Five centuries earlier, Kang, with his genitalia intact, was a general to Emperor Yung Lo. As the story goes, one day the emperor went hunting and left Kang to oversee Pekings Forbidden City, whose most forbidden inhabitants (forbidden to anyone but the emperor) were the collection of imperial concubines. The honor was great, as was the temptation; previous generals had been executed for allegations of sexual dalliances in the emperors absence.
Kang, despite his intended chastity, was certain that palace rivals who wanted him out of the way would level similar charges against him. He developed a plan. The night before the emperors departure, Kan gripped his own genitalia in his hand and with a sharp knife amputated everything. He hid the severed organs deep in the emperors saddlebag and, a little light-headed from loss of blood he assumed his duties as guardian of the Forbidden City.
No sooner had the emperor returned than Kang was called to account for how he had spent his nights. To the charge that he had frolicked among the seventy-three royal ladies, Kang ordered, Bring in the emperors saddle. He requested that the emperor himself reach into a remote pocket of the bag.
The extracted organs, black, pungent, and shriveled, were recognizable nonetheless for what they once had been. The emperor, overwhelmed by the selfless gesture, promoted the general to chief eunuch, lavished him with gifts, and proclaimed him holy.
-Charles Panati, "Sexy Origins & Intimate Things".
