Defeated by Lu army at the Battle of Changshao, Duke Huan admitted his error to Guan Zhong and pledged to follow his guidance.
The rise of Qi state
Under Guan’s leadership, Qi focused inward: stabilizing governance, boosting agriculture, mining iron, producing salt, and promoting fishing along its eastern coast.
Recognizing salt as a strategic commodity, Qi traded it with inland states for grain – building economic influence without force. Soon, neighboring lords sought alliance with Qi.
Within years, through wisdom rather than mere might, Duke Huan of Qi became the first recognized hegemon of the Spring and Autumn period – a triumph rooted not in blind aggression, but in patience, reform, and the counsel of wise men like Guan Zhong, Bao Shuya, and even the humble strategist from Lu in the Battle of Changshao as we mentioned in the opening paragraph above.
The Hegemon’s oath and a new threat
In 679 BCE, Duke Huan of Qi convened a grand assembly of over ten Central Plain states. They forged a tripartite covenant:
- Respect the Zhou king and support the royal house,
- Repel foreign tribes from invading the Central States,
- Aid weak and distressed feudal lords.
All recognized Duke Huan as the Hegemon, or leader of the alliance.
Yet the powerful southern state of Chu (in modern Hubei) refused to join and even lured Zheng into its orbit. As Duke Huan and his chancellor Guan Zhong debated how to confront Chu, an urgent plea arrived from the northern state of Yan (capital near present-day Beijing): the Shanrong nomads had invaded, sacking villages and abducting civilians.
Guan Zhong advised:
“Secure the north before turning south.”
Duke Huan agreed and led a massive army northward in 663 BCE.
Pursuing the Shanrong into the wilderness
By the time Qi’s forces reached Yan, the Shanrong had already retreated – taking captives and plunder. Guan Zhong warned:
“They’ll return once we leave. To bring lasting peace, we must crush them.”
Duke Huan of Qi decided to advance further. Duke Zhuang of Yan, the ruler of the State of Yan, offered to lead Yan’s troops as the vanguard and take the front line. Duke Huan of Qi replied,
“Your troops have just fought against the Shanrong and must be exhausted. It would be better to place them in the rear guard.”
Duke Zhuang of Yan said,
“About eighty li from here lies the State of Wuzhong (in present-day Yutian, Hebei), which has long been friendly with us. If we ask Wuzhong to send troops to assist us, they could also provide guides for our advance.”
Wuzhong sent a general with local guides, and the allied forces soon routed the Shanrong, freeing many captives.
The Shanrong chieftain Milu fled to Guzhu (spanning modern Hebei to Liaoning) to seek reinforcements. Determined to end the threat, Duke Huan, Guan Zhong, and Yan’s army marched further north to confront Guzhu.
A treacherous surrender
Near Guzhu’s capital, the allies defeated Milu and Guzhu’s general Huang Hua in battle. That night, Huang Hua appeared before Duke Huan – kneeling, offering Milu’s severed head, and claiming he had killed his own ally for defying wise counsel. He pledged loyalty and offered to lead Qi’s army to capture Guzhu’s king, Dalihe, who had fled into the desert for help.
After verifying the head was indeed Milu’s, Duke Huan trusted Huang Hua and followed him into Guzhu’s capital – only to find it completely abandoned. Convinced Dalihe was escaping, Duke Huan left Yan’s troops to hold the city and pursued the “fugitive” with his main force, guided by Huang Hua.
Lost in the “Sea of Sand”
At dusk, the army entered a desolate expanse locals called “Migu” (“Valley of Confusion”) – a vast, featureless desert resembling an ocean of sand. Even by daylight, navigation was impossible; at night, under winter’s biting northwest wind, the troops were utterly disoriented.
Suddenly, Huang Hua vanished. The truth dawned: his surrender was a ruse. He had lured the Qi army into a death trap.
As darkness deepened and temperatures plummeted, dozens of soldiers froze to death. By morning, the survivors remained stranded in a waterless wasteland – facing death by thirst and exposure.
The wisdom of the old horse
In desperation, Guan Zhong recalled an ancient observation: animals like dogs, pigeons, and bees never lose their way home. He proposed:
“Perhaps horses remember paths too. Let us release some local old horses and follow where they lead.”
Duke Huan agreed. Several aged steeds were set loose – and calmly led the army out of the Migu, back to familiar terrain. The phrase “the old horse knows the way” entered Chinese idiom, symbolizing wisdom drawn from experience.
The fall of Guzhu
On their return, Qi scouts encountered civilians “returning home” under Guzhu’s orders – revealing the empty capital had been another deception. Guan Zhong devised a counter-stratagem: Qi soldiers disguised as refugees infiltrated the city. At midnight, they set fires and attacked from within while the main army stormed the gates.
Caught between two fronts, Guzhu collapsed. Huang Hua and Dalihe were slain, and the state ceased to exist.
A Hegemon’s generosity
Victorious, Duke Huan declared to Duke Zhuang of Yan:
“The Shanrong are gone. These 500 li of reclaimed land belong to Yan – it is your duty to guard the northern frontier.”
Yan’s ruler protested, insisting the land should go to Qi. But Duke Huan replied:
“Qi is too distant to govern here. You protect the Zhou realm’s northern gate. Serve the king, and uphold this shield – I share in your glory.”
Yan accepted, expanding its territory dramatically and emerging as a major northern power – thanks to the Hegemon’s strategic foresight and magnanimity.
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