King Zhuang of Chu's regime was stabilized and his country's power became stronger. At this time, he couldn't help but want to dominate the Central Plains. For several years, the kings of Chu State had this idea, but every time they intervened in the Central Plains,
They were all beaten back by the princes of the Central Plains. King Chuzhuang once went to seek the throne, but also met with disappointment. Going north to the Central Plains was not only the dream of King Chuzhuang, but also a knot in his heart.
The geographical location of Zheng State happened to block Chu State's northward advance. Over the years, Zheng State had wandered between Jin and Chu, and had become a mere wallflower. Just when King Zhuang of Chu and Sun Shu'ao were thinking about how to deal with Zheng State, news spread
Later, there was a coup in the State of Zheng. Duke Linggong of Zheng was killed by his subordinates. Prince Jian came to the throne and became Duke Xiang of Zheng.
What's going on? It turns out that this accident was caused by the beating of a finger.
Zheng Linggong had two uncles, one was called Gongzi Song, and the other was called Gongzi Guisheng. Among them, Gongzi Song had a very good relationship with Zheng Linggong, but Gongzi Guisheng looked down on Zheng Linggong, so their relationship only maintained a superficial harmony.
One day, Young Master Song and Young Master Guisheng went to court together. Before entering the court, Young Master Song stopped. He fanned his nose, as if he smelled something, and then said
Guisheng said: "There is something delicious today."
The young master returned to life and asked, "How do you know?"
Young Master Song said mischievously: "My index finger jumps. If my index finger jumps, there will always be something delicious."
Guisheng said: "You are a god. How is this possible?"
Young Master Song smiled and said, "Just wait and see."
The two entered the court hall talking and laughing. As soon as they entered, they saw a big turtle, commonly known as a giant turtle, tied down under the hall. When the two asked, it turned out that someone had caught this thing in the river and brought it as a sacrifice.
Gave it to Zheng Linggong. When Zheng Linggong was happy, he prepared to cook the big turtle and share it with the ministers.
Young Master Song raised his index finger proudly and said to Guisheng, "How about it, my index finger is pretty good."
Guisheng said with admiration: "The aura is really aura."
After saying that, the two laughed loudly. When Zheng Linggong heard their laughter in the hall, he asked them what made them so happy.
Guisheng said: "Young Master Song said that his index finger is very clever, and he can know in advance if there is something delicious to eat with just one tap. I didn't believe it at first, but I didn't expect to see this big turtle as soon as I entered the court. Haha, really give it to him
That's right."
Zheng Linggong curled his lips and said, "I don't think so. Whether it works or not, we will know when the time comes."
When the big turtle was cooked, Zheng Linggong announced in the hall that each person should have a bowl and divide it from the person with the lowest position to the person with the highest position. The son of Song Dynasty was the chief minister.
Became the last one.
The cook scooped out the first bowl and presented it to Zheng Linggong respectfully. This was the first bowl, and then according to Zheng Linggong's request, he began to share it from people with lower positions to people with higher positions. Bowl by bowl, in the end, only
The remaining princes with the highest position, Song He, returned to the throne.
The cook took a large ladle and scooped out a few bowls in the bronze cauldron. He said to Zheng Linggong: "My lord, there is only the last bowl left. There is not enough to share."
Zheng Linggong smiled and said: "Just divide it according to the rules. Give it to whoever deserves it."
Guisheng's position was lower than that of Master Song, so the cook gave the last bowl to Master Song according to the rules.
Zheng Linggong seemed to have forgotten the existence of his son Song. While drinking the soup, he praised the taste of the big turtle soup and asked everyone to taste it. The courtiers all happily picked up their bowls and tasted it.
Everyone was drinking soup, except Young Master Song. He looked left and right, and saw people all over the hall holding bowls of delicious food. He felt uncomfortable, embarrassed, and felt angry. Guisheng drank the soup, and deliberately took it.
She glanced at him with her eyes, as if she was mocking him and said, "Look, you're bragging again. Your fingers may not be very good."
Young Master Song knew that Zheng Linggong was deliberately teasing him. In a fit of temper, he ran up to the throne, stretched out his index finger, dipped it in Zheng Linggong's bowl, put it in his mouth, sucked it, and said jokingly: "Who said this about my index finger?"
