Qi Jinggong lost three warriors at once and was very depressed. Yan Pingzhong said to him: "I found a person who is more powerful than the three of them. This person's surname is Tian and his name is Rangju. He is an all-rounder who can do both literature and martial arts. He is now
He is living in seclusion."
Qi Jinggong said in a complaining tone: "Then why didn't you recommend it to me earlier?"
Yan Pingzhong said: "When talented people go out to do things, they should not only choose the monarch, but also their colleagues. Originally, people like Gongsun Jie were in power, and people like Rang Ju would not enter the court."
Qi Jinggong felt that Yan Pingzhong's words smacked of favoritism, and he was suspicious. He behaved indifferently, with a non-committal attitude, neither accepting nor rejecting.
When Yan Pingzhong saw Qi Jinggong's indifferent look, he didn't dare to say anything further. The matter was put on hold. As luck would have it, a month later, the border came to report that the Jin people had sent troops to invade the border and had captured two small towns on the border.
.At the same time, the army of Yan State was also moving south, preparing to join forces with Jin State and attack Qi State.
Qi Jinggong said to Yan Pingzhong: "There used to be Gongsun Jie and others, and we could leave this kind of thing to them. Now they are gone. You are the only one to find a solution."
Yan Pingzhong said: "My lord, please ask Tian Rangju to come out of the mountain."
Qi Jinggong said: "The matter is left to you. As long as the enemy soldiers can be driven away, you can use whoever you want. Hurry up and get it done."
So Yan Pingzhong invited Tian Ranju to Linzi and recommended him to Qi Jinggong.
When Qi Jinggong saw that Tian Rangju had a tall forehead and a long face, with piercing eyes and a long beard under his chin, and that his thoughts were clear and knowledgeable when talking, he was immediately overjoyed - the ancients valued appearance, and appearance could also play a role in selecting officials.
Tian Ranju's handsome appearance naturally gave Qi Jinggong a preconceived impression.
However, appearance is not enough. Yan Pingzhong recommended Tian Ranju not to be an ordinary general, but to take charge of the Qi army. This is a position related to the survival of a country and must be treated with caution.
Qi Jinggong tortured Tian Ranju. He started with the question of the use of troops. Tian Ranju answered fluently and eloquently. Qi Jinggong then asked about the strategy of governing the country. Tian Ranju put forward his ideas on enriching the country and strengthening the army. He said: "We must enrich the country and strengthen the army."
, enrich the people first; to enrich the people, love the people first. Give the people more opportunities to recuperate and recuperate.”
Qi Jinggong nodded in praise. Tian Ranju then talked about the matter of seeking hegemony - this was the most important thing for all the monarchs of Qi after Duke Huan of Qi. Naturally, Duke Jinggong of Qi was also very concerned.
Tian Rujue said: "If you want to achieve hegemony, you must fight. But you must not fight too many times. If it is not necessary, you would rather not fight. However, when fighting, you must use all your strength to ensure victory."
Qi Jinggong said: "Of course, who doesn't think so?"
Tian Ranju said: "The strength of an army lies in four things: the first is that the generals are capable; the second is that the soldiers must be trained; the third is that they listen to orders; the fourth is that they reward military merits. The generals who are capable are the so-called understanding of war strategies; the soldiers must be trained, which is
The so-called ability to fight; listening to orders means strict discipline and moderation. Beating the drum will make everyone brave, and winning gold will stop the horse. Rewarding military merit means clear rewards and punishments. Those who have meritorious service will be promoted to positions and titles, and money will be given to land. Those who are convicted will be rewarded.
Those who punish crimes according to the law, regardless of relative or distance. If you manage the army in this way, the army can fight and win the battle."
Qi Jinggong said with a smile: "Rang Ju really knows how to fight. It seems that Yan Zi has a good vision."
They talked more and more enthusiastically, and they talked about the sun setting in the west from the morning. Finally, Qi Jing recognized that Tian Rangju was a rare general, so he immediately appointed him as a general of Qi and ordered him to lead troops to fight against the war between Jin and Yan.
Invade.
After Tian Ruoju took over the military power, he organized military affairs in the military camp for several days, but he still did not raise the issue of conquest. Qi Jinggong sent Yan Pingzhong to call him and asked: "General Tian has been preparing for many days, why hasn't he sent out troops yet?"
Tian Juanju said: "My lord, I am telling you the truth. The discipline of the Qi army is lax, and I am a countryman. If I suddenly take over the military power, the soldiers may not be convinced. I am afraid that I will not be able to restrain the army once it goes to the battlefield."
Qi Jinggong said: "The military situation is urgent. We cannot wait for you to slowly train your troops and horses before going to defend the enemy. The enemies of Jin and Yan will not wait for you."
