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How Yanzi Responded to an Inconsiderate Ruler
- Alex Chen
- Jul 26
- 8 min read
Around 2500 years ago, during the Spring and Autumn period of China's history, Duke Jing was the ruler of the State of Qi, and Yanzi was one of his trusted ministers. One time, a relentless torrential rain lasted for seventeen days. Houses collapsed, food and grain became scarce, and the weather grew bitterly cold. Many people suffered from hunger and freezing temperatures, left with no shelter, trapped in a desperate plight.
When Duke Jing heard of the disaster, he didn't do anything to help. Instead, he continued to indulge in lavish meals and spent his days and nights drinking and enjoying entertainment.
(Pause: If you were Yanzi, what would you do?)
Distressed by the people's suffering, Yanzi grew deeply anxious. He immediately requested that Duke Jing release the grain stored in the government granaries to relieve the disaster victims so that they could safely survive the crisis.
Yet despite Yanzi’s repeated pleadings, Duke Jing refused to agree. Furthermore, during this time of peril, the Duke dispatched a close minister named Bo to search the country for skilled singers and dancers.
(Pause: If you were Yanzi, what would you do?)
Although disappointed with the Duke, Yanzi still resolved to help the victims. He distributed the stored grain from his own estate to the disaster victims and provided his family's tools for them to use, doing everything in his power to assist them. Once he did everything in his own power to help, he decided to visit the Duke again. However, he did not ride his carriage like usual. Instead, he walked by foot.
Upon seeing the Duke, Yanzi bowed and said:
"The excessive rain has poured for seventeen days. So many houses have collapsed. So many households have nothing to eat. In this freezing weather, the elderly, the weak, women, and children lack clothes to fend off the cold, and they cannot find food to satisfy their hunger. Now, with walls collapsed and homes destroyed, they are left homeless, looking around in utter despair, weeping helplessly. Yet, Your Highness is not helping them, but instead drinking day and night, even sending Bo out to scout the country for singers and dancers.
In the palace, the horses are fed with grain from the inner granary, and the dogs are fed with beef and mutton. The consorts across the three palaces are dressed in fine silks and enjoy delicacies. Comparing the two, is the treatment of your dogs, horses, and consorts not too extravagant? And is the treatment of the common people not too cruel? May I ask, when the villages are filled with desperate, starving, and freezing disaster victims who have nowhere to turn, how can Your Highness find the heart to drink and make merry?
I am responsible for recording court affairs, serving alongside the officials at court to assist Your Highness in stabilizing the country and benefiting the people. Yet, the people are left starving, impoverished, and helpless, while Your Highness is immersed in wine and music, ignoring the victims. My offense is truly too great! Thus, with a heavy heart, I submit my resignation and will return to my hometown."
He then gave his written resignation to the Duke, stood up and left swiftly.
(Pause: If you were Duke Jing, what would you do?)
Hearing these heartfelt words, Duke Jing felt shocked and deeply ashamed. Soon after Yanzi departed, the Duke ran out after him, hoping to retain his services. However, the rainy day made the roads slippery and muddy. No matter how hard Duke Jing ran, he could not catch up with Yanzi. Fearing Yanzi would leave for good, he immediately ordered his attendants to ready the carriage and pursue him to his home.
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When Duke Jing arrived at Yanzi’s residence, Yanzi was nowhere to be found. He only saw that the grain in Yanzi’s granary had all been taken by the disaster victims, and his tools were left scattered in disorder on the road. Duke Jing then drove his carriage further until he finally caught up with Yanzi at a crossroad.
Seeing Yanzi, Duke Jing quickly stepped down from his carriage, walked up to him, and said:
"I was wrong and didn't listen to you, so you left. Though I am not worthy of greatness, will you just abandon the common people? Please, remain by my side. I will distribute the grain and wealth stored in the inner granary to the disaster victims. The amount given shall be entirely at your command."
(Pause: If you were Yanzi, what would you do?)
Hearing this, Yanzi was relieved and accepted the Duke's offer. Thus, Duke Jing reinstated Yanzi right there on the road, and Yanzi returned to the court.
Upon returning to court, Yanzi immediately initiated a structured relief plan. Officials were dispatched to investigate the disaster victims and provide them with adequate food, clothing, firewood, and repair funds. The investigation was to be completed in three days, and any official who neglected their duty would be punished for disobeying orders.
Duke Jing also stayed at the court to personally direct and supervise the ministers. He reduced his own daily meals, removing meat and wine. He ordered that horses no longer be fed grain and dogs no longer be fed meat porridge, while also cutting back the rewards given to his favorite courtiers.
When the three-day deadline arrived, all responsible officials completed their tasks on schedule and reported the results of the relief efforts. They assisted 17,000 poor households, distributed 970,000 zhongs of grain, distributed 13,000 cartloads of firewood, and provided 3000 gold pieces of relief funds.
