Chapter 14 2. Blood-stained hegemony

Chu Zhuang's hegemony is very difficult. Indeed, if it is said that Duke Huan of Qi was "hegemony without fighting", Duke Wen of Jin was "hegemony after one battle", Duke Xiang of Song was "hegemony without fighting", and Duke Mu of Qin was "half hegemony after fighting", then King Zhuang of Chu It is hegemony after repeated battles, hegemony through bloody battles, and hegemony through hard battles.Among them, the most tragic and tragic is the Battle of the Song Dynasty that achieved the hegemony of King Zhuang. Speaking of which, the culprit of this war was actually King Zhuang of Chu.The reason is that once King Zhuang sent two envoys to Jin and Qi respectively.Envoys to the state of Jin must pass through the state of Zheng; envoys to the state of Qi must pass through the state of Song.King Zhuang ordered them not to borrow from Zheng and Song.This is quite unreasonable.Because even the angels of the King of Zhou, even if they pass by a small country, have to use the road to show respect for the country's territory and sovereignty.Isn't it overbearing that King Zhuang of Chu forbids his envoys to make excuses?

No one knows what Zhuang Wang thought at the time.It's just that Zheng Guo has already been beaten into submission at this moment, and most likely he will swallow his anger.Song Dynasty is different.Two years ago, they established an offensive and defensive alliance with Jin, Wei and Cao.The covenant stipulates that if anyone is bullied, they should be rescued together, which is called "sympathy"; if anyone betrays the alliance, they should be punished together, which is called "discussion".Song State implemented this treaty well, and only Song State implemented it in place.With the rigidity of the people of Song Dynasty, how can they tolerate such behaviors of Chu State?What's more, the passing envoy Shen Zhou had offended Song before.

So Shenzhou complained endlessly: Zheng Guo is smart, Song Guo is foolish, those who pass by Zheng Guo must be fine, I am dead! King Zhuang said, "Dare?"If he wants to kill you, I will kill him! When Chu Zhuang said this, he really underestimated Song Guo.A scholar can be killed but not humiliated, let alone a state?Facing the arbitrariness and unreasonableness of the Chu people, Hua Yuan, the ruler of the Song Dynasty, said: passing through our country without using the road, this is treating our country as their border town, which is tantamount to subjugation.Offending the Chu people will lead to military disasters, and the country will also be destroyed.If it is also the subjugation of the country, then I would rather die with dignity and dignity.

As a result, Shenzhou was killed. When King Zhuang of Chu heard the news, he flicked his sleeves and rushed out. The followers chased him to the front yard before delivering his shoes, chased him to the gate of the palace to deliver his sword, and chased him to the street before helping him into the chariot.King Zhuang of Chu, trembling with anger, ordered to immediately send troops to encircle Song Dynasty.And the nine-headed bird rushed to the crown, and Song people couldn't resist it.The State of Lu even hastily declared his position and sided with the State of Chu. The Song people who were besieged rushed to the state of Jin according to the agreement.

However, what Hua Yuan and the others never imagined was that the state of Jin became a coward this time.Jin Jinggong wanted to save Song, but was stopped by a doctor.The doctor said: "Although the length of the whip is not as long as the belly of the horse, we can't control this matter."God is looking after Chu, how can we compete?If it is a river or a lake, it must contain muddy water; if it is a forest, grassland, it must hide poisonous snakes and beasts; if it is a beautiful jade, it must contain flaws; if it is a king, it must endure humiliation.This is the way of heaven, Your Majesty, please wait!

So the state of Jin stood still and did not send an arrow, and only sent an envoy named Xie Yang to appease the state of Song. It's a pity that when Xie Yang passed by Zheng Guo, he was captured by Zheng people and sent to Chu camp.The Chu people bribed Xie Yang with a lot of money, asking him to send false information.Xie Yangsan couldn't refuse, so he had to agree.However, when Xie Yang boarded the upstairs car and shouted to Song City, what he shouted was: Brothers of Song Kingdom, stand up!All our troops are assembled and will be here soon! The deceived King Chuzhuang was furious and ordered Xie Yang to be killed.King Zhuang said to Xie Yang, what do you mean by contradicting your promise?It's not me who is ruthless, it is you who have no faith.Go to the execution ground!

Xie Yang dealt with it calmly. Xie Yang, who did not change his countenance, said that if a ruler can issue orders, it is called righteousness; if a minister can complete a mission, it is called faith;There is no double belief in righteousness, and there is no double destiny in faith. How can one fulfill two different missions at the same time?How can an envoy be bribed when he is ordered to come out and his mission is his life?The previous dealing with the emperor was just to bring the widowed emperor's words to the state of Song.That's called keeping promises! So Zhuang Wang released Jie Yang and returned home.

In fact, it doesn't matter if Xie Yang shouts or not.In fact, in May of the 15th year of Lu Xuangong (594 BC), the Chu people had run out of food and couldn't survive, so King Zhuang had to order the withdrawal of troops. Shenzhou's son knelt before King Zhuang's horse. As I said before, Shenzhou knew that he was going to die, but he also went to Song State with no hesitation.He did this, on the one hand, because the king's order is hard to violate the official's responsibility, and on the other hand, because King Zhuang boasted that he went to Haikou to make a promise.Now, Shen Zhou has died generously, but King Zhuang has not kept his word, what do you say?

King Zhuang of Chu was speechless and shameless. At this time, another doctor from the state of Chu came up with an idea: to build a house in the countryside of the state of song, repair water conservancy, open up wasteland and cultivate land, and do it as soon as he said it.The message to the Song people is also very clear: Shen Zhou's revenge must be avenged.If you don't surrender for a day, we won't leave for a day; if you don't surrender for a year, you won't leave for a year; if you don't surrender for a lifetime, you won't leave for a lifetime.Anyway, I'm going to fight with you, let's see who can handle who!

When the Song people heard the news, the whole country was shocked, and they wanted to cry but had no tears.Because from September last year to the present, the capital of Song Dynasty has been besieged for eight or nine months, and there is no grain left in the city.The people of the country can only exchange their children, kill and eat them, and dismantle their bones as fuel. How can they stick to it? Now, who can save Song? And only themselves.Hua Yuan, the ruler of the Song Dynasty, stepped forward, sneaked into the Chu camp in the middle of the night, and woke up the commander-in-chief of the Chu army from his bed.Hua Yuan said that the widow sent Yuan to tell the truth: our country is running out of ammunition and food, so we can only change sons to eat, and dissect the bones to cook.But even so, asking us to sign an alliance under the city is tantamount to subjugating the country and absolutely not.If your army can retreat 30 miles, it will be obeyed.

Now it was Chu people's turn to be shocked.They retreated 30 miles, signed a treaty with the Song State, and agreed that "I have no deceit, and I have no fear", and took Hua Yuan as a hostage.So far, Lu, Song, Zheng, and Chen all follow Chu, and Chu dominates. But, what kind of hegemony is this!

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