Modern Chinese translation of "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals: The Second and First Period of Filial Piety"

Original text:

The third saying: The saint's approach to things seems slow but urgent, slow but quick, waiting for the time. Wang Jili died of hardship, and King Wen suffered from it. He did not forget the ugliness of Youli, and it was too late. King Wu worked tirelessly day and night, never forgetting the humiliation of the royal family. After twelve years of establishment, Jiazi's affairs were completed. Time is hard to come by. Taigongwang, a scholar from the East, wanted to settle down for the rest of his life but had no master. I heard about Wang Xian, so I fished in Wei to watch it. Wu Zixu wanted to see the King of Wu but was unable to do so. When the guest had something to say to Wang Ziguang, he was disgusted by his appearance and refused to listen to what he said. A guest invited Wang Ziguang, and Wang Ziguang said: "His appearance is suitable for what I hate." The guest heard about Wu Zixu, and Wu Zixu said: "That's why. I would like to have the prince live in the hall, and the curtains are heavy and his clothes are like hands. Please Because he said so." Prince Xu. In the middle of Wu Zixu's words, Wang Ziguang raised the curtain, clasped his hands and sat down with him. After he finished speaking, Wang Ziguang said. Wu Zixu thought that if there was a state of Wu, he would definitely be Wang Ziguang, so he would retreat and farm in the fields. In the seventh year, Wang Ziguang succeeded King Liao of Wu as king. He was appointed Zixu. Zixu practiced the legal system, recruited virtuous people, selected trainers, and learned to fight. Six years later, he defeated Chu Yu Bai Ju. Nine battles and nine wins, chasing thousands of miles north. King Zhao went out and followed him, and then there was Ying. He personally shot the palace and whipped three hundred tombs flat. Farming in the countryside is not about forgetting one's father's work, but waiting for the right time. The Mohist wanted to see King Hui of Qin, but he stayed in Qin for three years but could not see him. If you have something to say to the King of Chu, go and see the King of Chu. The king of Chu said that the relationship with the generals should be like that of Qin. When I arrived, I met King Hui. Tell people: "The way of Qin is the way of Chu?" It is natural that the near is far, and the far is near. The same goes for time. When there are the wise men of Tang and Wu, but without Jie and Zhou, it will not be possible; when there are Jie and Zhou, but there are no wise men from Tang and Wu, it will not be possible. When the saint sees him, he is inseparable from his shadow. Therefore, when a wise man is not encountered, he hides and flees, waiting diligently for the right time. At that time, there will be those who became emperors from commoners, some who conquered the world from thousands of chariots, some who served the three kings from humble status, and some who served as servants with ten thousand chariots. Therefore, the most valuable thing for a saint is time. If the water freezes, it will solidify, and Hou Ji will not be planted. The seeds of Hou Ji will have to wait for spring. Therefore, although a person is wise but does not meet the timing, it will be useless. The square leaves are so lush and beautiful that they are picked all day long without realizing it; when the autumn frost falls, all the forests are withered. The difficulty of things does not depend on the big or small, but on knowing the right time. When Zheng Ziyang was in trouble, he was defeated by raccoon dogs; when Qi Gao and the country were in trouble, he was defeated by the loss of cattle. Because of this, everyone killed Ziyang, Gao and Guo. At that time, dogs and cows could still sing for people, but why should they sing for people? Hungry horses filled the stables and began to cry, but no cud was found. Hungry dogs filled the cellars and began to cry. No bones were seen. When you see bones and cud, you can't stop moving. People in troubled times are disappointed that they have not seen a virtuous person; when they see a virtuous person, they will never stop. Isn’t it true that the past has nothing to do with its shape and heart? Qi used the Eastern Emperor to trap the world, while Lu captured Xuzhou; Handan trapped all the people with the Shouling Mausoleum, while Wei captured the Yu clan. As small as Lu and Wei, they all aspired to a big country and met the right time. Therefore, if a virtuous master and a scholar wants to worry about the head of Guizhou, he will be in troubled times. Heaven will no longer be with you, but time will soon stay. If you can't do two things, things will be done at the right time.

