In ancient times, people held sacrificial ceremonies in temples every day to show their piety and seek the blessing of the gods. This ritual is called "bell sacrifice". Every time a bell is sacrificed, either a cow or a sheep is killed, and then the head of the cow or the head of the sheep is placed on the altar of sacrifice with a big wooden plate, and people stand in front of the altar to pray.

One day, a man came from the capital of Qi. He led a cow through the palace hall. At this time, it happened that Qi Xuanwang saw it at the entrance of the main hall and ordered someone to stop the cow and asked, "Where are you taking this cow?" The man replied, "I'm going to take it away and kill it to sacrifice the clock."

After hearing this, Qi Xuanwang looked at the cow and said, "This cow is innocent, but it will die in vain. I really can't bear to watch it tremble. Let go! "

The man holding the cow said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Would you please abolish the bell offering ceremony? "

"How can this be abolished?" Qi Xuanwang became serious and said, "Well, let's replace this cow with a sheep!" "

This fable tells people that killing cattle and sheep is killing life. Poor cows and sheep are essentially the same, and neither can be regarded as kindness. Qi Xuanwang's substitution of sheep for cattle is just a deceptive trick, which shows his hypocrisy.

People in distress

Zhuangzi's family is too poor to open the pot. In desperation, they had to bite the bullet and borrow food from the officials who supervised the river.

Seeing Zhuangzi coming for help, the river supervisor readily agreed to borrow food. He said, "Yes, I will lend you three hundred and twenty pieces of silver as soon as I collect the tax."

Zhuangzi turned from joy to anger, and his face turned pale with anger. He said angrily to the river supervisor, "I was on my way to the mansion yesterday when I suddenly heard a cry for help." Looking around, there was no figure. Looking around again, there was a crucian carp lying in the dry rut. "

Zhuangzi sighed and then said, "He saw me and asked me for help like a savior. It is said that this crucian carp originally lived in the East China Sea, but unfortunately it was caught in a rut and could not extricate itself, and it was about to dry up. Ask passers-by to give some water to help. "

The supervisor listened to Zhuang Zhou and asked him if he had given the crucian carp water to drink.

Zhuangzi gave the river a white look and said coldly, "I said yes. When I get to the south, I will persuade the King of Wu and the King of Yue to bring you the water from the Xijiang River and take you back to your hometown in the East China Sea! "

Jiang Hehou listened stupidly and thought Zhuangzi's rescue method was ridiculous: "How can that be done?"

"Wow, crucian carp listened to my idea and immediately opened his eyes with anger, saying that there is no water at the moment and there is no place to live. It took only a few buckets of water to solve the problem. The so-called water diversion you said is empty talk. I have become a dried fish in the fish market before I have time to draw water! "

It is common sense that far hydrolysis cannot quench thirst. This fable exposes the hypocrisy of generosity and meanness in prison. It satirizes the usual tricks of people who talk big and empty words and don't solve practical problems. The attitude of honest people is to talk less and do more practical things.

Lu has no talent.

Zhuang Zi, who met him, said with deep feelings: "There are many Confucian scholars in Lu, but there is a lack of talents engaged in Taoism like Mr."

Zhuangzi listened to lujun's judgment, but disapprovingly held a negative attitude: "Don't say that there are few talents engaged in Taoism, and even Confucianism is scarce."

Lu Aigong asked Zhuangzi:

"You see, almost all of Lu's subjects wear Confucian clothes. Can you say that there are few Confucian scholars in Lu? "

Zhuangzi mercilessly pointed out what he saw and heard in Lu:

"I heard that among Confucian scholars, people wearing round hats are familiar with astronomy; Those who wear square shoes are proficient in geography; Wearing a ribbon is a jade (Jue), and he is sober and decisive. " When Zhuangzi saw that King Lu was listening carefully, he expressed his opinion: "In fact, those Confucian scholars with deep attainments don't necessarily wear Confucian clothes on weekdays, and those who wear Confucian clothes don't necessarily have real talents and practical learning."

He suggested to him: "If you think my judgment is wrong, you can issue an order nationwide and publish your will. Anyone who wears Confucian clothes without a real scholar will be criticized! "

Lu Aigong adopted Zhuangzi's suggestion and issued orders all over the country. However, five days later, there were no more "Confucians" wearing Confucian clothes up and down in Lu. Only one person stood in front of the national palace in Confucian costume. Lu Aigong heard the news and immediately summoned. Lu Aigong saw the newcomer's good manners and asked him questions about state affairs. He asked a variety of questions, and the other party answered quickly, and he was quick-thinking. He is really a well-read man.

Zhuangzi learned that only one Confucian scholar was called into the palace by the monarch after Lu ordered him to answer questions. So he commented: "With the size of Shandong, there is only one Confucian scholar in the country. What talent can you say? "

This fable is full of satire. Real talent and practical learning are not dressed up by clothes, and form can't replace essence. When an idea, a theory or a profession is popular, some people will resort to deceit and seek personal gain by confusing the false with the true.

