After the end of Qi's hegemony, the Chu State, which had previously been at odds with Qi, had the potential to replace it. Not only did the Zheng State, which had once turned to the Chu State during the era of Duke Huan of Qi, move closer to the Chu State again, but also there was always a conflict between the Qi State and the Chu State. The wavering Chen State, Cai State and other small countries all attached themselves to Chu State, and even Qi State formed an alliance with Chu State. Song Xianggong saw that Chu was strong, but he did not realize it. Instead, he invited Qi and Chu to form an alliance in Lushang. He also said that he planned to gather the princes in Yudi in the autumn and asked Qi and Chu to support him in seeking hegemony.
The Chu State, which had a tendency to dominate, unexpectedly agreed to Song Xianggong's request. However, the Qi State was weak at this time and could only follow the Chu State. Moreover, Qi Xiaogong was single-handedly supported by Song Xianggong and was more inclined to Song Xianggong. Therefore, the Three Kingdoms A consensus was reached to hold an alliance meeting of various countries in the autumn. Mu Yi, Sima Gongzi of Song State, saw the crisis and sighed: "Song State is a small country but it wants to compete for the position of leader. This is the source of trouble. Song State is going to perish!"
In autumn, Song Xianggong prepared to go to Yudi to participate in the alliance meeting, and planned not to bring troops as agreed before. Prince Mu Yi advised Song Xianggong: "Chu is a barbarian country. Although it is powerful, it has never been trustworthy. It would be better for you to bring soldiers and horses to protect you." Song Xianggong raised the banner of loyalty and said: "We have agreed not to bring Army, how can I break the trust of the princes?" So Song Xianggong really set off without an army. You will really suffer a loss if you don't take the counselor's advice at all.
When Song Xianggong rushed to Yudi with the joy of becoming the soon-to-be overlord, the kings of Chu, Zheng, Chen, Cai, Cao, Xu and other vassal states had already arrived, but Qi Xiaogong, who was more supportive of Song Xianggong, did not come. Duke Xiang of Song also wanted to command the princes as a hegemon like Duke Huan of Qi. Unexpectedly, after King Chu Cheng gave the order, the warriors of Chu State swarmed up and captured Duke Xiang of Song.
When Prince Muyi saw that the king had been captured, and he had no troops to rescue the king, he had no choice but to flee back to the Song Dynasty in panic to report the news. The ministers of the Song State believed that the Chu State would kidnap Song Xianggong and would definitely use it as a hostage to threaten the Song State's surrender. For this reason, the only way to resist the threat of the Chu State was to choose a new king. Because the prince Mu Yi was the eldest son of Song Huan Gong and the eldest brother of Song Xianggong, all the ministers unanimously recommended the prince Mu Yi to be the king.
Soon after, the Chu army actually took Song Xianggong hostage and came to attack the Song Dynasty. When the Song Dynasty arrived, they discovered that under the leadership of the prince Mu Yi, the Song Dynasty had reorganized its military equipment and was well prepared to resist, and could not be easily conquered. So the people of Chu threatened Song: "If you don't open the city and surrender quickly, I will kill your king." The people of Song said unceremoniously: "We have a new king, and we will never surrender!" Seeing that the Song Kingdom was heavily guarded and threatening Song Xianggong's life to no avail, the Chinese released Song Xianggong and withdrew their troops.
Song Xianggong knew that his son Muyi had become the king, and he did not dare to return to the country after regaining his freedom, so he could only go into exile in Weiguo. Prince Muyi sent someone to find him and said to him: "I am guarding the Song Dynasty for you, the king. Now that you are safe, why don't you return home?" So he welcomed Song Xianggong back to the Song Dynasty and asked him to continue to be the king. .
After Song Xianggong returned to China, he did not reflect on his actions. He just hated Chu State deeply, but did not have enough military strength to attack Chu State. It happened that the king of Zheng State went to Chu State to see the King of Chu. Song Xianggong summoned the troops of Wei, Xu and Teng States to attack Zheng State to demonstrate to Chu State. Zheng State quickly asked for help from Chu State.
