During the Eastern Han Dynasty, eunuchs and imperial in-laws took turns seizing power, plunging the court into chaos as provinces rebelled across the land. Seizing the opportunity, Gongsun Shu declared himself emperor in Chengdu, relying on the region's natural defenses and large population. While Emperor Guangwu (Liu Xiu) was busy fighting in Shandong and couldn't spare attention, heroes from Guanzhong flocked to Gongsun Shu's side. He amassed hundreds of thousands of troops, built massive fortifications, stockpiled grain, constructed palaces, appointed ministers and officials, and rode in imperial carriages—acting every bit like a true sovereign.
After Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, ascended the throne, he dedicated himself to restoring order and reviving the glory of the Han dynasty, gathering powerful generals like Wu Han and Geng Yan, which strengthened his forces like a tiger gaining wings. The formidable Gongsun Shu was a thorn in his side, and Liu Xiu was determined to eliminate his power.
In the spring of 35 AD, Emperor Guangwu sent General Wu Han to conquer Gongsun Shu. Wu Han, alongside General Cen Peng, breached Jingmen and drove deep into enemy territory. After Gongsun Shu's officer Ren Man was defeated, city after city opened its gates in surrender. Emperor Guangwu wrote to Gongsun Shu, laying out the advantages and urging him to surrender, and his own advisors also pressed him. Gongsun Shu replied, "Rise and fall are matters of Heaven's decree—since when does a Son of Heaven surrender?" To prove his resolve, he sent assassins to kill General Cen Peng.
The following spring, Wu Han led his forces to besiege Wei Dang and Gongsun Yong, generals under Gongsun Shu. Gongsun Shu sent his son-in-law Shi Xing with five thousand troops to rescue them, but they were defeated again. From then on, the commanders grew fearful and restless, with defections occurring day and night. Emperor Guangwu issued an edict urging Gongsun Shu to surrender, yet Gongsun Shu showed no intention of yielding.
In September of that year, Wu Han pressed his advantage and marched on Chengdu. Gongsun Shu sent his generals Xie Feng and Yuan Ji with over 100,000 troops in twenty camps to attack simultaneously. Wu Han fought from dawn to dusk, killing Xie Feng and Yuan Ji and taking 5,000 heads. Desperate, Gongsun Shu asked his advisor Yan Cen, "What should we do?" Yan Cen replied, "A true man fights for survival in the face of death—why wait to be captured? Wealth is easily replaced; don't hoard it. Heavy rewards will bring brave men!" Gongsun Shu then scattered his treasure, recruited 500 death-defying soldiers, and coordinated with Yan Cen to plant false banners and beat drums as a feint, while secretly sending a surprise force to strike Wu Han's rear. In the chaos, Wu Han fell into the river and only escaped by grabbing his horse's tail. Gongsun Shu bought himself a brief respite, but ultimately his regime collapsed.
Later, the idiom "Seeking Life Amidst Death" came to be used for finding a way to survive in extremely dangerous situations.
Source: *Book of the Later Han*, Chapter "Biography of Gongsun Shu"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "死中求生" came to describe finding a way to survive in extremely dangerous situations.