第七章 冯谖买义

During the Warring States period, Lord Mengchang of Qi kept many retainers. The retainers worked for him, and he provided their food and lodging.

Among the retainers was a man named Feng Xuan. Lord Mengchang sent him to the Xue region to collect debts.

The Xue region was Lord Mengchang's fief, i.e., a place given to him by the ruler. The local people had borrowed money from him, and Lord Mengchang planned to have Feng Xuan collect the debts.

Before setting out, Feng Xuan asked Lord Mengchang, "After collecting the debts, what should I buy with the money to bring back?"

Lord Mengchang casually said, "See what is lacking at home, and buy that."

Feng Xuan arrived at Xue. He summoned all the debtors and asked them to bring their debt contracts.

When they arrived, Feng Xuan did not press them to repay.

He announced publicly, "Lord Mengchang knows that everyone's life is difficult. He has decided not to ask you to repay the debts. These contracts will all be burned today."

After saying this, he lit a fire and burned the pile of contracts to ashes.

The people were stunned. Then they knelt down and kept thanking Lord Mengchang.

Feng Xuan returned to Qi and went to see Lord Mengchang.

Lord Mengchang asked, "How was the debt collection? What did you buy?"

Feng Xuan said, "I didn't buy anything. I forgave all the debts in Xue and burned the contracts. I bought back 'righteousness' for you."

Lord Mengchang's face changed instantly when he heard this.

"That money was needed at home. You forgave the debts without saying a word. What sort of thing is this!"

Feng Xuan did not argue; he only said, "You told me to see what was lacking at home and buy it. I thought the most lacking thing was this."

Lord Mengchang was very displeased. From that day on, he no longer gave Feng Xuan an important role.

Later, the King of Qi no longer trusted Lord Mengchang and dismissed him from office. He left the capital of Qi and went to live in Xue.

On the way, he was in a very bad mood, thinking that he had done so much for Qi and yet ended up in this situation.

When he was about to reach Xue, he saw in the distance a crowd of people standing.

The people had heard the news and all came out of their homes to wait for him. Some carried food, some carried clothes made by their own hands. They surrounded him, held his carriage, and refused to let him go.

Someone shouted, "Sir, you forgave our debts back then; we have always remembered!"

Lord Mengchang looked at the crowd before him, and suddenly recalled the fire of the day Feng Xuan burned the contracts.

He turned to Feng Xuan and said, "Sir, today I have seen the 'righteousness' you bought back that day."

When Feng Xuan burned the contracts, Lord Mengchang lost a sum of money.

He did not know that the value of some things can only be seen after a long time.