During the mid-Tang Dynasty, a man named Liang Chongyi lived in Chang'an. Possessing extraordinary arm strength, he could bend metal swords into coils. Born into poverty, he scraped by doing odd jobs at the market for a few measures of rice. Later, he joined the famous general Lai Tian, who had quelled the An Lushan Rebellion, and followed him to Xiangyang.
Liang Chongyi was known for his quiet and reserved demeanor in Lai Tian's army, earning him a reputation for steadiness and reliability, which led to his gradual promotion to deputy general. In the first year of the Baoying era of the Tang Dynasty, Lai Tian went to the capital to pay homage to the emperor but was framed by eunuchs and executed. Before leaving Xiangyang, Lai Tian had assigned his generals to guard Nanyang and Fuchang. Upon hearing of his death, these generals fled back to Xiangyang. Leaderless, they gathered to elect a new commander. Among the contenders were Liang Chongyi, Li Zhao, and Xue Yangnan, who all deferred to one another, unable to decide. The generals then declared, "General Liang is prudent and reliable; the Xiangyang army cannot be led by anyone else." Thus, they elected Liang Chongyi as their leader. Soon after, the imperial court recognized his position and appointed him military governor.
Later, the idiom "silent and taciturn" came to describe someone who is quiet and rarely speaks.
Source: *Old Book of Tang*, "Biography of Liang Chongyi"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "沉默寡言" came to describe how someone is quiet and rarely speaks.