During the Warring States period, Lord Xinling, the half-brother of King Anxi of Wei, stole the military tally to rescue Zhao, mobilizing Wei's army to repel the Qin forces besieging Handan, Zhao's capital, earning praise from Zhao's court and people. However, fearing his brother would punish him for the theft, Lord Xinling decided to settle in Zhao.
Lord Xinling had long been renowned for his respectful treatment of worthy men, and after taking refuge in the state of Zhao, he continued his relentless search for talent, scouring the land for advisors.
Upon learning that two reclusive talents of Zhao, Master Mao and Master Xue, possessed great abilities, Lord Xinling sent messengers to invite them. However, the pair deliberately hid and refused to meet him. After discovering that they were hiding in a gambling house and a tavern respectively, Lord Xinling quietly went alone to those places to seek them out, eventually befriending both Master Xue and Master Mao.
Lord Pingyuan, younger brother of King Huiwen of Zhao, upon learning that Lord Xinling had lowered himself to frequent gambling dens and taverns, said to his wife, "I once heard your brother was exceptional and rare in the world; now I see he is merely living on his reputation, no different from common street folk!"
Lady Pingyuan relayed her husband's remarks to Lord Xinling. Lord Xinling said, "I had long heard of the talents of Lord Xue and Lord Mao. To make their acquaintance, I set aside my status and frequented gambling houses and taverns. Since Lord Pingyuan does not understand me and even mocks me, it is time for me to leave the state of Zhao."
When Lord Pingyuan heard that Lord Xinling was about to leave, he realized his own words had been rude, so he personally went to apologize and repeatedly begged him to stay.
Lord Xinling remained in the state of Zhao, where his reputation only grew. Many retainers from Lord Pingyuan's household defected to serve under him, and he stayed there for a full decade.
Seeing that Lord Xinling had not returned to Wei for a long time, the state of Qin seized the opportunity to launch an attack on Wei. With the situation growing urgent, the King of Wei hastily sent messengers to summon Lord Xinling back to his homeland.
Lord Xinling feared that the King of Wei still could not forgive his past crime of stealing the tiger tally, so he did not plan to return to Wei. At this time, Mao and Xue came forward to advise him, "Wei is in crisis and needs your help. If you refuse, and the Qin army breaches the capital Daliang, then the world will surely mock you."
Lord Xinlingjun, upon hearing their words, immediately realized his mistake. He promptly returned to the state of Wei. When the King of Wei saw his long-lost brother, he could not hold back his tears.
When King Wei appointed Lord Xinling as supreme general, he invited allied states to join forces; hearing that Lord Xinling was leading the campaign, the other kingdoms eagerly agreed, believing victory over Qin was now within reach.
Lord Xinling, commanding the allied forces of Wei, Qi, Han, Chu, Yan, and Zhao, routed the Qin army on the southern bank of the Yellow River. Pressing the advantage, he chased the fleeing enemy all the way to Hangu Pass. From that day on, Qin never dared to lightly attack the state of Wei again.
At that time, Lord Xinling's fame shook the world. He was well-versed in military strategy, so whenever the feudal states produced works on the art of war, they presented them to him for review and had his name inscribed on them. People called these works *The Art of War of the Lord of Wei*. His conduct and character were praised as "unrivaled under heaven."
Later, people used the idiom "Peerless Under Heaven" to describe someone outstanding and unmatched.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of Lord Xinling" During the Warring States period, Lord Xinling of Wei, known for his humility and respect for talent, heard of a reclusive sage named Hou Ying, a humble gatekeeper at the Beixia Gate of Daliang. Lord Xinling personally prepared a grand carriage and invited Hou Ying to his estate. Hou Ying, without hesitation, climbed into the carriage and sat in the honored seat, testing Lord Xinling's sincerity. As they passed through the market, Hou Ying suddenly said, "I have a friend, Zhu Hai, a butcher here. I must visit him." Lord Xinling, without a hint of impatience, drove the carriage into the bustling market. Hou Ying deliberately lingered with Zhu Hai, chatting casually, while Lord Xinling waited calmly, his face betraying no irritation. The onlookers, including Lord Xinling's own attendants, muttered in disbelief, but Lord Xinling remained composed. Finally, Hou Ying returned to the carriage, and Lord Xinling continued the journey. Later, when Lord Xinling needed to steal the military seal to rescue Zhao, Hou Ying devised the plan and, to seal his loyalty, committed suicide. This story illustrates that true leadership lies not in power but in the ability to recognize and honor talent, even in the most unlikely places.
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "天下无双" came to describe how someone outstanding and unmatched.