Author: CHUNG Yoon-Ngan
Date: 03-17-03 19:27
國士無雙
The only one offical in the country
國 (Guo2) means; country
士 (Shi4) means; seniot official
無 (Wu2) means; not have
雙 (Shuang) means; two or twin
The time was during the period of the Qin Dynasty (秦朝 221BC to 207BC).
People suffered greatly under the cruel, brutal and ruthless Govenment of Qin
and they organized themselves into armed bands to rebel against the Qin Authority. Han Xin (韓信) joined the band that organized by Xiang Liang (項梁), who was a descendant of the formwer state of Chu (楚國).
Soon after another armed band organized by Liu Bang (劉邦) joined Xiang Liang's group. The allied groups grew into a large army. Han Xin was only a junior officer. When Xiang Liang died in the battle his nephew Xiang Yu (項羽) became the leader of the band. However, Han Xin remained as a junior offcier and he was not happy.
In 206BC, the Qin Dynasty was destroyed by the forces of Xiang Yu and Liu Bang.
Han Xin continued to serve as a junior officer in the army under the command of Xiang Yu. Liu Bang was bestowed upon by Xiang Yu as the Prince of Han (漢王)
and was transferred to be stationed in Han Zhong (漢中 present day Nan Zheng county 南鄭縣 in Shaanxi province 陜西省).
Since he was not being promoted in Xiang Yu's army, Han Xin defected to Liu
Bang. While he was in Hang Zhong he met Xiao He (蕭何), the Prime Minster of Liu Bang. Han Xin and Xiao He often had long discussion on current affairs. They agreed that sooner or later Xiang Yu would have war with Liu Bang. In spite of the fact that Han Xin was a good military strategist Liu Bang appointed Han Xin as an officer in charge of provision which was a junior post in the army. Han Xin was disappointed.
One day, in the late afternoon, Han Xin decided to leave Han Zhong for good. He packed his belongings and rode off with a horse. After work, Xiao He heard that
Han Xin had left through the east gate of the city. Xiao He was in panic and immediately, he rode and tried to call Han Xin to come back. Xiao He pursued Han Xin throughout the night. Eventually, he got up with Han Xin. Xiao He persuaded Han Xin to return to Han Zhong.
On hearing that Xiao He was chasing after Han Xi in the middle of the night, Liu Bang was not happy. Finally, Xiao He and Han Xin returned to the city. The next day, when Liu Bang met Xiao He, he told him that, " Many officers had left Han
Zhong why Prime Minister did not care. Why Han Xin, a junior officer, has caused you such a great stir." Xiao He replied that, "Han Xin is a great military strategist.
There is no second one like Han Xin in the country 國士無雙 (Guo Shi Wu Shuang). You need him to fight a war with Xiang Yu."
Soon after, civil war broke out between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu. Han Xin was appointed by Liu Bang as the commander-in-chief of the Han armed forces. The civil war lasted for five years until 202BC. Han Xin assisted Liu Bang in winning the war against Xiang Yu. Liu Bang founded the Han Dynasty 206BC to 220AD) and he became the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. Han Xin was rewarded the title of
"大將軍 The Great General"
原文 original text:
[諸將易得耳。至如信者﹐國士無雙
It is easy to gain other generals but an officer like
Han Xin is the only one in the country.]
From chapter 92 in the book "史記 Shi Ji"
by 司馬遷 Sima Qian (145BC to 86BC)
CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 2003
Yoon-Ngan
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