Wu Zixu helped Helu get rid of Qingji, originally thinking that Helu would help him take revenge. However, Helu delayed the matter again because Wu State lacked generals.
Wu Zixu said to Bo Pu: "Your Majesty cannot trust us and is afraid that we will not be able to win the battle with our troops."
Bo Pu said: "There is no other way. Let's find someone else."
Just when they were worried, Sun Wu from Qi State arrived in Wu State. Someone recommended Sun Wu to Wu Zixu.
When Sun Wu asked to see Wu Zixu, he came with a coarse cloth bundle, which contained his life's work "The Art of War". When Wu Zixu saw Sun Wu, he felt respect in his heart. He saw that Sun Wu was tall, with a broad forehead, a nose like a gallbladder, and a mouth
It looks like he is painted with vermilion, with a mustache on his lips and a light beard on his temples, neither thick nor light. It looks elegant but is actually just right. Especially a pair of red and phoenix eyes, which seem to hide intelligence and a calm gaze. The ancients valued appearance, and Sun Wu's appearance was not only dignified, but also dignified.
Moreover, his temperament has the elegance of immortality.
Wu Zixu returned the gift politely and asked Sun Wu to sit down.
As soon as Sun Wu sat down, he untied his baggage and revealed a bundle of bamboo slips. He smiled at Wu Zixu and said, "I am Sun Wu, a native of Qi State. I have come to Wu State and am willing to use what I have learned in my life to serve the country. This is what I have painstakingly studied, the Art of War."
Chapter Thirteen. Please correct me, General." With that, he took out the first volume and presented it to Wu Zixu with both hands.
Wu Zixu unfolded the bamboo slips and read the first sentence:
"Soldiers are important matters of the country, the place of life and death, and the path to survival. We must observe them."
Wu Zixu couldn't help but nod his head and said in praise: "Well said." Then he looked down and read the following paragraph. When he read the following paragraph, he couldn't help but exclaimed:
"Warriors are also deceitful. Therefore, they show their inability to use it when they can, show their inability to use it when they are close, show their distance when they are close, and show their nearness when they are far away. They use advantages to lure them, they use chaos to take them, they use reality to prepare them, and they are strong.
Avoid them, anger them and offend them, humble them and make them arrogant, ignore them and work for them, get close to them and leave them. Attack them when they are unprepared and take them by surprise. The victory of this military strategist cannot be passed down first."
Wu Zixu cupped his hands and said, "Sir, your knowledge is unprecedented in ancient times and modern times. He is truly the first person to know the military."
Sun Wu said humbly: "General, you have given me the reward."
Wu Zixu said: "Sir, please be patient and sit for a while until I finish reading this article."
Wu Zixu finished reading the first chapter of "The Art of War" in one breath, raised his head, and said with admiration in his eyes: "Mr. Sun's exquisite grand theory can be used to plan the country in big ways and win in small ways. It contains all the literary, Taoist and military strategies. This
This is a wonderful book. All the principles of military use are contained in it. A general may have no swords, guns, bows and horses, but he cannot help but read this book. I admire it, admire it."
Sun Wu smiled and said: "General, you have promoted me. Sun was not appreciated in Qi State, so he went south to Wu State. He only wants to use what he has learned in his life to serve the country."
Wu Zixu said: "The people of Qi have poor eyesight. They will regret it in the future. Please stay in my house first. I will recommend you to the king tomorrow."
Sun Wu cupped his hands and said, "Don't disturb the general. Sun has already arranged an inn."
Wu Zixu felt a little regretful, so he ordered his servants to prepare a banquet immediately, and also specifically asked for good wine and good food. Just after half an hour, the banquet started. Wu Zixu entertained Sun Wu as hospitably as he entertained distinguished guests.
During the dinner, Wu Zixu asked to borrow "The Art of War". Sun Wu was a little reluctant to give it up, but he hesitated and said: "The general wants to read it, so Sun will naturally give it to me. It's just that these thirteen articles on the Art of War are the result of my painstaking research and painstaking efforts over the years."
.I hope the general will return it to me after reviewing it."
Wu Zixu smiled and said: "Wu was enlightened when he read Mr. Wu's masterpiece. His admiration cannot be expressed in words. Wu held this volume in his hand, as if it were a treasure, he would not dare to damage it at all. After reading it, he would definitely return it to Mr. Please. Mr.
