Why did Lord Mengchang join Qin as prime minister?

Going to Qin for a dangerous trip

At that time, King Zhao of Qin was thirsty for talents. Hearing about Lord Mengchang's reputation, he wanted to recruit him to Qin. But when Mengchangjun heard that he had an official position, he was moved. No matter how much his disciples persuaded him, he would not listen. King Qin Zhaoxiang finally managed to invite Lord Mengchang to the State of Qin and appointed him as the Prime Minister. This move was opposed by Qin ministers. They believed that Lord Mengchang was from Qi and would definitely "first Qi and then Qin". King Qin Zhaoxiang had no choice but to depose Lord Mengchang and put him under house arrest.

Jun Mengchang asked someone to find King Qin Zhaoxiang’s beloved concubine, hoping that she would persuade King Qin Zhaoxiang to let him return to Qi. The concubine heard that Lord Mengchang had a fox-white fur worth thousands of gold, so she offered to exchange it for the fox-white fur. But when Lord Mengchang arrived in Qin, he had already dedicated this fox white fur coat to King Qin Zhaoxiang. At this time, a retainer volunteered to "solve your problem", imitating a dog to dig holes, got into the treasure house of King Qin Zhaoxiang, and stole the fox white fur. Finally, King Qin Zhaoxiang listened to his concubine's persuasion and agreed to let Lord Mengchang return to his country.

After Mengchang was released, he was worried that King Qin Zhaoxiang would regret it, so he went out of seclusion anonymously and under the stars at night. When we arrived at Hangu Pass, it was already midnight. According to the customs regulations at that time, only when the rooster crows can the gate be opened to let people in and out. At this time, one of Mengchangjun's retainers imitated the crow of a chicken, causing all the chickens nearby to crow. When the officials guarding the pass heard the rooster crow, they opened the door and Mengchangjun and others took the opportunity to rush out. By the time the pursuers arrived, Lord Mengchang and his party had already gone away. This story of "cocks crowing and dogs stealing" vividly demonstrates Mengchangjun's characteristics of raising scholars.

Tian Wen (one of the four princes of the Warring States Period)

Tian Wen (? - 279 BC) is Lord Mengchang. Gui's surname is Tian, ??and he is one of the "Four Young Masters of the Warring States Period". He was a nobleman of the Qi State during the Warring States Period, the grandson of Qi Wei Wang Tian Yinqi, the son of Jingguo Jun Tian Ying, and the nephew of Qi Xuan Wang Tian Bijiang. Because he was granted the title of Duke of Xue (today's Guanqiao Town, Tengzhou City, Shandong Province), his father was also called Duke Xue and named Lord Mengchang.

Relying on the rich assets left by his father, Lord Mengchang recruited talents from all over the world in the fiefdom of Xue Yi, and had thousands of diners under his family. King Zhao of Qin was thirsty for talents. Hearing about Lord Mengchang's reputation, he wanted to recruit him to Qin and make him prime minister. He soon fled back. Later he became King Min of Qi and Prime Minister of the country. He once united Han and Wei to defeat Chu and Qin. In the seventh year of King Min of Qi (294 BC), due to the rebellion of the noble Tian Jia, King Min was suspected, so he returned to Xue due to illness, and soon fled to Wei to serve as prime minister. Zeng Xi united with Qin, Zhao and Yan to defeat Qi. When King Xiang of Qi was established, Tian Wen then remained neutral and soon joined forces with Mo to join the Qin Dynasty. After his death, all the disciples fought to establish themselves, and the territories Xue Weiqi and Wei Dao attacked and destroyed them together.