The eleventh king of the Zheng Kingdom: An introduction to Zheng Xianggong, with an allusion to the story of leading a sheep while showing off his flesh.

Character's life, succession to the throne

In the autumn of 605 BC (the first year of Zheng Ling), Zi Jia and Zigong, the ruling ministers of Zheng State, killed Zheng Linggong. The people of Zheng wanted to make Gongzi Quji, the younger brother of Zheng Linggong, the king of the country. When the prince heard the news, he hurriedly went to tell the officials: "The previous king still had twelve sons. If a wise man is appointed as the king, it will be without virtue and incompetence. If an elder is established as the king, the eldest brother, the prince, will still be there. He deserves to be punished by death. He dare not overtake his eldest brother's position." So, all the officials discussed and established Zheng Mugong's eldest son, Gongzi Jian, as the king of Zheng Xianggong. Carrying Chu to Jin

In 604 BC (the first year of Zheng Xiang), the state of Chu sent its son Yingqi to lead an attack on the grounds that Zheng had accepted bribes from the state of Song and let go of Song general Hua Yuan. Zheng Guo. At the beginning, when Zheng Xianggong's father, Zheng Mugong, was in power, he sent the ruling minister Gongzijia to lead troops to attack the Song Dynasty. He defeated the Song soldiers at Daji and captured the Song general Hua Yuan. When Song Zhaogong learned that the Song army was defeated and the general Hua Yuan was captured, he quickly prepared a hundred military chariots and 400 fully decorated horses and sent them to Zheng to redeem Hua Yuan. However, before Song's chariots and horses came to Zheng, Hua Yuan himself had already run back to Song. King Zhuang of Chu sent troops to attack Zheng, and Duke Xianggang of Zheng hurriedly sent the ruling minister Song to borrow troops from Jin. The state of Jin sent Xun Lin's father as a general to lead troops to rescue the state of Zheng. Chu State moved troops to attack Chen State again, and Zheng State was saved. Zheng Xianggong formed an alliance with Jin in Heiliang (also known as Huangfu, northwest of Qinshui, Shanxi) and continued to pursue the policy of backing Chu from Jin.

In 600 BC (the fifth year of Duke Xianggong of Zheng), Chu State once again sent troops to attack Zheng State, and Jin State sent troops to rescue Zheng State. In 598 BC (the seventh year of Duke Xianggong of Zheng), Zheng and Jin formed an alliance in Yanling. Presenting the city to surrender to Chu

In 597 BC (the eighth year of Duke Xianggong of Zheng), King Zhuang of Chu sent troops to attack Zheng again on the grounds that Zheng was turning his back on Chu and facing Jin. At that time, the King of Chuzhuang personally led the Chu army to attack Zheng, marched straight into Zheng's territory, broke through the suburban pass, and reached Xinzheng, the capital of Zheng (near today's Xinzheng, Henan). King Zhuang of Chu sent an order to build a long embankment around Zheng City and attack the city. Zheng Xianggong also ordered the soldiers and people to go to the city and hold on to the city, waiting for the Jin army to rescue them. The Chu army attacked the city from all sides and continued for seventeen days but failed to capture Xinzheng. The casualties among the people in the city were also heavy. Suddenly one day, the wall in the northeast corner of Zheng City suddenly collapsed and its width was more than ten feet. When the soldiers and civilians in the city heard that the city wall had collapsed, they were terrified. Their cries and screams were earth-shattering. They all thought it was God's will to destroy Zheng. At this time, the Chu army was preparing to take the opportunity to attack the city and destroy Zheng. King Chuzhuang heard the people in Xinzheng City crying and screaming, and he couldn't bear it, so he ordered the Chu army to retreat ten miles to camp, and then attack Zheng City after Zheng Guo repaired the city wall. Prince Yingqi, a senior official of the Chu State, advised King Zhuang of Chu: "The collapse of Zheng City was God's will to destroy Zheng. Our army could have taken the opportunity to attack the city and destroy the State of Zheng. Why did we have to retreat ten miles?" King Zhuang of Chu said: "Now the people of Zheng know the strength of Chu's military but don't know our virtue. Zheng City is in danger, so I will retreat ten miles to show my kindness and see if the Zheng people will surrender or resist before making a decision."

Zheng Xiang Zheng Zheng was worried about the collapse of the city wall. Suddenly he heard that Chu troops were retreating. He thought that reinforcements from Jin were about to arrive, so he ordered the soldiers and civilians in the city to strengthen the construction of the city wall, and sent people to patrol and defend day and night. He had no intention of surrender.

