During the blood ceremony of the monarchs of various countries, Lu Zhaogong stayed alone in the king's tent; Ji Pingzi was called away by the Jin people and never came back, only Shugong accompanied him. Lu Zhaogong felt that he was a special failure as a monarch: he was deceived by Ji Pingzi at home and suppressed by the Jin people abroad. He hated Ji Pingzi more than the Jin people, but after Ji Pingzi was detained by the Jin people, he was not happy at all.

Before the blood ceremony, the people of the Jin Kingdom announced the adjustment of the offerings of the vassal states, which was called "adjustment", which was actually an increase. Since the increase was not large, there were no opinions from other countries (the symbolic significance of this adjustment was much greater than the practical significance), but when it came to Zheng Guo, it could not be carried out, and the child production not only did not agree to increase, but demanded a decrease.

Zichan said that Zheng Guo was only an earl country, but he paid the tribute of the prince and was treated by Zinan, which was unfair to Zheng Guo.

Shu Xiang said that the offering was formulated according to the number of the country's army; When the Jin State had only one army and the Chu State had only two armies, the Zheng State had three armies, and the obligations imposed on the Zheng people were not heavy; If the Zheng people don't want to take on too much, they can cut the army.

Next, the scene of the alliance meeting became a special debate between Zichan and Shuxiang. Uncle Xiang was dissatisfied with Zi Xiang's insistence on publishing the "Zheng Xing", and Zi Xiang was resentful of Shu Xiang's interference in Zheng's internal affairs (the issuance of laws and regulations is an internal affair). The two fought from noon until the sun was in the west, and Shu Xiang finally had nothing to say, and finally lost in despair, announcing that Zheng Guo's tribute amount "remained unchanged".

After the ceremony was completed, Uncle Zi rebuked Zichan and said: "Increasing offerings is small, and big countries are face-saving." If the Jin people lose face, they will definitely get it back, and what should they do if they attack our country after the meeting? ”

Zichan said, "Didn't the Master pay attention?" The secretary of Jin was not concerned about state affairs, and Han Qi couldn't take responsibility, so Shu Xiang came out to take his role. The prince lost power, and the Jin government was many; It's too late for the Jin people to steal peace, and the country doesn't compete, how can they have the energy to crusade against our country? ”

After the end of the meeting, Zi Chuan received the bad news of Han Hu's death when he returned to China, and couldn't help crying bitterly: "I'm finished, only the master in the world understands me, he has passed away, and no one advises me to do good!" ”

Confucius heard this passage and said, "Zichan used this passage to show that he was the cornerstone of Zheng Guo." "Poetry" says: "Happy only gentleman, the foundation of the state." He is talking about a gentleman like Zichan. ”

Ji Pingzi was imprisoned by the Jin people in a tent, and there were two Di people outside the tent who served as guards. It was a hot day, and the tent was stuffy like a steamer; Ji Pingzi opened his shirt uncharacteristically and stuck out his tongue. One of his retainers was worried about his master, so he carried a brocade and a curling stone, and took advantage of the darkness to crawl forward. But when he climbed outside the tent, he was still discovered by the guards, and the retainer bribed Di Ren with brocade to bring the curling stone in.

After the end of the alliance, the Jin people brought Ji Pingzi back to China, and Master Lu also followed the team to the Jin Kingdom.

Since the Jin State dispatched almost all of its troops to hold the Pingqiu Alliance, the Xianyu people relaxed their vigilance, and the defenders of the border even canceled their routine patrol missions. Seeing that there was an opportunity, Bank of China Wu sent a light army north on the way back to China and eliminated several cities in Xianyu.

Lu Zhaogong returned to China, ready to enjoy a comfortable life without Ji Pingzi. But it backfired, and his ears became noisier, and his thoughts were more chaotic; It turns out that Ji Pingzi has become an indispensable figure in Lu Guo's office - the office can do without Lu Zhaogong, but it can't do without Ji Pingzi. Without him, no one would dare to make decisions on any government affairs; Without him, Lu Zhaogong couldn't even hold a sacrifice. The doctors kept nagging in Lu Zhaogong's ear every day, asking him to come forward to redeem Ji Pingzi.

