A Good Rabbit Has Three Hiding Holes
(Translated from Strategies of the States, 400-200 BC)
In the state of Qi there was a man by the name of Feng Yuan. He was poor and could hardly support himself. He sent word to Lord Mengchang, prime minister of the state, that he, Fend Yuan, was offering his service as a retainer. Lord Mechengchang asked:
"What are the talents of this gentlemen?"
The answer: "The gentleman has no talents."
Lord Mengchang laughed and said: "All right, I take him."
Since Lord Mengchang wasn't serious about Feng Yuan, the people around his household followed suit; they fed Feng Yuan with only mean food.
One day, Feng Yuan was found singing in the courtyard, leaning against a pillar and beating his sword for rhythm:
"Oh, sword, sword!
Where's your magic power?
In my dish
I find no fish!"
This was reported to Lord Mengchang. The lord said: "Dine him as we do other guests."
Some time later, people again found Feng Yuan singing, leaning again a pillar, beating his sword:
"Oh, sword, sword!
Where's your magic power?
I travel on toes and heels
but never on the wheels!"
Lord Mengchang was again notified of the behavior. The lord said: "Provide him with a carriage as we do other guests."
Feng Yuan jumped into his new carriage, and, with his sword proudly in hand, he visited his friends' home, telling them: "I'm a retainer at Lord Mengchang's place!"
Before long, however, Feng Yuan was doing it again, leaning against a pillar, beating his sword, this time singing:
"Oh, sword, sword!
Where's your magic power?
I feel so lonely,
Keeping no family!"
This disgusted many people as they thought the man was too greedy. But Lord Mengchang inquired: "Does Mr. Feng have any close relatives?" "His mother is still alive," an aid answered. Lord Mengchang then ordered that the old woman be generously provided for.
One day, Lord Mengchang circulated a notice among his retainers, asking: "Which of you knows finance and can go to the county of Xue to collect debts for me?" Feng Yuan sent in his answer: "I."
Surprised, Lord Mengchang asked: "Who's this gentleman?" "It's the fellow who sang about his sword," an aid replied. Bursting into a laugh, Lord Mengchang said: "So he does have some talents! What slight on my part - I haven't met him even once." He sent for Feng Yuan.
When Feng Yuan came in, Lord Mengchang said to him: "I'm a man of limited intelligence and ability, so state affairs has taken up virtually all my time. As result I haven't been able to accord you proper attention. You are not angry and still want to collect debts for me in Xue?"
"Yes," replied Feng Yuan.
So order was given that preparations be made for Feng Yuan's mission, including cartloads of debt certificates.
When it was time to leave, Feng Yuan went to see the lord, asking: "After I have collected the debts, what do you want me to bring back for you?"
"Anything that is in short supply around my household," instructed the lord.
Feng Yuan set out for Xue. Upon arrival, he had local officials gather the people who owned Lord Mengchang money. When they came, he announced to them that Lord Mengchang had decided to cancel all their debts, and that he had come to burn all the debt certificates in front of them - which he did. Happily astonished by the great news, the men and women rejoiced: "Long live Lord Mengchang!"
Feng Yuan started home. When returned to Lord Mengchang's palace, it was just the dawn of the second day of his mission. Surprised that Feng Yuan should come back so soon, the lord got dressed quickly and received his envoy immediately: "Have you collected the debts for me? How come you are back so soon?"
Feng Yuan said: "Yes, I have collected the debts."
"What did you get for me in return then?"
"Your Lord instructed me to secure 'anything that is in short supply around my household.' I thought about it: your storehouse is full of treasures, your stables are filled with horses and dogs, and beautiful women mill around your living quarters; what can I buy you that you truly need? I bought you Good Will."
"Good Will?"
"Yes. You are the lord of this little domain Xue, but, instead of caring for its people, you exploit them through usury. I therefore altered your order, cancelled all the debts and burned all the certificates. The people celebrated your kindness, and that's the good will I have secured for you."
Lord Mengchang wasn't too happy but there was little he could do about the matter now. At length he said: "Sir, you may go and have a rest now."
A year later, the King of Qi decided to remove Lord Mengchang as the prime minister, on the excuse that he could not bear ordering around a good minister who had so ably served the king's father. Out of office, Lord Mengchang had to return to live in his fief Xue. While the Lord Mengchang and his entourage was still a hundred li away from Xue, large crowds of the Xue people, young and old, men and women, came to welcome him, all day long. Lord Mengchang turned to Feng Yuan and said: "The good will you bought for me, I see it today."
Feng Yuan said: "To survive, a good rabbit must have at least three hiding holes. With the love of the Xue people, Your Lord now has one hiding hole, but you shouldn't count on that one alone. If you so wish, I could dig two more holes for you."
The lord liked the idea. Per Feng Yuan's request, he entrusted him with fifty carriages and fifty jin of gold and sent him on a mission to the state of Liang in the west. Presenting the gifts to the King of Liang, Feng Yuan said: "The King of Qi has recently fired the able prime minister Lord Mengchang. Any monarch who enlists Lord Mengchang's service now will see his kingdom prosper and grow strong." Convinced, the King of Liang removed his prime minister from his office by appointing him a senior general, and, granting one thousand jin of gold and one hundred carriages as gifts, he dispatched an envoy to Xue to invite Lord Mengchang to come to Liang.
Feng Yuan, however, hurried back to Xue before Liang's envoy. He said to the lord: "One thousand jin of gold, that's a big amount of money; an envoy with one hundred carriages as present, that's a prominent gesture. The King of Qi cannot fail to take notice."
It was thus that Liang's envoy came to Xue three times, but each time Lord Mengchang declined Liang's invitation.
The state of Qi did hear about all these activities, and both king and ministers grew gravely concerned. An envoy of its own was sent to Xue, with one thousand jin of gold, two carriages of highest quality, and a sword that the king used to wore personally. The letter of the Qi King stated: "I am a bad omen, condemned by the spirit of our Ancestral Temples. I have indulged incompetent and corrupt officials and as result offended you.. I am not worthy of your service, but, for the sake of our Ancestral Temples, do please return and govern our state."
Lord Mengchang thought he should accept the apology and comply with the king's request. Feng Yuan advised caution: "Since the king spoke of our common ancestors, let's ask him to transfer to us a number of sacred sacrificial objects, and we'll build an Ancestral Temple here in Xue. This way we can place our relationship with the king on a safe and sound ground."
The suggested temple was soon built. Feng Yuan said to Lord Mengchang: "All three hiding holes of yours are in place. You may sleep with ease of mind now."
Lord Mengchang went on to serve as the prime minister of Qi for several decades, never to suffer serious setbacks. For large part this was due to Feng Yuan's planning.
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