In 595 BC, King Zhuang of Chu sent two envoys to visit Jin and Qi respectively. The one who went to Jin was named Gongzi Feng (the same name as Duke Zhuang of Song, but he was the son of Chu), and the one who went to Qi was for Chu.
Shen Wuwei, the story of "Three Years of Silence" told by King Zhuang.
To go to the Jin State, you have to pass through the Zheng State, and to Qi State, you have to pass through the Song State. According to the rules at that time, envoys passing through the territory of other countries must notify them in advance, which is called "borrowing the road." This is a diplomatic etiquette, indicating that countries communicate with each other.
Equality and mutual respect. But at this time, King Chuzhuang had conquered Chen, Zheng, and Xu, and was in a state of self-expansion. He felt that he was incredible, and even regarded himself as the overlord in his heart.
He thought: If we borrow from those weak countries, how can we show the prestige of Chu?
So King Zhuang of Chu said to Shen Wuwei: "You don't need to borrow a road from the State of Song, just go directly as an envoy of the State of Chu." He then said to Prince Feng: "You don't need to borrow a road from the State of Zheng.
"
Prince Feng had no objection, because Zheng Guo had surrendered to Chu. He could really use his superiority to pass.
But Shen Wuwei was in trouble. Because the Song State did not surrender to the Chu State, not only that, he also had enemies with the people of the Song State. Twenty years ago, Shen Wuwei offended the king of the Song State when he was hunting in Mengzhu.
Shen Wuwei was worried that the people of the Song State would retaliate against him. So he said to King Zhuang of Chu: "The people of the Zheng State are sensible. There is no problem. But the people of the Song State are different. They are all confused, ignorant of the principles, and do not know the importance.
If Master Feng passes by the State of Zheng, there will definitely be no problem. But if I pass by the State of Song, I will die."
King Zhuang of Chu said: "If someone from the Song Dynasty dares to kill you, I will definitely avenge you. Don't worry."
For this reason, Shen Wuwei couldn't say anything else. But he knew that going to the Song Dynasty would be a disaster.
Before leaving, Shen Wuwei specially called his son Shen Xi and warned him: "If I am killed by people from the Song Dynasty, you must remind the king and ask him to remember to avenge me."
Shen Wuwei made all the arrangements that needed to be made and explained what needed to be explained, and then set out for the Song Dynasty with his entourage. Sure enough, he was detained as soon as he arrived in the Song Dynasty. The soldiers handed him over to the Song Dynasty general Hua Yuan for processing.
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Hua Yuan asked Shen Wuwei: "Do you think the envoys of the Chu State are great? You can pass through the Song Dynasty without borrowing the road? The Song Dynasty is a country, not a 'border town' of your Chu State. You are too arrogant, right?
Do you still have the Song Dynasty in your eyes? Has the Song Dynasty perished?"
Shen Wuwei knew that he was wrong, but he showed no weakness and said forcefully: "If you dare to touch me, the Song Dynasty will fall."
Hua Yuan laughed and said: "I know. If I kill you, the Chu State will come to retaliate, and the Song State may die. But if I don't kill you, the Song State will be regarded by you as a 'border town' of the Chu State and will follow."
There is no difference. The left is also dead, and the right is also dead, so I will kill you first and then think about the future."
Hua Yuan was not joking. After he said this, he ordered his men to kill Shen Wuwei.
When the news of Shen Wuwei's murder reached Yingdu, King Chuzhuang had just woken up. After hearing the report, he immediately rushed to the door angrily, threw his clothes and sleeves, stood up suddenly, and walked out barefoot. His waiter hurried out.
He took the things and chased him out. He chased him to the corridor and told him to put on his shoes. He chased him outside the palace and told him to hang up his sword.
King Chuzhuang put on his shoes and hung up his sword, but still walked forward with an angry look on his face, as if he was looking for someone to fight with. The waiters followed him out of the palace and onto the street. When the people who served him saw him walking, they
He quickly called for a carriage. King Chuzhuang didn't look at it, kept his head down, and continued walking. The waiter and the driver had no choice but to follow him, and followed him all the way to a market called Puxu. People came here
As people went, the group of people serving him finally persuaded King Chuzhuang to get on the carriage...
