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Text: Yanyan
Edited by Yeon-yeon
preface
In Chinese history, it was also the ministers who were in power, and the State of Qi experienced the drastic changes of the Tian family and the Qi dynasty, while the Jin State ushered in the situation of three separate Jin families.
Why are the two countries' destinies so different? What exactly is the reason behind this? The Tian clan relied on strategy to usurp Qi and establish itself, but the strength of the Jin state was eventually divided into the three kingdoms of Han, Zhao, and Wei.
Why was the Jin State not replaced by a certain powerful minister like the Qi State, but went down the road of splitting?
The rise of the six secretaries of the Jin State
During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Jin Kingdom, as the head of the princes, shook the Central Plains. However, beneath this seemingly powerful façade, an undercurrent of power is surging. During the reign of Duke Wen of the Jin Dynasty, in order to balance the domestic forces, six families were reused as the emperors.
These six are Zhao, Wei, Han, Zhi, Fan, and Bank of China. At first, they loyally assisted the monarch and contributed to the strength of the Jin state. This model of power distribution was seen at the time as an innovation, aimed at preventing the monopoly of a single family and maintaining the stability of the country.
But over time, the power of these families grew, gradually eroding the power of the monarch. Each of them had their own armies and controlled large tracts of land, making them a "state within a state."
The monarch of the Jin state, although nominally the ruler of the state, was in fact reduced to a puppet. This imbalance of power not only affected the internal affairs of the Jin state, but also gradually weakened the position of the Jin state among the princes, laying a hidden danger for future divisions.
The relationship between these six families is intricate, with both cooperation and competition. They understand that in this game of power, only by constantly strengthening themselves can they have an advantage in the future game.
As a result, a century-long war of annexation quietly unfolded. This war is not only a military contest, but also an all-out contest in politics, economy, diplomacy and other aspects, and each family is doing its best to expand its strength and influence.
The top four: the storm is coming
In 497 B.C., a sudden change upset the balance between the six kings. Because of their weak strength, the Fan clan and the Zhongxing clan were wiped out by the other four families in an infighting.
Since then, only Zhao, Wei, Han, and Zhi have remained on the political stage of the Jin Kingdom. This event not only changed the political landscape of the Jin Kingdom, but also became an important turning point in the Spring and Autumn Period, heralding a more intense struggle for power to come.
The strength of these four is uneven. The Zhi and Zhao clans are the strongest and constitute the first echelon; Han and Wei are relatively weak and are in the second echelon. As the head of the Zhi family, Zhi Boyao is ambitious and wants to dominate the Jin Kingdom.
Although Zhao Xiangzi was not from a high background, he inherited the strategy of his father Zhao Jianzi and became Zhibo's biggest opponent. The contest between the two is not only a contest of personal ability, but also a collision of two different political concepts.
Although Han Kangzi and Wei Huanzi are not as strong as the Zhi and Zhao families, they are not willing to sit idly by. They are well aware that in this power struggle, the slightest carelessness may be eliminated.
Therefore, they chose a wait-and-see attitude and waited for the opportunity. This strategy of judging the situation reflects their political wisdom and lays the groundwork for future alliances.
This four-legged situation lasted for almost half a century, but everyone knows that it was just the calm before the storm. One day, this fragile balance will be upset, and an earth-shattering change is coming.
Beneath this seemingly calm surface, forces on all sides are secretly accumulating strength in preparation for the upcoming Armageddon.
Zhibo's ambition: a risky move
In 455 BC, Zhibo decided to break this deadlock. He devised a ploy to defeat the Zhao clan in one fell swoop and become the de facto ruler of the Jin Kingdom. This plan not only reflects Zhibo's political ambitions, but also demonstrates his strategic vision and accurate grasp of the situation. He understands that in order to win this power game, the existing balance must be upset and a new situation must be created.
In the name of filial piety to the Marquis of Jin, Zhibo asked each of the four families to dedicate a town of ten thousand households. This seems to be a sign of allegiance to the monarch, but it is actually a temptation.
Zhibo knew that Zhao Xiangzi would definitely refuse this request due to his humble background and unstable status. And the Han and Wei families, out of self-preservation, are likely to choose to compromise.
The ingenuity of this ploy is that no matter what the other three choose, Zhibo can profit from it. If everyone agrees, he can take the opportunity to weaken his opponent; If someone refuses, he can find an excuse to attack.
Sure enough, Han Kangzi and Wei Huanzi, at the suggestion of their retainers, chose to temporarily forbear. And Zhao Xiangzi flatly refused, especially when Zhibo named the ancestral land of the Zhao family, which angered Zhao Xiangzi.
