After Han Xin, the King of Qi, crushed Xiang Yu's 200,000-strong army in a single battle, the terrified Chu overlord sent his strategist Wu She to infiltrate Han Xin's camp and persuade him: "Remember how the people, suffering under the Qin dynasty's brutal rule, united to overthrow it, agreeing to stop fighting and divide the land by merit once the tyrant fell? Now that Qin is gone and kings have been crowned, the Han king has broken his oath, marching east to seize territory and titles, rallying lords to attack my Chu—his insatiable greed knows no bounds."
Seeing that Han Xin was not interrupting, Wu She continued, "Besides, the Han King is not invincible—he has fallen into the Hegemon King's grasp several times. It was the Hegemon King's honest and generous nature that pitied him and let him live. Yet, the moment the Han King escaped, he immediately broke his promise and turned around to attack the Hegemon King. His betrayal and ingratitude have reached such an appalling degree that it leaves one utterly speechless!"
Wu She, his voice sharp and urgent, pressed the King of Qi, "Though you serve Liu Bang faithfully and fight his battles, I swear he will destroy you in the end. Your immortal achievements have bought you only a moment's peace—he needs you now only because Xiang Yu still stands. The fate of both kings rests in your hands. Lean right, and Liu Bang wins; lean left, and Xiang Yu triumphs. If Xiang Yu falls today, you are next. You have old ties with Xiang Yu—why not turn against Liu Bang, ally with Chu, and carve up the empire as equals? That is the wise course!" Han Xin remained unmoved, his face betraying nothing.
Han Xin bowed and thanked Wu She for his goodwill, then replied, "When I served King Xiang of Chu, my rank was no higher than a guard holding a halberd. He ignored my words and rejected my plans, so I left Chu to join Han. King Han of Han granted me the title of Supreme General, placed tens of thousands of troops under my command, provided me with clothing and food, and heeded my every word and counsel. He has shown me such deep trust and closeness that betraying him would be unjust, even if it costs me my life. Please convey my gratitude to King Xiang and offer him my apologies."
Han Xin's sincere and earnest words left Wu She speechless, forcing him to return in disappointment.
Later, the idiom "listen to words and follow plans" came to describe someone whose words and strategies are always accepted.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "言听计从" came to describe how someone whose words and strategies are always accepted.