During the early Han Dynasty, a man named Tian Shu from Xingcheng in the state of Zhao was known for his love of swordsmanship and deep interest in Daoist philosophy. He studied with great diligence, was upright in character, and thus gained considerable local renown.
In 202 BCE, after the King of Zhao, Zhang Er, died, his son Zhang Ao succeeded him. Prime Minister Zhao Wu recommended Tian Shu to Zhang Ao, who appointed him as a court gentleman. Soon, Tian Shu's fair and incorruptible conduct earned Zhang Ao's deep respect.
In 200 BC, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, passed through the Kingdom of Zhao on business. Zhang Ao, Liu Bang's son-in-law and the king of Zhao, received him with utmost deference, even personally serving his meals. But Liu Bang treated him rudely, often shouting at Zhang Ao for no reason. This infuriated the elderly prime ministers Guan Gao and Zhao Wu, both over sixty. They privately told Zhang Ao, "Your Majesty treats Liu Bang with such respect, yet he is so insolent. We cannot bear this any longer—please allow us to kill him!"
Zhang Ao was greatly alarmed and quickly said, "How can this be? Without His Majesty's grace, how could I be where I am today? Never speak such wrong words again!"
Guan Gao and Zhao Wu, seeing Zhang Ao's unwavering loyalty, resolved to kill Liu Bang themselves to avenge their lord's humiliation. They planted assassins at an inn along Liu Bang's route, but he unexpectedly chose not to stay there, foiling their plot.
In 198 BCE, an informant reported to Emperor Liu Bang that Guan Gao and Zhao Wu had plotted an assassination, leading to their arrest along with King Zhang Ao and a decree: "Anyone who follows Zhang Ao to Chang'an will have their entire clan executed!" Hearing this, Tian Shu showed no fear, donned prisoner's garb, and along with a dozen others, claimed to be Zhang Ao's household servants, accompanying him to the capital.
Liu Bang was convinced that Guan Gao had acted on Zhang Ao's orders, so he commanded that Guan Gao be tortured mercilessly. Despite being beaten black and blue, Guan Gao refused to implicate Zhang Ao. Moved by such unwavering loyalty, Liu Bang released both Zhang Ao and Guan Gao. Upon learning that Zhang Ao was free, Guan Gao took his own life in prison.
After his release from prison, Zhang Ao was demoted to the title of Marquis of Xuanping. Emperor Liu Bang praised Guan Gao's character highly in front of Zhang Ao, then inquired about the other ministers of the Zhao state, prompting Zhang Ao to recommend over a dozen men, including Tian Shu, to the emperor.
After a lengthy conversation with Tian Shu and his companions, Emperor Gaozu of Han found their knowledge and virtue unmatched by anyone else, delighting him so much that he appointed them all as commandery governors and advisors to the feudal lords.
Later, people used the idiom "None Surpass Him" to refer to no one being able to exceed him (or them).
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of Tian Shu"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "无出其右" came to describe how no one is able to exceed him or them.