During the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the brilliant scholar Kong Rong and the fiery-tempered Mi Heng both arrived in Xuchang, which had become a magnet for talent after Chancellor Cao Cao brought Emperor Xian there. Kong Rong, known for his sharp wit and literary prowess, took an immediate liking to Mi Heng and recommended him to Cao Cao, saying, "This man has an eye for talent that rivals the ancients—he is a true thoroughbred among men." Cao Cao, ever eager to recruit capable advisors, summoned Mi Heng and asked, "What makes you think you can serve me?" Mi Heng replied boldly, "I can cover a thousand li in a single day with my words and deeds, but only if you recognize my worth." Cao Cao, amused yet skeptical, tested him with a series of questions, and Mi Heng answered each with such brilliance that even the chancellor was impressed. However, Mi Heng's arrogance soon clashed with Cao Cao's authority, leading to a famous falling out. Source: *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, "Biography of Mi Heng".
By then, Kong Rong was already in his forties, serving as an imperial advisor at court, while Mi Heng was just over twenty. Mi Heng was quick-witted and brilliant in writing, but stubborn and willful by nature. After arriving in Xuchang, someone suggested he visit a few renowned scholars. Mi Heng replied, "In all of Xuchang, aside from Kong Rong and Yang Xiu, no one else is worth my respect!"
When Kong Rong heard about Mi Heng, he was intrigued, suspecting the young man possessed genuine talent. Disguising himself in plain clothes, Kong Rong sought out Mi Heng's residence and paid him a visit. Upon meeting, they engaged in deep conversation and felt an instant bond, as if they had known each other for years. At the height of their rapport, Mi Heng declared, "You are Confucius reborn!" to which Kong Rong replied, "And you are Yan Hui, his most cherished disciple, returned to life!" Thus, transcending their age difference, they became close friends.
Later, Kong Rong repeatedly recommended Mi Heng to Cao Cao, who, already aware of Mi Heng's reputation, summoned him. But Mi Heng, viewing Cao Cao as a "treacherous prime minister," despised him, claiming illness each time to avoid the summons and frequently criticizing Cao Cao behind his back. Enraged yet fearing the stigma of killing a worthy scholar and blocking the path to talent, Cao Cao devised a scheme to kill by proxy, sending Mi Heng to serve under the hot-tempered Jiangxia governor Huang Zu. As expected, Mi Heng soon offended Huang Zu in Jiangxia and was executed by him.
Kong Rong was later executed by Cao Cao as well. Thus, a pair of extraordinarily talented friends from different generations both met their end at Cao Cao's hands.
Later, the idiom "forget-the-age friendship" came to describe close friends who disregard age or generational differences.
Source: *Book of the Later Han*, Chapter "Biography of Mi Heng"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "忘年交" came to describe close friends who disregard age or generational differences.