| Chinese Fable Stories | |
A Wily Hare Has Three Burrows
In the Warring States Period, the Prime Minister, Meng Changjun, of the Qi State,
supported and fed many people at his home. One of them was called Feng Xuan.
One day, Feng Xuan was sent to collect what the tenant farmers owed to the landlord (Meng Changjun).
When he got to the place, he declared self-assertively to the farmers
that all the tenancy contracts would be demolished at once. Cheers burst out
among the happy farmers; they owed great gratitude to Meng Changjun, their landlord.
When Feng Xuan returned to the host and told about what he did, Prime Minister,
Meng Changjun was not very happy about it. "Why did you do that?" the minister asked.
"Well, though I had not brought you some fortune by doing that, I really won the morale
of your farmers. That is more important to you." The minister reluctantly accepted his
explanation.
Meng Changjun was dismissed from office the next year, so he decided to go back to his home town.
When he arrived to his demesne, he was surprised of seeing the farmers were
on both sides of the road welcoming him warmly.
At the sight, Meng Changjun felt very puzzled as well as greatly moved,
and he asked Feng Xuan for the reason. "That is out of question. This is the reward
for your charities." Meng Changjun took a tumble at the words since he already forgot
the matter happened last year. Feng Xuan continued, "A wily hare which has three burrows
can keep itself safe. But now you have only one. So you must struggle to get
the other two. You should pay a visit to the State of Wei and canvass for your
ideas to the king there. When the king want to retain you for his minister's
position, refuse him. This would get the attention of the king of the Qi State.
And he would think more about you." As expected, the king
of the Qi State felt very worried when he heard that his former Prime Minister could
take a position in the hostile Wei State. So he acted quickly to reappoint Meng Changjun
as the prime minister of the state.
In order to express his honesty, the king of Qi promised him some advantages.
All were refused according to Feng Xuan, except
for being the heres of a sacrificial utensil from the royal ancestor and the
permission of building another temple in his demesne, which was considered the
safe guard for the people there.
When the temple completed, Feng Xuan said to Meng Changjun, his master,
"Now, all the three burrows have been built, and you should be safe now!"
It was said Meng Changjun to have held the post for the rest of his life
and his tenants were all living in peace.
( ½ÆÍÃÈý¿ß)