"Guan Guan Jiujiu, in the River Continent. A graceful lady, a gentleman likes to fight..."

Under Qing Ji's instruction, Wu Hong recited "Guan Ju" in an orderly manner.

Exactly!

Just a six-year-old child can recite "Guan Ju", which shows Wu Hongzhi's intelligence.

Qing Ji nodded slightly, recognizing Wu Hong's studies.

Afterwards, Qing Ji looked around again, focused his gaze on Ru Meng, and said slowly: "This time Wu and Chu are annihilating their troops, there is an exchange of protons in the covenant between the two countries, and Chu's son Qi is about to join Wu.

"

"I should also abide by the covenant and send a young master to Chu as a pledge."

"Rumeng, are you willing to let Hong'er be the hostage?"

Although Qing Ji could act arbitrarily on this matter, he thought about asking Rumeng's opinion and Wu Hong's own wishes to do what is good.

"Your Majesty..."

Hearing that Qingji was planning to let Wu Hong go to Chu as a hostage, Rumeng was naturally reluctant, so he took Wu Hong's hand, with a look of sadness on his face, and said: "Your Majesty, it's not a concubine and Hong.

Hong'er is unwilling to do his best for the state of Wu. It's really because Hong'er is young and has nothing to do."

"If you enter Chu this time, you will probably be treated coldly by the Chu people, and your life will be in danger. How can your Majesty... bear the heart to let Hong'er suffer like this?"

What I really can't bear is Rumeng.

Of course, Qingji himself was reluctant to part with it!

After all, Wu and Chu have a feud, and the hatred between the two countries cannot be eliminated.

One day, Wu and Chu will definitely break out into a war again.

Wouldn't Wu Hong's life in Yingdu be in danger?

What is a proton?

Exchanging protons is a form of diplomatic policy.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, when various countries competed for victory and conquests and mergers continued, cashiering protons became a quite unique social phenomenon during this period. It was an important means for dealing with mutual relations between vassal states, and it was also a special way for strong countries to achieve effective control over weak ones.

The emergence of protons has reduced the destructiveness of war to a certain extent.

The starting point of the exchange is to reconcile the relationship between the two parties, with mutual trust and reciprocity as the guarantee, with the close relatives or important ministers of the princes and kings as the medium, and with the goal of realizing the submission of the weak country to the strong country.

In order to protect themselves, weak countries use the "prince" as a hostage to obtain political "aid" from powerful countries.

The initial exchange of protons occurred between the Eastern Zhou royal family and the Zheng State.

The Zhou royal family suffered great changes and had to rely on the auxiliary ministers of Zheng, Jin and other vassal states. Due to their merits in the Zhou royal family, Zheng Wu Gong and Zheng Zhuang Gong became the ministers of King Ping one after another, and their power increased day by day.

In view of Zheng Zhuang Gong's strength, the King of Zhou was "different to Guo" and wanted to check and balance Zheng Zhuang Gong's power by appointing Guo as a minister.

So King Ping of Zhou sent Crown Prince Hu to Zheng as a hostage, and Duke Zhuang of Zheng also sent Crown Prince Hu to Luoyi as a hostage.

However, things went counterproductive.

The Zhou royal family hoped to ease the already tense situation between Zhou and Zheng through cross-talk, and to reaffirm the monarch-minister relationship between Zhou and Zheng through cross-talk, so as to ensure Zheng's support for Zhou and the new monarch.

However, the newly ascended King Huan did not continue to tolerate it. "The people of Zhou followed King Ping's original intention" and handed over political affairs to the Duke. The relationship between Zhou and Zheng became even more tense.

After that, the King of Zhou led Chen, Cai, Guo, and Wei to attack Zheng. "Zheng's army joined forces to attack, and the king's soldiers were defeated. Zhu Dan shot the king in the shoulder." From then on, the Zhou royal family declined further.

Therefore, in political struggles where there are major interests, it is unrealistic to stabilize or confirm the relationship between monarch and ministers through cross-talk.

Regardless of whether it is a loose vassal relationship or a clear monarch-subordinate relationship, it will not be able to withstand the test of interests and the relationship will tend to collapse.

The relationship between Zhou and Zheng shows that the relationship established through dialogue without any basis of trust is unstable!

In this era, exchanges have become an important means of diplomatic relations between countries, and protons have become an important bargaining chip for weighing political interests.

There is almost no relationship between confrontation and oath. The purpose of confrontation is nakedly utilitarian. It is either begging for surrender or seeking help, or it is political confusion.

Qingji could also understand Rumeng's unwillingness to allow Wu Hong to invade Chu.

"Zhu Ji, are you willing to let Xi'er go to Chu as a hostage?"

Qingji set his sights on Mrs. Zhu Ji again.

Wu Xi is Qingji's second son. He is similar in age to his eldest son Wu Hong, and can also shoulder the important task of "proton".

Zhu Ji's face suddenly turned pale.

However, Zhu Ji had some brains at least, and did not refuse directly. Instead, she pondered for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, since the King of Chu can use his brother-in-law, the Young Master, to enter Wu as a pledge, why doesn't your Majesty choose him from among the close clan members? Choose someone as a hostage?”

"Young Master Zhuyong and Baiyu, as uncles of the great king, might as well enter Chu as hostages."

What Zhu Ji said is not unreasonable.

The situations between Wu and Chu are really different!

King Xiong Zhen of Chu was young and childless, so he asked his elder brother Zi Qi to go to Wu as a hostage. Who dared to gossip?

The celebrations and taboos are different.

He had nine sons, so why did he need to let his two uncles, Buyu and Zhuyong, go to Chu as hostages?

If Qingji really did this, he would inevitably be criticized, and it would not be conducive to the short-term harmony between Wu and Chu.

As the saying goes, if you can't let go of your children, you can't trap the wolf!

Qingji had no choice but to give up one of his sons for the sake of his own hegemony.

Of course, this is a last resort.

One can imagine how dangerous it is to be a hostage in Chu State.

Furthermore, if a child is in a foreign country or an enemy country, it is inevitable that he will be looked down upon by others.

No wonder Qingji's concubines were unwilling to let their children go to Chu as hostage.

"Your Majesty, let Heng'er enter Chu as a hostage!"

At the critical moment, Queen Ji Kou bit her silver teeth, suppressing the grief in her heart, and took the initiative to ask Ying: "Heng'er is the eldest son of the king, and he should shoulder such an important responsibility because of his emotions and reasons."

Wu Heng was Qingji's third son, born to Queen Ji Kou, and was his eldest son.

According to the patriarchal system, if nothing unexpected happens, Wu Heng will inherit the throne of King Wu in the future.

Ji Kou was actually willing to let Wu Heng enter Chu as a hostage?

This surprised everyone present.

Qingji was also stunned for a moment.

It was indeed too difficult for Wu Heng to let Wu Heng, who was no more than four or five years old, go to Chu as a hostage.

But, this is all a last resort!

"Heng'er, are you willing?"

"Children must obey the arrangements of their father, queen and queen in everything!"

Naturally, Xiao Wu Heng didn't know what he was about to face, so he promised to do it.

This makes Qingji feel very happy!

"This kid is like me!"

Qingji slowly hugged Wu Heng into his arms, feeling inexplicable.

In fact, it was not uncommon in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period to enter another country as a hostage.

For example, the First Emperor of Qin, King Zhaoxiang of Qin, King Zhaoxiang of Qin, King Xiang of Wei, etc., the princes or princes of many countries have entered other countries as hostages, and many of them have sharpened their character and achieved great achievements.

Qingji believes that his Heng'er can do the same and thrive in adversity!
Chapter completed!