaiji?" Goujian could not bear it and wished to grant it. Fan Li said: "In the affair at Kuaiji, Heaven bestowed Yue upon Wu, but Wu did not take it; now Heaven bestows Wu upon Yue, how could Yue go against Heaven? Furthermore, Your Majesty's rising early for court and retiring late—was it not on account of Wu? Plotting for twenty-two years, can you abandon it in a single morning? Moreover, if Heaven gives and one does not take, one will instead receive misfortune; 'the rule for carving an axe handle is not far to seek.' Has Your Majesty forgotten the distress at Kuaiji?" Goujian said: "I wish to heed your words, but I cannot bear to face his messenger." Fan Li then drummed the advance of the troops, saying: "The King has already entrusted the administration to me, his officer (Yu Fan said: "'Officer' is Li referring to himself"). Messenger, depart! If not, you shall incur punishment." The Wu messenger departed in tears. Goujian took pity on him, and sent someone to tell the King of Wu: "I shall place Your Majesty at Yongdong, ruling over a hundred households (Du Yu said: "Yongdong is an island in the Eastern Sea within Gouzhang County, Kuaiji")." The King of Wu declined, saying: "I am old and cannot serve Your Majesty." He then committed suicide, covering his face and saying: "I have no face with which to see Zixu!" The King of Yue then buried the King of Wu and executed Grand Chancellor Pi. Having pacified Wu, Goujian led his army north across the Huai River, meeting the feudal lords of Qi and Jin at Xuzhou, and presented tribute to the Zhou royal court. King Yuan of Zhou sent an envoy to bestow sacrificial meat upon Goujian and appoint him as hegemon. At that time, the troops of Yue moved without hindrance east of the Yangzi and Huai rivers; the feudal lords all offered congratulations, and he was proclaimed hegemon. Fan Li then departed; from Qi, he sent a letter to Grand Master Zhong, saying: "When the flying birds are exhausted, the good bow is stowed; when the cunning hare dies, the running hound is boiled. As a man, the King of Yue has a long neck and a bird's beak; one can share hardship with him, but one cannot share pleasure with him. Why do you not depart?" Having seen the letter, Zhong pleaded illness and did not attend court. Someone slandered Zhong, saying he was about to cause rebellion. The King of Yue then bestowed a sword upon Zhong, saying: "You taught Us seven strategies for invading Wu; We used three of them and defeated Wu, and four remain with you. Test them for Me on the former kings in the afterlife!" Zhong thereupon committed suicide. When Goujian died, his son King Shiyu was enthroned. Five generations later, King Wuqiang attacked Chu; King Wei of Chu attacked Yue, killed King Wuqiang, and extinguished the state (Shiji).