Preface
After the fall of the Shang Dynasty, the brother of the king of Xuan actually founded a new state and unexpectedly became one of the five tyrants of the Spring and Autumn period. This unexpected rise is remarkable, and one is amazed by the vagaries of history and the adventures of the characters.
In that turbulent Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, how did a hermit who lived in seclusion in the mountains re-establish a country and eventually became one of the five hegemons at that time? Let us walk into the long river of history together to explore this magnificent legend.
The road to the founding of the Song Kingdom
In 1046 BC, the Shang Dynasty was destroyed under the leadership of King Wu Ji Fa. This once powerful slave dynasty finally came to an end under the torture of long-term war and internal and external troubles. However, it was at this time that an unexpected figure began his legendary life.
A reclusive micro-revelation in the mountains
When the news of the fall of the Shang Dynasty spread all over the land, Wei Ziqi, who lived in seclusion in the mountains, was not spared. He was studying the classics in the bamboo hut when he suddenly heard a burst of wails and screams from outside the mountain. The probe looked out, and saw a group of remnants of defeated soldiers speeding through the forest, all of them looking frightened and embarrassed.
"Shang is dead, Shang is dead!" they cried out incessantly. Wei Ziqi was shocked, and he almost couldn't stand steadily. He never imagined that the Shang Dynasty would collapse like this.
Painful micro-revelation
Wei Ziqi was in great pain, and he wanted to die on the spot. But soon, he picked himself up again and decided to go to Chaoge to find out for himself. So, he was alone and set out on his way home.
Along the way, Wei Ziqi saw countless heart-wrenching scenes. Everywhere there were fleeing people, who were in a hurry with their homes and four walls. Some people didn't even have time to put on their clothes, and ran naked through the woods. Seeing this, Wei Ziqi couldn't help but burst into tears.
Finally, he came to the castle of Chaoge. I saw that the gate of the city was opened, and a large hole was broken in the city wall. The city was littered with traces of burning, and the ruins were everywhere. Wei Ziqi slowly walked into the city, and saw the mountains of bones piled up next to the mass grave, and couldn't help but feel like a knife.
At this moment, a contingent of cavalry of the Zhou army rushed over. The generals led by him were taken aback when they saw Wei Ziqi. He hurriedly dismounted, saluted respectfully, and said, "It turned out to be Mr. Wei Ziqi! "
Wei Ziqi was pardoned by King Wu of Zhou
Seeing this, the general of the Zhou army hurriedly explained: "We all know that Mr. Wei Ziqi is the crown prince of the Shang Dynasty, and you were once driven out of the court by the king of Zhou. Now that the Shang Dynasty has fallen, we all think that you are no longer alive. I didn't expect you to live in seclusion all this time. "
When Wei Ziqi heard this, he let out a long sigh. He looked around and saw the devastated Chaoge City, and he couldn't help but feel sad. He said: "The reason why I lived in seclusion in the mountains back then was precisely because I was not used to seeing the debauchery of the king. Now that the Shang Dynasty has fallen, I am also heartbroken!"
Seeing this, the generals of the Zhou army hurriedly comforted: "Mr. Wei Ziqi, we have all heard of your behavior back then. You are a virtuous man, very different from the king. Now that the Shang Dynasty is dead, we are searching for the remnants of the Shang army. If you are willing, you may as well follow us back to the capital of the Zhou Dynasty and start a new life. "
A micro-revelation that regains hope
After following the Zhou army to leave his homeland, Wei Ziqi was taken to the capital of the Zhou Dynasty. At that time, Ji Fa, the king of Zhou Wu, had succeeded to the throne and was making every effort to rectify the dynasty. When he saw Wei Ziqi, Ji Fa personally came forward to greet him and sympathized with what happened to him.
Ji Fa said: "Mr. Wei Ziqi, we all know that you were driven out of the court by the king of Su and lived in seclusion in the mountains. Now that the Shang Dynasty is dead, you are homeless. It's better to stay in the Zhou Dynasty, and we will definitely arrange you well. "
After hearing this, Wei Ziqi was deeply grateful. He remembered his vow to create a new future for the Shang Dynasty. Although the Shang Dynasty is now dead, he can still realize his ideals in the new dynasty. So, he resolutely agreed to stay in the Zhou Dynasty.
Soon, King Wu of Zhou arranged a new position for Wei Ziqi. Since Wei Ziqi was once the crown prince of the Shang Dynasty and knew the national conditions of the Shang Dynasty well, King Wu of Zhou hoped that he could assist him and help unify the world.
As a result, Wei Ziqi was appointed as an important advisor of the Zhou Dynasty, responsible for handling the preparation of the old Shang Dynasty. He personally led a Zhou army to the hometown of Yin Shang and surrendered a large number of remnants of the merchant army. With his prestige and prestige, these merchant armies surrendered one after another, making the unification of the Zhou Dynasty more smoothly.
In this way, Wei Ziqi established a very high prestige in the Zhou Dynasty and the opposition. In the period of King Cheng of Zhou, Ji Dan, the Duke of Zhou, assisted the young King Cheng to govern. At this time, Wei Ziqi was already an important minister of the government and the opposition, and his suggestions were highly valued by the Duke of Zhou.
