楚將軍子囊曰：「我擊此國必敗，辱君虧地，忠臣不忍為也。
」不復於君，黜兵而退。
Chu’s troops were few, and those of Wu were many.
至於國郊，使人復於君曰：「臣請死。
The Chu general Zinang said, “If we attack this state, we will surely suffer defeat, which will dishonor our ruler and cause us loss of territory—a loyal officer cannot endure this.” Without reporting the matter to the king, he then canceled the attack plan and withdrew his troops.
」君曰：「子大夫之遁也，以為利也。
而今誠利，子大夫毋死。
Upon reaching the outskirts of the capital, he sent a man to say to the king, “Your servant asks leave to die.” “The reason you fled, sir,” said the king “was that you considered it advantageous to do so.
」子囊曰：「遁者無罪，則後世之為君臣者，皆入不利之名，而效臣遁。
And it has indeed been of benefit to the state—do not die.” “If those who flee are to be guiltless,” said Zinang, “then servants of the ruler in later ages will all flee as I did, claiming as a pretext that to do otherwise would have been disadvantageous; and, if this occurs, Chu will in the end become the weakest state in the realm.
若是，則楚國終為天下弱矣，臣請死。
」退而伏劍。
I beg permission to die.” He then returned and fell on his sword.