161. Ông Vua mê ngựa

Theo sử, nước Tầu, thời Chiến quốc, Sở Trang vương là ông vua rất thích ngựa. Ông cho một con ngựa ông quí nhất mặc áo thêu hoa, ở phòng đẹp, nằm giường có nệm êm, thức ăn tòan là táo khô, thứ ngựa rất thích ăn.

Được ít năm, con ngựa bị bệnh rồi lăn ra chết. Ngự y khám nghiệm thấy ngựa quá béo, bèn làm tờ trình cho nhà vua hay.
Sở Trang vương buồn rầu khôn xiết vì mất con ngựa quí, ra lệnh cho quần thần làm tang lễ long trọng cho ngựa, bắt các quan chuẩn bị dùng quan quách (trong quan ngòai quách) chôn theo nghi thức chôn cất quan đại phu.
Tả hữu nghe vậy đều can. Sở Trang vương chẳng những không chịu, còn ra lệnh cho bá quan:”Ai còn dám đem chuyện an táng ngựa quí của ta ra khuyên, ta sẽ không dung và định tội chết.” Các quan nghe xong nín lặng, không ai dám nói một câu.
Duy có một anh kép hài ở trong cung tên Ưu Mạnh, chuyên chọc cười để giải trí nhà vua vá các cung phi. Ưu Mạnh nghe được lệnh cấm can vua về việc an táng ngựa bèn từ sân rồng bước lên điện ngửa mặt khóc rống.
Nhà vua ngạc nhiên, hỏi vì sao? Ưu Mạnh lấy tay áo chùi nước mắt mà rằng:
“Ngựa này là vật đại vương yêu quí. Đại vương đang đường đường là ông vua nước Sở thì Đại vương làm gì mà chẳng được. Chôn cất ngựa quí mà chỉ dùng nghi lễ cho một quan đại phu thì nhỏ bé, đơn sơ quá. Xin hãy dùng nghi lễ như quân vương mới xứng đáng!”
Sở Trang vương rất đẹp dạ, hỏi tiếp:
“Thế phép chôn cất ra sao?”
Ưu Mạnh đáp:
“Nên dùng ngọc trạm làm áo quan, gỗ tế tâm làm quách, cho tòan bộ dũng sĩ mặc áo giáp đội mũ sắt đào mộ, mời thượng khách các nước Tề, Triệu đến làm bồi tế bên quan chủ tế, cho khách khanh các nước Hàn, Ngụy đứng tế phía sau. Khi tế thì phải theo nghi thức như ở nhà Thái miếu tức cũng dùng tam sinh là bò, dê, lợn làm tế phẩm, sau đó lại phong cho huyện vạn hộ để trông coi mồ mả của ngựa, cho con ngựa quanh năm được hưởng hương khói tế lễ!”
Nghe xong, Sở Trang vuơng có vẻ ngượng ngùng, bèn hỏi:
“Lỗi của ta nghiêm trọng đến thế ư? Làm thế nào đây?”
Ưu Mạnh đáp:
“Theo thần thì đại vương cứ theo cách đối xử với súc vật mà làm nghĩa là giao ngựa cho nhà bếp. Nhà bếp sẽ xả nó ra như con lợn, con dê, phân phát thịt cho các cung, viện và các quan. Nội trong nửa ngày ngựa sẽ được an táng trong con tì con vị của nhiều người. Cách đó là hay nhất.”
Sở Trang vương y lời, giao con ngựa cho nhà bếp giải quyết.

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