Chapter 6: The Consequences Are Severe
The Assassination of Duke Yin of Lu
"You presented me with a papaya, I returned it with a jade pendant. You presented me with a peach, I returned it with a jade gem. You presented me with a plum, I returned it with a jade stone."
In the palace of the State of Qi, the envoy from the State of Zheng recited these lines from the *Classic of Poetry* to express Zheng’s gratitude for the assistance Qi and Lu had provided in their campaign against the State of Xu. In this era, the exchange of gifts and courtesies was highly valued. Duke Xi of Qi remarked to the envoy, "My state and Zheng once swore an alliance at Shimen; such minor acts of support are merely our duty. Your ruler, whom I consider a brother, is so modest—truly a man who puts the public interest before his own." When the envoy reported this back to Duke Zhuang of Zheng, the Duke was overjoyed. A few days later, the envoy who had been sent to the State of Lu to convey similar thanks returned—but he brought no praise from Duke Yin of Lu. Instead, he brought news of a shocking event that had occurred in Lu.
Duke Yin of Lu often told his ministers, "The rightful ruler of Lu is Prince Ji Gui. Because he is still young, I am merely managing the state on his behalf." A grand officer named Ji Yu-fu, who held great power and influence, once requested that the Duke appoint him as the Grand Prime Minister. Duke Yin replied, "Wait until Prince Ji Gui grows up and assumes the throne; you may ask him then." Ji Yu-fu grew resentful. After cooling down, he reasoned that if Ji Gui were removed and Duke Yin remained on the throne indefinitely, he could secure his promotion sooner. Thus, he secretly suggested to the Duke, "Once a sharp weapon is in your hands, it should not be lent to others. Since you have inherited the throne and are deeply loved by the people, you should remain the ruler for years to come. In the future, you should pass it to your own descendants."
Duke Yin was about to rebuke him, but Ji Yu-fu continued, "Do not speak of merely 'managing the state' temporarily. In truth, the 'Lady of Lu' pattern on your palm is not necessarily a sign of destiny; it could be mere coincidence. Now that Prince Ji Gui has grown older, I fear he will one day become a threat to you. I request permission to kill him to eliminate this trouble for you. What does Your Highness think?"
Duke Yin pointed a finger at him and said angrily, "Are you mad? How dare you speak such nonsense! The *Classic of Poetry* says, 'The eyes of Heaven are bright, following you wherever you go. The eyes of Heaven are bright, wandering with you.' How could I act recklessly under the gaze of Heaven? Let me tell you the truth: I have already ordered a palace to be built in Tuciu, where I intend to retire. In a few days, I will abdicate and hand the throne to Prince Ji Gui." Ji Yu-fu withdrew in silence, regretting his loose tongue.
In the following days, Ji Yu-fu lived in constant fear that Duke Yin would reveal this conversation to Prince Ji Gui, which would lead to his execution once the prince ascended the throne. After much deliberation, and lacking the Duke’s faith in the watchful eyes of Heaven, Ji Yu-fu decided to strike first—to eliminate Duke Yin and install Ji Gui himself.
Once his plan was set, Ji Yu-fu went to visit Prince Ji Gui. When the Prince invited him to sit, Ji Yu-fu remained standing and drew his sword, saying, "Prince, do you know why I have come? I tell you, the Duke has ordered me to secretly execute you within these few days, for he fears you will contend for the throne now that you are grown." Terrified, Ji Gui replied, "I am content to be a subject; how could I harbor such forbidden desires?" Ji Yu-fu answered, "You may think so, but the Duke does not." As Ji Gui stood in confusion, Ji Yu-fu suddenly knelt and said, "If the Duke is heartless, you must be ruthless. If you wish to escape disaster, you must be willing to take a risk." Ji Gui helped him up, saying, "He has been the ruler for eleven years; the ministers and people are loyal to him. If the coup fails, we will be the ones to suffer." Ji Yu-fu replied, "I have already devised a plan for you." He whispered into Ji Gui’s ear, "Tomorrow, the Duke will go outside the city to perform sacrifices. He always stays at the home of the officer Si Ying. I have already hidden warriors there; they will strike as soon as the opportunity arises." Ji Gui asked, "The plan is good, but how shall we escape the infamy of murdering our sovereign?" Ji Yu-fu whispered, "We can shift the blame onto Si Ying." Ji Gui’s eyes brightened. He bowed to Ji Yu-fu and said, "If this succeeds, I will surely appoint you as Grand Prime Minister."
