090 Two peach kill three soldiers
Qi Jinggong had long wanted to replace the Jin state as the leader of the princes. The thought had been swirling in his mind for more than twenty years. Once upon a time, when King Chu Ling attacked the Kingdoms of Chen and Cai (531 BC), Cai Huanshangzhong originally asked for help, and all the princes of various countries were afraid of the State of Chu and did not dare to send troops. At that time, Qi Jinggong sent people to the Chu Kingdom to inspect it, wanting to see how powerful this "barbarian country" really was. Yan Pingzhong was the one who had originally taken this mission to the Chu Kingdom. When the monarchs of the State of Chu heard that the State of Qi had sent envoys to visit here, cheng wanted to insult him and show the prestige of the State of Chu. They knew that Yan Pingzhong was a short man, so they opened a five-foot-high hole next to the city gate and told him to drill through it. Yan Pingzhong could also speak, and he said, "This is a dog hole, not a city gate." If I come to the 'dog country', I have to drill a dog hole. If I were visiting the 'kingdom of men', I would have entered through the city gates. I'll wait here for a while, but I'm going to ask you first, what kind of country is the Chu Kingdom? The person in charge of the city gate immediately told Yan Pingzhong's words to the Chu Ling King. King Chu Ling had no choice but to order the people to open the city gates and welcome him in. The entertainers said a lot of ugly words to ridicule Yan Pingzhong, but they didn't expect that they would all give him words to dismiss, and they would never dare to open their mouths again.
King Chu Ling saw Yan Pingzhong and made a joke with him, saying, "Isn't there anyone in the State of Qi?" Yan Pingzhong said, "What is this?" A city in Linzi is already crowded with people: if everyone takes a breath, it can turn into a cloud; Wipe a handful of sweat and you can rain a shower; The person walking rubs his shoulders; As soon as he stopped, the person behind him stepped on his heel. How did the Great King say that there was no one in the State of Qi? King Chu Ling said, "Then, why did you send you here?" When Yan Pingzhong heard this, he was angry and ridiculous in his heart. He replied, "Our country has a rule: When we visit a superior country, we will send a superior person, and if we visit a lower country, we will send a subordinate person." I was sent here without the slightest show. Saying that, he smiled deliberately, and the Chu Ling King had to laugh with him.
When it was time to sit at the table and eat, the samurai dragged a prisoner down the hall. King Chu Ling asked them, "What crime did that prisoner commit?" Where are the people? The samurai replied, "It's a bandit, the Qi people!" King Chu Ling turned his face and said to Yan Pingzhong with a smile, "Why are the qi people so unproductive and doing this thing?" Yan Pingzhong said, "How did the Great King not know?" The honey oranges in Gangnam are big and sweet. However, this kind of honey orange was planted in Huaibei, and it became a structure orange, which was small and sour. Why do honey oranges become oranges? Isn't it because the water and soil are different? In the same way, the Qi people can work well in the Country of Qi, and once they arrive in the State of Chu, they become bandits, perhaps for the sake of water and soil. The monarchs of the Chu State felt that they were not Yan Pingzhong's opponents, and the big guys respected Yan Pingzhong instead.
Yan Pingzhong returned from the Chu state and said to Qi Jinggong: "Although the Chu state has a lot of soldiers and horses, there are no great talents. We have nothing to fear of them. As long as the lord rectifies the country well, he will love the people. Another point is that it is necessary to promote talented people and stay away from villains. Qi Jinggong agreed with his words, but he twisted the phrase "promote talented people." He thought that hercules, who loved to fight, were talents. He only knew how to promote the position of Hercules. In this way, Yan Pingzhong instead took on a part for Qi Guo.
