One's heart or mind; one's inner thoughts and feelings.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
Xu Shu was a strategist for Liu Bei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was resourceful, decisive, and could predict things like a god, earning Liu Bei's deep trust. Once, Xu Shu deciphered Cao Cao's 'Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation' and thoroughly defeated Cao Cao's forces.
Cao Ren, a general under Cao Cao, was unwilling to accept defeat and secretly led troops to attack Xinye at night. Xu Shu had anticipated this and seized the opportunity to infiltrate Fancheng when Cao Ren left it. As a result, Fancheng fell.
Cao Ren retreated to Xuchang, feeling ashamed before Cao Cao. Cao Cao remarked, 'Liu Bei must have a capable person planning for him!' Cao Cao discovered it was Xu Shu and wanted to trick him into coming to Xuchang to keep him by his side.
They forged a letter in Xu Shu's mother's handwriting. When Xu Shu saw the letter and learned his aged mother was held in Xuchang, he had no choice but to tearfully bid farewell to Liu Bei. Xu Shu said, 'Now that I have lost my aged mother, my mind is in turmoil (方寸乱矣), and I can be of no help. I must take my leave now!'