Ji Yu-fu acted on his plan, and indeed, it was carried out successfully; Duke Yin was killed. Prince Ji Gui ascended the throne as Duke Huan of Lu.
***
The envoy continued his report to Duke Zhuang of Zheng: "The new ruler of Lu has executed the officer Si Ying and appointed Ji Yu-fu as Grand Prime Minister." Duke Zhuang remarked, "With military power in his hands, Yu-fu acts with impunity, attacking whomever he pleases. His rebellious heart is already evident. Duke Yin trusted him too much, never imagining he was harboring a tiger. Had Duke Yin exposed Yu-fu’s treachery the moment he uttered those treasonous words and executed him, not only would Prince Ji Gui have been grateful, but the people would have loved their ruler even more. Duke Yin hesitated when he should have acted, and his lack of vigilance toward a villain brought about his own destruction."
After sighing, Duke Zhuang asked his ministers, "Should we attack Lu or ally with it? Which is more beneficial?" The High Minister Zhai Zhong replied, "One should befriend those at a distance to serve as future allies; therefore, we should unite with Lu. I suspect the envoy from Lu will arrive soon." Before he had finished speaking, the envoy from Lu arrived to present a state letter. It claimed that Duke Yin had died of a sudden illness and that Prince Ji Gui had ascended the throne. Duke Zhuang, knowing the truth of the death, kept his silence, treated the envoy with courtesy, and pledged that Zheng and Lu would remain at peace forever.
Shortly after the Lu envoy departed, an envoy from the State of Song arrived. He offered a tall, exquisite Shang-dynasty ritual vessel and, weeping, claimed that Duke Shang of Song had been killed by rebellious soldiers. He requested, on behalf of the Song Grand Prime Minister Hua Fu-du, that Prince Zi Feng return home to ascend the throne. Duke Zhuang was shocked, thinking to himself that with the Zhou royal house in decline and losing control over the states, the world had descended into such chaos. Knowing the envoy was withholding information, he arranged for his lodging and consulted with Zhai Zu, the High Minister. "This vessel is a rare heirloom from the Shang dynasty, kept by Song. Its form is solemn, its patterns refined. That Hua Fu-du would send it here is highly suspicious." Zhai Zu replied, "Behind such suspicious acts, there must be hidden motives. You should send someone to investigate." Duke Zhuang then dispatched scouts to Song and invited Prince Zi Feng of Song to visit Zheng.
The scouts soon returned with the full story of Duke Shang’s death: Since the failure of the campaign against the State of Dai and the return of the Minister of War, Kong Fu-jia, the soldiers and people had been filled with resentment. They complained, "The state cares nothing for us, constantly waging war and leaving us with dead and wounded, orphans and widows, while our population dwindles." Hua Fu-du, the political rival of Kong Fu-jia, sent his henchmen to spread rumors: "The constant wars and the waste of wealth in recent years are all the doing of Kong Fu-jia, who controls our military." Consequently, the people turned their hatred toward Kong Fu-jia.
Hua Fu-du and Kong Fu-jia rarely interacted outside of court. Kong Fu-jia had taken a second wife, Wei-zi, who was famously beautiful. Hua Fu-du had heard of her but had never seen her. One winter day, he chanced upon her on the streets of the Song capital, Suiyang, and fell in love at first sight. Upon learning she was the wife of his rival, a sinister plan took root.
After his defeat at Dai, Kong Fu-jia had lived in humiliation, training his troops daily to avenge the shame. Under pressure, he grew irritable and often beat his soldiers for lax discipline. One day, a group of punished soldiers went to Hua Fu-du to complain. Hua seized the moment: "Your suffering, and the suffering of our state, stems from Kong Fu-jia’s warmongering. There is only one way to heal your wounds and lead a peaceful life." He looked at the soldiers, who immediately understood. They pledged, "We follow the Prime Minister’s command, even if it leads us through fire and water."
Late that night, Hua Fu-du led these soldiers and his own servants to surround the mansion of Kong Fu-jia. Kong was killed, and his wife, Wei-zi, was taken as a concubine by Hua. Kong’s only son, Kong Fang-shu, was still a child, and his loyal retainers carried him away to the State of Lu.
