River like smoke

Author: Xia Jianyong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Cai Guo was a small state in the Central Plains, bordered by the powerful State of Chu to the south. As a smaller state subordinate to a larger one, it had to be cautious in every aspect, making life very difficult. Recently, when Cai Zhao Hou visited the State of Chu, Chu's Prime Minister Zi Chang detained him because he failed to obtain a fur coat and jade pendant. As a result, these traditional allies grew hostile. After returning to his homeland, Cai Zhao Hou once tried to take advantage of the multilateral summit conference called by the Zhou Dynasty to incite the State of Jin to attack Chu. However, birds of a feather flock together—Jin's representative at the conference also demanded bribes from Cai Zhao Hou. Cai Zhao Hou, however, had limited means and, failing to learn from his previous experience in Chu, remained stubbornly unwilling to offer any concessions. Without benefits, naturally, he wouldn't receive help. At the signing ceremony of the conference declaration, he was merely symbolically comforted by Jin, allowing Cai's signature to be placed before that of the State of Wei. This outcome deeply disappointed the State of Cai. Thus, they turned their attention to the newly rising State of Wu to the south. Cai Zhao Hou even sent his own son as a hostage to Wu to secure the promise of Wu King He Lu to lead an attack against Chu.