In 202 BC, after four years of difficult struggle, Liu Bang finally defeated the powerful Chu overlord Xiang Yu in the Battle of Qixia, ushering in the moment of bitterness.
However, how to reasonably distribute the huge benefits at the beginning of the establishment of Dahan is undoubtedly a big challenge for the zero-based Liu Bang Group. Therefore, this issue was temporarily shelved, and after a long time, the people below began to discuss in private, which was undoubtedly some rebellious remarks in Zhang Liang's eyes.
In order to appease the people's anger, Liu Bang adopted Zhang Liang's strategy, and first canonized Yongya, the "enemy" who had humiliated him many times, as a marquis. This move clearly shows that people like Yongya can be crowned marquis, so the treatment of other heroes will naturally not be low.
Sure enough, this strategy worked, and everyone's emotions were soothed.
When Ding Gu heard that Liu Bang had canonized his former enemy as a marquis, he decided not to flee, but to meet Liu Bang with anticipation, hoping to get the same canonization.
After meeting Liu Bang, before Ding Gu had time to establish a relationship or get closer, Liu Bang spoke directly: "Ding Gu used to be Xiang Yu's general, but he was disloyal to Xiang Yu and privately let me go as an enemy, causing Xiang Yu to finally lose the world.
Kill this unfaithful general for me now! "Ding Gu pretended to be smart, not only did he not get the best Houlu, but he lost his life in vain and was nailed to the pillar of shame in history forever.
This is the famous story of "Liu Bang killed his benefactor Ding Gong" in history. Although Liu Bang's "ingratitude" did not correspond to the Confucian ideals that he had always known for his benevolence and righteousness, Confucianism did not criticize it, but praised Liu Bang's thoughtfulness and foresight.
Sima Guang commented in "Zizhi Tongjian": "Liu Bang killed a person, but made tens of millions of people feel frightened, his concern is deep and far-reaching, isn't it worth our deep thought?
Isn't it a matter of course that his descendants have enjoyed Tianlu for more than 400 years? ”
Sima Guang once said that small righteousness cannot harm great righteousness. Although Liu Bang once killed his benefactor, his actions clearly showed that the betrayer would not end well. If you eat the king, you will be loyal to the king, and you must not be half-hearted and please.
This reminds me of those who enjoy the convenience and benefits brought by the prosperity of the country, and even receive the salary of the state, while turning their backs on the Lord to seek glory and worship foreign people. For this kind of villain who "eats people's rice and smashes people's bowls", we should make it public and let them be nailed to the pillar of shame in history forever.
Ding Gong was a general under Xiang Yu, and he once led the army to chase the emperor to the west of Pengcheng, and the emperor was in danger, so he turned back to Ding Gong and said: "The two of us are fighting!" ”
Ding Gong then withdrew his troops. When Xiang Yu was eliminated, Duke Ding came to meet the emperor. The emperor publicized Ding to the public and said: "Ding Gong was disloyal as a courtier of King Xiang, which made King Xiang lose the world. ”
So he beheaded Ding Gong and said, "Let the people of later generations not be like Ding Gong." ”