距今已有2000多年的历史。那个时期被称为战国时期。来自七个不同州的七个国王互相激烈作战，每个人都渴望从邻居那里夺取权力和土地。各州不时对战争感到厌倦。在这种时候，他们派遣使者谈判和平条约。这样的和平时期总使人民感到不安。因为他们知道战争随时可能爆发。七个州中最弱的是汉，七个州中最强的是楚。

有朝一日，一位在七个州中最小的一个州汉族服侍的朝廷官员从一个陌生人那里购买了一块美丽的玉器。当法院官员把它交给玉专家鉴定时，专家说：这不是您带给我的普通玉。这就是传说中的玉宝！您看到它的奇妙色彩了吗？与石头相比，任何国王的任何宫殿的雕刻花瓶，碗或装饰品中都没有玉，而且玉宝也有其他优点，可以在黑暗中发光，可以保持房间温暖。在冬季，在夏季则凉爽。它甚至可以驱除昆虫。您必须时刻加以保护-的确，这是一种瑰丽而无价的宝藏！

新闻传播很快。汉王听说了一位宫廷官员获得的精美的《玉宝》，并发了言，他希望看到它。法庭官员听到此消息后感到担心。当然，汉王会找到一种方法将其从他手中夺走。也许他应该在应该去见国王的那一天之前带着玉宝逃走？

这不明智，先生。他的一位房客说，一个名叫甘的年轻人。国王肯定会追捕您。您也将失去石头和生命。相反，我建议您直接向国王提供玉宝作为礼物。

因此，朝廷官员向汉王赠送了精美的玉宝。国王对宏伟的石头感到高兴，并提拔了宫廷官员为皇室的行贿人。

不久，楚国国王（七国中最强的土地）听说汉王拥有他传奇的玉宝。

我无法相信这！ 楚王哭了。我们是最强大的国家-我们应该为自己拥有一块无与伦比的石头！立即向汉王发送一条信息，要求汉王将其卖给我，我将为此支付15个城市的费用。

十五座城市？ 他的一名普通话惊讶地说道。这是很多-付出的代价很大！

一点也不。楚王抚着胡须，笑了。来自汉族的使节将带给我们玉器。一旦有了玉器，谁会记得我们曾经讲过15个城市的话吗？如果我们在拥有玉器之后不交付15个城市，汉族将如何做呢？ ，无论如何？

是的！ 普通话说。他加快了对国王的投标。

现在，当汉王收到楚王的消息，要求他必须以15个城市的价格出售石头时，他感到担心。当然，十五个城市是一个很好的价格。但是，如果楚王只是保留了宝石而没有按承诺交付城市怎么办？那将离开汉王什么选择？如果他抗议楚国国王毁了他的话，那很容易成为楚国国王入侵汉国的借口，那是他的王国无法战胜强大的楚国的战争。另一方面，他是否只是交出了他精彩的新国宝？

当他在辩论这种令人担忧的局势的利弊时，他新晋升的张伯伦说：先生，我的房客甘在过去已经证明是明智的。让我召集他，让他听听他的建议。

因此，Gan被召见。

甘回答说：我的光荣国王，为了你的臣民，必须投石。否则楚王将侵略我们并摧毁我们。但我们不必绝望。让我成为你的使节。托付玉宝如果我不把珠宝还给你，如果楚王拒绝信守诺言，我的生命将被没收。

因此，Gan的旅程将获得最大的好运，整个法庭禁食了三天，这与当时的风俗习惯一样，是开创了最有利的前景的旅程。最后，他们举办了盛大的盛宴，以纪念他到楚国的旅程。甘先生很敬畏地将玉宝包裹在绣好的丝绸覆盖物中，将其塞在一个甚至更丰富的丝绸袋中，然后将丝绸袋放在长袍内的一个口袋里。

