King Goujian of Yue was a descendant of Emperor Yu of the Xia dynasty and a son of Shao Kang. He was enfeoffed in Kuaiji, responsible for performing sacrificial rites to Emperor Yu. At that time, the custom was to wear coarse clothes and have their hair cut short, but Goujian wore clothing made from woven grasses and built cities in the wild grass. Over twenty generations later, Goujian's father, Yun Chang, ascended the throne. During Yun Chang's reign, he fought against King Helu of Wu, and a bitter rivalry developed. After Yun Chang's death, his son Goujian succeeded him, becoming King Goujian of Yue.
In 496 BC, upon hearing of Yun Chang's death, King Helu of Wu led his troops to attack the state of Yue. King Goujian of Yue sent a unit of elite soldiers tasked with a suicidal mission to challenge the Wu army, charging at them three times before performing ritual suicide before the Wu army. Exploiting the ensuing confusion, Goujian attacked the Wu army, defeating them at Zuili and even injuring King Helu. Before his death, Helu told his son Fuchai, "Never forget to avenge this! Never forget Yue!"
Three years later, Goujian heard that Fuchai was training his troops day and night to retaliate against Yue, so he decided to strike first. Fan Li cautioned against the immorality of war and the inherent dangers of weaponry, warning that such actions, defying Heaven's will, would surely bring ruin. However, Goujian was determined to proceed. He launched an attack on Wu. Upon hearing this, Fuchai immediately sent his elite soldiers to attack Yue, defeating them at Fujiang. Goujian, with his remaining five thousand soldiers, retreated to Kuaiji, only to be surrounded and besieged by the Wu army.
King Goujian asked Fan Li, "It's all my fault for not listening to you. We're in a right mess now. What should we do?" Fan Li replied, "Hard work pays off, and the gods will smile on us; those who can stabilize the situation will win the hearts of the people; those who know how to seize opportunities will gain advantages. Let's go hat in hand, with a big pile of gifts, and beg for peace. If that fails, then we'll fight to the death!" Goujian said, "Good!" So he sent the minister Zhong to the state of Wu to seek peace. Zhong prostrated himself, saying, "Your Majesty, I'm Goujian's humble servant, here to plead for mercy: Goujian is willing to be your subject, and his wife is willing to be your concubine." The King of Wu was on the verge of saying yes. However, Wu Zixu advised the King of Wu, "We've got Yue right where we want them; we must not agree to their terms!" Zhong returned and informed Goujian of the situation. At that moment, Goujian wanted to kill his own wife, burn his treasures, and then fight to the death with Wu. Zhong stopped Goujian and said, "The Prime Minister of Wu, Bo Pi, is a greedy man; he can be bribed with money. Let me go and try." So Goujian sent Zhong with a beautiful woman and treasures to bribe the Prime Minister of Wu, Bo Pi. Bo Pi accepted the gifts and took Zhong to see the King of Wu. Zhong again threw himself at the king's feet, saying, "I hope the Great King can forgive Goujian's mistakes and accept all his treasures. If, unfortunately, the Great King does not forgive, if you refuse, Goujian will kill his wife, burn his treasures, and fight to the death with his five thousand men!" Bo Pi advised the King of Wu, "Yue's begging for mercy. Let's take it!" The King of Wu was considering accepting. However, Wu Zixu once again advised against it, saying, "Don't let them go! Goujian's smart, and those two are his top guys. They'll be back to fight another day!" The King of Wu ignored him and let Yue off the hook, then marched his army home.
When Goujian was trapped in Kuaiji, he sighed and said, "Am I going to die here?" Minister Zhong replied, "Tang of Shang was imprisoned in Xiatai, King Wen of Zhou was imprisoned in Yuli, Duke Wen of Jin, Chong'er, went into exile in the state of Di, and Duke Huan of Qi, Xiaobai, went into exile in the state of Ju. They all eventually became kings and powerful rulers. So maybe this isn't so bad after all." The King of Wu let off the state of Yue. After King Goujian of Yue returned to his country, he began to work hard and strive. He kept a gall bladder by his seat, a constant reminder of his bitterness; he even tasted the bile with his meals. He'd constantly remind himself, "Don't forget the shame of Kuaiji!" He and his wife toiled in the fields, foregoing luxuries, eating simple fare, and dressing plainly, treating wise men humbly, warmly entertaining guests, helping the poor, comforting the dead, and sharing the joys and sorrows with the people. Goujian offered the job to Fan Li, but he replied, "I'm not as good as Wenzhong in military matters; I’m not as good as Wenzhong in comforting the people and getting close to the common folks." Therefore, Goujian entrusted the heavy responsibility of governing the country to Doctor Wenzhong and sent Fan Li and Doctor Zheji to the state of Wu as hostages to show sincerity. Two years later, Fan Li was released by Wu.
