The Four Assassins

The "Historical Records: Biographies of Assassins" records the deeds of many assassin knights, among which four are particularly outstanding and are often called the "Four Assassins". Their creed is "A scholar will die for a confidant." They left their chivalrous names in history with their courage and heroic deeds that shook mountains and rivers.

1. Zhuanzhu - The Sword Hidden in the Belly of the Fish

Zhuanzhu (? - 514 BC) was a native of Wu Guotang, and a native of Zouma Hong Kong, Hongshan West, Hongsheng Township, Wuxi. Born as a butcher, he is brave and powerful and very filial to his mother. Once, Zhuanzhu was fighting with a big man. Everyone tried to persuade him, but when his mother called him, he tied up his hands and went back. Wu Zixu happened to pass by this place, and he admired him deeply when he saw him, and they became friends for eight worshippers. Wu Zixu knew that Prince Ji Guang wanted to kill King Liao of Wu, so he recommended Zhuan Zhu to Prince Ji Guang.

The father of the young master Ji Guang is Zhufan, King of Wu. Zhufan had three younger brothers: the eldest brother Yuji, the second brother Yi, and the third brother Jizha. Zhufan knew that the third brother Ji Zha was Xian, so he did not establish a crown prince and passed the throne to his three younger brothers in turn, hoping to pass the country to Ji Zha in the end. After Zhufan died, the remaining sacrifices were passed down. I sacrificed myself to death and spread the news to the barbarians. When Yi dies, it should be passed down to Ji Zha; but Ji Zha refused to accept the kingdom and went into hiding. Yi's son Liao established himself as the king of Wu.

Wang Liao succeeded his father in violation of the ancestral rule that the elder brother should succeed to the throne through his younger brother and the eldest nephew after the younger brother. Therefore, the young master Ji Guang, who wanted to succeed to the throne, was dissatisfied and secretly waited for an opportunity to seize the throne.

The young master Ji Guang treated Zhuanzhu very kindly and respected his mother. Zhuan Zhu was grateful for his kindness and promised to die. But with his mother in the hall, he hesitated about the assassination. After his mother found out about the incident, she hanged herself to death in order to fulfill Zhuan Zhucheng's important event. After Zhuan Zhu buried his mother, he devoted himself to plotting with his son Ji Guang to assassinate King Liao. He also suggested that King Liao liked to eat "Yuzhi" (grilled fish) and could hide a sharp sword in the fish's belly and wait for an opportunity to assassinate him. For this reason, Zhuan Zhu went to Taihu Lake to learn the art of grilling fish, and in three months he mastered the skill of grilling fish.

The time was ripe. Prince Ji Guang came to see Wang Liao and said, "There is a cook from Taihu Lake who is good at grilling fish. The taste is very delicious. Please come down and taste it." Wang Liao was pleased. Promise, promise to go the next day. Ji Guang hid the soldiers in a secret room underground overnight, and ordered Wu Zixu to secretly arrange for hundreds of dead soldiers to come to the rescue outside.

Although Wang Liao agreed, he was afraid that his son Ji Guang might have a conspiracy, so he was heavily guarded when he went to the banquet. From the royal family to the hall of Ji Guang's house, there were many armored men wielding halberds and sharp knives. King Liao was wearing He is wearing triple armor, and his cronies are always at his side.

After drinking for a few rounds, Ji Guang hid in a secret room underground, saying that his feet were in unbearable pain and needed to be wrapped tightly with silk. After a while, Zhuanzhu presented the fish to be roasted, holding a dish in his hand. Two rows of warriors sandwiched Zhuanzhu, who knelt naked and moved forward on his knees. Zhuanzhu had hidden the sharp "fish intestine" sword in the cooked fish maw. When he reached King Liao's seat, he suddenly pulled out his dagger and stabbed King Liao hard. The force penetrated the triple armor and pierced his back. King Liao screamed and died immediately. The guards next to him swarmed forward and chopped Zhuanzhu into pieces with swords and halberds.

When Prince Ji Guang realized that the matter was accomplished, he immediately ordered the ambush troops to come out and annihilate all of King Liao's guards.

After Prince Ji Guang killed King Liao, he proclaimed himself King of Wu, namely Helu, the famous King of Wu in history, and the father of Fu Chai.

Memorial to future generations:

After Helv was established, he granted Zhuanzhu’s son Zhuanyi the title of Shangqing, and according to Zhuanzhu’s last wish to be buried next to Emperor Taibo’s tomb, he was granted the title of Shangqing. Zhuanzhu was buried, and today there is still "Zhuanzhu's tomb" in the east ridge of Hongshan Mountain. According to legend, the "Zhuan Zhu Pagoda" in Dalou Lane, Wuxi City was the Youli tomb where Helu was buried for him, but it was demolished during the Cultural Revolution. Qin Songshuo, a native of Yi, once wrote a poem "Zhu Pagodas": "One sword repays kindness and expands the hegemony, but the poor flowers and plants in the Forbidden City are barren; the fragrant knights' bones leave the ruins of the pagoda, and the land still belongs to Wu."

