Duke AI of Qin

Duke AI of Qin

Duke AI of Qin

（？ (501 BC), surname Ying, and family name. Qin Ji is called Qin Bi Gong, and Shi Ji Suoyin is called Qin Yi Gong. The son of Yingshi, king of Qin, was the king of Qin in the spring and Autumn period. He reigned for 36 years (536-501 BC).

In 505 BC, the state of Wu captured the capital of the state of Chu. Shen Baoxu, a senior official of the state of Chu, came all the way to the state of Qin to ask for help. Although Qin Ai Gong was the grandfather of the Fallen King Zhao of Chu, he ignored him. Shen Baoxu stayed outside the palace gate of the state of Qin, weeping day and night for seven days and seven nights. He sent troops to save Chu and defeated the Wu army. He Lu, king of Wu, returned to his homeland, and King Zhao of Chu was able to restore his country.

Life of the characters

historical background

In the struggle for hegemony among the great powers of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the great powers annexed the small ones and expanded their land. But the princes of the great powers had to enfeoffment the newly acquired land to the meritorious doctors. The power of the doctors grew, and they often fought with each other. The domestic contradictions of big powers have become acute, and they all want to stop the war for hegemony for the time being.

For this reason, Xiang Xu, a senior official of the state of song, was a mediator between Jin and Chu.

In 546 B.C., Jin and Chu and several other countries held a meeting to eliminate soldiers in the state of song. At this meeting, the doctors of Jin and Chu made peace on behalf of the north and South groups and made an alliance. Except for Qi and Qin, every small country should pay tribute to Jin and Chu. There was no big war in the following 50 years.

After King Ping of Chu, the grandson of King Zhuang of Chu, ascended the throne, the state of Chu gradually declined. In 522 BC, King Ping of Chu wanted to abolish the original crown prince. At that time, Prince Jian and his teacher Wu she were guarding Chengfu (now Xiangcheng West, Henan Province). Fearing that Wu she would not agree, King Ping of Chu called Wu she and falsely said that Prince Jian was plotting a rebellion. Wu she said nothing and was immediately put in prison.

On the one hand, King Ping of Chu sent people to kill Prince Jian, on the other hand, he forced Wu she to write a letter to his two sons Wu Shang and Wu Zixu, asking them to come back and get rid of them together. When his eldest son Wu Shang returned to Yingdu (now the northwest of Jiangling in Hubei Province), he was killed by King Ping of Chu with his father Wu she. Prince Jian got wind in advance and fled to the state of song with his son Sheng.

Wu Zixu, another son of Wu she, also escaped from the state of Chu. He rushed to the state of song and found the prince. The prince Jian was eager to revenge. He colluded with some ministers of the state of Zheng to seize the power of Zheng Dinggong and was killed by him. Wu Zixu had no choice but to escape from the state of Zheng with gongzisheng and go to the state of Wu (the capital is Suzhou, Jiangsu).

King Ping of Chu had long ordered a reward to arrest Wu Zixu. He had his portrait painted and hung at the gates of cities all over the state of Chu.

After Wu Zixu and his son Sheng escaped from the state of Zheng, he hid in the daytime and drove to Zhaoguan (in the north of Hanshan County, Anhui Province) at the junction of Wu and Chu at night. The officials who closed the door were very careful. It is said that Wu Zixu couldn't sleep for several nights, and even his hair became white. Fortunately, they met a kind-hearted man, Duke Donggao, who sympathized with Wu Zixu and took him to his home. Donggao has a friend who looks a bit like Wu Zixu. He passed off as Wu Zigao. The guard catches the fake Wu Zixu, but the real Wu Zixu, because his hair is all white and his face has changed, can't recognize him, so he goes out of the gate.

Wu Zixu went out of Zhaoguan and ran forward in a hurry, fearing that there were pursuers behind him. Ahead is a big river blocking the way. Wu Zixu was in a hurry when an old fisherman rowed a small boat over the river to take Wu Zixu across the river.

After crossing the river, Wu Zixu was very grateful. He took off his sword and gave it to the old fisherman. He said, "this sword was given to my grandfather by the king of Chu. It's worth 100 taels of gold. Now it's for you. It's a token of my heart. "

The old fisherman said, "in order to hunt you down, the king of Chu gave you a reward of 50000 stone grains and promised to be granted the title of informer doctor. I'm not greedy for this reward and title. Would I want your sword? "

Wu Zixu quickly made amends to the old fisherman, took his sword and left.

When Wu Zixu arrived in the state of Wu, the prince Guang of the state of Wu was just about to seize the throne. With the help of Wu Zixu, the young master killed Wang Liao of Wu and made himself king. This is Helu, king of Wu.

After he Lu, king of Wu, ascended the throne, he appointed Wu Zixu as a doctor to help him deal with state affairs, and also used a general, Sun Wu, who was a great military strategist. Relying on Wu Zixu and Sun Wu, the king of Wu reorganized his troops and first annexed several neighboring small countries.

In 506 BC, King Helu of Wu worshipped Sun Wu as the general and Wu Zixu as the deputy general. He personally led the army to attack the state of Chu, winning battles and defeating the state of Chu until Yingdu. (see the data for details)

At that time, King Ping of Chu had died, and his son king Zhao of Chu had fled, leaving his mother, Bo Ying, the daughter of Duke AI of Qin, in Yingdu.

Wu Zixu hated King Ping of Chu, planed his grave, dug out his body and beat him severely.

Sending troops to save Chu

The Wu army occupied Yingdu. Shen Baoxu, a doctor of the state of Chu, fled to the state of Qin and asked for help. Although Qin Ai Gong was the grandfather of King Zhao of Chu, he didn't agree to send troops. Shen Baoxu stayed outside the palace gate of the state of Qin, weeping day and night for seven days and seven nights. The Duke of Qin Ai was finally moved and said, "although the state of Chu was cruel and unruly, with such good officials, how can we see them perish?" (please refer to the data for details.)

Zhao Ji, Duke AI of Qin, sent troops to save the state of Chu. Qin army defeated Wu army, and then he Lu, King Wu, withdrew his troops and returned to his country. (see data for details)

He Lu, the king of Wu, returned to the capital of the state of Wu and gave Sun Wu his greatest contribution. Sun Wu didn't want to be an official and went back to his hometown to live in seclusion. Sun Tzu's art of war, which he left behind, is the earliest outstanding military work in China.

Historical records

The fifth volume of historical records

Family members

Father: Qin Jinggong

Son: Qin Yigong

Daughter: Bo Ying

Son in law: King Ping of Chu

Grandson: King Zhao of Chu

Artistic image

Literary image

"The book of songs · Qinfeng · Wuyi" (some researchers believe that this poem was written by Duke AI of Qin, which is based on the record of "Duke AI of Qin Fu" Wuyi "in the fourth year of Duke Ding in Zuozhuan.)

Film and television image

In 1996, Tan Tao played the role of Duke AI of Qin in the TV play the spring and Autumn Annals of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

Chinese PinYin : Qin Ai Gong