Seven years after Goujian returned to his kingdom of Kuaiji, he has been consolidating his power, winning over the people, and plotting his revenge. Feng Tong advised him, "A show of military strength might provoke Wu into acting prematurely. Currently, Wu is conquering Qi and Jin, nursing grudges against Chu and Yue. Their reputation is immense, but their actions undermine the Zhou dynasty. Great in achievement, they lack virtue and are ripe for arrogance and decadence. Yue's best strategy is to forge alliances with Qi, Chu, and Jin, thereby lulling Wu into a false sense of security. Wu's ambition would blind them to their enemies' strength. A three-pronged attack by their enemies would crush Wu, allowing Yue to deliver the final blow." Goujian agreed.
Two years later, the King of Wu planned to attack the state of Qi. Wu Zixu cautioned, "It's not the right time! I have heard that Goujian lives a simple life, sharing the hardships of the people. As long as he lives, he will surely become a threat to our country. Yue is our main threat; Qi is a minor concern." The King of Wu did not listen and proceeded to attack Qi, defeating them at Ailing and capturing two high officials to bring back to Wu. The King of Wu, pleased with the victory, credited Wu Zixu. Wu Zixu warned, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Your Majesty!" The King of Wu became angry upon hearing this, and Wu Zixu considered suicide, but the King stopped him upon learning of his intentions.
Lord Fan Li of Yue said, "I see that the King of Wu is now cocky and overbearing. I suggest we test him by borrowing some grain to see his reaction." So Fan Li went to borrow grain. The King of Wu wanted to agree, but Wu Zixu advised him not to. However, the King of Wu still agreed, much to Yue's delight. Wu Zixu said, "If the King does not heed advice, in three years Wu will be finished!" Grand Minister Bo heard this and frequently argued with Wu Zixu about the affairs of Yue, even falsely accusing Wu Zixu, saying, "Zixu appears loyal on the surface, but in reality is heartless, even to his own family. How can he care for the King? Before, when the King wanted to attack the Qi kingdom, Zixu strongly advised against it. Later, after winning battles, he resented the King. If the King does not guard against Zixu, he will definitely rebel!" Bo and Feng conspired together to falsely accuse Wu Zixu. The King of Wu initially did not believe, but later sent Wu Zixu to the Qi kingdom. When he heard that Wu Zixu had entrusted his son to the Bao family, the King of Wu was furious, saying, "Zixu truly deceived me!" After Wu Zixu returned, the King of Wu sent someone to give him a fancy sword to commit suicide. Wu Zixu laughed heartily and said, "I assisted his father in dominating, I helped him become king, and he even wanted to give me half of Wu country, which I refused. But now he uses such low-down tactics to kill me. Alas, alas, a person is ultimately unable to thrive alone!" He then said to the messenger, "You must have my eyes gouged out and placed at the east gate of Wu country, to see when the Yue kingdom's army will come!" And so Bo seized control of Wu. Three years later, Goujian summoned Fan Li and asked, "Wu has already killed Zixu, and there are many flatterers. Can we hit Wu now?" Fan Li replied, "Not quite yet."
In the second spring of the year, King Fuchai of Wu was going to Huangchi to meet with the other princes. His elite troops followed him, and only the old, the infirm, and the crown prince remained in the country. Goujian went to ask Fan Li, who said, "The time is ripe!" So Goujian mobilized two thousand elite soldiers, forty thousand infantry, six thousand regular troops, and one thousand imperial guards to attack the State of Wu. The Wu army was defeated, and the crown prince was also killed. News reached Fuchai at Huangchi, and fearing it would become public knowledge, he kept it secret. After the meeting at Huangchi ended, King Fuchai sent someone with generous gifts to seek peace. Yue, realizing they couldn't conquer Wu immediately, negotiated a peace.
