Chapter 18 17 Stupid Song Xianggong

When Song Xianggong saw civil strife in Qi State, he notified the princes of other countries and asked them to escort Prince Zhao to Qi State to succeed the king. However, Song Xianggong's appeal was not strong. Most of the princes put the Song State's notice aside, and only three small countries brought some troops. Song Xianggong led the soldiers and horses of the four countries to Qi.When a group of ministers of Qi State saw the troops from the four countries coming, they surrendered to Song State and welcomed Prince Zhao to ascend the throne.This is Qi Xiaogong. Qi State was originally the ally of the princes, but now Qi Xiaogong obtained the throne with the help of Song State, and Song State's status has naturally improved.

Song Xianggong was ambitious and wanted to inherit Qi Huangong's hegemony.This time when he was dating the princes, only three small countries obeyed his orders, and several big countries in the Central Plains ignored him.Song Xianggong wanted to use the big country to subdue the small country, so he decided to contact Chu.He thought that if Chu State could cooperate with him, then those countries under Chu State's influence would naturally submit to him. He told the ministers about this proposition, and the minister's son Mu Yi did not agree with it.He thought that Song State was a small country, and it would do no good if he wanted to be the leader.Song Xianggong was not willing to listen to him, he invited Chu Chengwang and Qi Xiaogong to hold a meeting in Song State first to discuss the matter of signing a covenant with the princes.Both King Cheng of Chu and Duke Xiao of Qi agreed, and decided that in July of that year (639 BC), princes from various countries would hold a meeting in Song Guoyu (northwest of Sui County, Henan today, Yuyin yu).

In July, Song Xianggong drove a car to hold a meeting.Prince Mu Yi said: "What if the Lord Chu has bad intentions, what should we do? My lord should bring more soldiers and horses." Song Xianggong said: "That can't be done. We held the meeting in order not to fight any more. How can we rewind the soldiers and horses by ourselves?" Young Master Mu Yi couldn't convince him no matter what, so he had no choice but to follow him empty-handed. Sure enough, when the meeting was held, both King Cheng of Chu and Duke Xiang of Song wanted to be the leader of the alliance, and they started arguing.Chu State is very powerful, and there are many princes attached to Chu State.Song Xianggong wanted to argue angrily, but a group of officials from the state of Chu immediately took off their coats, revealing their bright armor, and arrested Song Xianggong in a swarm.

Later, through the mediation of Lu and Qi, King Cheng of Chu was made the leader of the alliance, and Song Xianggong was released. After Song Xianggong went back, he was still unconvinced, especially when the neighboring King Zheng Guo also opposed him with King Cheng of Chu, which made him even more annoyed.In order to express his anger, Song Xianggong decided to conquer Zheng Guo first. In 638 BC, Song Xianggong sent troops to attack the state of Zheng.Zheng Guo asked Chu State for help.King Cheng of Chu was very powerful. Instead of saving Zheng Guo, he sent a general to lead a large army to attack Song Guo directly.Song Xianggong didn't watch out for this move and hurried back.The Song army stationed on the south bank of Hongshui (northwest of Zhecheng, Henan, Hongyinhong).

After the two armies faced each other across the river, the Chu army began to cross Hongshui and attack the Song army.Prince Muyi saw the Chu people busy crossing the river, so he said to Song Xianggong: "The Chu State relies on their numbers and strength to cross the river during the day, and doesn't care about us. Let's go head-on before they finish crossing the river." If we fight in the past, we will definitely win the battle.” Song Xianggong said: "No! We are a country that values ​​benevolence and righteousness. What kind of benevolence and righteousness is there if we fight across the river before the enemy has finished crossing the river?"

As they spoke, all the Chu troops had already crossed the river and landed, and they were queuing up in formation in a chaotic manner.The young master Mu Yi was anxious, and said to Song Xianggong: "We can't wait any longer! Before they have set up their formation, let's fight quickly, and we can hold off for a while. If we don't make a move, it will be too late." Song Xianggong scolded him and said: "You are too unreasonable! People's teams are not lined up, how can you fight?" In a short while, the soldiers and horses of Chu State had already set up their positions.There was a sound of war drums, and the Chu army rushed straight like a flood rushing against a dam.No matter how the Song army could hold back, they were defeated one after another.

Song Xianggong gesticulated and wanted to resist, but an arrow had already been shot in his thigh.Fortunately, the general of the Song Dynasty brought some soldiers and horses, desperately protecting Song Xianggong from escaping, and finally saved his life. Song Xianggong fled back to Shangqiu, the capital of the country, and the people of Song State talked a lot, complaining that he should not fight with the people of Chu State, let alone fight like that. Prince Muyi told Song Xianggong about everyone's discussions.Song Xianggong rubbed his injured thigh and said: "According to me, people who value benevolence and righteousness should fight like this. For example, when you see someone who has already been injured, don't hurt him again; He cannot be taken prisoner."

The young master Muyi couldn't bear it any longer. He said angrily: "The purpose of fighting is to defeat the enemy. If you are afraid of hurting the enemy, you might as well not fight; if you don't catch someone with gray hair, then let him take away." Song Xianggong was seriously injured and died a year later.When he was dying, he asked the prince to say: "Chu is our enemy, and we want to avenge this. I think Chong'er, the son of Jin (the capital is in the southeast of Yicheng, Shanxi today), is a man of ambition, and he will definitely be the overlord in the future. You When you are in trouble, you can always find him."