Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 9): Gongsun Cuo’s Humility

Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

By Sima Guang

Translated By Yiming Yang

Annals of Zhou Book 2 Scroll 2

Duration of 48 years

The 1st year of King Xian (368 B.C.)

The state of Qi launched a raid on Wei, capturing Guanjin. 

The state of Zhao invaded Qi and reached the Great Wall of Qi.

Amidst this chaos, an official from Wei named Cuo fled to the state of Han, seeking refuge.

In the West Zhou, Duke Wei passed away, and his crown Prince Chao succeeded him as Duke Hui of Zhou. However, his younger brother, Prince Ban, had gained favor with Duke Wei during his lifetime. Upon Duke Wei’s death, Prince Ban rebelled against his brother’s rule.

To address the turmoil, the states of Zhao and Han took action and dispatched troops to Zhou.

The 2nd year of King Xian (367 B.C.)

The states of Zhao and Han divided the territory of Zhou into two princedoms. King Xian granted Prince Ban a city named Gong as his fiefdom, and he became known as Duke Hui of East Zhou. As a result of this division, the power and authority of the Zhou court diminished further. The administration of the court was mainly concentrated in the West Zhou.

The 3rd year of King Xian (366 B.C.)

The rulers of Wei and Han held a meeting at Zhaiyang. 

The army of the State of Qin achieved victory by defeating the armies of Wei and Han in the battle at Luoyang.

The 4th year of King Xian (365 B.C.)

The state of Wei raided the state of Song, capturing Yitai.

The 5th year of King Xian (364 B.C.)

At the Battle of Shimen, King Xian of Qin defeated the armies of the three states derived from Jin (i.e., Wei, Han and Zhao)  and beheaded sixty thousand enemy soldiers. In recognition of his achievement, the King Xian of Zhou bestowed upon him the honor of wearing the ceremonial robes with royal emblems decorated with feathers, which were reserved for distinguished nobles.

The 6th year of King Xian (363 B.C.)

Upon the passing of Duke Xiu of Song, his son Pibing ascended to the throne as Duke Huan of Song.

Similarly, after the death of Marquis Yi of Han, his son Wu inherited his title and became Marquis Zhao of Han.

The 7th year of King Xian (362 B.C.)

The State of Wei defeated the armies of Han and Zhao at Kuai and captured the general Yue Zuo. In recognition of this victory, King Hui of Wei held a grand ceremony to welcome the troops back, and he rewarded the general Gongsun Cuo with a land grant of one million acres.

However, General Gongsun Cuo, also known as Gongshu Cuo, walked backwards and declined the rewards: “The reason our soldiers were able to stand firm without wavering, to charge straight and not deviate, to resist and not retreat, is because of the Wu Qi‘s military training. I am incapable of achieving such feats. The reason our troops were able to navigate through dangerous terrain and make strategic decisions to win over our enemies without confusion is due to the strength and preparation of commanders like Ba Ning and Cuan Xiang. The reason the soldiers were motivated and believed in the rewards and punishments set by the king is due to the clarity of your laws and regulations. I merely carried out my duties as a general, and beat the drum vigorously when it was time to attack the enemy.  How about your grace awarding me just for my tireless right hand? As for the achievements, I have not contributed much to claim any.”

The king was impressed by Gongsun Cuo‘s humility and wisdom, so he visited the descendants of Wu Qi and awarded them two hundred thousand acres.  He awarded Ba Ning and Cuan Xiang each with one hundred thousand acres.

The king praised him: “Gongsun Cuo, aren’t you truly a great man! You not only defeated strong enemies for me but also showed magnanimity by not forgetting to credit the wise leader in the past and commend the achievements of capable officers. Why shouldn’t I award you even more?”  He awarded him an additional four hundred thousand acres.

In the battle at Shaoliang, the state of Qin emerged victorious over the state of Wei, and Gongsun Cuo was captured during the conflict.

Following the death of Duke Sheng of Wey, his son Su took over the title and became Marquis Cheng, assuming the leadership of the state.

Similarly, after the passing of Duke Huan of Yan, his son succeeded him and became Duke Wen, becoming the new ruler of the state of Yan.

Upon the death of Duke Xian of Qin, his twenty-one-year-old son succeeded him and became Duke Xiao of Qin. At this time, the east boundaries of Qin were dominated by six strong states, each separated by rivers and mountains. Between the Huai River and the Si River, there were over ten smaller states. Qin shared borders with the states of Chu and Wei.

The state of Wei had constructed a great wall, starting from the city of Zheng and extending along the Luo River, up to the city of Shangjun in the north. Meanwhile, the state of Chu‘s border reached as far as Hanzhong, and there were regions like Ba and Qianzhong to the south of Qin. However, despite being geographically connected to the heartland of China, the states there viewed Qin as a foreign and barbaric entity. They excluded Qin from their unions and alliances.Duke Xiao of Qin aimed to elevate the status of Qin and make it the strongest state among its neighbors. To achieve this, he sought to improve governance and promote the welfare of his people.