The Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, the Duke of Qi Huan, the Duke of Song Xiang, the Duke of Jin Wen, the Duke of Qin Mu, the King of Chu Zhuang, and the others needless to say, the Duke of Qi Huan, the Nine Princes of Qi Huan, the Emperor of The World; Jin Wen openly created the hegemony of the Jin Dynasty for a hundred years; Qin Mu gong claimed hegemony over Xi Rong, and the king of Chu Zhuang chased the deer in the Central Plains, all of them relied on their own strength and ranked among the five hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, but Song Xianggong, a person who unrealistically talked about the gentleman's demeanor in ancient times in the chaotic world of spring and autumn, how did he become a hegemon?
Duke Xiang of Song, whose name was Zifu, was the eldest son of Song Guoyuan, and he also had an older brother, Muyi. Song Xianggong's name of "benevolence" was already evident in his youth.
It happened that Duke Huan of Song was seriously ill, and according to the primogeniture system at that time, Zifu was supposed to be the one to succeed to the throne, but he pleaded in front of his father to give the position of prince to his brother Muyi, and said: "Muyi is older than me, and he is loyal and benevolent, please make Muyi the monarch of the country." However, MuYi refused to accept the position of crown prince and said, "Isn't it the greatest benevolence to be able to cede the country to me?" No matter how kind I am, I can't catch up with my brother! Moreover, the abolition of the concubine is not in line with the system." In this way, brothers and brothers, the throne has been transferred repeatedly, I don't know how Kangxi's sons feel when they see this scene? Zifu could not help his brother, so he had to succeed to the throne and seal his eyes.
After that, Song Xianggong once again showed his benevolence and righteousness. At the meeting of Kuiqiu, the Duke of Qi Huan entrusted his crown prince Zhao to his care, and in the ninth year of King Xiang of Zhou, Duke Huan of Qi fell ill and died, and the qi civil unrest, the prince of Qi, Zhao, asked Song Xianggong for help. Although the State of Song was very weak at that time, due to the gentleman's quick words and whip, Song Xianggong went all out to help Crown Prince Zhao return to the State of Qi and take the throne, for the sake of Duke Xiao of Qi.
At this moment, as soon as The Duke of Qi Huan died, the position of overlord was vacant, and Song Xianggong wanted to make a fool of himself, he first detained Teng Xuangong, and then sacrificed the king of the State of Huan as a sacrifice, and then surrounded the State of Cao, just like this, Song Xianggong thought that he had mastered the whole world, but he did not know that his allies were only Wei, Yi, Cao, and Shui, and a few other small countries, which was really ridiculous and generous!
In the time that followed, Song Xianggong once again brought "benevolence and righteousness" into full play, unrealistically talking about the gentlemanly demeanor of the ancient times in the chaotic spring and autumn period, passive in political and military struggles in order to keep the pedantic creed, and abusing benevolence and righteousness on the enemy country and even the enemy army, and even being humiliated several times.
In 639 BC, Chu, Chen, Cai, Xu, Cao, and Zheng planned to meet in Ludi, and how Muyi persuaded them, Song Xianggong was determined to participate, and did not bring an army, saying: "I have made an appointment with the Chu people, how can I not keep my promises?" As a result, during the talks, a dispute broke out between Song Xianggong and King Cheng of Chu, and King Cheng of Chu suddenly ordered someone to capture Song Xianggong and bring him back to the State of Chu and imprison him.
The most talked about is the Battle of Song Chu Hongshui, when the Chu army began to cross the river, Mu Yi said: "There are many Chu soldiers, but our army is small, take advantage of the opportunity they crossed the river to destroy them." Song Xianggong said, "We are known as the master of benevolence and righteousness, how can we take advantage of the fact that others cross the river to attack?" The Chu army crossed the river and began to deploy on the shore, and Mu Yi said: It is time to attack. Song Xianggong said: Wait for them to line up. When the Chu army was ready, the Chu soldiers rushed forward and defeated the Song army, and Song Xianggong was also shot in the thigh by the Chu soldiers, and died soon after.
How did such a person become the Spring and Autumn Five? Is it just because of his benevolent morality? As everyone knows, in the chaotic world of Spring and Autumn, unrealistic benevolence and righteousness can only bring misfortune to themselves! From beginning to end, Song Xianggong did not obtain the position of overlord, and Sima Qian unilaterally believed that Song Xianggong was one of the five hegemons in the "Records of History", I am afraid that some of them are not worthy of the name, mixed with personal factors.