At this time, Chu State was in great power and could not allow a small country like Song State to provoke wantonly, so it sent a large army to aid Zheng State. The Chu army did not even bother to go to Zheng to fight the Song army that was attacking Zheng. Instead, they marched directly to Song and launched an attack. Song Xianggong reorganized the army and planned to fight the Chu army. Grand Sima Gongsun Gu came and admonished: "God has abandoned the Shang clan for a long time. If you insist on disobeying God's will and revive the merchants, God will not forgive you." At this time, Song Xianggong He couldn't listen to the advice at all and prepared for a decisive battle with Chu State with all his might.
In November of the 22nd year of Duke Xi of Lu (638 BC), the Song army and the Chu army launched a decisive battle in Hongshui (now northwest of Zhecheng, Henan). The Song army formed a position on the bank of the Hong River, and the Chu army crossed the Hong River to attack the Song army on the other side. When the Chu army was crossing the river, Gongsun Gu said: "We are outnumbered and it is difficult to defeat the enemy. Now the Chu army is crossing the river." Crossing the river, please take the opportunity to launch an attack." Song Xianggong said: "Don't take advantage of others' danger." He refused to attack. The Chu army quickly crossed the Hongshui and began to form their formation on the bank. Gongsun Gu said to Song Xianggong: "The Chu army has not yet set up its formation. Our army can seize this opportunity and charge quickly. We can still win." Still refused.
The Chu army formed a formation and took the initiative to attack. How could the Song army resist the powerful Chu army? They were quickly defeated. Song Xianggong held a spear and urged the chariot to attack. But before he could rush forward, he was surrounded by Chu soldiers. He was hit by an arrow in the thigh and suffered several injuries on his body. Thanks to several generals from Song State who fought hard to kill him, he was rescued. By the time he escaped from the battlefield, nine out of ten of Song's military chariots had been lost, all weapons, food and grass had been lost, the soldiers were dead and injured, and the army was completely defeated.
After returning to the city, everyone accused Song Xianggong, but Song Xianggong still defended without repentance: "A gentleman has a benevolent heart. The ancient marching rules are not to attack the wounded enemy, not to capture the gray-haired veteran, and not to rely on Victory is achieved through dangerous passes. Although our country’s military strength is not strong, it also adheres to the principle of not launching an attack without beating the drum.”
Prince Muyi angrily accused Song Xianggong: "You don't understand what fighting is! The enemy cannot line up in front of a dangerous pass. This is God helping us. Why not snipe at dangerous places? Since fighting, then the opponent's army They are all enemies of our army. What scruples are there in capturing and killing the elderly? The purpose of teaching the army to be loyal to the emperor, patriotic, and to fight bravely is to kill the enemy. If you sympathize with the injured enemy, it is better not to injure the enemy; if you sympathize with the elderly, then it is better to not injure the enemy. It’s better to simply surrender. The most important thing for an army to fight is spirit. Bells and drums are used to boost morale. As long as morale is strong, you can beat the drums and march regardless of whether it is a dangerous pass or not."
It can be said that Song Xianggong completely ruined the Song Dynasty's path to hegemony.
The Song Dynasty suffered a disastrous defeat, its vitality was severely damaged, and the last bit of capital for its hegemony was lost. The next year, Qi State also came to add insult to injury. On the grounds that Song State did not participate in Qi State's alliance, it launched a large-scale attack on Song State and besieged Song's Minyi. Soon, Song Xianggong's leg injury recurred, and treatment failed. He passed away amid internal and external troubles. All the arrogant ambitions and illusory prosperity of the Song Kingdom disappeared without a trace with the death of this king who prided himself on benevolence and righteousness.
The great cause of Qi's hegemony came to an abrupt end with the death of Duke Huan of Qi. Song Xianggong's dream of seeking hegemony was also wiped out without a trace in the Battle of Hongshui. However, the princes of the Central Plains would not be leaderless for long, and a newly emerged vassal state - Jin Played an important role on the historical stage.
The Jin Kingdom originated from Tang Shuyu, the younger brother of King Cheng of Zhou.
