China knows everything for 5000 years

Chapter 8

In order to please Bao Si, King You ordered Shen Guo to kill the former prince Yijiu. Shen Hou was very angry at the deposed daughter Shen, and he was unwilling to kill his grandson.Therefore, Marquis Shen joined forces with the state of Zang, colluded with the army of the Quanrong tribe to question King You, and jointly attacked the capital of the Zhou Dynasty, Haojing.As the soldiers approached the city, King You once again ordered his subordinates to light the beacon to ask for help from the subordinate countries.Because of the lessons learned from last time, the monarchs of the vassal states were not in a hurry to send troops, and marched slowly towards Haojing.Haojing had fallen before reinforcements arrived.Ji You, who was in charge of government affairs, died in battle, and Guo Shi's father, who came up with the idea of ​​steamed buns, was killed in the chaos of war. King You and Bo Fu were killed by Quan Rong, and Bao Si was taken away.The Western Zhou Dynasty perished.

## The Sixth Series The Majestic Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period
●Zhou Pingwang moved to Luoyi
After King You was killed, the former Prince Yijiu succeeded him as King Ping of Zhou.Because Marquis Shen invited Quanrong to enter Beijing to attack and kill King You, and to welcome the former prince Yijiu to the throne, Quan Rong thought that killing King You and beheading Bofu made an indelible contribution.They rested in Haojing for many days, refused to leave, and encouraged the soldiers to loot wantonly, so that when the soldiers of the princes arrived, they drove them back, but burned the palace and ransacked the treasury of the Zhou family.Later, they often invaded Zhoujiang, occupied the land of Qifeng, and gradually pushed into Haojing.

King Ping ascended the city and looked around. Seeing that the palace was dilapidated, the city was full of wolves, and the treasury was empty, he was unable to build the palace. He was also afraid that the dog soldiers would return sooner or later, so he had the intention of abandoning the city and moving eastward.By the next day, all the ministers had already stood in the court, and King Ping expressed his plan.The ministers have different opinions. Most of the people who want to move want to avoid the threat of Quan Rong, and the new capital was built early, so there is no need to repair it.Those who hold different opinions say that Haojing is a barrier that prevents the dog army from developing its power in the Central Plains. Abandoning it is tantamount to giving in. Moreover, the new capital Luoyi is only more than 600 miles away, which is not as good as the vassal state, with a small population and insufficient military resources. It will be difficult to control the princes in the future.Seeing that the ministers were still in dispute, King Ping had to tell all the ministers and the people in the capital to move eastward at a fixed time.However, when King Ping moved to the east, he did not relocate the people of Feng and Hao. Therefore, when Luoyi was founded, he could only rely on the power of the princes, and the royal family fell into the control of the princes.

In 770 BC, King Ping of Zhou moved his capital to Luoyi.Because Haojing is to the west and Luoyi is to the east, the period when the Zhou Dynasty was the capital in Haojing was called the Western Zhou Dynasty in history; after the capital was moved to Luoyi, it was called the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.However, the Zhou Dynasty after moving to the east soon, as all the officials expected, the sphere of influence was far smaller than that of Haojing, and even under most of the vassal states.Since then, the princes did not obey the king's orders, and even threatened each other with military force from time to time.Zhou Tianzi is the common monarch of all countries in name, but in fact his status is only comparable to that of a prince of a middle-level country.

●Zheng Zhuanggong bullies the world
Zheng Zhuanggong made remarkable achievements in his life. After the rebellion of Gong Shuduan was put down, the national strength of Zheng State continued to increase.In the third year of King Huan of Zhou (717 BC), Duke Zheng Zhuang led his army to invade Chen State and captured a large amount of property.In the sixth year of King Huan of Zhou (714 BC), Duke Zheng Zhuang denounced Duke Shang of Song for not going to King Huan of Zhou, and defeated the army of Song State.In the same year, Bei Rong sent troops to attack Zheng Guo.Zheng Zhuanggong led his troops to resist, wiped out all the Rong troops, and won a complete victory.

In the autumn of the eighth year of King Huan of Zhou (712 BC), King Zhou Zhi led the Zhou army and the allied forces of Cai, Wei, Chen and other princes to attack Zheng. Zheng Zhuanggong led the Zheng army to resist. The two sides fought fiercely in Xuge (now Changge, Henan). The division was defeated.After this battle, Zheng Zhuanggong became famous because of this, and old enemies such as Song and Wei came to make peace.

