After King Ping of Zhou moved his capital to Luoyi, he granted the title of two meritorious officials. One was Ji Jutu, the son of Ji You, Zheng Bo, and the other was the king of Qin.
The original territory of Zheng State was in Huayin County, Shaanxi Province. During this eastward migration, Jutu led his troops to capture the territories of two small countries along the way. In view of his contribution to this change of dynasty, King Zhou Ping
, the territory of Jutu was re-confessed to the area around present-day Xinzheng County, Henan Province. He left Jutu in the imperial court and took charge of military matters together with Ji Chou, the Queen of Jin Dynasty.
The second title was the lord of the Qin State. Qin was originally a vassal state of the Western Zhou Dynasty. It was small and poor. It was far away in Tianshui, Gansu Province today. At the juncture of this dynasty change, the Qin State participated in the battle to besiege Xirong. After King Ping of Zhou
When moving the capital, the king of Qin personally led troops to escort King Ping of Zhou to Luoyi and made great contributions. King Ping of Zhou made Qin a formal vassal state in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The king who was named was the first king of Qin, Duke Xiang of Qin.
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King Ping of Zhou said to Qin Xianggong: "Most of the land in the Qifeng area has been occupied by the Xirong. As long as you can defeat them, I will grant you the land you get."
Duke Xianggang of Qin was greatly inspired. After returning to the country, he mobilized his troops and launched an overseas expansion war for several generations of Qin monarchs. In the end, it became a large vassal state stretching from Hangu Pass in the east to Tianshui in the west. This was later
If you press it, you won’t express it.
Let’s just talk about Jutu. Zheng Boyou was the first monarch of the Zheng State, with the posthumous name Zheng Huan Gong. Jutu was the second monarch of the Zheng State, with the posthumous name Zheng Wugong. Jutu was able to conquer battles, and was deeply trusted by the emperor. He was good at seeing things.
Marquis Shen, who was driven by the wind, took aim at him.
Marquis Shen said to Jutu: "I have a daughter, who is eighteen years old, as beautiful as a flower, and she is waiting for a girl. Count Zheng is a talented man, and he is a man worthy of a woman's beauty. How about I marry her to Uncle Zheng?"
Jutu smiled and said: "Thanks to the kindness of Marquis Shen, I have found such a good wife, and I will definitely make her my wife."
Duke Wu of Zheng married the daughter of Marquis Shen in this way. He was later called the Jiang family, also known as Wu Jiang. The Jiang family gave birth to two sons by Zheng Wu Gong. The eldest was named Huansheng, and the second was called Duan.
Zheng Wugong liked his eldest son, but his wife, Mrs. Jiang, loved her younger son very much. In Zheng Wugong's later years, the two sons gradually grew up, and the struggle for heir became more and more prominent. Jiang asked Zheng Wugong's youngest son Duan to be the crown prince. Zheng Wugong absolutely
He was not a foolish person, he knew that destroying the elder and establishing the younger would lead to endless troubles. Therefore, he firmly established his eldest son, Huansheng, as the crown prince.
After the death of Duke Wu of Zheng, Wensheng came to the throne and became Duke Zhuang of Zheng.
Duke Zhuang of Zheng was the king of the country and inherited Jutu's position in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Seeing that her youngest son was nowhere to be found, Mrs. Jiang became anxious and went to find Duke Zhuang of Zheng.
"You have become a king and a minister of the court." Mrs. Jiang said, "but your brother Duan doesn't even have a place to live. He is always complaining in front of me, and I feel anxious when I see him."
"According to Mother's wishes, what do you think we should do?"
"You can seal the land to him."
"Zhiyi is an important military location of the Zheng State. When my father was still alive, he had already promised that no one could seal this place."
"Then seal the capital."
When Duke Zhuang of Zheng heard about the capital, he immediately became nervous. Because the capital was very close to Xingyang, the capital of the Zheng State, Duke Zhuang of Zheng knew that Duan was ambitious, so of course he was reluctant to put such a younger brother next to his "bed". But he could not refute his mother.
To save face, he lowered his head and said nothing.
Seeing Duke Zheng Zhuang's attitude, Mrs. Jiang said angrily: "This city is not allowed to be sealed, and I can't bear to part with that city. You might as well expel your brother from Zheng and let him wander and starve to death in a foreign land."
Zheng Zhuanggong quickly apologized: "Mother, please don't get angry. It's my fault. I didn't say not to seal it. This matter can still be discussed."
Ms. Jiang snorted and walked away with her maid.
When he went to court the next day, Duke Zhuang of Zheng brought the matter to court for discussion. The doctor said, "The capital is close to Xingyang and is an important town in the country. Uncle Duan is the favorite son of the dowager. Once he gets the capital, his power will surely increase. I'm afraid he will support him."
It will cause trouble and will be difficult to control in the future. Please think twice, my lord."
