What does it mean for a scholar to die for a confidant?

Refers to being willing to devote oneself to those who appreciate and cultivate oneself. Confidant: A person who understands himself and trusts himself.

The words come from Yu Rang, one of the four great assassins of the Spring and Autumn Period. Yurang was a retainer of the Zhi family in the Spring and Autumn Period. In 453 BC, the Zhao family of Jin State, together with the Han family and the Wei family, defeated the Zhi family in Jinyang. Zhi Boyao, the leader of the Zhi family, was killed and his head was made into wine by Zhao Xiangzi. device use. In order to repay Zhi Boyao's kindness, Yu Rang went to the toilet on a bridge, swallowed charcoal and lacquered himself, and assassinated Zhao Xiangzi many times. Finally, he committed suicide and died, leaving behind the everlasting saying that "a scholar dies for a confidant."

Extended information:

Initially, Yu Rang, the grandson of Bi Yang, a knight-errant of the Jin Kingdom, was appointed minister to the Fan and Zhongxing clans, but he was not reused, so he joined Zhibo and got the title. Favor. Later, the three kingdoms of Han, Zhao and Wei divided Zhibo's land. Among them, Zhao Xiangzi hated Zhibo the most and used his skull as a drinking vessel. At this time, Yu Rang fled to the mountains and said, "Oh! A man of lofty ideals sacrifices himself for the people who understand him, and a woman dresses up for the people who like her, so I must avenge Zhi Bo." So Yu Rang concealed his name and disguised himself as a tortured man. The people lurked into the palace and used the toilet as a cover in order to take the opportunity to kill Zhibo's enemy Zhao Xiangzi.

Soon after Zhao Xiangzi went to the toilet, he suddenly felt his heartbeat, so he ordered the person who washed the toilet to be brought in for interrogation. Only then did he find out that Yu Rang was disguised as the assassin. At this time, Yu Rang actually took out a dagger and said, "I want to avenge Zhibo!" The guards captured him and wanted to kill him, but Zhao Xiangzi stopped him and said, "This is a righteous man. I just need to be careful to avoid him." Because Zhibo left no descendants after his death, any of his officials who are willing to avenge him must be a wise man in the world." So Zhao Xiangzi released Yurang. . But Yurang continued to plot to avenge Zhibo. He was covered in paint and made up to look like a leprosy man. At the same time, he shaved off his beard and eyebrows, completely disfigured himself, and then pretended to be a beggar. Even his wife didn't recognize him. When she saw him, she just said: "This man doesn't look like my husband, but his voice is." Very similar, what's going on?" So Yurang swallowed charcoal in order to change his voice. When his friend saw him, he said to him: "This method of yours is difficult to succeed. If you say you are A person with lofty ideals is okay, but it would be wrong to say that you are a wise person.

Because with your talent, if you serve Zhao Xiangzi with all your loyalty, then he will definitely value you and trust you. After you gain his trust, you will definitely succeed in your revenge plan." Yu Rang smiled after hearing this and said, "You mean to fight new friends for the sake of old friends. To kill the new monarch instead of the monarch is an act that extremely undermines the righteousness of the monarch and his ministers. The reason why I am doing this today is to clarify that the righteousness of the monarch and his ministers does not depend on whether revenge is successful. Moreover, he has committed himself to being someone else's minister, but he is secretly plotting. Planning to assassinate someone is tantamount to having second thoughts about the monarch. The reason why I do it today even though I know it is forbidden is to shame future generations of people who have second thoughts."

Soon. , Zhao Xiangzi was going out on inspection, Yu Rang lurked under the bridge that Zhao Xiangzi had to pass. When Zhao Xiangzi was riding by the bridge, his horse suddenly jumped up. Zhao Xiangzi said, "This must be Yu Rang again." After sending people to search for him, it turned out to be Yu Rang. Therefore, Zhao Xiangzi scolded Yu Rang and said, "Didn't you once serve Fan and Zhongxing? Zhibo destroyed Fan and Zhongxing. Instead of avenging Fan and Zhongxing, you humiliated yourself and served Zhibo."

Now that Uncle Zhi has died and the country has been destroyed for a long time, why do you want to avenge him like this?" Yurang replied: "When I served Fan and Zhongxing, they only regarded me as an ordinary person. They treat me like an ordinary person, and Zhibo treats me as a scholar, so I repay him as a scholar." Then Zhao Xiangzi sighed with pity, "Alas. ! Yu Rang, because you avenged Zhibo, you have become a loyal minister and a righteous man. Think about it for yourself, I can no longer release you!" So Zhao Xiangzi gave the order! The guards surrounded Yurang.

At this time, Yu Rang said to Zhao Xiangzi: "As far as I know, a wise minister does not hinder others' loyalty, and a loyal minister does not cherish his own life in order to fulfill his duty. The king has already done this before Forgive me once, and there is no one in the world who will not praise the king for this. Today I came here to assassinate you, and you should kill me here.

But I want to get the king's royal robe, so I am allowed to be here. Prick it a few times, and I will have no regrets even if I die. I wonder if the king can fulfill my wish?" In order to fulfill Yu Rang's wish, Zhao Xiangzi took off his royal robe and handed it to Yu Rang by his courtiers. After Yu Rang took over the king's robe, he drew his sword, stood up, and stabbed the king's robe with his sword, looking up to the sky and sighing: "Ah! My God! I, Yu Rang, finally avenged Zhi Bo!" After Yu Rang finished speaking, he committed suicide. And die. When the loyal people of Zhao heard about it, they all shed tears and were filled with regret.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - A scholar who is a confidant dies