Duke Huan of Qi finished cleaning up the affairs in the Central Plains, and finally had his hands free, preparing to go to the Chu State, which he had been trying to deal with for several years. At this time, a powerful monarch also appeared in the Chu State, and he was King Cheng of Chu. A.D.
In 675 BC, the Chu prince Xiong Yun killed his brother Xiong Jin and succeeded in seizing the throne. This was King Cheng of Chu.
At that time, the Chu State continued to expand to the southeast, and its sphere of influence had expanded to most of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The capital had already been moved from Zigui to Yingdu. King Chu Cheng felt that his territory was large enough, but it was still a small territory.
The viscount was often called Chuzi, so he called himself king, intending to keep pace with the Emperor of Zhou.
After King Chu Cheng became the queen, he wanted to go to the Central Plains to show off his talents. This was not only his dream, but also the dream of generations of Chu monarchs. However, over the past few years, every time the Chu Kingdom set foot in the Central Plains, it was beaten back by the Central Plains princes.
.King Chu Cheng felt that he should fulfill this dream.
If King Chu Cheng wants to go north to the Central Plains, he must first conquer the State of Zheng, because the geographical location of the State of Zheng is just to the north of the State of Chu.
From 666 BC, the sixth year of King Cheng of Chu, after the failure of the Chu general Zi Yuan's attack on Zheng, King Chu Cheng and his commander Dou Ziwen used troops against Zheng twice in the two years from 659 to 657 BC.
At that time, Duke Li of Zheng had died, and his son Duke Wen of Zheng succeeded to the throne. Duke Wen of Zheng had no choice but to constantly ask for help from Qi.
At the end of 657 BC, Duke Huan of Qi decided to use troops against Chu. In order to achieve the purpose of a sneak attack, Guan Zhong suggested attacking Cai first. He made this suggestion mainly for two reasons: First, Cai was close to Chu, so he could attack Chu.
Sending troops in the name of Cai Guo can easily paralyze Chu State and achieve unexpected results. Secondly, Cai Hou offended Duke Huan of Qi.
Duke Huan of Qi was very happy when he heard Guan Zhong's suggestion. This was not only because Guan Zhong's suggestion was very good, but also because a woman made him feel dissatisfied with both the Marquis of Cai and King Cheng of Chu.
What's the reason?
It turned out that Cai Hou's sister Cai Ji was the third wife of Duke Huan of Qi. She was an old man and a young wife. One day, the wind was sunny, Duke Huan of Qi and Cai Ji were rowing a boat on the lake. The boat was passing through the lotus bushes, looking pretty and beautiful.
Lotus flowers rowed by the side of the boat from time to time. Cai Ji leaned out and reached out to pick a lotus, and the boat immediately tilted. Duke Huan of Qi was a landlubber, so he immediately threw away his oars and screamed in panic. Cai Ji was young,
She saw that the usually majestic Duke Huan of Qi turned pale with fright, and she couldn't help laughing. Not only did she laugh, she also stood up, spread her legs, and shook deliberately. Now, Duke Huan of Qi was even more panicked. He
She was repeatedly told to stop, but Cai Ji just played and kept shaking.
Because of this, Duke Huan of Qi sent Cai Ji back to the state of Cai in anger. The married sister was sent back again. The Marquis of Cai was very angry and couldn't help but cursed Duke Huan of Qi, saying that his life was in vain.
At his age, he is totally incompetent.
After all, Cai Ji was young and beautiful. A few months later, Cai Hou asked a matchmaker to marry her to King Chu Cheng. The news spread to Qi State, and Duke Huan of Qi was very angry and threatened to attack Cai State.
Because of such a festival, when Guan Zhong mentioned that he would attack Cai first and then attack Chu secretly, Qi Huangong became happy.
In the spring of 656 BC, in the 30th year of Duke Huan of Qi and the 16th year of King Cheng of Chu, Duke Huan of Qi personally led the eight-nation coalition army of Qi, Lu, Song, Chen, Wei, Zheng, Xu, and Cao to attack the state of Cai. Cai's army was defeated, and Cai Hou
Fleeing to Chu State overnight. Cai Hou said to King Chu Cheng: "Qi State's attack on Cai State is just a smoke screen. Their real purpose is to attack Chu State. I estimate that by this time, Qi Hou's coalition forces have already come to Chu State."
King Chu Cheng hurriedly sent people to investigate and reported back that the troops of the Central Plains princes had really come to Chu. King Chu Cheng immediately ordered Dou Ziwen to mobilize troops and horses, and then personally took command and sent the troops to the south of the Han River to set up defenses along the coast.
As soon as the Central Plains Allied Forces entered the Chu State, spies came to report that the Chu State was waiting for them at the line of the Han River.
