Pang Tong, styled Shiyuan, was a native of Xiangyang. A renowned scholar of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, he was erudite and versatile, equal in fame to Zhuge Liang—Zhuge Liang was called "Crouching Dragon," while Pang Tong was known as "Young Phoenix."
Pang Tong was a close friend of Zhou Yu, the great general of Eastern Wu. In 208 AD, when Zhou Yu set fire to the Red Cliffs and crushed Cao Cao's forces, Pang Tong contributed to the victory by offering the "Chain of Ships" strategy, which proved instrumental in the triumph.
In 210 AD, Zhou Yu died of illness in Ba Commandery, and Pang Tong, deeply grieved, personally escorted the funeral cortege to Wu Commandery.
When Pang Tong arrived in Wu Commandery, local scholars, having heard of his reputation, eagerly sought his friendship. The renowned Wu luminaries Gu Shao, Lu Ji, and Quan Cong were deeply impressed by Pang Tong's brilliance and became his close confidants. Lu Ji and Gu Shao, both strategists serving Sun Quan, strongly recommended Pang Tong to their lord. However, because Pang Tong was physically unattractive, Sun Quan judged by appearances and refused to retain his services.
Soon after Zhou Yu's funeral, Pang Tong decided to return west. Lu Ji, Gu Shao, and Quan Cong gathered at Chang Gate to bid him farewell. As they chatted about past and present with great delight, the assembled scholars asked Pang Tong to compare Lu Ji and Gu Shao. After a moment's thought, Pang Tong replied, "Mr. Lu is like a swift horse with extraordinary talent, while Mr. Gu resembles a slow but enduring ox, capable of carrying heavy burdens to distant places."
When someone asked Pang Tong, "In your opinion, does Lu Ji's talent surpass Gu Shao's?" Pang Tong smiled and replied, "A fine horse can only carry one person, but an ox bearing a heavy load can travel a hundred li in a day—does it carry the weight of just one?" Lu Ji and Gu Shao were delighted with his assessment and asked him to evaluate himself. Pang Tong said with confidence, "When it comes to devising strategies for an emperor and governing the realm, I am more than capable."
After the farewell feast, Pang Tong headed west. He later joined Liu Bei, and with Zhuge Liang's recommendation, was appointed deputy military advisor. From then on, Pang Tong devoted himself wholeheartedly to aiding Liu Bei in his quest for supremacy alongside Zhuge Liang.
Later, the idiom "Carrying a Heavy Burden to a Distant Place" came to be used as a metaphor for being able to shoulder great responsibility.
Source: *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, "Biography of Pang Tong"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "负重致远" came to describe being able to shoulder great responsibility.