One day, Lu Zhaogong (1) personally came to visit the State of Qi. The Duke of Qi Jing was eager to ask the State of Lu to break away from the State of Jin and return to the State of Qi. This was a particularly solemn reception for him. When sitting at the table, Lu Zhaogong had his uncle sun and grandson to do the courtesy (2), and Qi Jinggong had Yan Pingzhong to do the courtesy. The four monarchs sat in the hall. Under the hall stood the three Hercules of Qi Jinggong's favorite. They stood there as if in demonstration. When Yan Pingzhong saw the three of them full of vigor and triumphant looks, it was simply empty-eyed, and there was no one in sight, and his heart was quite uncomfortable. He has always regarded this kind of warrior as an old and rude person. Qi Jinggong can regard this kind of old man as a great talent, who is still willing to come to the real talent? Yan Pingzhong was bent on blowing these warriors away, and then he would recommend people with real talent. Just as the two monarchs were drinking, Yan Pingzhong had an idea. He reported upwards, saying, "The peach tree that the lord planted for several years has borne peaches this year." I want to pick a few to offer to the two monarchs to taste, I don't know if it is accurate? "Qi Jinggong is going to send someone to pick it." Yan Pingzhong said, "I personally went to watch the people who watched the garden pick it." ”
Without much effort, he held up a wooden plate with six peaches in it, red and green tender skins, and a puddle of water was about to come out. Qi Jinggong asked him, "Are there just a few?" He said, "There are a few that are not very familiar, so I picked these six." Qi Jinggong ordered Yan Pingzhong to pour wine. Yan Pingzhong offered a peach to Lu Zhaogong and one to Qi Jinggong, and poured wine, saying: "The peach is as big as a bucket, and there are few in the world; Erjun ate, a thousand autumns and the same life! "The two monarchs drank wine and ate peaches, and both said they tasted good. Qi Jinggong said: "This peach is not easy to eat, uncle and grandson are quite wise and famous in the world." This time, I made a gift again, and I should eat a peach. Uncle Sun She knelt down and said, "The subordinates don't dare to be subordinates." Xiangguo Yanzi assisted the prince, he was truly wise, the domestic politics were clear, the foreign princes admired, the merit was not small, and this peach should be given to Xiangguo. Qi Jinggong said, "Both of you have done great deeds, and each of you will give you a cup of wine and a peach." The two ministers were ordered to eat and drink. Yan Pingzhong said, "There are still two left." I think it would be better for the lord to ask his subordinates to talk about his merits. Whoever has the greatest merit will be rewarded with food. Qi Jinggong called for the left and right to pass on the order, saying: "Among the courtiers in the hall, if anyone feels that he has made great merits, he just puts it out according to his face and is judged by Xiang Guo, and he will be rewarded with a peach and taste the fresh." ”
Among the three Hercules that Qi Jinggong used to favor, one named Gongsun Jie took a step forward and said, "I followed the lord to Tongshan to hunt earlier, and suddenly a tiger came and pounced on the lord." I hurried up and beat the tiger to death and saved the lord. I should have eaten a peach because of this, right? Yan Pingzhong said, "You saved the life of the lord, and this credit is really not small." Turning to Jinggong, he said, "Please lord reward him with a cup of wine and a peach." Gongsun Jie hurriedly thanked Him, drank the wine in one sip, and ate the peach down.
Another Hercules, named Gu Yezi, said recklessly, "What's so great about hitting a tiger?" When I crossed the Yellow River with the Lord. Met an old shrew. It bit the lord's horse and dragged it into the water. I jumped into the water and fought with the old shrew, struggled for half a day, and when I got there, I killed the old shrew and rescued the horse of the lord. Isn't that a credit? Qi Jinggong interjected, "If I didn't have him that day, I wouldn't even have a life!" Eat, eat! Yan Pingzhong gave him a peach and poured him a cup of wine.
