Chapter 800: 488, Carrying One's Head on a Trip

488, carrying one's head and making a trip.

488th chapter, carrying one's head and making a trip.

――――A red apricot branch extending over the wall.

The Crown Prince Hui interrupted the strategist's nonstop talk, saying: 'Please don't go on; saying too much is annoying.'?

Zhuangzi has already arrived at our country's capital, Handan.

Then quickly summon Zhuangzi.

………………………………………………

Not long after, someone brought Zhuangzi before the Crown Prince Hui.

Upon seeing Zhuangzi arrive, the Crown Prince Hui hurriedly bowed and said: 'I did not know you were coming, my remote welcome fell short. I have long heard that your learning is profound and you are eloquent. I now have a difficult matter and ask for your help. If you can persuade my father the king to give up sword practice and focus on state affairs, I will respectfully offer you a thousand gold. What do you think of this thousand‑gold gift? Is it enough?'

'Thank you for the Crown Prince's trust. This gift of a thousand gold is already heavy enough, but I cannot accept this heavy gift from the Crown Prince.' Zhuangzi said.

'Why? Do you think my gift is too light?' the Crown Prince Hui asked, puzzled.

'Crown Prince, your gift of a thousand gold cannot be heavier. But the task you want me to undertake, I am staking my life on it. Imagine: I am neither related nor friends with the King of Zhao, and the King of Zhao does not know my character or learning. If my persuasion offends the King of Zhao, he will glare and my little life will be over.'

'If I lose my life, what use is this thousand gold? If my persuasion succeeds and the King of Zhao changes his mind and follows my advice, then what I ask of you and the King of Zhao, you will surely not refuse, right?'

'What you say makes sense. I hope you will consider the interests of the State of Zhao, out of respect for the Zhao people, take the risk and make this trip. Persuade the father king to give up sword practice. With your eloquence and wisdom, there will be no danger to your life.' The Crown Prince encouraged Zhuangzi.

Zhuangzi also understood the Crown Prince's intention: the Crown Prince was merely using me, using my life to take a risk. If successful, he would thereafter sit firmly on the throne; if not, the one who dies would be Zhuangzi, not him, Crown Prince Hui.

How smart Zhuangzi is, though the world calls him muddle‑headed. In fact, nobody realizes that this is great wisdom appearing as foolishness.

Zhuangzi said: 'Out of respect for the Zhao people, I will carry my head and make this trip. If I can persuade the King of Zhao to give up sword practice, that will also be a great deed for the people of Zhao. To do a good deed for the people is worth sacrificing one's life.'

'To do a good deed for the people is worth sacrificing one's life.' This sentence of Zhuangzi's is deeply moving. His moving words remind me of a friend who has spent decades researching punctuation in obscurity. He also said something with the same meaning as Zhuangzi: 'My research findings can bring benefit to all under heaven; even if the cost is a little greater, I have no complaints.',

Upon hearing Zhuangzi's words, the Crown Prince Hui was deeply moved, and tears almost fell from his eyes.

The Crown Prince Hui excitedly grabbed Zhuangzi's hand and, feeling grateful, said: 'In that case, do you agree, sir?'

'Agreed……………………..

(Heart with the disaster area, emotion with the disaster area: wishing peace, courage, confidence, strength to accompany and be with the people of the disaster area!)