Yu Rang

Yu Rang (豫讓; died 453 BCE) was a Chinese assassin from the State of Jin who lived at the end of the Spring and Autumn period. He served the feudal lord Zhibo. After the Fan and Zhonghang clans were defeated in a war against the Zhi, Zhao, Wei, and Han clans, Zhi attempted to subjugate Zhao. Wei and Han ultimately sided with Zhao, and the Zhi were exterminated with their ruler in the aftermath of the Battle of Jinyang in 453 BCE.

Deeply enraged by his master's death, Yu Rang plotted to assassinate Zhao Wuxu. He first changed his name and infiltrated the palace as a servant, hoping to kill Wuxu in the lavatory. However, he was discovered by his target and interrogated. When Yu Rang boldly shouted that he wished to avenge his master, Wuxu respected his motive and had him set free.

In spite of this, Yu Rang was still intent on assassinating him and made another attempt by disguising himself as a beggar. He covered himself with lacquer to induce scars and sores and ate charcoal to distort his voice. One day, armed with a sword, he waited under a bridge to ambush him but was detected yet again. Knowing that this was to be his final failure, he turned his sword on himself and committed suicide.

Biography

Yu Rang lived in the State of Jin. He accordingly tried to serve the powerful Fan (范) and Zhonghang (中行) clans but over time came to be discontented with his lack of recognition and fame. Upon transferring to the service of Zhibo (智伯), however, he felt greatly honoured and appreciated. In 453 BCE, Zhibo was prime minister of the Jin in his position as the General of the Central Army (中軍將), and he launched an assault on Zhao Wuxu (趙毋卹)—better known by his posthumous name Viscount Xiang of Zhao (趙襄子)—in the hopes of dislodging a political rival. The Zhao clan formed an alliance with the Han (韓) and Wei (魏) clans and annihilated the forces of Zhibo at the Battle of Jinyang. In the aftermath, the lands held by Zhibo were divided by the three factions, and because Wuxu's resentment of Zhibo had ran deep, he had his skull lacquered and converted into his own cup.

Fleeing to the mountains, Yu Rang cried, "Alas! Gentlemen die for those who recognize them; ladies beautify themselves for those who please them. Now Zhibo had recognized me, so I must avenge him with my life to repay him, and then my souls will not be unworthy."

First attempt: the lavatory

Thereupon, he changed his name and disguised himself as a penal labourer serving in the palace household. With a dagger clutched closely to him as he renovated the lavatory, he sought to stab Wuxu when the opportunity presented itself, but the lord instinctively sensed danger as he approached the room. He anxiously grabbed the servant aside for questioning only to recognize him as Yu Rang. At that moment, Yu Rang forthrightly proclaimed "I want to avenge Zhibo!" Although the guards at every side were eager to butcher him on the spot, Wuxu unexpectedly ordered them to stand down. He reasoned, "He is a righteous man, one with whom it will be fine to just cautiously avoid from now on. Besides, Zhibo died without leaving behind any heirs, yet his retainer wishes to avenge him. This here is a virtuous man under Heaven." As a result, his guards let Yu Rang go.

An utmost severe disguise

This act of mercy did not alter Yu Rang's resolve, and he merely made a second attempt with a more severe disguise. Shortly after he had been thrown out of the palace, he slathered his body with lacquer, causing his skin to fester with ulcers and scabs all over. He swallowed charcoal to hoarsen his voice and disfigured his face so as to be unrecognizable. Once this was done, he ventured into the city market to play the role of a beggar. When his wife passed by, she did not recognize him, yet his disguise still failed when his closest friends saw him. In dread, they asked, "Are you not Yu Rang?" "I am," he replied honestly.

At this, they broke into tears and cried:

"With your scholarly talents, pledge yourself to serve Viscount Xiang. He will certainly come to favour you closely. Once he favours you, would it not be easy to do whatever you wish to do? Why would you then brutalize your body and disfigure yourself, all to take revenge against Viscount Xiang. Are you not bringing hardship on yourself?"

Yu Rang was not swayed and responded:

"If I have already pledged service to a lord, then I seek to kill them, that would be to serve while harbouring duplicity. Besides, I know this is hardship of the highest order—that is all. Yet the reason why I am doing this is to put to shame those later generations of people who would serve rulers duplicitously."

Second attempt: the bridge

He went on his way, and some time later, Wuxu appeared in the area. Yu Rang predicted his path and hid in ambush beneath a bridge, but the lord's horse became startled as they neared the bridge. Immediately, the viscount suspected, "This must be Yu Rang," and he instructed his men to investigate. When they discovered Yu Rang and hoisted him before their lord, Wuxu pressed him for his rationale like his friends had done before him:

"Did you not once serve the Fan and the Zhonghang clans? Zhibo exterminated them, yet you do not seek to avenge them. Zhibo is already dead, yet why do you single him out to avenge so deeply?

Yu Rang answered:

"When I served the Fan and Zhonghang clans, they treated me like every other commoner, so I repaid them as a commoner. When it came to Zhibo, he treated me like a knight of the state, so I shall repay him as a knight of the state."

Seeing the extent of Yu Rang's unwavering determination, Wuxu could do nothing but breathe a heavy sigh, telling him:

"Yu Rang! By these acts you have done for Zhibo, you have already successfully made your name, and my forgiveness of you should have been enough. You should think of plans for yourself. I cannot release you again!"

He knew that Yu Rang would not cease his quest no matter how many times he spared him, so he ordered his guards to surround him with their weapons drawn. The assassin, understanding that he had irrevocably failed, resigned to death and gave a final request:

"I have heard that bright rulers do not cover the virtues of others, and loyal officials have ethics they live by to their deaths. Previously your lordship pardoned me, and there was no one under Heaven who did not proclaim your magnanimity. For today's affair, I have resolved to be executed, only I would like to request your lordship's robes to strike, so that I may vent my vengeance onto it and that though I die, it would not be with resentment. I do not dare hope that you would oblige me; I dare only to declare from my heart."

Wuxu was beyond touched and did not hesitate to take off his cloak and offer it to Yu Rang, whereupon the assassin stabbed at it furiously three times before screaming "I can repay Zhibo down in the underworld!" With that final release, Yu Rang committed suicide with his own sword. It was said that the day he died, the noble scholars of Zhao heard the news and all of them wept.

Legacy

Alongside with Cao Mo, Zhuan Zhu, Nie Zheng, and Jing Ke, Yu Rang was listed by the historian Sima Qian as one of China's earliest assassins, known to later generations as "the Five Great Assassins".

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Dynasty (mentioned only)