When evaluating the "Zizhi Tongjian", the Qing Dynasty scholar Wang Mingsheng said the following:
"There shall be no book in heaven and earth, and a book that scholars must not read."
As the first chronicle general history in Chinese history, it records a total of 1362 years from 403 BC to 959 AD.
It chronicles the rise and fall of the dynasty, success or failure, and also tells the ups and downs of the life of the emperor and generals, giving countless inspirations to future generations.
Throughout the book, all those who could not hold their breath and were weak-willed were eliminated early.
People who know how to endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens and have a strong mind can have the last laugh.
After reading it three times, I finally realized that a person's greatest ability is to endure and endure.
1
Let's start with two stories.
The first story is about Zhang Er and Chen Yu.
The Zizhi Tongjian Qin Ji III records that in 225 BC, Qin Shi Huang destroyed the Wei state.
When the King of Qin heard that Zhang Er and Chen Yu were famous men of the Wei state, he issued an announcement and offered a large reward for their arrest.
In desperation, Zhang Er and Chen Yu had to change their names and surnames and die everywhere.
They later fled to Chen County to work as doormen for Lizheng (as they were used as township officials in ancient times) to make ends meet.
One day, Chen Yu made a small mistake and was caught by Li Zheng, who picked up the whip and whipped it towards Chen Yu.
Chen Yu was furious, and immediately wanted to fight back.
At this time, Zhang Er secretly tugged on the corner of Chen Yu's clothes on the side, signaling him not to have a seizure.
Chen Yu forcibly endured the anger in his heart, lowered his head and endured the whipping.
After waiting for Lizheng to leave, seeing Chen Yu's unconvinced face, Zhang Er helped him under a tree and reproached him:
What do I usually say to you? The eldest husband can flex and stretch, and the little one who can't bear it is chaotic.
Now that you have suffered a little insult and eaten some flesh and skin, you want to fight with a small official for your life, which is not worth it.
Hearing this, Chen Yu suddenly came to his senses.
Since then, no matter what has happened, the two have always maintained restraint and forbearance, and have lived incognito.
It was not until Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rebelled that the two came out of the mountains, made meritorious contributions in the chaotic times, and finally made their respective generals.
In the Book of Su, it is said: "Changmo is good at conspiracies, and An Mo is good at enduring humiliation." ”
In reality, everyone will inevitably encounter various humiliations and difficulties.
Choosing to endure is not to be timid and temperless, but to minimize the big things and minimize the harm and danger.
Speedy can certainly export evil qi, but in the end it will only bury the future.
Holding back the momentary anger, despite the humiliation, was able to retain a useful body and do more valuable things.
As Su Shi wrote in "Jia Yi Theory":
Where a gentleman takes far, he will be treated; Those who do great will endure.
In this world, whether you want to protect yourself or make a career, you must learn to endure.
2
Another story is about the historian Sima Qian.
According to the Zizhi Tongjian, Sima Qian came from a family of historians, and succeeded him as Taishi Ling after his father's death.
When he was young, he was determined to write a history book that "hides a famous mountain and passes it on to future generations".
In 98 BC, the general Li Ling set out to attack the Xiongnu, but was defeated and surrendered.
When the news came, the Manchu dynasty impeached Li Ling, but Sima Qian defended Li Ling, which eventually angered Emperor Wudi of Han.
Emperor Wudi of Han was furious and directly sent Sima Qian to prison.
He wanted to die, but thinking of his unfulfilled ideals, he gritted his teeth and accepted the cruel "rotten punishment".
After being released from prison, Sima Qian did not slump.
In the face of the humiliation caused by physical disability and all kinds of criticism from others, despite the torment in his heart, he silently carried all this.
After that, Sima Qian devoted all his energy to the creation of history books.
Finally, after fourteen years of painstaking work, he completed the historical work "Shiji".
This huge work created a precedent for the general history of the mainland chronicle and was revered as the first of the "twenty-four histories".
Wang Yangming said that people must temper themselves in things and survive Fang Cheng.
Born in the world, life will always give you all kinds of disasters, or a fatal blow, or a difficult trough.
But the wind does not end, and the rain does not end.
As long as you grit your teeth and hold on, after the storm, it will finally usher in a sunny day.
As many times as you have been knocked to the ground, you will get up as many times as you have crossed the darkness, and you will see the light when you cross the wrong road, and you will reach the pinnacle when you cross the wrong road.
3
The above two stories tell us:
In this life, there are always more ups and downs than smooth roads.
And the key to overcoming difficulties and making breakthroughs is two words: endure and endure.
The fifth volume of the Zizhi Tongjian records the life of Fan Yu, the prime minister of the Qin state.
When he was young, Fan Yu was a guest in the palace of Xu Jia, the great doctor of the Wei state.
