Chapter 28 Chapter 27 Difficulty Finding the Overlord

Duke Huan of Qi conquered from the east to the west, shared the worries of the emperor on the top, and helped the princes to solve the difficulties on the bottom.The princes of the world are considered to have a backbone, and they all know that "if there is difficulty, find the overlord". In 664 BC, the country of Yan far in the north sent envoys to seek help from Duke Huan of Qi. This country of Yan is not the South Yan that appeared twice before, but the real Yan country—Bei Yan.The State of Yan was the fiefdom of Zhao Gongshi, the great hero of King Wu of Zhou who destroyed Shang.Zhao Gongshi is also surnamed Ji, but he has no direct relationship with King Wu of Zhou, so he can only be regarded as a relative or a fellow clansman.The capital of Yan State is Ji, which is today's Beijing.Its southern border is bordered by the state of Qi, and its ruling area is today's northern Hebei Province, southern Liaoning Province, and part of the Korean Peninsula.It was not until the middle and late Warring States period that the Yan Kingdom really rose. In the Spring and Autumn Period, because the location was too remote, there was basically no role in it.

Among the vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty, Yan State was the northernmost.There are many ethnic minority tribes here, and the climate is cold and the natural conditions are very poor.So it is conceivable that the living environment of Yan State is very harsh.In addition, Yan State was far away from the Central Plains, and there was little communication with the princes. Especially since entering the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Yan State's tribute to the Zhou royal family also stopped.This makes the vassals in the Central Plains often forget that there is such a vassal state in the north. If it hadn't been for the envoy of the Yan Kingdom to ask for help this time, Duke Huan of Qi would not have remembered that there is another Yan Kingdom in the north.It turns out that the Yan Kingdom in the north has never been lonely, and the Rongdi tribe in the north always comes to harass it from time to time.Originally, the Rong and Di people also played small fights, robbing things and leaving.However, in 664 BC, a Rongdi tribe called Shanrong probably felt that the small troubles were not enough, so they drove straight into the country of Yan and would not leave. They would occupy the capital and destroy the country of Yan the meaning of.

At this time, Yan Zhuanggong was in power in the state of Yan, and he had long lost the heroic spirit of his ancestor Zhao Gongshi.Facing Rongdi's invasion, he was helpless, and there was nothing he could do.When he was in a hurry, a minister gave him an idea: "Now the overlord of the Central Plains is the Marquis of Qi. It is said that this Marquis of Qi takes the slogan of respecting the king and fighting the barbarians, keeps his promises, and often helps the poor. Therefore, all the princes of the Central Plains respect Qi Marquis. Why don't we invite Qi Marquis Come to help repel the Shanrong?"

Lord Yan Zhuang's eyes lit up: "I also heard people say that Marquis Qi is respected as the overlord by all the countries in the Central Plains, and everyone is convinced. Now that my country is in trouble, the overlord will not sit idly by. Qihou asks for help." When Duke Huan of Qi heard that the envoy from the Kingdom of Yan had arrived, he didn't dare to neglect, so he hurriedly called Guan Zhong to discuss countermeasures.Duke Huan of Qi's concern is actually very simple: if a prince is in trouble, the overlord is obliged to rescue him.However, the country of Yan is far away, and the Shanrong is difficult to deal with. I am afraid that I will not be able to take advantage of the war.

Guan Zhong insisted on saving Yan.Guan Zhong said: "My lord, as the overlord, you are supposed to solve the worries and problems of the princes. We declare to the outside world that we will respect the king and fight against the barbarians. Now that the barbarians are invading, how can we ignore it? No matter how far the journey is, no matter how dangerous the journey is, we will send troops!" When Duke Huan of Qi heard it, it made sense.Why do the princes of the Central Plains respect me as the boss?Isn't it because I can cover these princes.If the country of Yan is in trouble and I don't go to rescue it, no one of the princes will obey me.Pass down the order to send troops to rescue Yan immediately!

