The Zhou Dynasty is the longest-existing dynasty in China, which existed for more than 800 years, and the Zhou Dynasty was divided into Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou. Among them, during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, due to the decline in the prestige and dominance of the Son of Heaven, the princes who had been divided began to develop and attack each other on their own, and the world entered the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. When it comes to the Spring and Autumn Period, it is necessary to mention the "Spring and Autumn Five Hegemons", they were the most outstanding five great monarchs at that time, and among them, the Duke of Qi Huan of the State of Qi was known as the "First Hegemon" because of the first hegemony.
When it comes to Qi Huangong, perhaps the most right thing he did in the eyes of people was to appoint Guan Zhong, in fact, although he himself had average ability, he still had great talent. Under his rule, the State of Qi was not only powerful, but also became the first great power to protect Zhou Tianzi and ally with the princes. However, after the death of Duke Huan of Qi, the State of Qi soon lost its courage, and the position of overlord among the princes was also taken away by Duke Wen of Jin. Why, then, did the hegemony of the State of Qi soon decline after the death of Duke Huan of Qi?
The author believes that there are three main reasons for this, of which the first reason is the problem of Qi Huangong itself.
As mentioned above, Qi Huangong's own ability was not very strong, and with the help of the sage Bao Shuya and others and luck, he was able to succeed to the throne. After becoming the monarch, Bao Shuya and Guan Zhong assisted him together, and they assisted him from the internal governance and external exchanges of the State of Qi, and the Duke of Qi Huan was actually equivalent to a hand-throwing treasurer.
After Bao Shuya and Guan Zhong died one after another, Duke Huan of Qi did not have the assistance of xianchen around him, so he did not listen to Guan Zhong's advice before his death, and reused Yi Ya, Kaifang, Shu Diao and other traitors. At that time, these three traitorous ministers had killed their own children, turned their backs on their relatives, and castrated themselves to please him for the sake of Qi Huangong, Guan Zhong believed that they would do whatever it took to achieve their goals, and if they were given heavy use, they would definitely become a scourge in the future, but Huan Gong insisted on favoring these three people and eventually tasted the bitter fruit.
After the three traitors were reused, the government of the State of Qi was wantonly disrupted by them, and the economic development stagnated, in addition, the Duke of Qi Huan was gradually hollowed out due to old age and illness. By the forty-third year of Huan Gong (643 BC), because of Huan Gong's serious illness, unrest finally broke out in the court, his sons fought for the right to inherit, the ministers took sides, and a farce was staged in the State of Qi. People were busy fighting for power and completely ignored Huan Gong, and in the end, he died of a miserable illness.
The first reason is that Huan Gongzhi is ignorant and abandons the government; the second reason is that the traitors usurp power and cause chaos in the government; and the third reason is that the sons seize power and corrupt the government.
Initially, Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong together made Gongzi Zhao crown prince, but after Duke Huan became seriously ill, a faction led by Yi Ya supported Gongzi Wufeng to succeed to the throne, and three months after Gongzi Wuxia succeeded to the throne, he was overthrown by the song, Cao, Wei, and Yi states that had been entrusted by Duke Huan, and Gongzi Zhao ascended the throne.
However, although Gongzi Zhao succeeded to the throne, he attracted new enemies, that is, his four younger brothers. As a result, soon the State of Qi ushered in a new round of battle between the sons, and was forced to be helpless, and Gongzi Zhao, who was the monarch of the State of Qi, had to hide in the State of Song. Although Gongzi Zhao resisted the attacks of other princes during his lifetime, after his death, his son was killed by his younger brother Gongzi Pan.
Regarding this chaos, Sima Qian recorded in the "Records of History": "Duke Huan had ten sons, and he wanted five of his successors: Wu Wei Li died in March, wu Chen; Second Filial Piety; Second Zhao; Ci Yi Gong; and Ci Hui Gong. "Of course, the frequent change of monarch is not conducive to rule, and moreover, the monarch must guard against the seizure of the throne by other princes, and he is even more cautious, how can he focus on governing the country?" Therefore, the decline of the hegemonic industry of the State of Qi is also reasonable and very normal.