Chapter 24: The Hegemony of Qin

Long before the Qin army set out on their expedition, the venerable minister Jian Shu had urged Duke Mu of Qin not to launch the campaign. However, Duke Mu, trusting the words of Qizi, a Qin general stationed in the state of Zheng, stubbornly insisted on embarking on the long-distance expedition. Among the three generals ordered to lead the Qin forces—Meng Mingshi, Xi Qishu, and Bai Yibing—Xi Qishu and Bai Yibing were the sons of Jian Shu, while Meng Mingshi was the son of the Qin official Baili Xi. Knowing well that this campaign violated a fundamental taboo of warfare and would surely end in disaster, Jian Shu and Baili Xi held their sons' hands during the farewell, weeping bitterly and crying, "My children, I watch your army depart, but I shall not see you return!"

Duke Mu, originally in high spirits, was annoyed by the wailing of these two elderly ministers and remarked with displeasure, "I am sending out a great army, yet you block their path and weep, shaking their morale. What is the meaning of this?" Jian Shu and Baili Xi suppressed their grief and replied, "We dare not obstruct the army or shake their morale. It is simply that the departure is imminent, and our sons are leaving us; we are old and frail, with little time left, and we fear that if they return late, we shall never see them again. That is why we weep."

Jian Shu privately instructed his sons, "Your army will be defeated, and the Jin people will surely intercept you at Mount Xiao. There are two peaks at Mount Xiao: the southern one is the tomb of Gao, a descendant of the Xia Dynasty; the northern one is where King Wen of Zhou once took shelter from the wind and rain. If you fall in battle, it will be between these two peaks. I will come there to collect your remains."

Despite the repeated warnings and hints from Jian Shu and Baili Xi that the expedition was doomed, Duke Mu remained full of confidence, relying on Qizi to act as an inside agent in Zheng to open the city gates. He ordered the army to march eastward.

Later, the Qin army encountered the Zheng merchant Xian Gao, and their plot to launch a surprise attack on Zheng was exposed. Unable to proceed as planned, they were forced to retreat. Not wanting to return empty-handed, they destroyed the small state of Hua, a minor state of the Ji clan located near Jin, before continuing their journey back through the territory of Jin.

At that time, Duke Wen of Jin had recently passed away and had not yet been buried. His successor, Duke Xiang of Jin, upon learning that the Qin army was returning after a fruitless expedition, saw a perfect opportunity to strike at the arrogance of Qin and solidify Jin’s status as a hegemon. Without waiting for the mourning period to end, Duke Xiang dyed his white mourning clothes black and, joining forces with the Jiang Rong tribes, set an ambush between the two peaks of Mount Xiao. Meng Mingshi, Xi Qishu, and Bai Yibing, having disregarded their fathers' warnings, failed to exercise caution while passing through the treacherous valley. They fell directly into the Jin ambush and were utterly defeated. The three generals were captured, marking the historically famous Battle of Xiao between Qin and Jin.

As Meng Mingshi and his companions were trusted generals of Duke Mu and sons of high-ranking officials like Baili Xi and Jian Shu, the state of Jin could not easily let them go. Generally, there were two fates awaiting them: either execute them to prevent them from becoming a future threat, or use them as leverage to negotiate for territory from Qin. Under normal circumstances, they would not have been released.

However, exceptions occur. Although Duke Xiang of Jin was a man of great ambition, he was easily swayed by others. His mother, Wen Ying, was a daughter of Duke Mu of Qin. Hearing that the three most important generals of Qin had been captured, she was deeply distressed. Knowing that while Qin’s strength had grown, it remained a frontier state, she feared their execution would devastate Qin’s military power and potentially trigger internal chaos. She racked her brains for a solution to secure their safe return.

Wen Ying eventually sought an audience with Duke Xiang and said, "These three men stirred up trouble between our states for the sake of their own fame and wealth; my father hates them to the bone. If you release them, my father will surely be overjoyed and cook them alive to vent his rage. Why trouble yourself with their execution?" Duke Xiang considered this and, seeing no harm in it, agreed.

Later, Duke Xiang sent Yang Chufu to pursue them, but by then, Meng Mingshi and his men had already boarded a ferry on the Yellow River, and Yang Chufu could not find a boat to catch them. However, Yang Chufu, a man of quick wit, had an idea. He unhitched a horse from his carriage and shouted to the men on the boat, "Please wait, three generals! This is a gift from our ruler to you. Please return to the shore and take it back to Qin!"