The envoy of Yan Kingdom was very happy when he saw that the overlord agreed to send troops so quickly.Duke Huan of Qi's large army, with the envoy of Yan State, marched northward. The army of Qi State crossed Jishui (a river that flowed through Henan and Shandong in ancient times, and later disappeared because of the diversion of the Yellow River). Duke Zhuang of Lu hosted a banquet on the edge of Jishui to entertain Duke Huan of Qi.Duke Huan of Qi told Lu Zhuanggong about the crusade against the Shan Rong and the rescue of Yan.Duke Zhuang of Lu greatly appreciated it, thinking that Duke Huan of Qi was an act of helping those in need.

Duke Zhuang of Lu praised Duke Huan of Qi all the way, and finally asked Duke Huan of Qi if he wanted Lu to send troops to help save Yan together.Duke Huan of Qi discussed it with Guan Zhong, and declined politely on the grounds that the journey was far away and it was not easy to bother the State of Lu. Fighting against ethnic minorities like Shanrong, sometimes it doesn't matter if there are too many troops.These ethnic groups do not have a fixed army, but implement a policy of all the people as soldiers.He felt that there was a gap in the Central Plains area, so he called in to grab things.When the Central Plains army reacted, they withdrew again.It is very difficult for the army in the Central Plains to pursue them. The most troublesome thing is that the logistical supplies often cannot keep up.The number of troops is too large, and the pressure on logistics is too great, and the battle will be difficult to fight.Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong both understood this truth.

Duke Huan of Qi comforted Duke Zhuang of Lu and said: "With you sitting behind us, I have a solid foundation in my mind when I am going on an expedition. If this battle is not good, it will not be too late for me to ask the State of Lu for help. If this battle wins, Lu will be indispensable." Honor your credit." After bidding farewell to Duke Zhuang of Lu, the army of Qi State continued to march north, and soon entered the territory of Yan State. The Shan Rong, who were burning, killing, and looting wantonly in the territory of Yan State, dispersed as soon as they heard that the army of the overlord of the Central Plains had arrived.Anyway, this time I also grabbed a lot of good things, enough to eat and drink for several years.Who hasn't lost their brains, and head-to-head with the army of the overlord of the Central Plains?joke!

Therefore, Duke Huan of Qi's army did not actually fight the Shan Rong, so the soldiers withdrew.When the Qi army came to Jicheng, Lord Yan Zhuang went out to meet him.This Marquis of Yan hadn't been out of the capital since the Shanrong invasion, and he was almost depressed.Now I can finally come out to breathe, and I can also pay my respects to the military appearance of the overlord of the Central Plains. The army of Qi State with bright armor and swords and guns really left a deep impression on Duke Yan Zhuang.How about someone being the overlord? Look at the momentum of this army!

When the monarchs of Yan and Qi met, they naturally said a lot of polite words.Yan Zhuanggong highly praised Duke Qihuan for his international humanitarian spirit, and he was very grateful for Duke Qihuan's heroic act of sending troops to rescue him without hesitation.But at the end of the day, Lord Yan Zhuang was still not at ease: this time the Shan Rong had withdrawn, and there was no guarantee that he would not come again in the future.But can the army of Qi State be stationed in Yan State forever? Duke Huan of Qi also felt that a victory won without a battle is really tasteless.Just withdraw the troops by yourself?Two days later, the Shan Rong called again, and Yan Guo had to ask for help again.Not to mention the lack of face of such an overlord, the cost of sending troops back and forth to the Northern Expedition is staggering enough.

