Chapter 20 Section 2 "Three Generations" Legend of Heroes

"Three generations" refers to the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties.The hero representatives of these three periods are mainly Yu who laid the foundation for Xia Jianguo, Shang Tang who destroyed Xia, and Zhou Wenwang and Zhou Wuwang who destroyed Yin. If Yu had no military achievements, it would be impossible to guarantee economic and cultural achievements.After Yu inherited Shun's position as the tribal leader, in addition to continuing to fight against natural disasters, he also had to conquer the east and west, and worked hard for the great cause of unification.Whether he can maintain the long-term stability of the Central Plains mainly depends on whether he has the power to eliminate the most powerful hostile force at that time.

Judging from the available data, Yu's important military achievement was the conquest of Sanmiao.It is said that Sanmiao is the descendant of Jiuli.During the period of Yao and Shun, the influence in the south was already very strong.After Jiuli, represented by Chiyou, was defeated by the Yellow Emperor's clan, Chiyou's remaining prestige was still very strong, and the Jizhou Plain on the north bank of the Yellow River still had its influence. Of course, the descendants of the Yellow Emperor based in the Yellow River Basin could not tolerate it.Yao and Shun used tough measures against Sanmiao, and Sanmiao was repeatedly suppressed, but they never really surrendered.Some say that Shun died in the field of Cangwu because of the acquisition of three seedlings, and was buried there. (See "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals Zhao Lei" and "Huainan Zi Xiu Wu Xun") It can be seen that the three seedlings are powerful.

According to Shun's entrustment before his death, Yu convened a swearing-in meeting attended by the leaders of various tribes for Zheng Sanmiao.At the meeting, Yu told everyone to obey orders, counted Sanmiao's crimes, and asked everyone to work together to make meritorious deeds.It took 70 days for this battle to conquer Sanmiao. (See "Shangshu · Yushu") Yu used very cruel means to the Sanmiao, destroyed their ancestral temples, wiped out their clans, and left them without a successor. (See "Mandarin · Zhou Yu II") Since then, some of the Sanmiao fled to the mountains in the south, and the other part became slaves and gradually merged with the various ethnic groups in the Central Plains.The consequences of this war are reflected in the myths: "Sun demons come out at night, rain and blood for three dynasties, dragons are born in temples, dogs cry in the city. Xia Bingdi and springs, five grains change, and the people are greatly promoted." ( "Mozi Fei Gongxia") Yu is the yellow dragon, and the dog is the original totem of Sanmiao. The dragon enters the main temple, but the dog can only cry outside the temple. Various abnormal phenomena in nature symbolize great changes in the world.Slavery was on the rise as seen in the brutality of the war.Yu conquered the three seedlings and controlled the world in order to eliminate the primitive communism and remove obstacles to the establishment of private ownership.If we look at the relationship between the ancient Miao and Xia from this perspective, the grievances and grievances between all ethnic groups will surely be resolved with the passage of time.

Jie was the last king of the Xia Dynasty and one of the famous tyrants in history.The Shang family belongs to the Dongyi family, with birds as the clan totem. Qi is their legendary first ancestor, and Cheng Tang is the 14th generation grandson of Qi, also known as Shang Tang.At the time of Cheng Tang, there was already a state institution, but the power was not strong, and he surrendered to Xia.Because Xia Jie was too unpopular, Cheng Tang made full preparations to destroy Xia. Once he attacked Xia, he would "be invincible in the world with eleven expeditions." ("Mencius Teng Wen Gong Xia")

Legend has it that Cheng Tang not only used force well, but also successfully carried out espionage.According to "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals Shen Da Pian": Hearing that Xia Jie was stupid and innocent, Cheng Tang ordered Yi Yin, a virtuous minister, to go and find out the situation.But worried about being suspected by Xia, Tang resorted to tricks and deliberately shot Yi Yin angrily.Yi Yin also deliberately fled to Xia, where he stayed for three years, and then returned to Bo [bobo], the capital of Shang, and reported to Cheng Tang: "Jie used to bewitch Meixi, but now he likes the newly acquired beauties Wan and Yan. He didn't show compassion to the common people, the people suffered unspeakably, the people hated each other, and the people held grievances. They all said that since God didn't take care of us, Xia should be finished! Cheng Tang said to Yi Yin: "What you said is exactly what I think . "The two of them conspired again, and Yi Yin went to Xia Guo again. This time, he colluded with Mei Xi who had fallen out of favor. (Note: Translation)

