Since ancient times, there has been a saying: "The two countries exchange troops, and do not cut off the envoys." This seems to have become an unwritten rule on ancient and even modern battlefields. For example, the Geneva Conventions have stipulated that prisoners of abuse, the elderly, children and other weak people shall not be killed, let alone harm the negotiators on both sides. Therefore, even if the contradictions between the two countries are irreconcilable, the messenger can generally save his life.
Throughout history, such a preferential policy of treating envoys actually appeared as early as the Spring and Autumn Warring States period a thousand years ago. In 596, the State of Chu sent Shen Zhou as an envoy to the State of Qi, but specifically instructed him to bypass the State of Song. Hearing about this, Hua Yuan, the ruler of the State of Song, was very angry, and he believed that the actions of the State of Chu were insulting the State of Song! To this end, he set up an ambush in advance and killed the emissaries of the Chu state.
As soon as this matter came out, the enraged King Zhuang of Chu immediately sent a large army to besiege the capital of the Song State for 9 months. It was difficult for the Song state to invite reinforcements, and the domestic situation was not good, so it could only send Hua Yuan as an emissary to negotiate related matters. Hua Yuan knew that it would be difficult to solve the problem according to the normal process, so he took a desperate risk, sneaked into the Chu army marshal's tent in the middle of the night, and kidnapped the Commander of the Chu army. However, if the Chu army retreats 30 miles, our country will obey the order. In this way, the State of Chu actually ceased hostilities with the State of Song and retreated 30 miles, and Hua Yuan also took the initiative to become a hostage and went to the State of Chu. This allusion is the famous "two countries exchange troops, do not cut off the envoys."
Indeed, there is no need for the two countries to be at war with the messengers. Treating each other's messengers well can also be regarded as leaving a back road and a dialogue channel for each other, and it will not arouse the enemy's sworn resistance to death. However, war is not static, and in some cases the practice of beheading emissaries, while immoral, can turn the tide.
In 75 AD, Emperor Ming of Han died. The Northern Xiongnu sensed the opportunity and attacked Geng Gong's army with the rebellious Che division. Geng Gongqi has always been quite strategic. Even if the situation is unfavorable, it is not discouraged. There was no water source in the city, so he personally dug a well for 15 meters until the water came out. When the food ran out, he boiled his armor and crossbow with water, and ate the leather and other things on it to fill his hunger. When everyone's morale was low, he personally cheered everyone up, so that everyone had no second thoughts. The Xiongnu could not attack for a long time, and seeing that Geng Gong had seriously reduced his personnel, they sent emissaries to surrender, and even expressed their willingness to make him king.
But when Geng Gong saw the messenger, he lured him to the head of the city, killed him in full view of everyone, and hung his body at the head of the city and roasted it. This practice discouraged them from wanting to surrender, and also excited the soldiers in the city. The Xiongnu were even more angry when they saw the situation, and ordered their soldiers to attack the city day and night. However, under the high frequency of sieges, it caused greater casualties on its own side. Eventually, Geng Gong waited for reinforcements from the Han Dynasty. His approach was undoubtedly inhumane compared to the practices of other periods, but under the storm, he took the lead in the war with the Xiongnu and survived with his brothers.