Guan Zhong also saw the concerns of the two monarchs, and he suggested to Duke Huan: "My lord, although the mountain soldiers have withdrawn this time, they have come and gone without a trace. When our army leaves, they will definitely come to harass the country of Yan again." .In my opinion, if we carry out our good deeds to the end, we might as well continue to go north and end up with Shanrong’s lair. Wouldn’t that be a good solution once and for all?” Duke Huan of Qi said: "Okay, Father Zhong has reached the heart of the widow. It is not easy for us to come to the country of Yan from such a long distance. We must solve the problems of the country of Yan thoroughly. Pass the order, and the three armies will set off immediately , head north, and go straight to the Shan Rong's lair!" Lord Yan Zhuang was so moved that tears fell.How can this be an overlord? Look at this high-spirited and honest man, he is simply a living Lei Feng, no, he is Bethune, a great internationalist fighter!It's a pity that there were still more than 2,000 years before these two were born, otherwise Qi Huan would not be able to escape the title of Living Lei Feng. Lord Yan Zhuang said: "The overlord has worked tirelessly to help our country completely solve the border troubles. I am grateful on behalf of the people of our country. The nest of this Shanrong is in Lingzhi, which is located in the northeast of Jicheng. I am willing to lead the army of Yan State as a Forward, lead the way for the overlord's brigade." Duke Huan of Qi shook his head and said: "The country of Yan has just experienced a military disaster. How could I have the heart to let you take the lead? Marquis Yan, you can just take the soldiers and horses as my rear team and ensure the logistics supply. The army will go on an expedition. Food and grass are the most important. Of course, we still need to send a few guides to lead the way.” Lord Yan Zhuang was moved again, and it was also a blessing for Yan to meet such an overlord.Therefore, Duke Yan Zhuang recommended some guides of ethnic minorities who had lived in the north for generations to Duke Huan of Qi, and led the army of Qi State to march towards Lingzhi. The location of Lingzhi is within the boundaries of today's Qian'an, Qianxi and other counties in Hebei Province.In the Spring and Autumn Period, this area was still inhabited by ethnic minorities, and many Rong tribes lived here.Some historical books say that the Rong people here established a Lingzhi state with their own king and state institutions.However, considering the development level of the northern nomads at that time, the author is more inclined to think that the so-called Lingzhi country is just a big tribal alliance. Duke Huan of Qi appointed Prince Chengfu, a doctor, as the vanguard, and Duke Zhuang of Yan led the Yan army as the rear team. He himself, Guan Zhong, Xi Peng, Bao Shuya and others led the main force of the Chinese army, preparing to fight against the Shan Rong. As mentioned earlier, at that time the ethnic minorities in the north had not yet established a stable political power, so they did not have any organized army.It is okay to go to the countries of the Central Plains to plunder in peacetime, but if you really encounter an organized Central Plains army, you will not be an opponent. Wang Zicheng's father took the lead bravely and entered Lingzhi.The leaders of the Lingzhi tribe, big and small, never expected that Qi State would take the initiative to attack, and were caught off guard.That's right, they usually attack the Central Plains countries. If the Central Plains countries counterattack, they will withdraw. Never have they seen the Central Plains army run so far to catch up to their lair. The Rong nationality implements the system that all the people are soldiers. When they want to go out to grab things, all the men are soldiers.After grabbing the things and returning, everyone went back to their respective homes, and the wives and children lived on the kang.The Qi army came, but they couldn't organize any decent army. The leader of the Rong tribe could only take the gold and silver and fled further north.Those who had no time to escape became prisoners of Qi's army. Many properties robbed by the Rong people were taken back by Duke Huan of Qi and returned to Duke Zhuang of Yan.Duke Yan Zhuang wanted to give some of it to reward the Qi army, but Duke Huan of Qi resigned.In this way, even the soldiers of Yan State felt that the Qi army was a teacher of benevolence and righteousness. Lingzhi has been occupied, but their leader has fled.Where did you escape to?Not far from Lingzhi, there is also a Guzhu country, and