It doesn’t work? Didn’t I eat it too?” After saying that, he turned around and ran out.
Zheng Linggong was furious, pointed at the back of Young Master Song and cursed: "This, this, what, it's so unruly. See how I deal with him."
The ministers hurriedly talked to Xi Ni, saying that Young Master Song always liked to joke, and this time he just made a joke with the Lord. Please calm down, Lord, and so on.
After the dynasty was over, Guisheng walked out happily. He was not gloating because Song was ugly, but because he saw some hope through this incident. It turned out that Guisheng went with a brother of Zheng Linggong.
He often said to his son Quji: "If I have a chance, I will depose him and make you the king of the country." Master Quji only regarded it as a joke and never took it seriously. However, Guisheng is not a joke.
, He really thought so. Just because Young Master Song and Young Master Zheng Linggong were close, he didn't dare to take action. Now that this incident happened, Guisheng felt that he could use this to provoke a conflict between Young Master Zheng Linggong and Young Master Song, and then pull Young Master Song away.
Come to yourself.
Guisheng thought about it for two days, and then went to the house of Young Master Song. He first provoked Young Master Song to complain, and then added fuel and jealousy, until he fanned the flames of Young Master Song. Guisheng said: "You have really offended him this time."
.If you go forward, he will take care of you sooner or later. I'm worried about you."
Young Master Song stared at him and said, "Why do you want to deal with me, Mr. Hun? He was rude first. It's good that I didn't cause trouble for him. Why do you want to deal with me?"
Guisheng pretended to be a good person and said: "After all, he is the king. You have to endure it. Let's go and apologize to him tomorrow."
Young Master Song said: "Humph, what kind of gift can I have to apologize for? I won't go."
On the second day, Master Song's anger was half gone. Gui Sheng pulled him forcefully to apologize to Zheng Linggong. Master Guisheng first said some preparatory words, and after that, he asked Master Song to apologize. But Master Song stood there
On one side, he held his head high and said nothing.
When Guisheng saw this posture, he was secretly happy and hurriedly stood up to leave. Originally, it wasn't that Master Song didn't want to apologize, but he wanted to wait for Zheng Linggong to lower his posture before apologizing. But as soon as Guisheng left, he said nothing.
, followed Guisheng out. Zheng Linggong was very angry. He pointed at the backs of the two of them and said, "Are you here to apologize? It seems like you are here to demonstrate."
The two of them left the court. Young Master Song said a little worriedly: "Looking at his attitude, I really offended him this time. Hey, the trouble is big. If you don't do it well, your head will be at risk."
Gui Sheng added fuel to the fire and said: "Being with a king is like being with a tiger. No one can say for sure about this kind of thing."
Young Master Song suddenly said: "It's better to strike first and destroy him."
Guisheng was scheming and cautious. He was afraid that the young master Song said angry words, and he was also worried that the young master Song and Zheng Linggong had a quarrel today and would get better tomorrow, but they would trap him in it. So he retreated and said: "Such words
Don't talk nonsense. You might lose your head."
Young Master Song was stunned for a moment, then he laughed and said, "Haha, don't take it seriously, I'm just saying something out of anger."
Guisheng felt a chill in his heart. He couldn't figure out whether what Young Master Song said was true or false. So he bowed and said goodbye.
In fact, what Mr. Song said was angry. But once the words were spoken, he began to be afraid, because he was worried that if what he said reached the ears of Zheng Linggong, it would not be angry words, but would cause trouble.
. He thought about it over and over, not thinking about how to make up for it, but came up with an extreme idea. He decided not to stop, to bring Gui Sheng over and do it together.
After Master Song made up his mind, he began to spread rumors in front of some ministers. He added insult to injury by saying how close Master Guisheng and Master Quji were, and also said that they often discussed government affairs behind their backs, made nonsense, and even said that they were deeply involved.
The heart of a minister and so on.
A few days later, Gui came to Prince Song angrily and asked him: "How could you say those words? That is a crime of treason and will be beheaded."
Young Master Song said: "I have said enough treacherous words. You all know it. Sooner or later, it will reach the ears of the lord. If you don't turn to me, I will die. If I die, then I will make you do it."
