It was a landmark event in the history of the Spring and Autumn Period, the end of the confrontation between the two alliances, and the beginning of the internal division of the alliance (including the vassal states).

As mentioned earlier, there have been two "soldiers" incidents in the history of the Spring and Autumn Period, the first was the "Huayuan Army" (the eleventh year of Lu Chenggong), and it has been thirty-four years. However, Huayuan's army was a tiger's head and tail, and the famous battle of Jin and Chu Yanling broke out just five years after the end of the conference. Since then, the two major alliances of China and the South have lived in harmony, and there has never been a major conflict between the two overlords, and Jin and Chu finally ended the 86-year battle for hegemony (counting from the Battle of Chengpu). After this article, two-thirds of the work is finished.

It turned out that after Xiang Xu served as the left division, in addition to devoting himself to developing relations with the Jin Kingdom, he also established a close friendship with Ling Yin Zimu (who was still Mo Ao at the time).

Xiang Xu saw that it had become an indisputable fact that Jin and Chu were in decline (although the reasons were different), but the ruling class (especially the state of Chu) refused to face the various stubborn diseases they suffered from, and refused to admit that the national strength had declined (those who had a clear understanding of the current situation and dared to speak out and advise were all labeled as "disloyal" and excluded or even persecuted), but instead trumpeted the argument that "the enemy country is in decline, and our country will definitely dominate the world".

This kind of public opinion, generated by the pathological psychology of stupidity and madness, is very dangerous, and it can cause serious miscalculations in the core of the supreme power, which will lead to the wrong war decisions and ultimately push the country into the abyss of destruction.

However, Xiang Xu's timely intervention gradually eased the situation, and he laid a gentle slope for the contacts and exchanges between the two countries, so that the people of the two countries came down from their high positions, and the two sides began to calm down and consider ending the hostile relationship.

In fact, Xiang Xu had the idea of killing soldiers a few years ago. He had expressed his wishes to Prince Chai Shu, Xue Zi Feng and Shi Kuo, and the prince Chai Shu said, "What good can I gain from peace?" Xue Zifeng said: "It's not something that a villain like me can do. Shi Kuo said: "The hegemony of the Jin Kingdom cannot be destroyed in my hands. "Qu Jian and Zhao Wu are very enthusiastic, but neither of them can be the master. As a result, the matter of killing the army was put on hold for the time being.

Qu Jian and Zhao Wu were successively promoted to Shangqing, and Xiang Xu made peace proposals to the two.

Zhao Wu summoned the doctors together to discuss countermeasures, and Han Qi said: "War is a demon that kills the people, a fierce beast that devours wealth, and a great disaster for every country. I was very much in favor of the idea that I was being asked to convene a conference to fight the army, whether it was realistic or not. We should actively facilitate the meeting, otherwise, if the Chu people preemptively convene the meeting before the Jin State, the Jin State may have to give up the alliance leader to the Chu State. ”

Qu Jian's opinion was the same as that of Zhao Wu, and he entrusted Cai Guoren as an intermediary between the two countries, and Shengzi was ordered to travel between Jin and Chu.

Xiang Xu went to lobby Qi Jinggong again. But the Qi people felt a little embarrassed, because they still wanted to drive the Lu people to the south of Surabaya. But Chen Xuwu said: "Jin and Chu have already agreed, how can our country veto?" If our country does not allow it, it will become the target of the princes of the world, that is, it will be the enemy of a few countries and the kingdom of the heavens. Qi Jinggong then agreed.

Xiang Xu ran to the Qin State non-stop, and the people of the Qin State also expressed a warm welcome.

Soon, Jin and Chu basically reached an agreement on the procedures and topics of the meeting, so they sent envoys to inform the participating countries of the time, place and qualifications of the participants.

On May 27, the Jin State was the first to reach the Song State with Zhao Wu and Yang Yuyu; On the 29th, Zheng Guo's deputy envoy Liangxiao led a team to arrive; On June 2, Uncle Lu, Sun Bao, Qi Qingfeng, Chen Xuwu, and Wei Shiwei (who came after taking care of Ning Xi's corpse) arrived; On the 8th, Zhiying, the deputy envoy of the Jin State, arrived; On the 10th, the Duke of Mourning arrived; On the 16th, Chu's deputy envoy Prince Heiqiu (brother of King Chu Kang) arrived.