the relationship with Lingzhi has always been good.These refugees from Lingzhi fled to Guzhu Country for refuge. According to historical records, the Guzhu Kingdom is an ancient country that was established as early as the Yin and Shang Dynasties. It is said that the monarch's surname is Jiang. From this point of view, there may be some kinship between the Guzhu Kingdom and the Qi Kingdom.The location of Guzhu Country is probably near Lulong County, Hebei Province today.In ancient times, this place was a place where Rongdi and Central Plains people lived together, so Guzhu Kingdom also quickly transformed into Rongdi.By the Spring and Autumn Period, they had become one with the tribes of Shanrong.The Rong people went to the Central Plains to plunder, and the Guzhu Kingdom often participated in it, and they did not miss some spoils. The leader of Lingzhi ran to the Guzhu National Army, crying with snot and tears about how the Qi State used the big to bully the small and occupied its own territory.Lord Guzhu also knew that if Qi sent troops this time, they would not withdraw until they subdued the Rong people in the northern part of Yan.That being the case, then join forces with the Lingzhi people and fight to the death with the Qi State. Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Yanzhuang discussed whether to continue the pursuit.Lord Yan Zhuang felt that since Shanrong's lair had been copied, the dispatch of troops this time would be considered a complete victory.If you continue to chase, I'm afraid the future will be dangerous, and the outcome is uncertain.Duke Huan of Qi's aura of domineering came up, since he knew that the enemy had gone to Guzhu country, why didn't he chase him? Therefore, Duke Huan of Qi left Yan Zhuanggong and the army of the State of Yan in the territory of Lingzhi, while he, Guan Zhong and other ministers led the army of Qi to go straight to Guzhu State to kill. The Lord of Guzhu said he was not afraid of Qi, but when Qi's army came over, his few troops were not enough.Guzhu's army retreated steadily, while Qi's army advanced step by step.Lord Guzhu had no choice but to ask Qi for peace. However, the Lone Bamboo Country is a thousand-year-old country after all, and there are still capable people.Someone suggested to Lord Guzhu that the Qi people are newcomers and are not familiar with the geography, so we can take advantage of this.There is a large desert in the north of our country, commonly known as the dry sea. Even locals who are familiar with the road often get lost there.We might as well send a minister to feign surrender to Qi and lure them into the dry sea so that they never come back.In this way, we can annihilate the entire army of the Qi State without a single soldier. Monarch Guzhu slapped his thigh, it was a good idea, and he ordered it to be done immediately.Qi Huangong was really eager to find a guide who was familiar with the road, so he had no doubts about the minister of the Guzhu Kingdom who came to surrender.The minister followed the strategy and led the Qi army into the desert step by step.Then he found a free time, slipped back to Guzhu country to return to his command, and left all the army of Qi country in the desert. Looking at the yellow sand all over the sky, and the guide was gone, Duke Huan of Qi became anxious, and the soldiers of Qi State were also afraid. Tens of thousands of horses turned in circles in the desert, unable to find their way out. If we go on like this, we will die of exhaustion in the desert.Guan Zhong quickly suggested to Duke Huan of Qi to stop marching and save his strength first. The army stopped, but there was yellow sand all around, and storms blew up from time to time, blowing the sand all over the sky. The whole scene was so dark that it was impossible to distinguish east, west, south, north.How can I find my way back? Guan Zhong racked his brains, and suddenly remembered that he had heard some old people say that many livestock have the instinct to recognize the way.There are quite a few old horses in our army, why don't we let them go and see if we can follow them out of the desert? As of now, that's the only way to go.So Duke Huan of Qi ordered the army to select old horses, remove their restraints, and see which direction they would go. The old horses took off the reins and ran in one direction.Guan Zhong ordered the large troops to follow closely behind these horses and not to fall behind.In this way, the chariots of Qi State followed the horses, and the infantry followed the chariots.This trick really worked, and the Qi army walked out of the desert smoothly.The Qi army, up and down, admired Guan