Chapter 31: The Orphan of the Zhao Clan

The victory of the State of Jin in the war against the State of Qi was, without question, a manifesto signaling the return of Jin as a veteran great power. On the other hand, the State of Chu, which had remained quiet during the Qi-Jin conflict, had also completed its strategic planning. It decided to leverage the new geopolitical landscape of the Central Plains to pursue its own interests, ensuring that the balance of power between Jin and Qi would not be disrupted while simultaneously seeking territorial gains.

In the winter of the same year as the Battle of An, in which Jin defeated Qi, Chu launched consecutive attacks against the states of Wei and Lu, eventually occupying the Lu territory of Shu. Forced to sue for peace, Lu presented Chu with a large number of skilled artisans and sent Prince Heng to Chu as a hostage. Chu then held a grand alliance at Shu, attended by thirteen vassal states, effectively neutralizing the advantages Jin had gained from the Battle of An.

Jin, naturally, could not idly watch Chu challenge its hegemony. The following year, it once again united with Lu, Wei, Song, and other states to march against the State of Zheng. Although the campaign started poorly with a defeat by Zheng, the national strength of Jin was far superior to that of Zheng. Moreover, Duke Dao of Zheng, having fallen out with Duke Ling of Xu—who had slandered him before King Gong of Chu—decided to once again submit to Jin. As a countermove against Chu, Jin seized the opportunity to hold a grand alliance. During this period, Jin and Chu were essentially in a stalemate; neither had the strength to decisively defeat the other, leaving them to engage in behind-the-scenes maneuvering and maintain a tense, deadlock situation.

Nevertheless, Duke Jing of Jin’s reliance on his nation’s power to bully other vassal states caused the vassals to gradually drift away. Although Qi and Jin had clashed fiercely at the Battle of An, Qi was, after all, a major power in the east, and Jin felt it was essential to win them over, especially given the state of constant hostility between Jin and the State of Qin. Consequently, Jin forced Lu to return the Wenyang fields, which Qi had ceded to Lu after the Battle of An. This territory, wedged between Qi and Lu, had been contested for years. It was originally seized during the hegemony of Duke Huan of Qi, later reclaimed by the Lu official Cao Mo through a clever ruse, and then retaken by Qi before being returned to Lu following the Battle of An. Now, to appease Qi, Jin demanded that Lu relinquish it. Duke Jing’s action not only enraged Lu but also chilled the hearts of other vassal states. The hegemony of Jin began to show signs of decline.

However, a period of internal turmoil in Chu led to a shift in Jin’s strategic approach, causing Jin’s influence to wane while Chu itself became preoccupied with its own survival. This was triggered by the defection of the Chu official Shen Gong Wuchen.

Shen Gong Wuchen was originally the governor of the Shen region in Chu. When King Zhuang of Chu pacified the internal rebellion in the State of Chen caused by Xia Zhengshu, he brought Xia Zhengshu’s mother, Xia Ji, back to Chu. A princess of Zheng and a renowned beauty of the Spring and Autumn period, Xia Ji immediately captivated Shen Gong Wuchen. Yet, as such a beauty, King Zhuang naturally intended to claim her first. Driven by his own desires, Shen Gong Wuchen used his silver tongue to convince the King that Xia Ji had incited the rebellion in Chen and was an omen of misfortune, warning that the other vassals would suspect the King's motives for invading Chen. Convinced by this eloquent fabrication, King Zhuang abandoned his plans. However, the Chu Sima, Zi Fan, also expressed a desire for her upon learning the King would not take her, forcing Shen Gong Wuchen to recycle the same argument. Eventually, King Zhuang bestowed Xia Ji upon the Chu general Lianyin Xianglao.

As fate would have it, Lianyin Xianglao died shortly thereafter in the Battle of Bi, providing Shen Gong Wuchen with an opportunity to deceive Xia Ji. He secretly encouraged her to return to the State of Zheng, while publicly claiming that the remains of Lianyin Xianglao were in the hands of the people of Zheng and required her personal retrieval. King Zhuang, misled by this ruse, ordered Xia Ji to return to Zheng.

