This is a typical story of Chinese people’s characteristic of winning someone over by dint of virtue. Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister of the State of Shu (221-263), captured Meng Huo, the chieftain of the southern troops, when the two sides were fighting a war.

In order to stabilize the rule of the State of Shu in the southern regions, Zhuge Liang decided that he should convince his captive to voluntarily surrender. Thus Zhuge Liang did not kill or insult Meng Huo. Instead, he allowed his captive to observe his troop deployment and asked for his impressions. The later replied that he was not impressed and that, if he were allowed to go back, he would be able to defeat his captor. Meng Huo was defeated and captured a second time. He refused to concede defeat, so he was released again. This was repeated seven times.

When Zhuge Liang was about to release him a 7th time, Meng Huo no longer had any urge to battle the Shu troops. Admiring Zhuge Liang’s great generosity and stratagems, he offered his allegiance. He declared: “The Prime Minister has captured and subsequently released me seven times. You are so generous that I respect you from the bottom of my heart. From now on, I dare not to fight the State of Shu any longer.”