The next morning, Duke Shang of Song was stunned to hear of the murder. He recalled how Kong Fu-jia had served him loyally since his accession. Grief-stricken and furious, he summoned Hua Fu-du. Hua consulted with his retainer, Hua Fu, "The Duke favored Kong Fu-jia. Now that we have murdered him, how will the Duke deal with us?" Hua Fu was silent. Hua Fu-du continued, "The state is constantly at war, and the Duke is to blame. Why not depose him, install Prince Zi Feng, and turn this disaster into a blessing?" Hua Fu agreed. Hua Fu-du deployed his men, and when Duke Shang went to pay his respects at the house of the Kong family, they swarmed him. The Duke died in the chaos.
Following the coup, Hua Fu-du "restored order," executing a few scapegoats. Dressed in mourning clothes, he addressed the court: "Kong Fu-jia’s tyranny caused a military uprising, and the Duke was unfortunately caught in the crossfire." The ministers, fearing him, remained silent. Hua added, "The eldest son of the late Duke Mu, Zi Feng, is benevolent; he should be brought back to rule." The ministers complied. Hua then sent envoys to Zheng to announce the death and, to secure international recognition, bribed the states of Zheng, Lu, Qi, and Chen with the treasures of the state treasury.
Having heard the report, Duke Zhuang sighed, "Now I understand why Hua Fu-du was so generous." He consulted Zhai Zu on how to handle Song. Zhai Zu replied, "If Zheng acts with virtue while our neighbors act with vice, we grow strong and they grow weak. Prince Zi Feng has lived in Zheng for years and is close to us. If he returns to the throne, the long-standing confrontation between our states will end. This is certainly beneficial to Zheng." Duke Zhuang agreed and ordered carriages to escort Zi Feng back to Song.
As Prince Zi Feng departed, he wept and said to Duke Zhuang, "My life was saved by your grace. When I return to rule, I shall look upon you as I would the Son of Heaven." Duke Zhuang wept in return, saying, "I only hope for eternal friendship; how could I presume to be treated as the Son of Heaven? Such words would be my ruin!" Being a seasoned statesman, Duke Zhuang thought to himself, "The higher one climbs, the harder one falls. He treats me as the Son of Heaven today, but he may treat me as a vassal tomorrow. I must be wary of Song."
After bidding farewell, Duke Zhuang remarked to his ministers, "My late brother, Shu Duan, sought the throne and ended up dying in a foreign land. Prince Zi Feng was content and stayed in his place, yet Heaven brought about internal strife in Song, placing him on the throne. Truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable."
Prince Zi Feng returned to Song and ascended the throne as Duke Zhuang of Song. Hua Fu-du remained the Grand Prime Minister. The bribes sent to the various states proved effective, as no one marched against Song to avenge the coup or restore justice.
Fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Just as Zheng improved its relationship with Song, another matter arose to trouble Duke Zhuang. Because he had used his position as a high official of the Zhou court to mobilize other states against Song and had moved Zhou troops without permission, King Huan of Zhou was furious and stripped him of his title. Resentful, Duke Zhuang ceased paying tribute for five years. To make matters worse, King Huan heard that Song was treating Duke Zhuang with the protocol reserved for the Son of Heaven. Enraged, he declared, "Zheng is too insolent! If I do not punish them, all the lords will follow suit." Ignoring the advice of his ministers, he ordered the states of Chen and Cai to join the royal forces in a campaign against Zheng. Duke Huan of Chen had just passed away, and his brother, Chen Tuo, had murdered the heir apparent to seize the throne, causing the people to flee in disorder. Though Chen and Zheng were on good terms, the new ruler of Chen dared not disobey the King, so he sent a contingent. Cai, always loyal to Zhou and hostile to Zheng, sent troops as well. Song, Qi, and Lu, however, remained loyal to their friendship with Zheng and ignored the King's decree.
