Chapter 22 21 Battle of Xiaoshan

Qin State's army wanted to attack Zheng State, and Jin State had already received information.Xian Zhen, a general of the Jin State, believed that this was a good opportunity to attack the State of Qin, and persuaded the newly enthroned Duke Xiang of Jin to intercept it at Xiaoshan (north of Luoning County, Henan Province today, 崤音 yao). Jin Xianggong personally led the army to Xiaoshan.Xiaoshan was originally a very dangerous place, and the Jin army had laid a net there, just waiting for the Qin army to arrive.Meng Ming saw that as soon as they entered Xiaoshan, they were ambushed and surrounded by the Jin army, and they were in a dilemma.The soldiers of the Qin State died and surrendered.The three generals Meng Mingshi, Xiqishu, and Bai Yibing were all captured alive.

Duke Xiang of Jin was victorious and returned to the court.His mother Wen Ying (sound ying) was originally from Qin State, and she did not want to be enemies with Qin State. She said to Duke Xiang: "Qin State and Jin State are relatives, and they have always helped each other. The quarrel has hurt the peace of the two countries. If these three people are killed, the enmity between the two countries may deepen, so it is better to let them go and let Qin Jun punish them himself." Hearing what his mother said made sense, Jin Xianggong released the three captives including Meng Mingshi.

As soon as General Xian Zhen heard that Meng Mingshi had escaped, he immediately went to see Duke Xiang of Jin and said, "The soldiers worked so hard to catch them with great difficulty. How can we let them go so easily?" While speaking, he was so angry that he spit on the ground. After Jin Xianggong heard this, he also felt regretful, and immediately sent General Yang Chufu to lead a team of troops to catch up quickly. After the three men were released, Meng Mingshi ran away with all his might.When we got to the Yellow River, we found that there were Jin soldiers chasing after us.At this critical moment, fortunately, a small boat stopped by the river, and they jumped into it.

When Chufu Yang arrived, the boat had already left the shore.Chufu Yang shouted loudly from the bank: "Please come back! Our lord forgot to prepare chariots and horses for you, and specially asked me to come here to send some good horses, please accept them!" How could Meng Mingshi be willing to be fooled by this.He stood on the bow of the boat and saluted, and said: "Thanks to Jin Jun for forgiving us, I am very grateful, how dare I accept gifts again. If we can save our lives when we go back, then, after three years, come and repay your country." .” Father Yang wanted to say something else, but the boat was already going farther and farther away.

Chufu Yang went back and reported Meng Mingshi's words to Duke Jinxiang. Duke Jinxiang regretted it too much, but there was nothing he could do. Meng Mingshi and the other three returned to Qin.When Qin Mugong heard that the whole army was wiped out, he put on plain clothes and went outside the city to meet them. Meng Mingshi and the three knelt on the ground to plead guilty.Qin Mugong said: "It's my fault. I didn't listen to your father's advice, which caused you to lose the battle. How can I blame you? Besides, I can't write down a person's great achievements just because he made a small mistake." .”

The three of them were so grateful that they shed tears. After the fight, they practiced their soldiers and horses seriously, and they wanted to avenge Qin State wholeheartedly. In 625 BC, Meng Mingshi asked Qin Mugong to send troops to avenge Xiaoshan, and Qin Mugong agreed.Meng Mingshi and other three generals led 400 military vehicles to the state of Jin.Unexpectedly, Duke Jin Xiang was on guard, and Meng Mingshi was defeated again. Qin Mugong still did not punish him, but Meng Mingshi was really sorry, as if he owed a debt to the country.He took out all his property and salary and gave them to the families of the soldiers who died in the war.He lived a rough life with the soldiers.Soldiers ate coarse grains, so he ate coarse grains: Soldiers gnawed vegetable roots, and he gnawed vegetable roots. He trained soldiers and horses hard every day, determined to avenge his shame.

In the winter of this year, Jin State united Song, Chen, and Zheng to fight on the border of Qin State.Meng Mingshi ordered the soldiers to guard the city and not to fight casually with the people of the Jin State. As a result, the Jin State took two more cities. As a result, some people in Qin State spoke ill of Meng Mingshi, saying that he shouldn't be so timid.The nearby Xiaoguo and Xirong saw that Qin had lost three battles in a row, and left Qin one after another, out of control. 624 BC, that is, the summer of the third year after the battle of Xiaoshan.Meng Mingshi made all preparations, selected domestic elite soldiers, and set off with 500 military vehicles.Qin Mugong took out a lot of food and money to settle the families of the soldiers.The soldiers were full of fighting spirit and set off in full gear.

When the army was crossing the Yellow River, Meng Mingshi said to the soldiers: "We came out this time, but we have advanced or not retreated. I want to burn the boat. What do you think?" Everyone said: "Burn it! If you win, you will be afraid." Don’t have a boat? If you’re defeated, don’t come back.” The depression and hatred that Meng Mingshi’s soldiers had held back for several years burst out at this moment.In a few days, he took back the two cities lost last time in one fell swoop, and then captured several big cities in Jin State. Only then did Jin feel the strength of Qin's offensive, and everyone panicked.After discussing with the ministers, Jin Xianggong issued an order: only to defend the city, not to fight with the people of Qin.Qin's army challenged back and forth on the ground of Jin, and no one from Jin dared to come out.

Someone said to Duke Mu of Qin, "The state of Jin has surrendered. They dare not come out to fight. My lord might as well bury the bones of Xiaoshan and go back, so as to wash away the shame of the past." Qin Mugong led an army to Xiaoshan, gathered up the bones of the soldiers who died in the battle three years ago, and buried them on the hillside.Qin Mugong led Meng Mingshi and other soldiers to pay homage to them before returning home. The small countries in the west and the Xirong tribe rushed to pay tribute to Qin when they heard that Qin had defeated Jin, the overlord of the Central Plains.Qin State has been the overlord of Xirong ever since.