Not long after, King Zhuang passed away and was succeeded by King Gong of Chu. Seeing that the new King was young, Shen Gong Wuchen decided to flee Chu to live a life of leisure with Xia Ji. Using the opportunity of being sent on a diplomatic mission to Qi, he fled halfway to Zheng and brought Xia Ji with him to defect to Jin. Jin, naturally, welcomed talent from an enemy state with open arms, not only appointing him as a high official but also granting him the territory of Xing.

When the news reached Chu, the court and the country were shaken. Zi Fan, realizing he had been deceived, was enraged. He joined forces with the Lingyin, Zi Zhong, and petitioned King Gong of Chu to exterminate the entire clan of Shen Gong Wuchen. Zi Zhong also held a grudge against Wuchen. During an earlier war between Chu and Song, Zi Zhong had performed meritorious service and requested parts of the Shen and Lü regions as a reward. However, Shen Gong Wuchen had argued that Shen and Lü were strategic buffer zones for Chu’s northern frontier, and granting them to a subordinate would weaken the state against attacks from Jin and Zheng. King Zhuang had agreed and denied Zi Zhong’s request.

Driven by long-standing resentment, Zi Fan and Zi Zhong exacted their revenge by executing Wuchen’s clansmen, Zi Yan and Zi Dang, and seizing their property. In fairness, while Shen Gong Wuchen’s actions were despicable, the retaliation by Zi Fan and Zi Zhong was excessive. Furthermore, although Shen Gong Wuchen was devious, he was also a man of both literary and military talent. Upon learning of his family’s destruction while in Jin, he was devastated and harbored a deep hatred for Zi Fan and Zi Zhong. He wrote to them, swearing to take revenge on Chu and ensure they would be exhausted and meet a miserable end.

What was Shen Gong Wuchen’s plan? He suggested to Duke Jing of Jin that they form an alliance with the State of Wu in the southeast to jointly deal with Chu. Although Wu claimed to be the descendants of Wu Taibo, its distance from the Central Plains and its relatively backward culture led the Central Plains states to view it as a land of barbarians, shunning any contact. Shen Gong Wuchen argued that if they could link up with Wu and create a pincer movement against Chu, Chu would be overwhelmed and unable to compete with Jin for dominance in the Central Plains. He volunteered to serve as the envoy to Wu.

Duke Jing of Jin appreciated the idea and approved the request. Previously, Jin had invited Wu to participate in an alliance, but Wu had not responded. Shen Gong Wuchen, however, changed the insular mindset of the people of Wu. As a prominent general of Chu, he was well-versed in both culture and military strategy. He brought thirty chariots from Jin to teach the Wu army how to use them, how to form battle formations, and instructed them in the manufacture and use of weapons. After a period of training, the military strength of Wu improved rapidly, becoming capable of contending with the states of the Central Plains. Shen Gong Wuchen’s efforts earned the appreciation and favor of King Shoumeng of Wu, who expressed a willingness to cooperate with Jin in attacking Chu.

From then on, Wu began to frequently march north, attacking Chu and its vassal states, actively expanding its influence. This new situation caught Chu off guard; King Gong of Chu never expected a fire to break out in his own backyard. Zi Fan and Zi Zhong were forced to lead their armies back and forth, defending against the Wu forces. In a single year, they were forced to travel to seven different locations, truly "exhausted to the point of death."

Chu was subsequently plunged into years of warfare with Wu, forcing it to divert a significant amount of energy to handle the latter, which sowed the seeds of Chu’s decline. Meanwhile, with the help of Jin, Wu gradually established connections with the states of the Central Plains. Eventually, through the mediation of Duke Dao of Jin, King Shoumeng of Wu held an alliance, officially becoming a member of the Central Plains vassals, laying a solid foundation for the future hegemony of Wu.