In the 19th year of Zhou Huangong (701 BC), Zheng Zhuanggong formed an alliance with the princes of Qi, Wei, Song and other great powers, and he seemed to be the overlord of the princes.Later generations of historians called it "Zhengzhuang Xiaoba".Zheng Zhuanggong stood out in the Spring and Autumn Disputes, and opened the first voice of the Spring and Autumn Five Hegemons.

●Guan Bao meets true love
Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya are good friends. They started business together when they were young.Bao Shuya was rich and paid more capital; Guan Zhong was poor and paid less capital.After earning money, Guan Zhong gave himself a lot of points.The people under Bao Shuya were not convinced, saying that Guan Zhong was greedy for money.Bao Shuya didn't think so. He said: "Guan Zhong's family is waiting for money, and I am willing to give him more. Friends should help each other. How can you say that he is greedy for money?" Later, Bao Shuya assisted his son Xiaobai, and Guan Zhong assisted him. Young Master Jiu, Xiaobai and Jiu are the two brothers of Duke Xiang of Qi.

Guan Zhong led the army to fight, lost three battles and fled three times. Some people said that Guan Zhong was greedy for life and afraid of death, but Bao Shuya argued for Guan Zhong: "Who said Guan Zhong was greedy for life and afraid of death? He did it because his mother was old and sick. I will live to take care of her!" The best expression of the depth of friendship between the two is the battle for position between Jiu and Xiaobai.

In 686 BC, Qi Xianggong unfortunately died in civil strife.When Jiu and Xiaobai heard the news, they rushed back to Qi to claim the throne.Guan Zhong said to Jiu: "Xiaobai is in Ju State, which is very close to Qi State. If he is allowed to advance into Qi State, things will be troublesome. Please allow me to take a team to stop him first."

Sure enough, as Guan Zhong expected, Xiaobai was rushing to the state of Qi.On the way, he was obstructed by Guan Zhong.Guan Zhong shot an arrow at Xiaobai. Xiaobai yelled and fell into the car.Guan Zhong thought that Xiaobai was dead, so he escorted Jiu back to Qi without haste.How did he know that what he shot was just Xiaobai's belt hook.By the time Jiu entered the border of Qi State, Xiaobai had already become the king of Qi State, that is, Duke Huan of Qi in history.

After Duke Huan of Qi ascended the throne, he ordered Jiu to be killed.Guan Zhong was recommended by Bao Shuya, and Duke Huan of Qi was magnanimous and entrusted him with the important task of taking charge of state affairs regardless of past suspicions.Guan Zhong was moved and said: "When I was imprisoned and humiliated for my son, Bao Shuya didn't think I was shameless. My parents gave birth to me, and Bao Shuya really knew me!
Later, people used "the friendship between Guan and Bao" to describe the depth of friendship!

Duke Huan of Qi dominates the Central Plains
After Qi Huangong appointed Guan Zhong as Qi Xiang, Qi Guo carried out a series of reforms.In politics, the system of participating in the country and the five under the rule of dividing the country and the wild were promoted; in the economy, tax reform was implemented, and some policies conducive to the development of agriculture and handicrafts were adopted; in management, both etiquette and law were called for.On the basis of the improvement and stability of the domestic political and economic situation, Guan Zhong actively urged Duke Huan of Qi to adopt the means of respecting the king and fighting barbarians and winning over neighboring countries in order to establish hegemony.These policies of Guan Zhong prepared the material conditions for Qi to dominate.

The fifth year of Duke Huan of Qi (681 BC) was the beginning of Duke Huan of Qi's hegemony.Prior to this, Qi State had fought Lu State several times, but did not win many victories. This made Qi Huangong and Guan Zhong realize that they could not dominate the world by their own strength, and they thought of using Zhou Tianzi.

Duke Huan of Qi first married the Zhou family. He married Gongji, the daughter of King Zhouzhuang, to show his close relationship with the emperor of Zhou to the princes of the whole country.After winning over the Emperor Zhou, Duke Huan of Qi used the slogan of respecting the Emperor Zhou to win the support of the princes of all countries.Just at this time, the Song Wan Rebellion broke out in the Song State. Duke Huan of Qi called a meeting of the princes in Beixing (now Dong'a, Shandong) in the Qi State. He borrowed the name of Zhou Tianzi and said that he wanted to help the princes to stabilize the Song State. political situation.However, some countries headed by the State of Lu did not take the alliance proposed by the State of Qi seriously. Duke Huan of Qi used this to subdue the State of Lu.Later, Duke Huan of Qi acted both hard and soft, and drew Wei Guo and Zheng Guo into an alliance.

