“The Saga of Wu Zixu: Loyalty and Vengeance”

In the annals of ancient Chinese history, few tales resonate as powerfully as that of Wu Zixu, a native of Chu known for his valor and loyalty. Born Wu Yun, he hailed from a lineage renowned for their integrity and service to the Chu state. Wu Zixu’s father, Wu She, and his elder brother, Wu Shang, were figures of influence in Chu’s court, setting a precedent of loyalty and dedication that Wu Zixu himself would later uphold.

During the reign of King Ping of Chu, his crown prince Jian was entrusted to the tutelage of Wu She, while the capable Fei Wuji served as his deputy. However, Fei Wuji’s ambitions soon turned treacherous. Upon being sent to Qin to arrange a marriage for the crown prince, he returned with glowing reports of Qin’s beauty, suggesting that King Ping himself should marry her instead and seek another bride for the crown prince. King Ping, enamored by Fei Wuji’s suggestion, took Qin’s beauty as his own and fathered a son named Zhen with her.

Fei Wuji’s maneuvering didn’t stop there; he further alienated Crown Prince Jian from his father, King Ping, by spreading malicious rumors and undermining his position. Jian’s mother, a woman of the Cai family, held little favor with King Ping, who gradually distanced himself from Jian, sending him to guard Chengfu and fortify its defenses against border threats.

Fei Wuji continued his campaign against Jian, exploiting King Ping’s growing mistrust and orchestrating further alienation. He predicted that if Jian were to ascend after King Ping’s death, his own life would be in peril, prompting him to slander Jian further. Wu She, who knew of Fei Wuji’s schemes to undermine Jian’s position, dared to question King Ping’s decision to heed the treacherous counsel of his ministers over familial ties.

Incensed by Wu She’s outspokenness, King Ping imprisoned him and dispatched the Chengfu military commander, Fen Yang, to execute Crown Prince Jian. However, Fen Yang, upon receiving orders, warned Crown Prince Jian of the impending danger, urging him to flee immediately to escape certain death. Jian fled to the State of Song for refuge.

Fei Wuji continued to poison King Ping’s mind against Wu She and his two sons, portraying them as threats to Chu’s stability. He proposed using Wu She as a hostage to lure his sons back under the pretense of sparing their father’s life, but in truth, it was a ploy to capture and eliminate them both. Wu Shang, the elder son, contemplated going, fully aware that it might cost him his life. He regretted his inability to avenge his father’s plight and opted to face his fate while Wu Zixu, the younger brother, fled.

Wu Zixu, carrying a bow and arrow, encountered Chu’s pursuers on his journey but evaded capture. Upon hearing that Crown Prince Jian had found sanctuary in Song, he joined him in exile. Wu She, upon learning of Wu Zixu’s flight, lamented, “The lords and ministers of Chu will soon face great turmoil.”

In exile, Wu Zixu found refuge in the State of Song during a time of upheaval caused by the Hua clan’s rebellion. He and Crown Prince Jian fled to the State of Zheng, where they were warmly received. However, political machinations soon led to Jian’s betrayal and execution by Duke Ding of Zheng. Jian left behind a son named Sheng.

Fearing retribution, Wu Zixu and Sheng fled to the State of Wu. Pursued near Zhao Pass on the border between Wu and Chu, they narrowly escaped capture. A local fisherman helped them cross the river, saving their lives. Grateful, Wu Zixu offered the fisherman his sword, a valuable weapon worth a hundred gold pieces, but the fisherman declined, citing the Chu law that offered a reward of fifty thousand measures of grain and noble titles to anyone who captured Wu Zixu.

Unable to reach Wu due to illness, Wu Zixu stopped midway, begging for food. Upon reaching Wu, King Liao of Wu was in power, and Gongzi Guang served as a general. Wu Zixu approached Gongzi Guang to seek an audience with King Liao.

Meanwhile, King Liao of Chu and King Liao of Wu fought for six years after King Ping became angry at the two girls. The armies of Wu, lead by Gongzi Guang, had captured Chu’s cities of Huo, Jiuchao, and Kuochao and had driven them from the capital. Kamp of Wu pressed Wu Gongzi for aid, worried that forces would now no even