During the Warring States period (475-221B.C.), Prince Mengchang of the State of Qi was fond of having various kinds of people as his hangers-on, the number of whom was said to have amounted to three thousand. Never refusing anyone who came to home, he let the talented people do what they could and also offered food and lodging1 to the mediocre2.
Once, followed by his hangers-on, Prince Mengchang was sent on a diplomatic mission to the State of Qin. Attermpting to make him prime minister of the state of Qin, King Zhao of the State of Qin kept hime from leaving. Not daring to offend the king, Prince Mengchang stay here. He is a person of royal lineage, and has feud3 and family back in the State of Qi, How could he serve the State of Qin heart and soul?"The king thought it plausible4, and changed his mind. He put Prince Mengchang and his hangers-on under house arrest, waiting to find an excuse to kill them.
The king had an imperial concubine on whom he doted most, and he never refused her anything, Prince Mengchang sent a man to her for help. The concubine promised to help if she could have the unique white fox fur coat of the State of Qi as her reward. Prince Mengchang was troubled, for he had already given it to the king of the State of Oin as a gift when he arrived here. Just then, one of the hangers-on said, "I can manage to get it ." He left immediately.
It turned out that this