It can be seen that King Zhuang of Chu was really angry.
When King Chuzhuang returned to the palace, he began to think about the use of troops against the Song Dynasty. It happened that the envoys of the State of Zheng came to report that Jin Jinggong of Jin had sent troops to attack Zheng, and asked the King of Chu to send troops to rescue him. King Chuzhuang had to put aside the affairs of the Song Dynasty.
Let go and call Sun Shuao, Gongzi Xi and others to discuss the matter of rescuing Zheng Guo.
Sun Shuao said: "The State of Zheng is our vassal state, and the State of Song is our vassal state. If they attack our vassal state, we will attack theirs."
King Chuzhuang smiled and said: "I also want to attack the Song Dynasty. The people of the Song Dynasty killed Shen Wuwei. I have a word in advance. If they dare to kill Shen Wuwei, I will definitely avenge him."
The young master said sideways: "My lord, just attack the Song Dynasty. It is much easier to attack the Song Dynasty than to directly attack the Jin Dynasty."
King Zhuang of Chu said: "Then let's discuss how to attack the Song Dynasty."
In September 594 BC, the autumn air was crisp and the earth was slightly cold. The Chu army marched into the Song Dynasty on the falling yellow leaves. The Song army could not resist it, and within a few days, the Chu army surrounded the Song Dynasty.
The capital is Suiyang.
At this time, Le Ying, a senior official of the Song Dynasty, had already arrived in the Jin Dynasty. He knelt on the ground and shouted for help, hoping that Jin Jinggong would send troops to rescue him. Jin Jinggong comforted him and told him to stand down first. Then he called the ministers to discuss.
Jin Jinggong said: "Now among the princes in the Central Plains, the only one left who has friendship with us is the Song Dynasty. If we don't save it, this last friend will be lost."
The doctor Zongbo said: "No. There is an ancient saying, 'Although the whip is long, it is not as long as the belly of a horse.' Now Chu is so powerful that it seems to have heaven's help, so don't compete with it. Although Jin is strong, how can it go against heaven's will?"
Jin Jinggong said: "We can't control God's will. I can't stand this tone now."
Zongbo said eloquently: "As the saying goes, whether it is high or low depends on the inner judgment. Rivers can contain filth, mountains and forests can hide beasts, and beautiful jade can hide flaws. As the king of a country, he should endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens. This is the law of heaven. Lord.
, let’s talk about this matter slowly.”
Jin Jinggong looked at the ministers, and they all seemed to agree with Uncle Zong. He also thought that the main force of the Jin army was still in Zheng State and could not be transferred back for a while. So he gave up the idea of sending troops.
But as an overlord, he had to make a statement even without sending troops. So Jin Jinggong ordered his minister Xie Yang to go to the Song Dynasty as an envoy. He said: "Go and tell them that they must not surrender, but must stand firm and wait for reinforcements. The Jin Kingdom will soon be
Troops are dispatched."
Then, he sent someone to tell Song envoy Le Ying and told him to return to Song first and wait for Jin to send troops.
Xie Yang left Jin State and went south. When he passed by Zheng State, he was caught by Zheng Guo. Zheng Xianggong knew that Chu State was attacking Song State, but he was actually helping himself, so he escorted Xie Yang to King Zhuang of Chu.
King Chuzhuang persuaded Xie Yang to surrender, but Xie Yang refused. But King Chuzhuang was very patient. He invited Xie Yang to drink and gave him a lot of gifts. Xie Yang felt that if he didn't surrender, he might not be able to escape. So he started playing
Pretending to surrender.
King Zhuang of Chu asked: "What on earth did the Marquis of Jin send you to the Song Dynasty for?"
Xie Yang said: "I won't lie to you. I went to the Song Dynasty just to tell them that the Jin Kingdom will send troops soon, and to ask them not to surrender but to hold on and wait for reinforcements."
