Shen is a man, surnamed Xu, also known as Wang Sun, whose birth and death years have been tested. A native of Xingou Town, Jianli County, Hubei Province, he was a doctor of Chu in the Spring and Autumn Period and had made friends with Wu Zixu. In the seventh year of King Ping of Chu (522 BC), Wu Zixu fled Chu because of his father's unjust case, and met Shen and said, "I want to repay Chu". Shen replied, "If I can answer it, I can revive it." In the 10th year of King Zhao of Chu (506 BC), the King of Wu used Wu Zixu to break Chu into Ying. Shen followed the withdrawing troops and moved around. After that, please go to the state of Qin and ask Qin Aigong to send troops to save Chu. At first, I didn't get permission, but I didn't eat for seven days and cried in Qin Ting day and night. Aigong was moved by it and finally agreed to send his troops to the rescue in 500 cars. Under Qin Chujun's counter-attack, the Chu people drove away Wu Jun and recovered Ying capital. After Shen returned to Ying, he wanted to give him a reward. He claimed that he invited reinforcements for the people of Chu, but refused to accept the reward. Then he lived in seclusion in the mountains for more than a year.
"Xing Chu" oath
King Chu Ping was a successful king. After five years of rest and recuperation, the political situation has become more and more stable and the national situation has gradually recovered. When he was ready to make progress abroad, he used courtiers because of his lust for women, thus leading Chu astray. Fei Wuji, as the youngest son of Jian Taizi, could not be reused by Jian Taizi, so he plotted to kill Jian Taizi and Wu Shehua, the teacher of Jian Taizi. First, he persuaded King Chu Ping to marry Princess Qin for the prince. When Princess Qin came to Chu, he induced King Chu Ping to take the princess as his own. Therefore, Prince Jian was also assigned to be the father guarding the border. Fei Wuji also slandered Prince Jian for complaining and rebelling, and accused Wu She, the teacher of Prince Jian, of framing him in an attempt to kill Wu She and his two sons, Wu Shang and Wu Yuan (that is, Wu Zixu). Wu Shang entered the palace and perished with Wu, but Wu Zixu became a monk and was determined to avenge his father and brother. "Four Years of Zuo Zhuan" contains: "At the beginning, Wu Yuan and Shen Weiyou. When Shen died, he said,' I want to go back to Chu. Shen said,' Encourage me! If the child can reply, I can save it. Shen did not blame Wu Zixu, nor did he stop Wu Zixu from realizing his "righteousness" (filial piety), calling it "encouragement!" It is not only Shen's approval of Wu Zixu's revenge (the monarch was almost equal to the vassal state in the Spring and Autumn Period, so it is difficult to distinguish between the vassal state and the monarch, and the "meaning of the monarch and the minister" is relatively indifferent. It is very common for the monarch and the minister to turn against each other, so that so many people will work for other countries, and it is also very common for the monarch to hate the vassal state where he was born. Prior to this, Chu also analyzed Qi Huangong, Yongzi, Miao Benhuang and so on. ), is also the recognition of Wu Zixu's ability, but also to encourage Wu Zixu. However, Shen did not forget his loyalty to the country because of his friendship with Wu Zixu. "If I can recover, I will be able to prosper the country" shows that Shen regards Zhongjun as "righteousness" and dares to undertake the mission of serving the motherland. Shen chose to "comfort" Wu Zixu first (instead of "putting righteousness above family loyalty" to eliminate future troubles), and then "I am sure to prosper", which fully reflected Shen's inner contradictions and calmness, as well as his persistent enthusiasm for friends and the country.
Chu is in danger.
