五代时期，后唐末年，河东节度使石敬瑭为了夺取权力，投降契丹，并割让燕云十六州。契丹趁机南下，攻占中原地区。中原百姓不堪其苦，纷纷起义。其中，有一支义军由刘知远领导。刘知远出身贫寒，早年丧父失母，流落到徐州沛县，娶了一位员外家的女儿为妻。因生活困苦，遭到妻子的兄长李洪的欺压。后来，媒人李三叔告诉他，太原的并州岳节度使正在招兵买马，劝他去投军。刘知远听从了劝告，前往太原应征。他从一个小小的更夫做起，凭借自己的才能和努力，一路升迁，最终成为九州安抚使，为国家做了不少贡献。这个故事告诉我们，只要有志气，有能力，即使出身贫寒，也能做出一番事业。
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