Meng Mingshi, also a man of intelligence, saw through the ruse—he knew Yang Chufu merely wanted to lure them back to be captured. Not wishing to expose the lie, he bowed from the boat and said, "We are grateful for the grace of your ruler in sparing our lives and allowing us to return to face punishment. If he indeed pardons us according to his kindness, we shall return in three years to thank him for this gift." With that, the boat drifted away. Once across the Yellow River, they were in Qin territory, and the opportunity for pursuit was lost.

When the three returned to the capital of Qin, Duke Mu had already received word and personally dressed in mourning clothes to welcome them at the outskirts. Meng Mingshi, Xi Qishu, and Bai Yibing knelt to confess their failure. Duke Mu helped them up one by one and said sincerely, "It was my fault for not listening to Jian Shu’s counsel and insisting on the expedition. You have suffered the humiliation of defeat—what crime is this of yours? Moreover, I cannot let one mistake erase your past merits and virtues. I ask that you continue to assist me with all your might so that we may wash away this shame."

This was the behavior of a truly wise monarch; Duke Mu, one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period, was not to be underestimated.

Afterward, Duke Mu restored the ranks and salaries of the three generals, treating them even better than before. The crushing defeat at Xiao sobered his ambition to dominate the Central Plains, making him realize that Qin was not yet strong enough to defeat Jin. He turned his focus to the west, conquering the Western Rong tribes and establishing the foundation for Qin’s hegemony on the frontier.

The defeat at Xiao was the first major blow to Duke Mu’s ambitions, and he remained determined to avenge it. A year later, he ordered Meng Mingshi to lead another expedition against Jin. Duke Xiang of Jin personally led the defense, with Xian Qiju as the commander of the central army and Zhao Cui as his deputy. The two forces clashed at Pengya, where the Qin army was once again soundly defeated and forced to flee in disarray. The people of Jin mockingly dubbed the Qin forces the "Army of the Gift."

Just as Duke Mu was at a loss, an opportunity for expansion into the west arose. The Rong tribes living to the west had been a nightmare for Qin since its founding, representing a grave obstacle to their growth and a constant distraction from their eastern ambitions. The King of the Rong, having heard that Duke Mu was a wise and powerful ruler, feared that a strong Qin would be detrimental to his people and sent his minister, You Yu, to inspect the state of Qin.

Upon You Yu’s arrival, Duke Mu showed him his palaces and accumulated treasures. You Yu remarked, "If these palaces and stores were built by ghosts and spirits, the spirits would be exhausted; if built by the people, the people would be suffering." Surprised that You Yu did not praise his wealth but instead criticized him for burdening the people, Duke Mu asked, "The states of the Central Plains use the Odes, the Documents, rituals, and music to govern, yet they still suffer from frequent chaos. You, the Rong, lack these things—how do you govern? Is it not difficult?"

You Yu’s ancestors were originally from Jin, so he understood the dialects and customs of the Central Plains better than most Rong. He replied, "The use of rituals, music, and laws is precisely why the Central Plains suffer from chaos. Since the Yellow Emperor created them, even those who practiced them diligently achieved only limited peace."

"In later times, rulers grew increasingly extravagant and indulgent. Relying on the power of the law to demand obedience from subjects, the people became exhausted and grew to resent their rulers for lacking benevolence and righteousness. This led to mutual resentment, usurpation, and the slaughter of entire clans—all rooted in these rituals and laws. The Rong do not govern this way. Our king treats his subjects with sincere benevolence, and the subjects serve him with loyalty and faith. Governing the state is as natural as managing one's own body; there is no need for complex doctrines. This is the way of the true sage."

Though this was an exaggeration—for how could a small nomadic tribe be so perfect?—that is a side note.

Duke Mu pondered this in silence. Afterward, he summoned his court historian, Wang Liao, and asked, "I have heard that if a neighboring state has a sage, it is a danger to one's own. Now that You Yu is so talented, he is a threat to me. What should I do?" Wang Liao proposed a plan:

"The King of the Rong lives in a remote area and has never heard the music of the Central Plains. You should send him singing girls and musical instruments to make him indulge in pleasure and erode his ambition. Then, ask the King of the Rong to delay You Yu’s return, while keeping You Yu here in Qin. The King of the Rong will surely grow suspicious of You Yu. Once there is a rift between them, we can defeat the Rong. Furthermore, if the king becomes addicted to music, he will have no interest in state affairs."