Zhong so much.Or Zhongfu is knowledgeable, he even knows how to use animals. After leaving the desert, Duke Huan of Qi would continue to march and attack the capital of Guzhu Kingdom.In order to arrive as soon as possible, the Qi army made multiple journeys and marched quickly along the mountain path. When walking the mountain road, I encountered a problem again.The north is dry and rainless, and there is not a small river on the road.In order to find water sources, Qi's army concentrated on digging wells wherever they went.However, after digging for a long time, no water could be found, so Duke Huan of Qi became anxious again.At this time, Xi Peng came up with an idea: to dig water, you have to use ants as guides.Ants always build nests where there is water.Ant nests are built on the south side of the mountain in winter and on the north side of the mountain in summer.It's winter now, and we're going to the south of the mountain to find an ant nest.Dig a well near the ant nest and you will be sure to find water. Duke Huan of Qi ordered the soldiers to dig a well according to what Xi Peng said, and they found a source of water.After the three armies and horses had drunk their fill, they continued to march towards Guzhu Country. The monarch of the Guzhu Kingdom thought that he could rest easy after trapping the Qi army in the desert, so he didn't make any preparations to meet the enemy at all.How did they know that Qi's army not only walked out of the desert quickly, but also marched quickly, and soon approached the city. The Lone Bamboo Country was small and weak, plus it had no defenses, so it was soon attacked by Duke Huan of Qi.The monarch of Guzhu State became a prisoner of Qi State and had his head beheaded.The Guzhu Kingdom was thus destroyed (some pre-Qin historical data believe that although the king of the Guzhu Kingdom died, the country survived for another four years before it was completely wiped out in 660 BC, and its territory was merged into the Yan Kingdom. or not, has no bearing on how our story progresses). Guzhu State has been occupied by Qi State, and Lingzhi has already been wiped out by Duke Huan of Qi.The disappearance of these two largest Shanrong forces made the surrounding Rongdi small tribes terrified of the Central Plains overlord, and expressed their willingness to surrender, and they will no longer harass the Central Plains.Duke Huan of Qi led his army back to Yan. In Lingzhi, Duke Yan Zhuang had already learned that Duke Huan of Qi had returned after a great victory, so he set up a team to welcome Marquis Qi.The armies of Qi and Yan joined forces and held a celebration banquet.During the banquet, Duke Huan of Qi asked Duke Yanzhuang to send officials to manage the newly conquered land of Lingzhi and Guzhu.Duke Yan Zhuang was taken aback, he couldn't believe his ears, there is such a good thing? Lord Yan Zhuang said: "After your bitter battle, the overlord, the small tribes of Rong and Di in the north have been scared out of their wits. I don't think they will dare to invade the country of Yan again. I am satisfied that I can keep the country's peace. How dare I Accept the new land? Besides, whoever takes the land will own it. You destroyed Lingzhi and Guzhu and opened up 500 miles of land. These lands should belong to Qi State, so please send officials to guard them. " Duke Huan of Qi smiled and said, "I won't say those high-sounding polite words anymore. If Qi State wants to manage these lands, it has to send officials across Yan State. It is really inconvenient to come and go. But Yan State and These places are bordering each other. Besides, your country is located in the north, and you know the customs here, so it is easier to manage. I hope that the king can restore the great cause of Zhao Gongshi in the past, resume paying tribute to the emperor, and guard the northern gate for the emperor. In this way, as the overlord, the widow also feels radiant on his face." Duke Yan Zhuang doesn't know what to say, where can he find someone who is more selfless than Marquis Qi?I am determined to follow this overlord!After the banquet, the armies of Qi and Yan had finished their rest and reorganization, leaving a small number of troops to guard the newly conquered Lingzhi, Guzhu and other places.The large army, under the leadership of the monarchs of Qi and Yan, headed back home. Duke Huan of Qi's Northern Expedition to the Shanrong came to an end.The detailed process of this war is described vividly in the novel, which makes up for the lack of less and unsystematic records in the history books.But novels are novels after all, and they can only be used for reference, and