At any given time, the idea of Chinese unity is deeply ingrained. So that when looking at history, whether consciously or unconsciously, we will choose to analyze historical events and historical figures from the big whole of "China". Therefore, the relative ignores the particularity of the locality. The record writing of Chinese history often takes the state as the "unit", so it obscures the rich diversity of many places.
Especially in the historical stage of dividing and chaotic such as the Spring and Autumn Warring States, the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the deficiencies brought about by this situation are even more obvious.
Of course, this concept of "great unification" was formed very early, almost back to the pre-Qin period.
However, at that time, although Mencius and others proposed "fixing on one", in such a situation, no one knew whether there would be a day of realization, so the "great unification" at this time was just a beautiful vision. It can be said that the unified state structure often makes us ignore some differences and complexities between countries in the Warring States period, and a typical case is the "History of the Warring States" written by Yang Kuan.
When he wrote about the change of law, he cited evidence that the situation in various countries was regarded as a change of law, but how could the case of "Zou Ji satirizing the Qi Wang Na Zhi" be confused with the change of law in other countries? Among them, titles like the "Four Princes of the Warring States" can easily be considered to be the same type of people as Meng Yijun, Xin Lingjun and others. Indeed, they are all prominent figures in their own country, and they are all known as "nurses".
However, only by deeply analyzing their position and identity in the central authorities can we understand where the particularity of Meng Tianjun lies.
Here, we may wish to re-read the story of "Three Caves of the Cunning Rabbit".
Feng Chen was very famous among Meng Tianjun's disciples, and at that time, Meng Tianjun's momentum at home and abroad made the King of Qi feel threatened, so the uneasy King of Qi dismissed him from his official position.
At this time, Meng Tianjun's heart was also very desolate, and it was at this time that Feng Chen created the "Three Caves of cunning rabbits" for him: to gather people's hearts and minds for Meng Yijun in the fiefdom of Xue Yi as his last retreat; to persuade King Hui of Wei to invite Meng Tianjun to become an official in the State of Wei, to increase the prestige of Meng Tianjun, forcing the King of Qi to reactivate Meng Yijun; and to invite the sacrifice instrument of the former king of Qi to Xue Yi.
Therefore, from here, it can be found that Meng Yujun has three powerful chips in his hands, and he is in a semi-independent nature with his fiefdom Xue Yi, so the king must also be a little jealous of him.
So, what about the other three sons?
Although Xin Lingjun was the younger brother of king Wei, and even more so that the princely states did not dare to add troops to the State of Wei for more than ten years, their political career was not proud because they were jealous of the king, and they could only drink and be depressed.
Zhao Sheng, the Prince of Pingyuan, had also served three times as a minister for the Zhao state to relieve the Qin capital, but he was still powerless to resist the unified payment of taxes by the state.
In the Warring States period, although the status of the nobility was still very lofty, the social atmosphere of the nations had gradually changed to "Shangxian", and the nobles could not enjoy the superiority brought by blood at ease.
From the founding of the country, the monarchs and grandsons of the country could hardly maintain their status for a long time, because many nobles boasted of their status but had no merit to the country. At this time, the same idea as the later imperial examination system had quietly emerged: only talent and merit could bring status.
Therefore, from this point of view, Huang Xie, who is located in Chun Shenjun among the four princes of the Warring States, can be regarded as a truly talented person.
The Warring States period was a critical period when the independence of hereditary nobility was weakened, when, with the exception of the State of Qi, the princely states had implemented the county system, and the independence of some feudal states was greatly weakened. In the past, fengyi was equivalent to one country and one China, but now it was also necessary to obey the king's orders within the feudal estate, so the autonomy of Meng Yijun was very unusual at that time.
Feng Chen's behavior of "burning coupons and righteousness" was obviously to buy people's hearts and minds to help Meng Yujun balance the royal power. When the State of Wei was in trouble, Xin Lingjun's advisers advised him to put the overall situation first and sacrifice himself for the country. For Meng Yijun, Xue Yi was the base for him to cultivate forces to compete for power. However, at this time, he needed a bigger stage than Xue Yi to exert his strength. Therefore, it is not difficult for us to understand that Meng Tianjun's path to power is over.
Compared with sticking to a small territory like Xue Yi, there is no doubt that the rights of the whole country can satisfy his appetite. Therefore, Meng Yijun chose to directly seize the central power. During the years when qi was prime minister, he used the power and money in his hands to repeatedly expand the number of diners and help him consolidate his power. So, in 301 BC, the despotism of King Qi Tang reached its peak after succeeding to the throne, making it impossible for the king to match his prestige.
Later, Xunzi accused him of not keeping the "way of the courtiers", in fact, he just put him in the wrong position.
He was not an ordinary minister, he was a feudal aristocrat who was independent of the royal power and independent of the royal power. Judging from Meng Tianjun's behavior at that time, his interests were obviously not linked to a certain country. His reaction after being suspected by King Qi Tang also proved this. He served as Wei Xiang and united other countries to attack his mother country, so that he could no longer strive for the strength of the world, but he himself benefited a lot.
After Meng Tianjun, there was no longer a feudal right that was neutral to the countries, and the entire era had undergone irreversible and tremendous changes. The achievements of Meng Tianjun's life, in the final analysis, are due to his good at hanging the sign of benevolence and morality to weave talents. Then, with the power of these talents, he will realize his ambitions. In fact, the greater the ambition, the more it needs the help of others, that is, only those who are good at borrowing ladders can ascend to the top.
Resources:
[Warring States Policy Qi Ce III, Shi Ji Vol. 75, Meng Tianjun Biography No. 15, Zizhi Tongjian Vol. 3]