During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, a man named Dong Shao from Northern Wei loved reading from a young age, mastered poetry, and carried himself with elegance. Though born into a prominent family and serving as an imperial advisor, a national academy instructor, a military commander, and a palace secretary, his fate took a tragic turn.
During a rebellion in Yuzhou led by a man named Bai Zao-sheng, the emperor ordered Dong Shao to pacify the region. While traveling through Shangcai, Dong Shao was ambushed by enemy forces, captured, and taken to Jiangdong, where he was detained. General Lü Sengzhen of Emperor Wu of Liang’s court spoke with Dong Shao and quickly recognized his talent. When Emperor Xiao Yan heard of this, he sent someone to comfort Dong Shao, saying, “You are a loyal minister to your state and a filial son to your family. The nation cannot do without you. Now, you may choose whether to stay or return.” Dong Shao replied, “My elderly mother is still in Luoyang. I have no other choice but to go back.” Emperor Xiao Yan then sent the chief secretary Huo Lingchao to tell Dong Shao, “We are sending you back this time, hoping that through your efforts, the two states can restore peace and allow the people to live in harmony. Would that not be excellent?” Dong Shao answered, “Restoring peace and ensuring stability for the people is a great matter between our two nations. Since you have entrusted me with this message, I will surely report it clearly to my emperor.” However, when Dong Shao returned to his own state, Emperor Shizong offered him kind words of comfort but refused to agree to the peace between the two countries.
Later, a man named Xiao Baoyin rebelled in Chang'an. Dong Shao submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting command of troops to attack him. The memorial read: "I will lead three thousand blind Ba warriors and annihilate the rebels completely." Emperor Suzong read the memorial and asked his eunuch Xu He, "Are those Ba people truly blind?" Xu He replied, "This is Dong Shao's bold boast, meaning those Ba warriors are so fierce and fearless that they charge into battle without hesitation. They are not actually blind." The emperor laughed heartily and ordered Dong Shao to immediately march against the rebels.
Yet this man of ambition and ability was later assigned to tend horses. Facing the desolate mountains and the spirited steeds that tossed their manes and neighed, Dong Shao could not hold back his sorrow and once wrote this poem: "Riding slowly on the hillside, when the horse is thirsty, it drinks from the Yellow River. I would rather be stationed at the distant frontier, my ears seem to hear again the heart-wrenching songs of Chu."
Later, Dong Shao was killed by a man named Yuwen Heita.
The idiom "fearless" describes someone who is afraid of nothing.
Source: *Book of Wei*, "Biography of Dong Shao"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "无所畏惧" came to describe how someone is afraid of nothing.