Classical Prose

曹刿论战

Cáo Guì lùn zhàn

《左传》

Zuǒ Zhuàn

Shí nián chūn, Qí shī fá wǒ. Gōng jiāng zhàn. Cáo Guì qǐng jiàn.

十年春,齐师伐我。公将战。曹刿请见。

Qí xiāng rén yuē: “Ròu shí zhě móu zhī, yòu hé jiān yān?” Guì yuē: “Ròu shí zhě bǐ, wèi néng yuǎn móu.” Nǎi rù jiàn.

其乡人曰:“肉食者谋之,又何间焉?”刿曰:“肉食者鄙,未能远谋。”乃入见。

Wèn: “Hé yǐ zhàn?” Gōng yuē: “Yī shí suǒ ān, fú gǎn zhuān yě, bì yǐ fēn rén.” Duì yuē: “Xiǎo huì wèi biàn, mín fú cóng yě.”

问:“何以战?”公曰:“衣食所安,弗敢专也,必以分人。”对曰:“小惠未遍,民弗从也。”

Gōng yuē: “Xī shēng yù bó, fú gǎn jiā yě, bì yǐ xìn.” Duì yuē: “Xiǎo xìn wèi fú, shén fú fú yě.”

公曰:“牺牲玉帛,弗敢加也,必以信。”对曰:“小信未孚,神弗福也。”

Gōng yuē: “Xiǎo dà zhī yù, suī bù néng chá, bì yǐ qíng.” Duì yuē: “Zhōng zhī shǔ yě. Kě yǐ yī zhàn. Zhàn zé qǐng cóng.”

公曰:“小大之狱,虽不能察,必以情。”对曰:“忠之属也。可以一战。战则请从。”

Gōng yǔ zhī chéng. Zhàn yú Chángsháo. Gōng jiāng gǔ zhī. Guì yuē: “Wèi kě.” Qí rén sān gǔ. Guì yuē: “Kě yǐ.” Qí shī bài jì.

公与之乘。战于长勺。公将鼓之。刿曰:“未可。”齐人三鼓。刿曰:“可以。”齐师败绩。

Gōng jiāng chí zhī. Guì yuē: “Wèi kě.” Xià shì qí zhé, dēng shì ér wàng zhī, yuē: “Kě yǐ.” Suì zhú Qí shī.

公将驰之。刿曰:“未可。”下视其辙,登轼而望之,曰:“可以。”遂逐齐师。

Jì kè, gōng wèn qí gù. Duì yuē: “Fú zhàn, yǒng qì yě. Yī gǔ zuò qì, zài ér shuāi, sān ér jié. Bǐ jié wǒ yíng, gù kè zhī.

既克,公问其故。对曰:“夫战,勇气也。一鼓作气,再而衰,三而竭。彼竭我盈,故克之。

Fú dà guó, nán cè yě, jù yǒu fú yān. Wú shì qí zhé luàn, wàng qí qí mí, gù zhú zhī.”

夫大国,难测也,惧有伏焉。吾视其辙乱,望其旗靡,故逐之。”


Translation

In the spring of the tenth year, the army of Qi attacked Lu. Duke Zhuang was about to fight, and Cao Gui requested an audience. A man from his village said, “Those who eat meat will plan this. Why should you interfere?” Cao Gui replied, “Those who eat meat are shallow and cannot plan far ahead.” He then entered and saw the duke. Cao Gui asked, “On what basis will you fight?” The duke said, “As for clothing and food, I do not dare keep them for myself; I always share them with others.” Cao Gui replied, “Small favors do not reach all the people; they will not follow you.” The duke said, “As for sacrificial animals, jade, and silk, I do not dare exaggerate their amount; I report them faithfully.” Cao Gui replied, “Small sincerity is not enough to inspire trust; the spirits will not bless you.” The duke said, “In lawsuits great and small, though I cannot examine every detail, I decide according to the facts.” Cao Gui replied, “That belongs to loyalty and responsibility. On this basis, you may fight. If you fight, allow me to accompany you.” The duke rode with him, and they fought at Changshao. The duke was about to beat the drum to advance. Cao Gui said, “Not yet.” The men of Qi beat their drums three times. Cao Gui said, “Now.” The army of Qi was defeated. The duke was about to pursue. Cao Gui said, “Not yet.” He got down to inspect their wheel tracks, climbed onto the crossbar and looked into the distance, then said, “Now.” They pursued the army of Qi. After the victory, the duke asked the reason. Cao Gui replied, “War depends on courage. The first drum arouses courage; the second weakens it; the third exhausts it. Their courage was exhausted while ours was full, so we defeated them. A great state is hard to predict; I feared an ambush. I saw that their tracks were confused and their banners had fallen, so I pursued them.”

Analysis

“The Debate on the Battle with Cao Gui” is a compact narrative from the Zuo Tradition. It presents not only a military victory but also the political and psychological conditions behind that victory. Cao Gui’s first question is not about weapons or numbers but “On what basis will you fight?” He rejects small favors and ritual sincerity as insufficient, accepting only the duke’s commitment to judging legal cases according to the facts. This reveals a key political idea: just governance and public trust are the foundation of military action. On the battlefield, Cao Gui’s insight turns from politics to timing. He waits until the Qi army has beaten its drums three times and exhausted its courage before ordering the attack. After victory, he delays pursuit until he has checked the tracks and banners, confirming that the enemy is truly in disorder and not laying an ambush. The famous phrase “the first drum arouses courage, the second weakens it, the third exhausts it” captures a precise understanding of morale. The narrative’s power lies in showing strategy as patience, evidence, and judgment rather than mere bravery.

About the Author

The Zuo Tradition, traditionally attributed to Zuo Qiuming, is one of the most important historical prose works of early China. It comments on the Spring and Autumn Annals through vivid narratives, political judgments, and memorable speeches. “Cao Gui Debates the Battle” is one of its most famous short pieces, admired for its concise storytelling and clear insight into politics and military strategy.