It means that the direct minister Li Gu of the Eastern Han Dynasty was killed by the powerful minister Liang Ji and his body was found on the roadside. In ancient times, it means that upright and selfless people end up miserable, but crooked people enjoy all the wealth.

Related introduction:

"As straight as a string, it is on the edge of the road of death; as curved as a hook, it is like a prince." From the Book of the Later Han Dynasty: At the end of Emperor Shun's reign, a nursery rhyme in Kyoto said: "As straight as a hook," String, beside the dead road. The song is like a hook, and it is like a hook. When Emperor Anshun came to the world, his filial piety was short-lived, and the general Liang Ji was greedy for trees and neglected young ones. He thought he had made great achievements and gave orders to the country to support his personal interests.

Translation:

This is a nursery rhyme popular in Kyoto during the reign of Emperor Shun of the Eastern Han Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Shun, General Liang Ji was in power. Taiwei Li Gu objected and was killed by Liang Ji. His body was abandoned on the roadside. At that time, Hu Guang and others who agreed with Liang Ji were granted the title of Marquis. The general idea is that people with an upright character like a bowstring will inevitably end up in the end of the world and be exposed on the roadside; Instead, he was granted the title of marquis and Prime Minister, and was extremely glorious.

Extended information

"The Book of the Later Han" is a biographical history book recording the history of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was compiled by Fan Ye, a historian from the Song Dynasty in the Southern Dynasty of China. Together with "Historical Records", "Hanshu" and "Three Kingdoms", it is called the "First Four Histories".

"Book of the Later Han" has a rigorous structure and orderly arrangement. For example, the eighty biographies are generally arranged in chronological order. The first three volumes focus on influential figures during the Han Dynasty. The following nine volumes are about the clan princes and important generals of the Guangwu era.

The progressive nature of "Book of the Later Han" is also reflected in its courage to expose dark politics, sympathy and praise of justice. On the one hand, it exposes the rich and powerful of the people, and on the other hand, it commends those who are strong and upright and are not afraid of rape. of middle and lower class people. For example, in "Wang Chong Wang Fu Zhong Chang Tong Zhuan", Fan Ye included in detail eight essays criticizing current affairs.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Straight as a string, on the edge of the road of death; as curved as a hook, as opposed to a feudal lord