Political Intrigue and Dynastic Upheaval in Ancient China
In the spring of the eighth year, in the first month of King Wang’s reign, the army gathered at Lang to await the Chen and Cai people. On Jia Wu day, preparations were made for war. During the summer, the army, along with the Qi forces, besieged Cheng, and Cheng surrendered to the Qi army. In autumn, the army returned. In the winter, in the eleventh month on the day Gui Wei, Qi’s Wuzhi assassinated his lord, Zhu’er.
In the spring of the eighth year, preparations for war were conducted at the temple, according to rites. During the summer, the army, along with the Qi forces, besieged Cheng, and Cheng surrendered to the Qi army. Zhong Qingfu proposed attacking the Qi forces. The Duke said, “It cannot be done. It is our own lack of virtue. What fault lies with the Qi forces? The fault lies with us. The ‘Book of Xia’ says, ‘Gaotao established virtue, and virtue descended.’ Let us focus on cultivating virtue and await the opportune moment.” In autumn, the army returned. This is why the nobleman praises Duke Zhuang of Lu.
Qi Hou sent Lian Cheng and Guan Zhifu to guard Kuiqiu. When the season for melons arrived, they went, saying, “We will arrive when the melons ripen.” When the time came for their guard duty, the Duke did not arrive. They requested to be relieved, but their request was denied. This plot led to the rebellion.
Xi Gong’s mother’s younger brother, Yi Zhongnian, gave birth to Gong Sun Wuzhi, who was favored by Xi Gong and dressed and honored accordingly. Duke Xiang rejected him. These two conspired together to cause turmoil. Lian Cheng had a cousin in the Duke’s palace who was not favored. He used her to sow discord, saying to the Duke, “Quickly, I will marry her.” In the winter of the twelfth month, Qi Hou traveled to Gufen and then to Tian at Beiqiu. He saw a large boar, and his attendants said, “It is Gongzi Pengsheng.” The Duke was enraged and said, “Does Pengsheng dare to show himself?” He shot at him, and the boar stood up and cried out. The Duke was frightened, fell from his chariot, injured his foot, and lost his shoe. Upon returning, he punished the attendants for the missing shoe. When they could not find it, he whipped them until blood flowed. As he fled outside, he encountered thieves at the gate who captured and tied him up. The thief said, “How should I treat you?” The Duke bared his back to show his trust. The thief requested to enter first, and he ambushed the Duke, fought him, and killed him at the gate. The chaos ensued, and Meng Yang was killed in bed. They said, “He is not our lord, nor is he like one.” Upon seeing the Duke’s foot outside the door, they assassinated him and installed Wuzhi.
When Duke Xiang first ascended, his rule was unstable. Bao Shu Ya said, “When a ruler treats his people with disdain, rebellion is imminent.” He escorted Gongzi Xiaobai out to exile in Ju. The rebellion started, and Guan Yi Wu and Shao Hu brought Gongzi Jiu to seek asylum. Initially, Gong Sun Wuzhi was ruthless in Yongling.