Historical story

During the Warring States period, King Huai of Chu was deeply immersed in sensual pleasures and luxuries, spending his days feasting and playing with his favorite concubine, Lady Zheng Xiu, living a corrupt and decadent life. Later, the ruler of the State of Wei, wishing to flatter King Huai and further weaken his resolve, presented him with an exceptionally beautiful woman. The king became extremely fond of her.

In this idiom, "li" (唳) refers to the cry of a bird. "Cry of the wind and call of the crane" means mistaking the sound of the wind and the cry of cranes for the shouts of enemy troops, suspecting that pursuing forces have arrived. It describes a state of extreme panic and nervous tension.

Legend has it that the celestial deity who manages horses in heaven is named Bo Le. On earth, people also refer to those exceptionally skilled at discerning the quality of horses as "Bo Le."The first person to be called Bo Le was originally named Sun Yang, a man from the Spring and Autumn period. Because of his outstanding expertise in the study of horses, people gradually forgot his real name and simply called him Bo Le, a name that has continued to this day.

Han Xin, from Huaiyin (present-day southwest of Qingjiang, Jiangsu), was a prominent general under Liu Bang, the King of Han. In order to defeat Xiang Yu and seize control of the empire, Han Xin devised a strategy for Liu Bang: first capturing the Guanzhong region, then crossing the Yellow River eastward to defeat and capture Wei Wangbao, a king who had betrayed Liu Bang and pledged allegiance to Xiang Yu. Following this, he advanced eastward to attack King Zhao Xie.

This idiom originates from "A Memorial Advising King Wu" by Mei Cheng during the Western Han Dynasty: "If you can listen to the words of loyal ministers, every endeavor will surely bring joy. If you persist in doing as you desire, your danger will be greater than a pile of eggs, and your task harder than ascending to heaven. But if you change your intentions, it will be easier than turning over your palm, and your position will be as secure as Mount Tai."

Han Xin was a powerful and influential military commander in the early Han Dynasty. Originally from Huaiyin, he came from a poor family and lost both parents at a young age. He had a free-spirited and unrestrained personality, disregarding social etiquette. With no family wealth, he could neither be recommended for an official position nor engage in business or farming. As a result, he lived in poverty and destitution, often struggling to find his next meal, relying on others for food, eating here and there, and many people disliked him for this.

A famous military strategist during the Warring States period. His exact birth and death dates are unknown, and his real name has been lost to history. He was active around the second half of the 4th century BC, a native of the State of Qi (modern-day Juancheng County, Shandong Province), and a descendant of Sun Wu, the renowned general of the State of Wu.

King Zhuang of Chu was one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period and the most accomplished ruler of the state of Chu during that era.Once, after a great military victory, King Zhuang was so delighted that he hosted a grand banquet in his palace to entertain his ministers, filling the palace with festive cheer. In high spirits, the king summoned his favorite concubine, Lady Xu, to pour wine for the guests in turn and add to the merriment.

Lu Ban was a native of Dunhuang. Even as a child, his hands were remarkably skillful, and he could make all kinds of beautiful kites. As he grew up, he learned carpentry from his father and became exceptionally talented at building bridges, constructing houses, erecting temples, and crafting pagodas. He was well-known throughout the Hexi region for his craftsmanship.

The story of "tying grass" appears in the Zuo Zhuan, Duke Xuan, Year 15. During the Spring and Autumn period, Wei Wuzi of the state of Jin had a beloved concubine. When Wei Wuzi fell ill, he told his son Wei Ke: "After I die, you must marry her off." Soon after, when Wei Wuzi's illness worsened, he again instructed Wei Ke: "After I die, she must be buried with me as a sacrifice." After Wei Wuzi passed away, Wei Ke did not kill the concubine to be buried with his father; instead, he married her to someone else. Wei Ke explained: "When a person is critically ill, their mind becomes confused and disordered. I married her off following my father's instructions when he was mentally clear."