After four years, Yue once again attacked Wu. The soldiers and people of Wu were exhausted, and most of the elite troops died in the wars with Qi and Jin. Yue achieved a great victory over Wu this time and besieged Wu for three years. The Wu army was defeated, and Goujian cornered Fuchai on Mount Gusu. King Fuchai of Wu sent Gongsun Xiong, crawling naked on his knees to Goujian, begging for peace, saying, "Your servant, Fuchai, lays my heart bare before you. I deeply regret my past offenses at Kuaiji and humbly beg your forgiveness. I swear my obedience, and I pray you grant me peace, just as you did at Kuaiji." Goujian hesitated a little and wanted to agree. Fan Li said, "Remember Kuaiji – fate gave Wu to Yue, but Wu missed the opportunity. Now fate has given Wu to Yue again; how can Yue go against the will of fate? Moreover, King, you've been working day and night to deal with Wu, right? You’ve been planning for twenty-two years; can you suddenly give up? Also, if you miss the chance given by fate, you will have to bear the consequences." Goujian said, "I want to listen to you, but I really can't bear to see his envoy." Fan Li urged the army to attack, saying, "The king's put you in charge; if the envoy leaves, you'll offend people!" The envoy of Wu left crying. Goujian took pity on him and sent someone to tell the King of Wu, "I've set you up in Yongdong, with a hundred households for your family." The King of Wu replied, "I am already old and cannot serve the king anymore!" So he committed suicide. He covered his face and said, "I have no face to meet Wu Zixu!" Goujian then ordered a proper burial for the King of Wu and killed Wu's chief minister, Bo Pi.
After Goujian destroyed the state of Wu, he led his troops across the Huai River, met with the princes of Qi and Jin in Xuzhou, and then paid homage to the Zhou court. King Yuan of Zhou sent some meat for sacrifices to Goujian and appointed him as Overlord, or *Bo*. Goujian returned from Xuzhou, crossed the Huai River back to the south, gave the land along the Huai River to the state of Chu, returned the land previously occupied by the state of Yue from the state of Song, and also gave the land 100 miles east of the state of Lu to the state of Lu. At that time, Yue's armies held sway in the area east of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, and all the princes came to congratulate, calling Goujian the "King of Kings."
At this time, Fan Li left the state of Yue and wrote a letter to Minister Wenzhong saying, "Once the bird's flown, you put away the bow and arrow; once the rabbit's caught, you cook the hound. That Goujian – long neck, beak-like mouth – he's fine to share hardship with, but not the good times. Why haven't you left?" After reading the letter, Minister Wenzhong feigned illness and did not attend court. Someone told the King of Yue that Minister Wenzhong was planning a rebellion, so the King of Yue handed Wenzhong a sword, saying, "You taught me seven strategies to defeat the state of Wu. I have used three of them to destroy Wu; the remaining four are in your hands, so you go first!" Minister Wenzhong then committed suicide.
Goujian was succeeded by his son, Wang Shi, then by Wang Shi's son, Wang Bushou, followed by Wang Weng, Wang Yi, Wang Zhihou, and finally Wang Wuqiang.
During the time of King Goujian of Yue, the state was very ambitious, alternately attacking Qi and Chu, scrambling for territory and dominance among the Central Plains states. When King Wei of Chu was in power, Yue attacked Qi again. King Wei of Qi sent someone to tell Goujian: "Unless you attack Chu, you won't become the top dog, or even a major player. I see you're not attacking Chu because you're relying on help from Jin, right? But neither Han nor Wei will risk it easily. If Han attacks Chu and gets defeated, with the general killed, then Ye and Yangdi will be in danger; the same goes for Wei—if they get defeated, then Chen and Shangcai will be at risk. So if Jin helps Yue, they'll help out, but they won't go all-in. Why do you value Jin's help so much?"
Goujian replied, "We rely on Jin for help, but at most they'll provide some troops and won’t directly clash with Chu, let alone attack and conquer cities. I hope Wei can bunch their troops near Daliang, and that Qi can send some to probe Nanyang and Ju, gathering near Tancheng and Changyi. This way, Chu's army won't move south of Fangcheng or advance east to the area between the Huai and Si Rivers. Places like Shangqiu, Yuqiu, Xixian, Lixian, Zongxian, Huxian, and the area west of Xialu won't have to worry about attacks from Qin; the area north of Jiangnan and the Si River will be enough for Yue's defense. In this way, Qi, Qin, Han, and Wei can all benefit from Chu, as if Jin had gained land without spending a single soldier—getting something for nothing. If not, your state of Yue will have to fight to the death with Chu among the rivers and mountains, selling yourselves to Qi and Qin. That's a recipe for disaster. How do you expect to become king that way?"
The envoy from the State of Qi said, "Lucky Yue's still around! I'm not saying your King has tunnel vision, only seeing the trees and not the forest. Now, your King knows that the strategy of the State of Jin has failed, but he doesn’t realize his own mistakes. That's just plain shortsighted! Yue's counting on Jin to weaken Chu, not for troops or alliances. So what's the point of relying on Jin now?"
