Hide A Dagger In A Fish
This story was a famous event of assassination. In the Pre-Qin Period, there were five most famous events of assassination, and this was the first one.
Let’s recall the story. Shoumeng (寿梦), the old king of the Wu (吴) State reigned from 585 B.C. to 561 B.C. He had four sons. The youngest son was Gongzi Zha (公子札), a very wise and kind person. Shoumeng thought highly of this son. He wanted to give the throne to Gongzi Zha, but he knew there was no reason why his eldest son couldn’t inherit the throne as he was just as faultless as Gongzi Zha. According to the system of heirship, generally the wife’s eldest son could be the heir. Sons of concubines couldn’t be the heir, even though they may have been older than the wife’s eldest son. Gongzi Zha was one of the wife’s sons, but he was not the eldest one. The old king didn’t want to make his eldest son sad, but he also hoped his youngest son could eventually get the throne. Before his death, he said to his sons, “Don’t give the throne to your sons. You brothers can both be monarch one after the other.”
The three older brothers knew the heart of their father, and they decided to realize the unfulfilled wish of their father. They led army to attack the Chu (楚) State, and they fought by themselves at the front line. The three monarchs died in battle one after the other. Zhufan (诸樊) was reigning from 560 B.C. to 548 B.C., Yuji (馀祭) was reigning from 547 B.C. to 531 B.C., and Yumei (馀昧) was reigning from 530 B.C. to 527 B.C. After the death of Yumei, the ministers supported Gongzi Zha to be the monarch. However, Gongzi Zha wanted to be a scholar instead and he was not willing to ascend the throne. He let Liao (僚) who was the son of Yumei become the monarch. Gongzi Guang (光), the son of Zhufan, thought this was unfair. So Gongzi Guang premeditated a plan to capture the throne for himself.
Gongzi Guang was supported by Wu Zixu (伍子胥) who was a wise man. Wu Zixu’s father and elder brother were killed by Chu Ping-King (楚平王) who believed in many lies. Wu Zixu wanted revenge. He came to the Wu State, and became a friend of Gongzi Guang. Wu Zixu was good at sociality. He knew a butcher named Zhuanzhu (专诸), the Zuo's Explanation called him Zhuanshezhu (鱄设诸). Zhuanzhu was a faithful person. Wu Zixu treated Zhuanzhu and his family very well, so Zhuanzhu wanted to compensate him. Wu Zixu introduced Zhuanzhu to Gongzi Guang. Gongzi Guang told his plan to Zhuanzhu, and asked for his help. Zhuanzhu said, “I can’t leave my old mother.” Gongzi Guang said, “Please not worry. I will treat her as you do.” Zhuanzhu promised to assassinate King Liao for Gongzi Guang. Gongzi Guang then gave him a dagger. This dagger was made by Ouyezi (欧冶子) who was a famous sword craftsman. Gongzi Guang dipped the dagger in very strong poison. If a person was cut by this dagger, he would die instantly.
Gongzi Guang held a banquet and invited Liao. Liao was a kind man, and trusted his elder brother. Though, his old mother was worried about the safety of his son. She told Liao that, Gongzi Guang coveted the throne for years. If Liao, her son, met with unexpected misfortune, how could she live? Liao was a dutiful son. He thought about his mothers words, so he ordered many armymen to follow and safeguard him. The servants who brought in dishes were ordered to change their clothing so as not to be concealing anything. Then they could come. However, Gongzi Guang concocted a special plan. He pretended that his foot was hurt, and left the gathering. He entered a room through a back door, and there were his loyal armymen. Zhuanzhu started executing his plan. He hid the dagger inside a large fish. Then he sent this dish into where Liao was. The guards checked his clothing, and they found nothing on him so they let Zhuanzhu come in. Zhuanzhu came near to King Liao. When he was close to Liao, he suddenly took the dagger out from the fish. Liao and his guards fell into a panic. Liao had no time to dodge the blade, and his guards had no time to save him. The dagger pierced into the thorax of King Liao. Liao soon died. His warriors were infuriated and cut Zhuanzhu down. Then, Gongzi Guang and his armymen entered the room. All who refused to surrender to him were instantly killed. This event took place in 515 B.C..
After this, Gongzi Guang pretended to be willing to give the throne to Gongzi Zha, as he was the next in line true heir. Gongzi Zha knew the real motive of Gongzi Guang, so he refused it. Gongzi Guang achieved what he wished and ascended the throne. He named himself Helu (阖庐). Helu was a militant man. Helu appreciated Wu Zixu, and put him in a very important position. Wu Zixu introduced Sun Wu (孫武) to him. Sun Wu was an excellent strategist, and the book “The Military Arts of Sunzi” (孙子兵法) was his work. With the help of Wu Zixu and Sun Wu, the Wu State became a strong country which caused others to be scared.
This assassination became well known in all Huaxia States. In 500 B.C., Shusun Wushu (叔孙武叔) ordered Hou Fan (侯犯) to assassinate Gongruo Miao (公若藐). This was because Gongruo Miao formerly advised Shusun Chengzi (叔孙成子), who was the father of Wushu, to not let Wushu become the heir. Wushu harbored resentment in his heart because of this. When his status was confirmed, he wanted to kill Gongruo Miao. Hou Fan had no idea to assassinate Gongruo. A servant who kept horses for him came forward to accomplish this mission. The servant took a sword and walked by Gongruo Miao. Gongruo Miao saw the sword was superior in quality, so he asked the servant whose sword it was. The servant told him that the sword belonged to his master Hou Fan. Gongruo Miao was curious and wanted to look at the sword. The servant drew out the sword, held the hilt and the sharp edge pointed to Gongruo. Then Gongruo Miao became aware of the man's purpose. However, he had no time to evade, and he smiled forcedly and said placidly, “Do you regard me as the king of Wu?” The servant answered nothing, and killed him.
