Xian Gao rewards the army

　　Allusions

　　In the spring of the thirty-third year of Duke Xi's reign, the Qin army passed by the north gate of Zhou. Those on the chariots, except for the charioteers, dismounted, their helmets removed. Three hundred chariots were in the vanguard. Wang Sun Man, still young, observed this and reported to the king, saying: “The Qin army is rash and disrespectful; they will surely be defeated. Rashness leads to poor planning, and disrespect leads to carelessness. Entering dangerous territory carelessly, and lacking in planning, how can they not be defeated?” When they reached the state of Hua, Zheng merchant Xian Gao, who was on his way to trade in Zhou, encountered them. He offered four tanned hides and twelve oxen as provisions, saying: “Our lord has heard that your army is passing through our small state, and we dare to offer provisions to your followers. Our state is poor, but for your followers' stay, we have prepared a day's provisions for their lodging, and a night's guard for their departure.” He also sent a fast messenger to report to Zheng. Duke Mu of Zheng sent someone to inspect the lodgings of the guests, and found that they were fully equipped, weapons sharpened, and horses fed. He then sent Huang Wuzi to politely decline, saying: “Your esteemed guests have stayed here for a long time, and our supplies of dried meat, grain, and livestock are exhausted. As you are about to depart, Zheng has the Yuanyuan hunting grounds, just as Qin has the Juyuan hunting grounds. Would it be agreeable for your esteemed guests to hunt deer and elk there, to give our small state some respite?” Qi Zi fled to Qi, and Feng Sun and Yang Sun fled to Song. Meng Ming said: “Zheng is prepared; there is no hope. We cannot conquer them by attack, nor sustain a siege. We should return.” They destroyed Hua and returned.

　　Translation

　　The Qin army passed through the north gate of the Zhou capital. Except for the charioteers, the soldiers on the chariots dismounted, removing their helmets. Three hundred chariots were in the vanguard. Wang Sun Man, still young, witnessed this and reported to King Xiang of Zhou, saying: “The Qin army is rash and disrespectful; they will surely be defeated. Rashness leads to poor planning, and disrespect leads to carelessness. Entering dangerous territory carelessly, and lacking in planning, how can they not be defeated?”

　　Upon reaching Hua, Zheng merchant Xian Gao, who was on his way to trade in Zhou, encountered the Qin army. He offered four tanned hides and twelve oxen as provisions, saying: “Our lord has heard that your army is passing through our small state, and we dare to offer provisions to your followers. Our state is poor, but for your followers' stay, we have prepared a day's provisions for their lodging, and a night's guard for their departure.” Xian Gao also sent a fast messenger to report to Zheng. Duke Mu of Zheng sent someone to inspect the lodgings of the guests, and found that they were fully equipped, weapons sharpened, and horses fed. He then sent Huang Wuzi to politely decline, saying: “Your esteemed guests have stayed here for a long time, and our supplies of dried meat, grain, and livestock are exhausted. As you are about to depart, Zheng has the Yuanyuan hunting grounds, just as Qin has the Juyuan hunting grounds. Would it be agreeable for your esteemed guests to hunt deer and elk there, to give our small state some respite?” Qi Zi fled to Qi, and Feng Sun and Yang Sun fled to Song. Meng Ming said: “Zheng is prepared; there is no hope. We cannot conquer them by attack, nor sustain a siege. We should return.” They destroyed Hua and returned.

　　Explanation

　　Xian Gao's provisioning of the army is a patriotic story that has been passed down for over two thousand years.

　　The story takes place during the Spring and Autumn period, in 628 BC, after the death of Duke Wen of Jin, when his son, Gong Lan, inherited the throne. Determined to expand eastward, Duke Mu of Qin decided to take advantage of Jin's mourning period to destroy Zheng. He ordered his generals Meng Ming Shi, Xi Qi Shu, and Bai Yi Bing to lead 400 chariots in a surprise attack on Zheng. In February of the following year (627 BC), the main force of the Qin army reached Hua (present-day Yanshi and Gongxian counties in Henan), a vassal state of Jin. Upon reaching Hua, they encountered Xian Gao, a well-known merchant from Zheng, who was on his way to sell twelve oxen. Startled by the sudden encounter with the Qin army, Xian Gao, fearing for his life, quickly claimed that their lord, having heard of their arrival, had strengthened defenses and sent him with the twelve oxen to provision the army. He fabricated a story and presented the oxen to the Qin generals. Upon hearing this, the three generals realized that Zheng was prepared and abandoned their plan to attack Zheng. After Xi Shi informed Duke Mu of Zheng about the surprise attack, Duke Mu ordered his army to prepare for war and sent someone to investigate the Qin envoys stationed in Zheng. Seeing that the Qin envoys and their entourage were fully equipped and armed, ready for action, Zheng's minister Huang Wuzi politely declined, saying, “As you are about to depart, and we have no time for a farewell banquet, the fields of Zheng abound with deer and elk; please hunt them at your leisure.” Seeing this, the Qin army realized that Zheng was prepared and was forced to abandon their surprise attack, destroying Hua on their way back.

　　Thanks to Xian Gao's intelligence, patriotism, and bravery, Zheng was saved, and the ruler and people were deeply grateful. Duke Mu of Zheng offered Xian Gao high office and generous rewards, but Xian Gao firmly refused, saying: “As a merchant, loyalty to the state is only natural. To accept a reward would be to treat me as an outsider.”