Qi Huangong was one of the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period, and she was a vassal of Jiuhe. It can be said that Zhou can't help her Duke Zhuang of Lu fought side by side with her, and Cao Mo was the general. As a result, he lost three wars in a row. Duke Zhuang of Lu had to cede territory for peace and promised a truce with Lu. But above the alliance, he suddenly pulled out his dagger and demanded the return of the land ceded by Lu to Qi due to defeat, and promised to return it.
Later, Qi Huangong didn't break his promise because Cao Mo returned the land in an improper way. He really returned the land ceded by Lu to Lu. In fact, with Qi Huangong's strength, it is impossible for Cao Mo to give him the land seized by such despicable means. Lu had no choice but was honest and promised to return the land. It is no accident that Qi Huangong became the first of the five tyrants.
2. Jin Wengong doesn't covet the initial benefits.
Zhong Er, the son of Jin Dynasty, went into exile because of suffering. At that time, many vassal States refused to accept him. In the most difficult time, Jie tui can only save Zhong Er by cutting meat from his thigh. When he arrived in Chu State, he was warmly received by Chu State. During the dinner, the king of Chu asked him, "If you become the king of Jin in the future, how will you repay me?"
Zhong Er said, "You don't lack pearls and beautiful jade. I won't have anything rarer to give you, but thanks to you, if I become the king of the State of Jin in the future, if we meet on the battlefield, I will definitely return three homes (one for three miles) in return! "
Later, Zhong Er and Jin Wengong really became monarchs. Five years later, that is, twenty-eight years in the public, I really met Chu on the battlefield, and I did practice my promise and retired for nearly a hundred miles to repay Chu's hospitality.
3. Wei Wenhou has not given up the dangerous period.
Wei Wenhou is drinking with his ministers, and he is in high spirits. At this time, it began to rain. Wei Wenhou remembers that he went hunting on the same day as Ren (the forest manager), so he "drove in the wild". The left and right ministers said in surprise, "Everyone is drinking hard and it is raining heavily. Where are you going? "
Wei Wenhou said, "I have an appointment with someone to go hunting today. Although it is raining, I can't go hunting. Why not tell others, because I am happy? " So I went alone. Wei Wenhou was originally a vassal of the State of Jin, but later became independent from Wei, Han and Zhao, and was criticized by traditional thinkers. But he was a very successful vassal, especially in honesty, which was exemplary.
4. The story of $1,000 commitment
At the end of the Qin Dynasty, there was a man named Ji Bu. He kept his word and had a very high reputation. Many people have established a strong friendship with him. At that time, there was even a proverb: "It is better to get a hundred pounds of gold than to keep a promise." (This is the origin of the idiom "A promise is as good as a gold") Later, he offended Liu Bang, the Emperor Gaozu, and was offered a reward for his capture.
As a result, his old friends not only were not confused by the heavy money, but also risked the extinction of Jiuzu to protect him from disaster. A person who is honest and trustworthy will naturally get a lot of help and gain everyone's respect and friendship.
On the other hand, if you covet temporary comfort or petty advantages and lose trust in your friends, you will get "benefits" on the surface. But for this benefit, he ruined his reputation, which is much more important than material things. Therefore, breaking a promise to a friend is tantamount to losing a watermelon and picking up sesame seeds, which is not worth the loss.
5. Honest and trustworthy little Sean
Sean, a native of Han Dynasty, was a good boy who respected his elders and kept his promise since childhood. One day, Sean took a leisurely walk on the bridge. An old man in a coarse coat walked up to Sean, deliberately threw his sandals under the bridge, looked at Sean and said, "Boy, go and get my shoes back!" " "
Sean paused, but seeing that he was old, he went to the bridge to get his shoes back and handed them to him. The old man sat by the bridge and said, "Put it on for me without lifting my eyelids.
So, Sean knelt on the ground, and the old man put out his foot to let Sean put on his shoes, and then the old man left with a smile. Sean looked at the old man's back in surprise. Who knows, the old man took a few steps and turned around, waved to Zhang and motioned to follow him.
Sean obediently stepped forward, and the old man kindly said to him, I think your child is very good and worth teaching. Meet me there at dawn in five days. Zhang Liang saluted and said, "Yes".
Five days later, just before dawn, Sean came to the bridge. The old man was already sitting on the bridge without waiting for Sean. The old man said angrily, "At this time, it is almost dawn. Young people are so dishonest and late for dating their elders. What can they do when they grow up? " Come to me five days later when the chicken crows. "Say that finish, the old man left.
Five days later, when the cock crowed, Sean went, and the old man had already arrived first. The old man said angrily, "I heard three crows." How did you get here? Come and see me a little earlier in five days. "
Five days later, Sean went to the bridge to wait for the old man at midnight. After a while, the old man came and said happily, "If young people want to achieve great things, they must keep their promises and say when they will arrive."
Then the old man took out a thin and torn book from his pocket and said, "After reading this book, you can become the emperor's teacher. This will be realized in ten years. Thirteen years later, you will see me in Jibei, and Huangshi at the foot of the ancient city mountain is me. " With that, the old man left and never appeared again.
At dawn, Sean looked at the book sent by the old man. It turned out to be Sun Tzu's Art of War, also called Sun Tzu's Art of War in Huangshi. Sean cherished this book very much, studied hard and learned a lot from it. Moreover, he always abides by the teachings of his elders, strictly demands himself, and is determined to be a person who will always keep his promise, so that others can trust him and achieve great things.