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Any Fool Can Start a Fight
by Walton Lee
 Nobody
wants trouble. When confronted with a problem, you may be able to talk your way
out of it if you keep this in mind -- that the people who initiate the conflict
most likely don't want to be in that situation either. Find out the real cause
of the disturbance and you may avoid serious trouble.
A hair-raising incident that illustrates my point occurred in the Northern
Sung dynasty (China, 1127 A.D. to 1279 A.D.).
A government official named Con Yuon was assigned to a border city. After
only three days as mayor, he surprisingly discovered that all of his soldiers
and police were gone. They had been dispatched to handle a revolt in another
corner of the province. Worse than that, the aborigines, who were fully armed
with swords and spears, surrounded the city and were preparing to attack.
The mayor immediately had an urgent conference with his subordinates. They
all suggested bolting the gates and sending letters to neighboring cites,
asking for military assistance.
"If we are lucky enough, we can hold them at bay until the rescuers
arrive," some of them estimated. There was no time to assemble and train local
citizens to protect this city.
"We must send a delegate to find out their problem first," said the mayor.
"Otherwise, regardless of the resolution, we will never know the cause of the
uprising."
"What a lunatic!" his subordinates privately sneered. Out loud they said
"How could we possibly approach those barbarians with their oiled swords and
sharpened spears? And may we ask who will have the honor to meet with those
ferocious rebels?" None of them wanted to receive this fatal assignment.
Without any hesitation, the mayor volunteered himself. Although his
subordinates pleaded with the mayor not to go, their protest was merely a
formality. They were only too happy to let the mayor put his own neck on the
chopping block.
Accompanied by two aged servants, the mayor appeared at the city gates,
which immediately caused a commotion. The armed natives had expected to be met
by a few hundred well-armed soldiers. Instead, a solitary man rode out to meet
them.
After brief amenities to the invaders, the rider said, "I am the new mayor
of this city. I would like to discuss with your leader why you threaten the
city. Please, guide me to your headquarters." Surprised by this request and by
the mayor's polite demeanor, the natives escorted him to their village. While
on their way to the village, the mayor's two servants made excuses and snuck
away, which meant that one of the barbarian warriors had to hold the horse's
reins for him.
When they arrived at the village, the barbarian chief came out to meet the
mayor. The mayor got down off of his horse and said, "I am your superior.
Traditionally, you must call on me first."
He then strode into a tent and sat on a bed, waiting. With astonishment,
the barbarian leader went in to 'call' on the mayor. After formal amenities,
the mayor asked the reason for their untimely 'hunting.' The natives
vigorously complained about the corruption of the last mayor and told of many
injustices that they had suffered. Due to over-taxation and other
maltreatment, they didn't have sufficient food and cattle to endure the coming
winter.
Mindfully listening to their protest, the mayor considered it for a moment
and said "I do understand your outrage and sympathize with your suffering. My
predecessor has done wrong to you all. I apologize for him. Being your new
superior, I am responsible for you. You can send someone with me tomorrow to
fetch cattle and supplies. For now, it is rather late for me to return to the
city. I will stay here for the night."
The natives admired this mayor for his brazenness and deeply appreciated
him for his thoughtfulness. The next morning, the mayor, with a company of
natives, went back to the city. Observing their approach, his subordinates
wrongfully believed that their superior was leading the rebels to assail the
city.
After an exchange of words, they agreed to allow him to come in alone. In a
few hours, the mayor collected a hundred tons of rice, vegetables, and cattle.
He personally supervised the delivery. Receiving these goods, the natives were
thankful for his kindness, and loudly swore their loyalty to him.
People, as well as countries, are often in conflict. The clumsiest way to
settle the matter is a fistfight between people or a war between nations.
Physical confrontations are costly and ineffective, and generally solve nothing
at all. Try to learn your opponent's viewpoint. Communicate and compromise until
you can reach an acceptable outcome. After all, any fool can start a fight. To
resolve a conflict without violence is an art, and a sign of wisdom.
 This
article was excerpted from the book:
Wisdom's Way: 101 Tales of Chinese Wit
by Walton C. Lee.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher, YMAA Publication Center. ©1997. www.ymaa.com
Info/Order this book.
About the Translator
Popular
in China, these "101 Tales of Chinese Wit" have been translated and enhanced by
Walton Lee. Mr. Lee, born in Taipei, Taiwan, is a graduate of San Francisco
State University and an enthusiast of classical Chinese literature. Visit his
website at
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/6426/
About the Editor
Feng, Mon-Lon (1574-1646 A.D.) was a low-level civil servant during the last
years of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) A student of political intrigue, he
compiled and edited many short stories. In 1626, selecting primarily from
well-known historical events, he assembled a work of 28 volumes, with over 830
stories, in only two months. The stories in this book come from that collection.
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