Wen Zhong
Wen Zhong was from Zhou of Chu Kingdong during the Spring and Autumn Period. During the reign of King Jingping of the Chu State, Wen served as a district administer at Yuan. After made known Fan Li’s reputation, he drove to meet Fan and made friends with him. Both of them later became prominent ministers of the Yue State.
In 494 BC, Goujian was defeated by Fu Shu, king of the Wu State. Wen Zhong went to Wu as an envoy to negotiate a peace treaty. Wen concluded the compact. As a result of the treaty, Goujian went to the Wu State as a hostage and Wen stayed in Yue to guard the state. After coming back from Wu, Goujian consulted Wen Zhong on the best policy of administering the country. Wen Zhong said, “Love the people. That is all.” The king of Yue followed the advice and administered a light hand while exercising legal power and adopted tax cuts. As a result, people became rich and were as courageous as soldiers.
After Wu was successfully conquered, Fan Li retired with his meritorious services. Fan Li wrote to Wen Zhong, advising him to understand the situation and leave the Yue as soon as possible by saying that good bows would be stored away when all the flying birds were scattered and the hunting dogs would be killed when rabbits were all gone. Unwilling to leave, Wen did not go to court on the excuse of poor health. However, someone alleged that Wen was plotting an insurrection. Wen Zhong committed suicide by sword. King Goujian granted that Wen be buried at Sleeping Dragon Mountain, which was therefore also known as Zhong Mountain.
Today, the King of Yue Temple at Fushan Park has a stone statue of Wen Zhong. To the east of the Sea View Pavilion in Fu Shan is the tomb of Wen Zhong.
Source: travelchinaguide.com
Editor: Wang Moyan
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