To be fearless because one has strong backing or a secure support; to act without scruple due to a perceived advantage.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn Period, after the death of Duke Huan of Qi, the hegemon of the Central Plains, his son Duke Xiao of Qi inherited the throne. In the 26th year of Duke Xi of Lu's reign (634 BC), the State of Lu suffered a severe famine. Duke Xiao of Qi, taking advantage of Lu's predicament, personally led a large army to march eastward to attack Lu.
Upon hearing the news, Duke Xi of Lu, knowing that the Lu army could not contend with the Qi army, sent the minister Zhan Xi with cattle, sheep, and provisions to comfort the Qi army. At this time, Duke Xiao of Qi's army had not yet entered the territory of Lu. Zhan Xi traveled day and night and met Duke Xiao of Qi on the border between Qi and Lu.
Zhan Xi said to Duke Xiao of Qi: "Our lord of Lu heard that Your Majesty personally came to our country and specially sent me to console your army."
"Are you people of Lu afraid?" Duke Xiao of Qi asked arrogantly.
Zhan Xi, being eloquent, responded neither obsequiously nor arrogantly: "Those who are ignorant might be a little afraid, but our lord and ministers of Lu are not afraid at all."
Duke Xiao of Qi listened and said contemptuously: "Your treasury of Lu is empty, your people lack food, there are no crops in the fields, and not even green grass can be seen. What do you rely on not to be afraid?"
Zhan Xi, with confidence, calmly replied: "We rely on the dying wishes of King Cheng of Zhou. In the past, our ancestor Duke of Zhou and your ancestor Duke Tai of Qi faithfully and wholeheartedly assisted King Cheng, working tirelessly to govern the state, and finally brought great peace to the world. King Cheng was very grateful to them and made them swear an oath, admonishing their descendants to be friendly for generations and not to harm each other. All this is well documented. Our ancestors were so friendly, how could Your Majesty rashly abandon the ancestral covenant and attack our State of Lu? It is precisely because of this that we are not afraid."
Duke Xiao of Qi listened, felt that Zhan Xi's words made great sense, and dismissed the idea of attacking, ordering his army to return to Qi.