Chapter 52: Shi Mimu
Qingji got on his own royal chariot and, surrounded by thousands of subjects, got off the chariot and slowly walked towards the bank of Xiang Lake.
However, according to etiquette, he did not immediately go up to the square altar to offer sacrifices to the Emperor of Heaven!
For sacrifice, an auspicious time must be chosen.
Although rituals and music were in decline during the Spring and Autumn Period, the kings of various countries were still very particular about rules when it came to important matters such as the coronation ceremony.
After entering the venue, the first people Qingji had to receive were the envoys from the Central Plains countries such as Jin, Qi, Wei, Lu and Song.
Including the Kingdom of Yue, a total of envoys from fifteen countries came to congratulate King Qingji of Wu and presented valuable gifts!
When Qingji conquered Wudu before, he did not hold a ceremony to proclaim himself king immediately, but postponed it for two months. He specially invited envoys from all over the world to watch the ceremony in order to publicize the current power of Wu.
"Have the envoys from Chu arrived?"
Qingji asked.
The Prime Minister Ji Zha on the side bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we haven't seen the Chu envoy yet."
Hearing this, Qingji couldn't help but narrow his eyes, feeling quite puzzled!
What exactly is in the Chu people’s gourd?
Even the envoys from the State of Jin braved the dangers and traveled thousands of miles to attend the coronation ceremony of Emperor Qingji. Why did the people of Chu, as a neighboring country, not even meet their envoys?
No news at all ?
Qingji was very suspicious.
Logically speaking, the Wu and Chu countries had already signed an alliance, and the Chu people should have sent envoys to watch and congratulate the King of Wu for his coronation ceremony!
Before Qingji had time to think too much, he gathered his thoughts and greeted the envoys from various countries who came to watch the ceremony with a smile.
Since the time of King Shoumeng of Wu, the State of Wu began to frequently communicate with the Central Plains countries, and in the wars with the Chu people, both sides had wins and losses, and the two sides were evenly matched, which had already demonstrated the power of the State of Wu!
Therefore, when facing these ministers from various countries, Qingji was able to remain calm, smiling and maintaining the demeanor of a king.
"Shi Mimu, the envoy of Jin, pays respect to the Lord of Wu!"
Accompanied by Taizai Jizha, Qingji received envoys from various countries one by one.
A middle-aged man who was over eight feet tall, wearing a red and black official robe and a tall crown, came forward and bowed to Qingji.
"Your Majesty, this is Shi Bo, the governor of Jin."
Ji Zha introduced Qingji on the side.
"It turns out to be Shi Bo. I have heard of you for a long time!"
Qingji exchanged a few words of greeting.
This Shi Mimu can be regarded as a historical celebrity in the late Spring and Autumn Period!
In Zuo Zhuan, a lot of words are written about Shi Mimu, even more than ordinary monarchs.
Shi Mimu, also known as Shi Jingbo, Shi Bo, and Sima Mimu, was the son of Shi Wenbo.
He was the governor of Jin State, in charge of building Chengzhou, and formulating the design plan for the city of Chengzhou!
It is worth mentioning that the Liguan of Jin State was equivalent to the Tingwei of Wu State, who was in charge of criminal justice and had considerable powers.
Although Shi Mimu held such an official position, he was an outstanding eloquent and good speaker!
Shi Mimu was a rare man of noble virtue among the ministers of Jin State.
At that time, the State of Jin wanted to release the detained Lu minister Shusun Nuo, and sent Shi Mimu to act as a lobbyist.
Shusun was originally full of anger, and when he heard that the official from Jin was coming, he planned to kill the official!
As a result, Shi Mimu's words not only saved his own life, but also eliminated Lu's resentment towards Jin!
From this we can see that sometimes the wise man's eloquence can indeed defeat thousands of troops.
Now, the State of Jin was able to send the official Shi Mimu as an envoy to Wu to observe the ceremony, which showed that the alliance between the two countries was still unbreakable.
Because whether it is the State of Wu or the State of Jin, they have a common enemy!
Chu State!
Therefore, it is reasonable and moral for Qingji to treat Shi Mimu with courtesy.
"Mr. Wu, I have long heard of your great name."
Shi Mimu smiled slightly and said, "Lord Wu became famous at a young age and is the most brave and brave man in the world. Now he has driven out the traitors and restored order. He will inherit the throne at a young age and rule the Kingdom of Wu. This will definitely be of great benefit to both Wu and Jin!"
"The friendship between Wu and Jin is deeply rooted in my heart and I cannot forget it. Without the strong support of Jin, how could I be where I am today?"
"Mr. Wu, there is no need to be so humble. External forces are only external forces after all. If Mr. Wu is incompetent, how could there be such a crowning ceremony today?"
Qingji's ability to organize a revenge army in Wei State and restore order was indeed inseparable from the strong support of Jin State.
This is because whether Qingji was recruiting soldiers or training his troops, he needed a certain amount of food and military supplies. It was with the support of Jin that the countries in the Central Plains were able to help Qingji and allow him to raise enough soldiers and supplies!
For all countries, Qingji is a potential stock that cannot be underestimated.
The State of Jin, on the other hand, wanted to continue to maintain its alliance with the State of Wu, letting Wu continue to attack the State of Chu so that it could reap the benefits!
Helü, who killed the king and usurped the throne, was obviously not a good person. Therefore, the princes in the Central Plains, led by the State of Jin, were more optimistic about the brave but unwise Qingji rather than the ambitious Helü.
This is an extremely realistic problem!
From a modern perspective , this was a losing business for the Central Plains countries.
But if they can help Qingji to rule the Wu Kingdom, they will surely gain the favor of the Wu people and will no longer have to worry about threats from the Wu Kingdom!
"Mr. Wu, there is something I want to tell you. I wonder if you know about it?"
"What is it?"
Shi Mimu suddenly came forward and whispered in Qingji's ear: "Earlier, our Jin State received a report that the Chu army in Yingdu is secretly gathering, and Chu's food and fodder are now being transported to Shu one cart after another. The roads are crowded with food carts. I am afraid that the Chu people are planning to attack Wu!"
"really?"
Qingji couldn't help but frown.
Shi Mimu bowed and said, "I dare not hide anything from Lord Wu. The tens of thousands of Chu troops that originally gathered in Yingdu have disappeared. I'm afraid they have secretly entered Shudi!"
"I understand."
On the surface, Qingji still looked calm and composed, but he was actually cursing in his heart.
Shudi is an area in the eastern part of Chu State, bordering Wu State!
In the early years, the Wu and Chu states fought fiercely over Shu, but the Wu army was never able to take over this land.
If the Chu army attacks Wu, it can advance from multiple directions, Shu is one of them, and the Chu army can also enter the territory of Wu without being noticed.
This is because there is a big river (Yangtze River) between them. If the Chu army marches from Shu, the territory of Wu opposite is a mountainous area with blocked roads, but it is very hidden!
The Chu army was even able to advance straight into the capital of Wu through continuous forced marches and lay siege to the city.
Of course, this is a very stupid strategy!
Because of this strategy, the Chu army suffered severe non-combat casualties.
Therefore, if the Chu army wanted to attack Wu, the best way would still be to take a boat, advance eastward along the Yangtze River, destroy the Wu cities along the river such as Zhenzi, Tong, and Li, and reach the capital of Wu directly!
This route is exactly the route that Qingji took when he attacked Wu before.