Tang claimed that he was ordered by heaven to attack Xia Jie, and the two sides fought in Mingtiao (in the north of Anyi County, Shanxi Province today).Jie's sergeant had no fighting spirit, Tang took advantage of the situation and drove Jie away.Jie took Meixi and other Ji concubines to drift along the river in a boat, and finally died in the mountains and forests of Nanchao (northeast of Chaoxian County, Anhui Province today). (See "Biography of Lie Nu Biography Xia Jie's Mo Xi" [ie Mei Xi]) It is said that Xia Geng, a brave general under Jie, was killed by Cheng Tang during the battle in Zhangshan, and he stood without a leader after his death.Later, he took the blame and fled to Wushan. "Shan Hai Jing Da Huang Xi Jing" has a record of this headless corpse that can walk: "There is a headless man who stands up with a spear and a shield. It is called Xia Geng's corpse. Therefore, Chengtang cut Xia Jie in Zhangshan and restrained him. Before chopping Geng, Geng stood up, without a leader, and surrendered to Wushan." Xia Geng was a very tenacious warrior.

Legend has it that the god who bestowed the destiny on Kexia to Tang was Zhurong, the god of fire.Some said that Cheng Tang was not only wise and brave, but also handsome and kind-hearted.In the legend, he is an idealized hero at the turn of Xia and Shang. Zhou was the last king of the Shang Dynasty. Like Jie, he was known for his cruelty in history.The legendary ancestor of the Zhou clan, Jiqi (Houji), was an ancient tribe active in the Northwest Loess Plateau. It has been passed down from Qi for 15 generations. During the reign of King Wen of Zhou (named Chang), the Zhou clan rose and became a threat to the Shang Dynasty. His son Fa, that is, King Wu of Zhou completed the unfinished business of destroying Shang and became the founding king of the Western Zhou Dynasty.

Because Zhou was jealous of King Wen's "benevolence", he not only imprisoned King Wen, but also took his eldest son Boyi to Yin Shang as a hostage.Zhou ordered the cook to boil Boyi's meat into soup and send it to King Wen to drink.The person who gave the soup said to King Wen: "A sage should not drink his son's broth." But King Wen still ate it.Zhou then said: "Who said that Xibo (referring to King Wen) is a saint, and he still doesn't know that he ate his son's broth." Since then, he gave up his vigilance against King Wen.The people under King Wen gave various rare gifts to King Zhou, including Zouyu (a kind of mythical beast with a tail longer than its body and a white tiger with black inscriptions), famous dogs and horses, black leopards and yellow scorpions, etc., as well as beauties from the Xin family. , Redeemed King Wen from Zhou.Later generations added some legends, saying that King Wen finally spit out the meat soup of the son he ate, and turned into red baby rabbits.King Wen wept unceasingly, and ordered him to bury it. That place is called "Tuzizhong", which is said to be near Tangyin County, Henan Province. (See "Wu Wang's Conquest of Zhou Ping Hua")

Once, King Wen went hunting and met 70-year-old Lu Shang, Jiang Taigong, on the north bank of the Wei River.Jiang Taigong assisted Zhou Wenwang to successfully carry out the cause of destroying Shang, and first annexed many small tribes.Later, the capital was moved to Yufeng (southwest of today's Xi'an).Although King Wen passed away soon after the capital was established, it laid the foundation for King Wu of Zhou to destroy Shang.Lu Shang continued to assist King Wu and was in charge of the military. There are many legends about King Wu defeating Zhou.For example, the result of divination before the defeat of Zhou indicates that there will be "great misfortune".Jiang Taigong pushed aside the yarrow (shishi) grass used for divination, crushed the shell of the turtle, and said: "With dead bones and dead grass, how do you know good or bad." (See "Lunheng Divination Chapter") After crossing the Yellow River, The Taigong ordered people to destroy the ship, burn all the bridges and ferries, and said: "The prince is avenging his father, and he must make up his mind to die." ) crossed Mengjin, the waves were rolling, the wind and rain were blowing, and people and horses could not be seen.King Wu stared wide open, holding a big ax in his left hand and an oxtail rod in his right, and said to everyone: "I bear a heavy responsibility in the world, who dares to disobey my will." Suddenly everything was calm. (See "Huainanzi Lanming Xun") When he was in Xingqiu (now east of Wenxian County, Henan Province), the shield (ie shield) was broken into three, and it rained for more than three days. King Wu was very worried.But Jiang Taigong said: "The division into three sections indicates that our army must be divided into three groups; the rain for three days is to wash away our armored soldiers." (See Volume 3 of "Hanshiwaizhuan") , Zhurong, Jumang, Xuanming, Rushou, Hebo, Yushi, and Fengbo came to visit. These gods expressed to King Wu that they were willing to accept King Wu's order to help him destroy Shang. (See "Golden Chamber of Taigong") 800 tribes came to surrender to Zhou (see Volume 2 of "Supplementary Notes"), and finally completed the sacred mission of destroying Yin and Shang and establishing the Zhou Dynasty.According to "Historical Records", Zhou died by self-immolation.