Wisdom's Way. Walton C. Lee

Gangster

       Tang Dynasty618 A.D. to 907 A.D.

      One day in the late seventh century A.D., the emperor Tang-Kao “Magnificent”⁵ wanted to visit a city located several hundred miles from the imperial palace. Due to famine and plague, many starving farmers had abandoned their lands and became ruthless highwaymen. They frequently held up and even killed travelers on unguarded routes. Nobody dared to leave the city without heavy protection. Some of the most notorious gangsters frequently raided the suburban areas of the capital city. The emperor was deeply worried for his safety, and dispatched a competent censor Wai Yuan-Jong,⁶ as an advance unit, to secure the road.

      Confidently accepting this tough task, the official, to all of his colleagues’ surprise, flatly declined an offer to receive a company of well-trained imperial soldiers as bodyguards, and abruptly called on a nearby prison. After a few minutes of scrutiny, he hand-picked a notorious gangster, generously provided him with clean clothes and a delicious meal, and immediately hired him as his bodyguard.

      After several days of intense observation, the official confidently promoted this bodyguard to become the chief inspector for his advance unit. This gangster was astonished by his unexpected good fortune and deeply appreciated the official for this new position. To prove his ability and repay his master’s kindness, the gangster, with tens of years experience as a criminal, did his best to assure the tranquillity of this imperial journey. With hundreds of fully-loaded carriages and thousands of servants and eunuchs, the royal caravan was a slow and wealthy target. But the emperor proceeded peacefully. Not a penny was lost.

      Everyone is useful on some occasions in some ways. With proper guidance, a chimpanzee can communicate with people. On the other hand, in the wrong time and place, a well-educated gentleman can become a shameless swindler or a dangerous murderer. People always appreciate opportunity and recognition. Through observation, a wise person can properly motivate, utilize and maximize other people’s potential ability and attain a faithful and dedicated servant.

       An Encouraging Praise

       Tang Dynasty618 A.D. to 907 A.D.

      A high-ranking government official named Leou Bei,⁷ who was also a well-known scholar in classical literature, was demoted to the position of mayor and assigned to a remote and uncultivated region, where people lived side by side with native residents. The natives’ culture and living standards were totally different and very primitive.

      One day, a local chieftain’s son, who had for years dedicated himself to the study of literature, with only moderate success, humbly called on Leou Bei and presented some of his finest works for comment. Carefully reading each work, this new mayor was obviously pleased, and first highly praised those mediocre articles and then gave some helpful suggestions. With deep appreciation, the visitor enthusiastically thanked the mayor and left.

      One of the mayor’s assistants, standing nearby, who viewed the works and knew the compliments were undeserved, curiously and politely asked “Sir, I am puzzled. If I may ask, why didn’t you give your objective opinion of those third-rate works?”

      “Please.” The master was silent, pondering for a moment, and then calmly responded. “This is a less progressive area. We shouldn’t use our well-polished literary yardstick to measure their performance. We should judge them according to their situation and by their own merits. That young man, whose father is an illiterate chieftain, has studied very hard without the benefit of a teacher, and showed courage to make an appointment with me to review his articles. I shouldn’t let him down. After receiving my favorable comments, he will faithfully follow my recommendations. His peers will be impressed and follow him. I must encourage him to continue learning our culture, which will benefit both himself and our country. Education can eliminate ignorance, reduce mis-communication, and avoid future troubles. Consequently, it will diminish the degree of friction and conflict between newcomers and natives. In the long run, it will positively contribute to the tranquillity of our dynasty. Why should I be stingy and harshly critical when it costs me nothing to give a few well-deserved compliments?”

      The mayor’s assistant was deeply impressed with his master’s insight.

      Suggestions will be better accepted if preceded by general compliments instead of well-intentioned criticisms, which might irritate or dishearten the seeker.

       Grab the Right Stocks

       Chin Dynasty221 B.C. to 206 B.C.

      At the end of 206 B.C., the Chin dynasty was overthrown and the new order not yet established. While troops swarmed through the wrecked capital city, generals and officers were busy directing their soldiers to loot the grandiose imperial palace and the mansions of rich men. Every soldier laboriously carried gold or silver bullion, expensive jewelry, and precious antiques.

      However, one far-sighted commissioner named Hsiao Ho⁸ ordered his subordinates to take over the Bureau of Information. Instead of treasures, his soldiers hauled away many cartloads of military maps, social data, population charts, and important statistics.

      Shortly after this devastating pillage, a bloody civil war broke out. Those recovered charts and maps displayed the importance of some strategic locations and revealed many concealed caches of weapons and stores. Hsiao Ho’s master, King Han, was greatly pleased with this vital information, and highly praised this perceptive commissioner, who later became the first appointed prime minister. During the same chaotic period, while most people focused on hoarding precious metals, a clerk gathered quantities of wheat and flour. Soon came the destructive civil war. Farmers couldn’t plant their wheat fields, and food prices skyrocketed. Grains became as valuable as gold. This clerk sold his stores bit by bit, and earned an immense profit. Others, holding gold bullion and jewelry, didn’t know where to exchange their wealth for food and starved to death. Thousands of people perished.

      From these two cases, we see that gold and valuables, which we ordinarily cherish, are not necessarily the most important possessions in a time of chaos. Only a person with farsightedness and wisdom can perceive a coming crisis and react accordingly.

       I am Afraid of Something Else

       Warring States Period475 B.C. to 221 B.C.

      In the Warring States period China was unfortunately divided into several politically independent regions, which frequently made war against one another. Between military conflicts, diplomats and politicians worked to make alliances and agreements. In those days, signing a well-drafted treaty was as important as winning a battle.

      In a middle-sized country, a capable commissioner named Lin Shan-Lu,⁹ due to his outstanding performance on a recent diplomatic mission, was unconventionally promoted to be a prime minister. Hearing this news, the minister of defense, an old veteran general, Lian Poo,¹⁰ who had fought many battles over the last thirty years, was displeased with this quick advancement.

      “Damn it! I’ve risked my life in battle for years to get where I am.” the minister of defense often grumbled. “That cock-eyed upstart uses only his silver tongue and leaps over me! It’s totally ridiculous. I must cut him down to size in public.”

      Hearing of this, the new prime minister deliberately avoided this bull-headed general. Rumors circulated that the new prime minister was cowardly and afraid to confront the old general. In a private party, some of his intimate assistants, with indignation, asked him about the reason.

      “Gentlemen, allow me to clarify myself once for all,” the prime minister calmly explained. “Could this general be in any way equal to the hot-tempered King Chin, a most powerful king and our western neighbor?”

      The audience agreed that a general was certainly not equal to a king.

      “Yet in our last conference,” continued the prime minister, “I humiliated this rude and ill-intentioned king in front of several thousand of his well-armed bodyguards. In truth, I am afraid of no one. However, in our country, there are other factors I must take into account. Our belligerent western neighbor always wants to