Читать книгу Vietnamese Legends - George F. Schultz - Страница 12

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LITTLE STATESMAN LY

THERE WAS once a famous Vietnamese statesman whose name was Ly. He was very short of stature; in fact, he was so short that the top of his head was no higher than a man's waist.

Statesman Ly was sent to China to settle a very important political problem with that nation. When the Emperor of China looked down from his Dragon Throne and saw this little man, he exclaimed, "Are the Vietnamese such little people?"

Ly answered: "Sire, in Vietnam, we have both little men and big men. Our ambassadors are chosen in accordance with the importance of the problem. As this is a small matter, they have sent me to negotiate. When there is a big problem between us, we will send a big man to speak with you."

The Emperor of China pondered: "If the Vietnamese consider this important problem only a small matter, they must indeed be a great and powerful people."

So he lessened his demands and the matter was settled then and there.