Wu Geng's rebellion was put down
In 1042 BC, less than three years after the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, Ji Fa's youngest son Wu Geng rebelled in his hometown of Yinxu. Before King Wu died, he was appointed to guard Yin Ruins as the lord of the land after the Shang Dynasty. King Cheng was young and inexperienced, so Wu Geng took this as an opportunity to seize the throne.
After learning this news, Wei Ziqi immediately sent troops on behalf of the Zhou Dynasty to conscript. Standing on top of the chariot in a battle robe, he declared with deep sorrow: "Wu Geng's behavior is a blasphemy against the previous king, and we will definitely bring him to justice!"
Subsequently, Wei Ziqi personally led the army to Yinxu, and after a difficult siege, Wu Gengsheng was finally captured. At the suggestion of the important ministers, the Duke of Zhou finally decided to depose Wu Geng, and at the same time began to consider the candidate for the new master of Yinxu.
The Song State was established
At this time, Wei Ziqi was recommended to be appointed. Zhou Gong said: "Yinxu is the homeland of Shang, and I am waiting to rely on Mr. Wei Ziqi to maintain the minds of the Yin people. The ministers unanimously agreed. The following year, Wei Ziqi led the people of Yin Shang to move back to their hometown, and Zhou Tianzi officially canonized it as the new vassal state - Song State.
In this way, the hermit who lived in the mountains many years ago has finally become the new monarch. He was relieved and full of emotion. This is God's reward for his many years of abiding by benevolence and righteousness, and it is also the mission entrusted by the ancestors.
The Song Kingdom went to glory
During the Western Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Tianzi implemented the feudal system, and established vassal states in various places, which were ruled by hereditary monarchs. This system made the national strength unprecedentedly strong at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty. As one of the important vassal states, the Song State grew in strength under the governance of Wei Ziqi.
In the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhou Tianzi's authority began to gradually decline, and wars for hegemony between vassal states broke out one after another. During this period, the Song Kingdom was also involved in fierce wars.
In 707 BC, he was succeeded by Xianggong of Song. He is a wise and martial monarch with ambitions for hegemony. At that time, the Jin State was falling into civil strife, and Song Xianggong saw the opportunity to send troops to destroy Lu and the two vassal states. Conquered large areas of territory between Lu and the two countries, and the national power of the Song State increased greatly.
Song Xianggong's expedition
Subsequently, Song Xianggong conquered the surrounding countries for many years to expand the territory. After a baptism of war, the national strength of the Song State finally grew to an unprecedented level, and it became one of the most powerful vassal states at that time.
During the reign of Xianggong of the Song Dynasty, he repeatedly performed miraculous feats, making the Song State a hegemon in the south. He not only greatly promoted culture and education at home, but also made frequent expeditions abroad to confront the northern vassal states. The army of the Song State was invincible and invincible, and its prestige was greatly boosted for a while.
Just when the national strength of the Song State reached its peak, the vassal states such as the Qi State and the Jin State in the north also arose at this time to compete with the Song State. In order to compete for supremacy, the two sides are constantly fighting.
Song Xianggong was killed
In 638 BC, Song Xianggong led an expedition and encountered the Jin army in the Chengpu area. The two sides engaged in a decisive battle near the small city of Chengpu. The Song army was outnumbered and had the upper hand at first. However, the Jin army fought back bravely and finally completely defeated the Song army. Song Xianggong was killed on the battlefield, and the Song state began to decline.
Despite this, the Song state remained one of the most powerful vassal states of its time. In the following few hundred years, the Song State and other vassal states such as Chu, Qi, Jin and other states repeatedly competed for hegemony, and wars continued.
The fall of the Song Kingdom
By the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, the state of Chu had greatly increased its national strength during the reigns of King Jing Qi and King Mu, and gradually replaced the Song state as the overlord of the Central Plains. In 286 BC, the Song State was finally destroyed by Chu, ending more than 800 years of history.
The rise and fall of the Song State witnessed the struggle between the vassal states during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. As a former hegemon, the Song State once occupied an extremely important position in this turbulent era. Its rise was largely due to the groundbreaking foundation laid by the founding monarch Wei Ziqi.
It was Wei Ziqi who revitalized the culture of the Shang Dynasty during the Western Zhou Dynasty and laid the foundation of the Song Kingdom. Later, generations of monarchs such as Xianggong of the Song Dynasty continued to expand their territory on this basis, making the Song State one of the most powerful vassal states at that time.
Although it was impossible to escape the fate of being destroyed in the end, the glory of the Song State still allowed Wei Ziqi, a relict of the Shang Dynasty, to continue. His ideals and pursuits were once realized during the prosperity of the Song Kingdom. This can be regarded as the best reward for his lifelong perseverance and dedication.
epilogue
From a hermit to a monarch, from a relict of the Shang Dynasty to the founding father, Wei Ziqi's legendary life has witnessed the ups and downs of a turbulent era. He used his tenacity and benevolence to re-establish the foundation of the Song State after the fall of the Shang Dynasty and developed it into a temporary hegemon.
Although the Song Kingdom could not escape the fate of being destroyed in the end, Wei Ziqi's ideals and pursuits were once realized during his heyday, which was also the best reward for his lifelong perseverance.
This storied history shows that personal ideals and perseverance can shine brightly and illuminate the way forward even in the darkest moments.