Zhang Zhi, the great calligrapher of the Eastern Han Dynasty, studied calligraphy very hard when he was young. He practiced calligraphy diligently every day, forgetting sleep and food. His pen became bald after a few days of writing, and he used up several ingots of ink a month.
After finishing writing every day, Zhang Zhi went to the pond in his backyard to wash his pen and inkstone. Over time, the water in the pond turned black.
Xiao He, the minister of the Western Han Dynasty, assisted Liu Bang in establishing the Han Dynasty. Because of his great achievements, Liu Bang named him the Minister of Zan, and later promoted him to the position of prime minister. Xiao He's calligraphy was very good, and he was especially good at writing on plaques with a bald pen. Once, someone asked Xiao He to inscribe a name for a newly built palace. Xiao He thought hard for three months before he started writing. On the day of writing, some people heard that Xiao He had thought about it for three months before writing it, and they all came from far away to read it. I saw that Xiao He was like leading troops to fight. The movements of his wrists seemed to be commanding thousands of troops. The words he wrote were like the civil servants and generals he led. Every word was so powerful. Everyone present was impressed by his wonderful gestures. Deeply impressed.