Because of Zhu Zhu Pagoda. Zhu Zeng learned the art of cooking fish by the Taihu Lake. Later generations regarded him as the "ancestor of chefs". In the old days, residents of the city often went there to burn incense and pay homage. Nowadays, the famous dish "Sweet and Sour Fish" in Suzhou and Hangzhou is the abbreviation or common name of "Sweet and Sour Yellow River Carp". It is the inheritance and representative of "Quanzhiyu" (someone called "Quanzhiyu"), and its invention The person who taught Zhuan Zhu how to cook fish was Taihe Gong (or Taihu Gong), a famous chef in the Spring and Autumn Period.

2. Yu Rang - lacquer body swallowing carbon

Yu Rang was a native of the Jin Dynasty in the Spring and Autumn Period. In 453 BC, there were six major families in Jin State competing for power. Yurang once worked under the Fan family and the Zhongxing family, but was not taken seriously. Later, he took refuge with Zhibo, who valued him very much. There was a deep hatred between Zhao Xiangzi and Zhibo. Zhao Xiangzi united with the Han and Wei families to eliminate Zhibo and his clan, and used his skull as a wine glass. Yurang believed that a valuable person should sacrifice his life for those who appreciate him, just like a woman should put on the most beautiful dress for those who like her. So he made up his mind to avenge Zhibo.

He first changed his name, pretended to be a criminal, and sneaked into the palace. He tried to assassinate Zhao Xiangzi with a dagger by renovating the toilet. However, when Zhao Xiangzi was using the toilet, he suddenly became alert and ordered his men to search and arrest him. When they arrived at Yurang, Zhao Xiangzi's followers originally wanted to kill him, but Zhao Xiangzi thought that Yurang was willing to avenge his old master and was a righteous man, so they released him, but they also began to be wary of him. p>

After Yurang was released, he was still unwilling to do anything. In order to assassinate him again, he shaved off his eyebrows and beard to change his face; swallowed coals to change his voice; He smeared poisonous paint on his body, causing abscesses and blisters on his body to change his body. Then he begged on the street, and even his wife couldn't recognize him when she walked by. But one day a friend recognized him. Come and persuade him: "With your talents, if you are willing to pretend to surrender to Zhao Xiangzi, Zhao Xiangzi will definitely use you and get close to you. Then won't you have a chance to take revenge?" Why do you need to abuse yourself like this? Yu Rang said, "If I surrender to Zhao Xiangzi, I should be loyal to him. If I use that despicable method to kill him, wouldn't I be disloyal and unjust again?" "Yu Rang still had to complete his mission of revenge in his own way.

Finally, an opportunity came. Yu Rang knew that Zhao Xiangzi was going to cross a bridge, so he lurked under the bridge in advance, preparing to kill him. Assassinate him while crossing the bridge. However, Zhao Xiangzi's horse suddenly jumped, which made Zhao Xiangzi aware of it. After Yurang's plan failed again, Zhao Xiangzi blamed him. Said: "You used to work under the Fan family and the Zhonghang family. Zhibo destroyed them. Instead of avenging them, you took refuge with Zhibo. So, now you can also take refuge with me. Why do you have to work for Zhibo?" What about revenge? Yurang said: "When I was under the Fan family and the Zhongxing family, they didn't pay attention to me at all and regarded me as an ordinary person. But Zhibo valued me very much and regarded me as the best talent and my confidant. I must avenge him!

Zhao Xiangzi was very emotional after hearing this, and said, "You have been extremely kind and righteous to Uncle Zhi; and I have let you go several times." I can't release you this time, so you can do it yourself! "

Yurang knew that he had to die this time, so he begged Zhao Xiangzi: "You let me go last time, and everyone in the world already knows your wisdom. This time I hope you can fulfill my last wish, take off your clothes and let me pierce you; this way I will have no regrets even if I die. "

Zhao Xiangzi agreed to his request, and Yurang drew his sword, stabbed his clothes three times, and then committed suicide.

Memorial to future generations:

On the day of Yurang's death, all the benevolent people in Zhao State were extremely sad. Later generations praised him extremely. Today, there is a stone bridge named Yurang Bridge in the southwest corner of Zhai Village, Xingtai County, Hebei Province. It is said that this place is from the Warring States Period. The place where the righteous Yurang assassinated Zhao Xiangzi is still popular in the local area today: The rainbow shadow on the waves is like a gull, and the palm trees in the hands have been sad when the mountains come and go, and the flowers on the shore have bloomed and fallen since the spring and autumn. The wisdom family tripod has been divided into three parts, and the kindness of the loyal man is rewarded with a sword. If there is a word on the stone fence, there will be no way for the ministers with two hearts.