Yuhe crock

Han Zhaohou doesn't pay much attention to what he says at ordinary times, and often reveals some important secrets inadvertently, which makes the ministers' careful plans impossible to implement. Everyone is nervous, but it's hard to tell Han Zhaohou frankly.

A wise man named Tang volunteered and said to him, "If there is a jade wine vessel, which is worth thousands of dollars, the middle is empty and there is no bottom, can it hold water?" Han Zhaohou said, "You are untenable." Tang Huogong added, "There is a crock, which is very worthless, but it doesn't leak. Do you think it can hold wine? " Han Zhaohou said, "Yes."

So Tang Xiguan took advantage of the situation and then said, "Here it is. A crock, although not worth a few pence, is simple, but it can be used to hold wine because it does not leak; And a jade wine vessel, although expensive, is empty and bottomless, and even water can't be put in it, let alone people will pour delicious food into it. So do people. As a monarch with supreme status and the most important etiquette, if he often reveals that his deputies discuss state secrets, he is like a jade without a bottom. Even the most talented person, if his secret is always leaked, his plan can't be implemented, and he can't display his talents and strategies. "

Han Zhaohou suddenly understood. He nodded again and again and said, "What you said is true, what you said is true."

From then on, whenever important measures were taken, Han Zhaohou treated the plans and schemes planned by ministers carefully, even sleeping alone at night, because he was worried that he would leak the plans and strategies to others when talking in his sleep, thus missing the affairs of state.

The story of Tang Gongdao tells us that wise people are good at talking and can lead to the truth of governing the country and safeguarding the country from small things in daily life; A wise leader is a person who can accept opinions with an open mind and is not self-centered.

Pretend to be a member of the ensemble ― just make up the numbers.

In ancient times, Qi Xuanwang, the monarch of Qi, liked music, especially listening to the flute. He has 300 musicians who are good at playing the flute. Qi Xuanwang likes to be lively and ostentatious, and always wants to show the majesty of the monarch in front of people, so every time he listens to the flute, he always asks the 300 people to play for him.

A Southland gentleman heard about Qi Xuanwang's hobby and thought it was a good opportunity to make money. He ran to Qi Xuanwang and boasted, "Your Majesty, I am a famous musician. No one who has heard me play the flute is unmoved. Even birds and animals can dance and flowers will tremble with the beat. I would like to dedicate my stunt to your majesty. " Qi Xuanwang listened happily, accepted him happily without investigation, and put him in the blowing team of 300 people.

After that, Mr. Nanguo took the 300 people to Qi Xuanwang to perform an ensemble. Like others, he was very proud of his generous salary and remuneration.

In fact, Mr. Nanguo told a big lie, and he couldn't blow it out at all. Every time I play ball, Mr. Nan Guo is mixed in the team with a shovel in his hand. He shakes his body when people shake it. Others shook their heads, and he shook his head. His face pretended to be emotional and forgot me. He seems to be as devoted as others, and really can't see any flaws. In this way, Mr. Nanguo cheated day after day and got a salary for nothing.

But it didn't last long. A few years later, Qi Xuanwang, who loved ensemble, died, and his son Min succeeded to the throne. King Qi Min also likes to play the flute, but unlike Qi Xuanwang, he thinks it's too noisy for 300 people to play together, so it's better to play solo. Therefore, King Qi Min issued an order that these 300 people should practice hard and get ready. He will let 300 people take turns blowing out bamboo sticks one by one for him to appreciate. When the musicians know the order, they all practice actively and want to show their skills. Only Mr. Nan Guo, who has just made up a few words, is as anxious as a cat on hot bricks. After thinking about it, he felt that he couldn't go on this time, so he had to pack up and run away overnight.

An ignorant man like Mr. Nan Guo who lives by cheating can cheat for a while, but not for a lifetime. What is false is false, and eventually it can't escape the test of practice and is exposed and disguised. The only way for us to succeed is to study hard. Only by practicing a perfect real skill can we stand all tests.

Drawing ghosts is the simplest.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, a talented painter was invited to paint the King of Qi. In the process of painting, the king of Qi asked the painter, "What is the most difficult thing to draw?"

The painter replied, "It's the hardest to draw a dog or a horse. I'm not very good at it."

The king of Qi asked again, "What is the easiest thing to draw?"

The painter said, "It is easiest to draw ghosts."

"Why?"

"Because dogs and horses are familiar to people, they often appear in front of people. As long as you make mistakes, you will be found out and point out the problem, so it is difficult to draw, especially dogs and horses in motion, because they are both tangible and intangible. As for ghosts, no one has ever seen them, and there is no definite shape or clear appearance. Then I can draw whatever I want. After painting, no one can prove that it is not like a ghost, so it is easy to draw a ghost. "

The painter's words prove that if there are no specific objective standards, it is easy for people to "derail" and "opportunistic". Idealism is the most labor-saving, because it has not been tested by objective reality and can talk nonsense, while materialism has been tested by objective reality, so it takes a lot of time.

