During the Han Dynasty, there was a historian named Sima Qian. One day, the emperor received a message from northern China. It said that the general (将军) Li Ling had given in to the enemy. The emperor was very angry with Li. But Qian didn't say a word.
The emperor asked Qian what he thought about the matter. The man replied, "The enemy hsa 80,000 soldiers, but Li has only 5,000 men. He has been fighting hard for more than ten days. Li only gave in because they had run out of food. I believe he is waiting for another chance to attack. "
When the emperor heard Qian's words, he got even angrier, He sentenced Qian to castration (宫刑). Qian felt so hunilated (受辱的) that at one point, he wanted to kill himself. But in a letter to his friend, Qian wrote, "If I were to die now, it would be like one of nine cows losing one hair. I don't want to die like a nobody. I will first finish the history book that I am writing. "
Later, Sima Qian did finish the book, Records of the Grand Historian. It became one of the most famous books ever written in China.