Wu Zixu traveled around, and finally came to Wu, where he reused Gongzi Guang and helped Gongzi Guang ascend to the throne. It is for He Lv, the king of Wu, to present a plan of "disturbing Chu and exhausting Chu" and take turns to attack Chu. At this time of Chu, Yin Zi was in power. Although he killed Fei Wuji, he was "tired of bitterness and anxious to blame the people" ("Chu Yu Xia"), bullying small countries abroad and leaving Chu isolated and passive. In ten years (AD 506), the emperors of Tang and Cai were often humiliated by greed. Wu took the opportunity to unite the two countries to send troops, with Wu Zixu and Sun Wu as the generals, and Lien Chan won a winning streak and attacked the capital of Chu. After Wu Jun entered the capital city, he plundered it. "Huai Nan Zi" Volume 20 "Tai Xun" contains "He Lu attacked Chu, entered Ying in five wars, the high government burned millet, broke the clock of Kowloon, whipped the tomb of King Jingping and shed the palace." "Liang Chuan Ding Gong Four Years" contains "Why is it called Wu Ye? The elegance of virtue. What is moral and intellectual industry? A gentleman lives in the bedroom, and his wife is his wife; The doctor lives in the doctor's bed, but the wife is the doctor's wife. Covered with the mother of the king of Chu who wants a wife. If you don't lose, you will benefit a lot. If you live in a country where people live, the situation will be the opposite. " It can be seen that Wu Jun did evil after he entered Ying, which brought great disaster to the Chu people. When Wu Zixu was in Du Ying, in order to vent his anger, he also "flogged the corpse" of the late king Chu Ping (there are different records about this, or flogged the corpse or flogged the tomb). In this case, although Shen "died in the mountains", he sent someone to persuade Wu Zixu. "Biography of Historical Records of Wu Zixu" said: "Shen died in the mountains, making people call him Zi Xu:' Zi's reward is very heavy! I heard that many people can conquer nature and nature can break people. Now, my son has made peace with the king's ministers. He has done something in the north. Now, as for the dead, is this the extreme of heaven? "Wu Zixu said,' Thank Shen for me and say that I can't travel far in the future, so I object.' "Shen's exhortation to Wu Zixu, on the one hand, expressed his understanding of Wu Zixu's revenge, but he regretted Wu Zixu's excessive behavior of" whipping the corpse "(such behavior can only vent his anger and cause dissatisfaction among the people of Chu), hoping that Wu Zixu would exercise restraint, but Wu Zixu still went his own way. Shen failed to persuade Wu Zixu, so he had to practice the oath of "rejuvenating Chu" with practical actions. "The Warring States Policy, Chu Ce, I, Wang Wei Ask Mo Aozihua" contains: "I was brave and determined, and went to a strong enemy and died. This is still a pawn, not a vassal. " So I won the tattoo invisibility ... "
Crying Qin Ting
Where should Shen go for help? At that time, only Qin Jin had the strength to help Chu defeat Wu. Jin and Chu fought for hegemony for a long time, and Wu was also supported by Jin to weaken Chu; King Chu Zhao was born to Princess Qin, the grandson of Qin Aigong. Qin has a close blood relationship with Chu, and in the Spring and Autumn Period, because of its long-term alliance with Jin, only Qin has the strength and can also help Chu to revive. Under such circumstances, Shen has not lost his cool, which shows that Shen has a high political vision. Shen "trudged in the valley, climbed steep mountains, climbed deep streams, swam in rivers and waters, violated Tianjin customs, broke iron cages and gravel, and reached his knees for seven days and seven nights." As for Qin Ting. " So I cried on the palace wall and said day and night that I couldn't drink it for seven days (Zuo Zhuan Ding Gong Five Years). It can be seen that Shen's loyalty to the country is persistent and enthusiastic, to the point where he completely ignores his own life and death. Shen's unswerving attitude finally moved and awakened Qin Aigong. He said, "Chu has a good minister, but Wu still wants to destroy him. If I don't have a minister, I will die. " ("Wu Yue Chun Qiu", Volume 4, Biography of He Lv) and "Poem with No Clothes":' You said you had no clothes, and you were dressed with your son. Wang Yu started his career, and he shared his hatred with his son. "("Wu Yue Chun Qiu "Volume 4" Biography of He Lv ")" Is to send a car to save Chu from attacking Wu "("Biography of Historical Records and Wu Zixu ").
Fight for "Prospering Chu"
After successfully moving in reinforcements from the State of Qin, Shen took the lead in fighting Wu Jun. In Zuo Zhuan Ding Gong's Five Years, Shen studied under Qin, Qin Zipu and his handsome car took five hundred to save Chu. Zipu said,' I don't know martial arts.' Let the Chu people fight against the Wu people first, and they will be defeated. "At this time, the State of Yue also attacked the State of Wu from the rear, which was recorded in Historical Records Wu Taibo Family" (Prince and Lu). In the spring of ten years, the more I heard that the prince of Wu was in Ying, the country was empty and was cutting Wu. Wu Pai other soldiers to attack. "Wu Jun suffered a series of failures, which led to infighting." He Lv's brother-in-law almost saw Qin Yue defeat Wu, and the king of Wu stayed in Chu, so his husband died and became the king of Wu. "(Historical Records Wu Taibo Family) More