Decorate yourself with borrowed feathers

One day, a tiger was wandering in the depths of the forest. Suddenly he found a fox and caught it quickly, thinking that he could enjoy lunch again today.

Foxes are cunning by nature. Knowing that the future would be bad after being caught by the tiger today, it made up a lie and said to the tiger, "I was sent by the Emperor of Heaven to be the king of all the animals in the mountain. If you eat me, God will not forgive you. "

The tiger doubted the fox's words and asked, "What evidence do you have to be the king of beasts?" The fox quickly said, "If you don't believe me, you can go for a walk in the mountains with me. I want to show you with my own eyes how all the animals are afraid of me. "

The tiger thought it was also a road, so he let the fox lead the way, followed him and walked deep into the forest together.

Rabbits, goats, deer, black bears and other animals in the forest were scared out of their wits when they saw the tiger coming from a distance, and they fled for their lives.

Turning around, the fox proudly said to the tiger, "You should see it now, right?" All the wild animals in the forest, who dare not be afraid of me? "

The tiger didn't know that all animals were afraid of themselves, but believed the fox's lies. The fox not only escaped being eaten, but also shook down a peg or two in front of all the animals. We should learn to see through the tricks of those who are not cruel.

Three people spread the news of a tiger, making you believe that there is a tiger around.

Pang Gong and Wang Wei, doctors of Wei, as hostages of Zhao, are going to Handan, the capital of Zhao. When he left, Pang Gong asked Wang Wei a question. He said, "If someone told you that I saw a tiger in the bustling crowd, would the king believe it?" Wang Wei said, "Of course I don't believe it." Pang Gong asked again, "What if two people told you?" Wang Wei said, "I don't believe it either." Pang Gong then asked, "If three people say they saw tigers with their own eyes in downtown, wouldn't your Majesty believe it?" Wang Wei said, "Since so many people said they saw tigers, it must have happened. I can't believe it." Hearing this, Pang Gong said with deep feelings, "As I expected, this is the problem! In fact, people and tigers are afraid of each other, each accounting for a few points. Specifically, whether people are afraid of tigers or tigers are afraid of people depends on the comparison of strength at a certain time. As we all know, tigers never dare to break into the downtown area. Now the king doesn't care about reason and doesn't investigate deeply. Just because three people say tigers doesn't mean there must be tigers. Then I went to Handan, which is farther than the urban area. If you hear more than three people who don't like me speak ill of me, won't you call me a bad person? Before I leave, I tell you this question. I hope the king doesn't trust people. "

After Pang Gong left, some people who were usually dissatisfied with him began to speak ill of him in front of Wang Wei. Over time, Wang Wei really listened to these slanders. When Pang Gong returned to Wei from Handan, Wang Wei was no longer willing to summon him.

It seems that rumors are confusing, and there are many rumors that are really enough to destroy a person. If there are many people who echo the voice, the white ones will be said to be black, which is really called "many people compete for gold, and there are no bones." Therefore, everything must have its own analysis, and don't be blinded by fantasy.

Offer pigeons and set them free

There is an old saying: "Do good deeds and accumulate virtue". This sentence is to persuade people to do more good deeds and do more good deeds. In the famine years, some wealthy families donated rice to help the victims who were hungry and cold. These are virtues. During the Taiping period, releasing fish and turtles into the pond and birds into the nature is called "releasing", which is all good deeds. Later, on the first day of New Year's Day, some people released the caught birds and called them "caring creatures".

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Jin established Handan as its capital. Zhao Jianzi, the minister of the State of Jin, likes to have turtledoves caught for him and sent to his home during the Spring Festival to let him fly.

On the first day of the new year, the local people in Handan can make an exception and flock to the mansion in Zhao Jianzi. They all came to provide Zhao Jianzi with turtledoves so that Zhao Jianzi could be released. Zhao Jianzi was very happy and gave them a generous reward. On the first day, from morning till night, there was an endless stream of people offering turtledoves.

Zhao Jianzi's doorman stood by for a long time and asked him why he did it. Zhao Jianzi replied: "I let it go on the first day of New Year's Day to show my love and kindness to creatures!" The doorman went on to say, "it's rare that you have such a kind heart for creatures." I wonder if it ever occurred to you, my Lord, that if the people of the whole country knew that you were going to release the turtledoves, they would scramble to catch them, and as a result, many turtledoves would be killed and injured! If you really want to release the turtle and save its life, don't catch it without the following order. Just like now, if you reward people to catch so many turtledoves for you, and then you release them, then your kindness to turtledoves can't really compensate for the disasters you have caused them! "

Zhao Jianzi listened to the janitor's words, walked up and down the door with his hands behind his back, thought carefully for a while, and nodded silently and said, "That's right."

This fable exposes the hypocrisy of some people who only talk about form but not effect.