Power Struggles and Alliances
In the summer of the twenty-sixth year, in the fifth month, Shusun Shu led an army to unite with the forces of Yue Gaoru, Hou Yong, and Song Le to support the installation of the Marquis of Wei. Wenzi wished to accept him, but Yizi said, “The lord is obstinate and tyrannical. Let us wait; he will surely harm the people and then seek peace with you.” The army invaded Waizhou, gaining a great victory. Upon their retreat, they were defeated. They dug up the tomb of Zhu Shidingzi and burned it on Pingzhuang Hill. Wenzi sent Wangsun Qi to negotiate with Gaoru, saying, “Do you intend to destroy Wei completely or just restore the Marquis?” Gaoru replied, “My lord’s command is only to restore the Marquis of Wei.”
Wenzi gathered the people and asked, “The lord has used the barbarians to attack our state, nearly destroying it. Please accept him.” The people said, “Do not accept him.” He then said, “Mimou is destroyed and has gained nothing. Please let him exit through the north gate.” The people said, “Do not let him exit.” Heavy bribes were given to the Yue people, and Shen Kai guarded the city walls to allow the Marquis to enter. The Marquis dared not enter. The army returned, and Daogong was established. The Nan clan supported him, giving the city of Chu to the Yue people. The Marquis said, “It is time to act.” He ordered that anyone with grievances against the lady could take revenge.
Sima Qi went on a diplomatic mission to Yue. The Marquis attacked and took his gifts. Qi reported to the king, who ordered their retrieval. Qi gathered his forces and took them back. The Marquis was angry and killed Qi’s nephew, the crown prince. He then died in Yue. Duke Jing of Song had no son, so he took Gongsun Zhou’s son De and Qi, raising them in the palace but not yet deciding on their successor. At this time, Huang Huan was the Right Minister, Huang Feiwo was the Grand Marshal, Huang Huai was the Minister of Works, Ling Buhuan was the Left Minister, Le Fei was the Minister of City Planning, and Le Zhuchu was the Minister of Justice. The six ministers from three clans held power, communicating their decisions through the Grand Official, who often did not inform the ruler but acted on his own desires, claiming to do so in the ruler’s name. The people resented this.
The Minister of City Planning wanted to remove the Grand Official. The Left Minister said, “Let him be. His crimes will accumulate. Heavy without foundation, he cannot help but fall.” In the winter, in the tenth month, the Duke was on a hunting trip at Kongze. On the day of Xinsi, he died at Lianzhong. The Grand Official mobilized a thousand armored men from Kongze to escort the Duke’s body from Kongtong to the palace. He summoned the six ministers, saying, “I have heard that there is an army in the south, and the Duke requests the six ministers to discuss this.” When the six ministers arrived, he used armored men to coerce them, saying, “The Duke is ill and requests you to swear an oath.” They swore an oath in the courtyard of Shaoqin, saying, “We will not act against the interests of the royal house.” The Grand Official established Qi and held the funeral in the grand palace. Three days later, the people of the state learned of it.
The Minister of City Planning, Fei, announced to the state, “The Grand Official has deceived the Duke and monopolized power, causing the Duke to die without illness, and then hiding his death. This is nothing other than the Grand Official’s crime.” He dreamt that Qi lay with his head to the north outside the gate of Lu, and he became a bird that perched on him, with its beak on the south gate and its tail on the Tong gate. He said, “My dream is auspicious; he must be established.” The Grand Official planned, “If I am not in the oath, will they not expel me and re-swear?” He made the shaman write the oath, with the six ministers in Tangmu. They were to swear the oath. The shaman informed Huang Feiwo, who conspired with Zilu, Men Yinde, and the Left Minister, saying, “The people are with us. Shall we expel him?” They all returned, armed themselves, and announced to the state, “The Grand Official has deceived the Duke and oppressed the royal house. Those who are with us are those who save the Duke.” The people said, “We are with you.” The Grand Official announced, “The Dai and Huang clans are plotting against the royal house. Those with me will be rich and without worry.” The people said, “No distinction.”
The Dai and Huang clans wanted to attack the Duke. Le De said, “No. They accuse us of oppressing the Duke. If we attack the Duke, it will be worse.” He ordered the people to attack the Grand Official. The Grand Official fled with Qi to Chu, and De was established. The Minister of City Planning became the chief minister, swearing an oath, “The three clans will govern together and not harm each other.”
The Marquis of Wei, exiled from the city of Chu, sent a bow to inquire of Zigong, saying, “Should I enter?” Zigong bowed, received the bow, and replied, “I do not know.” Privately, he told the envoy, “In the past, Duke Cheng was in Chen, and Ning Wuzi and Sun Zhuangzi made the Wanyuan alliance, and the Duke entered. Duke Xian was in Wei, and Zixian and Zizhan made the Yiyi alliance, and the Duke entered. Now, the Duke is exiled twice. Inside, I do not hear of his kin supporting him, and outside, I do not hear of ministers aiding him. So, I do not know the way for him to enter. The Book of Poetry says, ‘Do not contend, for the people will follow.’ If you have the right person, the four quarters will follow, and where will the state be?”
This passage presents a vivid portrayal of the power struggles and political maneuvering that characterized ancient Chinese states. It highlights the delicate balance of alliances, the influence of personal ambition, and the role of diplomacy in maintaining stability. The complex interplay between different factions and the strategic use of alliances and oaths reflect the intricate nature of ancient Chinese statecraft, where loyalty and treachery were often two sides of the same coin.