Outstanding meritorious service, being valued by the imperial court, and Hunan people's stubborn personality, Zuo Zongtang is very conceited and rarely pays attention to anyone. But Zuo Zongtang, who is so conceited, bowed his head twice in front of a beggar.
The first time was when Zuo Zongtang went to Xinjiang. At that time, Zuo Zongtang made up his mind to recover Xinjiang, so he went to Xinjiang with a coffin. Just when he was out of the city, Zuo Zongtang unexpectedly stopped. He saw a beggar with a set of pieces. Zuo Zongtang knew a lot about chess and rarely met his opponent. The reason why he stopped was that the beggar actually hung a sign of "the first game in the world", so Zuo Zongtang came to the beggar and soon broke the mess. Zuo Zongtang tore down the signboard of "the first game in the world" and then set off with an army.
After several years of fighting, Zuo Zongtang finally recovered Xinjiang and returned home with a great victory. However, shortly after Zuo Zongtang's squad returned to Korea, he accidentally met the beggar who was the "first game in the world". Zuo Zongtang was so angry that he was about to tear down the sign of "the first game in the world" when he stepped forward, but at this time the beggar looked up and said, "My Lord, why don't you play the next game again and let me lose?" Hearing this, Zuo Zongtang became interested and began to play chess with beggars again. But what Zuo Zongtang didn't expect was that this time he lost quickly. Zuo Zongtang refused to accept it, and played three games in a row, but all ended in Zuo Zongtang's defeat. Zuo Zongtang realized that his chess skill was far from the beggar's opponent, but Zuo Zongtang was very strange. Why did he win the beggar before going out to war?
The beggar smiled and said:
"The previous left general will go to war, and the important task is on his shoulders. I am afraid that the old man will lose the spirit of the public, and when playing chess, there are many hints that the chess field is like a battlefield, and the situation is changeable. In case of danger, you must have confidence to turn the tide and turn defeat into victory. Today, General Zuo's triumphant return is somewhat arrogant, which discourages your spirit. He is afraid that you will be complacent and get carried away, which is not good for the country and the people, so the old man can't let you ... "After hearing this, Zuo Zongtang was very ashamed, and immediately bowed to thank the old man and sighed with emotion:" Mr. Zuo is not only superb in chess, but also knows how to behave, so he can be a teacher for life! "
After 10 years, Zuo Zongtang met the beggar again when he was wandering around. At this time, Zuo Zongtang was already a world-famous minister. At that time, people called Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang "Zeng Zuo". However, Zuo Zongtang did not agree with Zeng Guofan, although Zeng Guofan helped Zuo Zongtang many times.
After chatting with beggars for a long time, Zuo Zongtang asked, "Do you know Zeng Zuo?" The beggar said, "That's the honorific terms for Lord Zeng and Lord Zuo!" "
Zuo Zongtang then asked, "Why do people say Zeng Zuo instead of Zuo Zeng?"
The beggar pondered for a while and said, "That's because Zeng Gong has left Gong in his eyes, but Zuo Gong has no left Gong in his eyes!" "
Zuo Zongtang felt ashamed when he heard the beggar's words. It turned out that everyone knew his arrogance, but he was still like a frog in the well.
From then on, Zuo Zongtang changed his old conceit and learned from others with an open mind. This beggar was also accepted by Zuo Zongtang as an aide to his family, always reminding himself not to be conceited.
That's all about Zuo Zongtang's story. If you want to know more, please collect it.
Zuo Zongtang