| | Sima Rangju was a descendant of Tian Wan. During the reign of King Jing of Qi, Jin attacked E and Zhen, while Yan invaded along the Yellow River, and the army of Qi suffered a defeat. King Jing was worried about this. Yan Ying then recommended Tian Rangju, saying: "Although Rangju is a collateral branch of the Tian clan, his literary ability can win over people and his martial prowess can intimidate enemies. I hope Your Majesty will give him a trial." King Jing summoned Rangju and discussed military affairs with him. He was greatly pleased, appointed him as general, and assigned him to command troops to defend against the armies of Yan and Jin. Rangju said: "I have always been lowly and humble. Your Majesty has promoted me from among the common people to a position above that of a great officer, yet the soldiers are not yet attached to me, nor do the people trust me. My status is low and my authority slight. I would like to request one of Your Majesty's favored ministers, someone respected in the state, to serve as an inspector-general; only then will it be possible." Thus King Jing agreed and sent Zhuang Gua there. After Rangju had taken his leave, he made an agreement with Zhuang Gua, saying: "We shall meet at the gate of the camp at noon tomorrow." Rangju first hurried to the army ahead of time and set up a marker with a water clock to await Gua. Gua, who had always been proud and noble, thought that since he was merely the inspector of an army commanded by someone else, he did not take it very seriously; his relatives and attendants saw him off and kept him drinking. At noon, Gua had not yet arrived. Rangju then knocked down the marker and stopped the water clock, entered the ranks, organized the troops, and clearly proclaimed the orders. After the orders had been established, in the evening, Zhuang Gua finally arrived. Rangju said: "Why are you late?" Gua apologized, saying: "My relatives saw me off, so I stayed behind." Rangju said: "A general, upon receiving his orders, must forget his family; when facing the troops and issuing commands, he must forget his relatives; in the urgency of raising the drum to lead a charge, he must forget himself. Now, with the enemy deeply invading and the state in turmoil, our soldiers are exposed at the frontier. The king cannot sleep soundly or eat with satisfaction; the lives of the people all depend on you. How can this be called a farewell?"! He summoned the military judge and asked: "According to military law, what is done with one who arrives late for an appointed time?" The reply was: "He should be executed." Zhuang Gua became frightened and sent someone to ride quickly to King Jing, requesting mercy. After the messenger had departed, he had not yet returned when Rangju proceeded to execute Zhuang Gua and displayed his body before the three armies. The soldiers of the three armies were all filled with awe and fear. After some time, King Jing sent an envoy bearing a token of authority to pardon Gua, who hurried into the camp. Rangju said: "A general in command of the army does not always obey orders from the king." He asked the military judge: "What is the law regarding someone who rides through the three armies?" The judge replied: "He should be executed." The envoy was greatly frightened. Rangju said: "An envoy of the king cannot be killed." He then executed the envoy's attendant, cut off the left horse from the carriage and the left side horse of the team, and displayed them before the three armies. After sending the envoy back to report, he then proceeded on his way. He personally visited and comforted the soldiers regarding their quarters, wells, stoves, food, drink, illnesses, and medicines. He took all of the general's provisions and distributed them among the soldiers, sharing his own rations equally with them. He selected those who were weakest and most exhausted, and after three days, he organized the troops for battle. Even the sick soldiers all wished to go into battle, vying eagerly to fight for him. The Jin army heard of this and withdrew. The Yan army, upon hearing the news, crossed the river and dispersed. He then pursued them, recovered all the lost territories within his fief, and led his troops back. Before reaching the capital, he dismissed the army, lifted the military restrictions, took oaths of allegiance, and then entered the city. King Jing and his ministers met him in the suburbs, honored the troops with a ceremony to express their gratitude, and only then did he return to his quarters. After meeting Rangju, King Jing honored him as Grand Marshal. The Tian clan thus became increasingly respected in Qi day by day.
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| | Later, the ministers of the Bao family and those from the Gao and Guo clans plotted against him and slandered him to King Jing. King Jing dismissed Rangju, who then fell ill and died. Tian Qi, Tian Bao, and others thus resented the Gao and Guo families. Later, when Tian Chang killed King Jian of Qi, he completely exterminated the clans of Gaozi and Guozhi. When it came to He, the great-grandson of Tian Chang, he declared himself King Wei of Qi. Using military might and authority, he greatly followed Rangju's methods, and the feudal lords paid homage to Qi.
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