[Historical Story] He was rewarded for sacrificing his life for righteousness, and in order not to embarrass his colleagues, he did so

There are many stories of ancient gentlemen sacrificing their lives for righteousness.

Ma Qian of the Taishi company said, "People are inherently dead, or heavier than Taishan, or lighter than Hong Mao, and the use of what is used is also different." "Ancient gentlemen believed that at the critical moment of life and death choices, as long as their actions were in line with their moral pursuits, even if they died for a small thing, that is, sacrificing their lives for righteousness, they would not hesitate at all. In the pre-Qin period, there were many such stories.

Tian Bei did not go along with the traitors

At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, the jin dynasty's grand master Zhao Jianzi's vassal bìxì (bìxì) rebelled while serving as the county magistrate of Zhongmu. He placed a mouthful of water on a firewood in the courtyard and said to the scholars, "If you stand with me, you will get a fief, and if you don't stand with me, I will burn him." "The doctors had to obey him.

When it was Tian Bei's turn, he said: "If you should die according to morality, you will not escape the punishment of the axe; according to morality, you should not fly yellow and tengda, and you will not accept the high-ranking official Houlu." To survive against morality and to become rich against benevolence is better than to get out of the oil pot. Saying that he was about to jump into the top of his shirt, the Buddha hurriedly released him without thinking.

After Zhao Jianzi learned of Zhongmu's rebellion, he sent troops to quell the rebellion. When he heard that Tian Bei would not go along with the traitor and found someone to reward him, Tian Pei said, "It is absolutely impossible for a man to be highlighted and make thousands of people unable to lift their heads, and a wise man will not do such a thing; rewarding a man makes thousands of people feel ashamed, and the benevolent person does not choose this method." If I accept the reward, it will make the people of Zhongmu feel that they have no place for themselves, which is unkind. ”

He not only shirked the reward but also moved. He said, "It is immoral to put myself above others by virtue, and I am leaving here." So he moved to the southern Chu state.

Yi Jia does not from the white gong

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the crown prince of Chuping of the Chu state was named Jian, and he was forced to flee to other countries because he was framed by the courtier Fei Wuji, and was later killed in zhengguo. Crown Prince Jian had a son named Sheng, who also went into exile abroad. After King Hui of Chu ascended the throne, He ordered Yin Zixi to recall Sheng and asked him to administer the white place, so he was called "White Duke".

Bai Gongsheng resented the fact that the Chu state forced his father to flee, and wanted to kill King Hui and Zixi, and wanted the more powerful Yi Jia to be his helper. He showed Yi Jia a posture and said, "If you help me, you can get the high-ranking official Houlu; if you don't cooperate with me, then these people will kill you." ”

Yi Jia smiled and said, "We used to talk about what righteousness is, have you forgotten?" Although I can get the world immediately, I don't want it if it is not moral; I will not use military strength to coerce me, and if it is not moral, I will never obey. Now you want to kill your monarch and you want me to help you, and this is not the righteousness I seek. Even if you use your interests to impress me and threaten me with force, I will never do it. You will honor your majesty, and I will show the righteousness that I seek. To resist you with a weapon is a contest; to promise you with words, it is vulgar. I have heard that soldiers will never fight for righteousness, nor will they be greedy for life or afraid of death, but will stand with their hands and wait for others to kill them without changing their faces. After saying that, he arched his hands and stood there waiting for the sword, calmly and calmly, and his face did not change color.

Yan Zi was not afraid of death and reprimanded Cui Zhu

In 548 BC, Cui Zhu, the Grand Master of the State of Qi, because duke Zhuang of Qi had an affair with his wife, joined forces with the chancellor Qingfeng, killed Duke Zhuang, and supported Duke Jing. After that, he ordered the priests to come to the Taimiao Temple to participate in the oath, and everyone had to unsheath their swords before they were allowed to enter, and those who did not speak loudly and did not use the blood of their hands at the time of the oath would be killed, and seven people were killed.

When it was the turn of the doctor Yanzi, Yanzi picked up the cup filled with blood, looked up at the sky and sighed and said, "Alas! Cui Zhu did something rebellious and killed his monarch. Those who do not follow the office but follow Cui and Qing will be punished. The people who took the oath stared at him.

Cui Zhu said to YanZi: "If you change your words, I will divide the country with you; if you don't change, I will kill you." The sword is going to stab you to death, the halberd is going to hook you, I hope you will consider it carefully. ”

Yan Zi replied, "I have heard that it is unkind to betray his monarch because of the confusion of interests; it is not brave to lose his virtue because of the threat of the sword." The Book of Verses says, 'Gentlemen who are at peace with leping, do not seek well-being by improper means.' Now how can I take back my word and ask for blessings? No matter how you stab and hook, I will not change my mind. ”

Cui Zhu wants to kill Yanzi, but is stopped by his men. Cui Zhu let yanzi go. After YanZi came out of the Taimiao Temple, he boarded the carriage. His coachman was about to leave the place quickly, and Yanzi touched his hand and said, "Tigers and leopards live in the deep mountains and dense forests, and their lives are determined by the kitchen." Running fast may not be able to live for a few more days, and walking slowly may not necessarily lead to a few days of early death. So he left at the usual speed of driving.

It was also after Cui Zhu killed Duke Zhuang that Qi Guo Taishi wrote a record of "Cui Zhu Gong Zhuang Gong". Cui Zhu was very angry and asked Taishi to modify it, and if Taishi did not change, Cui Zhu killed him. Taishi's eldest brother continued to write "Cui Zhu Zhuang Gong", and Cui Zhu killed the eldest brother. Taishi's second brother also wrote this, and Cui Zhu killed the second brother. In the end, Taishi's third brother still wrote like this, and Cui Zhu had no choice but to let him go. At this time, Taishi's clan, the Nanshi clan, thought that Taishi's entire family had been killed, and was about to take Zhu Jian to write the words "Cui Zhu Zhuang Gong", but found that it had been truthfully recorded, so he left.

Resources:

Han Dynasty Liu Xiang "New Order", "Left Transmission"