Dong Hu's Brush Pen

After Linggong of Jin State succeeded to the throne, he became very incontinent and overbearing. He often stood on the building and shot the passersby with a slingshot for his beauties' pleasure. Once the bear's paws cooked was not to his taste. As a result, he gave orders to kill the cook.What's more, under his command, the cook's corpse was dismembered into eight pieces and afterwards it was put in a bamboo basket and abandoned in the wilderness.

The Prime Minister, Zhao Dun (the forefather of the kings of the Zhao State), was very indignant at his unscrupulous behaviour. He frequently admonished Linggong, but the king didn't follow his advice, instead, he accumulated resentment in his mind and planed to get rid of Zhao Dun secretly.

Hearing that, Zhao Dun fled. Zhao Dun's nephew, Zhao Chuan had already seen through Linggong's corrupt nature, and one day killed Linggong when he was drunk. Later on, Zhao Chuan enthroned King Chenggong of Jin State, and Zhao Dun became the Prime Minister again. Because Zhao Dun was intelligent and capable, he won praises from the government to the public. However, Dong Hu, the historiographer, held a different idea. He wrote openly in the historical record,“Zhao Dun murdered his king.”

Reading that, Zhao Dun was astounded. He hastened to Dong Hu and explained he didn't commit the crime of regicide. Dong Hu persisted,“As the Prime Minister, although you left the capital, at the moment the King was murdered, you were still within the border. After the King was killed, you didn't investigate into the case and penalize the murderer. Except you, who should bear the accusation of regicide?”

Subsequently, learning of this event, Confucius commented,“Dong Hu, an excellent historiographer in ancient times, recorded events truly in historical record, deserved praise. Zhao Dun was also an outstanding minister in old days, but took the blame for the fault of others because of the law. He was wronged really.”

Ever since then, people set Dong Hu's characters of being true to facts as a model to praise.

Young people are supposed to be upright. They should reveal and struggle against the immoral and dishonest ways and customs in the society.