The Chief Minister of a kingdom died and the King wanted to find the right man to replace him. It was a big problem for him to find the most intelligent and wise man in his kingdom.
He held all kinds of tests and examinations. Finally, three men were selected out of the hundreds who came. Now the problem was what kind of a test would help the King select one from among the three. Finally, it was decided that the three should be locked in a room with a trick lock that could only be opened with a mathematical key.
A day was fixed for the test and the three candidates were informed. Two of them immediately went to the market and collected all the mathematics books they could find. They began to study them in a frenzy.
The day of the test arrived. The three men were escorted to a large chamber that was luxuriously furnished. They were also given a very lavish meal.
They all looked at the lock that was provided on the door of the chamber. Two of them had also brought some of their mathematics books along, just in case they needed to brush up some formula to open the lock.
“You think you know everything, don’t you?” they mocked him.
While the others examined the lock and went round the room looking for possible clues, he relaxed and enjoyed the meal that had been laid out on the table.
At night the room was locked. The first to come out of the room would be appointed as the Chief Minister. While the two scholars pored over their books and twiddled with the lock, the third man simply stretched out on the bed, and within a few minutes he was fast asleep!
They both laughed at the third man. He looked slightly crazy. He had not bothered to study anything since the announcement of the test. The two men finally fell asleep, exhausted. When they woke up, the sun was high already. There was no sign of the third man! They rushed out of the door and the King stood there in the garden.
“Gentlemen, I have found the new Chief Minister. Thank you for your effort,” said the King. Behind him stood the third candidate. The two men stared in wonder.
“But how…..?” they asked. “I just walked to the door and turned the handle. The door wasn’t locked; you see. I thought we should at least know the problem before we start thinking of its solution!” said the new Chief Minister cleverly.
Moral: Look at a problem before finding its solution.
