In the face of Zigong's persuasion, Fucha asked: "I can't stand Qi Guo's bullying for a long time. This time, I must send troops to save Qi and teach Qi a lesson. However, Goujian, the king of Yue who was defeated by me, is working hard to raise his warriors and sharpen his sword, and I am afraid that he will take revenge. I'm going to send troops to clean up Gou Jian first, and then go north to attack Qi to save Lu, so that it will be safer, what do you think of this matter?"

Zigong said in his heart: "The people of Lu and Qi are now facing each other, and they can't wait for that time, I'm afraid that when Wu sends troops to Lu State, the daylilies will be cold, no, I have to prepare some rhetoric." ”

Zigong thought for a while and said, "The strength of the Yue State is similar to that of the Lu State, but the Qi State is relatively strong. If the Qi State destroys the Lu State, its power will be even stronger. Lord, under the banner of helping the needy, you did not compete with the powerful Qi State, but first attacked the weak Yue State, isn't this bullying the weak and afraid of the hard? Not only did you miss a good opportunity, but you also ruined your reputation. If you are worried about the revenge of the Yue Kingdom, I can go to the Yue Kingdom and persuade them to send troops to follow the king to fight Qi and save Lu. In this way, all the troops of the Yue Kingdom have been dispatched by you, and what strength does he have to take revenge?"

When the husband heard that Yue Guo could send troops to follow him to fight Qi to save Lu, he was relieved, agreed with Zigong's statement, and asked Zigong to go to Yue Guo.

When Goujian, the king of Yue, heard that Confucius's student Zigong was coming, he personally went to the suburbs to greet him, drove Zigong to the pavilion, and asked: "Zigong, you are a high-ranking disciple of Confucius, and this is a wild place, why do you deign to come here?"

Zigong said honestly: "I am now persuading Wu Wangfu to send troops to rescue Lu, and he has agreed." But he was worried that Yue Guo would take the opportunity to take revenge, so he was ready to send troops to destroy you first, and then go north. It seems that you are going to be in big trouble when you cross the country. ”

Gou Jian hurriedly said: "How dare I take revenge? Please ask Mr. to save me." ”

Zigong said solemnly to Gou Jian: "If you don't have the heart of revenge but are suspicious of others, it is very stupid; if you have the heart of revenge but is seen through by others, it is very dangerous; if you want to take revenge and are destroyed by others before you can do it, it is doomed to failure, this is a taboo to do great things!"

After Gou Jian heard this, he was frightened into a cold sweat, and bowed again: "I am willing to go to life and death with King Wu, but I don't want to be seen through at this time, what should I do?"

Zigong said: "The husband is fierce and cruel, making it unbearable for the subjects. After years of fighting, the soldiers complained. Wu Zixu was a virtuous minister, and he was killed by his husband because of his advice. Bo Huo is a selfish villain, but he is reused. These are the signs of the fall of the state of Wu. Your Majesty, you should now take a clear stand in favor of Fucha going north to save Lu. As long as he sends troops, his strength will be weakened regardless of victory or defeat. At that time, the opportunity to cross the country came. ”

Zigong persuaded again: "Now you should use the treasure to move Wu Wu, 'humble words to respect his courtesy, and his war will be also.'" When the time comes, King Wu has failed, and your chance has come. Wu defeated the Qi State, and will inevitably attack the Jin State, I will meet the Jin State at that time, so that the Jin State has a defense, and then the Yue State and the Jin State will jointly attack the Wu State, and the Wu State will be defeated. ”

The king of Yue happily paid tribute to the gold hundred yi, the sword one, and the good spear two.

Zigong did not accept the gift, but rushed to the Jin Kingdom in a starry night.

Zigong said to the King of Jin: "Wu Wangfu is about to send troops to attack the Qi State. Once he is victorious, he will definitely attack the Jin Kingdom, so you must be prepared. ”?

Jin Jun was terrified and asked, "What are you doing about it?"

