【Original text】
九月甲午，晋侯秦伯围郑，以其无礼于晋（1），且贰于楚也（2）。晋 军函陵（3），秦军汜南（4）。
In the ninth month of the ninth lunar month, Qin Bo, the Marquis of Jin, besieged Zheng, causing him to be rude to Jin (1) and also to Chu (2). The Jin army Hanling (3), the Qin army Binan (4).
佚之狐言于郑伯曰（5）：“国危矣！若使烛之武见秦君（6），师必 退。”公从之。辞曰：“臣之壮也，犹不如人；今老矣，无能力也 已。”公曰：“吾不能早用子，今急而求子，是寡人之过也。然郑 亡，子亦有不利焉！”许之。
Yi Zhihu said to Zheng Bo (5): "The country is in danger! If Zhu Zhiwu is sent to see the Lord of Qin (6), the army will retreat." Duke followed. The words said: "The strength of the minister is not as good as that of others; now he is old and has no ability." The Duke said: "I could not use the son earlier, and now I am anxious to ask for the son. It is the fault of me. However, if Zheng dies, the son will also be disadvantaged!" Xu Zhi.
夜，缒而出（7）。见秦伯，曰：“秦晋围郑，郑既知其亡矣。若 亡郑而有益于君，敢以烦执事。越国以鄙远（8），君知其难也；焉用 亡郑以陪邻？邻之厚，君之薄也。若舍郑以为东道主（9），行李之往 来（10），共其乏困（11），君亦无所害。且君尝为晋君赐矣（12）。许君焦瑕（13），朝济而夕设版焉（14），君之所知也。夫晋何厌之有？既东封郑（15），又欲肆其西封（16）；不阙秦，将焉取之（17）？阙秦以利晋，唯君图之。”
At night, it comes out (7). Seeing the uncle of Qin, he said: "Qin and Jin besieged Zheng, and Zheng knew that it was dead. If Zheng's death would be beneficial to the king, he would dare to bother the deacons. The country of Yue is despised to be far away (8), and the king knows the difficulty; how can he use Zheng to accompany his neighbors? The neighbor is thick, and the king is thin. If Zheng is abandoned, he will be the host (9), and the luggage will go there. 来（10），共其乏困（11），君亦无所害。且君尝为晋君赐矣（12）。许君焦瑕（13），朝济而夕设版焉（14），君之所知也。夫晋何厌之有？既东封郑（15），又欲肆其西封（16）；不阙秦，将焉取之（17）？阙秦以利晋，唯君图之。”
秦泊说，与郑人盟，使杞子、逢孙、杨孙戍之（18），乃还。
Qin Bo said that he would make an alliance with the Zheng people and send Qi Zi, Feng Sun, and Yang Sun to garrison them (18), and then return.
子犯请击之。公说曰：“不可。微夫人之力不及此（19）。困人之力 而敝之（20），不仁；矢其所与，不知（21）；以乱易整（22），不武。吾其还也。”亦去之。
Please attack the prisoner. The public said: "No. Mrs. Wei's power is not as good as this (19). It is unkind to trap people's strength and leave them alone (20); to target them without knowing what they are doing (21); to make chaos easy to rectify (22) is not forceful. I will return it." He also left.
