During the reign of the Chu Communist King, Qin and Chu united to take revenge on the Jin state of Zheng. In the third year of the reign of King Kang of Chu, the Jin state Xun Yan and Luan Qi attacked Chu, and the two sides fought at Zhanshan, and the Jin state invaded the Fangcheng of the Chu state, and finally returned the favor.
At this time, the Jin and Chu countries were tit-for-tat, forming a situation in which Chu united Qin and Jin united Wu. Since the time of the Chu Dynasty, the State of Wu has joined the Jin-Chu rivalry. Although the State of Chu still wanted to unite with the State of Qin, the State of Qin was remote, and the coalition forces had lost the war with the State of Jin, so the State of Chu did not continue to use troops against The State of Jin and Wu. The strategy of the Chu state at this time was to try to suppress the Jin state diplomatically and stick to its own territory to guard against the wu state.
Stills of the chariot of "The Kingdoms of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty: Spring and Autumn"
During the reign of King Kang of Chu, the Jin and Chu countries began to have intentions of reconciliation, and the intention of the two countries to fight began with Zhao Wenzi. During this period, the ruler of the Jin state was Zhao Wenzi, who believed that the Chu state ordered Yin Zimu to be a reasonable person, and if he followed the "etiquette", he could be a soldier.
Zimu is Qu Jian. He was a man of integrity and incorruptibility, and he could be described as a "clear stream" among the several lings of the Chu state. The "Chinese Chu YuShang" records that Zimu's father loved to eat diamond horns before he died, and once confessed that "I will sacrifice it with a cocoon". However, when his father died, everyone questioned Zimu's refusal to sacrifice his father with a diamond horn, in their eyes, following his father's orders was filial piety, but Zimu believed that he must lead by example, abide by the canonical system, and should not seek to benefit himself. During his tenure as the Commander of the Chu State, he carried out the "parade vehicles", "measuring the land", and "governing the land endowment", which laid a good foundation for the Chu state.
Zheng Guozi also believed that peace would be ushered in between the Jin and Chu countries, and at this time the atmosphere of war was brewing among the princes. The following year, Chu Ke was hired by the Jin Dynasty. The Song Dynasty itself had internal strife and wanted to fight the soldiers of the princes.
"The Orphan of Zhao" Zhao Wu stills
Although the State of Jin thought that its effect was limited, if it did not agree, the lord of the alliance would be snatched away by the State of Chu. Therefore, the Jin, Chu, Qi, and Qin states all agreed to send soldiers. The State of Chu ordered Yin Zimu to make unreasonable demands at this time, and he demanded that the Jin and Chu vassal states also meet with each other. So, which country was received first? It's not the right choice.
The State of Jin saw that the State of Chu was unreasonable, and Zhao Wenzi of the State of Jin choked on the State of Chu Zimu - if Chu Jun could make the State of Qin pay tribute to the State of Jin, then the State of Jin would also invite the State of Qi to the State of Chu.
It is conceivable that this is a "full of gunpowder" alliance. In this alliance, everyone could see the Chu state's attempt to conquer the Central Plains, and Bozhou Plough already felt that something was wrong.
"Zuo Chuan" Yun: "Zi Mu Yue: "Jin and Chu have no faith for a long time, and things are just profitable." Do you have faith?" ”
From Chu Guozimu's remarks, it can be seen that he believes that there is no need to abide by credit between Jin and Chu, and it is "just a matter of profit." Ling Yin Zimu, who seemed to be strict with himself in the Chu State, was so eager to make meritorious achievements to the outside world that he even did not hesitate to lose his credibility. He was still wearing armor while making the covenant with the intention of waging war.
The princes will ally
We all know that in the Spring and Autumn Period's view of war, people have always believed that success is on the side of "faith" and "righteousness." Shu Xiang believed that Chu Guo's act of not having "faith" and no "righteousness" was a good thing for the Jin State, that is, "not suffering from it". Bozhou Plough did not agree with Zimu's approach, but Zimu insisted on not changing. Bozhou Plough was a wise man, and he also made a prophecy that "Zimu will not live for three years".
In the alliance of the soldiers, the Jin and Chu countries competed for the alliance. Shu Xiang told Zhao Wenzi that the Jin state should rely on "morality" as its basis - to show the hegemonic power lies in "morality", not on who kills blood first. Because of this, when recording this meeting, the Spring and Autumn Period deliberately wrote the Jin state before the Chu state. In other words, the Jin state has both "virtue" and "faith".
At the meeting, Zimu was unable to respond to the social words of Zhao Wenzi and Shu Xiang, which also highlighted the lack of knowledge of the Chu State on the etiquette of the Central Plains and the poor cultural accomplishment.
After the end of the alliance, Zimu returned to the Chu state and told King Chu Kang: "Yi Jin's Uncle Also, there is an uncle to Yi Zuoqiqing, Chu is undeserving, and cannot be contested." So Xun Ying of the Jin State went to the Chu State to reunite the good of the Jin and Chu countries. Later, even when Ling Yin Zimu died, Zhao Wenzi was still lost like an ally. In the author's opinion, the demeanor and performance of the Jin State are far better than those of the Chu State.
The Chu state made Yin Zimu well aware of the harm of "Chu Cai Jin", and he was also eager to make meritorious achievements. Although the State of Chu seized the opportunity by blood, the premise was that they did not keep their promises, and they could not respond to the alliance orders; on the other hand, in the Jin State, the participants included Fan Wuzi, Shu Xiang, Zhao Wenzi, etc., and their demeanor and temperament were extraordinary, so the Jin State could be said to serve the people with "morality".
Jin-Chu contended for supremacy
Although the alliance of soldiers can bring peace, from the words of Song Guozihan, we can also see the war concept of the Spring and Autumn Period. Zi Han said: "Where the princes are small, the Jin and Chu are powerful." Fear and then be kind and harmonious, and then be able to calm their country, so that they can do great power, so they can also exist. If there is no prestige, it is arrogant, and if it is arrogant, it will be chaotic, and it will perish, so it will die. ”
This passage proposes another interpretation of war—war promotes harmony within the princely states, and if there is no external threat, the country is prone to internal strife, but will perish more quickly.
Zihan did not think that there was much merit after the soldiers, and he said, "Born with five materials, the people use them together, and they cannot abolish one, who can go to the army?" The establishment of the soldiers has been long, so Wei is not in line with Zhao Wende. The saints are prosperous, the chaotic people are abolished, and the art of survival and extinction is abolished, all of which are the reasons for soldiers. And the Son asks for it, is it not also false? ”
This is just as the Sima Fa says- "Forgetting the war will be dangerous." This also reveals that the "alliance of soldiers" is not relaxation, but the beginning of internal political conflicts among the various princes.