Retreat 30 miles as a condition of peace
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Jin Xiangong killed him because he heard the slanderers about Sheng and believed them. He also sent his men to ares, Shen Sheng, and believed them. He also sent someone to arrest Shen Sheng's brother Chun Er. Zhong Er heard the news and fled the State of Jin for more than ten years.
Zhong Er went through many hardships and finally reached the State of Chu. King Chu Cheng respects him very much, just like the ruler of a country, and thinks that he will have a bright future.
One day, King Chu Chengwang hosted a banquet in the river ditch of Zhong Er. Suddenly, in the harmonious atmosphere of drinking and chatting, King Chucheng asked Zhong Er. "How will you repay me when you return to the State of Jin and become a monarch one day?" Zhong Er thought for a moment and said, "You have many beautiful women and waiters, as well as jewelry and silk. There are many rare brides and animals in Chu. What treasures can Jin state show off to your majesty? " King Chu Cheng said, "You are too modest. However, I think you still have to express your gratitude to me in some way? " Zhong Er smiled and replied, "If I am lucky enough to return to the State of Jin as its ruler, the State of Jin will get along well with Chu. If one day, there is a war between the two countries, I will definitely order my troops to retreat from Sanshe (one Shee is equivalent to three miles). Li is a unit of length, equivalent to 1/ 2 kilometers. So, three she is about thirty miles. ) as a condition of peace. If, under that condition, you are still unwilling, I will have to fight you. "
Four years later, as expected, Zhong Er returned to the State of Jin and became its ruler. He is none other than the famous Jin Wengong in history. Under his rule, the state of Jin became stronger and stronger.
In 533 BC, the Chu army and the Jin army met in a war. Jin Wengong kept his promise and ordered his troops to retreat about thirty miles. After the retreat, 8 Jin Army was stationed in Chengpu. Seeing that the Jin army was retreating, the Chu army thought that the enemy was afraid and began to pursue. The Jin army took advantage of the arrogance of the Chu army and its contempt for the Jin army, concentrated its forces and suffered a crushing defeat, and won the battle of Chengpu.
This idiom "Retreat about 30 Li, on the condition of harmony" comes from the chapter "Twenty-two years of Xi" in Zuo Zhuan, and Zuo Qiuming's famous comment in Spring and Autumn Annals. This phrase means to make way for someone to avoid conflict.