This result seemed to be expected by Zhibo, but it also exposed his true intentions, allowing the other princes to have a clearer understanding of his ambitions.
Zhibo's plan seems to be successful, but in fact he has fallen into his own trap. He underestimated Zhao Xiangzi's wisdom and resilience, and also ignored the calculations of the Han and Wei families.
This risky move not only did not get what he wanted, but laid the groundwork for future failure. Zhibo's actions, while exemplifying his political wisdom, also exposed the weakness of his eagerness, which eventually became a key factor in his defeat.
The Siege of Jinyang: A turning point in fate
In 453 BC, Zhibo united with Han and Wei and launched an all-out attack on the Zhao clan. Zhao Xiangzi was defeated and retreated to Jinyang (now Taiyuan). Zhibo thought that the victory was in his hands and began the siege of Jinyang.
This siege is not only a military contest, but also a contest of will and wisdom. Zhibo's attack seemed to be huge, but in fact it exposed his contempt for Zhao Xiangzi, and this psychology of contempt for the enemy eventually became an important reason for his defeat.
However, what Zhibo didn't expect was that the siege of Jinyang became a turning point in the whole situation. Zhao Xiangzi relied on the strong defense of Jinyang City and stubbornly resisted.
Seeing that he couldn't attack it, Zhibo came up with an unprecedented method: water attack. Although this innovative tactic shows Zhibo's military talents, it also exposes his eagerness to achieve results, which is often fatal in political games.
He ordered people to build a dam as high as the city wall outside Jinyang City, and led the water of the Fen River to fill it, in an attempt to flood Jinyang City with water. This tactic was unheard of at the time, and it put Zhao Xiangzi in a desperate situation for a while.
The implementation of the water attack not only reflects Zhibo's innovative spirit, but also demonstrates his strong economic strength and strong organizational ability. However, this seemingly impeccable tactic also became the key to his final defeat.
However, Zhao Xiangzi did not sit still. He secretly sent people to contact the Han and Wei families to persuade them to change their ways. Zhao Xiangzi pointed out that if the Zhi family succeeded, the Han and Wei families would definitely become the next targets.
Only by joining forces can the three families balance the ambitions of the Zhi clan. This farsightedness and political wisdom ultimately became the key to turning the tide. Zhao Xiangzi's strategy not only demonstrates his political talents, but also his deep insight into human nature.
The Three Families Join Forces: The Fall of the Zhi Clan
In 450 BC, after three years of hard fighting, Zhao Xiangzi finally waited for his opportunity. On a stormy night, Zhao Xiangzi sent elite troops to raid the Zhi soldiers guarding the embankment and successfully broke the embankment.
The raging flood washed away Zhibo's camp and caused great chaos. The action at this critical moment not only demonstrated Zhao Xiangzi's military talent, but also demonstrated his ability to seize the moment. He chose to launch an attack on a stormy night, taking advantage of the right time and place to minimize Zhibo's advantage.
At this time, the Han and Wei families took the opportunity to fight back, joined forces with Zhao Xiangzi, and launched a fierce attack on the Zhibo army. The Zhibo army was caught off guard and fell into an embattled situation.
This sudden counterattack not only disrupted Zhibo's deployment, but also completely destroyed his psychological defense. The betrayal of the Han and Wei families made Zhibo realize how wrong his previous political judgment was.
In this thrilling decisive battle, Zhibo was defeated and killed, and the former overlord fell. Zhao Xiangzi not only retained his position, but also gained the sympathy and support of the other two families because of his losses in the war.
Since then, the Jin State has formed a situation in which the three families of Zhao, Han and Wei are in full swing. This victory not only changed the political landscape of the Jin state, but also provided a typical case of the power game during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, demonstrating the important role of political wisdom and military talent in the destiny of the country.
In 403 BC, King Weilie of Zhou officially recognized the princely status of the three families of Zhao, Han and Wei, marking the official completion of the division of the three families. Since then, the role of the Jin State on the historical stage has come to an end, and the three kingdoms of Zhao, Han, and Wei, as one of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States, continue to rise and fall in the tide of history.
This result not only changed China's political map, but also provided rich historical experience and lessons for future generations to play power. Although the result of the division of the three Jin families ended the unification of the Jin state, it also provided the possibility for the formation of a new political pattern and promoted the progress of Chinese history.
epilogue
From the Six Qings to the top four, and then to the three Jins, every step contains profound historical wisdom.
Zhibo's ambition, Zhao Xiangzi's forbearance, and Han Wei's judgment of the situation all highlight the complexity and excitement of that era. #长文创作激励计划#
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