# Li Yan's Resignation from Office: The Story of the First Line of the Qian Hexagram

In the third year of the Chuping era, though Dong Zhuo had been executed, Li Jue and Guo Si plunged Chang'an into renewed chaos, while the warlords east of the Hangu Pass each harbored treacherous ambitions. Li Yan, a scholar from Qinghe whose courtesy name was Anshi, had devoured military texts since childhood and cherished the aspiration to bring order to the world. Upon learning that Han Fu, Governor of Jizhou, was recruiting talented scholars, Anshi packed his belongings and provisions, intending to travel north to Ye City to realize his ambition of displaying his prowess.

On the day of his departure, autumn rain fell incessantly. Anshi bid farewell to Master Xuanyuan, a hermit from his hometown. The master accompanied him to the long pavilion outside the village, where they saw rainwater flowing into a deep pool—its waters dark and unfathomable. The master asked, "Anshi, where are you bound?" Anshi replied with fervor, "I intend to seek service in Jizhou, to build merit and establish a name, and to pacify the entire realm."

The master sighed softly, pointed to the deep pool, and said, "Look at this pool: its waters are so deep that fish and dragons lurk within. Now the Han dynasty is crumbling, and warlords clash like starving tigers vying for prey, yet the balance of power between ruler and subject remains unclear. Though you possess statecraft talent, you have not yet experienced the ways of the world, and your wings are not yet fully fledged. Moreover, Han Fu is weak and indecisive—how could he accommodate a man of your caliber? The *I Ching* states: 'The hidden dragon, do not act.' When a dragon lurks in the abyss, it is not that it lacks the will to soar aloft, but that it awaits the convergence of wind and cloud. If you rush forth recklessly now, I fear you will only stir up dust and harm your own scales."

Young and full of vigor, Anshi bowed respectfully to accept the instruction, but in his heart he paid it little heed. He still mounted his horse and headed north.

After several days of travel, he reached the Yellow River ferry, where he encountered a violent storm. The river swelled, and all boats were halted. Trapped in an inn, Anshi overheard neighboring guests discussing the situation at night, and only then learned that internal strife plagued Jizhou's generals: Qu Yi held troops and acted autonomously, while Han Fu lived in constant fear day and night. Most of the scholars Han Fu had recruited had become mere appendages of powerful officials, and a single misstep could bring sudden disaster.

Upon hearing this, Anshi broke out in a cold sweat. Recalling Master Xuanyuan's words about the deep pool, he suddenly came to a profound realization. His own talent and strategy were not yet fully developed, and the current situation was chaotic and unclear. Traveling north at this time would not only fail to let him ride the clouds and summon the rain, but would instead trap him in the mire. The so-called "do not act" did not mean never acting at all—it meant not acting rashly, not deploying one's abilities lightly. One should keep one's talents hidden within, waiting for the right moment to move.

The next day, the rain stopped. Anshi resolved to unbridle his horse and turn back. After returning home, he closed his door to visitors, devoted himself to studying maps and records of the empire's provinces and commanderies, befriended local heroes, cultivated his virtue and reputation, and no longer spoke of seeking official service.

Several years later, Cao Cao conquered Jizhou and widely recruited talented men. By this time, Anshi's learning had reached full maturity, and he had a keen insight into the ills of the age. Only then did he calmly emerge from seclusion, and eventually became a renowned strategist of his generation.

As for that deep pool outside the long pavilion from years ago, it remained as deep and tranquil as ever. The hidden dragon in the abyss may remain silent for a time, but when the moment of wind and cloud arrives, it will surely soar to the ninth heaven.