Duke Huan of Qi said to Guan Zhong: "Someone must have leaked the news."
Guan Zhong said: "Since they are prepared, let's stop first and inquire about the situation before advancing."
The coalition forces then advanced to the north bank of the Han River, facing the Chu army across the bank, and set up camp. They neither launched an attack nor retreated.
Three days later, Dr. Qu Wan of Chu came with his entourage. Duke Huan of Qi was not in the mood to see him, so he asked Guan Zhong to receive him.
Qu Wan was tall and thin, with a high forehead and long face, and a few long beards under his chin. He looked like a fairy. He was eloquent. When he saw Guan Zhong, he said: "Your country lives in the North Sea, and I own the land."
Located in the south, separated by thousands of rivers and mountains, they have always been unrelated. Just like cows and horses in heat, even if they can't suppress their inner restlessness, they can't get together. Unexpectedly, the Marquis of Qi came to our country regardless of the long distance. This is
What’s the reason?”
Guan Zhong said: "In the past, when Jiang Taigong, the ancestor of Qi, was granted the title, Duke Kang issued an order, 'You can conquer the five princes and nine uncles in order to assist the royal family.' The scope of Jiang Taigong's conquest was given to the sea in the east and the Yellow River in the west.
, extending to Muling in the south and Wudi in the north. This includes the State of Chu."
Qu Wan said: "The Prime Minister is right. But what crime do we have?"
Guan Zhong said: "Over the years, you have not paid tribute to the royal family, so that the emperor could not filter the wine when offering sacrifices. The emperor blamed us, and we were ordered to blame you. This is one of them. Also, when King Zhao of Zhou conquered Chu in the south,
To cross the Han River, you gave him a broken boat, causing King Zhao to die in the Han River. This is also a crime."
Qu finished listening to what Guan Zhong said, laughed, and said: "It is indeed our fault for not paying tribute to Baomao. I will report it to the King of Chu when I get back and ask him to send someone to deal with it immediately. As for the death of King Zhao in the Han River, you guys
We can only ask about the Han River." After saying this, he stood up and left. Guan Zhong didn't say much and asked someone to see the guest off.
Guan Zhong came back and said to Duke Huan: "The people of Chu have a tough attitude. Reasoning will not work. I think it is better to use troops."
Song, Lu and other princes also said that since they came, they would fight the Chu people. Duke Huan of Qi agreed. So, the allied forces of the princes rose up and marched into Jingdi.
Dou Ziwen said to King Cheng of Chu: "Guan Zhong knows the art of war. The allied forces of the princes have advanced to the upper reaches, but they can't reach the river. I don't know what they are up to. It's better to send someone to inquire about their intentions and then adjust our plans."
Strategy. Either fight or talk, we’ll talk about it when the time comes. What does your Majesty think?”
King Chu Cheng said: "Who should I send?"
Dou Ziwen said: "It's better for Doctor Qu to go. He has met Guan Zhong, so it would be more appropriate for him to go."
Qu Wan said: "When I met Guan Zhong last time, he blamed us for not paying tribute to the emperor. I admitted my mistake to him. If the king wants to reconcile with them, I will go to talk. If you want to fight, I will go
It’s useless. Just ask someone else to go.”
King Chu Cheng said: "It's better for you to go. Whether it's peace or war, it's up to you. We all accept it."
Qu Wan crossed the Han River and went straight into the coalition camp. This time, Duke Huan of Qi met him and was quite polite. Qu Wan felt that Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong seemed to be deliberately sending a signal of reconciliation. He wanted to promote peace talks.
Qu Wan said: "We did not pay tribute to Baomao. This is our fault. I can express my position on behalf of the King of Chu. We will deal with Baomao's matter immediately. However, we cannot bear it when the Marquis of Qi and others are waiting to send soldiers to Hanshui. If you are willing to withdraw,
Thirty miles away. Everything is easy to discuss."
Duke Huan of Qi said with a smile: "Doctor Qu understands the overall situation. If I can help the King of Chu obey the emperor, I naturally have nothing to say."
Guan Zhong said: "Doctor Qu is sincere. We can retreat thirty miles."
Qu Wan quickly stood up, bowed to Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong and said: "The Marquis of Qi and Prime Minister Guan both work for the Emperor. The King of Chu is also a minister of the Emperor. It is our duty to respect the Emperor. I will go back and report to the King of Chu."
.”
Qu Wan returned to the Chu camp and reported the situation to King Chu Cheng. The next day, King Chu Cheng sent people across the river to check the situation. It was found that the princes of the Central Plains had really retreated thirty miles.
King Chu Cheng didn't believe Duke Huan of Qi at first, but he didn't expect that he actually retreated. King Chu Cheng thought that if the princes of the Central Plains retreated without fighting, were they afraid of him? With this thought, he did not plan to pay tribute to Baomao. Qu Wan
He and Dou Ziwen both advised him: "The princes of the Central Plains abide by their promises, how can we say no?"