In the seventh year of Duke Huan of Qi (679 B.C.), with the help of Qi State, Song State and Zheng State, which were originally in a chaotic domestic political situation, achieved initial stability.Duke Huan of Qi's supremacy was finally recognized by the vassal states, and Qi State began to dominate the Central Plains.

●Father Qing committed suicide in rebellion
Qingfu, Shuya, and Jiyou are the three younger brothers of Duke Zhuang of Lu. Because they all came from Duke Huan, they are called "Three Huan" by later generations.In the later years of Duke Zhuang of Lu, Sanhuan started a brutal struggle for the throne.When Duke Zhuang of Lu was ill, he asked Shu Ya who could inherit his career. Shu Ya said that Father Qing was talented and could succeed him.In order to make Ziban ascend the throne, Jiyou killed Shuya.

In 662 BC, after Duke Zhuang of Lu died of illness, Zi Ban came to the throne with the support of Ji You.In the winter of this year, Father Qing sent Yu people to stab Zi Ban to death at the Dang family's house, and established the son of Zhuang as the king, that is, Duke Lu Min.

In the autumn of 660 B.C., Qingfu instigated Bu Ji, a doctor of Lu, to kill Duke Min in order to stand on his own.Ji You, who was in exile, was able to return to Lu, and appointed his son Shen as the king, who was Duke Xi.Jiyou begged the state of Ju to repatriate Qingfu with money and goods, and forced Qingfu to commit suicide.Since then, the internal turmoil in Lu has come to an end.

●Guan Zhong's bedside comments
Due to overwork, Guan Zhong fell ill, and Duke Huan of Qi often visited him.One day, Duke Huan of Qi went to visit Guan Zhong. Seeing that Guan Zhong was in a critical condition, he was very anxious. He held Guan Zhong's hand and said, "Why is your illness still not getting better? If you get sick again, I can still help you." Who do you rely on?" At that time, Bin Xuwu and Ning Qi, the virtuous ministers of the Qi State, had passed away one after another.Guan Zhong sighed and said, "It's a pity that Ning Qi died early!" Duke Huan of Qi asked, "Is there no one else besides Ning Qi? What do you think of Bao Shuya?" Qi Huangong thought to himself: Bao Shuya is A senior official with outstanding meritorious service, a good personal relationship with Guan Zhong, and a kindness to him, he will definitely agree.Unexpectedly, Guan Zhong said: "Bao Shuya is a man of high morals, but you can't let him be a prime minister and manage state affairs. Because he always keeps other people's faults in mind. 'When a man observes, he has no friends, and when the water is clear, there are no fish' How can a person who is a phase looker be less tolerant!" Qi Huan heard this and found it very reasonable, so he asked: "How about Xi Peng?" Guan Zhong said: "Xi Peng is very humble. It’s alright to act in public and forget about personal interests.” After finishing speaking, he sighed and said to himself, “It’s just that Xi Peng is too old, so I’m afraid he won’t live long.” Duke Huan of Qi asked again: "So what about Yi Ya?" Guan Zhong said to Duke Huan very seriously, "Even if you don't ask, I will tell you. Yi Ya, Shu Diao, and Kai Fang are three people, you must not trust them."

Duke Huan of Qi was very surprised, so he asked: "Yi Ya killed his own son in order to let me taste the taste of human flesh. This shows that he loves me more than his son. What doubts can there be about such a person?" Guan Zhong said "Everyone loves their children very much. If Yi Ya can kill his beloved youngest son, what will happen to you?" Duke Huan of Qi asked again: "Then what is so stubborn and untrustworthy?" What? He castrated himself in order to serve me. Isn’t his loyalty to me more than caring for his own body?” Guan Zhong said: “A person who doesn’t even care for his body can treat you Are you loyal?" After a pause, Duke Huan of Qi asked again: "What about Kaifang? His parents died and he didn't go back to the country to attend the funeral. He loves me more than filial piety to his parents!" Guan Zhongyu said earnestly: "Kaifang Giving up his position as a king to serve you shows that his ambitions are beyond Yi Ya and Shu Diao. Don't reuse him, otherwise it will bring disaster to the country."

