In 597 BCE, King Zhuang of Chu led his army to attack the state of Zheng. Duke Xiang of Zheng, while defending his capital, sent a messenger to the state of Jin for reinforcements.
Three months later, the Chu army breached the capital of the Zheng state
After King Zhuang of Chu accepted the surrender of the State of Zheng and formed an alliance with Duke Xiang of Zheng, he began to withdraw his troops.
By then, relief forces from the state of Jin had arrived. The army was organized with Xun Linfu as commander of the central army and Xian Hu as his deputy; Shi Hui and Xi Ke led the upper army, while Luan Shu and Han Jue commanded the lower army. When the three armies reached the Yellow River, Xun Linfu learned that Zheng had already made peace with Chu. He told the generals, "Let us withdraw first. Once the Chu troops have left, we can then call Zheng to account for their actions!"
Deputy Commander Xian Hu of the central army firmly opposed, saying, "No! Zheng has betrayed Jin for Chu; how can we stand by? As long as we defeat the Chu army, Zheng will naturally return to Jin's embrace!"
That very day, Xian Hu ignored Xun Linfu's objections and led his troops across the Yellow River. Seeing this, Xun Linfu was at a loss and sought advice from Shi Hui and Luan Shu. They replied, "You are the supreme commander of the army. If the troops disobey orders, you must bear responsibility. Add to that the loss of Zheng, and returning to court will be hard to justify. Better to advance and fight the Chu army to the finish. Even if we lose, the charge against you will be lighter."
Upon hearing this, Xun Linfu ordered the entire army to cross the Yellow River. Just then, King Zhuang of Chu was preparing to return home, but when news of the Jin army's arrival reached him, he gathered his advisors for counsel. Minister Wu Can said, "Xun Linfu commands the Jin army but holds no real authority. His deputy, Xian Hu, is stubborn and self-willed, disregarding Xun Linfu's orders and crossing the river first against his wishes. What is there to fear from such an army? I urge Your Majesty to lead the charge against them—victory will surely be ours!"
King Zhuang of Chu, upon hearing this, led his army northward. Soon, the two forces clashed. The Jin army's command collapsed, and they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Chu forces.
Later, the idiom "Obstinate and Self-Opinionated" came to describe someone stubborn, unreceptive to others' advice, and acting arbitrarily.
Source: *Zuo Zhuan*, "Duke Xuan's Twelfth Year"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "刚愎自用" came to describe how someone stubborn, unreceptive to others' advice, and acting arbitrarily.