King Chuzhuang said: "Then you go and tell them that the Jin army cannot come, and ask them to give up resistance and surrender as soon as possible. The people of Song will surrender if they give up their thoughts. This is a good thing, so that the people will not suffer."
Xie Yang lowered his head and said nothing. King Chuzhuang said: "If you don't agree, I will have to treat you as an enemy."
Xie Yang sighed and said, "Okay."
On the second day, the Chu army pushed a high observation platform to the edge of the city and asked Xie Yang to stand on the platform and shout to the city. Xie Yang shouted: "Song soldiers of the Song Army, listen, my name is Xie Yang, and I have been ordered by the Marquis of Jin to come here.
Come and send a message."
When he shouted, both the Chu army attacking the city and the Song army defending the city stopped. Especially the Song soldiers, when they heard that Jin people were coming, they all pricked up their ears.
Xie Yang shouted loudly: "Soldiers of the Song Dynasty, the Marquis of Jin asked me to tell you that the Jin Kingdom will send out troops soon. I asked you to stand firm and wait for reinforcements and never surrender."
King Chuzhuang quickly asked someone to get Xie Yang down, and then angrily said: "You promised to help me, why did you break your promise to me again? You are looking for death, don't blame me for being rude."
Xie Yang showed no fear and even grinned. Then he talked about the truth seriously. He said: "I heard that the reason why the king can give orders depends on his righteousness; the ministers can obey the king.
It depends on trust. Trust is like water, and righteousness is like a boat. If righteousness is carried by trust, the boat will sail smoothly. Only in this way can what you want to do be accomplished, the country can be stable, and the people can be united. If you have righteousness in your heart, you can keep your word.
Since you keep your word, you will not betray the monarch. Your Majesty, you use money to bribe me. You don't understand what the monarch relies on to drive his subjects. I came under the order of the Marquis of Jin. If I can't complete my mission, I will die. How is it possible?
Why do you give up because of a little money? The reason why I agreed to help you is simply that I want to achieve 'the emperor's salary and the emperor's work'. With this little thought, I have nothing else to ask for."
King Chuzhuang was confused and impatient. He stared and said, "I will throw you into the oil pan and fry you now. Do you believe it?"
Xie Yang looked up to the sky and laughed, looked around at the Chu generals in the big tent, and then said: "You have all seen it. I didn't lie to you. I am both a loyal minister and a trustworthy minister. I didn't expect that a loyal minister who is trustworthy will be the most important person in the Chu State."
This kind of outcome, throwing loyal ministers into the pot, is probably your Chu country's style, right? It doesn't matter if I die, but I have to remind you generals that you have to be careful in the future."
Xie Yang's words were both provocation and incitement. The generals of the Chu army present seemed to be touched. King Chuzhuang looked at the generals, and the generals looked at King Chuzhuang. Everyone seemed a little moved.
Suddenly, a man came out to plead for Xie Yang, and then everyone came forward to plead, as if whoever did not express his position was not a loyal minister. King Chuzhuang was a little embarrassed. He looked at the oil pan, thinking, fry him?
Or not to explode?
The atmosphere in the big tent was a bit solid. King Chuzhuang hesitated for a while, thinking that there was no use for Xie Yang anyway, and there was no point in killing him, and it would be unpleasant to spread the news. So he smiled and used everyone's platform to plead for mercy.
Release Xie Yang.
After King Chuzhuang was teased by Xie Yang, he gave up the idea of opportunism and began to concentrate on organizing an siege. He felt that attack was the most practical.
When the Song army in Suiyang City heard Xie Yang's message, they were just like the people of Zheng who believed that reinforcements from Jin would arrive soon. They were full of expectations and resisted desperately. The Chu army could not attack at all.
Hua Yuan, the general of the Song Dynasty, saw that the general of the Chu State, Gongzi Xi, had built a high platform outside the city. He climbed on the high platform to look into the city all day long. He also imitated the way of Gongzi Xiang, built a high platform, and climbed to the high platform every day.