The King of Yue asked, "What should we do then?" The envoy said, "Chu's got three top brass spreading their armies across nine fronts. They're surrounding Quwo and Yuzhong in the north, all the way to Wujia Pass – that's 3,700 miles! Jingcui's troops are massed north in Lu, Qi, and Nanyang. With Chu that strong, can Yue even hope to compete? Look, you want Jin and Chu to fight each other. If they don't, Yue's army sits idle. That's incredibly shortsighted! You're only seeing part of the picture. If you don't attack Chu, Yue won't be top dog – not as leader, not as anything.
Chu's got the granaries of Fuchou, Pangcheng, and Changsha, and all that timber from Jingze and Lingyang. Yue's been eyeing Wujia Pass, and those four places aren't sending tribute to Chu anymore. Listen, even if you can't be king, you can still be top dog among the vassal states. But Yue isn't even that, because of your bad leadership! So hit Chu, and hit them hard!"
Yue then spared Qi and attacked Chu. Chu's King Wei counterattacked, defeating Yue and killing King Wuqiang. Their conquest reached Zhejiang, encompassing former Wu territory, and in the north, they defeated Qi in Xuzhou. As a result, Yue splintered, its clans vying for power, scattered along the Jiangnan coast, submitting to Chu.
Seven generations later, under King Yao of Min, he assisted the vassals in pacifying Qin. Han's Emperor Gaozu made Yao King of Yue, allowing him to honor Yue's ancestors. Both Dong Yue and King Yao of Min are descendants of the King of Yue.
Fan Li assisted King Goujian of Yue, toiling tirelessly alongside him for over twenty years, ultimately destroying Wu and avenging Kuaiji's shame. They then marched north to the Huai River, using this to deter Qi and Jin, commanding all under heaven, honoring the royal family of the Zhou dynasty. Goujian ruled supreme, while Fan Li was appointed General-in-Chief. Back in Yue, Fan Li knew his fame was too much; it wouldn't last, and that he and Goujian could share hardship, but not prosperity. He wrote a farewell letter to Goujian, stating: "I've heard a ruler's worries burden his people; his shame, their lives. Your Majesty's shame at Kuaiji kept me alive; now that's avenged, I ask to die for Yue as I would have then." Goujian said, "We'll rule together, or you'll die." Fan Li replied, "You give the order, and I will carry out your wishes." He loaded up some valuables, took his loyal men, and sailed away, never to be seen again. Goujian gave Fan Li a piece of Mount Kuaiji.
Fan Li escaped by sea to Qi, changed his name and assumed a new identity, calling himself Chi Yi Zi Pi (a self-given alias). He farmed by the sea, continued to work hard, and farmed and fished with his son. Before long, he accumulated a fortune of tens of thousands. Word of his abilities reached the people of Qi, who wanted him to be the prime minister. Fan Li sighed and said, "Making a fortune, becoming a high-ranking official—that's the peak for a commoner. But too much glory ain't good for you in the long run." So, he resigned as prime minister, gave away all his money to family and friends, and quietly left, settling in Tao, where he became known as Tao Zhu Gong. He and his son farmed and raised livestock, living a simple life, waiting for the right moment to make a ten percent profit. Before long, he accumulated a huge fortune. He became known as Tao Zhu Gong throughout the land. Tao Zhu Gong lived in Tao and had a son. When the son grew up, his second son committed a crime and was imprisoned in the state of Chu. Tao Zhu Gong said, "You kill someone, you pay the price, that's only right. But rich folks' kids don't usually end up dead in the gutter." So he sent his son to Chu to see the situation.
He'd loaded a whole oxcart with gold, bundled up in rough cloth. Initially, Old Man Zhu planned to let his youngest son go alone, but his eldest son insisted on going, saying, "As the eldest son, I *have* to take responsibility! My brother's in trouble, and you're just sending *him*? I can't live with that!" He was ready to kill himself right then and there. His mother quickly persuaded him, "Sending the youngest might not even save your brother, and if we lose *you* too…?" Old Man Zhu had no choice but to let the eldest son go as well and wrote a letter to his old friend Zhuang Sheng. The letter said, "When you arrive in Chu, hand over this gold to Zhuang Sheng, listen to his arrangements, and never argue with him." Before the eldest son set off, he secretly took a few hundred gold pieces with him.
