Wuma Shi (born 521 BCE), also known as Wuma Qi, with the courtesy name Ziqi, was a native of the State of Lu. He once served as the steward of Shanfu (present-day Shan County, Heze, Shandong), governing diligently and leading by example, which brought excellent order to the region. According to the *Lüshi Chunqiu* (Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals), Mi Buqi (also known as Mi Zijian, a disciple of Confucius) had also governed Shanfu, playing the zither all day and ruling well without ever leaving his hall. In contrast, Wuma Shi left home before dawn and returned only after the stars were out, working tirelessly from early morning until late at night, personally handling everything, and also managed Shanfu admirably. Wuma Shi asked Mi Buqi how he governed so effortlessly. Mi Buqi replied, "My governance focuses on appointing the right people, while yours focuses on exerting effort. Relying on effort leads to exhaustion; relying on talent brings ease." Additionally, the *Han Shi Waizhuan* (Han's Outer Commentary on the *Classic of Poetry*) records an episode where Confucius and his disciples were stranded between the states of Chen and Cai. Zi Lu (a bold and straightforward disciple) and Wuma Shi were gathering firewood on Mount Yunqiu when a wealthy man from Chen named Chushi Shi arrived with a hundred ornate carriages and fine horses, feasting and drinking on the mountain. Zi Lu said to Wuma Shi, "If you could keep what you have learned without further increasing your talents, enjoy lifelong wealth like Chushi Shi, and never see our teacher again, would you agree?" Wuma Shi looked up to heaven with a deep sigh, threw his sickle to the ground, and said, "I have heard our teacher say: 'A brave man never forgets the risk of losing his head; a man of ambition and Ren (Benevolence) never forgets the danger of dying in a ditch.' Do you not know me? Are you testing me? Or is this your own aspiration?" Ashamed, Zi Lu carried his firewood back first. Confucius asked, "Zhong You (Zi Lu's given name) has returned! Why did you go out with Wuma Qi but come back alone?" Zi Lu recounted his conversation with Wuma Shi. Upon hearing this, Confucius picked up his zither and played a poem from the *Classic of Poetry*, "Tang Feng: Bao Yu" (Osprey's Feathers), which laments: "The osprey flaps its wings, perching on the lush trees. The king's affairs are endless; I cannot return to till my fields. What will my parents rely on? O distant blue sky, when will my life find a resting place?" Then Confucius said, "Is my Way (Dao) not working, that you envy the rich?" This shows that Wuma Qi adhered to Confucius's teaching of valuing Yi (Righteousness) over profit, never falling into the trap of profit-seeking, nor losing his resolve in times of difficulty.