During the Warring States period, the state of Qin attacked the state of Zhao. King Xiaocheng of Zhao panicked and urgently requested Duke Pingyuan to go to the state of Chu to seek reinforcements. Duke Pingyuan planned to bring twenty talented individuals with both civil and military abilities to the state of Chu with him. Duke Pingyuan selected for half a day, only nineteen qualified people were selected.
Duke Pingyuan sighed and said, “I spent decades raising more than 3000 people, but now I can't even pick out twenty people.”
Suddenly, a hanger-on sitting at the bottom stood up and recommended himself, saying, "I don't know if I can make up the number.”
Duke Pingyuan smiled and said, “What's your name?”
He said, “My name is Mao Sui, from Daliang. I have been here for three years.”
Duke Pingyuan sneered and said, “Talented people are like a cone in their pocket, and its tip will soon be exposed. But you have been with me for three years, and I haven't seen you in person before.”
Mao Sui said, “This is because I only showed you this cone today. If you had put it in your pocket earlier, it would have poked out long ago. Today it isn't just showing a tip enough.”
Duke Pingyuan admired his courage and eloquence, so he selected him. On the same day, they bid farewell to King Zhao and went to the capital of Chu.
Duke Pingyuan and King Kaolie of Chu were discussing the important matter of joining forces to resist Qin in the court hall, while Mao Sui and nineteen other people stood at the foot of the stairs waiting. Duke Pingyuan spoke for a long time, but King Kaolie of Chu did not agree to resist Qin. Suddenly, King Kaolie of Chu saw a person holding a precious sword climbing up the stairs and running up to him, shouting, "Whether to join or not, just one sentence is enough. Why has it not been decided yet since morning until now?”
King Kaolie of Chu asked Duke Pingyuan unwillingly, “Who is he?”
Duke Pingyuan said, “It's my disciple, Mao Sui.”
King Kaolie of Chu cursed Mao Sui and said, “Duh! I'm discussing national affairs with your master. What are you talking about? Get out!”
Mao Sui took another step forward with his sword and said, “The rebellion against Qin by the United Front is a major event in the world. Everyone has a say in this matter! How can this be called talking too much?" When King Kaolie of Chu saw him running up, he was scared and heard his words with great enthusiasm, so he changed his smile and said to him, "Sir, if you have any insights, please speak up.”
Mao Sui said, "Chu has over 5000 miles of land and one million armored soldiers. It turned out to be a great country. Since King Zhuang of Chu, it has been a hegemon. The history of the past is so glorious! I never expected that Qin would become powerful and Chu would lose consecutive battles. The proud king became a prisoner of Qin and died in the enemy country. This is the greatest shame of Chu. Then came Bai Qi, who took away the capital of Chu, Ying, and changed it to the southern commandery of Qin, forcing the king to move the capital here. This kind of hatred cannot be forgotten for ten, twenty, or a hundred years! If such a huge hatred is told to children, they will also feel uncomfortable. Is it really the king? Don't you want revenge? Today, Duke Pingyuan came to discuss the matter of resisting Qin with the Great King, which is also for the state of Chu, not just for the state of Zhao.” This passage pierced the heart of King Kaolie of Chu like a cone. He couldn't help but blush and continued, “Yes! Yes!”
Mao Sui nodded again and said, “Has the king made a decision?”
King Kaolie of Chu said, "It's decided." King Kaolie of Chu and Duke Heyuan immediately swore a blood oath on the spot. King Kaolie of Chu then sent Duke Chunshen--Huang Xie as a general, leading an 80000 strong army to rescue the state of Zhao.
The idiom “Mao Sui recommends himself” metaphorically refers to volunteering and recommending oneself to take on a certain job, often describing a person who is brave and confident.
战国时期，秦国攻打赵国，赵孝成王慌了，急忙请平原君去楚国讨救兵。平原君打算带二十个文武全才的人跟他一同到楚国去。平原君挑来挑去，对付着挑了十九个人。
平原君叹息道：“我费了几十年工夫，养了三千多人，如今连二十个人都挑不出来。”
忽然有个坐在末位的门客站起来，自己推荐自己说：“不知道我能不能来凑个数？”
平原君笑着说：“你叫什么名字？”
他说：“我叫毛遂，大梁人，到这儿三年了。”
平原君冷笑一声，说：“有才能的人就好像一把锥子搁在兜儿里，它的尖儿很快就露出来了。可是先生在我这儿三年了，我就没见你露过一回面。”
毛遂说：“这是因为我到今天才叫您看了这把锥子。您要是早点把它搁在兜儿里，它早就戳出来了，难道单单露出个尖儿就算了吗？”
平原君佩服他的胆子和口才，就拿他凑上二十人的数。当天辞别了赵王，上楚国陈都去了。
平原君跟楚考烈王在朝堂上讨论着合纵抗秦的大事，毛遂和其他十九个人站在台阶下等着。平原君把说了半天，楚考烈王说什么也不同意抵抗秦国。突然，楚考烈王瞧见一个人拿着宝剑上了台阶，跑到他跟前，嚷着说：“合纵不合纵，只要一句话就行了。怎么从早晨说到这会儿，太阳都直了，还没说停当！”
楚考烈王很不乐意地问平原君：“他是谁？”
平原君说：“是我的门客毛遂。”
楚考烈王骂毛遂说：“咄！我跟你主人商议国家大事，你来多什么嘴？还不滚下去！”
毛遂拿着宝剑又往前走了一步，说：“合纵抗秦是天下大事。天下大事天下人都有说话的份儿！这怎么叫多嘴呢？”楚考烈王见他跑上来，害怕了，又听他说出来的话挺有劲儿，只好换了副笑脸对他说：“先生有什么高见，请说吧。”
毛遂说：“楚国有五千多里土地，一百万甲兵，原来就是个大国。自从楚庄王以来，一直做着霸主。以前的历史够多么光彩！没想到秦国一起来，楚国连着打败仗。堂堂的国王当了秦国的俘虏，死在敌国。这是楚国最大的耻辱。紧接着又来了个白起，把楚国的国都郢都夺了去，改成了秦国的南郡，逼得大王迁都到这儿。这种仇恨，十年、二十年、一百年也忘不了哇！把这么天大的仇恨说给小孩子听，他们也会难受，难道大王倒不想报仇吗？今天平原君来跟大王商议抗秦的大事，也是为了楚国，哪儿单是为了赵国呢！”这段话一句句就像锥子似的扎在楚考烈王的心坎上。他不由得脸红了，连着说：“是！是！”
毛遂又叮了一句，说：“大王决定了吗？”
楚考烈王说：“决定了。”楚考烈王和平原君就当场歃血为盟。楚考烈王接着派春申君黄歇为大将，率领八万大军去救赵国。
毛遂自荐这个成语比喻自告奋勇，自己推荐自己担任某项工作，常形容一个人很勇敢、有自信。
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Many thanks to you.
Highest Regards!
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