The king of Chuzhuang waited for several days, but not only did he not see Zheng open the door to surrender, but instead built a city wall and strengthened the defense. He then sent an order to the three armies to attack Zheng City, and the attack continued day and night. . The soldiers and people of Zheng held on to the city for three months, but reinforcements from Jin still did not arrive. The soldiers and people in the city suffered heavy casualties and gradually could no longer support them. General Le Bo of the Chu State led his troops to attack the city. He climbed a ladder from the imperial gate to Zheng City, split the city gate open, and the Chu army entered the city. King Zhuang of Chu issued an order that the Chu army was not allowed to burn, kill, loot or disturb the people. The Chu army has strict discipline and no one commits any crime in Qiu Bo. When the soldiers and horses of the Chu State arrived at Kui City, they saw Zheng Xianggong taking off his shirt and exposing his chest. He was holding a flag made of yak tails in his left hand and leading a sheep. He was holding a machete for killing livestock in his right hand. He met Chu at the intersection. King Zhuang said respectfully to King Zhuang of Chu: "I am not virtuous, I have offended the superior country, and I cannot serve the superior country. Therefore, I have offended the superior country, causing heaven to punish the state of Zheng, and making the king angry and bringing disaster to Zheng." The king has traveled thousands of miles to come to Zheng State. It is the virtue of a king to become a vassal of Chu State!" At this time, Prince Yingqi, a senior official of Chu State, was on the side and hurriedly offered advice to King Zhuang of Chu: "Zheng State is so weak that it surrenders, so we can take the opportunity to destroy Zheng State.

If Zheng State rebels against Chu and surrenders to Jin after being pardoned, it will be a great disaster for Chu State! King Zhuang of Chu said: "In the past, I destroyed the state of Chen, reduced it to a county, and returned it to Chu." The story of Duke Shen who condescended to trample his fields and seize his cattle is a joke. If we destroy Zheng and its land today, we will be said to have trampled on its fields and taken away its cattle. If Lord Zheng can bend his knees, the people will definitely support him. This cannot be underestimated! "So, King Zhuang of Chu ordered the Chu army to withdraw thirty miles to allow Zheng Guo to make peace and form an alliance with Chu State.

Zheng Xianggong Ji Jian thanked King Chu Zhuang for his great kindness in not destroying Zheng Guo. , personally went to the Chu camp to comfort the soldiers, killed pigs and sheep, and paid tribute. He also sent his younger brother Gongzi to go to the Chu camp to serve as a hostage and form an alliance with the Chu State. King Zhuang of Chu captured the Zheng State and led his army north to Yancheng. (now north of Yanjin, Henan), threatening to drink the water of the Yellow River and attack the Jin State by force.

It was not until the autumn of this year that the Jin State sent Xun Lin's father as the marshal of the Chinese army. Gu was the deputy marshal and led 600 troops to rescue Zheng. When they arrived on the north bank of the Yellow River, they heard that Zheng City had surrendered to Chu State, so Xun Lin's father stationed troops in Aoshan and Gaoshan. Now north of Xingyang, Henan), King Zhuang of Chu originally planned to return to Chu. When he heard that the Jin army had crossed the Yellow River and came to rescue Zheng, he also led the Chu army north and stationed in Guancheng to confront the Jin army. .

At this time, the state of Zheng had formed an alliance with the Chu people and surrendered to the state of Chu. Zheng Xianggong also heard that the Jin State sent 600 troops to rescue Zheng and had crossed the Yellow River. He was afraid that the Jin army would be powerful. After defeating the Chu army, he was about to attack Zheng and surrender to Chu. He felt uneasy and asked the officials for advice. The official Huang Rong advised Zheng Xianggong, saying: "I would like to go to the Jin camp and persuade the Jin army to fight Chu. If the Jin army wins, we will follow Jin. If the Chu army wins, we will follow Chu. Choose the stronger one and follow him! "Zheng Xianggong thought it was a good plan, so he sent the emperor's troops to the Jin camp and envoys to the Chu camp to provoke a decisive battle between the Chu and Jin armies. Zheng Guo sat back and watched the success or failure, and chose the stronger one.

So the Chu and Jin armies fought fiercely in Yi (now northeast of Rongyang, Henan Province). King Chuzhuang sent his son Yingqi to lead the left army to attack the upper army of Jin, and sent his son Lie to lead the right army to attack the lower army of Jin. He led the Central Army and Guangdong and Guangxi troops to attack the Central Army of Jin. King Zhuang of Chu personally beat the drums, and the soldiers of Chu bravely went into battle. The infantry were like mosquitoes, and they attacked the Jin army's position like a tide. Unprepared, they were rushed to pieces, torn apart, and were killed until their blood flowed into rivers. They cried for their fathers and mothers, and fled in embarrassment. While trying to cross the Yellow River, they trampled on each other and killed countless others. They fell into the river and were defeated miserably. Escape.