在高尚的服务员陪同下，他出发了。当他到达楚国时，国王欢迎他和他的随行人员。他们受到了极大的招待和盛宴。

赶到赣将玉宝藏赠予楚王的时候到了，年轻人走近宝座，拿出绣花丰富的丝绸覆盖物，解开了无价的玉宝藏，交给楚王看。石头g着，闪闪发光。钦佩玉宝后，楚王将其传给了他的官员，官员们立即祝贺他获得了这种无价的宝石。楚王下令他的仆人把玉宝带给他的其他侍从，并向他们展示。

甘久等了。他等待着，等待着。但是翡翠宝藏并没有回到国王的餐桌上。没有提及这15个城市。

甘先生看到楚王没有提及这15个城市，便说：父亲，玉宝有瑕疵。请允许我向您展示。

楚王迅速下令他的仆人把玉带回甘。

一旦石头安全地放在了Gan的手中，他就向后退了几步，直到他靠近一个支柱。他说：我们是出于诚意，因为您向汉族提供了15个城市。我的国王禁食了三天，并用隆重的仪式带我去送玉宝给您。如果您是出于诚意，那么您也将禁食三天，并为我安排一场盛大的典礼，将我的这件翡翠宝藏移交给你，如果没有的话，我现在将用石头砸碎这根石柱，我将被摧毁，所以你也会，玉宝也会如此！

国王冲上前说：这是什么轻率的谈话？我们当然打算按照您所描述的那样计划一个仪式。我们已经计划斋戒三天，然后举行仪式。

接下来的三天里，每天早晨，楚王派遣仆人检查甘是否仍持有玉器。同时，Gan变相派遣了一位服务员，看看宫殿里到底发生了什么。他发现根本没有斋戒，而是疯狂地争先恐后地为匆忙安排的仪式做准备。在活动的早晨，在楚王的仆人检查了看他是否还有玉宝之后，他用石头将他最信任的仆人送回家了。

在活动中，当Gan移交精美的玉宝的时候，他说：哦，国王，当我们真诚地与精美的玉宝一起来时，您一定要理解我们的犹豫，您甚至没有谈论我们承诺要去15个城市。你的状态很强；我们的状态很弱。我别无选择，只能带着玉宝把服务员送回汉。毫无疑问，他已经中途回家了。

都喘不过气来。这真是令人发指！ 楚王哭了起来，跳了起来。我们禁食了三天，按照您所说的计划了这次典礼。现在您告诉我们，您不守便宜的一面！

如果您愿意，请杀我。甘说。我的生命掌握在您的手中。只知道我是唯一一个知道服务员走的路线的人，如果您选择的话，可以将您带到他那里。如果您想将事迹带到我将陪同的15个城市您现在交给我的服务员，他会给您翡翠宝藏，您也可以同时将它们运送到城市。如果您不满意，请把我倒入沸腾的油锅中。各州在听到您从最小的汉国处决了信使后，决定谁对谁错。

楚国国王知道杀死甘会煽动其他国家团结起来对他发动战争。尽管毫无疑问，他的国家是七个国家中最强大的国家，而且肯定会在战斗中击败汉族这个小国，但如果其他几个国家联合起来对他进行努力，谁能说出结果呢？此外，他还没有准备好这15个城市的事迹，因为因为他从未打算交付这些事迹，所以他们从未准备过。

思绪很快，楚王笑了。他说：啊，您必须知道我计划了整个事件，以测试您的州将如何反应。我当然无意杀害您，甚至无意以那块愚蠢的玉石作为结局。我想只看到您的汉族王国如何处理谈判的质量。您表现出色，恭喜您！请为我们的宴会做准备-我们在任何情况下都准备了精美的盛宴-明天和平回到您的家园。

皇家法院认为楚国国王非常聪明，可以对汉人进行这一考验，但他没有意识到国王被抓紧了，并当场想到了考验。但这还不如汉王想到甘时巧，当时他的侍应生随玉宝安全地返回，而几天后，甘也安全地返回。汉王迅速将甘晋升为最高法院官员，在余下的日子里，他表现出色。

汉王从未接受过楚王承诺的15个城市。因此，当然，楚王从来没有收到过宏伟的翡翠宝藏。

A Fair Trade: The Story of the Jade Treasure ~ Chinese Short Story for Kids

LET'S GO TO CHINA, OVER TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO. That a time called the "Period of the Warring States." Seven kings from seven different states warred fiercely with each other, each one hungry to take the power and land from his neighbor.  From time to time, the states grew tired of war.  In such times they sent messengers to negotiate treaties of peace. Such times of peace always felt uneasy for the people.  For they knew war could break out at any time. The weakest of the seven states was Han, and the strongest of the seven was Chu.

