Yan Ying, a Grand Master of the State of Qi, was a man of small stature but immense wisdom. He assisted Duke Jing in implementing benevolent policies internally and gaining the respect of other feudal lords externally, thus restoring Qi to its former strength. Duke Jing appointed him as the Chief Minister, and Yan Ying subsequently earned a reputation for sagacity among the feudal states. This comic strip is based on several well-known stories about Yan Ying. His diplomatic missions to the State of Chu and the incident of "Two Peaches Slaying Three Warriors" showcase his wit and talent, while his loyalty to his aging wife and his frugal lifestyle exemplify his noble character.
- Yan Ying, styled Pingzhong, was a high-ranking official in the State of Qi. Despite his short stature, he possessed extraordinary abilities. On this particular day, he was dispatched by Duke Jing of Qi on a diplomatic mission to the State of Chu to renew their friendly alliance.
2. At this time, the State of Chu was the most powerful among all the states. Envoys from various nations, coming to offer tribute and renew alliances, arrived in an unending stream. King Ling of Chu, relying on his state's might, was exceedingly arrogant. Upon hearing of Yan Ying's visit, he conspired with his Chief Minister, Wei Qijiang, to devise a plan to humiliate Yan Ying.
3. Wei Qijiang immediately sent soldiers to dig a small side gate at the East Gate of Yingdu (the capital of Chu) overnight. He instructed the city guards: when Yan Ying arrived, do not open the main city gate; make him enter through the small gate.
4. Upon arriving at the capital city gate of Chu, Yan Ying found the main gate tightly shut and instructed his coachman to call out. The guard on the wall pointed to the small gate and said, "Grand Master Yan, that small gate is more than enough for you to enter! There's no need to open the main gate."
5. Yan Ying understood that the King and officials of Chu intended to insult him. Calmly, he said, "This is a dog's gate. Envoys to a 'dog' state enter through a dog's gate; today I am an envoy to a human state, so I must enter through a human's gate!"
6. The guard was dumbfounded, speechless. He dared not open the main gate without permission, so he galloped off on horseback to report to King Ling.
7. King Ling reproached Wei Qijiang, "We wanted to play a trick on him, but unexpectedly, he cursed us instead. This was all your brilliant idea!"
8. Left with no choice, King Ling ordered the city guards to open the main gate. Yan Ying strode in with dignity.
...
To read more and for more comic books, visit https://payhip.com/KeleComic