importantly, Wu Jun's aggression and atrocities aroused the unity of the whole State of Chu. "The Biography of Liang Shu Ding Gong for Four Years said:" Wang Zhao's army fled, and his father gave it to him, saying,' I am a corrupt man, and I will die in front of your city. Father rebelled, why worry about no gentleman? I want to use it to go to the sea! "The old man said,' A gentleman is good! Better die than Wu. Strike each other, defeat Wu people three times in one night, and rebuild. "Huai Nan Zi" Volume 20 "Tai Xun" also contains: "Wang Zhao runs with him, and the people's fathers and brothers help the young and the old, and then they are brave, and they all fight for it. At this time, there is no one in the team, everyone will die, but Wu Bing will return to Chu. "In this case, Wu Jun had to quit Chu, and Chu was successfully revived. It should be said that the fundamental reason for the revival of Chu State lies in the fact that the enemy of Chu State's army and people united as one, the army and people in Zixi and other places gathered and scattered to lay down their lives to fight again, Sajima swore to defend it, the scene of King Zhao Chu's escape and the scene of the army and people protecting his life all flashed the ideological brilliance of Chu State's army and people homesick, patriotic and respectful to the monarch. However, it is also important for Shen to invite Qin reinforcements. With the national strength of Chu, it is difficult for Wu to be annexed. However, if Chu relies on its own strength, it is difficult to drive Wu Jun out of the country so quickly. Shen invited Qin for reinforcements and won the first battle, which drove Wu into civil strife. Chu can quickly drive Wu Jun out of the country and successfully revive it. After the revival of Chu, it quickly came out of the trauma of failure. King Zhao of Chu wiped out Deng and Hu in 20 years, King Hui of Chu wiped out Chen in 10, Cai in 42 years and Cai in 44 years. Historical Records of Chu Family still maintains the status of a first-class power, and it is also one of the most powerful countries among the "Seven Heroes of the Warring States" after entering the Warring States. When Shen went to see Wu Zixu, he said, "If I can restore it, I can revive it." When Chu really faced the crisis of national subjugation, Shen practiced this oath with his own actions.
Refuse to enjoy
After difficulties and obstacles, the State of Chu was finally successfully revived, and Shen also practiced the oath of "revitalizing the State of Chu". King Zhao of Chu rewarded Shen Yingyong, saying that it was "rewarding 5,000 households" (Biography of Historical Records, Fan Sui and Cai Ze). However, Shen doesn't think what he has done is remarkable. He said, "I am a monarch, not a body. When you settle down, what else can you ask for? And what is my wandering chess? " ("Zuo Zhuan Ding Gong Five Years") On the one hand, Shen shows that what he has done is to do the duty of a courtier; On the other hand, My Wandering Chess (Zi Qi helped King Chu Ping ascend to the throne and was appointed Lingyin. The following year, he colluded with others and was insatiable. He was killed by King Chu Ping. ), show your indifference to fame and fortune by showing that you hate Zi Qi. It is said that King Chu Zhao wanted to make Shen a scholar, but Shen "avoided the reward" ("Zuo Zhuan Ding Gong Five Years"). King Chu Zhao made people want it and praised it as "the door of loyal subjects". Regarding Shen's escape from reward, 77 times in the history of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, "I cried, Shen borrowed soldiers, retired Wu, and King Zhao of Chu returned to China" were handled and explained: "(Shen said that his wife said) I made a debut as a friend, and I didn't let my son's vain plan break Chu, which was my sin; I am ashamed to take credit for my sins! " In fact, I understood what Shen did with the concept at that time, but failed to grasp the image of Shen. Revenge was very popular in the Shen Dynasty, but the concept of loyalty and righteousness was lacking, so many talents worked for other countries, and it was also common to hate the vassal state where they were born because of the monarch. Before Shen, there were also stories of revenge against Chu by analyzing Gong, Yong Zi and Miao. At that time, Shen's "not telling the truth" was a commendable "righteous act", and it cannot be said that Shen was mistaken for "righteous act".
Build in Vietnam
Although Shen escaped, he did not forget his loyalty to Chu. After nearly 30 years of "escape" (Zuo Zhuan recorded that Shen's "escape" was in the fifth year of Lu, that is, 505 BC, while Shen's time to go abroad in Spring and Autumn Annals was 21 years of Zhu Jian, that is, 476 BC. ) Go abroad, strengthen the determination of Sentence Jian to attack Wu, and teach Sentence Jian the three strategies of "wisdom, benevolence and courage". At first, Shen used the goading method to analyze the prosperity of Wu, test the determination of the King of Yue, and then asked him why he was fighting. Finally, he pointed out the three strategies of "wisdom, benevolence and courage". It can be seen that Shen is a visionary strategist who is good at analyzing interests. Shen's teaching of Ju was of great help to Ju's destruction of Wu. Later, "Guoyu Story" contained a sentence, "I asked Wang Sun Baoxu to be lonely all my life." To a certain extent, it can also be said that Shen realized Chu's revenge on Wu.
