Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

If Song State annexed Cao State, its national strength would increase greatly, and it would not benefit the neighboring Central Plains countries such as Wei State, Zheng State, Lu State, and Chen State.

Because Song State already occupied a rich land with a large population and prosperous commerce, I am afraid that after Song State annexed Cao State and occupied Taoqiu, it would jump up and become a powerful country second only to Wu, Qin, and Qi!
However, Qingji didn't have much worry about this.

Regarding Kuai Kui's request for Wu to send troops to save Cao, Qingji just smiled lightly and said, "Prince, I can't just sit back and watch Song destroy Cao. But why did Wu send troops?"

"Earlier, my widow promised you Weiguo to merge with Cao. Since Marquis Wei has the heart to merge with Cao, why didn't he send more troops to fight with Cao?"

Hearing this, Kuai Kui couldn't help but smiled wryly, and said, "King Wu, in the previous battle of iron, more than half of the elite of our defending country were lost, although we still have the strength to fight again. However, if we want to repel the Song army, I'm afraid it won't work."

"The king of Wu is today's son Zhibo, who is the leader of the princes. Why does he ignore the matter of Song and Cao?"

Qingji shook his head and said, "Prince, to tell you the truth, although I am a Fang Bo, I will be newly established. I am afraid that the princes will not accept it."

"Furthermore, the Wu and Cao countries do not border each other. Last year, our country of Wu was unable to do what it could do with the help of our teachers. If we go north to the Central Plains again to rescue Tao Qiu, it may affect this year's spring plowing."

Qingji, this is completely a prevarication.

The state of Wu is extremely powerful, even if it wants to annex a state of Song, it is not impossible.

Kuai Kui also knew this.

However, Qingji is unwilling to send troops, so what can he do?

"Prince, Uncle Zheng must not tolerate the Song people annexing the Cao country. If Master Zheng arrives, I believe the Song people will definitely retreat."

How could Kuai Kui not know?

However, Kuai Kui planned to send troops from the state of Wu to help the state of Wei defeat the Song army, and then annex the state of Cao.

But how could Qingji agree to such a thing?

He just acquiesced to Song State or Wei State annexing Cao State, but he didn't intend to intervene in this war at all.

Because this is of no benefit to Wu Guo.

How could Qingji do such thankless things?

In today's world, as the old overlord Jin State falls apart and is divided into six parts, and Wu State takes its place, it is bound to enter a new pattern and undergo a major reshuffle.

Qingji is indeed the overlord now, but his attention is no longer on the Central Plains.

At this time, seeing Kuai Kui who Qingji insisted on watching from the sidelines, he could only sigh helplessly, and then left.

……

After Kuaikui left, Qingji summoned Cao Guo's envoy, Sicheng Gongsun Qiang, in Zide Hall.

Sicheng, equivalent to Sikong, is the head of the Six Ministers in Cao State and belongs to the ruling minister.

However, Gongsun Qiang's background is really not outstanding, he can be regarded as a declining nobleman, referred to as "poor settled family".

Gongsun Qiang likes to shoot birds. He shot a white goose and dedicated it to Cao Boyang, the monarch of Cao State who has the same hobby and like-mindedness. He also talked about the skills of hunting and shooting birds. Cao Boyang loved him very much.

As a result, Cao Boyang asked Gongsun Qiang about state affairs, and Gongsun Qiang responded appropriately, which made Cao Boyang love him even more, favored him, and let him serve as Sicheng in charge of state affairs.

Gongsun Qiang also proposed to Cao Boyang a strategy of hegemony, and Cao Boyang adopted his suggestion.

Therefore, Gongsun Qiang built five cities on the outskirts of the capital, called Shuqiu, Yiqiu, Dacheng, Zhong, and Bin.

In history, the fall of Cao State can be said to be inseparable from Gongsun Qiang and Cao Boyang.

