Historically, for the sake of the throne, fathers and sons were jealous of each other, and brothers killed each other, and there are countless examples of this. In the face of the throne, the love of father and son, the love of brotherhood can be abandoned, and its temptation is too great. However, during the Spring and Autumn Period, before Wu Wang Shoumeng died, he wanted to find someone to inherit the throne, but it was even more difficult than ascending to heaven!
Shou Meng had four sons, the eldest son Zhu Fan, the second son Yu Ji, the third son Yu Yi, and the fourth son Ji Zha. Among them, Ji Za knows the book Dali, is generous and benevolent, and Shou Meng likes him very much. In 561 BC, Shou Meng became seriously ill, and before he died, he called Ji Za to his side and said that he wanted him to inherit the throne. However, he was rejected by Ji Zha, who said: "Since ancient times, there has been a ceremonial system stipulating that the eldest son will succeed to the throne, and you can't break the rules established by the old ancestors because of the feelings of father and son!" ”
Shou Meng could not help his son, so he had to pass the throne to Zhu Fan and take power as an agent of the administration. But he left a will: "Brother to brother, and pass on in turn", he wanted to let Ji Zha succeed to the throne in this way. The following year, when Zhu Fan's mourning period expired, he wanted to fulfill his father's last wish, so he offered to give up the throne to Ji Zha. Unexpectedly, Ji Zha still refused, saying: "After the death of Cao Xuangong, the princes and the people of Cao Guo thought that the new king was unjust and wanted to support Zi Zang as Cao Jun. Zi Zang left the Cao Kingdom to become a new monarch, and the gentleman said that Zi Zang could stick to the righteousness. Although I have no talent, I also want to emulate Zizang, and succeeding to the throne is not my righteousness. Besides, you are the rightful heir, who would dare to interfere with you?
The Wu people insisted on supporting Jizha, so he abandoned his family and ran to the countryside to cultivate land, but this matter had to be abandoned, and Zhu Fan succeeded to the throne. After Zhu Fan ascended the throne, he kept thinking: "If I live to a very old age before I die, and pass the throne in order, can the fourth brother still inherit the throne?" So he thought of a way, he personally led troops to attack the Chu state, and as a result, he was killed on the battlefield.
According to Shou Meng's wishes, the ministers made Yu Sacrifice the new king. Yu Ji knew the real reason for his brother's death in battle, and he also followed his brother's example and personally led troops to attack the Yue Kingdom. In the end, the battle was won, but Yu Matsuri had the captives of the Yue Kingdom stab to death. Yi Ming had always respected JiZa, so he refused to ascend the throne and insisted on giving way to his younger brother. Unexpectedly, Ji Zha was forced to die, and Yi Ming had to succeed to the throne. During this period, he adopted Ji Zha's suggestion, stopped the war, appeased the people, and got along with various countries in friendship, and the State of Wu lived a peaceful life for several years.
In 527 BC, Yi Ming fell seriously ill, and on his deathbed, he reiterated his father's and brother's orders and allowed JiZa to inherit the throne. Ji Zha again refused him, and fled to The Border Yanling to hide. The kingdom could not be without a monarch for a day, and the ministers of the State of Wu had no choice but to let Yi Ming's eldest son inherit the throne and change his name to Yuan, which was for the Wu King.
Shou Meng's four sons are all people who cherish love and righteousness and are selfless. If future generations could follow their example, there would not be so many tragedies of mutilation of siblings and fathers.