吴王夫差 / King Fuchai of Wu
吴王夫差 / King Fuchai of Wu appears in 《资治通鉴·周纪》57丨古代发毒誓还有这作用？ as the 吴国 ruler drawn into 子贡 / 端木赐’s rescue chain. Zigong persuades Fuchai to attack 齐国, but also has to address Fuchai’s fear that 越王勾践 might strike Wu from behind.
The episode uses Fuchai as the hinge where rescue turns into chain reaction. Wu defeats Qi, but Fuchai then wants to attack 晋国 and is defeated by a prepared Jin force. 越国 exploits that weakness, and Fuchai eventually commits suicide after failed attempts to make peace with Goujian.
《资治通鉴·周纪》80丨诸葛亮的偶像 到底有多厉害？ adds Fuchai indirectly through 伍子胥 inside 乐毅’s 《报燕惠王书》. Le Yi invokes Wu Zixu’s forced death under Fuchai as a warning that service honored by one ruler can become lethal under another, especially after great merit and blunt counsel.
《资治通鉴·周纪》84丨防止秦国灭楚竟用这招？ reuses Fuchai as a diplomatic warning example. 黄歇 / 春申君 tells 秦昭襄王 that Fuchai’s trust in 越王勾践 while Wu fought elsewhere shows the danger of leaving a resentful or opportunistic partner behind one’s campaign line.
Connections
- 吴国 - polity he rules.
- 子贡 / 端木赐 - persuader who redirects him toward Qi.
- 齐国, 晋国, and 越国 - sequence of success, overreach, and defeat.
- 越王勾践 - rival who destroys Wu after Fuchai’s exhaustion.
- 多国连锁外交 - source concept for the broader chain.
- 伍子胥, 《报燕惠王书》, and 靠山更替暴露风险 - Zhouji 80 warning case used by Le Yi.
- 黄歇 / 春申君, 秦昭襄王, and 利益重构式说服 - Zhouji 84 historical precedent in the anti-Chu campaign argument.