Chapter 26 8. Counting the elimination of Lord Xinling, Lu Buwei destroyed the Eastern Zhou Dynasty

The Zhou Dynasty was called the Western Zhou Dynasty before King Ping of Zhou moved eastward, and it was called the Eastern Zhou Dynasty after he moved eastward.Later, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was divided into two small vassal states, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and the Western Zhou Dynasty.In 256 BC, the 51st year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, the king of the Western Zhou Dynasty, like the king of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, saw the strength of the Qin State and called on the princes of the world to rebel against Qin.The enraged King Zhaoxiang of Qin ordered to send troops to attack the Western Zhou Dynasty. The King of the Western Zhou Dynasty was defeated and sacrificed all thirty-six cities to which he belonged.At this time, the Nine Tripods, a national treasure, were transported from the capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty to Xianyang, the capital of the Qin Kingdom.

Not only did the princes of the world not crusade against Qin, but they sent envoys to congratulate them one after another.Eight years later, that is, in 249 BC, the first year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin, the dying Eastern Zhou played the role of the Western Zhou Lord again, trying to relive the old dream of being a co-lord, and secretly united with other vassal states in an attempt to attack Qin. After Qin Guoxiangguo Lu Buwei learned about it, he realized that this was a great opportunity for him to make contributions.Therefore, he hurriedly remonstrated to King Qin Zhuangxiang: "Your Majesty, since the fall of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty has existed in name only. All along, we have let it survive in the world, not because we are afraid of it, but because we attack the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the teacher came out of nowhere, which is morally inevitable. He was condemned by the people, and he was afraid that it would cause other vassal states to attack him. Unexpectedly, he secretly united with the vassal states to attack Qin. Your Majesty should seize this heaven-sent opportunity to destroy Zhou, and must not miss it."

King Zhuang Xiang heard what Lu Buwei said, and said: "What the prime minister said is very true. This time is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to destroy the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. I am considering who is more appropriate to send to crusade." "I am willing to accept this order." Lu Buwei kowtowed. King Qin Zhuangxiang said: "Prime Minister Lu is not joking with the widow, is he?" "How dare a humble minister make jokes in front of the king." Lu Buwei said resolutely. King Qin Zhuangxiang said with concern: "But the prime minister has never led troops to fight!"

"It seems that the king can't trust the humble minister!" Lu Buwei sighed. King Zhuangxiang of Qin waved his hands again and again and said: "The prime minister is the minister of the widow, how can the widow not trust the prime minister?" King Zhuangxiang looked at Lu Buwei, and continued to be concerned: "Fighting and killing on the battlefield is not the place for the prime minister. Wan A prime minister went to attack the Eastern Zhou Dynasty this time, and there were three advantages and two disadvantages, what should I do? I still need the prime minister to assist me! It is better to send someone else."

King Qin Zhuangxiang's earnest advice made Lu Buwei feel warm in his heart.But Lu Buwei has made up his mind, because he knows very well that the Eastern Zhou Dynasty has already existed in name only and is vulnerable, and leading the army to crusade by himself will definitely be an instant success.How can such a good opportunity to make meritorious service be handed over to others? "Please don't worry, Your Majesty! I assure Your Majesty that this time I will crusade against the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, I will definitely come back intact. I will continue to assist Your Majesty in completing the great cause of unification!" Lu Buwei firmly seized this opportunity, refusing at all. lose.

King Qin Zhuangxiang saw that Lu Buwei was determined to go, and no amount of persuasion would help, so he agreed to his request and appointed Lu Buwei as the commander-in-chief to lead the army to attack the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.Before leaving, King Zhuang Xiang said to Lu Buwei with concern: "There are many dangers on the battlefield, and the prime minister must be careful in everything. If you encounter any obstacles, don't be too forceful." He also warned Lu Buwei to protect Lu Xiangguo. Safety. Lu Buwei replied: "Your Majesty's care and love for my minister made me very grateful. This minister will never disappoint the king's expectations. If I don't destroy the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, I am willing to die in battle."

