One year, the State of Qi suffered a severe drought after a long period without rain.
King Jing Gong of Qi grew deeply concerned and considered making sacrifices to the mountain deity to pray for rain. His prime minister, Yan Zi, advised against it:
"Your Majesty, it is futile to beg the mountain deity. The soil of the mountains is like his flesh; the grass and trees are like his hair. After such a long drought, the deity's hair has withered and his flesh is scorched by the sun. Wouldn't the mountain deity himself be anxious for rain? If he could make it rain, it would have happened long ago."
Jing Gong then asked, "Very well, we shall not beg the mountain deity. What about praying to Hebo, the river deity?"
"Your Majesty, that is also useless," Yan Zi replied. "The river waters are Hebo's domain, and the fish and turtles are his subjects. With no rain, the rivers will dry up, meaning Hebo will lose his territory. His subjects, the fish and turtles, will perish from thirst. If Hebo could bring rain, it would have come already. What use is praying to him?"
Convinced by Yan Zi's reasoning, Jing Gong abandoned his plans to pray to the deities for rain.