Wang Anshi, prime minister of the Song Dynasty, was fond of public utility projects.
A man who wanted to get into his good graces offered a proposition.
“Drain Liangshan Lake, and you will have eight hundred square li of fertile land,” said the man.
Wang Anshi was elated, then he asked, ”Where shall the water go?”
“Dig another lake of the same size beside it and the question is solved,” said Liu Gongfu.
Wang Anshi laughed and called the matter off.
Allegorical Meaning
This historical anecdote exposes three dangerous tendencies in governance:
The Flattery Trap
The sycophant’s proposal to drain Liangshan Marsh reflects how corrupt advisors exploit a leader’s preference for quick profits. The absurdity lies in valuing theoretical gains over ecological reality.
The Illusion of Solutions
Liu Gongfu’s satirical suggestion to “dig another 800-li lake” reveals how:
- Bad ideas spawn worse “solutions”
- Circular logic masks fundamental flaws
- Humor can expose bureaucratic folly
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