Translation:

The things of a saint seem to be very slow and do nothing, but in fact they are very fast and successful. This is to wait for the opportunity. Wang Jili died of hard work for the state. King Wen of Zhou was very painful, but at the same time he did not forget the shame of being locked up in Youyouli. The reason why he did not attack Zhou was because the time was not yet ripe. King Wu's ministers did not dare to slack off from morning to night when serving Shang Zhou. He did not forget the shame of King Wen being scolded in Yumen. King Wu succeeded to the throne for twelve years and finally defeated the Yin army on Jiazi Day. Opportunities are hard to come by. Taigongwang was from Dongyi. He wanted to bring peace to the world, but he had no wise monarch. He heard that King Wen was wise, so he went fishing on the Wei River to observe King Wen's character. Wu Zixu wanted to see King Liao of Wu, but he couldn't. A retainer told Wang Ziguang about Wu Zixu's situation. When Wang Ziguang saw Wu Zixu, he disliked his appearance and refused to listen to his words. The retainer asked Wang Ziguang why he was like this, and Wang Ziguang said: "His appearance is exactly what I hate." The retainer told Wu Zixu, and Wu Zixu said: "This is an easy thing. I hope that Wang Ziguang can sit in the hall. Only clothes and hands are exposed under the two layers of curtains. Please let me talk to him." Wang Ziguang agreed. Halfway through Wu Zixu's conversation, Wang Ziguang lifted the curtain, held his hand, and sat down with him. After Wu Zixu finished speaking, Wang Ziguang was very happy. Wu Zixu believed that the person who enjoyed the kingdom of Wu must be Wang Ziguang. After returning home, he started farming in his hometown. Seven years later, Wang Ziguang replaced King Liao of Wu as King of Wu. He appointed Wu Zixu, who then rectified the laws, promoted virtuous people, selected elite soldiers, and practiced battles. Six years passed before Chu was defeated in Baiju. He won nine out of nine battles and pursued Chu's defeated army for more than a thousand miles. King Zhao of Chu fled to Sui, and the Wu army occupied the capital of Ying.

Wu Zixu personally shot arrows at the palace of the King of Chu and whipped the tomb of King Ping of Chu three hundred times in revenge for killing his father and brother. He had been farming before, not because he had forgotten the revenge of his father's murder, but because he was waiting for the opportunity. There was a man named Tian Jiu from the Mo family who wanted to see King Hui of Qin. He stayed in Qin for three years but could not see him. A guest told the King of Chu about this situation, and Tian Jiu went to see the King of Chu. The king of Chu liked him very much and gave him the general's talisman to go to Qin. When he arrived in Qin, he met King Hui. He also told others: "The way to come to Qin to see King Hui is to go to Chu first!" Things have always been about being alienated by being close, and being close by being far away. The same goes for timing. If there are virtuous kings like Tang and Wu of Shang, but without the opportunity of Jie and Zhou being incompetent, they will not be able to become kings. If there are opportunities like Jie and Zhou of being incompetent, but without the virtuous and virtuous kings of Shang Tang and Wu, they will not be able to become kings. Industry. The relationship between saints and timing is like the inseparable relationship between shadow and body when walking.

Therefore, when a wise man does not encounter an opportunity, he hides and lurks everywhere, willing to work hard and wait for the opportunity. When the time comes, some will become emperors from common people, some will gain the world from princes, some will assist the three kings from their humble status, and some will be able to take revenge on the Lord of Ten Thousand Vehicles from ordinary people. So what the saint values ??is just timing. When the water is frozen solid, Houji will not be cultivated. When cultivating Houji, one must wait for spring to come. Therefore, even if a person is wise, if he does not meet the opportunity, he will not be able to establish meritorious deeds. Just when the leaves are growing luxuriantly, even if you pick them all day long, you won't be able to get them all. When the autumn frost comes, all the leaves in the woods have fallen. The difficulty of things does not depend on the size, the key lies in grasping the timing. Ziyang of Zheng was killed in the chaos of chasing a mad dog; Gao and Guoshi of Qi were killed in the chaos of chasing a fleeing ox. The crowd took advantage of the chaos and killed Ziyang, Gao and Guo. When the time is right, dogs and cows can be the forerunners of people's attacks, let alone people as the forerunners?

Hungry horses filled the stables and were silent because they had not seen grass and were hungry. Dogs filled the kennel, silent because they saw no bones. If they see bones and grass, they will fight for guns and cannot be stopped. The people in the chaotic world are silent because they have not seen the wise man. If they see a wise man, they will join him and cannot stop him. When they went to join the sages, didn’t they surrender both physically and mentally? King Chun of Qi was embarrassed by the princes of the world because he pretended to be the Eastern Emperor, and Xuzhou was captured by Lu. Zhao Suhou disturbed the people by building a mausoleum, and the people did not support him. Therefore, the Wei State seized the Yu family. With the help of Lu and Wei, small countries were able to take advantage of big countries because they encountered the right opportunity. Therefore, wise monarchs and outstanding people want to worry about the people when they encounter chaos in the world. It's just the right time. God will not give people two chances, opportunities will not stay for a long time, and human talents will not achieve perfection in both aspects of doing things at the same time. The success of things lies in being at the right time.

Hope this helps!