【注释】
【Note】
（1）以：因为。其：指郑国。元礼于晋：指晋文公重耳流亡经过郑国时，郑文公未以礼相待。 （2）贰：两属，同时亲附对立的双方。（3）军：驻扎。函陵：郑国地名，在今河南新郑北。（4）南：郑国的汜水南面，在今河 南中牟南。 （5）佚之狐：郑国大夫。（6）烛之武：郑国大夫。（7）缒 （zhui）：用绳子吊着重物。这里指把烛之武从城墙上吊下去。出：指出郑国 都城。 （8）鄙：边邑。这里指把远地作为边邑。（9）东道主：东方路上 的主人，因郑国在秦国的东边。后世用这个同作“主人”的代称。（10）行 李：使者，外交官员。 （11）共：同“供”，供给。乏困：指资财粮食等物品 不足。 （12）尝：曾经，赐：恩惠。晋君，指晋惠公。（13）焦：晋国邑名，在今河南三门峡市附近。瑕：晋国邑名，在今河南灵宝东。（14）济：渡河。 版：筑土墙用的夹板。设版：指建筑防御工事。（15）封郑：以郑国为疆界。 （16）肆：放肆。这里的意思是极力扩张。 （17）焉：从哪里。 （18）杞 （qi）子、逢（peng）孙、杨孙：三人都是秦国大夫。戍：驻守。（19）微： 要不是。夫人：那个人，指秦穆公。（20）因人：依靠他人。敝：伤害。 （21）所与：指友好国家，盟国。知：同“智”。（22）乱：分裂。易：代替。整：团结一致。
(1) To: because. Which: refers to the state of Zheng. Yuanli in Jin: It refers to the fact that when Jin Wen Gong Chong'er passed through Zheng State in exile, Zheng Wen Gong did not treat him with courtesy. (2) Two: Two genus, attached to both opposing sides at the same time. (3) Army: stationed. Hanling: The place name of Zheng State, located in the north of Xinzheng in present-day Henan. (4) South: South of the Si River in the Zheng State, in the south of Zhongmunan, Henan today. (5) Lost Fox: Doctor Zheng Guo. (6) Zhu Zhiwu: Doctor Zheng Guo. (7) Li (zhui): Use a rope to hang heavy objects. This refers to hanging Zhu Zhiwu from the city wall. Out: Point out the capital of Zheng State. (8) Bian: Border town. This refers to using distant places as border towns. (9) Host: The owner of the Eastern Road, because the State of Zheng is to the east of the State of Qin. Later generations used this same name as "master". (10) Luggage: envoys, diplomats. (11) Total: Same as "supply", supply. Lack of sleep: refers to the lack of money, food and other items. (12) Taste: once, give: favor. Jin Jun refers to Duke Hui of Jin. (13) Jiao: The name of the town in Jin State, near present-day Sanmenxia City, Henan Province. Xia: The name of the town in the Jin Dynasty, located in the east of Lingbao, Henan Province. (14) Ji: Cross the river. Version: Plywood used for building earthen walls. Jiban: refers to building fortifications. (15) Feng Zheng: Take Zheng State as the boundary. (16) Si: Presumptuous. What it means here is to expand as much as possible. (17) Yan: From where. (18) Qi (qi) Zi, Feng (peng) Sun, and Yang Sun: all three of them are officials of the Qin State. garrison: garrison. (19) Wei: Otherwise. Madam: That person refers to Duke Mu of Qin. (20) Because of people: Rely on others. We: Hurt. (21) To: refers to friendly countries and allies. Zhi: Same as "wisdom". (22) Chaos: split. Yi: replace. Whole: unity.
【译文】
【Translation】
鲁僖三十年九月十三日，晋文公和秦穆公联合围攻郑国，因为郑国曾对晋文公无礼，并且亲近楚国。晋军驻扎在函陵，秦军 驻扎在汜水南面。
On September 13, the 30th year of Lu Xi, Duke Wen of Jin and Duke Mu of Qin jointly besieged Zheng because Zheng had been rude to Duke Wen of Jin and was close to Chu. The Jin army was stationed at Hanling, and the Qin army was stationed south of the Sishui River.
佚之狐对郑文公说：“国家很危险了！如果派烛之武去见秦国 国君，敌军一定会撤回去。”郑文公听从了佚之狐的建议。但烛之武推辞说：“我年壮的时候尚且比不上人家，现在老了，更做不了什么了。”郑文公说：‘我没能及早任用您，现在国家危急才来求 您，这是我的过错。然而，郑国灭亡了，对您也有不利的地方啊！” 于是烛之武答应了。
Yi Zhihu said to Zheng Wengong: "The country is in danger! If Zhu Zhiwu is sent to see the king of Qin, the enemy troops will definitely withdraw." Zheng Wengong followed Yi Zhihu's suggestion. But Zhu Zhiwu declined and said: "When I was young, I was not as good as others, and now that I am old, I can't do much." Zheng Wengong said: "I failed to appoint you early, and I came to ask you now that the country is in crisis. This is my fault." However, the fall of Zheng is also disadvantageous to you! ” So Zhu Zhiwu agreed.