Upon arriving in Chu, Zhuang Sheng lived way out in the sticks, his doorstep overgrown with weeds, dirt poor. However, the eldest son followed his father's instructions and handed the letter and gold to Zhuang Sheng. Zhuang Sheng said, "Get out of here, quick! And when your brother gets out, don't pry into what happened." After leaving Zhuang Sheng's house, the eldest son did not go back directly but instead secretly left some money to bribe some big shots in Chu.
Although Zhuang Sheng's family was poor, he was known for his upstanding character in Chu, and both the king and the common people respected him greatly. Zhuang Sheng did not intend to keep the gold sent by Old Man Zhu for himself; he only wanted to return it after the matter was resolved to show his sincerity. So, after the gold was delivered, Zhuang Sheng told his wife, "This is Old Man Zhu's gold. It's like a debt – we'll pay it back once things are settled. Don't touch it." But the eldest son didn't get it; he figured the gold hadn't done a thing.
Zhuangzi once went to see the king of Chu and said, "Regarding a particular celestial omen, it will bring disaster to the Chu state." The king always believed in Zhuangzi, so he asked, "What should we do now?" Zhuangzi replied, "Only by cultivating virtue can we eliminate disaster." The king said, "Okay, I will do that." So he had three treasury vaults sealed in the national treasury.
The ministers of Chu hurried to tell Zhu Gong's eldest son, "The king is going to issue a general pardon!" The eldest son asked, "Why do you say that?" The minister explained, "Every time the king issues a general pardon, he seals off three treasury vaults. Last night, the king sent people to seal them again." Zhu Gong's eldest son thought the pardon was really going to happen, and his younger brother would definitely be released. The money spent on Zhuangzi was wasted, so he went to find Zhuangzi again. Zhuangzi was surprised and said, "You're not leaving yet?" The eldest son replied, "Not yet. Initially, it was for my brother's sake, but now that my brother can be pardoned on his own, I bid farewell to you and leave." Zhuangzi realized he wanted to go back to get the money, so he said, "Go in and get the money yourself." The eldest son immediately went in to get the money and left, feeling very happy.
Zhuangzi felt very embarrassed, having been tricked by this young man, so he went to see the king of Chu again and said, "Regarding the matter of that star I mentioned earlier, Your Majesty said he wanted to resolve it through cultivating virtue. When I came out, it was rumored that Zhu Gong's wealthy son had killed someone and was imprisoned in the Chu state. His family lavished bribes on the palace officials, so the king's pardon was not because he truly cared about the Chu state, but because of Zhu Gong's son." The king of Chu was furious, "Though I may not be perfect, how could I extend clemency solely on account of Zhu Gong's son!" He then ordered the execution of Zhu Gong's eldest son, and the next day issued a pardon. Zhu Gong's eldest son returned home, bearing his brother's corpse.
When he returned home, his mother and neighbors were mourning the death of his brother; only Zhu Gong was smirking. He said, "I knew he would kill his brother! He loved his brother, but some things were just too much for him to bear. We grew up together, poor as church mice, so he valued that money immensely. As for his brother, he was born to privilege, riding high and living the high life, chasing wild rabbits—he had no idea where the money came from, so he didn't care, didn't feel bad. A few days ago, I was about to send my younger son off; he was the only one who understood the value of a dollar. But the eldest son couldn't do it, so in the end, he killed his brother. That's the way it is. No use crying over spilled milk. I've been waiting for this day."
Fan Li moved three times, each time making a name for himself. He died in Tao, and that's how he became known as Tao Zhu Gong.
Sima Qian said: "Yu the Great, what a guy! He dredged nine major rivers and pacified the Nine Provinces. That's why we're all here today, living the good life. And the descendants of Goujian, they endured hardships, worked hard, and focused on revenge, ultimately destroying the powerful Wu state. Then they went to observe the army in the Central Plains to honor the royal family of the Zhou dynasty, being called the hegemon. Goujian wasn't stupid, you know! He inherited the glorious achievements of Yu the Great. Fan Li moved three times, each time becoming famous, leaving a mark in history. Now those are the kind of guys we should remember!"
According to Sima Qian, Yu the Great achieved legendary feats in controlling the floods, laying the groundwork for Chinese civilization, and this contribution has benefited future generations. Goujian, through diligent governance and unwavering perseverance, finally conquered Wu and restored his kingdom, showing his respect for the Zhou dynasty, showcasing the wisdom and foresight of a true ruler. Fan Li, Goujian's advisor, was instrumental in his success; he amassed a fortune three times over, each time retiring at the height of his success and leaving a legacy of integrity. So, for Sima Qian, Yu the Great, Goujian, and Fan Li were all figures deserving of lasting fame and reverence.
