On October 10, 638 BC, at the Battle of Hongshui, Chu defeated the State of Song and became the hegemon

The Battle of Hongshui was a battle between the State of Song and the State of Chu for hegemony during the Spring and Autumn Period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in China in 638 BC. The battle ended in the defeat of the State of Song.

In the ninth year of King Xiang of Zhou (643 BC), after the death of Duke Huan of Qi, the first overlord in the Spring and Autumn Period, there was civil strife in Qi. The following year, Duke Xiang of Song sent troops to assist Duke Xiao of Qi in gaining the throne. At the same time, King Cheng of Chu took this opportunity to spread his power deep into the Central Plains. Therefore, regardless of the weak national strength of the State of Song, Duke Xiang of Song hoped to use his status as a duke of the State of Song to dominate other countries and compete with Chu for control of the Central Plains.

In the spring of the 13th year of King Xiang of Zhou (639 BC), the monarchs of Song, Qi, and Chu met in Qi. At the strong request of Duke Xiang of Song, the three countries agreed to convene a conference of princes in the State of Song in the autumn of that year. In the autumn of the same year, the states of Song, Chu, Chen, Cai, Xu, Cao and Zheng attended the meeting, and Qi and Lu made excuses for the future. Duke Xiang of Song ignored the advice of his son Muyi and went to the meeting with a light car to win the trust of the vassals attending the meeting. As a result, he was raided and captured by the King of Chu at the meeting. Chu seized the opportunity to attack the State of Song without success. Soon, under the mediation of Duke Xi of Lu, Duke Xiang of Song was released.

In the 14th year of King Xiang of Zhou (638 BC), Duke Xiang of Song, in order to avenge his previous humiliation, ignored the persuasion of his sons Muyi and Gongsun Gu, united Wei, Xu and Teng to attack the State of Zheng, which had surrendered to Chu. Zheng asked Chu for help, and King Cheng of Chu led his division to attack the territory of the State of Song, forcing the State of Song to withdraw its troops.

On the first day of November in the 14th year of King Xiang of Zhou, the two armies met at Hongshui on the border of the Song State (the ancient river was named, and the old road was about northwest of Zhecheng, Henan Province). The Song army was stationed on the north bank, and the Chu army began to cross the river from the south bank.

Despite the advice of his adviser Zi Yu, Duke Xiang of Song insisted on attacking without halfway across the river. After the Chu army had all crossed the river, Duke Xiang of Song insisted on waiting until the Chu army had completed the formation before attacking. As a result, he was defeated and seriously injured.

After the War of Hongshui, Chu had no resistance in the Central Plains. In the following years, its power once reached the north of the Yellow River. It was not until Duke Wen of Jin led the rise of Jin that Chu's expansion was curbed.

After this war, the State of Song completely became a second-rate country and no longer played an important role in history.

Comment: When you should give in, you must give in. Blindly trying to be strong will only bring shame to yourself.