Five sons vying for the throne: chaos in the Qi Kingdom
In 643 BC, Duke Huan of Qi died, and five sons competed for the throne, causing chaos in the Qi kingdom for more than 40 years. In his later years, Duke Qi Huan indulged in the traitorous "three nobles", and the flattery and power schemes of Yi Ya, erection and opening were spread in the court. Guan Zhong warned the monarch many times, but the loss and confusion of Duke Qi Huan contributed to the source of the chaos. This struggle for the position caused domestic turmoil and laid the groundwork for the subsequent war.
Song Xianggong's dream of hegemony: the tragedy of the Battle of Hongshui
In 638 BC, Xianggong of Song tried to seek hegemony and expand his power in the chaos of the five sons of Qi vying for the throne. However, in the Battle of Hongshui, the Song army was defeated and retreated under the cunning and strength of the Chu army. Song Xianggong's dream of hegemony was shattered, and the pain of an arrow hitting his thigh became a misfortune for him and his country. The national strength of the Song State turned from prosperity to weakness, and the prestige of the monarch fell to the bottom, which directly led to the Song State becoming a subordinate of the Chu State, which profoundly changed the balance of regional forces.
Battle of Chengpu: The defeat of Chu's hegemony
After the Battle of Hongshui, the defeat of the Song State made it seem that the Chu State became the regional hegemon. However, the outbreak of the Battle of Chengpu in 632 BC shattered this assumption. The state of Chu was determined to dominate and had a fierce decisive battle with the state of Jin, but was defeated. This battle not only changed the pattern of the region, but also frustrated Chu's dream of hegemony. The outcome of the Battle of Chengpu not only affected the status of the Chu state, but also left a wavering balance of power between the small states of the Central Plains.
Comparison of power in Jin and Chu: changes in regional patterns
After the Battle of Chengpu, the Jin state became the new overlord of the region, while the Chu state was overshadowed. The balance of power between Jin and Chu has changed radically, and the small countries of the Central Plains have fallen into a wavering situation. The rise of the Jin state had far-reaching geopolitical implications, and at the same time forced the state of Chu to reassess its position and strategy.
Controversial summary: the reincarnation of hegemony
The battle for the throne of the five sons, the battle of Hongshui, and the battle of Chengpu changed the historical pattern of the region one after another. In this process, the fate of the country is like an eternal reincarnation, and the pursuit of hegemony and setbacks are alternately staged. Whether it is the war that pushes the wheel of history, or the wheel of history that pushes the war, is the subject of endless controversy. Perhaps, it is in the process of competing for hegemony that human society has formed a cycle of constant change, and each rise and fall of hegemony is deducing this unfathomable historical mystery.