Qilu Alliance Platform

　　   The Qilu Alliance Platform, also called the Alliance Platform. According to the *Yanzhou Prefecture Records · Historical Sites*: “The site where the states of Qi and Lu held alliance meetings during the Spring and Autumn period is located five li southwest of Juye County, and the high platform remains to this day.” The platform is situated about half a *li* north of Dali Village, southwest of Juye Town in present-day Juye County, and is a key county-level historical and cultural site under protection. Before the Yuan Dynasty, “this platform was several *ren* tall and could cover two *mu* in width.” By the late Yuan and early Ming periods, due to the Yellow River flooding and subsequent erosion by rainwater, the platform gradually shrank, and now only slightly more than half a *mu* remains, about three meters high. In 1979, the Juye County government erected a stone stele here to strengthen the protection of this ancient site.

　　   Legend has it that this platform was the meeting place for alliances between the states of Qi and Lu during the Spring and Autumn period, with a history of over two thousand years. Since the reign of King Wu of Zhou, to secure rule over Shandong, the policy of “enfeoffing relatives to serve as barriers for Zhou” was adopted. Jiang Ziya was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Qi, with his capital at Yingqiu (present-day Linzi, Shandong, to the north); the eldest son of the Duke of Zhou, Bo Qin, was enfeoffed in the former territory of the Yan state, establishing the State of Lu (present-day Qufu, Shandong). From then on, the states of Qi and Lu, as major powers in the east, became two pillars of the Zhou dynasty. Although Lu was enfeoffed as a top-tier kingdom, it was surrounded by powerful states such as Qi to the east and Zheng and Song to the west, and thus never became truly strong. The land of Daye was located on the border between Lu and Song (*Juye County Records* states: Zhangfeng was the boundary between the two states), and was frequently harassed by the State of Song. To ensure border security, Lu sent envoys to Qi to persuade them to form an alliance. Qi realized that if Lu were weakened or destroyed, its own security would also be threatened, so it agreed to unite with Lu and form a friendly neighboring relationship to oppose the hegemony of Zheng and Song. Thus, the two states agreed to hold an alliance in the Daye region, on the western border of Lu. To make the alliance ceremony grand, thousands of laborers were mobilized by both states to build the alliance platform to the south of the Ji River and west of the Daye Marsh before the meeting. On the day of the alliance, the venue was filled with flying flags and resounding drums and gongs. The armies of both states, clad in armor and helmets, appeared majestic and mighty, creating a fervent atmosphere of unity and military readiness. The rulers of the two states agreed on the following: 1. To ensure everlasting friendship between the two states, from the date of the agreement, this platform would be named the Qilu Alliance Platform, and Lu would station troops there. 2. A beacon tower would be built on the alliance platform, with firewood and animal dung piled on it. In case of emergency, it would be lit — thick smoke would rise into the sky by day, and blazing fires would illuminate the fields by night. Once local post stations saw the alarm, they would promptly report it to Qi, and upon hearing the news, Qi would dispatch troops to help. Thanks to the defensive alliance and united front against the enemy between Qi and Lu, the borders of Lu have been peaceful ever since.

　　   The Qilu Alliance Platform is also called the Western King Platform, and legend has it as the “military review site of Emperor Kang, Zhao Gou.” According to the *Juye County Records*: “In the second year of Jingkang during the reign of Emperor Qinzong of Song, Emperor Kang went to Jizhou, where Han Shizhong led his troops to urge him to ascend the throne. The Jin army pressed forward with troops, causing fear among the people. Han Shizhong fought fiercely from the Western King Platform, forcing the Jin soldiers to retreat slightly. The next day, the tribal chief led tens of thousands of troops back. At that time, Han Shizhong had only a little over a thousand men under his command. He charged in alone on horseback, beheaded their chief, and the Jin troops fled in disarray.”