Following this, Duke Jing further reduced his meals, put away the zithers and harps, and ceased the display of bells and drums, sharing this difficult time with the disaster victims. Later, acting on Yanzi’s advice, Duke Jing dismissed his favored courtiers, as well as the singers, dancers, and those who encouraged idle pleasure. As a result, 3,000 favored maidservants were removed from the rolls, and three or four favored officials were expelled from the palace doors.
The disaster relief work concluded successfully. The people were overjoyed, deeply grateful for the Duke's benevolence, and the whole nation weathered the crisis safely with unity.
Commentary
In another story, Duke Jing drank for seven days and nights, neglecting court duties. A minister named Hong Zhang couldn't take it anymore and said, "Your Grace has drunk for seven days! Please stop at once. If you will not, then grant me death instead!"
I suspect Hong Zhang got a bit anxious and impatient with the Duke, which is why he said such words. I wondered what Yanzi might have done. This story seems to give an answer. If Yanzi truly did his utmost to advise his ruler, but the ruler still does not listen, then it seems he'll resign with a heavy heart. The drinking incident was less severe than this disaster incident, which might be why Yanzi didn't resign in the drinking incident.
An important point to note is that Yanzi did not resign because he looks down on the Duke as a bad leader. Rather, he felt that it is his moral duty to help the Duke be the best ruler possible. If he lacks the ability to help the Duke be good, then he feels unqualified for the role, so he should not be receiving the high salary and benefits of the role. I think that's why when he went to see the Duke, he didn't dare to ride his carriage, and he first gave a bow to the Duke.
Reflecting on ourselves, if we are employees, are we truly deserving of the salary we earn? Do we give our best to serve our employer and help our leader improve? Or do we just clock-in and clock-out with a "another day another dollar" attitude? If we are leaders, do we do our utmost to lead our followers towards a better future? If we are still students in school, do we do our best in our studies to be worthy of receiving the support from our parents, teachers, and nation? Fulfilling our moral duties is helping ourselves and others to accumulate merit and fortune. Neglecting our moral duties is cheating ourselves and others.
I also wondered if Yanzi was using his resignation as a last resort to help awaken the Duke. But I think that's not his primary intent. Otherwise, why would he leave so swiftly? If he was using his resignation sort of as a threat to get the Duke to change, then he would leave slowly, hoping the Duke might say, "No, please, don't leave! I'll change!"
I think Yanzi truly felt like he didn't deserve the role of minister, and he truly felt he failed at his job, which is why he left so swiftly. If the Duke wasn't so sincere in admitting his faults, requesting Yanzi to stay, and promising to follow Yanzi's advice, then I don't think Yanzi would have stayed. Yanzi follows morality, not any individual ruler.
Besides, people can sense insincerity and ulterior motives. If Yanzi was just putting on a show, threatening to resign, then the Duke might feel like Yanzi is challenging his authority, in which case the Duke might just let him resign and not care about him. Such was the case with Hong Zhang. Thus, threatening others will not cause others to change out of their own accord, and I'm sure Yanzi understood this principle.
Relating back to ourselves, we shouldn't threaten others to change. Instead, we need to awaken others' sense of morality so that they willingly change out of their own accord. In order to do that, we need to act with morality and set a virtuous example towards those around us.
If others lack kindness, I role model kindness without demanding it from them. If others lack respect, I role model respect despite their disrespect towards me. When others see us treating them well despite them not treating us well, they will eventually feel ashamed, and their sense of morality will arise.
Finally, I wonder what would've happened if the Duke didn't chase after Yanzi. I don't think Yanzi was betting on the Duke to chase after him. So what was his plan then? I speculate that he would find other ways to help the disaster victims or serve the people.
I don't think he would go serve another state's ruler because that would be disloyal to his Duke. Maybe he would roam around different villages in the State of Qi, teaching people morality and life skills like Emperor Shun did. Or he might live as a recluse until Duke Jing or a future ruler sincerely asks him for his services, like what Zhuge Liang did. Those are just my speculations anyway.
Conclusion
As leaders, we ought to feel compassion for those below us, feel their suffering as our own suffering, and help them as we would help ourselves. This is the way to gain the people's hearts. No one is perfect, so it's also extremely important for leaders to listen to the advice and criticisms of all the subordinates and people.
As subordinates, we ought to do our best to help our leader be the best leader they can be. We patiently advise with sincerity and respect. If the leader refuses to listen, we don't blame them as being too stubborn. Instead, we blame ourselves as lacking wisdom and credentials. We then reflect on whether we deserve the position we are in.
When we set a moral and virtuous example, always focused on doing what's morally right, then we will have a clear conscience. Moreover, our morality will help awaken others' morality so that they will feel motivated to change out of their own accord.
Weekly Wisdom #404
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