The Farmer Returns the Horse

Confucius traveled around the world, and when he passed through the country of Cao, his horse was taken back to his house by the farmer because it ran into the ground and ate the farmer's crops.

Zigong was so eloquent that Confucius sent him to negotiate. Zigong quoted the scriptures, and even though his mouth was dry, he could not get the horse back.

So Confucius sent another horseman to negotiate.

When the horseman saw the farmer, he said directly: "It's our fault that our horse was not bolted. But your land is so big, the horse ran into the wild, not eat your crops to eat whose?" The farmer felt that the horseman's words were reasonable, so he returned the horse to him.

Confucius laughed and said to Zigong, "You are eloquent, and you are the one who responds to the king's workers and nobles. For the rough and rustic peasant, you are an amateur."