One day, Han Xin walked through the market with a long sword. The butcher didn't like him and wanted to make things difficult for him. He blocked Han Xin's way and said to Han Xin in public, "Don't be like a chivalrous man with junk all day. I can see that you are a coward. If not, you can kill me in front of everyone, otherwise, you can't pass through here. Unless you pass by here. " The butcher pointed to his crotch, and Han Xin understood what he meant. When onlookers were thinking that Han Xin couldn't stand the humiliation, Han Xin crouched down and climbed to the butcher's crotch. Then Han Xin and roared off, letting the butcher behind him say those insulting words from his mouth.
Later, Han Xin was placed under Liu Bang's account, and was directly appointed as a captain, and was promoted to general with the strong recommendation of Xiao He. Later, he led an expedition of 30,000 Han troops, which successively captured Wei, Daiguo, Zhao and Qi for Liu Bang and laid the foundation for Liu Bang. When Liu Bang and Xiang Yu were in a state of anxiety, Han Xin had already become the king of Qi. After Xiang Yu was destroyed and Liu Bang ruled the country, Han Xin was enfeoffed to his hometown and became the king of Chu.
Some sages will repay their kindness and revenge when they rise to power. When Han Xin became the king of his hometown, he only returned the favor without revenge. Han Xin rewarded the old laundry servant who often delivered meals to Han Xin with two daughters. As for the butcher, instead of killing him, Han Xin praised his bravery and promoted him to lieutenant. Han Xin said to his men, "Am I really afraid to kill him? If I don't want to be humiliated by that crotch and kill it in a rage, the laws of the Qin Dynasty will kill me, too. Killing him won't make me famous. Why should I be afraid to face shame and ruin my future? "
This is the famous historical allusion: the humiliation of the crotch. After reading this story, some people think that Han Xin is flexible, tolerant and never forgets old grievances. But I think this view is not entirely correct. Han Xin is indeed flexible, but he may not be able to forget old grievances.
Sima Qian personally went to Han Xin's hometown to inquire about his past when compiling Historical Records-Biography of Han Xin. The old man in the village told him this story:
When Han Xin was a child, his family was poor, and his mother died without money for the funeral. Han Xin, on the other hand, chose a good cemetery for her mother everywhere. He wants 10000 families to live next to the cemetery and guard his mother's grave.
Later, Sima Qian went to visit Han Xin's mother's grave, just like those old people said. Later, Han Xin did arrange 10,000 families to guard his mother's grave.
It is not difficult to see that although Han Xin has unparalleled wisdom, he is too arrogant; Although Han Xin is superior, he is too flashy and boastful. Why did he arrange for ten thousand people to guard his mother's grave? Although life was hard when he was young, he knew that he would make great achievements, and he had a superb talent in the ridicule of everyone, which developed his grandiose and arrogant character. He can't forget that his mother was buried just because he was poor. Can he forget the scene where he was insulted by a rude butcher in public when he was embarrassed?
It is precisely because of Han Xin's forbearance, his mother's simple burial, and the humiliation of the butcher's leg that it has always been unforgettable in his mind. These two unforgettable humiliations are stepping stones to inspire him to keep fighting and finally succeed. Han Xin struggled in troubled times for more than ten years. These two things have passed for more than ten years, but he can't let go for a long time.
What does a truly generous and open-minded person look like? It's like he tripped over a small stone. Will he hate that stone for more than ten years? He felt sick because he stepped on a piece of shit. Will he hate that dog for more than ten years? For a generous and open-minded person, hatred and humiliation are like stones that trip him up and shit that makes him sick. How can these little things stay in his mind for more than ten years?
Everyone is embarrassed and embarrassed sometimes. If he is good at pretending, he will let others see his embarrassment and embarrassment, and everyone is hypocritical, and everyone will pretend. Han Xin rewarded the butcher, which made many people think that he was generous and didn't remember his old enemies. But it also made many people see through his narrow-minded and unforgettable enemies.