You must be familiar with the phrase "blood is thicker than water", but in the long course of history, this bond of family affection is sometimes swayed by power and status. Today we are going to talk about a story about the ancient general Huo Qubing and his father Huo Zhongru, who abandoned his mother and son for many years.
Do you want to know why a great general should deign to recognize a small county official who has never fulfilled his father's duties as his father? What kind of human nature and social rules are hidden behind this?
In 119 B.C., in the fourth year of Yuanzhen, Huo Qubing deliberately stopped at the Chuanshe in Pingyang County, Hedong County, on the way to conquer Mobei. The reason why he stopped was not to rest, but for a special reunion - his biological father named Huo Zhongru.
Huo Zhongru is a low-status county official, who had a relationship with a beautiful maidservant Wei Shao'er when he was young. This relationship brought him a son, the later hussar general Huo Quai.
However, Huo Zhongru never admitted this relationship to the outside world, and even abandoned their mother and son soon after the birth of their son, and has not been heard from since.
Many years later, Huo Quai's fate was changed by an accident of his aunt Wei Zifu. Wei Zifu was favored by Emperor Wu of Han during a performance, and eventually gave birth to the emperor's first child. Since then, the Wei family has gained momentum, and Huo Qubing has also been favored and reused by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.
At the age of 22, Huo Quzhi finally learned his father's true identity, and on the eve of the expedition, he specially asked Huo Zhongru to be summoned.
Faced with the sudden reunion, Huo Zhongru was surprised and frightened, but Huo Quzhi showed incredible tolerance. He not only recognized his father, but also bought a property for his father, who had never fulfilled his fatherhood, and arranged it properly.
This generosity is not unfounded. First of all, the society of the Han Dynasty attached great importance to filial piety, and "filial piety and honesty" was an important criterion for selecting officials. If Huo Quzhi does not recognize his father, I am afraid that he will be regarded as unfilial, which is extremely detrimental to his political career.
Secondly, after recognizing his father, Huo Quzhi's position in the court was more stable, and his half-brother Huo Guang was later promoted and became an important political figure.
Although Huo Quzhi has the supreme glory, he may also have complex emotions in his heart for this father who suddenly appeared: curiosity, scrutiny, and even a sense of responsibility.
This kind of relationship is not simply a love-hate intertwin, but more of a responsibility and responsibility. After all, it was his blood relatives anyway.
In the journey of life, we are often faced with various choices. Huo Quzhi treated this father who had never fulfilled his responsibilities and chose tolerance and filial piety, which was undoubtedly the most in line with the values of the times in that era of emphasizing filial piety.
His behavior is not only a humane care for his father, but also an affirmation of his own identity and responsibility. This choice earned him more respect and recognition in Han Dynasty society, and also paved the way for his political career.
However, this history also makes us reflect on the fact that a person's worth is closely related to his or her actions. Huo Zhongru's choice caused him to lose the opportunity to take care of his son's growth, and Huo Qu's choice left a deep mark on history.
This is not only a story of power, status and family relationships, but also a story of choices and consequences. Everyone's choices are constantly affecting the fate of themselves and others, just like a flat boat, a slight turn may change the final destination.