Honorable Shame Story, A New Version

Author: Fu Kaiping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: During the Spring and Autumn Period, three officials of the State of Qi—Gong Sun Jie, Tian Kai, and Gu Yezi—formed an alliance and were known as the "Three Heroes of Qi." They looked down on the King of Qi and other ministers. They often found excuses to collect grain taxes, enriching themselves at the state's expense. The King of Qi admired their bravery and their ability to fight dragons and tigers, as well as their life-saving deeds, so he temporarily adopted a lenient attitude toward them. As a result, these "Three Heroes" continued to harm the state and bring misfortune upon the people.
Yan Ying, then serving as the prime minister, was always concerned about the interests of Qi. He had once persuaded the king to eliminate these three men, but the king refused. Disheartened, Yan Ying wandered into the royal garden to relieve his frustrations. The garden actually only had one peach tree. At this time, the fruits were ripe, and the tree was adorned with golden apricots and crimson peaches, a sight of breathtaking beauty. He knew that these peaches were called "Pan peaches," a rare delicacy that could extend life and grant immortality. Not even the ministers had ever seen or tasted them, let alone the king himself.
After admiring the peaches, Yan Ying felt a sudden realization. With a look of joy, he left the garden.
The Duke of Lu of the State of Lu wanted to develop friendly relations with Qi, so he personally led his ministers on a visit to Qi. The King of Qi, Jing Gong, hosted a banquet for the Duke of Lu and his prime minister, and Yan Ying, the prime minister of Qi, also attended the banquet. Gong Sun Jie, Tian Kai, and Gu Yezi each carried a sword and guarded King Jing Gong. When the drinking reached a halfway point, Yan Ying reported to King Jing Gong, saying, "The golden peaches in the garden have ripened. Let us pick a few to offer to the two kings for their longevity." King Jing Gong agreed, so he sent the official in charge of the garden to pick the peaches and present them. Yan Ying then said, "Golden peaches are rare treasures, and I should personally go to supervise their picking." He took the keys to the garden and went to pick the peaches.