One day a court official who served at the smallest of the seven states, the Kingdom of Han, purchased a beautiful piece of jade from a stranger. When the court official took it to a jade expert to have it appraised, the expert said, "This is no ordinary piece of jade that you brought to me. This is none other than the legendary Jade Treasure! Do you see its marvelous color? There's no piece of jade in all the carved vases, bowls, or ornaments of any palace of any king that compares to this stone. And the Jade Treasure has other virtues, too. It can shine in the dark. It can keep a room warm in winter and cool in summer. It even repels insects. You must always guard this - indeed, this is a magnificent, priceless treasure!"

News travels fast.  The King of Han heard of the wonderful Jade Treasure that had been obtained by one of his court officials, and sent word that he wanted to see it. The court official was worried when he heard this. Surely the King of Han would find a way to take it away from him. Perhaps he should escape with the jade treasure before the day he was supposed to go see the King?

"That would not be wise, sir," said one of his houseguests, a young man named Gan. "The King will surely hunt you down. You will lose the stone and your life, too. Instead, I suggest you offer the Jade Treasure to the King outright, as a gift."

So the court official offered the King of Han the wonderful Jade Treasure. The King was delighted with the magnificent stone and promoted the court official to be chamberlain of the royal court.

Soon the King of Chu, whose land was the strongest of the seven states, heard that the King of Han had in his possession the legendary Jade Treasure.

"I cannot believe this!" cried the King of Chu. "We are the strongest state - we should have this matchless stone for our own! Send a message at once to the King of Han that he must sell it to me and that I will pay 15 cities for it."

"Fifteen cities?" said one of his mandarins in surprise. "That is quite a lot - a generous price to pay!"

"Not at all," smiled the King of Chu, stroking his beard. "The envoy from Han will bring us the jade. Once we have it, who will remember if we ever said anything about 15 cities? And if we don't deliver the 15 cities after we have the jade, what can Han do about it, anyway?"

"Ah, yes!" said the mandarin. He hastened to do the king's bidding.

Now when the King of Han received the message from the King of Chu with the demand that he must sell the stone for the price 15 cities, he was worried. Certainly fifteen cities was a good price.  But what if the King of Chu simply kept the precious stone and didn't deliver the cities as promised? What choice would that leave the King of Han? If he protested that the King of Chu had broken his word, that could easily be an excuse for the King of Chu to invade the Kingdom of Han, and that's a war that his kingdom could not win against the mighty Chu. On the other hand, was he to just hand over his wonderful new national treasure?

As he was debating the pros and cons of the troubling situation, his newly promoted chamberlain said, "Sir, my houseguest Gan has proved in the past to be wise beyond his years. Allow me to summon him and let's hear his advice."

So Gan was summoned.

"My glorious King," answered Gan, "the stone must be surrendered for the good of your subjects. Otherwise the King of Chu will invade us and destroy us. Yet we need not despair. Let me be your envoy. Entrust the Jade Treasure to my care. May my life be forfeited if I do not return the jewel to you, if the King of Chu refuses to keep his word."

So Gan's journey would have the best luck possible, the entire court fasted for three days, as was the custom in those times to launch a journey with the most favorable prospects.  At the end, they hosted a grand feast to as a send-off to his journey to the kingdom of Chu. The young man Gan, with great reverence, wrapped the Jade Treasure in an embroidered silk covering, tucked it inside an even richer silk pouch, and placed the silk pouch in a pocket inside his robe.

Accompanied by a noble train of attendants, he set out on his journey. When he arrived at the kingdom of Chu, the King welcomed him and his entourage.  They were entertained and feasted with all honor.