This pair of monarchs and ministers, one is the monarch and the other is the minister in power, but they are both so playful and lose their ambitions, treating state affairs as a child's play, no wonder they will end up in ruins!
Just a mere country of Cao, still wanting to seek hegemony?
At best, the country of Cao can only be attached to the overlord, and linger on.

However, Gongsun Qiang, who proposed the hegemony strategy to Cao Boyang, planned to become independent.

In the original history, Cao Boyang even announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Jin and sent troops to attack Song...

Isn't this looking for death?
"Gongsun Qiang, Sicheng of the State of Cao, see King Wu! King Wu has been around forever!"

Under the majesty's platform, Gongsun Qiang, who was wearing a black court uniform, saluted Qingji respectfully.

"Sicheng doesn't need to be too polite, please sit down."

"Thank you King Wu!"

Only then did Gongsun Qiang sit down with half of his body.

Qing Ji said slowly: "Gongsun Sicheng, I already know about Song Guo's attack on Cao. Just now, the crown prince of the Wei Kingdom, Kuai Kui, has met with me and asked me to send troops to rescue Cao, but I think it is inappropriate, so I declined."

Hearing this, Gongsun Qiang suddenly looked terrified, and kowtowed to Qingji, "King Wu!"

"Song people, descendants of Yin and Shang, wolf ambitions, and the desire to destroy Cao Guo is not dead, how can you stay out of it, King Wu?"

"The Kingdom of Wu and the Kingdom of Cao come from the same surname of Ji and share the same origin. How can the king of Wu bear his relatives to be bullied by the people of Song Dynasty and turn a blind eye?"

Qing Ji just laughed off Gongsun Qiang's statement.

The two countries of Wu and Cao are indeed from the same ancestor.

In the past, Cao Shuzhenduo, the sixth son of King Wen of Zhou, was conferred the title of Cao, and his capital was Taoqiu. It was an earl country.

The territory of Cao State "leads the river economy and controls the Lu and Song Dynasties". It is located at the key point, and the princes are connected in all directions.

Taoqiu is the "in the world" of this era, and the business is very developed.

At the beginning, Cao State was actually a big country. It guarded the eastern land of the dynasty with Lu State and played an important role. It was listed as the "Twelve Princes" with Jin, Lu, Wei, and Cai.

However, with the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, Cao Guo gradually became a second-rate vassal state in the Central Plains.

When Jin and Chu fought for hegemony, Cao Guo became one of the victims.

When Jin Gongzi Chonger was in trouble, he passed by Cao Guo, and was treated rudely by Cao Gonggong.

After Jin Wengong came to the throne, he attacked Cao Guo, and Cao Gonggong was captured.

Fortunately, during the battle between Jin and Chu Chengpu, Chu State failed, and Cao State became attached to Jin State...

The hostility between Cao State and Song State has a long history.

Twenty years ago, after Duke Cao Mourning was imprisoned by the Marquis of Song until his death, civil strife broke out in Cao State, and Cao Shenggong and Cao Yingong, who succeeded the monarch, were also killed successively.

Just ask, how can the people of Cao Guo let go of such a deep hatred?

At this time, Qingji did not reply positively to Gongsun Qiang's statement, but said with a faint smile: "Gongsun Sicheng, I have heard that something happened in Cao country."

"Cao people have a dream that all the gentlemen stand in the palace, plotting to destroy Cao."

"Cao's first ancestor, Shu Zhenduo, came out to dissuade them, saying: 'Please wait for Gongsun Qiang.' Everyone agreed. After dawn, I asked Gongsun Qiang for him, but I couldn't find it anywhere."

"The dreamer secretly warned his son, saying: 'I am dead, I heard that Gongsun Qiang is in power, and he must leave Cao, so as not to suffer from Cao's disaster.' This is a sign that the country of Cao is about to perish..."

Hearing this, Gongsun Qiang couldn't help sweating on his forehead, kowtowed his head quickly, and said to Qingji: "King Wu, this is just the words of the market, please don't listen to it!"