When Zheng Xianggong learned that the Chu army had won the battle, he went to the city to see King Zhuang of Chu in person and held a feast to celebrate the victory against Jin.

In 595 BC (Zheng Xianggong). 10 years), Jin State attacked Zheng State because Zheng State rebelled against Jin State and attached itself to Chu State.

In 588 BC (the seventeenth year of Zheng Xianggong), Jin State united with Song and Song Dynasties. The troops of Lu, Cao, and Wei attacked Zheng State, invaded the country from the east of Zheng State, and invaded Zheng City. Zheng Xianggong sent his official son Yan (Zheng Xiang's younger brother) to lead troops to ambush Qiuyu (in the east of Zheng State) and defeated them. In the summer of the same year, Xu Linggong of Xu State refused to submit to the jurisdiction of Zheng State and did not pay tribute to Zheng State. He sent the official Gongsun Shen to lead troops to attack Xu State and captured Xu Tian (in the east of Xuchang, Henan). Soon, Xu Linggong sent troops to attack Gongsun Shen in an attempt to recapture Xu Tian. After hearing the news, Zheng Xianggong personally led the troops to attack Xu State and captured it. Xu Linggong was afraid and asked Jin for help. So Jin Jinggong sent his general Luan Shu to lead an army to attack Zheng and captured Zheng's Bishui City (today's northwest of Xingyang, Henan). Ji City (now northeast of Zhengzhou, Henan Province). Zheng Xianggong hurriedly sent people to borrow troops from Chu State to rescue him. So King Chu sent troops to attack Xu State and aid Zheng State, and the Jin State troops were forced to retreat.

In 587 BC (the eighteenth year of Zheng Xianggong), Zheng Xianggong died, and his son Zheng Aogong came to the throne. Political measures

Eradicate the Miao family

605 BC. (In the first year of Zheng Ling), Zheng Linggong was killed by the Zi family and his son. After Zheng Xianggong succeeded to the throne, he planned to eliminate all the Miao family. Prince Quji said: "The Miao family must be eliminated, and I will leave." Zheng Guo. "Zheng Xianggong gave up and appointed them all as senior officials. In 599 BC (the sixth year of Zheng Xianggong), Zi's family died, and Zheng Xianggong expelled his family.

Brothers assisting the government

Zheng Xianggong’s father, Zheng Mugong, had thirteen sons. His eldest son Zheng Linggong was killed, and his eldest son Zheng Xianggong succeeded to the throne. He still has eleven brothers. , they are: Gongzi Quji, courtesy name Ziliang; Gongzi Xi, courtesy name Zihan; Gongzi, courtesy name Zisi; Gongzifa, courtesy name Ziguo; Gongzijia, courtesy name Zikong; Gongzi Yan, courtesy name Ziyou; Gongzi Shu, courtesy name. Ziyin; there are also Gongzifeng, Gongziyu, Gongziran, and Gongzizhi. Not long after Zheng Xianggong came to the throne, he was suspicious that there were many brothers, and he was afraid that they might arise from them and seize the throne, so he secretly discussed with the young master Quji and prepared to drive the brothers out of the country, leaving only the young master Quji to assist in the government. Prince Quji was a virtuous man and advised Zheng Xianggong: "This must not be done. It is said that the late emperor was born from the dream orchid grass, and he must be in the clan with the surname Ji. If the surname Ji is prosperous, there are many brothers, like a big tree with lush branches and leaves. Chengdashu. If the master can keep all the brothers, we can work together to assist the master. If I am left alone, how can I meet the late emperor in the future?" So Zheng Xianggong listened to the master's words and sent Shi. One brother was named a doctor and assisted in government affairs. Allusions to the idiom "Roubao leads the sheep"

"Roubao leads the sheep" comes from "Zuo Zhuan·Xuan Gong Twelve Years". It refers to the upper body of a woman, holding a sheep, which means to reward the army, and is a sign of surrender after defeat in ancient times. a ritual. Historical evaluation

King Zhuang of Chu: "If a king is able to subordinate people, he will be able to trust his people." Historical records

"Historical Records Volume 42 Zheng Family No. 12"

See: Ancestors of Zheng family members

Grandfather: Zheng Wengong

Father: Zheng Mugong brothers

Elder brother

< p> Zheng Linggong, named Yi.

Younger brother

The young master is cured of illness and his courtesy name is Ziliang.

My son is happy, and his courtesy name is Zihan.

Young Master, courtesy name Zisi.

Gongzifa, named Ziguo.