Original text and translation of "Ziyu Debate"

Original text:?

The Chu people attacked Song Dynasty to save Zheng. When the Duke of Song was about to fight, Grand Sima Gu admonished him: "Heaven has abandoned Shang for a long time, and your general has resurrected it, so there is no way to pardon it."?

And the people of Chu fought in Hong. The people of Song Dynasty were already in line, but the people of Chu were not ready to help. Sima said: "I have few of them, and they haven't helped yet, so please attack them." The Duke said, "No." Since they have helped but haven't formed a line, they have to report. The duke said: "It's impossible." After Chen Chen attacked him, the Song army was defeated. The generals were injured, and the gate officials wiped them out. ?

Everyone in the country blames the public. The Duke said: "A gentleman is not seriously injured, and he is not a bird. In ancient times, the army was not to block the passes. Even though the country is perishing, I can't line up if I don't drum."?

Ziyu said: "The king I don't know how to fight. If the enemy is in a narrow position, God will praise me. Isn't it okay to be afraid? Even if the enemy is strong, he will win. So what's the point of taking it? If you want to kill the enemy with shame, how can you avoid serious injury? "The sound of the golden drum can be used to block narrow passes; if the sound is strong, it can be used to stir up ambition."?

Translation:?

The Chu army attacked the Song Dynasty. Rescue Zheng Guo. Duke Xianggang of the Song Dynasty was preparing to fight, but Grand Sima Gongsun Gu tried to dissuade him, saying, "God has abandoned the Shang Dynasty for a long time. It is unforgivable for the king to revive it." Duke Xianggang refused to listen. ?

Xiang Gong led his troops to fight with the Chu army at Hongshui. The Song army has already lined up, but the Chu army has not yet crossed the river. Sima Gongsun Gu said: "There are many of them and we are few. Before they all cross the river, please give the order to attack them." Duke Xiang said: "No." All Chu troops crossed the river and had not yet lined up. Gongsun Gu reported the above opinions. Duke Xiang. Duke Xiang said: "It's not enough yet." He waited until the Chu army was ready and then attacked them. As a result, the Song army was defeated. Song Xianggong was injured in the leg and all the bodyguards were wiped out. ?

Everyone in the country blamed Duke Xiang. Duke Xiang said: "A gentleman no longer hurts the injured, nor takes prisoners of the gray-haired. In ancient times, when leading troops in battle, they did not rely on the dangerous terrain to block the enemy. Although I am a descendant of the Yin Shang Dynasty who lost the country, I will not attack those who are not platooned." A well-formed army."?

Ziyu said: "The king does not know how to fight. The army of a strong enemy cannot form a line in a dangerous place. This is because God helps us; we block the enemy in a dangerous place and attack them. , Isn’t it possible? We are still afraid of not being able to win. Moreover, the strong men we face now are all our enemies. Even if they are captured at a very old age, it doesn’t matter if they have gray hair. National humiliation teaches them that the purpose of fighting is to kill the enemy. If the injury is not serious enough, why not hurt them again? If you are reluctant to hurt the injured enemy, you should not hurt them at all; if you have mercy on the gray-haired ones among them, , you should surrender to the enemy. The army can be used when it is advantageous, and the sound of bells and drums can be used to regulate morale. It’s also possible.”?