A back supporter."
The young master returned to life and said, "What do you want?"
Young Master Song said: "Don't you understand this? He is a foolish king. The sharing of the soup has already shown the problem. You are also the humerus of the country. Tell me, what should I do?"
Young Master Guisheng said slyly: "I have no idea, I want to hear your idea."
Young Master Song said: "My intention is to abolish him and establish a young master to cure his illness."
Guisheng almost laughed. He knew that Young Master Song was completely fooled. But he pretended to say: "I have no objection. It's up to you. I won't say anything."
Young Master Song fully understood Gui Sheng’s thoughts. He wanted to eat mutton, but he also didn’t want to get into trouble. Young Master Song despised such people the most, so he simply did it himself. Moreover, he also had the ability and strength to do so.
All the military and political power was in his hands, enough to deal with Zheng Linggong.
In 605 BC, Duke Linggong of Zheng caught a cold. Song took advantage of this opportunity and ordered someone to give Duke Linggong some poison and sent him away. Then he announced to the public that Duke Linggong of Zheng suddenly fell ill and died.
Only Young Master Guisheng knew what was going on, but he didn't say anything. Most people in the court didn't know the truth. Of course, no one dared to say it. The matter was just smoothed over.
After the national funeral, the prince Song He returned to his hometown and asked the prince to come out and become the king. The prince Quji refused to work. He said: "The former king had more than a dozen sons. In terms of age, the prince is the longest. In terms of virtue,
I'm not the best either. I can't do this. Please ask someone else to do it."
Prince Song He had no choice but to appoint Prince Jian as Duke Xianggong of Zheng.
After Prince Song did this, he was still a little worried. In particular, he and Guisheng were both afraid that the Jin State would intervene, so they sent people to sign an alliance with the Jin State.
After King Zhuang of Chu heard about this situation, he said to Sun Shuao: "I was worried that I couldn't find a reason to beat them. This time it's okay. Let's go and accuse Zheng Guo. It's just and justified."
Sun Shuao nodded in agreement and made another suggestion: "If we want to dominate, we must learn from Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin back then, and build up some momentum. If only the Chu State were to attack them, it would be a bit like
When the big bullies the small, the princes will gossip. So it is better to unite several princes to act together."
King Zhuang of Chu asked: "Who should we unite with?"
Sun Shuao said: "Originally, Cai Guo was the most suitable, but Cai Guo has been defeated by Jin. Cai Hou and Xun Lin's father made an alliance under the city. Cai Guo can't be counted on. Xu Guo is too small, please ask them to help.
, it seems ridiculous. The other princely states will not listen to us. There is only one state, Chen."
King Zhuang of Chu said: "Let's make an appointment with Chen Guo. It's better than nothing."
So the State of Chu sent people to meet with the State of Chen. Chen Linggong agreed to send troops, and asked the envoy to convey the message to the King of Chuzhuang, asking the State of Chu to send troops first. He led his troops to meet the Chu army under the city of Xingyang, the capital of Zheng State. The King of Chuzhuang went first.
let's go.
The Chu army reached the gates of Xingyang, the capital of Zheng State, with lightning speed. Duke Xianggang of Zheng was panicked. Although he sent envoys to Jin State for help, he also knew that water far away could not quench the thirst of nearby people at this time. He and his son
Song and Guisheng discussed it and agreed to surrender to Chu.
When it came time to sign the covenant, King Chuzhuang watched eagerly for Chen Linggong to come, but Chen Hou never came. King Chuzhuang had no choice but to make a covenant with Zheng Xianggong himself. The state of Zheng surrendered and sent a large number of gifts to the state of Chu.
King Zhuang of Chu ordered his troops to return to the court.
On the way back with the withdrawal of troops, an envoy sent by the King of Chuzhuang came to report that Duke Chen Linggong did not break the promise, but was killed by a minister named Xia Zhengshu.
Sun Shuao said: "In the past, Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin often interfered in this kind of thing. Since we want to be the overlord, we have to take care of this kind of thing. In this way, we can establish our authority in front of the princes."
King Zhuang of Chu said: "Yes, let's take care of it."
So the Chu army changed its route and came to Chen. Along the way, Chen's envoys told the story of Chen Linggong's murder in detail.