In the spring of the tenth year of Duke Zhuang of Lu, the Qi army attacked our state of Lu. Duke Zhuang of Lu wanted to fight, and Cao Gui asked to meet Duke Zhuang of Lu. His fellow countryman said, "People in power will plan this. Why do you participate?"
Cao Gui said: "People in power are short-sighted, so they can't think ahead." So he went to North Korea to see Duke Zhuang of Lu. Cao Gui asked, "What are you fighting for?" Duke Zhuang of Lu said: "I never dare to keep food and clothing for health. I must give it to the ministers around me."
Cao Gui replied: "This kind of small kindness can't spread to the people, and the people won't obey you." Duke Zhuang of Lu said, "I never dare to exaggerate the number of sacrifices such as pigs, cows, sheep, jade articles and silk fabrics, but I must tell the truth to God." Cao Gui replied, "You can't win the trust of the gods for a small contribution. The gods won't bless you."
Lv Zhuanggong said: "Even if I can't see all the lawsuits, I will make a reasonable decision based on sincerity." Cao Gui replied, "That's what I did. You can fight a battle (with this condition). If you fight, please allow me to go with you. "
Duke Zhuang of Lu and Cao Gui rode in the same car and fought against the Qi army in the ladle. Duke Zhuang of Lu will order drums to advance. Cao Gui said, "Not yet." Wait until the Qi army drums three times. Cao Gui said, "You can beat the drums." The Qi army was defeated. Duke Zhuang of Lu wants to order horses to chase the Qi army.
Cao Gui said, "Not yet." Say that finish, he got out of the chariot, looked at the trace of Qi's wheels, boarded the chariot again, propped up the crossbar in front of the chariot and watched the formation of Qi. He said, "We can pursue it." So I chased the Qi army. After winning the battle, Duke Zhuang of Lu asked him why he won.
Cao Gui replied, "Fighting depends on morale. The first drum beating can boost the morale of soldiers, the second drum beating will start to hurt the morale of soldiers, and the third drum beating will exhaust the morale of soldiers. Their morale has disappeared, but the morale of our army is rising, so we beat them. In a big country like Qi, it is difficult to speculate on their situation, for fear that they will have an ambush there. Later, I saw that their wheel tracks were chaotic and their flags fell, so I ordered them to chase. "
The original text of Cao Gui's debate:
Cao Gui debate
Author Zuo Qiuming?
pre-Qin period
In the spring of ten years, the army of Qi attacked our country of Lu. Male will play, Cao Gui, please see.
His fellow countryman said, "People in power will plan this. Why do you want to participate?" ? ""Those in power are short-sighted and unable to think deeply, "Cao Gui said." Then they went to the court to see the duke. "What are you fighting for?" Cao Gui asked. "
Duke Zhuang said, "I have never dared to know about food and clothing, but I will give it to my officials." Yes, I said, "Xiao En doesn't repeat, but people are obedient." Duke Zhuang said, "I never dare to exaggerate the number of pigs, sheep, jade articles, silks, etc. for sacrifice. I must tell God the truth."
Cao Gui said: "Mix's credit cannot be trusted by the gods, and the gods will not bless you." . "ZhuangGong said," even if you can't see all the lawsuits in Mix, I must also be based on facts. "Yes:" Loyalty belongs to you. You can go to war. Please pay attention to this war. "
On that day, Qi Huangong and Cao Gui sat in a chariot and fought with Qi Jun in Beidou. Zhuang Gongzheng wants to order drums. "Not now," said Cao Gui. "Wait until after Qi Jun drummed three times. Cao Gui said, "You can play the drums. "."Qi Jun was completely defeated. Their duke ordered the horse to be chased by the horse.
"Not now," said Cao Gui. "Then he got off the chariot, looked at the tracks of Qi Jun's wheels, climbed on the chariot, supported the front railing of the chariot and looked at Qi Jun's formation, and said," We can pursue. "."So, the pursuit of Qi Jun was pursued.
After winning, the king asked him why he won. He said: "It takes courage to fight. High spirits, then decline, three exhausted. I am tired, I am surplus, so I will overcome it. Great powers are unpredictable and frightening. I regard it as chaos and look at its flag, so I chase it. "
The background of Cao Gui debate;
Cao Gui's argument comes from Zuo Zhuan's Ten Years of Zhuang Gong. This paper narrates his comments on this war in the Battle of Long Spoon, and the historical fact that he used the principle of "gathering, losing and exhausting" to repel the powerful Qi army in wartime.
In 697 BC, Qi Xianggong ascended the throne, and his decrees were impermanent. His younger brothers Xiao Bai and Gong Zijiu fled to Ju 'an and Lu 'an respectively. In the third year, the Qi people killed Sun Ignorant, and his son first returned to the State of Qi and proclaimed himself emperor. Later, Duke Zhuang of Lu personally led the troops to escort the son back to China for a long time to compete for the throne. In August, Lu fought with Qi Shi, and the Lu army was defeated. Qi Huangong forced Duke Zhuang of Lu to kill Gong Zijiu.
In the spring of the tenth year of Duke Zhuang of Lu, the State of Qi used the excuse that Lu had helped Gongsun Jiu to compete for the throne of Qi, and the two armies again confronted Lu. This is the battle of Qilu long spoon described in the article. Cao Gui is the main character deliberately portrayed by the author. He has excellent military wisdom and command ability, and can command the army calmly, calmly and decisively in the rapidly changing war. Cao Gui was the authority and commander-in-chief who won the war with a long spoon.
Compared with Lu Zhuanggong, Lu Zhuanggong's frankness and impetuousness are in sharp contrast with his alertness and caution. If the author fooled Duke Zhuang of Lu intentionally or unintentionally, thus proving the assertion that "carnivores are frivolous", it is this that can better represent Cao Gui's intelligence.