顺治二年(公元1645年)的四月,扬州被包围,情况很危急。在扬州督师的宰相史可法知道局势不可挽救,召集将领们告诉他们说:“我发誓为守城而死,但是在匆忙中不能够落在敌人手里死去,谁能够为我到城被攻破时完成这件大事呢?”副将军史德威慷慨地答应担任这件事。史可法高兴地说:“我还没有儿子,你可以因同姓的关系作我的儿子。我写信告诉母亲,把你的名字写入我的家谱,列入我母亲的孙儿辈中。” In April of the second year of Shunzhi (AD 1645), Yangzhou was surrounded and the situation was very critical. Shi Kefa, the governor of Yangzhou’s governor, knew that the situation was irretrievable. He called the generals and told them: “I swear to die for the city, but in a hurry I can’t fall in the hands of the enemy and die, and who can break for me when I get to the city? Complete this major event?” Vice President Steven Stilwell generously promised to do this. Shi Kefa said happily: “I have no sons yet. You can be my son because of the relationship with your family name. I wrote to my mother and wrote your name on my family tree and included in my mother’s grandchildren.”