Yan Zi, namely Yan Ying (? -500 years ago) Ji was a famous politician, thinker and diplomat of Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period.
The full text (excerpt) is as follows:
The Chu people took Yan Zi as a short story, and the Chu people delayed Yan Zi because the door was on the edge of the city gate. Yan Zi refused to go in and said, "Let the dog country go in through the dog door. Now that I am a minister, I shouldn't go in through this door. " It's more polite to enter through the gate.
See the king of Chu. The king said, "Is there anyone here?" He said to him, "Qi's face is 300 meters long, his face is cloudy and he is sweating like rain, standing side by side. Why is there no one? "
The king said, "But what is giving?" Yan Zi said to him, "Everyone has his own master: saints make saints masters, and unscrupulous people make unscrupulous people masters. Babies are the most corrupt, and it is just right to be Chu Yi! "
The translation is as follows:
Yan Zi went to the State of Chu. Knowing that Yanzi was short, the King of Chu opened a five-foot hole next to the gate and invited Yanzi in. Yan Zi refused to go in, saying, "People who were sent to the dog country went in through the dog hole. Send me to Chu today, and I can't go into this cave. " The person who greeted the guests entered the gate with Yan Zigai.
Yan Zi visited the King of Chu. The king of Chu said, "Is there no one in Qi? I sent you as a special envoy. " Yan Zi replied, "There are more than 7,000 families in Linzi, the capital of Qi State. Spreading sleeves can cover the sun and sweat all over the world. People are close together, shoulder to shoulder, toes touching heels. How can you say that there is no one in Qi? "
The king of Chu said, "In that case, why should you be sent as an envoy?" Yan Zi replied: "Qi sent envoys for different purposes. A wise envoy is given to a wise monarch, and an unscrupulous envoy is given to an unscrupulous monarch. I am the most incompetent person, and I have to go to Chu under grievances. "
Extended data:
During the Spring and Autumn Period, many advisers and ministers wandered between countries, relying on their eloquence and wisdom to go their own way and dominate one side. Yan Zi is one of the best.
In 547 BC, Qi Jinggong acceded to the throne. In the first 548 years, due to Qi Jinggong's arrogant attitude when he visited the State of Jin, he aroused the dissatisfaction of the high-level officials of the State of Jin, so he sent troops to make a shocking attack. Qi Jinggong didn't care at first, but later the army of Jin was almost in Enemy at the Gates, which forced him to give in.
Through this lesson, Qi Jinggong realized that the strength of Qi alone could not compete with the powerful State of Jin, so he turned his attention to the southern State of Chu and decided to make peace with Chu and fight against the State of Jin together. In this case, Yan Zi visited Chu as a special envoy. Yan Zi's mission to Chu is the story of Yan Zi's mission to Chu under such circumstances.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Yan Zi Zhi Chu