Tian Ruju said: "If you rush to meet the enemy, there will be hidden dangers."
Qi Jinggong asked: "What do you think we should do? What else do you need? I will try my best to help you."
Tian Juanju said: "Please, my lord, send someone capable and trustworthy to supervise the army, and work with me to command the army. Only by obeying the orders and prohibitions can we win."
Qi Jinggong smiled and said: "This is easy. I will send Jiazhuang." Yan Pingzhong wanted to speak on the side, but Qi Jinggong raised his hand to stop him and continued: "No one dares to offend Jiazhuang. With him helping you run the army, your orders will be able to do it."
OK."
Yan Pingzhong saw Qi Jinggong appointing Jia Zhuang from the side, and just shook his head slightly. But Qi Jinggong had already made a decision, so it was not easy for him to object.
Because Jiazhuang was good at flattering, he won the trust of Qi Jinggong. As a result, he became arrogant and arrogant. Except for Yan Pingzhong and other senior ministers, he did not look down on most people.
Jiazhuang accepted the errand and reported to the camp that day. He made an agreement with Tian Juanju to gather in the military camp at noon tomorrow and lead the troops together for the expedition.
On the next day, Tian Ranju was waiting in the military camp early. When it was almost noon, Jiazhuang did not show up. Tian Ranju looked at the sun and felt anxious. He wandered around the command podium for a while, and suddenly gave the order to have people erect a tower in the middle of the school field.
A bamboo pole was used to measure the shadow of the sun, and at the same time a messenger was sent to call Jiazhuang to come.
When the soldiers rushed to Jia's house, they saw Jiazhuang eating and drinking at the banquet. It turned out that when Jiazhuang's relatives and friends heard that he was going to the expedition, they came to see him off one after another. Jiazhuang held a banquet to entertain everyone, but as a result, he drank.
He forgot about the expedition. The messenger passed Tian Juanju's order, and Jia Zhuang held the wine and said: "Just go, just go. You go back and tell General Tian first, and I will come."
But as soon as the ordering soldiers left, Jiazhuang asked someone to pour wine and raised the wine bottle to invite everyone to drink together. Someone reminded Jiazhuang, why didn't you leave yet? Jiazhuang said: "A countryman doesn't understand the rules. When he calls me, I will drink."
Let’s go, as if I’m his subordinate. How can that be done? Come on, come on, keep drinking.”
The messenger came back and reported that the supervisory troops would be arriving soon. Tian Ruoju ordered the soldiers and horses to line up. The soldiers all thought that the supervisory troops would leave as soon as they arrived, so they all cheered up and lined up in order. But after waiting and waiting, Jiazhuang was nowhere to be seen.
Come. At this time, the soldiers became anxious, some were whispering to each other, and strange words kept coming. Tian Ruoju frowned, and sent the messenger Pegasus to urge them.
When the messenger appeared again, Jiazhuang got angry. He felt that Tian Ruoju was deliberately embarrassing him, so he drove the messenger back. Then he continued drinking. He drank until the sun was setting in the west, and then he got drunk in a carriage and went there.
Come to the military camp.
At this time, Tian Ruoju had ordered the soldiers and horses to rest where they were, and the soldiers were sitting on the ground in small groups waiting. When they saw Jiazhuang's carriage galloping into the military camp, the soldiers stood up one after another. Someone whispered: "Look at him this time
How will it end?" Someone said: "It must be fine, the new commander-in-chief doesn't dare to do anything to him."
Tian Ruoju walked up to the command platform and ordered the troops to assemble again. Jiazhuang got off the carriage and staggered onto the stage. Seeing Tian Ruanju's face full of anger, he first stepped forward to bow and said with a smile: "We are going on an expedition today, and several relatives and friends are here to see us off.
, I drank a little and came a step late."
Tian Rujue said: "As a general, once you are ordered to go on an expedition, you should leave home; once you go to the battlefield, you should disregard your life. Now that the enemy troops have reached the door of your home, my lord is anxious and restless, so he entrusts us with the important affairs of the country. We
How can you be lazy? How can you have time to drink?"
Jia Zhuang said with a smile: "It's not delayed, it's just a little late. General, don't make a fuss."
Rangju said: "I sent people to urge you twice, but you didn't care. You were clearly disobeying the military law sincerely. If everyone is like you, how can the army be restrained? How can you be undefeated when you rush to the battlefield? Don't think that you are flattering me.
You, you can be above military law."
Jia Zhuang's face sank and he said: "General Tian has just taken over the military power. In the future, you and I will inevitably have to serve as officials in the same court. Mutual accommodation is inevitable. General, shouldn't you be too serious?"
