Yu Rang

Yu Rang (traditional 豫讓; simplified 豫让) was a famous Chinese assassin in the Spring and Autumn period.

Yu Rang was an assassin in the early days of the Warring States period. He lived in the State of Jin (晉) around 450 BC. He was a grandson of Bi Yang.

Yu was the family-minister of Fan Jishe and Zhonghang Yin who were two of six influential ministers of the Jin State. But Jishe and Zhonghang Yin did not appreciate his services properly, so he left those families and served (also known as Zhi Bo). Zhi Yao appreciated Yu Rang very much. In a cruel conflict, the Fan Family and Zhonghang Family were defeated by the four families Zhi, Zhao, Wei, Han. But Zhi Yao was too greedy, and the other three families allied to eliminate the Zhi clan in the aftermath of Battle of Jinyang and killed Zhi Yao in 453 BC. Because Viscount Zhao Xiangzi , in Japanese also , brother of the Marquess Xian of Zhao, had hated Zhi Yao deeply, he actually used the skull of Zhi Yao as a drinking cup.

Yu Rang fled to the mountains and swore revenge for the Zhi Family, changed his name and became a servant in the palace of Jin's monarch. He was hiding in a lavatory to murder Zhao Xiangzi. But Zhao Xiangzi got worried and had his warriors search the lavatory. The warriors brought out Yu Rang and found he had a dagger. Zhao Xiangzi pointed him by a sword and asked what he had planned to do. Yu Rang answered that he wanted to avenge his former lord, Zhi Bo. The warriors were ready to kill him, but Zhao Xiangzi showed respect for Yu Rang's moral righteousness and ordered Yu Rang to be released.

Yu Rang knew Zhao Xiangzi could recognize him again, so he disfigured himself having his skin covered with lacquer to create scars and sores. He became a beggar in a market, and even his wife only identified him by his voice. To change his voice, Yu Rang swallowed charcoal. A friend of him was worried and tried to persuade him to choose other methods, "You have many abilities and you can serve Zhao Family. They will trust you. Then, you can easily do what you plan to do." Yu Rang answered, "Because I am the family-minister of Zhi Bo, I want to revenge him. It shows faithfulness. But if I serve Zhao Xiangzi and kill him then, I am not a faithful person any longer."

Armed with a sword, one day, Yu Rang lurked under a bridge. When Zhao Xiangzi made his way over the bridge, his horses were suddenly startled by Yu Rang approaching. Zhao Xiangzi recognized him despite the beggar appearance, and his warriors arrested Yu Rang. Xiangzi interrogated him, and Yu Rang explained that it still was his duty to avenge his former master Zhi Bo, even though he personally had nothing to gain from it. Zhao Xiangzi sighed with tears about Yu Rang still being loyal to Zhi Bo, but felt it was enough that he had already released him one time. So he decided to not release Yu Rang once more, and ordered his warriors to surround him.

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