Artifacts Speak: The Story Behind the Zeng Hou Yi Bronze Bells

In the late Spring and Autumn period, Kingdom Wu and Chu fell into years of warfare. Assisted by Wu Zixu and Sun Wu, He Lv aroused all his efforts to “build defensive walls, provide garrison, fill the granary and rectify the arsenal”, thus increasing the national strength day by day. Finally on 506 B.C., Wu launched a decisive war against Chu. According to the historical records, on 506 B.C., He Lv entered into alliance with Kingdom Cai and Tang to launch a powerful attack, and finally got Chu’s army defeated at Boju. After winning five victories in five battles, they occupied Ying (capital of Kingdom Chu). King Zhao of Chu ran off in a great panic. He firstly fled to “Yunzhong” (currently the areas around Jingmen City), and then Yun, where Yun Gong accompanied King Zhao to Kingdom Sui (Zeng). However, He Lv, together with his army, also followed them there (Kingdom Sui (Zeng)) the moment they arrived. King Wu promised to cede a vast territory north of Han River to King of Sui. Too