千虑一得 — “Even a person of limited ability”

Yan Ying was a grandee of the State of Qi. After his father's death, he succeeded him as a high official (Qing) and served as Prime Minister (Xiangguo) during the reigns of Duke Ling, Duke Zhuang, and Duke Jing. Yan Ying was upright, incorruptible in office, and led a very frugal life. He was respected by everyone, from the monarch down to the common people.

One day, as Yan Ying was about to have lunch, Duke Jing sent a messenger to see him. Out of special courtesy for a messenger sent by the ruler, Yan Ying immediately divided his meal into two portions and invited the visitor to share lunch with him. Naturally, he did not eat his fill that day.

When Duke Jing learned of this, he sighed and said, "I had no idea that the Prime Minister's family was so impoverished. This is my fault!" With that, Duke Jing ordered a thousand pieces of gold to be sent to Yan Ying for entertaining guests. Unexpectedly, Yan Ying refused to accept it and asked the messenger to take it back. Duke Jing ordered it to be sent again, but he still wouldn't take it.

When Duke Jing sent it for the third time, Yan Ying said to the messenger: "Please report to the King that I am not poor. The salary Your Majesty gives me is not only sufficient to support my family and entertain guests, but also to assist the poor. Therefore, I cannot accept Your Majesty's additional reward!" The messenger, feeling very awkward, said to Yan Ying, "Prime Minister, I am carrying out an order. If you refuse to accept it again, how can I report back to His Majesty?" Yan Ying thought for a moment and said, "In that case, I will go to the palace with you and decline in person before the King."

Yan Ying met Duke Jing, thanked him for his great kindness, and expressed that as a subject, it was enough to be well-fed and clothed, and one should not possess excessive wealth. He requested the Duke not to insist on him accepting the additional reward.

Duke Jing, upon hearing these words, respected Yan Ying even more, but still wished to bestow the thousand pieces of gold upon him. Duke Jing then gave an example: Guan Zhong, a wise prime minister of Qi in the past, rendered great service in making Duke Huan the first hegemon among the feudal states of his time. Duke Huan rewarded him with many fiefdoms, which Guan Zhong accepted without demur. "Why do you, Yan Ying, refuse?" Duke Jing asked.

Yan Ying replied, "I have heard it said: even a sage, after a thousand considerations, may make one mistake; and even a foolish person, after a thousand considerations, may have one correct insight. Perhaps Guan Zhong made a mistake in considering that matter, and though I am foolish, I might be right in handling this." Hearing him speak to such an extent, Duke Jing had no choice but to drop the matter.