Chapter 9 1. Qin Mugong reused Baili Xi when the sheepskin was exchanged for talents

The Spring and Autumn Period was an era when princes from all walks of life merged with each other and great powers competed for hegemony. Among them, Qin State was located in the remote western frontier, and it was a small vassal state in the early Zhou Dynasty.At the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Xiang of Qin helped King Ping of Zhou move to the east, and he was granted the title of vassal. He inherited the land west of Mount Qishan granted by King Ping of Zhou, and later established his capital in Yong (now south of Fengxiang, Shaanxi).In the Spring and Autumn Period when all heroes came together, Qin, a small and weak country, seemed inconspicuous compared with other powerful countries.It was not until Qin Mugong that the country gradually became stronger.This is inseparable from Qin Mugong's way of employing people.Qin Mugong attaches great importance to talents, among which Baili Xi is the leading magi who has made extremely important contributions to the prosperity and growth of Qin.

Baili Xi, also known as Bailizi or Baili, whose name is Li, was born in Yu State (now in the north of Pinglu, Shanxi) in the Spring and Autumn Period.He was originally a doctor of Yu State.In 655 B.C., the state of Jin used the way of Yu to attack the state of Guo. The doctor Gong Zhiqi persuaded the king of Yu with "cold lips and cold teeth". "Produce the ride" and agreed to the state of Jin.Baili Xi knew very well that Jun Yu was fatuous and incompetent, and it was difficult to accept advice, so he kept silent ever since.As a result, Jin, after destroying Guo, destroyed the weak state of Yu by the way when it returned, and both King Yu and Bailixi were captured by the Jin army.

Not long after the state of Jin destroyed the state of Yu, Duke Mu of Qin sent his son Ji to propose marriage to the state of Jin on his behalf.Jin Xiangong betrothed his eldest daughter to Qin Mugong, and also gave some servants as dowry, among which Bailixi was one of the servants.From a doctor to a servant, Bailixi was deeply ashamed of this, so he took the opportunity to escape secretly on the way to Qin. After Qin Mugong and Jin Xiangong's eldest daughter got married, they found Baili Xi missing from the list of dowry servants.Young Master Zhen replied: "Report to Your Majesty, it's just a servant who escaped, it doesn't matter."

It happened that Gongsunzhi, a warrior who had defected from the state of Jin, heard about this and said to Duke Mu of Qin, "Your Majesty, Bailixi is not an insignificant slave. That's why it wasn't reused." When Qin Mugong heard the words, he suddenly felt pity for talents, and thought that Bailixi was a talented person, and it would be a loss if he should not be reused.After he inquired about Bailixi's situation from Gongsunzhi, he turned to the young master and said: "What our state of Qin lacks is a talented person like Bailixi. The widow wants to get him back. I love you." How about next?"

Gongzi Zhen said: "Going back to the king, it's just Gongsun Zhi's words, which can't prove that Baili Xi has real skills. If he finds him, he is a fool. Wouldn't he be laughed at by other countries?" Qin Mugong turned his head to Gongsun Zhi, and Gongsun Zhi immediately bowed and knelt down when he saw this, and said, "I don't dare to lie, because I have served in Yu State for half a year. I have heard that if Baili Xi has no talent, I would rather die." Qin Mugong said with a smile: "Don't judge the truth first. For example, Baili Xi is really a talented person. We will benefit from him. It doesn't matter if he is an idiot, but it's a worry."

Gongsun Zhi nodded and said, "Your Majesty's words are very true. I will immediately send someone to inquire about Baili Xi." Not long after, Duke Mu of Qin summoned his confidant ministers and said: "After the Yu State was destroyed, the war situation became tense again, and we, Qin State, had to be cautious." He glanced at the ministers and continued: "Now is the time to recruit talents. At that time, I wonder if there is any news about Baili Xi?" Gongsun Zhi hurriedly stepped forward and replied, "Go back to your lord, I just got the news that Bailixi is in the state of Chu to let go of horses for the Chu army."

Duke Mu of Qin said happily: "That would be great. I will immediately arrange for someone to prepare a generous gift for the King of Chu, so that Bailixi can be brought back." When Gongsun Zhi heard this, he immediately persuaded Qin Qinmu to be fair: "My lord, this is absolutely impossible. If the king of Chu asked Baili Xi to let his horse go, he didn't know that he is a talented person; if the king prepares a generous gift, let the state of Chu know." If you want to use Baili Xi again, will he let him go?" Qin Mugong thought for a while, and said: "This statement is very true, so how can we invite Bailixi?"