After bidding farewell to King Zhuang Xiang, Lu Buwei led the Qin army to the bank of the Yellow River, and immediately issued a call to action against Zhou to the world.At the beginning of the essay, Lu Buwei first praised Zhou Wenwang and Zhou Wuwang for their great achievements, and then listed Zhou Jun as incompetent and incompetent since the eastward move, and the people of Zhoudi hated Zhou Jun deeply.In addition, it has been counted that when the kings of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty took advantage of the state of Qin to lose two kings, they attempted to take advantage of the dangers of others and attack the state of Qin.At the same time, he warned the other vassal states, "Those who follow Qin will prosper, and those who oppose Qin will perish..."

After the announcement of the call to action, Lu Buwei led the army across the Yellow River. All the princes knew that the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was exhausted. At this time, sending troops to support them could only bring about their own destruction, so they did not send a single soldier to rescue the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.Under the leadership of Lu Buwei, the Qin army drove straight in and took Gong, the capital of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.Facing the fierce offensive of the Qin army, the King of Eastern Zhou had no choice but to voluntarily surrender and be willing to become a minister.Lu Buwei didn't expect that it would be easier than he imagined to win the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

After the victory, Lu Buwei returned to the court immediately, and King Zhuangxiang of Qin held a grand banquet in Xianyang Palace to welcome the victorious Lu Buwei and the Qin army.At the banquet, King Zhuangxiang of Qin praised Lu Buwei and said: "Prime Minister Lu contributed a lot to the capture of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty this time! Unexpectedly, the prime minister is not only good at governing the country, but also a first-class master in leading the army. Daqin has such a genius as Prime Minister Lu, it is really rare Fortunately, the country is lucky!" "Your Majesty has won the prize. The success of this campaign depends entirely on your majesty's power." Lu Buwei glanced at King Zhuang Xiang, and then said, "My Majesty, I have a request. I don't know your Majesty..."

"Although the prime minister says it, I will agree to it one by one." Qin Zhuangxiang King said to Lu Buwei with a smile. "Now that the Eastern Zhou Dynasty has been destroyed, its land has also become the territory of our Great Qin. I hope that the king will rule the world with benevolence and righteousness, pardon the Eastern Zhou Lord, grant him a fief, let him build an ancestral temple, and continue to sacrifice. After all, there is no Zhou Dynasty, that is, there is no me. Daqin today." Lu Buwei asked. Lu Buwei asked King Zhuangxiang of Qin to pardon Lord Dong Zhou not because he had any affair with Lord Dong Zhou, but because he wanted to put a long line to catch big fish.He wants people in the vassal states to see that Qin is not a country of cruel tigers and wolves. They have a policy of preferential treatment of captives, so as to shake the determination of people in other vassal states to resist Qin.