Hearing what Guan Zhong said made sense, Duke Huan of Qi asked, "Why didn't I hear you say it before? These three people have been with me for a long time." Guan Zhong said, "If the levee on the river bank is blocked, the flood will not get out of control. I Managing political affairs is like a levee, you can always control them and prevent them from doing evil things. Now that the levee is about to collapse and the water is about to flood, you must be careful!" Duke Huan of Qi nodded in promise.

In 645 BC, Guan Zhong died.Guan Zhong's suggestion was adopted by Duke Huan of Qi, and Xi Peng was appointed as prime minister.

Duke Huan of Qi starved to death in the palace
Just one year after Guan Zhong's death, Duke Huan of Qi put aside Guan Zhong's last words and reused Yi Ya, Shu Diao, and Kai Fang.Duke Huan of Qi had more than a dozen sons. He once discussed with Guan Zhong to make Zheng Ji's son Jiang Zhao the crown prince.Wei Gongji wanted to make her son Wukui the crown prince, and through Yi Ya and Shu Diao's secret activities, Duke Huan of Qi finally agreed to make Wukui the crown prince.

In 643 BC, Duke Huan of Qi was seriously ill. Wu Kui and other five princes competed for the throne, while Yi Ya and Shu Diao took the opportunity to cause chaos.They blocked the palace gates and raised the walls so that no one could enter the palace. Duke Huan had no one to take care of him in the palace.A court lady climbed over the wall and came to Duke Huan's room. Duke Huan said that he was hungry and thirsty.The maid said that Yi Ya and Shu Diao had blocked the palace gate and could not get anything to eat or drink.Only then did Duke Huan lament that he had hired the wrong person, and he had no face to see Guan Zhong after his death.Therefore, he blindfolded himself with his sleeve, and soon died of starvation in the palace.

After Huan Gong's death, the five princes competed with each other for the throne, and no one paid any attention to Huan Gong's funeral.Zhigong's body began to decompose and produce maggots, and the maggots crawled out of the door.It was not until the 67th day after his death that Yi Ya and Shu Diao supported Wu Kui as the king, and Prince Zhao fled to Song State, where Wu Kui put Duke Huan's body in a coffin for a proper burial.In the second year, Song Xianggong helped his son Zhao return to the country and ascended the throne as Duke Xiao.In August of the same year, Duke Huan of Qi was officially buried under the auspices of Duke Xiao of Qi.

●Bailixi, the doctor of Wuguan
After the Jin State destroyed the Yu State, it captured a large number of prisoners, including Bailixi, and some people recommended him to Duke Xian of Jin.Duke Xian of Jin sent a minister to persuade Bailixi to become an official, but he was rejected.

At this time, Duke Mu of Qin proposed to Boji, the daughter of Duke Xian of Jin, in order to seek favor from Jin.Duke Xian of Jin agreed to the marriage. He felt that Baili Xi, who had been captured from the state of Yu, was unwilling to surrender, so he gave him to the state of Qin as a dowry.

On the way to get married, Bai Lixi ran away quietly while people were not paying attention.He was not young at that time, so he ran across the mountains to Wancheng.Wancheng belonged to the state of Chu, and Bailixi was caught by the people of Chu, who thought he was a spy, so they took him to the capital of the state of Chu and locked him up.

Qin Mugong was of course very happy to marry Boji. When checking the dowry, he found that there was one person missing, and this was Bailixi.Qin Mugong didn't care, but someone in Qin State knew about Bailixi's situation, and said: "This dowry is a great talent, he pays attention to benevolence, justice and morality, and has good strategies for governing the country."

Qin Mugong wanted to dominate the princes and sought talents from all over the world. Hearing that Baili Xi was a talent, he sent someone to inquire about his whereabouts.Later, when he learned that Bailixi was a slave in the state of Chu, Duke Mu of Qin asked someone to redeem him with a lot of money.A minister said: "If you use a lot of money to redeem him, you may lose him instead. The state of Chu regarded him as a slave, but it didn't realize his value. If you exchange a lot of money for a slave, tell them that Bailixi is a great man." Man, will the King of Chu let him go?" Qin Mugong felt that what he said was reasonable, so he thought of another way.

