Be There Just to Make Up the Number

During the Warring States Period, King Xuan of the State of Qi loved to listen to the yu (an ancient wind instrument), especially in the ensemble.
    In the palace, there was a band of fully 300 yu players. King Xuan of Qi often ordered this band to play for him.
    A man named Nan Guo could not play the yu. But when he learned of King Xuan's hobby, he volunteered his service and bragged about how well he could play. He asked for permission to play for the king with other players. King Xuan was very glad to hear this and granted his request.
    Thereupon, in each performance he would mingle with others, put on an act, play at random, and swindled the same amount of remuneration as paid to others. In this way, he drifted along till King Xuan of Qi died.
    After King Xuan of Qi died, King Min succeeded to the throne.
    Under his father's influence, King Min also loved to listen to the yu. The only difference was that he liked to listen to solos, not ensembles. King Min proclaimed that the players must perform one by one for him.
    When Nan Guo heard of this, he was afraid. He knew he could not drift along any longer, so he sneaked away that very night.
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