history
"Historical Records of Justice Qin Benji" also contains: "Bao Xu's surname is Gongsun, and he was sealed in Shen, so he was sealed as Shen." Wu Zixu's family also lives in Shendi (Wu Zixu is also called Xu Shen), so Shendi and Wu Zixu are old friends. "Zuo Zhuan Ding Gong Five Years" "Wu Wei sealed the scorpion and recommended the snake to eat in the country, and the abuse began in Chu. The more you lose your country, the more worthless you are. The minister was in a hurry and said,' If you get close to the monarch, you will be in trouble. It's uncertain whether you can catch Wu Zhi or not. It depends on your score. If Chu dies, so will your land. If you caress it with your spirit, the world will serve you. "Wu Yue Chun Qiu", Volume 4, Biography of He Lv, Indulge in State Affairs, Zuo Zhuan and Ding Gong Five Years: "I have heard of fate. Zigu went to the museum and said the picture. " "LaCrosse in the grass, haven't conquer. How dare I be safe? "The book Guoyu Wuyu (The Spring and Autumn Period of the State of Wu, When the Great Sword Cut the Biography of Wu) recorded a similar story, and pointed out that the time was July of the 21st year of the Great Sword):" Chu Shen was sent to Yue, and the Great Sword of Yue asked, saying,' The State of Wu is immoral and wants to abolish the ancestral temple of our country, thinking it is dull and blood food. I want to take it lightly, but I can't, because I have both horses and chariots and soldiers. Excuse me, can you fight with Xi? Bao Xu said,' I don't know. When Wang Gu asked Yan, Yan said: It is a good country and can win governors. Who is the king at war with? The king said,' A lonely man will never dare to divide wine, bean meat and food. Eating and drinking is not tasteless, and listening to songs is endless. I would like to repay Wu and fight for it. "Bao Xu said,' Good is good, but you can't fight.' The King of Yue said,' In Yue, I asked about my illness, buried the dead, provided for the old, cared for the young, lived alone, asked about his illness, and asked him to report to Wu. I'm willing to fight for it. "Bao Yong said,' Good is good, but you can't fight. King Yue said, "In Yue, I forgive my people and treat them with kindness and loyalty. I revised the order of pardon punishment, doing what the people want, eliminating the evil of the people, calling the people good, covering up the evil of the people, and seeking to repay Wu. I'm willing to fight for it. "Bao Yong said,' Good is good, but you can't fight. The King of Yue said,' In Yue, the rich are content with me, and the poor are content with me, so as to save their shortcomings, cut their profits, and get both rich and poor, and seek to repay Wu. I'm willing to fight for it. "Bao Yong said,' Good is good, but you can't fight. The south of Yue is Chu, the west is Jin and the north is Qi. During the Spring and Autumn Period, leather coins, jade and silk, and children were honored by guests. I have been afraid to refuse, hoping to repay Wu. I'm willing to fight for it. "Bao Yong said:' Although it is good, it is not enough to fight. Wisdom is the beginning, benevolence is the second, and courage is the second. If you are not wise, you don't know the extreme of the people, and you can't judge the number of people in the world; If you are heartless, you can't be hungry and tired with the three armed forces; Not brave, can't break doubts, can't be ambitious. "The King of Yue said,' Promise. "
Historical evaluation
The Spring and Autumn Period is an era of "rebels and thieves", but in this era, Shen, a dedicated and selfless patriotic loyal minister, appeared, just like a bright light in the dark, illuminating that era and the history of China. When Wu Zixu, a good friend, said, "I will definitely pay you back", Shen said, "Let's do it! If I can answer it, I can revive it. " Shen didn't stop Wu Zixu from realizing his "righteousness", but went to practice a greater "righteousness"-loyalty to the country. When the capital of Chu fell and fled, Shen came to Qin for help. "I trudged across the valley, climbed steep mountains, went to deep streams, swam in the river, violated Tianjin Pass, was locked in a cage, trampled on sand and stones, and reached my knees. As for Qin Dynasty," Qin Aigong didn't agree immediately, so he "cried at the court wall, kept silent day and night, and couldn't drink the spoon for seven days." Finally, Qin Aigong, who was obsessed with state affairs, was moved. It can be seen that Shen's loyalty to the country is persistent and enthusiastic, to the point where he completely ignores his own life and death. Shen tried his best to revitalize Chu, but refused the reward, saying that he was not for himself, but for fame and courage, and retired. Judging from what Shen has done in the past, he will never covet fame and fortune, and the king is a wise and kind king. After Shen Gongcheng retired, it serves to show that it was not out of "birds do their best to hide;" The reason why a sly rabbit dies and a running dog cooks is from the heart. It can be seen that what Shen has done is to do his duty, out of sincere loyalty to the motherland. After nearly 30 years, he went abroad tirelessly and made great contributions to the destruction of Wu. In that era when "the ceremony broke down and the music broke down", when the minister killed the king and his son killed his father, and when the world's elite traveled abroad for their grievances or ambitions, Shen was always loyal to his motherland, Chu, and explained the meaning of "loyalty" with his own actions, setting a model of loyalty to the king for future generations.