"Historical Records" records that one day King Wu of Zhou dreamed that the Emperor of Heaven would give him a son named Yu. "Zuo Zhuan" records: "Yi Jiang was pregnant with his uncle." According to the records of various generations, Yi Jiang was the daughter of Jiang Taigong Lu Shang, and later the concubine of King Wu of Zhou Dynasty. One day, he dreamed that God said to him: "Girls are still alive." The son's name is Yu, and Yu and Tang are together." Soon after, a son was born, with the character "Yu" on his hand, who later became Tang Shu Yu. After the death of King Wu of Zhou Dynasty, the young King Cheng succeeded to the throne. One day, King Cheng was playing with Yu. He tore a piece of sycamore leaf into a jade gui and handed it to Yu, jokingly saying that he would make him the king of the Tang Dynasty. At this time, King Cheng The historian around him immediately asked for Yu to prepare chariots and horses to take office in the Tang Dynasty. This is the origin of Tang Shu Yu.
Tang Shuyu's son Jinhou Xie's father moved to Jinshui and renamed the Tang Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty. Five generations later, during the Jin Jinghou era, the history of Jin began to be accurately recorded. At this time, the world was turbulent, the people were rioting, and the world was quite unstable. It was in this era that the Jin Dynasty began to rise.
Marquis Mu of Jin, the great-grandson of Marquis Jing of Jin, had a son. The eldest son was named Qiu, and the younger son was a famous teacher. It is said that the Jin Shifu once predicted that the names of the two sons would be reversed, which foreshadowed a turmoil in the Jin state. After the death of Marquis Mu of Jin, his younger brother Shang Shu established himself as king. Prince Qiu ran away and civil strife began. Qiu was later the Marquis of Jin Wen. At this time, the Western Zhou Dynasty was destroyed by the Quan Rong, and Chinese history officially entered the Spring and Autumn Period.
"Historical Records" records: "At the time of King Ping, the Zhou Dynasty was in decline, and the princes were strong and weak. Qi, Chu, Qin, and Jin became powerful, and the government was governed by Fang Bo." It can be seen that the Jin Kingdom has grown in the early Spring and Autumn Period. After the death of Marquis Qiu of Jin Wen, his son Zhaohou Bo came to the throne and enfeoffed his uncle to Quwo City. Not long after, turmoil broke out in the Jin Kingdom and Zhaohou of Jin was killed. Prince Chengshi intended to seize power, but failed.
After the prince became a master, his grandson Quwo Wugong continued to compete with the king of Jin for the title of sect. "Quwo Wugong attacked Jin Hou Min, destroyed him, and presented all his treasures to King Zhou Li. King Li ordered Duke Wugong of Quwo was the king of Jin and was classified as a prince, so he merged with all the land of Jin to exist." In the second year of Duke Huan of Lu (710 BC), Duke Wu of Quwo led his troops into Xingting, united with Xingting to fight against Jin, and captured Jin Aihou in the spring of the next year. However, because he was not officially recognized by the Zhou royal family, although Quwo Wugong's power had already surpassed that of Jin at this time, Wugong was still unable to ascend to the position of monarch of Jin. That year, King Heng of Zhou ordered Guo Zhong to attack Duke Wu of Quwo, but Duke Wu was defeated and retreated to Quwo.
After 28 years of accumulation, Quwo Wugong finally launched another war against Jin, and finally captured Yicheng, the capital of Jin, and killed the Marquis of Jin. Duke Wu of Quwo dedicated all the captured treasures of the Jin Dynasty to King Zhouli in order to legalize the inheritance rights. The Emperor of Zhou, who accepted Duke Wu's bribe, granted him the title of King of Jin, namely Duke Wu of Jin. It was also the efforts of Duke Wu of Jin that greatly enhanced the strength of the Jin State and laid the foundation for its favorable position in the subsequent struggle for hegemony in the Spring and Autumn Period.
After Duke Wu died, his son Duke Xian of Jin came to the throne. At this time, in the east of Jin State, Duke Huan of Qi was already quite powerful. Duke Xian of Jin was a very accomplished king. Under his leadership, the Jin State opened up its territory and successively conquered Huo, Wei (this Wei was not the Wei State of the Warring States Period, but it was the place where Longxing was established), Geng and others. vassal states. "There is Hexi in the west, bordering Qin, Zhai in the north, and Hanoi in the east."