Be sure to rest assured.”
The two kept talking about lighting the lamp for ten minutes, and Sun Wu stood up to say goodbye. Wu Zixu personally escorted him outside the gate and asked his servants to take Sun Wu back to his residence in his own carriage. Wu Zixu stood by the carriage, respectfully waiting for Sun Wu to get on the carriage, and looked at him
After leaving afar, I returned to my hometown, just like a student seeing off his teacher.
After seeing off Sun Wu, Wu Zixu hurried back home to read Sun Wu's "The Art of War". He was fascinated by this reading. The more he read, the more hungry he became, the more he read, the more he admired him, and the more he read, the more excited he became. When he finished reading, he gently rolled up the bamboo slips.
, sat in a daze for a long time, as if falling into a reverie.
After being silent for a long time, Wu Zixu suddenly struck the case and muttered to himself with murderous intent: "He is a god, with his help, why worry about the Chu Kingdom not being destroyed?" After saying this, he looked up to the sky and laughed.
When the servant heard him speaking, he thought it was his master calling him. He opened the door in a panic and came in. When he saw Wu Zixu alone and laughing nervously, he was shocked and at a loss.
When Wu Zixu saw the servant standing there, he shouted, "Why are you so dazed? Go and bring me some wine."
The servant responded, shrank his head, and disappeared...
When he went to court the next day, Wu Zixu's face was red and full of excitement. When the court meeting was over, he went to Helu alone and said: "The general has been found. This man is enough to defeat the Chu State. I think, let alone the Chu State, any
He can defeat any country."
Seeing his frivolous behavior, Helu was unhappy and said, "What happened to Doctor Wu today? His past stability has been completely wiped out. How can he defeat the world if he is just one person and not a god?"
Wu Zixu smiled and said: "This is a god."
Helu raised his eyebrows and said, "Dr. Wu must have drunk too much last night. He is a bit frivolous today."
Wu Zixu took out a volume from "The Art of War" from his baggage. This was the chapter on "Strategic Attack" in Sun Wu's "The Art of War". He unfolded the bamboo slips, pointed to a section in it and said: "Please read it, Your Majesty."
, Mr. Sun wrote this."
Helu leaned his head towards him, and Wu Zixu read:
"The general is the auxiliary of the country. If he assists the Zhou Dynasty, the country will be strong; if he assists the Zhou Dynasty, the country will be weak. Therefore, there are three reasons why the king suffers from the army: he does not know that the army cannot do it, so he calls it forward; he does not know that the army cannot retreat, so he calls it
To retreat is to say that the army is in retreat. If you do not know the affairs of the three armies but agree with the government of the three armies, the soldiers will be confused. If you do not know the power of the three armies but agree with the responsibilities of the three armies, the soldiers will be doubtful. If the three armies are confused and doubtful, then the princes will be in trouble.
It means that the rebel army leads to victory."
After reading this, Wu Zixu stopped, pointed at the scroll and said: "With this knowledge, it is possible to be a general or a commander. Looking at our generals in Wu, who has this kind of knowledge?"
Helu's eyes shone, and he felt refreshed. Wu Zixu continued to read:
"Therefore, there are five ways to know victory: He who knows what can be fought and what cannot be fought wins; He who knows how to use the many and the weak wins; He who has the same desire from above and below wins; He wins when he prepares for surprise when there is no surprise; He wins when he is able but the king does not control him. These five are,
Know the way to victory. Therefore it is said: If you know the enemy and yourself, you will not be in danger in a hundred battles; if you do not know the enemy but know yourself, you will win and lose every time; if you do not know the enemy and yourself, you will be in danger in every battle."
After Wu Zixu finished reciting, Helu stopped. Helu listened and pondered the taste. When he saw Wu Zixu suddenly stopped, he urged: "Keep reciting. Why did you stop?"
Wu Zixu said: "It's over. It's over."
Helu said: "Please invite Sun Wu quickly. I want to talk to him personally."
Wu Zixu said: "I will go and invite you personally."
Wu Zixu said, without saying goodbye, he got up and ran out the door. Helu unfolded the pile of books on the table and read them with relish.
In less than an hour, Sun Wu entered the palace. Helu dropped the bamboo slips and hurried up to greet Sun Wu. When he saw Sun Wu, he bowed first and said, "I just read Mr. Sun's masterpiece. It is really a wonderful book that has never been seen in ancient and modern times. Mr.