All the ministers looked at Duke Zhuang of Zheng and asked him to make up his mind. Seeing this situation, Duke Zhuang of Zheng could only make his own decision. He said, "Since the Queen Mother has spoken, I have no choice but to seal the capital to Duan." He did not wait.
After all the ministers had spoken, the court was dismissed.
When Uncle Duan went to the capital, he went to say goodbye to his mother. Mrs. Jiang held his sleeve reluctantly and said, "Your brother takes brotherhood very lightly. I forced him to seal the capital. Mother was very worried.
You, after you arrive in the capital, you must do some good results and give your mother some credit."
Mrs. Jiang added: "You have to accumulate food and fodder, and train your troops diligently. When the time comes, our mother and I should cooperate internally and externally to drive your brother away. If you become the king, my mother will be able to close her eyes even if she dies."
Duan's eyes turned red when Mrs. Jiang spoke. He quickly knelt down to Mrs. Jiang three times, and then said some tear-jerking words. Mrs. Jiang waved her hand and asked him to go on his way. Duan stopped talking, said goodbye to his mother, and went
Beijing.
Duan kept Jiang's words in mind, and when he arrived in the capital, he recruited troops and horses, collected grain and grass from time to time, and took his troops and horses out to hunt from time to time. He looked like he was actively preparing for war. His reputation also increased with his prestige, and everyone called him uncle in the capital.
None of Taishu Duan's actions could escape the eyes of Duke Zheng Zhuang, but he pretended to know nothing and waited to see what would happen. Several ministers came to remonstrate, hoping that Duke Zheng Zhuang would take charge of Taishu in the capital. Duke Zheng Zhuang blamed them instead.
, he also defended his uncle in the capital, saying: "Uncle Duan worked tirelessly to do this. He is training troops for the country. This is a good thing. Why are you nervous?"
The ministers discussed privately that Zheng Zhuanggong indulging Taishu Duan was tantamount to feeding a tiger into trouble. Zheng Zhuanggong pretended not to hear and never pursued the matter.
One day, Jizu said to Duke Zhuang of Zheng: "If the overgrown weeds are not removed, they will spread everywhere and eventually become unmanageable. Taishu Duan is not an ordinary person. He is the favorite of Mrs. Tai. My lord cannot let it go."
Duke Zhuang of Zheng smiled and said casually: "Anyone who commits unrighteousness will be punished by his own death."
This sentence later became a famous saying, which means that if you do too many bad things, you will kill yourself. Zheng Zhuanggong knew this, and he thought to himself, just wait and see.
A few months later, two local officials near the capital came to report. They said that the uncle in the capital had integrated the two small towns under their jurisdiction. Zheng Zhuanggong was not surprised at all. He listened with interest as if listening to a story, and nodded and smiled.
Someone among the ministers reported: "My lord, Taishu Duan recruited troops in the capital and occupied two cities. Isn't this a rebellion? My lord should punish him."
Duke Zhuang of Zheng said: "Uncle Duan is my mother's darling. If he wants those two cities, just give them to him. I have to listen to my mother, and I can't hurt my brothers' feelings for the two cities. Don't talk about it anymore."
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The general, Prince Lu, said: "Today my lord lets Uncle Duan do whatever he wants, but in the future Taishu Duan will have no control over my lord. At that time, what should we do with him?"
Duke Zhuang of Zheng said: "When the time comes, you will see for yourself who is right and who is wrong."
Time passed day by day. All the ministers were anxious, but Duke Zhuang of Zheng was calm and composed, as if nothing had happened. Suddenly one day, Duke Zhuang of Zheng announced as soon as he went to court: "I received an edict from the emperor, asking me to go to Luoyi to discuss matters. I
After leaving, the government affairs will be handed over to Jizu. All ministers should work together and do their jobs well."
On the same day, Duke Zhuang of Zheng left the capital with his entourage.
When Mrs. Jiang heard that Duke Zheng Zhuang had gone to Luoyi, she immediately sent someone to inform Taishu in the capital and asked him to come and attack Xingyang. Taishu Duan had been looking forward to this day for a long time. After receiving the letter from Mr. Jiang, he led his troops without hesitation.
The men and horses are coming towards Xingyang.
As a result, Taishu Duan left on the first day, and Zheng Zhuanggong personally led his troops to capture his hometown in the capital the next day.
It turned out that Duke Zhuang of Zheng had already sent his son Lu to make preparations. Prince Lu’s people intercepted Jiang’s messenger on the way and found Jiang’s letter. They wrote a letter in Jiang’s tone and sent someone to pretend to be Jiang.
A messenger was sent to Taishu Duan, telling him to take advantage of Duke Zhuang's absence to send troops to Xingyang quickly. Taishu Duan fell into the trap.