Looking out from the city. Sometimes, Yuan Hua and Gong Zi Xi stood on the high platform and shouted across the city wall. Gong Zi Xi advised Hua Yuan to surrender, and Hua Yuan advised Gong Zi Xi to withdraw his troops.
Song and Chu fought fiercely every day and fell into a stalemate.
In Suiyang City, the whole city, old and young, mobilized, and those who could hold weapons climbed up the city wall to defend the city. The battle lasted from the autumn of 594 BC to the spring of the next year, a full nine months. Chu
The army could not break the city, and the Song army could not drive away the Chu people. Both sides were exhausted from the fight, but their eyes were red with blood and they gritted their teeth and persisted.
Compared with the Chu army, the Song army was in a very critical situation. The city of Suiyang had already run out of food. The people gave all the food they had to the soldiers guarding the city, and dug bark and grass roots to satisfy their hunger. People in the city starved to death every day. The soldiers and civilians of the Song Dynasty died of hunger every day.
They looked forward to the Jin army's rescue just like they looked to the stars and the moon, but the Jin army was like the stars in the day, not even their shadows could be seen. Even so, the Song people were still united and refused to surrender.
King Zhuang of Chu was in a low mood. Seeing that the soldiers of Chu were depleted day by day, and the food and grass were gradually running out, but the city of Suiyang remained unmoving, his heart was burning. Now, he could not win the attack, and he was unwilling to retreat. As the saying goes, it is difficult to get off the tiger.
One day, the King of Chuzhuang complained to the young master Shen Shushi. He said: "I didn't expect the people of the Song Dynasty to be so tenacious. I think we really can't defeat them. Let's go back."
The young master and Uncle Shen were also dejected and helpless.
That night, Uncle Shen's servant gave him advice and said: "The people of the Song Dynasty did not surrender because they expected that we would not be able to stay long. I have a plan that can break the will of the Song army."
Uncle Shen knew that this servant was very clever, so he asked humbly: "What can you do?"
The servant said: "We might as well build a house outside Suiyang City, farm the land, and make it look like we will live there for a long time, and see how long they can sustain it."
Uncle Shen laughed and said, "It's a good idea. A wonderful plan."
He didn't care about eating and hurriedly went to tell King Chuzhuang. King Chuzhuang clapped his hands and said: "This is a good idea, let's do it."
On the high platform in the city, Hua Yuan saw Chu soldiers building houses and clearing wasteland outside the city. He suddenly panicked. He said to Song Wengong: "It seems that the Chu people are planning to live here for a long time. This
Is it worth it? After nine months of fighting, there is not even a trace of reinforcements from the Jin State, so there is no hope. What should we do now?"
Song Wengong drooped his head and just sighed. He had no choice. Hua Yuan sat aside blankly, neither of them spoke. After a while, Yuan Hua suddenly said: "Yes. I will go to see the young master in person, maybe I can talk to you."
Opportunities for peace.”
Song Wengong said: "The time has come when there is no other way. No matter what method you can try, you can try it. But I have to remind you that the life and death of the general is related to the survival of the Song Dynasty. You must not be rash and be careful."
Hua Yuan said: "Lord, don't worry. I will naturally plan carefully."
Hua Yuan had already figured out the activity patterns of Gongzi Fang. In the past month, Gongzi Fang had gone crazy. He did not go back to the military camp to sleep every night, but slept in a small wooden cabin on the command platform in front of the formation. Hua Yuan
Yuan's plan was to use the cover of night to sneak into the cabin and force the young master to make peace.
This was a risky plan, but Hua Yuan had no other choice. Song Wengong was worried and repeatedly told Yuan Hua to be careful.
On a dark night, in the middle of the night, Hua Yuan put on the Chu army's armor, carried a dagger, and slipped down from the city wall along a rope. He observed the Chu army's movements from the high platform every day, so he prepared the Chu army's defenses.
It was very clear that he bypassed the guard post and deceived the guards under the command podium on the Young Master's side. Like a ghost, he quietly touched the command podium on the Young Master's side.
