In 379 CE, Former Qin Emperor Fu Jian dispatched his general Fu Pi with 70,000 troops to attack Xiangyang, held by the Eastern Jin, while three additional armies totaling 100,000 soldiers coordinated the siege from the outskirts.
The defending general of Xiangyang, Zhu Xu, held his position by relying on the natural defenses while urgently sending messengers to the Eastern Jin court for reinforcements.
Upon receiving an urgent report, Emperor Xiaowu of the Jin Dynasty immediately ordered General Liu Bo to lead 8,000 troops to rescue Xiangyang at breakneck speed. Liu Bo set out at once, but when his army reached a spot 50 li from Xiangyang, a scout reported, "The Former Qin forces have amassed 170,000 troops in the area."
Liu Bo saw that he had only 8,000 troops under his command, while the enemy forces were far superior. Pressing forward recklessly would be like throwing an egg against a rock—a sure trap. So he ordered his men to halt and abandoned the march toward Xiangyang.
Zhu Xu held Xiangyang for twenty days, his heart burning with worry as no relief force arrived. When his own commander, seeing the enemy's overwhelming strength, betrayed him and defected, Xiangyang finally fell, and Zhu Xu was captured.
Emperor Xiaowu of the Jin Dynasty dismissed Liu Bo from his post as Champion General, citing his failure to provide adequate relief during a crisis.
Soon after, Emperor Xiaowu learned the true balance of forces between the two sides and realized that even if Liu Bo risked his life to rush to the rescue, it would be utterly futile. So the emperor reinstated him as Champion General.
Four years later, the Eastern Jin army, under the command of Xie An, achieved a glorious victory over the Former Qin forces at the Fei River. To solidify this triumph, Emperor Xiaowu of Jin ordered Liu Bo, who was well-versed in northern affairs, to take command in the north and oversee all the armies north of the Huai River.
At that time, Liu Bo was gravely ill and knew that his physical condition would not allow him to fulfill the emperor's mission. Aware that his end was near, he submitted a memorial to Emperor Xiaowu, offering his advice and suggestions for consideration. In the memorial, he wrote:
"I have linked the history of our dynasty's founding to the current state of affairs, and despite my own ignorance, I have spoken frankly to inform Your Majesty for your consideration."
He then offered Emperor Xiaowu practical advice on governing the state, handling foreign threats, and employing talent, covering all aspects of statecraft.
Emperor Xiaowu of the Jin Dynasty was deeply moved after reading Liu Bo's memorial. Tragically, Liu Bo passed away shortly after, turning his heartfelt petition into his final testament.
Later, the idiom "Speaking Without Reservation" came to describe saying whatever one thinks without any hesitation or avoidance.
Source: *Book of Jin*, "Biography of Liu Bo"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "直言不讳" came to describe how saying whatever one thinks without any hesitation or avoidance.