夜里。郑国人用绳子把烛之武吊出了城。烛之武去见秦穆公说：“秦国和晋国围攻郑国，郑国已经知道自己要灭亡了。如果郑 国灭亡了能对您有利，那么冒昧地拿这件事麻烦您还值得。可是 越过一个国家而把遥远的郑国作为边邑，您一定知道这样做很困 难；如果这样。哪里用得着灭亡郑国来增强邻国的实力呢？邻国 实力增强了，您的实力就减弱了。如果留下郑国作为东路上的主 人，秦国使臣来来往往，可以供给他们一些短缺的物资，对您也 没有什么害处。再说，您曾经给过晋惠公恩惠。他答应过把焦邑 和瑕邑给您，而他早上一过黄河、晚上就在那里修筑工事，这事 您是知道的。晋国何曾有过满足的时候？它已经向东把郑国当作 了边界，又打算尽力向西扩张边界；那时不损害秦国的利益，它 从哪里去取得土地呢？损害秦国而让晋国得到好处，还望您考虑 考虑这件事情吧！”
at night. The people of Zheng used ropes to lift Zhu Zhiwu out of the city. Zhu Zhiwu went to see Duke Mu of Qin and said: "Qin and Jin are besieging Zheng, and Zheng already knows that it is going to perish. If Zheng's destruction can be beneficial to you, then it is worth troubling you with this matter. But if you cross a country and use the distant Zheng as a border town, you must know that it is difficult to do so. If so, there is no need to destroy Zheng to strengthen the strength of neighboring countries? What about neighboring countries? As your strength increases, your strength will weaken. If you leave Zheng as the master of the east road, and Qin's envoys can come and go, you can provide them with some supplies that are in short supply. Besides, you have given Jin Hui Gong a favor. He promised to give you Jiaoyi and Xiayi, and he will build fortifications there as soon as he crosses the Yellow River in the morning. You know. Has there ever been a time when Jin was satisfied? It has regarded Zheng as its border to the east, and it plans to expand its border to the west. How can it gain land by harming Qin and benefiting Jin? I hope you will consider this matter!
秦穆公听了烛之武的话很高兴，就同郑国订立了盟约，并派 大夫杞子、逢孙和杨孙驻守郑国，自己领兵回国了。
Duke Mu of Qin was very happy after hearing what Zhu Zhiwu said, so he made an alliance with the state of Zheng, and sent the officials Qizi, Fengsun and Yangsun to garrison the state of Zheng, and then he led his troops back home.
晋国大夫狐偃请求进攻秦军。晋文公说：“不能这么做。如果 没有那个人的力量，我到不了今天这个地步。靠别人的力量去损 害别人，这是不仁义；失去了同盟国，这是不明智；用分裂来代 替团结一致，这是不武。我们还是回去吧”于是晋军也离开了郑 国。
Hu Yan, a senior official of Jin State, requested to attack the Qin army. Duke Wen of Jin said: "You can't do this. Without that person's strength, I wouldn't be where I am today. It's unkind to rely on other people's strength to harm others; it's unwise to lose allies; it's unwieldy to use division to replace unity. Let's go back." So the Jin army also left the state of Zheng.
【读解】
【Interpretation】
说客在春秋之战中扮演着重要角色，他们穿梭来往于各国之间，或穿针引线，搭桥过河，或挑拨离问，挖敌方墙角，或施缓兵之计，赢得喘息之机。可以说，缺少了这些用现代词语称为外 交家的角色，春秋舞台所上演的戏剧，必定没有这么惊心动魄，精 彩纷呈，波澜迭宕。有了他们，台前。台后两条战线上真是热闹 非凡，你方唱罢我登台，演出了古代战争史上独一无二的一幕。
Lobbyists played an important role in the Spring and Autumn War. They shuttled between various countries, either connecting people, building bridges across rivers, sowing discord, poaching the enemy's corners, or using delaying tactics to gain a breathing space. It can be said that without these roles, which are called diplomats in modern terms, the dramas performed on the Spring and Autumn stage would not be so thrilling, exciting, and ups and downs. With them, in front of the stage. The two fronts behind the stage were really lively. After you sang, I went on stage and performed a unique scene in the history of ancient wars.
