Visiting a barbarian king











Cochonfucius visited a barbarian king. Not being able to see him immediately, the king told him to spend some time with the minister of rituals, and also with the minister of fights.

The minister of rituals had plenty of oil lamps standing on the ground. Cochonfucius respectfully told the minister that it would be better to put them on some tables.

Please hold your tongue, said the minister, since they are my lamps, and I install them as I like it.

Cochonfucius felt some perplexity and left the place.

The minister of fights let him in. However, he asked him not to sit down, since all seats were hanging from the ceiling of the room, held by thin threads of wool. Cochonfucius respectfully told the minister that it would be better to put them on the ground.

Please hold your tongue, said the minister, since they are my seats, and I install them as I like it.

In the royal room, everything was conveniently installed. Cochonfucius ventured to ask the monarch about the strange facts he had observed when visiting the ministers.

The explanation, said the king, is a very simple one. The minister of rituals is a fool. As for the minister of fights, he is a brainless person.

Cochonfucius respectfully told the king that it would be better to appoint some reasonable ministers, instead of those two losers.

Please hold your tongue, said the king, since they are my idiots, and I install them as I like it.