The reason why we left our relatives to serve you is to admire your noble righteousness.

From Sima Qian's Biography of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru in the Western Han Dynasty, excerpt from the original text:

Like every dynasty, he often claimed to be ill and didn't want to compete with Lian Po. I always like to go out and see Lian Po, and I like to lead cars to hide. So Mr. Scheeren said to the admonition officer, "I went to my relatives' house to serve you, and I admire your noble righteousness." Today, you and Lian Po are in the same column. Even the monarch speaks ill of you, but you are afraid to hide it. Fear is great, and mediocrity is shameful. The situation is similar! I'm waiting for you. Please resign. "

Translation:

Every time he goes to court, Lin Xiangru often claims that he is sick and doesn't want to compete with Lian Po for priority. Before long, when Lin Xiangru went out, he saw Lian Po and Lin Xiangru turned around and avoided.

So Lin Xiangru's men and women came to Lin Xiangru to persuade them, saying, "The reason why we left our relatives to serve you is that we admire your integrity. Now you are like Lian Po. Lian Po speaks ill of you, but you dare not avoid him. You are so timid that ordinary people feel ashamed, let alone be a leader! We people have no future, please let us resign! "

Extended data

Creative background:

Sima Qian's stepfather was Taishi Gong in the third year of Yuanfeng (BC 108), and he began to write Taishi Gong Shu (hereinafter referred to as Historical Records) in the first year of Shu Tai (BC 104). In about two years (9 1 year ago), the book was finally compiled and revised. There are 130 articles in the book * * *, and this article comes from Volume 81 of Historical Records.

At the end of the Warring States period, Qiang Qin adopted the strategies of "making friends far away and attacking near" and "divide and rule" to actively expand abroad. Zhao's strength is slightly weaker than Qin's. This article is a joint biography, centering on Lian Po and Lin Xiangru, and describes the main deeds of Zhao She and Li Mu.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Biography of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru