In 597 BCE, after King Zhuang of Chu crushed the Jin army at the Battle of Bi, Duke Jing of Jin turned westward to expand his influence. He seized the opportunity of internal strife in the neighboring state of Lu (in modern Shanxi) and annexed it. When Qin attempted to contest the territory, Jin defeated them as well – followed by a victory over Qi.
The fall of the Zhao Clan
Flush with success, Duke Jing grew arrogant. With elder statesmen like Shi Hui deceased, the court became dominated by flatterers – chief among them Tu’an Gu, who harbored a deep grudge against the Zhao clan.
Though Zhao Dun (the revered former chief minister) was long dead, his sons and nephews – Zhao Shuo, Zhao Tong, Zhao Kuo, and Zhao Zhan – still wielded immense power. Tu’an Gu, now favored by the duke, began accusing them of treason, citing the old crime:
“Zhao Dun conspired through Zhao Chuan to assassinate Duke Ling in the Peach Garden!”
Duke Jing, already wary of the Zhao family’s dominance, saw his chance. With tacit support from rival ministers eager to dismantle Zhao influence, he authorized Tu’an Gu to eradicate the clan.
One night, Tu’an Gu surrounded all Zhao residences and carried out a massacre – “wiping out the entire household.” Only one life remained unaccounted for: Lady Zhuangji (Zhuang Ji, Lady Ji), daughter of Duke Cheng of Jin, sister of Duke Jing, and widow of Zhao Shuo. Pregnant and sheltered in the royal palace, she escaped the slaughter.
A secret son and a fateful ruse
Tu’an Gu demanded permission to kill her, fearing she might bear a son – the last heir of Zhao. Duke Jing hesitated:
“If it’s a boy, we’ll kill him then.”
Meanwhile, two loyal retainers of Zhao Dun – Gongsun Chujiu and Cheng Ying – vowed to save the child. When palace rumors claimed Lady Zhuangji had given birth to a daughter, Gongsun despaired:
“A girl cannot avenge the Zhao! The lineage is ended!”
But Cheng Ying suspected a ruse. Through a secret note from a palace maid, they received a single character: “Wu” – the name Zhao Wu, destined for vengeance. The two men were happy for a while, but then the thought of Zhao Wu’s danger made them miserable again.
Tu’an Gu, unconvinced, sent spies and even searched the palace. Finding nothing, he issued a decree:
“Reveal the orphan – reward: 1,000 taels of gold. Hide him – death for your whole family.”
Infants across Jin were scrutinized; many innocent boys were killed. Desperate, Cheng Ying devised a heart-wrenching plan.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Cheng Ying approached Tu’an Gu and confessed:
“The orphan is hidden in the hills behind Mount Shouyang – weak, sick, and about to flee to Qin.”
He led Tu’an Gu’s soldiers to a remote hut where Gongsun Chujiu waited – holding not Zhao Wu, but Cheng Ying’s own infant son, dressed in Zhao silks.
When Tu’an Gu burst in and seized the baby, Gongsun feigned outrage, hurling curses at Cheng Ying:
“You traitor! You sold your friend for gold! That blood money is forged from Zhao’s wronged souls!”
Tu’an Gu executed Gongsun on the spot and killed the infant, believing the Zhao line extinguished.
Cheng Ying accepted the gold – but used it only to bury Gongsun and the Zhao dead (but actually his own infant son). Publicly branded a coward and betrayer, he bore silent shame. Only Minister Han Jue, who knew the truth, honored his sacrifice.
It turned out that Gongsun Chujiu and Cheng Ying, after taking the orphan Zhao Wu out of the palace and hiding him, learned of Tu’an Gu’s impending search. Gongsun Chujiu asked Cheng Ying,
“Which is harder: raising an infant to adulthood or dying a heroic death?”
Cheng Ying replied,
“Death is easy, but raising an infant is far more difficult.”
Gongsun Chujiu said,
“Then, I leave the difficult task to you, and the easier one to me.”
Coincidentally, Cheng Ying himself had a newborn son. Steeling his heart, he handed over his own son to Gongsun Chujiu in exchange for Zhao Wu, thereby also saving the lives of many innocent infants. After deceiving Tu’an Gu, he quietly took Zhao Wu and fled to a distant land, where they lived in seclusion.
For fifteen years, Cheng Ying raised Zhao Wu in hiding, training him in arms and virtue.
Justice Restored
After Duke Jing of Jin died, his son succeeded to the throne, becoming Duke Li of Jin. Duke Li was extremely tyrannical, killing several ministers he disliked. The other ministers, fearing for their own lives, joined forces and killed him.
After that, they installed Sun Zhou, a distant descendant of Duke Wen, as Duke Dao of Jin – a wise and capable ruler.
Trusting Han Jue as commander of the central army, Duke Dao sought to curb the aging but powerful Tu’an Gu.
Han Jue seized the opportunity to bring up the contributions of Zhao Cui and Zhao Dun to the State of Jin in the past, as well as the wrongful extermination of the Zhao clan later on.
Duke Dao of Jin saw this as a chance to suppress him under the pretext of rectifying the injustice suffered by the Zhao clan. He said,
“I have also thought about this matter, but I wonder if the Zhao family still has any surviving descendants?”
Han Jue replied,
“Back when Tu’an Gu urgently searched for the orphan, two loyal followers of the late Prime Minister Zhao Dun – Gongsun Chujiu and Cheng Ying – managed to rescue the orphan Zhao Wu. Now Zhao Wu has grown into a skilled warrior and is already fifteen years old.”
Duke Dao of Jin exclaimed,
“Ah, so he has grown up! Quickly, bring him here.”
Duke Dao summoned Zhao Wu and Cheng Ying to the palace. Pretending illness, he gathered all ministers – including Tu’an Gu – and lamented:
“How can loyal servants like Zhao Dun leave no heir?”
Just then, Zhao Wu stepped forward and bowed. Han Jue revealed the truth:
“The child killed was Cheng Ying’s son. This is the true Zhao orphan.”
Tu’an Gu collapsed in terror. Duke Dao ordered his immediate execution and the extermination of his entire clan. Zhao Wu took Tu’an Gu’s head to sacrifice at his father’s tomb.
A nation rejoices
The people of Jin celebrated the restoration of justice. Under Duke Dao, Jin flourished:
- Corvee labor reduced,
- Mines and farmland expanded,
- Armies trained and disciplined.
Neighboring states submitted once more. Jin regained its strength – not just through arms, but through moral renewal.
And the tale of two men’s sacrifice – one who died bravely, the other who sacrificed his own son and lived in shame to raise a savior – became immortalized in Chinese history, drama, and conscience.
Leave a Reply