曹刿论战》

十年春，齐师伐我。公将战，曹刿请见。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。

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。"公曰："牺牲玉帛，弗敢加也，必以信。"对曰："小信未孚，神弗福也。"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。"

公与之乘，战于长勺。公将鼓之，刿曰："未可。"齐人三鼓，刿曰："可矣。"齐师败绩。公将驰之，刿曰："未可。"下视其辙，登轼而望之，曰："可矣。"遂逐齐师。

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。夫大国，难测也，惧有伏焉。吾视其辙乱，望其旗靡，故逐之。"

英文翻译

"The Battle of Changshao" (from Zuo Zhuan)

In the spring of the tenth year, the army of Qi invaded our state. The Duke was about to fight when Cao Gui requested an audience. His fellow villagers said, "The nobles are planning this—why involve yourself?" Cao Gui replied, "The nobles are shortsighted; they cannot see far." So he went to see the Duke.

He asked, "On what will you rely for battle?" The Duke said, "I dare not keep food and clothing for my own comfort but share them with others." Cao Gui responded, "Such petty favors do not reach all. The people will not follow you." The Duke said, "I never exaggerate the offerings of jade¹ and silk to the gods; I am faithful in my prayers." Cao Gui replied, "Such small sincerity² does not inspire divine trust. The gods will not bless you." The Duke said, "In all legal cases, though I cannot investigate thoroughly³, I ensure justice is served." Cao Gui said, "This shows devotion to duty. You may fight now. When the battle begins, I ask to join you."

The Duke took him in his chariot to the battlefield at Changshao. As the Duke was about to sound the drum, Cao Gui said, "Not yet." After the Qi army had drummed three times, Cao Gui said, "Now." The Qi troops were routed. The Duke prepared to pursue them, but Cao Gui said, "Not yet." He dismounted to inspect the enemy’s wheel tracks, then climbed the chariot rail to observe, saying, "Now." They pursued and defeated the Qi army.

After the victory, the Duke asked the reason for his tactics. Cao Gui replied, "In battle, courage is key. The first drum rouses morale⁴, the second weakens it, and the third exhausts it. When their energy was spent and ours was full, we triumphed. A great state is unpredictable—I feared an ambush⁵. But seeing their tracks disordered and banners fallen, I knew we should pursue."