| 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.
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