Rangju was furious and turned around and shouted: "Where is the military judge?"
The military judge rushed over. Rangju asked: "In terms of military law, what should we do if a soldier does not report to the military camp on time?"
The military judge loudly replied: "General, behead him!"
Rang Ju pointed at Jiazhuang and yelled, "Tie him up. Behead him!"
Several people emerged from Ranju's guards and kidnapped Jiazhuang without explanation. One of Jiazhuang's men ran out during the chaos. As soon as he left the military camp, he borrowed a horse from the Qi sergeant outside the camp.
He rushed to the palace like flying and reported the news to Qi Jinggong.
When Duke Jinggong of Qi heard that Tian Rangju wanted to kill Jiazhuang, he didn't rush to inquire about it. He immediately sent a confidant named Liang Qiuju to rescue Jiazhuang with a staff.
Liang Qiuju left the palace and galloped all the way. He didn't stop at the gate of the military camp and rushed straight into the gate. The sergeant guarding the gate saw the monarch's scepter standing on Liang Qiuju's carriage and knew that it was a messenger from the palace.
, not daring to stop him. Liang Qiuju just rushed to the audience of the generals in the school field.
Rang Ju had already seen it clearly. He waited for Liang Qiu Zhi to run onto the stage panting with a staff in his hand. Without waiting for him to speak, he shouted sternly: "Military judge, what crime should you deserve for galloping in the camp?"
The military judge shouted back: "General, behead him!"
Liang Qiuju heard the word "Zhan" and shouted: "I came on the order of my lord. I have the staff as proof. The matter is urgent, so I gallop. Please forgive me, general."
Rangju asked, "My lord, why have you been sent here?"
Liang Qiu is said to have said: "The Lord asked me to send a message. The general can punish Jiazhuang for violating orders, but the crime will not lead to death."
Rangju sneered and said: "My lord, give me the army, and I will be responsible for the country. The army has military laws, and no one is allowed to be above them. Don't say Jia Jianjun, even you, I will still punish you."
Liang Qiuju's face changed greatly, and he begged for mercy with a mournful face: "My lord, your order was urgent, so I violated the military law. I didn't do it on purpose. Please forgive me, general. Please forgive me."
Rangju said: "In this case, I can make some accommodations for you." After saying that, he asked the soldiers to dismantle Liang Qiuju's carriage and behead the horse pulling it. Liang Qiuju looked on with horror.
Dare not say much.
Not long after, the law enforcement military academy came to report that Jiazhuang had been beheaded. Liang Qiuju had no choice but to say goodbye to Rangju, carry his staff, and walk back to resume his life.
Rangju beheaded Jiazhuang in front of all the soldiers, dismantled Liang Qiuzi's carriage, and beheaded his horse. The soldiers were shocked. Everyone saw that he was fearless, enforced the law strictly, and was impartial and unselfish.
Dare to disobey orders.
Rangju gave the order, and the troops and horses moved into action. The flags in the camp were waved, and the Qi army set off in a mighty manner.
The Jin State's harassment of Qi State's border this time was actually a tentative military operation. They heard that Qi State had lost three warriors, and wanted to test Qi State's reality. However, Yan State just came to join in the fun. Therefore, when
When Tian Ranju's army came quickly, Jin and Yan hurriedly withdrew their troops. The generals of these two countries also knew that a big country like Qi could not afford to offend. Tian Ranju didn't care whether the enemy army retreated or not.
As for the retreat, it was his first time in charge of an army and his first expedition, so he was naturally eager to make a contribution. So he took advantage of the enemy's retreat and pursued and attacked fiercely. The soldiers and horses of Jin and Yan could not resist, so they abandoned their helmets and armor along the way and fled in the wind.
Tian Juanju captured many flags and chariots, and also captured a number of prisoners. The first battle was successful.
After the defeat of Jin and Yan, the minds of the monarchs of the two countries also cooled down. They finally understood that Qi was not easy to mess with. So they all sent envoys to apologize to Qi. Qi Jinggong was very happy and formally worshiped Tian Ranju as his eldest son.
Sima was in charge of the troops and horses of Qi State. From then on, everyone called him Sima Rangju.
After that, Qi State had Yan Pingzhong and Sima Rangju in military affairs. The two cooperated with each other tacitly and managed the military and political affairs of Qi State well. Qi State has seen a situation of stable development. In particular, the army's organizational discipline and combat effectiveness have greatly improved.
promote.
The princes of the Central Plains marveled at Qi's changes, and moved closer to Qi one after another. Qi's prestige rose again. From now on, Jin's power was not as powerful as Qi's.