Dongfang Shuo of the 200 B.C was a courtier styled official under the Western Han emperor Wudi. He's good at writing and he's got a strong sense of humor. His brash self-confidence and ready wit won him special favor with the emperor. Stories about him are well known to every grassroots in China.

When he served as a low ranking official in the Han Capital Chang'an, noticed that the dwarfs taking care of the horses for the royal family have ample chances to approach the emperor. In order to be noticed by the emperor, he made up a story. He told the dwarfs that the emperor was planning to kill them off because they are useless to the country. The frightened dwarfs asked for his help. He told them to kneel down next time they saw the emperor and beg for pardons, which they did. Bewildered emperor asked why. They repeated what Dongfang Shuo had said. When summoned before the emperor, Dongfang Shuo argued: "The dwarfs are only one meter tall and they are given a bag of rice and two hundred pieces of money. I'm twice the size of them and am starving to death having the same amount of rice and money as they do. If Your Majesty agrees with my point, then could you please change your payment system?"

Bemused the emperor Wudi pardoned him and even promoted him to be a close attendant.

Another time, the King gave some meat of his prey to his followers. Usually the officials could only begin to take the meat after the imperial decrees are read out. But Dongfang Shuo took the meat before that and went right back home. When questioned by Wudi, he answered: ��I took the meat before the imperial decrees were read because I'm brave. I took only a slice of meat, because I'm self-disciplined. Furthermore, I took the meat directly back to my parents because I'm a good son. I'm all those merits and certainly don't deserve any punishment."

The emperor burst into laughter and Dongfang Shuo got away with it once again.