Zheng Zhuanggong

Also known as Ji Wusheng

Duke Zhuang of Zheng, personally named Wusheng, was the son of Duke Wu of Zheng and Wu Jiang of Shen; the Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan) says his difficult birth frightened his mother, hence his name, and she favoured his younger brother Gongshu Duan, urging that Duan be made heir. As duke he gave Duan the city of Jing at her request, and when Duan plotted an attack on the capital in 722 BCE the duke sent Prince Lu against Jing and drove Duan into exile at Gong. He confined his mother at Chengying, swearing not to see her again until they met at the Yellow Springs, but at Ying Kaoshu's suggestion dug a tunnel to water and met her there. In 707 BCE King Huan of Zhou led Chen, Cai and Wei against Zheng, and the duke routed the royal army at Xuge, where his officer Zhu Dan shot the king in the shoulder. He died in 701 BCE, and the fight among his sons kept Zheng in turmoil for years.