The most well-known thing about Duke Xian of Jin is that he married the beautiful Li Ji and his sister during his campaign against Li Rong. Li Ji gave birth to a son, and the prince at that time was Shen Sheng. Li Ji tried to get Duke Xian of Jin to depose the prince and make her son the prince. Except for Prince Shen Sheng, Prince Chong'er and Prince Yi Wu are both adult sons of Duke Xian. They have good character and ability and are deeply loved by the world. Li Ji managed to transfer Prince Shen Sheng out of the capital first, and then designed to create a rift between Duke Xiang of Jin and Prince Shen Sheng. Shen Sheng eventually committed suicide. Empress Li Ji was afraid that Chong'er and Yiwu would pose a threat to her son, so she wanted Duke Xian of Jin to kill her two sons for the crime of "conspiracy between the prince Chonger and the prince Yiwu". Young Master Chong'er and Yiwu fled one after another to avoid disaster. Soon Jin Xianggong's strategy of destroying Guo by false means destroyed the Guo and Yu states in the south, laying the foundation for Jin to become a great power in the Spring and Autumn Period.
After the death of Duke Xian, Xi Qi, the son of Li Ji, came to the throne and was immediately killed by Minister Rick. Finally, Yiwu returned to Jin with the help of Qin Mu Gong and became Jin Hui Gong. Duke Hui of Jin then executed Rick and started killing many officials in the country, losing the support of the people.
After Duke Hui of Jin came to the throne, the Qin State helped him with rice during the famine years. The following year, the Qin State was famine, but the Jin State repaid the Qin State with hatred and took the opportunity to attack the Qin State. He was defeated and returned, and the Jin Hui Gong was captured. Duke Mu of Qin's wife was the sister of Duke Hui of Jin. After some intercession, the State of Qin released Duke Hui of Jin and used Prince Yu as a hostage. Hou Yu fled back to Jin privately. When Duke Hui of Jin died, the crown prince was established as Duke Huai of Jin.
At this time, Chong'er, the son of Duke Xiang of Jin, was still on the run. During his escape, Chong'er passed by Weiguo and was suffering from hunger and cold. He begged a farmer. The farmer gave him a handful of loess. Chong'er was very angry and thought the farmer was teasing him. His follower Hu Yanze said: "This is what God wants to give us." Land! It shows that our restoration is in sight." Chong'er understood, then took the clod of soil from the farmer's hand and continued to move forward. Finally, the emperor paid off. In the 24th year of Duke Xi of Lu (636 BC), Chong'er received help from Qin. Duke Mu of Qin appointed Gongsun Zhi to lead three thousand Qin troops to protect Chong'er when he returned to Jin. Because Chong'er had long been famous outside the country and had many supporters in the country, Chong'er killed Duke Huai of Jin and ascended the throne as Duke Wen of Jin.
According to "Guoyu" records, Jin Wengong worked hard to govern after he came to the throne, appointed talented people, cultivated government affairs, and made clear rewards and punishments. He was recognized as a good monarch. He adopted a series of reform measures, "arranging hundreds of officials, assigning duties and merits, abandoning responsibilities and taking away responsibilities, giving to the poor, giving to the poor. Helping the weak and stagnant, relieving the poor and having no capital. Lighting customs and easing roads, opening up trade and easing agriculture. Government is for the people, and finance is used. Not in need." Duke Wen of Jin played a vital role in the rise of Jin.
After the death of Duke Wen of Jin, his son Duke Xiang of Jin succeeded to the throne. Subsequently, the friendly relations between Qin and Jin collapsed. After the death of Duke Xiang of Jin, the young and ignorant Duke Linggong of Jin came to the throne. At this time, Jin's strength began to decline.
Later Jin Chenggong and Jin Jinggong came to the throne. The struggle for hegemony in the Spring and Autumn Period was imminent, and King Zhuang of Chu became the overlord at that time. Qi continued to challenge Jin, and then the two armies fought decisively at An. Jin defeated Qi and organized the three armies into six armies. The leaders of these armies became the later Jin Dynasty. The six ministers of the country's dictatorship are the six ministers of the three armies.
In 403 BC, the Emperor of Zhou made the three families of Han, Zhao, and Wei vassals. The Warring States Period began, and the Jin state existed in name only. In 349 BC, Han and Zhao killed the king of Jin, and Jin fell.
This is the famous three-family division in history.
