The Wise Farmer and the False Accusation

During the Lê dynasty in Vietnam, at the foot of Mount Hồng Lĩnh, there lived a poor man. In his youth, he had learned just enough literacy to sign contracts when borrowing money, but his family’s land and home were eventually lost to debt. As he grew older, he earned a living herding cattle for villagers. Each morning he led the cows into the hills and each evening returned them to their owners. While the animals grazed, he often waded into streams to catch eels for food.

Although many people in the village were less educated than he was, some had gone to serve in the military and returned with ranks like corporal or sergeant, gaining respect and privilege. Watching this, he decided to abandon cattle herding and travel to the capital, hoping to find a better path for his life.

At that time, the capital was buzzing with talk of a shocking case. A woman was about to be executed for allegedly murdering her husband. Her husband had served in the army and returned home for a visit. Wishing to care for him, she went to the market, bought several eels, and prepared eel porridge to restore his strength. But shortly after eating, the man collapsed and died. Villagers accused her of poisoning him, suspecting infidelity and intent to kill. She pleaded innocence, yet the court condemned her to a brutal execution.

Hearing this, the poor man rushed to the courthouse, begging the guards to let him speak. At first, they dismissed him as a peasant, but his persistence finally reached the judge. Standing before the court, he declared that while the husband’s death was certain, the wife’s intention to kill was not. He asked the judge to delay the execution for one day, promising to explain further. Surprised but unwilling to risk executing an innocent woman, the judge agreed.

The next day, the man went to the market, bought a basket of eels, and brought them to court. He poured them onto the floor, where they wriggled in every direction. Among them, he spotted one unusual creature, seized it, and cooked porridge with its meat. When fed to a dog, the dog died instantly. He explained: true eels always burrow head-first, but there exists a poisonous snake called “hoàng xà” that looks similar yet keeps its head raised and its eyes glaring. The woman, not knowing the difference, had mistakenly bought this snake.

The judge immediately recognized the truth and reported the case to the king. The woman was pardoned, and her life was spared. Impressed not only by his practical knowledge but also his sense of justice, the king appointed the man as a royal censor, a position of integrity and responsibility. This man became known as Bùi Cầm Hổ, remembered for his wisdom and fairness.