Chapter 15 14 The talent in the prison van

After King Ping of Zhou moved to Luoyi, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was divided into two periods: "Spring and Autumn" and "Warring States".During the Spring and Autumn Period, the royal family of Zhou declined, and the emperor of Zhou was the common monarch of all countries in name, but in fact his status was equivalent to that of a prince of a middle-level country.Some relatively powerful vassal countries annexed small countries by force, and big countries also competed with each other for land and often fought wars.The princes of the great powers who have won can command other princes.Such a person is called an overlord.

The first to dominate in the Spring and Autumn Period was the State of Qi (the capital Linzi, in present-day Zibo, Shandong).Qi State is the feudal state of Tai Gongwang, the great hero of King Wu of Zhou. It was originally a big country. In addition, it uses coastal resources and has relatively developed production, so its national strength is relatively strong.In 686 BC, a civil strife broke out in Qi.King Qi Xianggong was killed.Duke Xiang had two brothers, one was Prince Jiu, who was in the State of Lu (the capital is now Qufu, Shandong);Both of them have a master beside them. The master of young master Jiu is called Guan Zhong, and the master of young master Xiaobai is called Bao Shuya.When the two sons heard the news that Qi Xianggong had been killed, they were anxious to return to Qi to fight for the throne.

Lu Zhuanggong, the king of the state of Lu, decided to personally escort his son Jiu back to the state of Qi.Guan Zhong said to Duke Zhuang of Lu: "Young Master Xiaobai is in Ju State, which is very close to Qi State. If he is allowed to enter Qi State, things will be troublesome. Let me take a team to stop him first." As Guan Zhong expected, Prince Xiaobai was rushing back to Qi State under the escort of Ju State. On the way, Guan Zhong intercepted him.Guan Zhong picked up his bow and set up an arrow, aimed at Xiaobai and shot.Xiaobai yelled and fell into the car. Guan Zhong thought Xiaobai was dead, so he escorted Prince Jiu back to Qi without haste.How could he know that what he shot was only the hook on the belt of the young master Xiaobai, and the young master Xiaobai fell down screaming, so it was his trick.When Prince Jiu and Guan Zhong entered the territory of Qi State, Xiaobai and Bao Shuya had already taken the trail to Linzi, the capital of the country, and Xiaobai became the king of Qi State. This is Duke Huan of Qi.

After Duke Huan of Qi came to the throne, he immediately sent troops to defeat the State of Lu, and informed Duke Zhuang of Lu that he must kill Prince Jiu, and send Guan Zhong back to Qi State for punishment.Lu Zhuanggong had no choice but to follow suit. Guan Zhong was sent to Qi State in a prison cart.Bao Shuya immediately recommended Guan Zhong to Duke Huan of Qi. Duke Huan of Qi said angrily: "Guan Zhong shot me with an arrow and killed me. Can I still use him?" Bao Shuya said: "That time he was the master of Young Master Jiu. He shot you with an arrow, which was his loyalty to Young Master Jiu. In terms of ability, he is much better than me. If my lord wants to do something big, Guan Zhong is a good man." Useful people."

Duke Huan of Qi was also an open-minded man. Hearing Bao Shuya's words, he not only did not punish Guan Zhong for his crime, but also immediately appointed him as prime minister and let him manage the state affairs.Guan Zhong helped Duke Huan of Qi to rectify the internal affairs, develop rich sources, open up iron mines, make more farm tools, improve farming techniques, boil salt with sea water on a large scale, and encourage people to go fishing in the sea.The vassal states farther from the sea had to rely on Qi to supply salt and seafood. You don't need to buy other things, but you must eat salt.The state of Qi became richer and stronger.

Duke Huan of Qi wanted to be the overlord of the princes. Once he became the overlord, he would be able to issue orders, and other princes would have to pay tribute to him and obey his orders.He said to Guan Zhong: "Now that we have enough soldiers and food, can we join the princes and make a covenant together?" Guan Zhong said: "Why should we join the princes? We are all princes under the emperor of Zhou, who can obey whom? Although the emperor has lost power, he is the emperor after all, and he is greater than anyone else. If the lord can obey the emperor's order, Gather the princes, make a covenant, respect the emperor together, and resist other tribes. If anyone has difficulties in the future, everyone will help him, and whoever is unreasonable, everyone will take care of him. At that time, even if the lord does not want to be the overlord himself, others will have to recommend him you."

Duke Huan of Qi said, "You are right, but how do you proceed?" Guan Zhong said: "There is a way. This time the new emperor (referring to Zhou Liwang, Liyin xi) will come to the throne. My lord can send an envoy to congratulate the emperor, and help him out by the way, saying that the state of Song (the capital is in today's state) Shangqiu Nan) is currently experiencing civil strife, the position of the new monarch is unstable, and the country is very unstable. Please issue an order from the emperor to clearly announce the status of the monarch of the Song Dynasty. After receiving the order from the emperor, the lord can use the order from the emperor to summon the princes. In doing so, no one can object."

After hearing this, Duke Huan of Qi nodded his head again and again, and decided to follow Guan Zhong's advice. At this time, the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty had no real power.The princes of all countries only know about robbing territory and annexing land, but they have completely forgotten that there is such a thing as having an audience with the emperor.King Zhou Li had just ascended the throne, and a big country like Qi sent envoys to congratulate him, and he liked it from the bottom of his heart.He asked Duke Huan of Qi to announce the throne of King Song. In 681 BC, Duke Huan of Qi was ordered by King Zhou Li to notify the princes of various countries to hold a meeting in Shangbeixing (now north of Dong’a County, Shandong Province) on the southwestern border of Qi State.

At this time, Qi Huangong's prestige was not high.After the notice was issued, only four countries, Song, Chen, Cai, and Zhu, came. There are also several vassal states, such as Lu, Wei, Cao, and Zheng (the capital is in Xinzheng, Henan), who wanted to see the limelight, but they did not come. At the Beixing meeting, everyone publicly elected Duke Huan of Qi as the leader of the alliance and signed an alliance.There are three main points in the covenant: one is to respect the emperor and help the royal family; the other is to resist other tribes and prevent them from entering the Central Plains; the third is to help weak and difficult princes.