The third Hercules, Tian Kaijiang, ran up angrily and shouted, "I once went to fight Xu Guo on the orders of the lord." I killed Xu Guo's general, but I also captured more than five hundred enemies, frightening Xu Guo to surrender quickly, and even the neighboring Tan State (3) and Ju Guo were attached to us. Just by virtue of this merit, it is also worthy of a peach to eat, right? Yan Pingzhong said: "The credit for contributing to the country like you and helping the lord to accept the subordinate country is even greater than the credit for fighting the tiger and beheading the old shrew." Unfortunately, the peaches are all finished, and you are rewarded with a cup of bar. Qi Jinggong said, "Your credit is the greatest, but you are too late." Tian Kaijiang said angrily, "What's so strange about fighting tigers and beheading old shrews?" I ran thousands of miles away to add glory to the country, but I did not eat, and I lost people in front of the two monarchs, what face do I have standing here? "This old man pulled out his sword and wiped his neck.
Gongsun Jie was shocked. He said: "With such a little credit for killing the tiger, I snatched Tian Kaijiang's reward, and I really felt blushing." If I live, where is it worthy of Tian Kaijiang? Between words, he also committed suicide. Gu Yezi shouted loudly, "The three of us are friends in tribulation, brothers who live and die together, I live alone, it is too humiliating!" "He also committed suicide. Every time Qi Jinggong hurriedly called someone to stop him, he didn't have time.
Lu Zhaogong was stunned. He stood up apologetically and said, "I heard that these three warriors are all world-famous talents, but I didn't expect to commit suicide for these two peaches today. Qi Jinggong sighed and did not speak. Yan Pingzhong said as if nothing had happened, "Although such a martial artist is useful, he is not a great talent." Three dead today, thirty tomorrow. A few more, a few less, nothing big deal. Let's still drink in the bar. ”
After Lu Zhaogong left, Qi Jinggong asked Yan Pingzhong and said, "You said something big in front of Lu Hou, and you finally saved the prestige of the State of Qi." But where do I go to find such warriors? Yan Pingzhong said, "I would like to recommend one person to come, and I will be able to guarantee that I can withstand these three people." Qi Jinggong asked anxiously, "Who?" Hurry up and invite him!" ”
【Comments】
The story of "Two PeachEs Killing Three Soldiers" was originally published in "Yanzi Spring and Autumn", which was intended to highlight Yanzi's cleverness and wit. But in fact, Yan Zi murdered three warriors of the State of Qi through a sinister trick, which was not a glorious thing to say, and it was of no benefit to the country or himself. However, the story of Yan Zizhi Chu in the front shows that he is witty, brave, not humble, and safeguards the interests of the motherland, which is really worthy of praise. I remember that the story of "Yan Zi Zhi Chu" was selected into the language textbook before, but I don't know if it is still there today? In addition to Yanzi's wit, it also tells us a more basic truth, that is, to insult others is to insult yourself. Insulting others and not being humiliated yourself is simply because others are not sharp enough or generous enough. So remember the old saying that to be kind to others is to be kind to yourself.
Zhuge Liang's "Father Liang Yin" is just saying this: "Step out of the Qi Dong Gate and look into the shadows from afar." There are three graves in it, and the accumulation is similar. Whose tomb is the Q.? Tian Jiang Gu Yezi. Li can pai Nanshan, Wen can Jedi Ji. One dynasty conspiracy, two peaches kill three soldiers! Who can do this? Xiangguo Qi baby. Obviously, Mr. Kong Ming is for the three warriors. The Qing Dynasty poet Cui Xiangyu's "Tomb of the Three Soldiers" is very different from Zhuge Liang's point of view: "Although the warrior is good and short-sighted, his fame and heart attach too much importance to his body. Yi Yan and use it in the end is chaos, Zhuge why should he laugh at Yan Baby! "It is very normal for different people to have different starting points, different times, and different views. There is no need to unify thinking about all things, which is obviously impossible to achieve, and seeking common ground while reserving differences is the fundamental solution to things.
