During the reigns of Emperors Xuan and Ai of the Western Han Dynasty, there was a principled minister named He Wu, known for his benevolence and eagerness to recommend and encourage talented individuals. However, he deeply despised forming cliques for personal gain or appointing people based on personal connections. Whenever he needed to assign subordinate officials, he would first draft selection criteria, announce them publicly, and strictly adhere to the rules, evaluating candidates solely on their virtue and ability, not on personal relationships. As a result, most of those he promoted were individuals without prominent reputations.
At that time, Minister He Shou, who had been He Wu's superior when serving as a prefect, recognized He Wu's potential as a future prime minister. Since they shared the same surname, He Shou sought to build a connection and treated He Wu favorably during his tenure. Later, when He Shou became Grand Minister of Agriculture, his nephew served as a senior official under He Wu, who was then Inspector of Yang Province.
Once, He Wu was staying in the capital for an imperial audience when He Shou's nephew also arrived in Chang'an. He Shou invited He Wu's younger brother, He Xian, and others for a drink. In the midst of the revelry, He Shou called his nephew out to meet everyone, deliberately saying, "This is the chief clerk of Yangzhou, a man of modest talent who has yet to be promoted." He Xian felt deeply embarrassed and, upon returning, urged He Wu to recommend He Shou's nephew. He Wu refused, saying, "An inspector is the model for an entire province; his duty is to recommend the worthy and punish the wicked, and he must never show favoritism." Despite He Xian's repeated pleas, He Wu reluctantly summoned the chief clerk but only offered him a single cup of wine, ultimately refusing to recommend this mediocre subordinate.
"Heshuo" means extremely glorious. "Heshuo Youming" later describes someone with a very prominent reputation.
Source: *Book of Han*, "Biography of He Wu"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "赫赫有名" came to describe how someone with a very prominent reputation.