100 Historical Stories That Unlock Teenage Wisdom

Chapter 23 1 Song Xianggong's Teacher of "Benevolence and Righteousness"

Chapter 3 Virtues of Success
What does success depend on?Perhaps we generally think of it as intelligence, courage, and energy, but in fact we have overlooked a very important factor—virtue.Virtue is the cornerstone of success. If we do not recognize the power of virtue, we will deviate from the correct track of life, and this "soft power" can emit infinite energy.Let us improve our various abilities while cultivating ourselves.

Because our mentality is less utilitarian, learning becomes easier.Moreover, Mencius said that "those who love others will always love them", if they can get the favor of others and promote each other, they can get twice the result with half the effort and meet success more quickly. Chapter 31 Song Xianggong's Teacher of "Benevolence and Righteousness"

——Morality must be observed, but don't be superstitious. Morality must be observed, but don't be superstitious.Ethical codes of empty talk sometimes don't apply in reality.This requires a concrete analysis of the specific situation and a correct attitude to face it.Obsessed with moral standards, it is easy to fall into a pedantic state.

After the death of Duke Huan of Qi, the overlord of the Spring and Autumn Period, civil strife broke out in Qi State, so Duke Xiang of Song State notified the princes of other countries, asking them to jointly escort Prince Zhao to Qi State to succeed the throne.However, Song Xianggong's appeal was not strong. Most of the princes put the Song State's notice aside, and only three small countries brought some troops.

Song Xianggong led the soldiers and horses of the four countries to Qi.When a group of ministers of the Qi State saw the people from the four countries calling, they welcomed the son Zhao to ascend the throne. This is Qi Xiaogong.

Qi State was originally the ally of the princes, but now Qi Xiaogong obtained the throne with the help of Song State, and Song State's status has naturally improved.

Song Xianggong was ambitious and wanted to inherit Qi Huangong's hegemony.This time when he was dating the princes, only three small countries obeyed his orders, and several big countries in the Central Plains ignored him.Song Xianggong wanted to use the big country to subdue the small country, so he decided to contact Chu.He thought that if Chu State could cooperate with him, then those countries under Chu State's influence would naturally submit to him.

He told the ministers about this proposition, and the minister's son Mu Yi did not agree with it.He thought that Song State was a small country, and it would do no good if he wanted to be the leader.Song Xianggong was not willing to listen to him, he invited Chu Chengwang and Qi Xiaogong to hold a meeting in Song State first to discuss the matter of signing a covenant with the princes.Both King Cheng of Chu and Duke Xiao of Qi agreed, and decided that in July of that year (639 BC), the princes of various countries would hold a meeting in Song Guomeng (northwest of Sui County, Henan today).

In July, Song Xianggong drove a car to hold a meeting.Prince Mu Yi said: "What if the Lord Chu has bad intentions, what should we do? My lord should bring more soldiers and horses."

Song Xianggong said: "That can't be done. We only went to the meeting to stop fighting. How can we rewind the soldiers and horses?"

The young master Mu Yi couldn't convince him no matter what, so he had to follow him empty-handed.

Sure enough, when the meeting was held, both King Cheng of Chu and Duke Xiang of Song wanted to be the leader of the alliance, and they started arguing.Song Xianggong wanted to argue angrily, but a group of officials from the state of Chu immediately took off their coats, revealing their bright armor, and arrested Song Xianggong in a swarm.

Later, through the mediation of Lu and Qi, King Cheng of Chu was made the leader of the alliance, and Song Xianggong was released.

After Song Xianggong went back, he was still unconvinced, especially when the neighboring King Zheng Guo also opposed him with King Cheng of Chu, which made him even more annoyed.In order to express his anger, Song Xianggong decided to conquer Zheng Guo first.

In 638 BC, Song Xianggong sent troops to attack the state of Zheng.Zheng Guo asked Chu State for help.King Cheng of Chu was very powerful. Instead of saving Zheng Guo, he sent a general to lead a large army to attack Song Guo directly.Song Xianggong didn't watch out for this move and hurried back.The two armies were stationed on both sides of Hongshui (northwest of Zhecheng, Henan).

After the two armies faced each other across the river, the Chu army began to cross Hongshui and attack the Song army.Prince Muyi saw the Chu people busy crossing the river, so he said to Song Xianggong: "The Chu State relies on their numbers and strength to cross the river during the day, and doesn't care about us. Let's go head-on before they finish crossing the river." If we fight in the past, we will definitely win the battle.”

Song Xianggong said: "No! We are a country that values ​​benevolence and righteousness. What kind of benevolence and righteousness is there if we fight across the river before the enemy has finished crossing the river?"

As they spoke, all the Chu troops had already crossed the river and landed, and they were queuing up in formation in a chaotic manner.The young master Mu Yi was anxious, and said to Song Xianggong: "We can't wait any longer! Before they have set up their formation, let's fight quickly, and we can hold off for a while. If we don't make a move, it will be too late."

Song Xianggong scolded him and said: "You are too unreasonable! People's teams are not lined up, how can you fight?"

In a short while, the soldiers and horses of Chu State had already set up their positions.There was a sound of war drums, and the Chu army rushed straight like a flood rushing against a dam.No matter how the Song army could hold back, they were defeated one after another.

Song Xianggong gesticulated and wanted to resist, but an arrow had already been shot in his thigh.Fortunately, the general of the Song Dynasty brought some soldiers and horses, desperately protecting Song Xianggong from escaping, and finally saved his life.

Song Xianggong fled back to Shangqiu, the capital of the country, and the people of Song State talked a lot, complaining that he should not fight with the people of Chu State, let alone fight like that.

Prince Muyi told Song Xianggong about everyone's discussions.Song Xianggong rubbed his injured thigh and said: "According to me, people who value benevolence and righteousness should fight like this. For example, when you see someone who has already been injured, don't hurt him again; He cannot be taken prisoner."

The young master Muyi couldn't bear it any longer. He said angrily: "The purpose of fighting is to defeat the enemy. If you are afraid of hurting the enemy, you might as well not fight; if you don't catch a person with gray hair, then let him die." take away."

Song Xianggong was seriously injured, and he was angry, and died a year later.

Wisdom Interpretation:

An important feature of human society that is different from the animal world is that there are moral and legal constraints, which makes human society not as bloody and cruel as the animal world.To maintain the relative peace of the society, it is the bounden duty of each of us to abide by social morality.But when interacting with others, if you talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality inappropriately, you will suffer a lot like Song Xianggong.

Therefore, while abiding by morality, we must supplement it with different methods according to the actual situation, and don't be obsessed with morality and make it a vulgar thing.

(End of this chapter)