3. Nie Zheng - Brother Zhongjie Lie

Nie Zheng (? - 397 BC), a native of Shenjinli, Zhiyi (now south of Zhicheng, Jiyuan). At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, the Korean doctor Yan Zhongzi was persecuted by Prime Minister Xia Lei and went into exile. He avenged his hatred for leaving his hometown and assassinated Xia Tire.

Later, I heard that Nie Zheng, a native of Zhe in the Wei State, fled to Qi State with his mother and sister because he killed people to avoid revenge. He was engaged in the business of selling dogs in the market. He is a man of benevolence, filial piety, chivalry and superb martial arts. Yan Zhongzi then went to Qi, found Nie Zheng's residence, visited her several times, prepared wine and food to personally pay tribute to Nie's mother, and presented Nie's mother with a hundred yi of gold as a gift. Nie Zhengjian refused to accept his resignation, but he promised Yan Zhongzi to be his confidant.

Soon, Nie’s mother passed away. Yan Zhongzi personally helped Nie Zheng bury his mother with the son's rites, and Nie Zheng was grateful. After that, Nie Zheng served his mother's death for three years and married his sister. After he had no worries, Nie Zheng went to Yan Zhongzi's house to inquire about the specific situation of his enemies. He declined Yan Zhongzi's request for death squad assistance and went to South Korea alone to avenge Yan Zhongzi.

The Xia Lei Mansion is heavily guarded. In Fang Shi, Xia Xia was sitting high up in the palace hall, with armored men holding halberds standing on both sides. Nie Zheng went straight into the Han Mansion with his sword. Many soldiers could not react in time. Nie Zheng's long sword penetrated Xia Lei's chest with the force of a white rainbow piercing the sun. Xia Lei was killed instantly. Suddenly there was great chaos in the mansion, and the soldiers gathered to besiege Nie Zheng. After Nie Zheng killed dozens of people with his long sword, he could not escape the encirclement, so he turned the hilt of the sword upside down, scratched his cheek with the tip of the sword, gouged out his eyes, and died of disembowelment.

After Nie Zheng died, the King of Han exposed his body in the market and offered a reward to anyone who could identify him. Nie Zheng's sister Nie Rong heard the news and immediately told people: "This must be Nie Zheng. In the past, he was an enemy of Han and Yan Zhongzi, a scholar. Zheng must repay his kindness for knowing me. I should go and recognize him." Then he set off for South Korea and arrived at the market. The corpse was identified as Nie Zheng. Nie Rong held the corpse in his arms and cried loudly, "My brother Nie Zheng lives in the deep well in Zhe!"

At that time, someone with good intentions tried to dissuade him and said, "This is the murderer who assassinated the Prime Minister of Han. The King of Han offered a thousand gold reward for his death." I'm afraid his relatives won't be able to escape the heavy punishment. If you don't avoid it, how dare you come to identify it?" Nie Rong replied: "The reason why Nie Zheng suffered humiliation and disappeared among the vendors was because my mother was in the hall and I hadn't been there yet. Marry. Yan Zhongzi met my brother Nie Zheng among the butchers, and he bent down to make friends. How could he not repay the kindness of such a profound friendship! The scholar died for his close friend, and Nie Zheng destroyed his body just because of me, so as not to be recognized. Implicated. But how can I be afraid of being implicated and let Nie Zheng's reputation be buried!"

After saying this, Nie Rong shouted "God!" and committed suicide next to Nie Zheng's body. Some people in the city felt that their siblings were chivalrous, so they collected their bodies and buried them with care.

Memorial to future generations:

The elders of Nie Zheng’s hometown (today’s Sijian Village, Zhe Town, Jiyuan City) built a tomb to commemorate him. In the Song Dynasty, Nie Zheng Temple was built in front of the tomb. After several generations of repairs, it has been preserved to this day. Another memorial place for Nie Zheng is in Yuzhou City, Henan Province, called Nie Zhengtai. In the 1940s, Guo Moruo wrote a famous historical drama "Flowers of Tangdi" based on Nie Zheng's deeds. With the passion of a poet, he gave new connotations to Nie Zheng and Nie Rong, recreating the cruel events more than two thousand years ago. One scene. In addition, the famous song "Guangling San" written by Cai Yong during the Eastern Han Dynasty also praised Nie Zheng's feats.

4. Jing Ke - The picture shows a sharp dagger

It’s too familiar. There are a lot of movies and TV series now. No more writing.