Chapter 30 6. If defeated

Zheng Wengong should be thankful, because the life of the defeated country is not easy. In fact, thirty-three years later, Zheng Guo really tasted the taste of defeat, but this time the winner was a Chu person.In 597 BC, that is, the same year when Lao Xiang died in battle and Zhifu was captured, King Zhuang of Chu decided to teach this "double-faced faction" a lesson because Zheng State was vacillating between Chu and Jin.In the spring of this year, the Chu army surrounded Zhengdu.Three months later, Zheng Guo's last line of defense was breached.Zheng Xianggong had no choice but to surrender.

Surrender is unconditional.As the king of the defeated country, Duke Xiang handed in the letter of surrender while shirtless and leading the sheep.The letter of surrender stated very clearly that Zheng's land, subjects and himself were all at the disposal of Chu.If the king of Chu is merciful and does not destroy the state of Zheng, then the state of Zheng is no different from a county in the state of Chu. After submitting the letter of surrender, Zheng Xianggong was waiting to be issued. Obviously, the defeated countries cannot control their own destiny, and there are several futures for them.The best thing is that as long as he admits defeat, the winner will let him go, and blood will be the alliance.Secondly, although the country will not be destroyed, it will become a vassal of the victorious country.Even worse, the subjects of the defeated country were moved out of the motherland and settled in other places.Worse, they were all enslaved, treated as coolies, tribute, or commodities.Of course, they may also be captured as a whole to the victorious country, just like the "Babylonian prisoners" of the Jews back then.Unlucky monarchs or heirs may have their blood splashed on ritual vessels, their corpses lying on the altar, and become ghosts under the knife.

This is well documented. Such as Cai Linggong. Cai Linggong was originally the prince of Cai Jinggong.In 543 BC, Cai Jinggong married a wife in Chu for the prince, and then had an affair with the daughter-in-law here.The prince couldn't bear it anymore, killed Jinggong, and succeeded him as king, he was Linggong.However, Cai Linggong was killed not because of killing the king, but because of disloyalty to Chu.The Lord Chu he served was also King Ling.As I said before, there are problems with those whose posthumous title is Ling. For example, Chen Linggong, who had an affair with Xia Ji and was killed by Xia Ji’s son, and Xia Ji’s brother Zheng Linggong, who was killed because of a dispute over eating Wangba, sent assassins to assassinate ministers who opposed him. Jin Linggong who was killed, Qi Linggong who was unreliable and sent eunuchs to deliver orders to prisoners of war.Now Cai Linggong met King Ling of Chu, of course it didn't work, he deserved it.

In 531 BC, that is, twelve years after Cai Linggong killed the king, the king was tricked by Chu Lingwang to a certain place, captured alive after getting drunk, and then killed him.At the same time, King Ling of Chu sent troops to encircle Cai Guo. Prince Cai Guo led the people to fight bravely, but he was unable to support him. The city was broken and captured. 14 The tragic fate of the defeated country can be seen. So, what is the future of Zheng Xianggong? He was lucky.Because at this time, Lord Chu was not King Ling, but King Zhuang.Not only did King Zhuang not follow some people's advice to destroy the state of Zheng, but he retreated thirty miles before signing a peace treaty with the state of Zheng. 15

However, if anyone thinks that King Zhuang of Chu is Maitreya Buddha, it is a big mistake.Just a year ago, he entered Chen under the pretext of attacking Xia Ji's son, and decided to turn Chen into a county of Chu State.In fact, if it weren't for the words of the diplomats of Chu State, Chen State might have been destroyed, and the later Zheng State would not have a good end. This Chu State diplomat is called Uncle Shen. When King Zhuang of Chu attacked Chen State, Uncle Shen happened to be on an envoy to Qi State.After the mission is completed, it is customary to return to the country to report to the mission.But when Uncle Shen finished his job report, he immediately stepped down without saying anything.King Zhuang was surprised, so someone stopped him and asked, "The widow is triumphant, and everyone congratulates me, but you are the only one who doesn't say a word. What do you mean?"

Uncle Shen asked: Can you state the reason? Zhuang Wang said: "Of course." Shen Shushi said that a person who leads a cow to trample on someone else's field is of course guilty.But if his cattle were also confiscated, the punishment would be too severe.The princes follow the king to attack the rebellious officials and thieves.Wouldn't it be greedy for petty gain if you took advantage of it and turned Chen Guo into Chu County? King Zhuang asked: Is it all right to return Chen Guo to them? Uncle Shen said: Our gang of villains usually have a catchphrase, which is "It's better to go back than not."

So King Zhuang of Chu asked Chen Fuguo. 16 From this point of view, Uncle Zhan and Zhu Zhiwu made great achievements back then.In fact, without Zhu Zhiwu, Qin State would not withdraw its troops; without Uncle Zhan, Jin State would not give up either.It is not difficult to imagine that when Jin Wengong made the final decision, the shadow of Uncle Zhan must be lingering in front of his eyes.Yes, politics, diplomacy, and war are all for the national interest.Therefore, what really works must be benefit, which Duke Mu of Qin can prove; but what is most touching must be righteousness, which Duke Wen of Jin can prove.

So, what about Chu Lingwang's extermination of Cai? Nobody likes it.Before the incident, Shu Xiang, a statesman of Jin State, and Zi Chan, a statesman of Zheng State, asserted that Cai State would surely perish, and King Ling of Chu would not end well.Their opinions are also very consistent: Cai Linggong is guilty, so God wants to use the hands of Chu people to destroy him.King Ling of Chu did many unrighteous acts, so Heaven wanted to aggravate his sins by destroying Cai.This point of view is a bit like what Westerners say: God must first make him crazy if he wants to perish. A doctor named Chang Hong under Zhou Jingwang explained it from the perspective of astrology.Chang Hong said that when Cai Linggong killed the king, Suixing was in the barracks.Thirteen years now, Suixing is in the barracks again.So Cai Linggong must suffer retribution.In the year when King Ling of Chu killed the king, Suixing was in Daliang.Two years later, Suixing will be in Daliang again.It was also thirteen years since King Ling of Chu killed the king.So two years later, King Ling of Chu will suffer retribution, and Cai Guo will be brought back to life. 17

Facts have proved that the predictions of Shuxiang, Zichan and Changhong are all correct.In 529 BC, there was civil strife in Chu, King Ling committed suicide, and the people of Cai returned to the country.Everything is on time, right to the minute. 18 strangeness!Is there really a will in this world? The mountain ghost appeared on the stage riding a leopard. It was a red leopard with a streamlined body, light and agile. She is wearing a stalk, and wearing a female dill, riding a red leopard and standing on the top of the peak, Looking at the quiet bamboo forest at the foot of the mountain, white clouds floated down one by one.

Next to the red leopard is a civet cat. 14.See "Zuo Zhuan·Eleventh Year of Zhao Gong" for details. 15.See "Zuo Zhuan Twelve Years of Xuangong". 16.See "Zuo Zhuan Eleven Years of Xuangong". 17.See "Zuo Zhuan Eleven Years of Zhao Gong" for the language.The year star is Jupiter.The barracks, that is, the room of the twenty-eight mansions, has two stars, namely α and β of Pegasus.Daliang, one of the twelve stars, is equivalent to the Taurus palace of the zodiac. 18.See "Zuo Zhuan The Thirteenth Year of Zhaogong".