On 17 June, Zhiying and Prince Heiqiu held the first round of consultations, during which the two sides agreed to end the state of hostilities and reach a consensus on the Hajj (exchange of views) between the small countries in the alliance and the other ally's host country. Zhao Wu and Xiang Xu sat behind the scenes and listened to the talks, and the two agreed with the results.

After the meeting, Prince Heiqiu found Xiang Xu and said, "Ling Yin will arrive in Chen Kingdom in two days, and ask the master to go to Chen Kingdom to meet with Lord Ling Yin first." Xiang Xu didn't dare to slack off, and immediately rushed to Chen Guo.

Two days later in Huaiyang, Qu Jian thought for a long time after listening to Xiang Xu's report, frowned and said, "Why aren't Qi and Qin on the list of 'meeting each other'?" What's so special about those two countries? My opinion is to add Qi and Qin to it. I would like to ask the master to convey my opinion to Dr. Jinzhongjun. ”

Xiang Xu hurried back to the Song Kingdom to see Zhao Wu with Qu Jian's entrustment. Zhao Wu said: "The four kingdoms of Qin, Jin, Qi, and Chu are rivals; The state of Jin cannot command the state of Qi, just as the state of Chu cannot command the state of Qin. If the state of Chu can persuade the Qin people to meet the widow monarch, how dare the widow not try his best to persuade the Qi people? ”

On June 26, Xiang Xu came to Huaiyang again with Zhao Wu's reply. Qu Jian did not dare to make decisions on his own, and immediately sent someone back to China to ask King Chu Kang for instructions. King Chu Kang said: "Don't get entangled in the issue of Qi and Qin. But other countries must meet each other. ”

On July 2, Xiang Xu returned to the Song State again and conveyed the opinions of the Chu people. Zhiying and Prince Heiqiu determined the final result. Zhao Wu and the prince Heiqiu carried out a bloody ceremony on the same day, agreeing that neither party should change the content of the book.

On July 4, Qu Jian finally came to the Song Kingdom; Also coming were Chen Konghuan and Cai Gongsun Guisheng (Shengzi). Within a few days, Dr. Cao, Xu, Teng, and Dr. Di all arrived.

At that time, the missions of various countries brought a large number of troops. In order to prevent accidents, the Jin people stationed their troops in the northern suburbs of Shangqiu, and the Chu people in the southern suburbs, and the two armies were isolated by the princes' armies. The Chu army was much outnumbered by the Jin army, and deep ditches were dug and fortifications were set up; The soldier does not disarm the armor, the horse does not remove the bridle, and it looks like a great enemy; The Jin army, on the other hand, seemed very relaxed.

Zhao Wu's entourage said: "The atmosphere of the Chu army is too dangerous, is the master taking some countermeasures?" Zhao Wu said: "It's not a big deal, once the Chu people are in trouble, we will quickly retreat into Shangqiu." What can the Chu people do to me? ”

The ceremony is scheduled to take place in the eastern suburbs on July 5. Before leaving, Qu Jian ordered his entourage to put on soft leather armor under their coats.

Bozhou Li said: "Is it too much for us to meet the princes with credit, but use the means of no trust? The princes expressed their obedience because they trusted the state of Chu, and if the state of Chu lost its credit, it would be abandoned to unite the princes, and it would not be possible. "He was adamantly opposed to putting on leather armor.

Qu Jian said: "Jin and Chu have distrusted each other for too long, as long as they achieve beneficial results for the Chu State, what can they do even if they have no faith? ”

Bozhou Li withdrew from the military tent with all kinds of helplessness, and said to his entourage: "Lord Ling Yin will not live for three years!" He renounced his credibility and did whatever it took to achieve his ends. Can the goal be achieved? I can't see it! If you lose your credit, you won't live for three years! ”