The Seeds of Vengeance and Loyalty

The story begins in the chaotic Spring and Autumn Period (771–476 BCE), a time of fractured states and shifting alliances. Wu Zixu, a nobleman from the state of Chu, became one of history’s most infamous avengers after his family was unjustly executed by King Ping of Chu. Fleeing to the rival state of Wu, he swore an oath: “I will destroy Chu!” His childhood friend Shen Baoxu, though sympathetic, countered with a vow of his own: “If you do, I will restore it.”

This exchange set the stage for an extraordinary clash of loyalty and vengeance. Wu Zixu’s path was direct—he rose to power in Wu, advising King Helü in a series of devastating campaigns against Chu. Meanwhile, Shen Baoxu embarked on a desperate mission to save his homeland, embodying the Confucian ideal of unwavering loyalty to one’s state.

The Tears That Moved a Kingdom

With Chu on the brink of collapse, Shen Baoxu traveled to the state of Qin, pleading for military aid. The Qin court, initially indifferent, turned him away. Undeterred, Shen stood outside the palace gates for seven days and nights, weeping without food or water. His devotion moved Duke Ai of Qin, who recited the Battle Hymn of No Clothes from the Classic of Poetry:

> “How can you say we have no robes?
> We share your battle dress.
> The king calls us to arms;
> We forge our spears and swords.
> Your foe is ours!”

The hymn’s promise of solidarity marked a turning point. Qin dispatched 500 war chariots—a force of 37,500 soldiers—to aid Chu. At the Battle of Ji (modern Henan), the combined Chu-Qin forces scored their first victory against Wu, shifting the war’s momentum.

The Betrayal That Shook Wu

The defeat exposed cracks in Wu’s leadership. King Helü’s brother, Fugai, a brilliant but resentful general, saw an opportunity. After years of victories attributed to his prowess, Fugai rebelled, declaring himself king in Wu’s capital. Helü rushed back to crush the uprising, forcing Fugai to flee—ironically, to Chu, the very state he had once ravaged.

This betrayal underscored the fragility of Wu’s dominance. Despite earlier triumphs, the kingdom now faced threats on multiple fronts: a resurgent Chu, internal strife, and the rising power of Yue to the south.

The Shadow of Yue and the Battle of Zuili

Wu’s focus shifted to Yue, a once-minor state now strengthened by the reforms of its minister Fan Li. In 496 BCE, King Helü attacked Yue after its ruler’s death, expecting an easy victory. Yet at Zuili (near modern Jiaxing), the Yue army, though outmatched in resources, fought with desperate ingenuity.

Fan Li’s masterstroke involved deploying 60 condemned prisoners. In three waves, they marched toward Wu’s lines, theatrically proclaiming their crimes before committing mass suicide. The spectacle stunned Wu’s troops, creating chaos that Yue exploited to launch a devastating flank attack. The battle ended in a costly stalemate, but the psychological blow to Wu was profound.

Legacy: Vengeance, Loyalty, and the Cycles of History

Wu Zixu’s revenge was ultimately hollow. After desecrating King Ping’s tomb and ravaging Chu, he turned his ambitions to Wu’s rivalry with Yue—a conflict that would consume both states. Shen Baoxu’s legacy, meanwhile, became a symbol of resilience. His tearful appeal to Qin entered legend, illustrating how personal devotion could alter the fate of nations.

The struggles of these figures reflect broader themes of the era: the tension between loyalty and ambition, the unpredictability of warfare, and the rise of smaller states like Yue, which would eventually overthrow Wu under King Goujian. Their stories, preserved in texts like the Zuo Zhuan, continue to resonate as cautionary tales about the costs of vengeance and the power of perseverance.

Modern Echoes

Today, Wu Zixu and Shen Baoxu are celebrated in Chinese culture as archetypes of opposing virtues. Wu embodies the dangers of unchecked vengeance, while Shen represents selfless patriotism. The Battle Hymn of No Clothes remains a cultural touchstone, invoked to symbolize unity in adversity. Their tale reminds us that even in the machinations of war, human emotions—rage, grief, loyalty—can shape history’s course.