One day, a friend gifted Zichan several live fish. The fish were plump and would surely make a delicious meal. Zichan gratefully accepted the gift with delight and then instructed his servant: "Put these fish into the pond in the courtyard." The servant replied, "Master, these fish are a rare delicacy.

This happened in the 17th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign during the Qing Dynasty. One early morning, a man in his thirties rushed into the main hall of Cangwu County's yamen in Guangxi, knelt down on both knees, and raised his petition to appeal for justice.

After Liu Bei suffered defeat in battle against Cao Cao and lost his territory, he had no choice but to seek refuge with Liu Biao, a member of the Han imperial family. Liu Biao was very impressed with Liu Bei's character and conduct, so he gave Liu Bei a thousand troops and stationed him in the Xinye region (present-day Nanyang City, Henan Province).

Yu Qian, style name Tingyi, was a renowned minister of the Ming Dynasty. Before being transferred to the capital, he served continuously as a local official. He was known for his integrity, imposing strict requirements on all subordinate officials and resolutely prohibiting bribery and embezzlement. He led by personal example.

Zhang Rong was a man of the Southern Dynasties. Although his appearance was unremarkable, he was exceptionally intelligent and excelled in poetry, literature, painting, and calligraphy, particularly in wild cursive script. His works were unconventional and uniquely styled. In his conduct, he was lofty and transcendent, associating only with those of genuine talent and insight.

In the early Warring States period, with seven major states vying for supremacy and frequent wars, the state of Wei, where Wu Qi was from, was relatively weak and became a target for stronger states. Born into a wealthy family and possessing great ambitions, Wu Qi, faced with his fragmented and war-torn homeland, spared no expense in his efforts to achieve something significant and contribute to the unification of his country. However, he failed to attain fame or fortune and exhausted his family's wealth, leading to ridicule and mockery from his hometown. In frustration, he left Wei for Lu to pursue studies.

One day, a little monkey felt that summer was too hot; the heat was so intense that he could hardly catch his breath. So he walked far away from home to a small pond, wanting to take a nice, refreshing cool bath. Suddenly, he noticed many young sugarcane shoots growing beside the pond. The monkey became very curious and thought to himself, "If only I had sugarcane at home, I could eat it there to cool down, and I wouldn't have to run all the way here for a bath."

The idiom originates from the "Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government), Tang Dynasty Annals, the First Year of Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao Reign": "When Li Linfu served as chancellor... he especially resented men of letters and talent. Sometimes he would pretend to be friendly with them, luring them with sweet words while secretly plotting their downfall. People of the time said of Li Linfu, 'He has honey on his lips and a sword in his belly.'"

Lu Kang, a renowned general of the late Eastern Wu state, was appointed Colonel of Ardent Military Action at the age of twenty, taking command of the five thousand troops left by his father, Lu Xun. In 264 AD, when Sun Hao ascended the throne as ruler of Eastern Wu, the thirty-eight-year-old Lu Kang became Grand General Who Guards the Army. At that time, the Eastern Wu court was extremely corrupt. Sun Hao was licentious and cruel, maintaining a harem of several thousand women and plundering from the common people.

This idiom originates from the Song Dynasty text Jingde Chuandeng Lu (Jingde Era Record of the Transmission of the Lamp), Volume 10, "Chan Master Congshen of Zhaozhou's East Courtyard": "When the assembly gathered in the evening, the Master said: 'Tonight, anyone who understands my words may step forward.' At that moment, a monk stepped forward and bowed. Master Congshen said: 'I was just throwing a brick to attract jade, yet all I've drawn is a lump of raw brick!'"