king answered, "No." Then Confucius showed him a beautiful fan made of feathers from the San-Chi birds. "Did you ever see feathers like these?" he asked.
" ' "I am a king and I have seen many things," said the young king, "but never have I beheld colors of such wondrous beauty. I will give you one thousand pieces of silver if you will bring me a fan like this one."
" 'And Confucius answered, "If I can persuade you to do one thing that I desire greatly I will give you the fan, for I should not like to sell it. I could not well take silver in exchange for it, as it was given to my honored ancestor, my great-great-grandfather. But as I have said, if you will take my advice concerning a certain matter, you shall have the fan."
" ' "I will be advised by you," said the young king. "What do you wish me to do? "
" ' "You are a king[1] of great strength," said Confucius. "You have more soldiers than any other king. But if you were a lion, you would not kill all the other animals in the wilderness to show your great strength. Or, if you were the greatest fish in the waters, you would not swallow all the weaker fish."
- ↑ At that time several nations were at war, and Confucius went to the king of each nation, trying to persuade him that it was better to be at peace. He went to the young King Loa-Bai first, as his was the strongest of the kingdoms.