Before Taishu Duan's troops arrived in Xingyang, he got the news that the capital was attacked. In panic, he retreated overnight. Unexpectedly, as soon as the troops turned around and went back, there were rumors among the troops that Taishu Duan wanted to rebel.
The news spread quickly, and the morale of the army was in chaos. In less than half a day, half of the soldiers had fled.
Taishu Duan saw that the army was demoralized and knew that he could not return to the capital. He took the remaining troops and horses and ran to Yancheng. As soon as he arrived at Yancheng, the pursuers of Prince Lu rushed to Yancheng. The two armies fought, Tai
Uncle Duan's troops collapsed at the first touch. Tai Shu Duan had no choice but to abandon Lincheng and go to Gongcheng.
As soon as Taishu Duan arrived in Gongcheng, before he could take his breath, Zheng Zhuanggong attacked Gongcheng. At this time, Gongzi Lu's soldiers and horses followed, and two armies attacked Taishu Duan. Gongcheng could not be defended at all. Until then, Taishu Duan could not defend Gongcheng.
Duan began to regret.
Hearing the sound of fighting outside the city, he climbed up the tower alone, looked in the direction of Xingyang and cried for a while, muttering: "Mother, you have hurt me." Then he committed suicide.
When Zheng Zhuanggong entered the city, he cried loudly to Taishu Duan's body: "Brother, why are you like this? Even if you have done something wrong, can't my brother forgive you?"
All the soldiers hid their faces one after another, and some were moved to tears. Everyone said that Duke Zheng Zhuang was a benevolent and righteous monarch.
After the soldiers and horses returned to Xingyang, Zheng Zhuanggong handed Jiang's letter and her messenger to the minister Jizu, and asked Jizu to deliver it to Jiang. He also ordered Jizu to move the Jiang family from Xingyang to Chengying.
(now Linying County, Henan) went to live. Before leaving, Zheng Zhuanggong asked Jizu to bring a message to the Jiang family: "It is not as good as Huangquan, there is no way to meet each other." This means that as long as we live in this life, we should not meet again.
After dealing with Taishu Duan, Zheng Zhuanggong's anger gradually subsided. Sometimes he couldn't help but think of his mother. When he thought of Jiang, he felt very regretful. No matter what, the love between mother and son is hard to let go. But he has already said
, "It's better to meet each other than in the underworld." As a king, how can the words he said not count? This incident deeply troubled him.
One day, a junior officer named Ying Kaoshu came to Xingyang and paid tribute to Duke Zheng Zhuang with a strange bird. This bird had the head of a cat and the body of a bird.
Duke Zhuang of Zheng asked: "What kind of bird is this?"
Uncle Yingkao said: "This is a bad bird. It can't see anything during the day, but it can see everything at night. Black and white are reversed, and it doesn't know what is good or bad. It is said that when this bird was young, its mother raised it, and when it grew up, it ate its mother.
It's an evil bird. I'll catch it and ask the lord to punish it."
Duke Zhuang of Zheng heard that Uncle Yingkao was sarcastically admonishing him. He was not angry, smiled calmly, and asked someone to take the bird away. However, he admired Uncle Yingkao in his heart, so he stayed with Uncle Yingkao to eat with him.
At the dinner table, Uncle Ying Kao picked out the meat on his table, carefully wrapped it and put it aside. Zheng Zhuanggong asked: "Why don't you eat it?"
Uncle Yingkao said: "This is the meat given by the Lord. I will take it back to honor my mother at home."
Duke Zhuang of Zheng sighed: "Hey, you can honor your mother, but I can't." Uncle Ying Kao pretended not to know and looked at Duke Zhuang of Zheng.
Zheng Zhuanggong: "I said, 'Nothing better than the underworld will never meet again.' Those were angry words, but I have already said them out. It is too late to regret."
Uncle Yingkao said with a smile: "Then let's meet in Huangquan."
Duke Zhuang of Zheng said impatiently: "Nonsense. If that's the case, why should I worry?"
Uncle Yingkao said: "My lord, what I mean is to dig a tunnel all the way to the underworld, and then you and the wife will meet in the tunnel. Isn't this the best of both worlds?"
Zheng Zhuanggong's eyes lit up and he shouted: "Well, this is a good idea. I'll leave this matter to you."
Uncle Ying Kao mobilized a group of soldiers, quickly dug a tunnel, and built a spacious basement underground. The best thing is that he also built a small ditch in the basement and filled it with some water.
"Yellow Spring".
After everything was ready, Zheng Zhuanggong and Mrs. Jiang entered the tunnel one after another. When they met, the mother and son held each other's hands and cried. Both of them sincerely reviewed their mistakes.
After coming out of the tunnel, Mrs. Jiang sighed: "When we entered the tunnel, I had reconciled with Huansheng. When we came out of the avenue, I felt that we were in harmony. After all, we are still mother and son."