Lu Zhaogong had no choice but to embark on a journey to the Jin Kingdom. After receiving the report from the Lu envoy, Wu of the Bank of China found Han Qi and said to him: "The monarch met for friendly exchanges, and now we have detained the secretary of the Lu State, which cannot be called 'friendly'. It will be very embarrassing for the two gentlemen to see each other, so it is better to refuse Lu Hou to enter the country. Han Qi immediately sent Shi Mimu (Shi Wenbo's son) to persuade Lu Zhaogong to go back.

Ji Pingzi was placed under house arrest in the house of the eldest doctor, Shujian, and he did not know what kind of severe punishment he would receive, so he was in a state of anxiety, mental decadence, and living like a year. But two months have passed, and there is no news about what to do with him, and even the doctor who guards him is anxious for him.

"Those unreliable Jin people won't forget about me, right?" Ji Pingzi thought so. After another month, there was still no news from the Marquis of Jin, and Ji Pingzi concluded that the Jin people had indeed forgotten him.

Zifuyu has been stranded in the Jin Kingdom, and he wants to mediate for Ji Pingzi, but the secretaries are unwilling to stir up this muddy water, and they all avoid him. Zi Fuyun finally found an opportunity to meet Zhongxing Wu and said to him: "Isn't the state of Lu serving the state of Jin as good as the small country of Dongyi?" Lu is the brother of the Jin State, with a vast land and a large population, and is able to complete the tasks assigned by the Jin State; Can Dongyi? If a great power abandons the state of Lu for the sake of Dongyi, the state of Lu will instead serve Qi and Chu; Is this what the great powers want? Attaching one's brotherhood, uniting the great powers, rewarding respect, and punishing the evil are the things that the leader of the alliance should do. Master, think carefully! As the saying goes: 'One minister is two.' 'The minister and the lord are not in harmony, and the minister will inevitably serve the new lord, is there no other great country in the world except the Jin Kingdom? ”

Bank of China Wu was moved by his words, turned to see Han Qi and said: "The state of Chu has destroyed Chen and Cai, but our country cannot be saved; Now that he is punishing his brother for Dongyi, what is the use of such an alliance for him? ”

Han Qi reported the situation to Jin Zhaogong again, and Jin Zhaogong said, "What? Why is Ji Sun still in the Jin Kingdom? Don't leave him to continue eating rice, let him go back! ”

Shu Jian got the order and happily informed Ji Pingzi of the good news. Unexpectedly, Ji Pingzi would not leave, and he would definitely ask Jin Ren to give himself an explanation. He ordered his son to send a message to Han Qi, saying: "The widow does not know what crime he has committed, so much so that Shiqing was arrested by the great powers at the princes' meeting. If Ji Sun is guilty, he is willing to die in the king's life; If he is not guilty, but he releases Ji Sun without informing the princes, Ji Sun will be evading the king's life! ”

Han Qi was upset by him, but he resolutely refused to bow his head and admit his mistake. He asked Shu Xiang: "Can the master coax Ji Sun away?" ”

Shu Xiang replied, "I don't have this ability, but I can." Han Qi summoned the sheep's tongue fish again and ordered him to immediately get Ji Pingzi out of the Jin Kingdom no matter what means he used.

Seeing Ji Pingzi, Yang Tongue Fish said: "Back then, because I offended the widow (see the Luan Ying Rebellion that occurred in the 21st year of Lu Xianggong), I fled to Lu and was sheltered by Wuzi (Ji Pingzi's grandfather), which is why I have today. Although I returned to the Jin Kingdom, I am still grateful for the favor that the Ji clan has exerted on me. So there are some insiders in the office, and I have to reveal them to the master. I first heard that the master refused to return to China, and then I heard from the officials that they had prepared a post house for the master in Hexi, and were ready to exile the master to the mixed land of Qin and Di, with heaven and earth as neighbors, and with tigers and leopards. At that time, the master will really not be able to go back! I couldn't help but shed two lines of tears.

Ji Pingzi believed that the people of the Jin Kingdom could do such a bad thing, so he sent the sheep tongue carp away, and fled without even having time to say hello to Zifu. After Zifu expressed his gratitude to Jin Zhaogong, he left the Jin Kingdom in a bright light.