Qin Mugong sent a minister to the state of Chu and said to the people of the state of Chu: "My king sent me because there is a man named Bailixi here with you. He was originally a dowry given to us by the state of Jin. We I am willing to exchange five sheepskins for him." The Chu people agreed.

Along the way, the Qin people still treated Baili Xi like a slave and put him in a prison cart.As soon as he arrived in Qin State, he released Bailixi immediately, put him in a cart, dressed him in doctor's clothes, and Qin Mugong sent someone to meet him.

When Bailixi came to the Qin official, he was treated as a distinguished guest. Qin Mugong personally received him, worshiped him as a doctor, and asked him the principles of governing the country.Bailixi said: "I am a minister of a subjugated country. How can there be any good way to govern the country." Qin Mugong said: "The demise of the Yu country is not your responsibility. They cannot reuse you."

Qin Mugong finally moved Baili Xi with his sincerity, and Baili Xi agreed to help him.The two of them talked together for three days and three nights. Duke Mu of Qin was so happy that he entrusted Baili Xi with important affairs of the country and named him "Wutou Dafu" (that is, a doctor bought with five sheepskins). Commemorate getting him.Bailixi played a key role in the later struggle of Qin for hegemony.

●Chong Er escaped and finally returned to China

Jin Xiangong's favorite concubine Li Ji is a vicious woman. After she designed to kill Prince Shensheng, she spoke ill of his other two sons Chong'er and Yiwu in front of Xiangong.Fearing that they would suffer the same fate as Shen Sheng, Chonger and Yiwu fled to their respective fiefs.The old and fatuous Lord Xian believed Li Ji's words and thought that the two of them were planning to rebel, so he sent someone to chase her down.

Chong'er fled to the state of Zhai.Soon after, Duke Xian became seriously ill, and before he died, he made Xi Qi, Li Ji's son, king.The ministers refused to accept, and as soon as Xian Gong died, Xi Qi was killed by the doctor Rick.Under Li Ji's secret instigation, Doctor Gou Xi made another son of Li Ji, Mourning Son, king.As a result, Gou Xi and Miao Zi were killed by Rick again, and the state of Jin fell into chaos.There was no master in the country, and the ministers invited Yiwu, who had fled abroad, back to the state of Jin and made him king. This is Duke Hui of Jin.

After Jin Huigong came to power, he was afraid that Chong'er would compete with him for the throne, so he sent assassins to Zhai to assassinate him.Chong'er took refuge in the state of Zhai, accompanied by five sages, Zhao Shuai, Jiu Zuo, Jia Tuo, Xian Zhen, and Wei Wuzi.He has lived in Zhai for 12 years and has married a wife.When he found out that Duke Hui was going to harm him, Chonger, who was already in his 40s, had to say goodbye to his wife and left Zhai with his servants.

Chong'er and his party came to the state of Wei, but the monarch of the state of Wei did not receive him.When a group of people came to a place called Wulu (now Puyang, Henan), they were so hungry that they begged a few farmers who were eating by the fields.The farmers said angrily: "We can't even eat wild vegetables." They gave them a piece of soil.Chong'er was furious and wanted to beat him with his whip.Zhao Shuan dissuaded him and said, "Don't fight, don't you think this is a good omen? Dirt represents land, which indicates that God will give you land." Chong'er smiled wryly, and continued on his way with patience.

Chong'er and his party came to Qi State.Duke Huan of Qi received him warmly, gave him 20 horses, and betrothed a girl from the same clan to him.After the death of Duke Huan, there was turmoil in Qi.Several of Chong'er's followers persuaded him to leave Qi, but Chong'er had no intention of leaving at all.

One day, Zhao Shuai, Hu Yan and others were discussing under a mulberry tree how to change their master's mind. Jiang's maid who was picking mulberry leaves heard it and told Jiang after returning.Jiang Shi understood the righteousness and persuaded Chong'er to take the world as his own responsibility and not just seek personal comfort.Chong Er said he didn't want to go anywhere.Jiang had no choice but to discuss with Zhao Shuai, drunk Chong'er with wine, then carried him to the car and left the city overnight.The next morning, after Chong Er woke up from the wine, he realized what was going on.

(End of this chapter)