Kong Rong rang pear", we all heard it when we were children, and we knew that he was a polite person. But about his later life experience and final fate, it is estimated that many people are not very clear.
In fact, Kong Rong's final outcome was not very good, because he offended Cao Cao, he was killed by Cao Cao, and his whole family was killed. Before he died, Kong Rong begged Cao Cao to spare his wife and children, but Cao Cao did not agree. Kong Rong's 9-year-old son saw all this and said 8 words, which became a famous quote for the ages. So, what 8 words did Kong Rong's son say?
During the period of the Three Kingdoms, the heroes were divided and wars were raging, and in the context of this era, Kong Rong, with his outstanding talent and firm character, was particularly prominent in the troubled times.
Kong Rong is the 20th grandson of Confucius, born in Qufu, Lu State. Kong Rong has been very smart since he was a child, and at the age of 4, he showed polite qualities because he gave pears to his brother, and was called a "prodigy". When he was 10 years old, he won the appreciation of Li Ying, who was very prestigious at that time, with his intelligence.
Once Kong Rong and his son went to visit Li Ying, but they were stopped outside the door and not allowed to enter. Kong Rong wittily said that he and Li Ying were relatives because their ancestor Confucius and Lao Tzu (Li Ying's ancestor) had a mentorship relationship, so he went in to meet Li Ying. Li Ying was amazed at Kong Rong's cleverness.
Later, some people said that Kong Rong was just a little smart, and he might not be successful when he grew up. Kong Rong immediately responded, then you must have been amazing when you were a child, and directly left that person speechless.
With his family background and talent, Kong Rong later became one of the "Seven Sons of Jian'an" in the Eastern Han Dynasty and also became an official in the court. He grew up to be smart and accomplished, and this experience showed his talent.
Kong Rong became a maverick political figure in the political arena in the late Eastern Han Dynasty with his unique insights and character that was not afraid of power.
However, it was this upright character that made him seem out of place in the political environment under Cao Cao's rule. Kong Rong publicly criticized Cao Cao's policies and actions on several occasions, especially Cao Cao's ambitions to usurp the Han dynasty, and he made no secret of his opposition. This kind of outspokenness, although he won the admiration of some scholars, also made him a nail in Cao Cao's eyes.
In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), Cao Cao finally lost patience with Kong Rong. At this stormy moment, Kong Rong was arrested by Cao Cao on charges of rebellion. Kong Rong knew that his end was decided, but he was more worried about his family. After being arrested, he begged Cao Cao to spare his wife and children.
At this life-and-death juncture, Kong Rong's nine-year-old son Kong Rong showed unusual courage and wisdom. In the face of his father's pleading and Cao Cao's indifference, he uttered the shocking words: "Under the nest, there are eggs."
After Cao Cao heard this, although his heart was shaken, he finally decided to eradicate the trouble. Kong Rong and his family, including this wise son, were executed. However, Kong Rong's son's words have become a famous saying through the ages and have been passed down to this day.