Author: Li Dakui
(Fan Li in the Secret History of Xi Shi)
Fan Li, a native of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period, was born in Wandi in 536 BC, and because he was dissatisfied with the corrupt rule of the Chu State, he turned to the Yue King Gou Jian, and after the official worshiped the Doctor, invited Chu Wan ling Wen To assist Gou Jian.
Because the Yue king Gou Jian insisted on cutting down Wu in 494 BC, the soldiers were defeated by Huiji, which is known in history as "the shame of Huiji".
In order to help Gou Jian revitalize the great cause, the 42-year-old Fan Li bi qi in a battle, showed his life's talent, took the initiative to ask Wen Zhong to stay in the Yue Kingdom to take charge of government affairs, and accompanied Gou Jian and his wife to go to the Wu Kingdom in 493 BC as "slaves" to endure humiliation and seek peace... In the end, Fan Li accompanied Gou Jian and his wife to serve as cattle and horses in Wu Guo for 3 years, and were able to return to China safely.
After returning to the State of Yue, Fan Li and Wen Zhong did their best to assist Gou Jian in striving to be strong, and finally defeated the State of Wu in one fell swoop when the army was strong and strong, and the Wu King Fu almost killed himself, and the State of Yue thus achieved hegemony.
This is the classic legend told by the idiom "lying down to taste the guts": the bitter hearted man, the sky does not bear the burden, the lying salary tastes the guts, and the three thousand Yue Jia can swallow Wu.
After the restoration of the country to achieve hegemony, Fan Li has passed the age of 63. According to common sense, he has reached the end of his life and can enjoy his success. However, Fan Li chose an alternative old age. So, how was his old age, how was his life?
<h1>(1) Retirement after the first achievement</h1>
In his many years of serving and working with Yue Wang Gou Jian, Fan Li understands that Gou Jian is a "male lord" who can only share hardships and cannot share happiness. He decided to "achieve success without living", even if he is 63 years old, he will retreat from the rapids, leave Vietnam, and live the ordinary life he wants.
Before leaving, he persuaded his friend Wen Zhong to leave together: the bird was exhausted, the good bow was hidden; the cunning rabbit died, and the lackey cooked.
It means that "when the birds are finished shooting, good bows and arrows will be collected; when the cunning hares are hunted, there will be few good days for the hounds, and they will be cooked." "
The implication is that we will take advantage of the fact that we are now finished and leave the Country of Vietnam quickly, and if we do not leave the Yue King's practice, the end will certainly be very miserable.
Unfortunately, the wenzu who was keen on meritorious names did not believe what Fan Li said, believing that he had established the merits of the world, was used by the Yue king, and was highly regarded, how could there be a bad ending? Dead or alive are unwilling to give up the hard-won glory and wealth.
Fan Li had no choice but to say goodbye to Wen. Later, the fate of Wen Zhong really verified Fan Li's words.
The following year, King Gou of Yue found a crime of "Wen Zhong's desire to rebel" and gave Wen Zhan a sword, causing him to judge himself.
This is the story of the idiom "the bird is full of bows and hides", which warns the world: success does not have to be self.
<h1>(2) Rafting in Lihu Lake</h1>
After Fan Li made a different language, he resolutely gave up the honor of "General of the Shang" and quietly left with his wife Xi Shi hanging a crown on the night of the feast to reward the meritorious service.
That night, Fan Li and Xi Shi quietly walked out of the Qi Gate, came to the moat, took a small wooden boat arranged in advance and circled the Kyoto night scenery around the river, shed tears and parted, and went to the faint Taihu Lake.
Wuli Lake, north of Taihu Lake, has beautiful scenery and beautiful mountains and rivers. Fan Li and Xi Shi decided to hide their names and build grass houses here to officially live the life of a fisherman.
As a result, Fan Li often took Xi Shi to boat on Wuli Lake, and later people called Wuli Lake "Li Lake".
This is the story of Fan Li's "rafting Li Lake".
Later, Fan Li and Xi Shi left Wuli Lake and chose to move to Hangzhou's West Lake.
Therefore, there is also a saying that Fan Li and Xi Shi "boated on the West Lake".
<h1>(3) Scattering the family wealth three times</h1>
During the period of "rafting Lihu Lake" and "Rafting West Lake", Fan Li also assumed the pseudonym of Yizipi, and went to Qi, Song and other places to go to the sea to do business, mainly engaged in fishing and salt trafficking.
Because Fan Li has a business acumen and is good at "small profits but high sales", he soon accumulated tens of millions of assets. Fan Li became a huge rich man, but he insisted on the concept of "wealth gathering but not keeping" for money. To this end, he scattered his family wealth three times to relieve poverty.
After each time Fan Li scattered his family wealth, he quickly earned more property than before. So much so that people worship him, worship him as a "shang saint", respect him as the god of wealth, and hope to be blessed by him, the god of wealth, and get rich from business, and the source of wealth will roll from then on.
This is the origin of the worship of Fan Li as the god of wealth in the future generations.
<h1>(4) Retirement after the second meritorious service</h1>
Because Fan Li was famous for doing business in Qidi, and at the same time, he was also righteous and loose money, and won the praise of the people.
When king Qi found out, he paid a special visit and praised Fan Li's wisdom and ability, so he hired him as Xiangguo and presided over government affairs in the capital of the country, Linzi.
Fan Li served in the State of Qi for three years, and the national strength of the State of Qi was further enhanced and became stronger. At this time, he believed that for a cloth cloth, the rule of the family can cause thousands of gold, and the official can be given to the secretary of state, which is already the extreme, and cannot be honored for a long time.
Therefore, Fan Li resolutely returned the seal to the King of Qi, retired again, and went to the Song Kingdom to continue to go to the sea to do business.
In the end, Fan Li chose to settle in the Song Dynasty TaoQiu (present-day Heze Dingtao, Shandong), which he believed was the best place to do business "in the world". From then on, Fan Li freely ran on the road of business until his death in 448 BC, living for 88 years.
Therefore, people also call Fan Li "Tao Zhu Gong".
This is the "Shang Sheng" Fan Li, who has been indifferent to fame and fortune all his life, has a wise mind all his life, and has been sober and simple to live all his life.
From the age of 63, he "retired from success", to later "boating the five lakes", going to the sea to do business, settling in Taoqiu, having the most beautiful 25 years of old age, able to live a long life, to die well, and to become a "shang saint", becoming a "god of wealth" worshipped and respected by future generations!
Fan Li's later life is so dashing, it is so beautiful, really living out his best state of old age, drawing a beautiful end to his calm life, and is worthy of reference and reference by elderly friends.
【About the author】Li Dakui, male, Han ethnicity, post-70s, Bachelor of Laws, Guizhou Meitan people, literature lovers.
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