cannot be regarded as real things.Of course, this article also draws on the plots in the novel to some extent, but removes those stories and characters that are difficult to find in historical materials.As for the specific location of the dry sea desert in the article, it is difficult to verify clearly now. Back in the country of Yan, Lord Yan Zhuang originally wanted to stay with Duke Huan of Qi to stay longer, but Duke Huan of Qi, as the overlord, had a lot of things to deal with, so he couldn't delay in the country of Yan.Yan Zhuanggong personally took the ministers to bid farewell to Qi Huangong. Lord Yan Zhuang was really moved.Regardless of personal safety, Duke Huan of Qi went on an expedition to the desert and eliminated border troubles for Yan.Moreover, he didn't want to return, and gave all the land he opened up to the Yan State.For such an overlord, Lord Yan Zhuang didn't know how to express his gratitude, so he could only reluctantly send him off one way after another, not wanting to go back. Duke Huan of Qi was also very moved. Compared with the intrigues of the princes of the Central Plains, this Marquis of Yan is truly affectionate.The friendship between two people is really called the friendship established in the battle.It's a pity that the country of Yan is too far away. This time, after parting with Marquis Yan, I'm afraid they will never see each other again in their lifetime, so the two of them have endless things to say. Seeing the Qi-Yan border, Duke Huan of Qi asked Duke Zhuang of Yan to go back, but Duke Zhuang of Yan was unwilling and had to send him another way.Therefore, Duke Yan Zhuang left his country and sent Duke Huan of Qi 50 miles into the territory of Qi State. Duke Huan of Qi saw it, where should it be sent?You can't send me directly to Linzi.So he resolutely asked Yan Hou to return to the country, saying: "Zhou Li stipulates that the princes are not allowed to leave the country when they are sent off. Now you are sending me into the territory of Qi, and I am 50 miles away from the border. It is really impossible to send me away. The widow has received my wish, and I also invite the prince to return to the country to govern the country well, and it will not be in vain for the widow to work on this expedition.” It was only then that Lord Yan Zhuang remembered that Zhou Li still had such a rule, so it was hard to go any further.He bowed deeply to Duke Huan of Qi, and said: "Since I have violated the Zhou ritual, it is not good to send me off. I will return to the country now, and please take care of the overlord. You are the backbone of us princes." Come on, Lord Yan Zhuang will take his ministers back home. Duke Huan of Qi suddenly thought of something again, and called Duke Yan Zhuang to stop: "Your Majesty, wait a minute! I have always taken it as my duty to respect the king and fight against the barbarians. But now that the Lord has sent me out of the country, this has violated Zhou etiquette. How can we talk about respecting the king? I can't do it." I have broken my trust in the world. The widow announced that from today onwards, this is the new border between Qi and Yan. The 50 miles in front of the land will be given to Yan. In this way, neither you nor I have violated the Zhou ritual." Lord Yan Zhuang really didn't expect that Duke Huan of Qi would use such a method to maintain Zhou Li, which means that Yan State took advantage of another 50 miles of Qi State's land.Duke Zhuang of Yan couldn't even say a word of thanks, so he could only stop at the new border between Qi and Yan and watch Duke Huan of Qi leave.It was not until the shadow of Duke Huan of Qi could no longer be seen in the distance that Duke Yanzhuang reluctantly returned home. The fact that Duke Huan of Qi helped the State of Yan to crusade against the Shan Rong not only moved the State of Yan, but also moved other princes.In this era of deteriorating world and people's hearts are not ancient, there is still such a high-spirited overlord as Duke Huan, so what is there to be afraid of us princes of the Central Plains?If it is said that before this incident, the princes obeyed Duke Huan of Qi more because of the power of Qi State, then after this incident, everyone has really surrendered to Duke Huan of Qi. But there is no vacation in the work of the Overlord.After dealing with the affairs of Yan State, something happened to Lu State again.Duke Huan of Qi, the overlord, also shouldered the responsibility of the military police of the Central Plains. He would take care of anyone who violated Zhou etiquette.So, what happened to the State of Lu that made Duke Huan of Qi work so hard without rest?