In 506 BCE, King Helü of Wu launched a full-scale invasion of Chu, appointing Sun Tzu as supreme commander, Wu Zixu as deputy general, and his brother Prince Fugai as vanguard.
The invasion of Chu
With an army of 60,000, they marched westward – and under Sun Tzu’s brilliant strategy, Wu forces routed the Chu army in a series of decisive battles.
King Zhao of Chu, seeing the capital Ying could hardly be defended, hastily fled into exile. Never before had mighty Chu suffered such humiliation.
King Helü, Wu Zixu, and Sun Tzu entered Ying in triumph. A grand victory feast was held in the very halls of the Chu royal court.
A clash of visions: Conquest vs. Restoration
Wu Zixu urged total annihilation: erase Chu from the map. But Sun Tzu opposed this. He proposed a wiser path:
“Install Gongzi Sheng – son of the wronged Crown Prince Jian – as the new king of Chu. The people mourn Jian’s fate; they’ll welcome his heir. This way, Chu becomes your loyal ally – not a conquered ruin.”
But King Helü, tempted by land and plunder, sided with Wu Zixu. Chu would be erased.
The desecration of a tyrant’s tomb
Wu Zixu’s deepest wound remained unhealed: his father and brother had been murdered by King Ping of Chu, who was now dead. Yet vengeance demanded action.
He asked Helü’s permission to exhume King Ping’s corpse. Granted, he searched the shores of Liao Tai Lake east of Ying – but found only empty tombs. In despair, he wept aloud, crying out,
“Heavens, Heavens! Why must I remain unable to avenge my father and brother?”
Just at that moment, an old man approached him. He said to Wu Zixu,
“That tyrant king knew well he had many enemies and feared someone might one day desecrate his tomb. He had several false tombs built. And to keep the stonemasons from leaking the secret, he had them all killed once the work was finished. I was one of the workers at the time and happened to escape with my life. Today, General, as you seek to avenge your father and brother, I too wish to take revenge for my slain companions.”
Wu Zixu then asked the old stonemason to lead the way to the location of the burial ground. The group dismantled the stone tomb, pried open the coffin, and found only the king’s clothing and crown inside – not a single bone remained. Wu Zixu wept once more. The old man said,
“This tomb is a decoy. The real one lies underneath.”
They removed the base layer and dug deeper, revealing yet another coffin.
They broke through the false floor and uncovered the true coffin. Thanks to mercury preservation, King Ping’s body was intact.
Enraged, Wu Zixu dragged the corpse out and whipped it 300 times, crying:
“This is for my father! This is for my brother!”
The pursuit of King Zhao and the siege of Zheng
Believing King Zhao might be hiding in Zheng, Wu Zixu turned his army eastward. Zheng had executed Crown Prince Jian years earlier – a second score to settle.
Terrified, the Zheng court pressured Chu’s former prime minister (who had fled there) to take responsibility. He committed suicide. His head was sent to Wu Zixu as proof that King Zhao wasn’t in Zheng.
But Wu Zixu refused to withdraw. Zheng’s king, Duke Ding, issued a desperate decree:
“Whoever makes Wu Zixu retreat shall be richly rewarded.”
For three days, no one came forward.
The Fisherman’s Son and the Song of Remembrance
On the fourth day, a young fisherman appeared, claiming he could drive back the Wu army – with only his oar.
Skeptical but desperate, Duke Ding of Zheng let him try.
At the Wu camp, the youth sang while tapping his oar:
“Man of the reeds, man of the reeds,
Who ferried you across the streams?
Seven stars gleam on your sword so bright –
Remember the old fisherman’s light!
Now you rise in power and fame,
Do you recall who saved your name?”
Wu Zixu froze. Tears filled his eyes. The boy explained:
“My father was that fisherman. He’s gone now. I beg you – spare Zheng for his sake.”
Moved beyond words, Wu Zixu replied:
“I owe my life to your father. How could I forget?”
He immediately ordered withdrawal. The fisherman returned a hero – dubbed “The Fishing Minister” by a grateful Zheng.
Shen Baoxu’s seven days of tears
Back in Chu, Wu Zixu continued hunting for King Zhao. Then came a letter from his old friend Shen Baoxu who had once admonished Wu Zixu against abusing public power for private revenge, warning him not to sacrifice the interests of the people of Chu for his personal grievances:
“You’ve avenged your family. Now stop. Remember my vow: if you destroy Chu, I will restore it.”
Wu Zixu sent a grim reply:
“Eighteen years of hatred burn in me. I cannot turn back – even if it seems cruel.”
Shen Baoxu knew reason had failed. Recalling that King Zhao was grandson of Duke Ai of Qin, he rushed to Qin, walking until his feet bled, wrapping them in torn cloth.
Before the Qin court, he pleaded:
“Wu seeks to devour all under heaven. Save Chu today – or Qin falls tomorrow.”
Duke Ai hesitated. So Shen Baoxu stood in the palace courtyard and wept – continuously – for seven days and nights.
Finally, moved to tears himself, the Qin ruler sent 500 chariots to aid Chu.
Rebellion at home and the Retreat from Chu
Just as Qin and Chu prepared to counterattack, disaster struck Wu: Prince Fugai, Helü’s brother, rebelled, declared himself king, and allied with Yue state, promising five cities as reward.
Fearing the loss of his throne, Helü abandoned the Chu campaign. He made peace with Qin and hurried home.
Wu Zixu received one last letter from Shen Baoxu:
“You destroyed Chu; I restored it. Let us both spare our peoples further suffering. Withdraw your troops, and I’ll send the Qin army home.”
Wu Zixu and Sun Tzu agreed – but extracted terms: Chu must welcome Gongzi Sheng and grant him land. Chu complied.
Before leaving, Wu forces looted Ying’s treasury and forcibly relocated over 10,000 Chu households to depopulated regions of Wu.
The parting of two friends
Helü crushed Fugai’s rebellion and reclaimed his throne – but now vowed vengeance against Yue.
Though victorious, Sun Tzu refused honors. He told Wu Zixu:
“I seek not office, but peace. Come with me – before glory turns to ruin.”
But Wu Zixu, still dreaming of Wu’s hegemony, refused.
So Sun Tzu vanished into obscurity, leaving behind not just a kingdom, but the timeless wisdom of The Art of War – while Wu Zixu remained, caught between justice and obsession, loyalty and fate.
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