"It's really commendable for the prime minister to have such a broad mind. Doing so fully demonstrates the benevolence and righteousness of my Great Qin in front of the world. How could this king refuse? Just do as the prime minister said!" "Your Majesty, Shengming!" Lu Buwei thanked him. After Lu Buwei wiped out the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Qin State took advantage of the situation and sent troops to attack South Korea.In order to protect the country, South Korea had to sacrifice Cheng (northwest of Xingyang, Henan today) and Xingyang (northeast of Xingyang, Henan today) for peace.Lu Buwei set the area of ​​the Western Zhou Dynasty originally occupied by Qin and the land donated by South Korea as Sanchuan County.Since then, the state of Qin has occupied the heartland of the Central Plains, and its national border has approached the capital of the state of Wei, directly threatening Daliang, the capital of the state of Wei (now Kaifeng, Henan). In 247 BC, Qin State attacked Wei State again, causing Wei State to fall into chaos.Feeling helpless, King Wei An had no choice but to send envoys to the State of Zhao to ask Lord Xinling who had stayed in the State of Zhao for ten years since "Stealing Talismans to Save Zhao". The envoy came to the State of Zhao and said to Lord Xinling: "My lord, what is the reason why you are famous all over the world? It is because of the state of Wei. Now Qin is attacking the state of Wei, and the situation is very critical. Haven't you heard, lord?" "I heard." Lord Xinling replied: "But I don't want to go back to Wei. I'm afraid the king of Wei is still resenting me because of my 'stealing amulets to save Zhao'. The reason why he is begging me to return to the country now must be It's just a matter of necessity!" "Mr. Xinling is famous all over the world. How can he put his personal hatred above the interests of the country? If the young master completely disregards the life and death of the Wei state, and the Qin army captures Wei's capital Daliang and destroys the ancestral temple of the ancestor of the Wei state, the young master will return to the country." What face do you have to stand in the world?" These words hit Lord Xinling's sore spot, so just as the envoy finished speaking, Lord Xinling's face suddenly changed and he decided to immediately prepare his car and go back to Wei to save Wei. Back in the state of Wei, King Wei An and Lord Xinling hugged each other and wept.King Wei An immediately appointed Lord Xinling as the general.Relying on his own prestige, Lord Xinling sent out followers to various vassal states for help, united the five countries (Wei, Zhao, Han, Yan, Chu) to fight against Qin, defeated Qin general Meng Ao, and chased Qin army to Han Dynasty. Guguan defeated the Qin army and gave the proud Lu Buwei a blow.This was Lu Buwei's first and only military defeat after he came to power. After the failure, Lu Buwei knew that if Lord Xinling was not eliminated, Qin's military conquest would encounter more difficulties, so he began to try every means to harm Lord Xinling.After many days of planning and careful arrangements, Lu Buwei sent a spy to infiltrate Wei State with ten thousand gold, and found the disciple of Jin Bi, the general who was unjustly killed when Lord Xinling "stolen the amulet to save Zhao", and said: "As we all know, Lord Xinling is Jin Bi. The chief culprit who was wrongly killed. Now there is a great opportunity to avenge Jin Bi, I wonder if Mr. is willing to avenge his lord to comfort Jin Bi's spirit in heaven?" "I want to kill Wei Wuji to repay my lord's kindness to me, but I can't do anything at the moment. If there is any clever plan, please tell me quickly." The doorman said impatiently. "As long as you tell the King of Wei that Mr. Xinling has been in exile for ten years, and now he returns to serve as the general of the Wei State, and all the generals of the princes in the world will be under his command. The princes only know him as the Lord of Xinling, Wei Wuji, who else knows? A King of Wei An? Lord Xinling has long wanted to use this opportunity to become king in the south, and the princes are afraid of Lord Xinling, and they also want to make Lord Xinling the King of Wei." "Is that all right?" "You don't have to worry about the rest of the matter. As long as you do what I say, you can not only avenge your lord's unjust death, but all the money will also belong to you. Such a beautiful thing that kills two birds with one stone, why would you like it?" Why not?" "As long as I can avenge my lord, I will definitely help you with all my strength," said the doorman. After Jin Bi's retainers accepted money from Qin, they began to separate Lord Xinling in front of King Wei An.At the same time, Lu Buwei sent envoys to Wei State to congratulate Lord Xinling on his upcoming succession to the throne with great fanfare.King Wei An didn't trust Lord Xinling at first, but now he was even more afraid that Lord Xinling would take his throne, so he dismissed Lord Xinling from his post of general and appointed him as general.Lord Xinling knew at a glance that he was being plotted against again, so he simply claimed that he was ill, and drank all night with the guests every day, accompanied by beautiful women.After only four years of this kind of life, the depressed Lord Xinling died of illness. After Lu Buwei heard the news of Lord Xinling's death, he immediately appointed Meng Ao to lead troops to attack Wei, and took down more than 20 cities in Wei. Lu Buwei used troops not only to attach importance to military power, but also to political offensive, so he was able to easily conquer the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, merge its territory into Qin's territory, and completely eliminate the last obstacle in the process of unifying China.Lu Buwei destroyed the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, but he did not stop offering sacrifices to the kings of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. He also set up good deeds of advocating propriety and righteousness, "prosperity and destruction", and "continuation of extinction", thus winning the favor of the scholars of the six countries and reducing some of Jiang and Ji's sacrifices. The hatred and opposition of the surnamed princes soothed their pain of subjugation, and at the same time created conditions for a large number of scholars to defect to Qin and successfully complete the reunification.