Zigong proposed: "Repair the army and wait for it." ”

After that, Zigong returned to the state of Lu and reported to Confucius.

After listening to Zigong's narration, Confucius exclaimed: "Zigong is a great talent, and you can't complete this matter." ”

And Zilu asked, "Sir, what shall we do now?"

Today, Confucius's disciples are still accustomed to calling him a gentleman rather than a monarch.

Confucius replied, "Just wait for the situation to change." ”

In other words, Goujian, the king of Yue, completely adopted Zigong's opinion, and really sent a doctor with a large number of treasures to ask for a husband, complimenting Wu Guo, and at the same time sending 3,000 soldiers and horses for his husband.

The husband, who had no worries, saw that it was as Zigong said, so he calmed down and led the army to attack the Qi country.

The Qi army, which was sent by Tian Chang to attack the state of Lu, was staying on the border of Qilu, and if it did not need to fight for a long time, it was suddenly attacked by the Wu army, and it could only flee in defeat.

Wu Wangfu was very proud of the victory, so he took advantage of the victory to attack the Jin State again.

The king of the Jin State had long listened to Zigong's advice, prepared a large army, and took strict precautions, but he was defeated in the war.

After Gou Jian in the south heard the news, he mobilized the soldiers and horses that had been prepared long ago, attacked Wu State, and went straight to the capital of Wu State.

Fucha hurriedly transferred troops south to fight with Goujian, but as a result, he lost three battles and three defeats, and even Fucha was killed by Goujian.

Since then, Gou Jian has become the overlord of one party, and he has also avenged the original revenge of Wu State.

It can be said that Zigong's envoy not only solved the urgent needs of the Lu State, eliminated the external troubles, and preserved the Lu State, but also affected the changes of the Five Kingdoms, making "Saving Lu, Chaotic Qi, Breaking Wu, Forcing Jin, and Tyranny".

Zigong's envoy successfully provoked a series of wars in several countries and changed the political pattern in the late Spring and Autumn Period, with an extremely far-reaching impact.

Later, a disciple Shi Zhichang asked Confucius, "Sir, did you already know that Senior Brother Zigong would do this?"

Confucius replied honestly, "I don't know!"

Shi Zhichang asked: "Then why did you let Senior Brother Zigong solve this matter? ”

"This is because Zigong is suitable. Confucius thought for a while and said: "At that time, in the face of the attack of the powerful Qi State, the Lu State actually did not have the strength to counterattack or defend, so it could only adopt clever strategies, and Zigong was the most suitable in this regard, and he lived up to expectations and did play a role." ”

Shi Zhichang continued to ask: "Why is Senior Brother Zigong so powerful? Why does the monarch listen to Zigong's opinion? Can't they see how powerful this is?"

"It's just human nature. Confucius said, "Do you know what Zigong does? He comes from a merchant family and is good at commercial competition. And this time it's just a strategy often used in business competition to kill people with a knife. His strategy is simple and practical, and it is a battle of the heart. Zigong really thinks about the other party, considers problems and makes ideas from the other party's standpoint, thus skillfully stimulating and using the self-interest of these people, making them feel that doing what Zigong thinks can maximize their interests. And you see it. ”

Shi Zhichang complimented: "It's also your good teaching, without you, sir, everyone wouldn't be so willing to believe Senior Brother Zigong." ”

Confucius did not refute it, which is one of the reasons, it is precisely because of the great fame that Confucius has accumulated over the years that people are willing to believe in him, Confucius, and then his disciples.

Confucius said: "From this matter alone, no one will do better than Zigong, this is Zigong's ability, which others do not have." ”

In order to reward Zigong's contribution, Confucius called him to a secret room and said: "I have a secret technique, you are very suitable for cultivation, I wonder if you are willing?"

Zigong said: "The teacher has a gift, and the disciple does not dare to resign." I don't know what kind of secret technique it is, please teach me sir about it. ”