Duke Mu found the plan sound. He hosted a banquet for You Yu, breaking etiquette by seating him next to himself to show respect, and drank with him in high spirits. As the wine flowed, Duke Mu inquired about the terrain and military strength of the Rong. Moved by such hospitality, You Yu detailed the situation to Duke Mu. After the banquet, Duke Mu sent sixteen singing girls to the King of the Rong, who accepted them happily. He became obsessed with women and music, neglecting state affairs and failing to oversee the migration of his herds, which led to the death of half his livestock.

Seeing the time was ripe, Duke Mu allowed You Yu to return. You Yu found his king changed, no longer the ambitious leader he once was. Despite repeated remonstrances, the king refused to listen, leaving You Yu frustrated and helpless. Upon learning of the rift, Duke Mu secretly invited You Yu to defect. Realizing his king was beyond redemption, You Yu left the Rong and joined Qin. Duke Mu welcomed him with the highest honors and consulted him on how to conquer the Rong.

With the King of the Rong now lost in dissipation, Duke Mu sent Meng Mingshi to attack Jin once more. After crossing the Yellow River, the Qin army burned their boats, demonstrating their resolve to never return unless they won. With such courage and no retreat possible, the Qin army defeated Jin, capturing the cities of Wangguan and Hao, avenging the defeat at Xiao.

Duke Mu crossed the Yellow River at Maojin to build tombs for the soldiers lost at Xiao, holding a great funeral and weeping for three days. He swore before the army, "Soldiers! Do not be noisy; listen to my oath: The ancients said that if one consults the elderly, one will not err. I failed to listen to Jian Shu and Baili Xi, and thus I make this oath so that future generations will remember my error!" Men of insight were moved to tears, saying, "Duke Mu is so thoughtful; he truly deserves the victory Meng Mingshi has won."

Following the victory, Duke Mu used his military might to conquer the Western Rong, adding twelve vassal states to his territory and finally becoming a hegemon in the west. The King of Zhou even sent the Duke of Shao to bestow upon him ceremonial drums and gongs as a reward.

Duke Mu’s success was largely due to his ability to recruit talent, recognize merit, and treat others with generosity. *Zuo Zhuan* comments: "As a ruler, Duke Mu was comprehensive in his selection of talent and sincere in his friendships." His generals, Meng Mingshi and Zi Sang, were both tireless and loyal, and Duke Mu knew how to use their specific strengths.

Duke Mu was also known for his benevolence. Once, he lost a prized horse and went to look for it, only to find over three hundred peasants eating it near Mount Qi. His attendants wanted to punish them, but Duke Mu stopped them, saying, "A gentleman should not harm people for the sake of an animal. I have heard that eating the meat of a fine horse without drinking wine can be fatal." He ordered wine to be served to them. The peasants, amazed by his concern, were deeply grateful.

Later, during the battle of Hanyuan against Duke Hui of Jin, these same men fought for Duke Mu. When Duke Mu was surrounded by the Jin army, these three hundred men, remembering his kindness, charged into the fray, crying, "We can now repay the kindness of the horse and wine with our lives!" They not only rescued Duke Mu but also captured Duke Hui of Jin, giving Qin the upper hand in diplomacy.

Since the Shang Dynasty, the practice of human sacrifice had been common. Duke Mu, for all his merits, was no exception. During a banquet, feeling the warmth of his loyal ministers, he remarked, "In life, we share this joy; in death, we shall share this sorrow." Three loyal officials of the Ziche clan—Yanxi, Zhongxing, and Zhenhu—agreed to follow him in death.

In 621 BCE, Duke Mu passed away. The state of Qin held a magnificent funeral, and 177 people were sacrificed, the largest number recorded since the Western Zhou. The three loyal ministers of the Ziche clan fulfilled their vow and took their own lives to follow their lord. The people of Qin were so grieved that they composed the poem "Yellow Bird" for them in the *Classic of Poetry*.

Men of insight commented, "Duke Mu expanded his territory, but he never became the hegemon of the feudal lords during his lifetime; this was no accident. When the ancient kings passed away, they left behind laws for the future. Duke Mu not only abandoned his people but also took away the state's talent. As the *Classic of Poetry* says, 'When men of talent die, the state withers.' Why steal talent for a tomb?"

*Zuo Zhuan* noted: "Ancient kings, knowing their time was near, would cultivate talent, establish standards, and pass on their wisdom. Duke Mu did not do this; instead, he took his wise ministers to the grave. From this, one can see that Qin will have no strength to march east in the future."

History confirmed this judgment. Because Duke Mu took his best talent to the grave, his descendants were largely mediocre. Qin’s progress ground to a halt, and for the rest of the Spring and Autumn period, it never played a significant role on the political stage.