Pouring Oil on Troubled Waters

During the Warring States Period, Qin troops invaded Zhao State, and laid siege to its capital Handan. The King of Zhao pled for Wei's help, but Wei sent senior general Xin Yuanyan to try to talk Zhao into serving the King of Qin as their emperor in order to get the withdrawal of the Qin troops in return. The ministers of Zhao had different opinions about it.

At that time Lu Zhonglian from Qi State was paying a visit in Handan. Hearing that Zhao would submit, he requested an interview with Zhao Sheng, Lord Pingyuan, the prime minister of Zhao, who agreed to recommend him to Xin Yuanyan.

Having met Xin Yuanyan, Lu analyzed the present situation by citing the historical events and rebuked sharply the absurd idea of“serving the King of Qin as emperor”. Lu also pointed that if Zhao had submitted, it might have been an awful disaster to both Zhao and Wei.

Hearing this, Xin Yuanyan admired Lu deeply. So he took back his words and promised to return to report it to the King of Wei immediately. Qin troops were greatly surprised at the news and retreated 50 li so as to avoid a thunderbolt.

Later prince Wuji, the younger son of the King of Wei, stole the military tally to rescue Zhao, and Qin troops were defeated.

Lord Pingyuan had a tremendous admiration and gratitude for Lu Zhonglian and wanted to offer fief to him, but Lu refused. Then the Lord wished to reward him with one thousand pieces of gold, which Lu didn't accept either. Lu Zhonglian said,“A real sage regards benefiting the world as his own duty. So I will take nothing while I am trying to help them to pour oil on troubled waters.”

The original meaning of this idiom is to help one to get rid of danger or to settle quarrels. Today it indicates mediating a dispute.

It tells us that we should learn to mediate the disputes and help others to solve some practical problems, and then we may win the admiration and respect from others.