16 Fan Li

A Tycoon in Ancient Era

Fan Li, a court official of Yue State, had played an important role in the story of Wu-&-Yue-struggle, and done meritorious deeds to Yue State perishing Wu State. But after victory, he asked to leave. He also advised another meritorious official Wen Zhong to leave, saying “Emperor Gou Jian could only cooperate in hard time rather than in peace time” Wen Zhong didn’t believe and was executed shortly afterward.

Fan Li became a businessman making trade around the Taihu Lake in Jiangsu Province and quickly shot rich. His wealth could buy a country, then he donated money to poor people. He had accumulated and distributed his wealth for three times, so people respected him called him as Tao Zhu Gong, a name symbolizing the wealthiest tycoon.

But Fan Li met with a family tragedy in his later years. He had three sons. His second son once committed a murder crime pending a death penalty in Chu State (in Hubei Province). Fan Li had a friend Zhuang who was the premier of Chu State. So he prepared a full-loaded boat of treasures equivalent to half of his whole properties tried to offer bribe to the friend. He sent his youngest son to go to Chu State, but his wife said: “Why not send eldest son who was more mature to go?” He let the eldest son go. When arriving at Chu and meeting premier Zhuang, the elder son submitted with his father’s letter and a treasure list, Zhuang responded kindly: “You can come here to see your brother free in seven days.” The next morning, when Zhuang met Chu’s Emperor, he said: “Our country might suffer a calamity, as I watched the configurations of stars over the sky last night. But it could be avoided if Your Majesty could issue an order of amnesty nationwide.” The Emperor nodded granted. Quickly, an amnesty rumor spread over all streets and lanes. At the hearing of the news, the eldest son hesitated: “Why should I waste that many treasures offering to Zhuang?” When Zhuang found the elder son’s offering was cut by half, once again he said to the emperor: “People complained on the streets that the amnesty was because of sparing the life of Fan Li’s son.” The emperor said: “Execute him before issuing the order.” Seven days later, when the eldest son visited Zhuang, he only saw his brother’s body.

When Fan’s family grieved over second son’s death, Fan Li seemed calm, said: “It was a reasonable result, because the elder son grew up in hard time, he hated to waste money. That’s why I let the younger son go at first.”