In 480 BC, during the Spring and Autumn period (春秋時期), in the state of Wei (衛國), Qi City (戚城). At night, suddenly it erupted: there was a mutiny. The city was in chaos, with people and horses in an uproar. Someone shouted, "Where is Zi Lu? Kong Kui (孔悝) has been kidnapped by Kuai Kui (蒯聩, ?-478 BC)!"

Zi Lu was outside the city when he heard a call that startled him. In the distance, a horse-drawn carriage was racing. On the carriage, he caught a glimpse of Luan Ning (欒甯), a servant of Kong Kui, drinking and eating roasted meat, making a muffled sound, looking extremely disheveled. Zi Lu shouted, "What's going on?"

Luan Ning shouted loudly, and the roasted meat fell out of his mouth: "I'm going to save the lord."

The "lord" mentioned by Luan Ning refers to Duke Wei of Chu (衛出公), who is the son of Kuai Kui. The old father wants to seize his son's throne. Zi Lu immediately understood that Kuai Kui was afraid of not having enough strength and was coercing Kong Kui, who held the power of the State of Wei, to rebel together. Zilu drew his sword and rushed into the city, encountering his fellow disciple Zi Gao (子羔, 521 BC-?), who had escaped from Kong Kui's house. Both of them were household servants of Kong Kui.

Zi Gao said anxiously, "It's too late, the city gate is closed." Zi Lu said, "I will go take a look." Zi Gao advised, "Why go to your death?" Zi Lu angrily replied, "Having taken someone's salary, how can I stand by and watch them die!" Unable to stop him, Zi Gao fled on his own.

Zi Lu arrived at the city gate, and the guard Gongsun Gan (公孫敢) stopped him: "Zi Lu, please turn back." Faint sounds of chaos could be heard from within the city. Zi Lu scolded, "Gongsun Gan! Aren't you ashamed? You enjoy lord’s salary and flee in times of danger!" Just then, someone rushed out from inside, and Zi Lu took the opportunity to slip into the city, seeing Kuai Kui on the high platform, who was holding Kong kui hostage and forcing him to submit. Zi Lu shouted, "Zi Lu is here, My Lord you can come down!"

Kong Kui did not dare to respond. Zi Lu was extremely angry and threatened to set fire to the building, forcing Kuai Kui to release the person. A guard stepped forward, and Zi Lu displayed great power, brandishing his sword to drive them back. Kuai Kui called for Shi Qi (石乞) and Yu Yan (盂黡) to come and stop him. The three of them began to fight at the foot of the platform. Shi Qi and Yu Yan wielded long spears and were very fierce, while Zi Lu, with only a single sword, found it difficult to resist, suffering injuries quickly, his sash was also cut, and his Guan (冠) fell to the ground.

Zi Lu swung his sword to drive back the two men, then bent down to pick up his Guan, put it on his head, and fastened the chin strap, saying, "Even if I die, I cannot let my Guan fall. This is called propriety (禮)." At this moment, the two men, Shi and Yu, thrust their long spears straight at him, killing Zi Lu on the spot.

In my early years, when I read "The Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou (《東周列國志》)," I felt very uncomfortable when I reached the eighty-second chapter about the death of Zi Lu. Among Confucius's disciples, Zilu is my favorite "straightforward man (爽士)." The so-called "straightforward man" is someone who is honest and bold, truly embodying the Confucian teaching of "acting according to one's nature is called the Way (率性之謂道)." Confucius never showed displeasure or scolded this student who dared to argue and express his own opinions; the two of them interacted with genuine nature.

When Zi Lu died, he still did not forget his teacher's teachings, and he passed away with his cap properly tied. At that time, I couldn't help but sigh: how foolish! Is it "foolish"? Should it not be so? Is life lighter than a proper cap, right? Moreover, knowing that the "boss" who rushed into the city to save him was also foolish? On the contrary, his fellow disciple, Zi Gao, was much "smarter," and choose to escape.

During the turmoil in the State of Wei, Confucius happened to be in Wei. Upon hearing about the chaotic situation, he thought of two of his disciples who were "working" in that state, and he said to his other disciples: "Gao Chai (高柴,  the name of Zi Gao) knows the greater righteousness and will surely be able to save himself; You (由, the name of Zi Lu) is brave but reckless, and is oblivious to self-preservation; his death is certain." Before he finished speaking, Zi Gao indeed rushed back. Where was Zi Lu? Confucius, with a sorrowful expression, said: "You (Zi Lu), he is doomed!"

There is no one who knows the disciples better than the teacher. Indeed, not long after, a messenger from Wei arrived, saying: "The new ruler has been established, and he reveres the Master, especially offering rare delicacies." The so-called "new ruler" refers to Kuai Kui. Kong Kui, Zi Lu’s Lord ultimately assisted Kuai Kui in ascending to the throne. Was Zilu's death not a great folly!

Confucius received the "rare delicacies," and when he opened it, it turned out to be a large lump of meat sauce. Confucius said, "Is this the meat of my disciple You (Zi Lu)?" The messenger was astonished and asked, "How does the master know?" Confucius ordered his disciples to bury the meat sauce (醢, an ancient form of cruel punishment, where a person was chopped into meat sauce), and he never ate minced meat again for the rest of his life.

Some say that the death of Zi Lu was a case of "sacrificing oneself to achieve righteousness (殺身成仁)"? And that it later became Mencius's teaching of "giving up life for righteousness (捨生取義)"? He is a true Confucian warrior. I say: No. Zi Lu was from the state of Lu (魯國), not from the state of Wei. He did not "achieve righteousness (成仁)" nor did he sacrifice himself for the country; rather, he was loyal to his own duties and beliefs, just as he scolded Gongsun Gan and fled in panic like Zi Gao, who, living off the people's resources, should be loyal to his responsibilities. Is this the teaching of Confucianism? As for "giving up life for righteousness," is this really "righteousness"?

Zi Lu died at the age of 62, nine years younger than Confucius. A year later, after losing his wife and son in succession, and the painful loss of his two beloved disciples Yan Hui (顏回) and Zhong You (仲由), Confucius also passed away.

Alas! I lament the death of Zilu, how utterly worthless it is!