That night, Zhu Zhiwu, tied himself with a rope to go down the city wall, came to visit Duke Mu of Qin, saying: “As Qin and Jin troops have surrounded the capital of Zheng, the ruler of Zheng is aware of the incoming perish. However, should Zheng’s perish do any good to your majesty, I will not bother to visit your majesty. To expand a piece of territory across a foreign nation will pose difficulties to the King. Why bother to expand the territory of your neighboring state at the expense of Zheng? To strengthen the force of your neighboring state means to undermine that of yours. Suppose that your majesty give up this plan and treat the state of Zheng as the host in the east, then my state will accommodate the missionaries of your state going by, which does no harm to your majesty. What’s more, your majesty used to do favor to the state of Jin, and the king of Jin promised to cede its Jiao and Xia county to Qin. However, in the morning, he returned home by boat, in the evening, he ordered his people to build up defense works, which is known to your majesty. When can the king of Jin be satisfied? The state of Jin has expanded its territory in the east, and intends to expand westward without scrupling. But for the state of Qin in the west, where can Jin obtain more lands? Damaging Qin will do no good to your state but the state of Jin, I earnestly request the prudent consideration of your majesty ”.