The young master was sleeping on the floor with his clothes on as usual. When Hua Yuan sneaked in, the young master was sleeping soundly. He touched the young master's side, held the dagger in one hand, and gently pushed the young master with the other hand. With the first push, the young master was
After turning over and pushing again, Young Master suddenly opened his eyes and asked in surprise: "Who is that person?" He wanted to get up.
Hua Yuan stopped him with his hands and whispered: "I am Hua Yuan. Hua Yuan, the commander-in-chief of the Song Army."
The young master blurted out, "Hua Yuan?" But after just calling out, he saw the gleaming dagger in Hua Yuan's hand. He stopped talking.
Hua Yuan said: "General, don't be nervous. I am here to ask you for peace on the orders of my lord. If you agree, we can talk about anything. If you don't agree, then neither of us will be able to do this."
After saying that, Hua Yuan shook the dagger in his hand. The blade of the dagger reflected the light of the fire in the distance. Even in the dark night, it was still chilly.
The young master sat up and said, "Put down that thing in your hand first and talk to me carefully if you have something to say."
Hua Yuan put away the dagger and apologized: "It's an emergency, I'm sorry. Please don't take offense."
The young master said sideways: "Since you have come to seek peace, you must tell the truth, right? Let me ask you, can the Song army survive?"
Hua Yuan said: "To be honest, I can't survive anymore. The city of Suiyang has been out of food for a long time. There has been a phenomenon of 'exchanging children for food, chopping bones for firewood' among the people. I really can't survive anymore."
Young Master asked in surprise: "Is it so miserable?"
Hua Yuan said: "Although it is tragic, the whole city, the army and the people are united and vow to live and die with Suiyang. This is also true. If the general retreats thirty miles, we will make peace with you."
The young master said sideways: "Hey, actually we are not much better. Building houses outside the city and farming are all illusions. We can only store food for three days at most, and we can't hold on any longer. Well, I will report to the king tomorrow.
Ask him to withdraw his troops. However, you must keep your word and cannot lie to me."
Hua Yuan said: "How about we swear to God here that I won't lie to you and you won't deceive me. We keep our word to each other?"
The two knelt on the floor and swore an oath. After the oath, the young master turned to the case and pulled out a command arrow and handed it to Hua Yuan, telling him to go back quickly under the cover of night.
On the second day, the Chu army stopped attacking on all fronts. The young master went to see the King of Chuzhuang and told him the situation last night in detail. The King of Chuzhuang blamed him and said: "You should not tell him the truth about us."
The young master said sideways: "Song is just a country that can tell the truth, but Chu is a state that doesn't even have one person who dares to tell the truth? Besides, since I want to negotiate peace, I have to give him some sincerity."
King Chuzhuang said: "The Song people can no longer hold on. We simply grit our teeth and persist for a few days. We will capture Suiyang and then withdraw our troops."
Young Master said anxiously: "Although Hua Yuan said so, our Chu army is already extremely weak. If we continue to fight, we may not be able to win. If the king really wants to fight, then I will hand over the command to you. Come on
command."
King Chuzhuang saw the young master with his disheveled beard and hair swaying, staring at his bloodshot eyes, looking like he was fighting for his life, and thought to himself: "Young Master has tried his best. I can't fall out with him anyway, so why not
Just listen to him once and forget it." So he said: "This time, you made the decision without permission. I will not punish you."
The young master said sideways: "As a general, I have to consider the safety of the entire army. If the lord wants to punish me, I will naturally obey and have nothing to say."
King Chuzhuang turned around and smiled and said, "Okay, I'll do as you wish."
The Chu army relieved the siege of Suiyang that day, retreated thirty miles and set up camp.
Hua Yuan entered the Chu camp again and made a covenant with King Zhuang of Chu. The first sentence of the covenant was: "I have no deceit from you, and you have no danger from me." After the signature was completed, King Zhuang of Chu, Sun Shu'ao, and the Young Master
Xi and others made an oath to heaven with Hua Yuan.
Both sides stopped fighting. From then on, the Song State broke away from the Jin State and surrendered to the Chu State.