Ret量reating about Thirty Miles as Condition For Peace
During the Sprin来自g and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.),Duke Xian of the State of Jin Killed the crown prince Sheng beca360问答use he had heard s肥吸体跑耐求landers about Sheng and believed them.He also sent his men to arrest Chong Er,Shen Sheng and believed them.He also sent his men to arrest Chonh Er,Shen Sheng's brother.Hearing the news,Chong E首石r escaped from the state of Jin,remaining a fugitive for more than ten year行s.
After innumerable hardships,Chong Er arrived at the State of Chu at last.King Cheng of the State of Chu treated him with high respect as he would have treated the rul读感出移眼er of a state,believing that he would have a vright fuure.
One day,Kin宣象假很规因校季略g Cheng of the State of Chu ga汉给研手浓友备城ve a banquet 已半书围in honoudr o任鸡合钟展安由植f Chong Er.Suddenly,amid the harmonious atm哥程体osphere of drinking and talking,King Cheng of the State 宁书章车孙体你消而of Chu asked Chon名额g Er."How will you repay me when you return to the State of Jin and become 罪益试断耐its ruler one da值防的本y?" After thinking for a moment,Chong Er said,"You have plenty of beauties and attendants as well as jewelry and silk cloth,and th足承都怕云具挥些影品e state of Chu abounds in rare brides and animals.What treasure ca任于比夫团n the State of Jin boast ha回杀该翻ving to present to your majesty?" King Cheng of the State of 批例义轮航走假类文步Chu said,"You are too modest.Nevertheless,you still have to show your gratitude to me in one way or another,I presume?" Smiling,Chong Er answered,"If I should be fortunate enouge to return to the State of Jin and become its ruler,the State of Jin would be friendly to the State of Chu.If,one day,there should be a war between the two states,I would definitely order my troops to retreat three SHE (one SHE is equivalent to thirty LI.The LI is a Chinese unit of length equivalent to 1/2 kilometre.And,therefore,three SHE is about thirty miles.) as a condition for peace.If,under that condition,you were still not reconciled,I would have to fight with you."
Four years later,as might be expected,Chong Er returned to the State of Jin and became its ruler.He was none other than Duke Wen of the State of Jin famous in ancient Chinese history.Ruled by him,the State of Jin became increasingly powerful.
In the year 533 B.C.,the Chu troops and the Jin troops confronted each other in a battle.Faithful to his promise,Duke Wen of the State of Jin ordered his troops to retreat about thirty miles.After retreating,the Jin troops were stationed at Chengpu.Seeing that the Jin troops were retreating,the Chu troops thought that the enemy troops were afraid,and began chasing them.Taking advantage of the Chu troops' arrogance and their talking the Jin troops lightly,the Jin troops concentrated their forces and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chu troops,thus winning the victory of the battle of Chengpu.
This set phrase,"retreating about thirty miles as a condition for peace," is derived from the Chapter "The Twenty-second Year of Duke Xi" in ZuoZhuan,the famous commentary by Zuo Qiuming on The spring and Autumn Annals.The idea of this set phrase is to give way to somebody in order to avoid a conflict.
