Entry

Ruan Ke-xiao, a person from Wu-ning Subprefecture in Jiao-zhi, advised of five matters. The Emperor on examining them, spoke to his attending ministers saying: "His words are vulgar and despicable. His statement that `In employing people, preference should be given to prefectural and county officials' has good intent, even if it is a cliche. As to his statement that in Jiao-zhi there is a centipede and, if one catches it, one can obtain a beautiful pearl, the most wonderful in the world, he is only trying to impress in an effort to benefit from my grace. I will never refuse to read matters addressed to me, even those which are out of place. However, this man's words are absurd and wild." The ministers requested permission to punish him. However, the Emperor said: "Just ignore him. What use is there in punishing man!"