At this point, the whole book is exactly halfway through, which is precisely the historical moment of the late Spring and Autumn period and the beginning of the Warring States period, and this is a period when domestic thinkers, military experts, and politicians have emerged. Judging from China's overall historical and national conditions, it is not conducive to the emergence of scientists, artists, and architects, but even more conducive to the emergence of politicians and military experts. Therefore, this period of history can be said to be a quintessential period of Chinese history, and reading this period of history will certainly be of great benefit to understanding Chinese culture. Yan Zi himself was a very great politician, and the Tian Hoang Tho he recommended was also a great military expert, and the Sima Fa was a famous military book under his name, and it was to see how he made Qi strong.
(1) Son of Duke Lu Ai, grandson of Duke Cheng of Lu
(2) Equivalent to the phase
(3) In Tancheng County, Shandong Province, Tantan is pronounced twice
091 Rectify discipline
Yan Pingzhong said to Qi Jinggong: "I know that there is a man in the State of Qi who is both literate and martial, and his name is Tian Hoang Tho. He is now reclusive. The lord planned to resume the cause of the former Prince Huan, and he was a good helper. Qi Jinggong complained to him, saying, "Since you know that there is such a person, why didn't you invite him to come earlier?" Yan Pingzhong said: "Talented people come out to do things, not only to choose the master, but also to choose colleagues." Where can a person like Hoang Tho do things with those warriors who are brave and brave? Qi Jinggong still had those three warriors in mind, and the more Yan Pingzhong said that they were not very good, the more Qi Jinggong felt that he was eccentric. In this way, I could not help but be suspicious of his words. Unexpectedly, spies from their own country ran in to report, saying: "When the Jin state heard that we had killed three warriors, it sent troops to invade our frontier and took several cities. The Yan kingdom also took advantage of this time to invade. Qi Jinggong told Yan Pingzhong to go and invite Huang Tho immediately.
When Huang Tho saw Qi Jinggong, junchen talked about it, which was quite right. Qi Jinggong worshipped him as a general and sent five hundred military vehicles to resist the Jin and Yan states. Hoang Tho hesitated in his heart and did not dare to move. He knew that the generals of the State of Qi had a big problem, that is, they did not observe discipline. Qi Jinggong saw that he seemed inconvenient to open his mouth, so he asked him what else was difficult. Hoang Tho said: "I am an old and rough boy in the countryside, who suddenly took charge of military power and became a general, so it is inevitable that some people will be unconvinced." Besides, the most important thing in the army is to have a charter. Without a charter, if some people think that they have made efforts and meritorious deeds in the first place, and do not listen to military orders, the whole army will be prone to chaos. If the lord can send a loyal and capable minister to be the overseer, I can rest assured. Qi Jinggong sent zhuang jia, a doctor he was close to, to be the overseer of the army.
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About the Author
Mr. Lin Handa (1900-1972), a native of Cixi, Zhejiang, was a well-known educator, linguist and historian. He graduated from Shanghai Zhijiang University in 1924 and went to Colorado State University in the United States in 1937 to study in the Department of Public Education and obtained a master's degree. At the end of 1945, he co-initiated the establishment of the China Association for the Promotion of Democracy with Ma Sulun and others, and was elected as a standing director. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he successively served as a professor and provost of Yenching University, and vice minister of education of the People's Republic of China.
Mr. Lin Handa has been engaged in research and writing since the 1920s, and his books are rich, extensive and influential. His works on education include "Challenge to Traditional Education" and "Speech on the History of Western Education"; In terms of character reform, there are "The Way Out of Chinese Pinyin Characters" and "The Collation of Chinese Pinyin Characters"; Popular history reading materials include "Five Thousand Years Of The Upper and Lower Dynasties", "New Compilation of Stories of the Eastern Zhou Dynasties", "New Compilation of Stories of the Former and Later Han Dynasties", "Tales of the Three Kingdoms", etc., totaling more than 60 kinds, which is an extremely precious cultural heritage. In particular, his popular history books have been popular with generations of young readers.