Loyalty and Sacrifice: The Legacy of Zhao Wu and Cheng Ying

Zhao Wu, alongside Cheng Ying, attacked and annihilated the family of An Jia. They then restored the lands and towns to Zhao Wu, as it was before. [Annotation: Xu Guang said, “Following this event, Jin returned the lands to Zhao Wu, which occurred in the seventeenth year of Duke Jing, according to the ‘Annals of Spring and Autumn’ of Chenggong in the eighth year. The historical record ‘Jin killed its great officials Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo’ and the ‘Zuozhuan’ places the events here, stating ‘the ultimate explanation, not this year’.”]

Upon Zhao Wu’s accession and becoming an adult, Cheng Ying resigned from his position among the nobles and said to Zhao Wu, “In the past, when the palace was in danger, all were willing to die. I am not unwilling to die, but I think of establishing the Zhao clan’s descendants. Now that Zhao Wu has been established and become an adult, returning to your former position, I intend to fulfill my debt to Zhao Xuanmeng and Gongsun Chuju.” Zhao Wu wept and repeatedly begged, saying, “Wuyuan endured hardships to repay you until death, and you would leave me to die?” Cheng Ying replied, “It cannot be. They consider me capable of accomplishing this task, thus they wanted me to die first; now, if I do not fulfill it, my task will remain unaccomplished.” He then committed suicide. Zhao Wu wore mourning for three years, offering sacrifices to the town, and performed spring and autumn rituals, ensuring they would continue for generations. [New Interpretation: Xinxi said, “Cheng Ying and Gongsun Chuju can be called trustworthy friends and upright gentlemen. Ying’s act of repaying his debt through suicide is also excessive.” Commentary: Now, the Zhao family in Hedong worship their ancestors, just as there is a separate altar for the two men.]

Eleven years after the Zhao family was restored to their position, Duke Li of Jin killed three of his ministers. Luan Shuwei feared the same fate and subsequently assassinated his lord Duke Li, establishing his grandson, Zhou, the great-grandson of Duke Xiang. He became Duke Dao. This strengthened the Jin dukes’ power slightly.

Zhao Wu continued the Zhao lineage for twenty-seven years, and Duke Ping of Jin was established. In the twelfth year of Duke Ping, Zhao Wu became the chief minister. In the thirteenth year, Ji Zi of Yanling, who was on a mission to Jin, said, “The political affairs of Jin will eventually return to the descendants of Zhao Wu, Han Xuanzi, and Wei Xianzi.” After Zhao Wu’s death, he was posthumously named Wenzi.

Wenzi bore Jing Shu. [Emendation: The Series says, “Jing Shu’s name is Cheng.”] During Jing Shu’s reign, Duke Jing of Qi sent Yan Ying to Jin. [Annotation: Xu Guang said, “In the nineteenth year of Duke Ping.”] Yan Ying spoke with Shuxiang of Jin. Ying said, “Qi’s political affairs will eventually fall into the hands of the Tian clan.” Shu Xiang also said, “The political affairs of Jin will soon fall into the hands of the six ministers. The six ministers are extravagant, and our lord cannot sympathize with them.” When Zhao Jing Shu died, Zhao Yang was born, known as Jianzi.

During Jianzi’s reign, in the ninth year of Duke Qing of Jin, Jianzi planned to unite the vassal states to guard against Zhou. The following year, he entered Zhou’s capital and extended diplomatic courtesies to him. This was because of the school of thought. In the twelfth year of Duke Qing of Jin, the six ministers carried out the law and executed the public clans, including the Qishi and Yangshe clans, dividing their town into ten counties, and each of the six ministers appointed their clans as their dukes. The Jin ruling family thus became weaker.

Thirteen years later, the thief and minister of Lu, Yang Hu, came to surrender, and Jianzi Zhao accepted the bribe and treated him generously. Jianzi Zhao fell ill, and for five days, he did not recognize anyone. The public officials were all frightened. Doctor Bian Que checked on him, came out, and Dong An asked him. [Annotation: Wei Zhao said, “An An, the servant of Jianzi.”] Bian Que said, “Blood vessels are treated, so why be surprised! In the past, Duke Mu of Qin had this happen, and he woke up in seven days. On the day of awakening, he told the sons of Gongsun Zhi and Ziyu. ‘I enjoy my emperor very much. The reason why I have been able to survive is that I have studied it. The emperor told me, “Jin will be in great chaos, it will not be stable for five generations. The following will dominate, not old but dead; the son of the hegemon will also be in command, and there will be no distinction between men and women in the country. Gongsun Zhi wrote and hid it, and the prophecy came out. During the disturbance of Duke Xian’s hegemony and the destruction of Qin, the King of Wuling was also heard from the public. Now my master’s illness is the same as mine. In three days, his illness will be over, and he will surely speak. ” He lived two and a half days, and Jianzi woke up. Said to the public official: “I enjoy my emperor very much, and I am with hundreds of gods in the pure sky, with nine songs and ten thousand dances, not like the three generations of music, the sound moves people’s hearts. There is a bear who wants to support me, the emperor ordered me to shoot it, the middle bear, the bear, died. There was also a bear, I shot it, the middle bear, the bear, died. The emperor was very happy and gave me two boxes, both with deputies. I saw the child at the emperor’s side, and the emperor gave me a chilean dog and said, “As long as your child is strong, give it to him.” The emperor told me, “Jin will be in great trouble, and five generations will not be stable, and after that, there will be peace, and the king of Zhao will lose to the west of Fan Kuai in the land of Zhao. Index, this text and understood as