King Chu Cheng had no choice but to send people to prepare two carts of cogongrass and a gift for each of the eight vassal states, and sent Qu Wan to send it across the river.
The princes received the gifts from the King of Chu and felt comfortable. Guan Zhong checked Baomao and found that there was no problem. Seeing that things were going well, Qu Wan asked people to leave Baomao behind and prepared to go back. Guan Zhong asked Qu Wan to bring Baomao over.
Mao pulled Baomao back intact, and he said: "We are not here to beg Baomao, we are here to question the Chu State on behalf of the emperor. We cannot do it for you. Please ask Dr. Qu to take it back and leave it to you."
I will send it to Luoyi to pay tribute to the emperor."
Qu Wan was secretly surprised. He had heard that Guan Zhong was smart, but he didn't expect that he was really powerful. He felt a sudden surge of respect in his heart and said sincerely: "Prime Minister Guan is right. He should be brought back. He should be brought back."
Just as Qu Wan was about to take Baomao away, Qi Huangong stopped him again. He said, "Doctor Qu, have you seen the soldiers and horses in the Central Plains?"
Qu Wan said: "Chu people have lived in the south for a long time, in a remote place, where have they seen the soldiers and horses of the Central Plains? If the Marquis of Qi gives me a chance to broaden my horizons, I will be happy."
Duke Huan of Qi laughed and said, "Doctor Qu has come and gone many times, and we don't have any food or drinks to entertain you. I'll just invite you to see the armies of the princes. Come, I'll take you there."
So, Duke Huan of Qi's convoy took Qu Wan and began to patrol outside the princes' camps. They saw eight princes' armies camped for dozens of miles, and it was endless as far as the eye could see. The flags of various countries were erected high on the gates, and the breeze blew by.
, the flag was flying. There were deer villages in front of each village and the barriers were tight. Qu Wan secretly marveled. Suddenly he heard a horn sounding in one village, and then the second village and the third village also sounded the horn. The sound of the horn continued from near to far.
Continuously.
Qu Wan said: "The soldiers and horses of the Central Plains are really different in momentum."
Guan Zhong said: "The Central Plains has been fighting for years, and every country's soldiers and horses have experienced hundreds of battles."
Qi Huangong said proudly: "I have thousands of troops here. If we don't fight, we will win. If we fight, we will win."
This was clearly showing off his strength. Qu Wan sneered and said: "I heard that the Marquis of Qi respects the emperor, respects morality, supports the weak, and loves the people, so he is admired by the world. In terms of force, the territory of Chu State is not small, even the city
The pond is high and deep, and it is relatively strong. It has the Han River on the left and the big river on the right, protecting it vertically and horizontally. It is known as the natural moat. No matter how many people come, they may not be able to use it."
Duke Huan of Qi was a little embarrassed.
Guan Zhong tried to smooth things over by saying: "The Central Plains is a vast land with rich resources and a large population. Over the past few years, the Shanrong invaders and the Beidi invaders were all defeated and fled. Anyone who invades our Central Plains will be expelled from the Central Plains. Doctor Qu, we are just watching the camp from horseback.
Why bother talking about war?"
Qu Wan quickly smiled, nodded and said, "Prime Minister Guan is right. How can I dare to talk to the Marquis of Qi?"
Duke Huan of Qi softened his expression and said, "Doctor Qu is a capable minister of the Chu State. I would like to make an alliance with the Chu State. What do you think?"
Qu Wanzuo bowed and said: "The Marquis of Qi cares about our country so much. How dare we not appreciate it?"
A few days later, the Chu State sent Qu Wan to sign an alliance with the princes of the eight countries in Zhaoling. Qu Wan took this opportunity to pay tribute to Duke Huan of Qi regarding the matter of Marquis of Cai. Duke Huan of Qi also took the opportunity to intercede for Zheng Guo. The two sides were arguing.
, without saying anything, just smoothing the matter over.
Guan Zhong sent an order to withdraw his troops. Upon hearing the news, the princes of the eight countries took up their positions one after another and returned to their homes in great force.
Bao Shuya asked Guan Zhong on the road: "It is a great sin for Chuzi to become king. Instead of asking about this, you ask about Baomao instead. What do you mean?"
Guan Zhong said: "Because the crime of Chuzi becoming king is too big, I don't ask. If I ask, I have to beat him. It will be a disaster for the people. I found something to blame them for not paying tribute to Baomao, and it will be easy for them.
Admit your mistake. As long as the Chu State can admit its mistake and surrender, it will be easy for us to answer to the emperor and the princes. Isn't this more cost-effective than fighting?"