退避三舍

　　RetreatingaboutThirtyMilesasConditionForPeace

　　DuringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod(770-476B.C.),DukeXianoftheStateofJinKilledthecrownprinceShengbecausehehadheardslandersaboutShengandbelievedthem.HealsosenthismentoarrestChongEr,ShenShengandbelievedthem.HealsosenthismentoarrestChonhEr,ShenSheng'sbrother.Hearingthenews,ChongErescapedfromthestateofJin,remainingafugitiveformorethantenyears.

　　Afterinnumerablehardships,ChongErarrivedattheStateofChuatlast.KingChengoftheStateofChutreatedhimwithhighrespectashewouldhavetreatedtherulerofastate,believingthathewouldhaveavrightfuure.

　　Oneday,KingChengoftheStateofChugaveabanquetinhonoudrofChongEr.Suddenly,amidtheharmoniousatmosphereofdrinkingandtalking,KingChengoftheStateofChuaskedChongEr."HowwillyourepaymewhenyoureturntotheStateofJinandbecomeitsruleroneday?"Afterthinkingforamoment,ChongErsaid,"Youhaveplentyofbeautiesandattendantsaswellasjewelryandsilkcloth,andthestateofChuaboundsinrarebridesandanimals.WhattreasurecantheStateofJinboasthavingtopresenttoyourmajesty?"KingChengoftheStateofChusaid,"Youaretoomodest.Nevertheless,youstillhavetoshowyourgratitudetomeinonewayoranother,Ipresume?"Smiling,ChongEranswered,"IfIshouldbefortunateenougetoreturntotheStateofJinandbecomeitsruler,theStateofJinwouldbefriendlytotheStateofChu.If,oneday,thereshouldbeawarbetweenthetwostates,IwoulddefinitelyordermytroopstoretreatthreeSHE(oneSHEisequivalenttothirtyLI.TheLIisaChineseunitoflengthequivalentto1/2kilometre.And,therefore,threeSHEisaboutthirtymiles.)asaconditionforpeace.If,underthatcondition,youwerestillnotreconciled,Iwouldhavetofightwithyou."