Once, Fan Yu accompanied Xu Jia on an envoy to the State of Qi, and the King of Qi Xiang, knowing Fan Yu's reputation, sent someone to send ten catties of gold.
When Xu Jia learned of this, he was very jealous, and as soon as he returned to the Wei state, he framed Fan Yu for betraying state secrets.
Prime Minister Wei Qi ordered the servants to beat Fan Yu with boards and thorns, breaking his ribs in a short time.
Seeing that he was about to be killed, Fan Yu quickly pretended to be dead.
When Wei Qi saw this, he asked someone to wrap Fan Yu in a straw mat, threw him into the toilet, and asked the drunken guests to urinate on him.
Faced with the unbearable humiliation of ordinary people, Fan Yu remained motionless, and it was not until it was dark that he found an opportunity to escape.
Later, when the envoy of the Qin state came to the Wei state, he secretly took the Qin envoy's carriage and left the Wei state.
After arriving in the Qin Kingdom, he thought that he could be reused, but the King of Qin ignored him at all.
During that time, Fan Yu, who lived in a foreign country, lived a poor life, and often ate the last meal but not the next.
But no matter how embarrassing life is, he never complains.
In Xianyang City, he studied hard to enrich his talents; While paying attention to the dynamics of various countries, analyze the general trend of the world.
A year later, he took the initiative to write to the King of Qin and proposed a diplomatic strategy of "distant diplomatic relations and close attacks".
As soon as King Qin saw the great joy, he immediately asked Fan Yu to invite him.
After some conversation, the King of Qin was deeply impressed by Fan Yu's talent and finally appointed Fan Yu as prime minister.
The "Readings" writes: "Patience cannot be tolerated, tolerance cannot be tolerated, but only those who have seen and measured others can." ”
Life is a protracted game, patience is a survival strategy, and simmering is the precipitation of thick and thin.
Those who can really achieve things will not lose their armor because they are frustrated, but will silently persist and accumulate strength in silence.
Water to a desperate situation is a waterfall, and a person to a desperate situation is a turning point.
If you can endure it, as long as the vitality is not extinguished, even if you are trampled into the dirt, there will be a day when you come out.
4
Ever read a little story.
One stone was split in half, half carved into a Buddha statue, while the other half was built into steps.
The steps were indignant and asked the Buddha aloud: Why are you a Buddha statue to be enshrined, but I am a step to be trampled on?
The Buddha statue said: I have endured a thousand cuts to get to where I am today, what about you?
Hearing this, the steps were so ashamed that they no longer spoke.
Just as Zeng Guofan said, if you stick to your aspirations, work hard, and work hard, you will achieve success regardless of the size of anything.
Only by withstanding the trials of the world can you forge those sufferings and pains into an upward path.
In "Zizhi Tongjian", the story of Sima Yi is also told.
In 239, the Wei Ming emperor Cao Ying died, and Sima Yi and Cao Shuang were appointed ministers of Tuogu.
Because he came from the Cao clan, Cao Shuang was already powerful.
Coupled with the young age of the Son of Heaven, Cao Shuang's power fell for a while, and he didn't put Sima Yi in his eyes at all.
Not long after, Cao Shuang took the order of the Son of Heaven and changed Sima Yi from a imperial lieutenant in charge of soldiers and horses to a taifu with no real power.
In the face of suppression, Sima Yi not only did not fight, but resigned from the center of power because of his illness.
Because of this tolerance, Cao Shuang also let him go.
However, in private, Sima Yi was obscure, and he contacted his trusted colleagues to grasp the current situation; On the other hand, he let his son Sima Shi quietly cultivate three thousand dead soldiers.
In 249, when Cao Shuang went to Gaopingling to pay homage to him, Sima Yi immediately launched a mutiny and crushed Cao Shuang's regime in one fell swoop.
After ten years of forbearance and preparation, Sima Yi became the final winner.
Zeng Guofan once said: "The love of people who are dangerous and the way of the bumpy world all rely on the support of a word of endurance." ”
The hardships and ups and downs bestowed by fate are the highest schools for tempering personality.
No matter how humiliating and hard it is now, as long as you can endure and endure, you will definitely be able to come out of the setbacks everywhere.
As the saying goes, the history is long, and the history is adult.
When you carry it, you will find that the difficulties of life are often another fulfillment of fate.
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The four volumes of the gilded vernacular text ¥46.9 purchased
Writer Feng Tang said: If I only read one book, I will choose "Zizhi Tongjian".
The purpose of Sima Guang's book "Zizhi Tongjian" is to "have resources to govern the way in view of the past".
This word "governance" not only means the way to govern the country, but also includes the way to govern the body.
Learn to endure more in case of accidents, endure more in the world, and constantly cultivate your body and mind.
Please believe that even if fate knocks you down the abyss, as long as you endure, there will be a day to raise your head, you will endure, and there will be a time to return.
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