The Battle of An between Jin and Qi dealt a heavy blow to Qi's ambition to compete with Jin, reinforcing Jin's dominant position in the Central Plains. The strategy of allying with Wu to contain Chu also effectively diverted Chu's attention, leaving it no time to compete with Jin for the hegemony of the Central Plains. It seemed as if the hegemony of Jin had been revived under Duke Jing. Yet, as the saying goes, "He who has no long-term concerns will soon have short-term worries." Behind Jin's temporary prosperity lay increasingly fierce political infighting among the high-ranking ministers.

The "Disaster of the Lower Palace" may not be widely known by name, but the story of the "Orphan of Zhao" is undoubtedly a household tale. The *Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of the Zhao Family* records that during the reign of Duke Ling of Jin, the Zhao family, led by Zhao Dun, held the reins of power in Jin. Because Duke Ling’s behavior was absurd and reckless, Zhao Dun repeatedly remonstrated with him. Unexpectedly, the Duke grew resentful and conspired with the corrupt official Tu’an Gu to repeatedly attempt to assassinate Zhao Dun. With no other choice, Zhao Dun fled. However, before he crossed the border, his kinsman Zhao Chuan killed Duke Ling in the Peach Orchard, allowing Zhao Dun to regain power.

After Zhao Dun passed away, the Zhao family continued to hold power under his son, Zhao Shuo. By this time, the ruler of Jin had changed to Duke Jing, and Tu’an Gu, who had once fallen from grace, was re-employed and highly favored. Because of the incident with Zhao Dun, Tu’an Gu harbored a deep hatred for the Zhao family. He claimed that the Zhao family had assassinated the ruler and should be punished. Despite the strong opposition of the Sima of the Three Armies, Han Jue, Tu’an Gu—with the tacit approval of Duke Jing—privately led troops to attack the Lower Palace where the Zhao family resided. He exterminated Zhao Shuo and his brothers, Zhao Tong, Zhao Kuo (not the one from later history known for "talking strategy on paper"), and Zhao Yingqi, wiping out the Zhao clan in one fell swoop. Only Zhao Shuo’s wife, who was also Duke Jing’s sister, Zhao Zhuangji, escaped to the palace after a prior warning from Han Jue, thus surviving the massacre.

Since Zhao Zhuangji was pregnant at the time, she soon gave birth to a baby boy. When Tu’an Gu learned of this, he repeatedly searched for the child, hoping to pull up the weeds by the roots. To preserve the bloodline of the Zhao family, two of Zhao Shuo’s retainers, Cheng Ying and Gongsun Chujiu, devised a plan. Cheng Ying swapped his own newborn son for the child of Zhao Shuo and feigned betraying Gongsun Chujiu. Tu’an Gu killed the son of Cheng Ying, believing he could finally rest easy. Meanwhile, Cheng Ying went into hiding with the real orphan of Zhao.

Fifteen years later, Duke Jing fell ill. Divination suggested it was the work of the vengeful spirits of the wronged Zhao family. Filled with remorse, Duke Jing asked Han Jue what should be done. Han Jue, knowing the orphan of Zhao was still alive, took the opportunity to reveal the truth. Duke Jing changed his mind, summoned the orphan of Zhao to the palace, ordered him to destroy Tu’an Gu to avenge his family, and restored the status of the Zhao clan. Having completed his mission, Cheng Ying eventually took his own life to repay Gongsun Chujiu.

This legendary story, after repeated adaptations and embellishments by later generations, has become a historical tale with international influence. However, few know that the historical truth behind it may not be as recorded by the Grand Historian. In fact, historical records regarding the Disaster of the Lower Palace vary, and there are even contradictions within the *Records of the Grand Historian* itself. Not only do the relevant episodes in the *Annals of Jin* differ significantly from those in the *Annals of Zhao*, but the accounts in the *Zuo Zhuan* also deviate sharply from the *Annals of Zhao*.

First, the identity of Tu’an Gu is highly suspicious; apart from the *Annals of Zhao*, this person does not appear in any other historical record. Historiography emphasizes that a claim cannot stand on a single source, making the existence of Tu’an Gu a matter of doubt. Second, there are contradictions regarding the age of Zhao Wu. According to the *Zuo Zhuan*, when Xiang Xu held the disarmament conference, the Lu official Shusun Bao mentioned that Zhao Wu was not yet fifty at the time. Calculating from this, Zhao Wu should have been born around 592 BC, but according to the *Annals of Zhao*, Zhao Shuo died in 597 BC.