When the time came for Gan to present the Jade Treasure to the King of Chu, the young man approached the throne, took out the richly embroidered silk covering, unwrapped the priceless Jade Treasure and offered it to the King of Chu to examine. The stone gleaned and shone with mesmerizing radiance. After admiring the Jade Treasure, the King of Chu passed it onto his officials who immediately congratulated him for securing such a priceless gem. The King of Chu ordered his servant to take the Jade Treasure to his other court attendants and show it to them.

Gan waited for a long time. He waited and waited. But the Jade Treasure was not returned to the king's table. No mention had been made of the 15 cities.

Seeing that the King of Chu had mentioned nothing about the 15 cities, Gan said, "Sire, there is a flaw in the Jade Treasure. Please allow me to show it to you."

The King of Chu quickly ordered his servant to bring the jade back to Gan.

Once the stone was safely in Gan's hands, he took several steps backward until he was next to a pillar. "We came in good faith," he said, "because you offered Han fifteen cities. My king fasted for three days and set me off with a grand ceremony to take the Jade Treasure to you. If you are acting in good faith, you, too, will fast for three days and arrange a grand ceremony for me to hand over this Jade Treasure to you before all your court. If not, I will smash this pillar with the stone right now. I will be destroyed, so will you, and so will the Jade Treasure!"

The King rushed forward, "What is this rash talk? Of course we were planning a ceremony just as the one you describe. We were already planning to fast for three days, then to have the ceremony."

Each morning for the next three days, the King of Chu sent a servant to check that Gan still held the Jade Treasure. In the meantime, Gan sent one of his attendants in disguise to see what was really going on in the palace. He found out that there was no fast at all, but a mad scrambling to make preparations for the hastily arranged ceremony. On the morning of the event, after the servant of the King of Chu had checked to see that Gan still had the Jade Treasure, Gan sent his most trusted servant back home with the stone.

At the event, when it came time for Gan to hand over the wonderful Jade Treasure, he said, "O King, surely you must understand our hesitation when we came in good faith with the wonderful Jade Treasure and you did not even talk about the 15 cities as promised. Your state is strong; ours is weak. I had no choice but to send my attendant back to Han with the Jade Treasure. No doubt he is already halfway back home."

All gasped. "This is an outrage!" cried the King of Chu, jumping up. "We fasted for three days and planned this ceremony just as you said. Now you tell us you are not keeping your side of the bargain!"

"Kill me if you wish," said Gan. "My life is in your hands. Only know that I am the only one who knows the route my attendant has taken and can direct you to him if you choose. If you want to bring with you the deeds to the 15 cities I will accompany you to my attendant now. He will give you the Jade Treasure and you can deliver the deeds to the cities at the same time. If this is not agreeable to you, pour me into a cauldron of boiling oil if you wish. Let the other states decide who was right and who was wrong when they hear you have executed the messenger from the smallest kingdom of Han."

The King of Chu knew that killing Gan could inflame the other states to team up and make to war against him. Though his state was no doubt the strongest of the seven and would surely defeat the small kingdom of Han in battle, if several other states were to joined in a combined effort against him, who could tell what the result would be? Besides, he didn't have the 15 deeds of the cities ready because, as he had never intended to deliver them, they had never been prepared.

Thinking quickly, the King of Chu laughed.  He said, "Ah, you must know that I planned this entire affair as a test to see how your state would react. I had no intention of killing you, of course, or even ending up with that silly piece of jade.  I wanted only to see the quality of how your kingdom of Han handles negotiations. You have performed honorably, congratulations! Stay for our banquet - we have a fine feast prepared in any event - and return in peace to your homeland tomorrow."

The royal court thought the King of Chu very clever for staging this test on Han, not realizing that the king had been caught short and had thought of the test on the spot. But that was not as clever as the King of Han thought of Gan, when his attendant returned safely with the Jade Treasure and when, days later, Gan returned safely as well. The King of Han quickly promoted Gan to the rank of highest court official, where he served with distinction for the rest of his days.

The King of Han never received the 15 cities that were promised by the King of Chu. And so of course the King of Chu never received the magnificent Jade Treasure.