Sheepskin
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Duke Mu, the ruler of Qin, married a princess of Jin. Included in her dowry was a slave named Bai Lixi, who had been a minister of Yu. When Yu was wiped out by Jin, Bai Lixi became a slave.
On his way to Qin, Bai Lixi managed to escape. But when he passed through Chu, he was taken for a spy and got arrested.
Duke Mu asked the man who escorted the dowry who Bai Lixi was.
“He is a man of outstanding talent, but has no luck.”
Duke Mu ordered an inquiry and found out that Bai Lixi was made a slave to attend cows in Chu. Thereupon he prepared some expensive gifts to offer to the king of Chu in exchange for the man. His minister Gongsun Zhi stopped him.
“If the king of Chu knows you are willing to pay this much for a slave, he will realize Bai Lixi is no common man. He may want to keep him to himself.”
The duke took his advice and sent an envoy to Chu with five pieces of sheepskin, which was the market price for a slave.
“Bai Lixi is wanted in Qin for a crime,” the envoy told the king. “Please hand him over. We want to punish him.”
The king of Chu took the sheepskin and handed over Bai Lixi.
Duke Mu was disappointed when he saw a hoary-haired old man brought in.
“How old are you?” he asked Bai Lixi.
“I am seventy years old.”
“Ah, I’m afraid you are too old, sir.”
“If you want me to fight a tiger, my lord, then I am too old. But if you want me to help you run the government, I don’t think I am too old.”
Duke Mu felt he had a point. He had a long conversation with Bai Lixi. At the end of it, he was convinced that Bai was a rare talent and appointed him co-prime minister.
Next Story
Redeeming a Slave
Last Story
Dead Horse
Wise Proverbs
- To appoint people on their merits.
- 任人唯贤。
- Think thrice before you act.
- 三思而后行。
- If a country wants to grow rapidly, nothing is better than cultivating talent.
- 终身之计，莫如树人。
Editor Says:
The value of a piece of merchandise lies in its perception and the perception can be manipulated.