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제 환공이 주관한 규구의 회맹 이후 존왕양이尊王攘夷(주 왕실을 높이고 오랑캐를 쫓아낸다)의 구호가 춘추 300년 동안 중원에 울려 퍼졌다. 종주국인 주나라가 동천 이후 장악력은 사라졌어도 주 왕실을 보호해야 한다는 명분만큼은 큰 호소력을 지니고 있었던 것이다.
제 환공은 중원의 맹주답게 허울뿐인 주 왕실의 체면을 세워주면서, 열국의 질서를 장악해 나갔다. 산융족山戎族이 연燕나라를 수시로 괴롭히자 환공이 직접 산융족의 거점인 고죽孤竹까지 쫓아가 물리쳐 주었고, 위衛나라가 북적北狄에게 도성을 잃었을 때는 초구楚丘에 정착하도록 했다.
관중이 재상으로 있는 동안 세번 병거兵車로 모였고, 여섯번 승거乘車로 모였다. 전쟁 세번에 칼 없이 예복만 입는 의상지회衣裳之會로 여섯번 모였다는 것이다. 이처럼 환공이 여러 제후들의 갈등을 정리해 주면서도, 큰 전쟁없이 천하의 패권을 쥐었다는 것은 기적같은 일로 관중 때문에 가능했던 것이다.
제나라가 첫 패권국이 된지 6년째, 관중이 병으로 쓰러지자 환공이 황급하게 찾아와 물었다.
“그대가 없으면 누구를 재상으로 삼아야 할까?”
“누구를 원하십니까?”
“개방開方은 어떻소?”
“그는 원래 위나라 공자입니다. 왕께 잘 보이려 가족까지 버린 사람입니다. 천륜을 가볍게 여기는 사람은 믿을 수 없습니다. 멀리하심이 좋습니다.”
“역아易牙는 어떻소?”
“역아도 아들을 죽이면서까지 왕께 아첨했습니다. 출세를 위해 패륜도 마다 않으니 얼마나 사악하겠습니까.”
“그럼 수조竪刁는 괜찮겠소?”
“그도 출세하려 스스로 거세한 사람입니다. 인간의 천성을 버린 사람이 무슨 짓인들 못 하겠습니까.”
환공은 대단한 호색가라, 수조가 환공의 환심을 사려고 스스로 고자가 되어 환관이 되었던 것이다. 세 간신은 눈엣가시 같은 관중을 제거하려고 끈질기게 모함했지만 환공이 거절했다. 관중도 쓰러지기 직전까지 세 간신을 쫓아내려 했지만 환공이 듣지 않았다. 그만큼 세 간신이 환공의 입맛에 맞추고 귀에 솔깃하게 처신했던 것이다.
그토록 영민했던 환공도 나이들어 아둔해진 탓인가?
아니면 원래 아둔한 사람을 곁에서 관중이 잘 도와주었던 것인가? 관중의 말을 듣지 않고 세 간신을 곁에 두었다가 관중이 죽자 세 간신이 물만난 고기처럼 설치기 시작했다.
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.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>
[Novel The Art of War 49]Three Symbols of a Treacherous Official Who Ruins a Nation - Gao'an, Yi'er, and Sui Zhao
Following the Jiuqiu Coalition presided over by Duke Huan of Qi, the slogan "Respect the King and Expel the Barbarians" resonated throughout the Central Plains for 300 years. Although the Zhou Dynasty, the suzerain state, had lost its grip after the Eastern Chuan Rebellion, the justification for protecting the Zhou Dynasty held a powerful appeal.
Like the leader of the Central Plains, Duke Huan of Qi restored the face of the Zhou Dynasty, a mere ostensible figure, and established order among the nations. When the Shan Rong tribes repeatedly harassed Yan, Duke Huan personally pursued them to their stronghold of Guzhu and defeated them. When the Wei state lost its capital to the Northern Di, he allowed them to settle in Chuqiu. Although Duke Huan fought many wars, he became the world's hegemon without any major conflicts, a feat that was miraculously possible thanks to Guan Zhong.
During Guan Zhong's tenure as prime minister, they met three times in chariots and six times in chariots. It is said that during three wars, they met six times in formal attire, wearing only ceremonial robes and no swords.
Six years after Qi became the first hegemonic power, Guan Zhong fell ill, and Duke Huan hurriedly visited him and asked,
"In your absence, who should we appoint as prime minister?"
"Who do you want?"
"What about Kai Fang?"
"He was originally a prince of Wei. He abandoned his family to curry favor with the king. A man who disregards the principles of nature is untrustworthy. It is best to stay away from him."
"What about Yi Ya?" "Even Yeo-ah killed his own son to flatter the king. How wicked is he to be willing to commit unfilial acts for advancement?"
"Then how much more evil is Su-jo?"
"He also castrated himself to achieve his own success. What could someone who has abandoned his human nature not do?"
Huan-gong was a great womanizer, and Su-jo had become a eunuch by becoming a eunuch to gain his favor. The three treacherous officials persistently plotted to eliminate Guan-jung, a thorn in his side, but Huan-gong refused. Guan-jung also tried to expel the three treacherous officials until he was on the verge of collapse, but Huan-gong refused. This demonstrates how the three treacherous officials had catered to Huan-gong's tastes and pleasingly influenced him.
Was the once-smart Duke Huan-gong simply dull with age? Or was Guan-jung simply a sage who had always been dull? He had disobeyed Guan-jung and kept the three treacherous officials by his side, and when Guan-jung died, the three treacherous officials became like fish in water.