Please take a seat."
Sun Wu smiled in a neither humble nor overbearing manner: "Your Majesty, thank you very much." After saying that, he sat down with Wu Zixu. The three of them talked about the art of military use, and they had a good time. After talking for a while, Helu simply asked Wu Zixu to read "The Art of War" aloud. Wu Zixu acted like a schoolboy.
, holding the book in hand, reading one piece at a time.
After reading a few articles, Helu said to Sun Wu: "The soldiers and horses of Wu State need to be trained. Can Mr. Sun take on this responsibility?"
Wu Zixu interjected at the side: "Mr. Sun didn't say anything about training soldiers. Anyone can do it."
Helu rolled his eyes and said to Sun Wu: "How talented is he? If I give you a group of women, can you train him?"
Sun Wu smiled and said: "Okay."
Helu was dissatisfied and said, "Okay? Mr. Sun is so loud. Can you train my group of maids into an army?"
Sun Wu said: "No problem. Men can practice it, and so can women."
Helu felt that Sun Wu was a bit arrogant, so he said: "Since Mr. Sun has this ability, I would like to see him."
Two days later, a temporary command platform was set up in an open space in King Wu's palace.
King Helu of Wu was sitting on the tower with Wu Zixu, Bo Pei and other ministers. Below them were a group of chattering palace maids. Today Helu wanted to see how Sun Wu trained a group of palace maids into an army. In his mind, these palace maids were
He could never become an army. Although he admired Sun Wu in his heart, he also really wanted to see Sun Wu disgrace himself.
The training officially begins.
Sun Wu stood alone on the command podium. On the left side of the podium stood a war drum, and a sergeant was responsible for beating the drum. On the right side of the podium, stood a lieutenant who was responsible for issuing orders. Behind the lieutenant stood two soldiers holding swords.
King Wu Helu was sipping sweet rice wine and eating snacks, as if watching a big show, waiting to see how Sun Wu trained these maids.
This group of palace maids all put on armor and each held weapons. They thought King Wu was playing some new game, so they chatted and laughed together. Sun Wu chose two concubines whom King Wu loved to be captains, called
The two people lined up at the front of the queue. Then, he turned around and ran to the pavilion and reported to the top: "Reporting to the king, the team has been assembled. Can we start training according to the military regulations?"
Helu held on to the guardrail beside the building, leaned over and said, "Since it's a military training, of course it should be carried out according to military regulations."
Sun Wu crossed his hands and said: "Sun Wu takes the order." He turned around and ran back. He walked up to the command podium, glanced at the maids under the stage, paused, and began to announce military orders:
Article 1: The queue must be orderly and no confusion is allowed;
Article 2: Remember the password and don’t make any noise;
Article 3: Beat the drum to move forward, ring the gold to retreat, and listen to the command;
Article 4: Anyone who disobeys orders will be punished by military law and beheaded!
After the announcement, Sun Wu asked the palace ladies, did you hear it clearly? The palace ladies burst into laughter, and some even pointed and commented on Sun Wu's appearance. Sun Wu pressed his sword with one hand, frowned and shouted: "Quiet, quiet. I'll do it again.
Announce a military order."
The captain also maintained order, and the scene finally calmed down. Sun Wu announced another military order in a serious manner. Then he asked the maids, did you hear it clearly? Although some people laughed this time, someone finally answered resoundingly: You heard it clearly?
.Then, there was another silver bell-like laughter in the team.
Sun Wu shouted loudly: "Officer, start practicing."
When the captain heard the sound, he moved and responded: "Respect the order." Then he shouted: "Beat the drum and advance. Do not disobey the order."
As soon as he finished speaking, the war drums sounded. The palace maids had never seen such a formation, and they laughed again when they heard the drums. Sun Wu asked the military academy who stopped beating the drums to stop, and asked the captain to give the order again.
The captain once again ordered the drums to be beaten and asked the palace maids to line up. As a result, the palace ladies were still laughing and laughing. If so, Sun Wu became furious, stopped the drums, turned around and said sternly to the captain: "Military judge, you disobey the military order.
, what crime should be committed?”
The captain shouted loudly: "Those who disobey orders will be killed!"