The armies met at Ge in Zheng. King Huan arrived at the front lines, and Duke Zhuang appeared to face him. The King rebuked him: "It is your duty to pay homage to the Son of Heaven, yet you show no respect, maintain your own armies, and have even arrogantly accepted the homage of the ruler of Song. If you have any sense of shame, strip to the waist, bind your hands, and beg for mercy." Duke Zhuang, suppressing his anger, replied, "Since the time of the Beacon Fire, the Zhou royal house has been crumbling. It was Zheng that helped the King move east and supported your reign, yet you return evil for good. As for your claim that I accepted the homage of the ruler of Song, it is a baseless rumor. A ruler should be upright. If you do not cultivate virtue, why blame the lords? Even in Lu, where the rites are upheld, the new ruler did not seek your investiture. The status of the Son of Heaven is no longer what it once was. Please return home and practice benevolent government like the founders of Zhou; treat the elderly and young with care, and the lords will once again pay you homage." King Huan, enraged, ordered an immediate attack.
Zheng deployed the "Fish Scale" formation, characterized by flexible coordination between chariots and infantry. Striking at the weakest point, Duke Zhuang ordered his army to attack the Chen forces, who were in disarray. They were quickly defeated. The Cai forces, seeing this, fled the field in panic. With the allies gone, Zheng concentrated its forces to encircle the royal army. King Huan was struck in the shoulder by an arrow fired by the officer Xia Shu-ying. Despite the pain, the King maintained his composure and led his remaining troops out of the encirclement. As Xia Shu-ying prepared to pursue and capture the King, Duke Zhuang shouted, "A gentleman should not push others too far, let alone insult the Son of Heaven! We acted in self-defense; that is enough."
Upon returning to camp, Zhai Zu suggested, "We have defeated the Son of Heaven, but he remains the sovereign of all. We should appease the royal house and demonstrate our virtue." Duke Zhuang agreed and sent five hundred cattle and sheep to the King’s camp as an apology. King Huan, having no other choice, accepted the gesture and returned to his capital in defeat.
Duke Zhuang rewarded his soldiers for their victory but pointedly excluded Xia Shu-ying. When Xia asked why, the Duke replied, "If I record the merit of the man who shot the Son of Heaven, the world will condemn me." Xia, consumed by resentment, soon fell ill and died. Duke Zhuang secretly consoled his family and gave him a proper burial.
After the defeat, the Cai and Chen forces returned home. The Cai commander, Cai Ji, reported to the Marquis of Cai: "When I was campaigning with the Chen forces, I heard that the ruler of Chen, Chen Tuo, had murdered his heir to seize the throne, and the people are in revolt." The Marquis replied, "What does that have to do with us?" Cai Ji said, "If we kill the unpopular Chen Tuo, our nephew can ascend the throne." It turned out that a prince named Chen Yue, born to the late Duke Huan of Chen and a woman from Cai, was the nephew of the Marquis of Cai and Cai Ji. The Marquis agreed, and they laid an ambush for Chen Tuo, who was fond of hunting, and assassinated him.
Meanwhile, Duke Zhuang of Zheng, still harboring resentment against Cai and Chen for their role in the royal campaign, prepared his army to attack Cai. The State of Cai was located in the south, where a new power, the State of Chu, was rapidly rising.
The rulers of Chu were of the Mi clan and held the rank of Viscount. Their ancestor, Yu Xiong, had been a teacher to the founders of Zhou. When the Zhou King Cheng enfeoffed the descendants of Yu Xiong in the Jing-man region, they were given the rank of Viscount. At the time, the people of the Central Plains viewed the Chu as uncivilized, even mocking them as "bird people" because their language was unintelligible. The people of Chu, however, ignored these insults and focused on building their state. For generations, they lived in hardship, wearing rough clothes and traveling in carts made of thorns, clearing land and building their strength. Unlike the states of the Central Plains, Chu annexed states and turned them into counties, keeping the former nobility under strict control. As they expanded, they adopted the tactics of the Central Plains, building chariot-based armies and engineering corps to bridge rivers and clear paths. By the time of the ruler Mi Tong, Chu was resource-rich, populous, and powerful enough to rival the Zhou royal house.
Fearing the rising power of Chu and the threat of Zheng’s vengeance, the Marquis of Cai hurriedly sent envoys to request a peace alliance. At the border, the Marquis greeted Duke Zhuang with great deference. During the banquet, the Marquis warned, "In the south, Chu is annexing small states and now threatens the north. As the hegemon, you must take this seriously." Duke Zhuang laughed, "No matter how strong they are, the Jing-man cannot overcome the Hua-xia!" Yet, in his heart, he began to fear Chu, realizing that its expansion would eventually threaten Zheng. Unable to find a way to counter the growing power of Chu, the two rulers shook hands and returned to their respective states.