我们发现，说客或外交家除了有高超的言辞辩才，善于动之以情晓之以理之外，往往善于抓住利害关系这个关键，在利害关系上寻找弱点和突破口，从而大获成功。烛之武凭三寸不烂之舌 说退秦军，不费一兵一卒为郑国解了围，便是一桩典型的范例。
We have found that lobbyists or diplomats, in addition to having superb eloquence and being good at expressing emotions and reasoning, are often good at grasping the key of interests and finding weaknesses and breakthroughs in interests, thus achieving great success. Zhu Zhiwu relied on his sharp tongue to retreat the Qin army and relieved Zheng Guo without spending a single soldier. This is a typical example.
在一个没有权威、各自为利益纷争的时代，利益原则便是行 动的最高原则，精明的说客或外交家必定深谐此道。以利益作为交往原则，关系不可能牢不可破，不可能无懈可击。甚至可以说， 晓之以利益，动之以利益，往往比其它手段更见效。即使在现代社会，国与国之闯的交往，也首先是从利益原则出发的。这个原则，恐怕比仁义原则更实际，更能长久，尽管仁义原则更值得赞 赏，可是这世上有几个讲仁义的人呢？
In an era where there is no authority and everyone is competing for their own interests, the principle of interest is the highest principle of action. A shrewd lobbyist or diplomat must understand this deeply. With interests as the principle of communication, relationships cannot be unbreakable or impeccable. It can even be said that knowing and using benefits is often more effective than other means. Even in modern society, interactions between countries are first and foremost based on the principle of interests. This principle is probably more practical and more durable than the principle of benevolence and righteousness. Although the principle of benevolence and righteousness is more worthy of praise, how many people in the world are there who believe in benevolence and righteousness?
讲利益原则，首先要以平等为基础。没有平等，也就在根本上取消了利益。利益必须通过交往实现，一个人不同他人发生联系，就无所谓利益；交往也意味着交换，付出多少，便得到多少， 不付出就无所获。只想获得而不愿付出，就破坏了交换，也没有了平等，也就很难再获取利益。
When talking about the principle of interests, we must first base it on equality. Without equality, interests are fundamentally eliminated. Interests must be realized through communication. If a person does not have contact with others, there is no interest; communication also means exchange. You will get as much as you pay, and you will get nothing if you don't pay. If you only want to get but are unwilling to pay, you will destroy the exchange, and there will be no equality, so it will be difficult to obtain benefits.
交换，实质上也是让对方有利可图。烛之武去游说秦穆公，如果秦穆公觉得无利可图，会甘愿罢休吗？所谓挑拨离间，多半也要利用人们觉得有利可图的心理。离开这一点，挑拨挑间是难以成功的。搞阴谋诡计的人也常常利用这一点。“将欲取之，必先予 之”，这也是说用给予好处引人上钩，然后再将其吃掉。
Exchange is essentially making the other party profitable. Zhu Zhiwu went to lobby Duke Mu of Qin. If Duke Mu of Qin felt that there was no profit to be made, would he be willing to give up? The so-called sowing discord usually involves taking advantage of people's psychology that they find profitable. Without this point, it is difficult to succeed in sowing discord. Conspirators often take advantage of this. "If you want to take something, you must first give it to it." This also means to lure people in by offering benefits, and then eat them.
中国传统的谋咯，可以说把利益原则发挥到了极致。除了上面说的之外，还有所谓借刀杀人、过河拆桥、上屋拔梯、赏一安百、欲擒故纵、美人诱惑、坐收渔利、奇货可居、害一利百等等， 都是从不同角度利用或发挥利益原则。可以毫不夸张他说，处世为人的方方面面都与利益原则有千丝万缕的
It can be said that traditional Chinese strategy takes the principle of interests to the extreme. In addition to what is mentioned above, there are also so-called killing with a borrowed knife, burning a bridge across a river, pulling up a ladder from a house, offering a reward for a hundred, playing hard to get, seducing a beautiful woman, reaping the benefits, living with rare goods, harming one and benefiting a hundred, etc., all of which utilize or bring into play the principle of profit from different angles. It is no exaggeration to say that every aspect of being a human being is inextricably linked to the principle of interests.
