Throughout history, civilizations have faced food crises that tested their resilience and ingenuity. In times of drought, famine, and scarcity, leaders have employed various strategies to ensure their people’s survival. These methods often reflect a deep understanding of the importance of preparation, compassion, and resourceful management. While some solutions have been rooted in foresight and practicality, others have demonstrated the power of human ingenuity to adapt to the most challenging circumstances.
Let’s explore how societies in ancient China responded to food shortages and the lasting impact of their efforts.
1. Storing grain to prepare for future famine
When Duke Fan Zhongxuan was the magistrate of Xiangcheng County, he encountered a long drought with no rain and estimated that there would be a food shortage next year. He summoned all the merchant ships in the county and persuaded their owners, “This county is going to run out of food, so you merchants, just store your grain in the Buddhist temple. When there is a grain shortage, I will sell it to the people for you.” The merchant ships followed Fan Zhongxuan’s instructions and kept on transporting grain.
By the following year’s spring, the grain stored in the county exceeded one hundred thousand ducats (a form of currency). A famine struck the neighboring counties shortly after, but this county remained unaffected. Thanks to the abundant grain supply, prices stayed reasonable, and society remained stable, largely unaffected by the crisis that plagued the surrounding areas.
2. Using a social warehouse to ensure fair food distribution
During the Qing Dynasty, Zhu Xi implemented a system in Jianzhou known as the social warehouse, designed to balance grain supply and demand. Poor families could borrow grain from the warehouse in the summer, understanding that they would repay it with an additional two-tenths of the borrowed amount by the winter. This helped ensure the community had food access during the leaner months. However, to help the people, in years of poor harvests, the interest rate was reduced by half, and in times of disaster, it was waived entirely, providing a lifeline to those in greatest need.
Over time, the practice proved highly effective. As more people participated, the warehouse accumulated a surplus of grain. The interest grain — grain collected from borrowers — grew to several times the amount of the original base stock. This surplus grain was then used to relieve famine victims or other crises. The system lasted for many years and was seen as a practical and sustainable solution to food insecurity, benefiting individual families and the broader community.
3. Allowing market forces to stabilize grain prices
Lu Tan, a native of Luoyang in Henan Province, served as a lieutenant when a severe drought gripped the Jianghuai region, causing grain prices to skyrocket. In response to growing concerns and requests to lower grain prices, Lu Tan offered a pragmatic solution. He explained, “Henan is small, and grain is brought in from other states and counties. If the price is too low, traders will be discouraged from supplying it. It’s better to let the market determine the price.”
By allowing the market to regulate prices, Lu Tan created an environment where traders, eager to profit, competed to transport grain into Henan. As a result, the influx of grain stabilized prices, preventing scarcity, which would have worsened the crisis. This approach demonstrated how, in certain situations, allowing market forces to operate freely can resolve shortages and stabilize prices, benefiting both consumers and suppliers.
4. A strategic plan to ensure aid reaches the hungry
During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng Gangzhong served as the magistrate of Wenzhou during a year of severe disaster. Faced with widespread famine, he urged the governor to open grain storehouses to help feed the starving people. However, the governor expressed concern, saying: “I fear the food will not reach those truly hungry.”
Zheng Gangzhong, confident in his solution, proposed an ingenious strategy: “That’s no problem. Please prepare 10,000 copper coins and mark each one with an ink character. When you go out at night and find starving people lying on the streets, give each person a coin and tell them not to erase the character. The next morning, they can exchange the coin for food.”
This plan, designed to ensure that only those in genuine need would receive assistance, impressed the governor. Reluctantly, he agreed to implement the strategy, which ultimately provided food and relief to the starving population, effectively reaching those most in need.
5. Using compassion to relieve famine
A wealthy man named Du Ji once lived in Sicheng. One year, the harvest was poor, and grain prices soared. The manager responsible for Du Ji’s grain supply suggested he open a storehouse and sell the grain to help those suffering from hunger. However, Du Ji refused. The manager then proposed that Du Ji lend the grain to the poor, but again, Du Ji declined.
After a few days, Du Ji posted a notice: “We can lend rice, but for every load of rice borrowed, six loads must be repaid. Those wishing to borrow must come with neighbors or relatives and sign a contract guaranteeing for the other party that they will repay the debt.” Upon seeing the notice, many people criticized Du Ji, accusing him of greed. Yet, despite the harsh terms, desperate families, starving and with no other options, still came to borrow grain.
The following year, the harvest was abundant, and the debt collectors were eager to collect the outstanding grain from the previous year. However, Du Ji calmly informed them: “I have burned all the contracts signed by the poor.” He explained: “I did this last year not to profit but to provide food to those in need. If I had sold the grain, it would have been monopolized by grain merchants. If I had given it away freely, others with enough food would have taken advantage.”
Du Ji’s actions, rooted in wisdom and compassion, won the people’s admiration. His thoughtful approach alleviated hunger during a crisis and ensured that the genuinely needy benefited.
6. Prioritizing saving lives over bureaucracy
When Zhang Pu was the governor of Chuzhou, the region was struck by a severe famine. Realizing the dire situation, Zhang Pu wrote to the minister of food transportation, requesting permission to distribute food from the government storehouses to help the starving people. However, his request was met with silence, and no one responded. In despair, Zhang Pu sighed, “People are dying, yet we still await a reply from higher authorities?”
Determined not to let the people suffer, Zhang Pu decided to act alone. He ordered grain release from the government storehouses and distributed it to needy people. His quick thinking saved tens of thousands of lives during the famine.
Because he acted without official approval, Zhang Pu later had to go to court to explain his actions. When the imperial court investigated the case, instead of punishing Zhang Pu, he was praised for his compassion and quick response during a crisis. His decision to prioritize the well-being of the people over bureaucratic procedures earned him recognition for his leadership and humanity.
Conclusion
True leadership is defined by the ability to make decisions that safeguard the welfare of the people in times of crisis. These actions address immediate needs and create lasting solutions that offer stability, support, and hope for the future.
Leadership that prioritizes the good of the people over a leader’s gain leads to lasting, positive change, proving that thoughtful, selfless action can turn the tide in even the most difficult times. Ultimately, the courage to act, the wisdom to think ahead, and the compassion to care to define what it means to be a great leader.
Translated by Audrey Wang and edited by Tatiana Denning
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