Sun Wu pointed at the two concubines in front of the queue and said: "These two are the captains. The chaos in the queue and the failure to follow orders are all the responsibility of these two people. Kill them!"
The school captain received the order and walked up with two soldiers. Without any explanation, he dragged the two concubines of King Wu to the side of the playground. When Helu saw this, he secretly smiled in his heart. I want to see if Sun Wu dares to touch me.
's two concubines.
I saw two concubines being dragged to the edge of the playground and being held down by the soldiers and kneeling down. The captain stood behind the soldiers, preparing to give orders and implement military law. When Helu saw that this was coming for real, he suddenly panicked. Because
He had already told Sun Wu to train in accordance with military drills, so he could not stop it in public. But he couldn't bear to let go of his two concubines, so he hurriedly asked Bo Pi to run downstairs to plead guilty.
Unexpectedly, Bo Pu had just ran downstairs and had not arrived before Sun Wu. On the playground, two execution soldiers cut off Helu's two concubines with one knife at a time.
Helu was angry and anxious as he watched upstairs, but he didn't want to get angry. Wu Zixu deliberately said: "Training the army in this way will make the army of tigers and wolves. The king has given up two concubines, and he will definitely get an invincible army in the future."
Helu sighed, sat down, and continued to look at the results.
The two concubines were killed, and all the palace ladies were so frightened that their faces turned pale, and no one dared to say anything or move any more.
Sun Wu re-elected two captains and said to the maids: "Keep your eyes on these two. If they go, you will follow. If they stop, you will stop. Anyone who dares to walk around is disobeying the military order."
After that, Sun Wu announced the military order again. Finally he asked: "Did you hear it clearly?"
The maids all responded in unison: "I heard you clearly."
Sun Wu waved his hand and ordered: "Continue to practice."
The captain ordered the drums to be beaten. This time, when the drums sounded, the maids held long hair and followed the two captains in order. The captain shouted the order, and the team moved more and more neatly. After walking back and forth for a few times, gradually,
It has become like an army.
When Wu Wang Helu saw this situation, he turned from anger to joy and shouted downstairs: "General Sun, let's stop here."
Someone among the maids heard this and slowed down. The captain shouted: "General Sun didn't stop, who dares to stop? I'll kill whoever stops."
When the maids heard this, not only did they not dare to stop, but they also walked even more neatly. Helu shouted again: "General Sun has trained well. Let's call it a day."
When Sun Wu heard this, he raised his hand and shouted: "Stop advancing."
The captain shouted: "Stop."
The palace maids stopped immediately, each holding a long sword and standing still, motionless.
Sun Wu glanced at the queue and shouted loudly: "The team is disbanded."
The maids then threw away their spears. For a while, some people sighed, some whispered, some bent over, and some sat down on the ground...
Helu was completely impressed by the military training in the palace. He worshiped Sun Wu as his military advisor and led the Wu army together with Wu Zixu.
Under Sun Wu's training, the Wu army's discipline, organization, and combat effectiveness improved greatly after half a year. Wu Zixu and Bo Pi took the opportunity to encourage Helu to conquer Chu. Sun Wu suggested: "In order to attack Chu, we must first eliminate future troubles.
I heard that Wang Liao's two brothers, Ganyu and Zhuyong, are still there, and they must be eliminated."
This sentence touched Helu's heart, so he sent two groups of envoys, one to Xu State, asking the king of Xu to kill Baiyu. The other group went to Zhongwu, asking the king of Zhongwu to kill Zhuyong. Unexpectedly,
, the monarchs of the two countries did not listen at all, and instead hid both Bai Yu and Zhu Yong. When the news came back, Helu ordered Wu Zixu and Bo Pei to lead the army, with Sun Wu as the military advisor, to attack Xu Guo and Zhong Wu.
With Sun Wu participating in the command, the battle was fought easily. The Wu army easily destroyed Xu Guo and Zhong Wu. Bi Yu and Zhu Yong fled one after another. Sun Wu led his army to pursue them, captured them, and killed them immediately.
Wu Zixu and Bo Pu had heavy troops and were abroad, so they wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to march against Chu. Sun Wu advised: "To attack Chu, we need to mobilize the entire army and civilians, and it will cost a lot of people, money, and materials. It is not impossible."
Fight, but you have to wait for the opportunity. Please wait a little longer."
So they led the army back. From this, Helu admired and trusted Sun Wu even more.