The story concerns an emperor who, in directing the affairs of state, finds himself wondering about three questions. The first question is: When is the best time to start a task, to know the right time for every action, so that I have no regrets? The second question is: What kind of person do I need most and to whom I should pay attention to? He makes it known throughout the land that he will richly reward anyone who can tell him the right answers to these questions. The most important people are those in our immediate environment right now.