Gongsun Zhi replied: "How about this? Let's send envoys to meet the King of Chu and tell him that Baili Xi is a fugitive from Qin. We want to arrest him and return him to the country now. Because one slave is worth five sheepskins in the market." , the messenger should be able to redeem him with five sheepskins.” Qin Mugong felt that this strategy was feasible, so he handed over the task to Gongsun Zhi. Gongsunzhi accepted Qin Mugong's order and sent an envoy named Cai Ru to the state of Chu to meet Bailixi.Cai Ru prepared gifts and arrived in Chu State, and decided to inquire about Baili Xi's whereabouts first.Although it was rumored that Baili Xi was both wise and brave, it was always a rumor that if he brought back a mediocre and incompetent Baili Xi, the king of Qin would punish him, so he spent a lot of money to ask the guarding Chu army about Baili Xi, and the guarding Chu army told him He: "A few days ago, an old man in his sixties or seventies came here. He called himself Bailixi. He said that he grazed cows for rich people in Yu State, so we asked him to graze horses for us here. That old man There is a set of skills in herding animals, and the king of Chu learned about it and transferred him to the South China Sea to herd horses."

The South China Sea is a land rich in water and grass, and Baili Xi is at ease here.Facing a herd of cows and horses all day long, it is difficult to see even a human figure.Although lonely, but these are not the most important.After the fall of Yu State, he himself became a displaced refugee, full of knowledge and ambition, but unfortunately he had no place to display it.Every time he thinks of this, there will always be a trace of sadness and unwillingness in his heart. One day, Bailixi was grazing in the field when he heard someone shouting his name. He thought he had hallucinated after staying in this secluded place for a long time, so he took a few steps towards the direction of the voice to confirm the authenticity.At this time, a person appeared from the mountain depression, and the person shouted, "Is the old man Mr. Bailixi?" The person who came was Cai Ru, the envoy of Qin State.

Baili Xi responded, "I am Baili Xi." Seeing that the person in front of him was just a ragged old man, Cai Ru had some doubts about his real identity. Due to his mission, he bowed respectfully and said, "King Qin has admired your talent for a long time. Knowing that you are deeply trapped in Chu, I specially ordered me to bring you back to Qin." Hearing this, Baili Xi sighed and said: "I always thought that I was going to die of old age here. I didn't expect that people would still miss me as a bad old man in my lifetime." If you are virtuous, the country will surely perish!"

Cai Ru heard these words, but they had other profound meanings. They were not only an explanation of the demise of the Yu State, but also an advice to the Qin State.Cai Ru realized that this Bailixi was indeed not someone to be taken lightly. Cai Rufu bowed again to Bailixi and said, "I'm ashamed to say that I didn't believe that you have any talents. I just heard your words and convinced me. I will definitely bring you back to Qin." Baili Xi asked, "How do you bring me back to Qin?" Cai Ru replied: "If you secretly welcome you back, the king of Chu will not let you go; so we thought of a way to describe you as a prisoner who fled to Chu, so that we have sufficient reasons to take you back. Of course The king of Chu has to say that he is escorting you back, and I am afraid he will have to be wronged." The meanings of "deposit" and "receive" are completely different, and Bailixi also understands the reason.He stood still for a moment, and suddenly there was an inexplicable impulse in his heart, and he threw the whip in his hand far away. Cai Ru was puzzled, "What are you doing?" Baili laughed a few times and said: "You Qin soldiers are very capable of strategy. Forget it, you can make arrangements." So Cai Ru came to the Chu Palace to meet the King of Chu, and said straight to the point: "Your Majesty the King of Chu, we have a servant named Bailixi in Qin who committed a crime and fled to your country. Please let us take him back to punish him. "After speaking, I presented the five pieces of black sheepskins that I had prepared. Without even thinking about it, the king of Chu ordered the soldiers to escort Bailixi back to the city from the South China Sea, and asked Cai Ru to take Bailixi away. After that, Bailixi was reused by Qin Mugong in Qin State, so it goes without saying that he made great contributions to Qin State. Qin Mu's ram skin exchange for virtuous people is still circulating today.It is a pity that a talented person is not reused, and in the end he just drowns himself in mediocrity.This is like Bole and Maxima, both are indispensable.