100 Historical Stories That Unlock Teenage Wisdom

Chapter 31 2 Lu Dongzan solves Princess Wencheng's problem

Chapter 42 Lu Dongzan solves the problem of Princess Wencheng

——It is extremely important for us to have an ingenious, intelligent and flexible way of thinking.Witty, often when it needs to be shown, it will live up to expectations and shine!

During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, envoys from Tubo on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau came to propose marriage, asking Taizong to marry a princess.Tang Taizong was very worried. He said to Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia: "The king of Tubo came to propose marriage, but my daughters didn't want to go. They don't understand that this marriage can be worth [-] soldiers."

Li Daozong went back to the mansion and told Taizong's words to his daughter, but his daughter said: "Since this marriage is so important, how about my daughter going?" , Taizong was very happy to hear that, and named Li Daozong's daughter Princess Wencheng.

Princess Wencheng was afraid that the Tubo people would be vulgar and backward, so she asked three questions. If Tubo came and could answer them, she would have no worries about marrying Tubo.

An envoy from Tubo—Prime Minister Lu Dongzan agreed to Princess Wencheng's request to ask her to write a question.

Princess Wencheng asked him to bring a piece of turquoise and a ribbon. There are small winding holes in the turquoise, and Lu Dongzan asked Lu Dongzan to pass the silk thread through the small hole in the turquoise.Inspired by the ants on the ground, Lu Dongzan caught a big ant, tied it with a thin thread, put it into one end of the turquoise hole, and then put some fragrant food at the other end of the hole.Ants have a keen sense of smell, and follow the scent to get out of the hole, and of course they pull the silk thread through.

The first question did not bother the Tubo envoys. Princess Wencheng felt that they were not stupid, but very smart.

The second problem is to find a piece of wood with the same thickness at both ends, and ask Lu Dongzan to tell which end is the root and which end is the tip.Lu Dongzan put the wood into the flowing water, and the wood drifted along the water. Lu Dongzan said that the front is the root, and the back is the tip.Because the root is heavier than the tip, the heavy end washed by the water is in front.

The second question was also answered correctly, and Princess Wencheng asked the last question: she stood among 300 beauties and asked Lu Dongzan to identify her.

Lu Dongzan had never met Princess Wencheng, but he inquired about Princess Wencheng's appearance a few days in advance, so he calmly identified the dignified and handsome Princess Wencheng among the 300 beauties.

Princess Wencheng was very satisfied with the ingenuity of the Tubo envoy, so she accepted the marriage proposal of Tubo King Songtsan Gampo.

Wisdom Interpretation:

Wisdom is needed in life, a kind of achievement and wit are needed. You might as well make your way of thinking more active at ordinary times, and try to solve problems ingeniously. At critical moments, this will make you receive unexpected results.

(End of this chapter)