Furthermore, there are contradictions regarding the fate of other members of the Zhao family. According to the *Annals of Zhao*, Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo died at the hands of Tu’an Gu in 597 BC, yet the *Zuo Zhuan* records activities for both men after that date. Additionally, the *Zuo Zhuan* records that Zhao Yingqi and Zhao Zhuangji had an illicit affair, for which he was exiled to the State of Qi, a detail completely absent from the *Annals of Zhao*.

Based on research by later scholars, the record of the Disaster of the Lower Palace in the *Annals of Zhao* is not credible; rather, the records in the *Annals of Jin* and the *Zuo Zhuan* are closer to the truth. The reason for this is likely that when the Grand Historian wrote the *Annals of Zhao*, he adopted official historical materials from the State of Zhao. The historians of Zhao, out of a desire to "hide the faults of the noble," rewrote a less-than-glorious history, which was then incorporated into the *Records of the Grand Historian*, thus giving rise to the legend of the Orphan of Zhao.

The history that the Zhao historians wanted to hide was the affair between Zhao Yingqi and Zhao Zhuangji mentioned earlier. The Disaster of the Lower Palace was not a clichéd conflict between loyalty and treachery, but a concrete manifestation of the intensifying struggles and conflicts among the high-ranking ministers of the time.

After Zhao Dun took control of Jin, the Zhao family became the most powerful clan in the state. But after Zhao Dun died, a policy rift occurred between Zhao Shuo and his brothers, Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo. Zhao Shuo recognized the rise of the Xun and Fan families and advocated for closer ties with them; however, Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo insisted on maintaining good relations with the Xi and Xian families, while alienating and suppressing the Xun, Fan, and Luan families.

The division within the Zhao clan was most evident during the Battle of Bi between Jin and Chu. In the pre-battle military council, Zhao Shuo and Xi Ke agreed with the advice of Xun Linfu, Shi Hui, and Luan Shu to retreat and avoid conflict. However, Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo, along with Xian Gu, insisted on fighting the Chu army. Ignoring Xun Linfu’s orders, they led their troops into battle against Chu on their own. The disastrous defeat of Jin at the Battle of Bi was directly linked to the conflict and fragmentation among the ministers.

The power of Jin later shifted to Xi Ke. Xi Ke had originally shared similar political views with Zhao Shuo and maintained a close relationship with him, but by then, Zhao Shuo had unfortunately passed away early. Thereafter, the relationship between the Xi family and the Zhao family gradually cooled, and they turned to align with the rising Xun, Fan, and Luan families. This led to the isolation of the Zhao family at court.

As the saying goes, "It rains when the roof is already leaking." After Zhao Shuo died, the scandal of an illicit affair between Zhao Zhuangji and her kinsman, Zhao Yingqi, broke out. When the matter came to light, Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo decided to exile Zhao Yingqi to the State of Qi. This was undoubtedly a very unwise decision. After Zhao Yingqi left, the power of the Zhao family was further weakened. This incident also deeply infuriated Zhao Zhuangji. As the sister of Duke Jing of Jin, her influence over him was obvious. In a fit of rage, she accused Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo of plotting a rebellion.

The skeptical Duke Jing summoned his ministers to discuss the matter. At this time, the chief minister of Jin was Luan Shu. The Luan family, having long been suppressed and marginalized by the Zhao family, finally saw their chance. Luan Shu took the opportunity to collude with Xi Qi to fan the flames, insisting that Zhao Zhuangji’s accusations were true. Thus, the charge of rebellion against the Zhao family was confirmed. Zhao Tong, Zhao Kuo, and others were slaughtered, and only the young Zhao Wu survived.

Looking at the full context of the Disaster of the Lower Palace, one can see that the trend of power shifting away from the central government in Jin was becoming increasingly intense. With the mutual attacks among the high-ranking ministers, the national strength of Jin gradually declined, ultimately leading to the "Partition of Jin by the Three Families."