660: The Red Di took the capital of the State of Wey but were driven out by Qi - Scroll Down for more details

The Red Di Invasion of Wey (660 BCE) and the Intervention of Qi

The Event

In 660 BCE, the Red Di (赤狄, Chì Dí), a branch of the nomadic Donghu (Eastern Barbarians) confederation, launched a devastating attack on the State of Wey (衛), one of the smaller but culturally significant Zhou vassal states in the Central Plains. The Red Di were fierce warriors known for their mobility and raids on settled agricultural societies.

The Fall of Wey's Capital

The Red Di forces overwhelmed Wey's defenses, sacking its capital (believed to be Zhaoge or another major city). The invasion was catastrophic:
- King Hui of Wey (衛懿公, Wèi Yì Gōng) was killed in battle.
- The state was nearly annihilated, with much of its nobility and population slaughtered or scattered.
- Survivors fled south, and Wey temporarily ceased to exist as an organized state.

Qi's Intervention

The powerful State of Qi, under the leadership of Duke Huan of Qi (齊桓公, Qí Huán Gōng), intervened to restore order. Duke Huan was the dominant figure of the Spring and Autumn Period and the leader of a coalition of states (the Hegemony of Qi). His intervention was both strategic and symbolic:
- Military Response: Qi raised an army and drove out the Red Di, preventing further devastation.
- Restoration of Wey: Duke Huan helped re-establish Wey by installing a new ruler, Duke Dai of Wey (衛戴公, Wèi Dài Gōng), and resettling survivors in a new capital (Chuqiu).
- Diplomatic Leadership: This action reinforced Qi's role as the protector of Zhou civilization against barbarian incursions.

Historical Significance

1. Barbarian Threats: The Red Di invasion was part of a broader pattern of nomadic incursions that plagued the Zhou states, highlighting the vulnerability of settled societies.
   
2. Qi's Hegemony: Duke Huan's intervention demonstrated his leadership in the "Respect the King, Expel the Barbarians" (尊王攘夷, Zūn Wáng Rǎng Yí) policy, which sought to uphold Zhou authority while defending against external threats.
   
3. Wey's Survival: Despite near destruction, Wey endured and remained a notable state in later periods, even producing influential figures like Confucius' disciple Zilu.

Limitations in Knowledge

• Exact details of the battle and the Red Di's motivations are sparse in ancient records (Zuo Zhuan, Records of the Grand Historian).
  
• The extent of Qi's military involvement (whether a full battle or a show of force) is debated.

This event remains a key example of the conflicts between Zhou states and northern nomads, as well as the shifting balance of power during the Spring and Autumn Period.