Gang Bing
Gang Bing (simplified Chinese: 刚炳; traditional Chinese: 剛炳; pinyin: Gāng Bǐng; Wade–Giles: Kang Ping, sometimes written as 刚秉/剛秉 Gāng Bǐng, also known as 刚铁/剛鐵 Gāng Tiě) was a Chinese general and eunuch who served under the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty.
Self-castration
At this point political intrigue within the walls of the Forbidden City forced Gang Bing to make a drastic choice. The Yongle Emperor possessed a large harem of concubines; sexual contact with a concubine by anyone other than the emperor was a severe offense. Fearing that rivals within the palace may accuse him of sexual improprieties with one of the 73 imperial concubines,[1] Gang Bing decided to execute a plan of terrible self-infliction the night before the emperor left for his trip:[2][1] he severed his own penis and testicles with a knife.[1] The general then placed his severed organs into a bag under the saddle of the emperor's horse.[3][self-published source] As predicted, when the Yongle Emperor returned from his hunt, one of the emperor's ministers reported that Gang Bing had had inappropriate relations within the imperial harem.[2] When accused of misconduct, Gang Bing instructed that the emperor's saddle be retrieved and requested that the emperor reach inside the bag under the saddle. Inside the bag, the emperor found Gang Bing's shriveled, blackened genitalia. Deeply impressed, the Yongle Emperor elevated Gang Bing to the rank of chief eunuch, a politically powerful position within the palace;[2][1] gave him numerous gifts; and proclaimed him holy.[1]