On his first mission, traveling north, the Wu prince Ji Zha passed through the state of Xu. The Lord of Xu admired his sword but did not dare to say so. Ji Zha understood, but he was on a mission to the great states and did not give it. When he came back, the Lord of Xu had died. Ji Zha untied his sword and hung it on a tree at the tomb.
His attendant asked: “The Lord of Xu is dead. Who is it for?” Ji Zha answered: “Not so. In my heart I had already promised it to him. How could I betray my heart because he has died?” (Sima Qian, Records of the Grand Historian)