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Literal Meaning:
sharpening the weapons and feeding the horses
Metaphorical Meaning:
get ready for the battle
During the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), a man named Qi Zi, who served for the State of Zheng, sent a message to the Lord Mu of the State of Qin, saying: “The Duke of Zheng asked me to hold the key to the door on the northern side of his city. If you send an army secretly, I am sure you can seize the State of Zheng effortlessly.”
The Duke Mu of Qin decided to send an army to conquer the State of Zheng. One of his ministers, Qian Shu, said to him: “To make a sneak attack to another country with so many solders is not an easy task. We can not hide our tracks during our march. By the time we arrive at the border, we will be worn out and the opponent will already be ready.”
The Duke Mu of Qin didn’t take Qian Shu’s advice and sent an army to conquer the State of Zheng. When Qin’s army approached the border, Xuan Gao, a farmer from the State of Zheng, found the tracks of Qin’s army when he was driving 12 cattle to the market. Xuan Gao sent of his companions to tell them the information and he sacrificed his cattle to Qin’s army and said: “My lord knew that you would pass by so he sent me to give you the food. Please don’t mind our modest gift.”
When the Duke of Zheng heard the information about Qin’s invasion, he sent his men to check the situation. The investigators found that Qi Zi and his underlings were preparing their armors, sharpening their weapons and feeding their horses. When Duke of Zheng heard of this he said to Qi Zi: “You’ve already stayed in our country for so long. Our country is small so I will not blame you for your will to leave.”
Qi Zi knew that his conspiracy had failed and had to flee out of the country. Qin’s army, then, retreated.
sharpening the weapons and feeding the horses
Metaphorical Meaning:
get ready for the battle
During the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), a man named Qi Zi, who served for the State of Zheng, sent a message to the Lord Mu of the State of Qin, saying: “The Duke of Zheng asked me to hold the key to the door on the northern side of his city. If you send an army secretly, I am sure you can seize the State of Zheng effortlessly.”
The Duke Mu of Qin decided to send an army to conquer the State of Zheng. One of his ministers, Qian Shu, said to him: “To make a sneak attack to another country with so many solders is not an easy task. We can not hide our tracks during our march. By the time we arrive at the border, we will be worn out and the opponent will already be ready.”
The Duke Mu of Qin didn’t take Qian Shu’s advice and sent an army to conquer the State of Zheng. When Qin’s army approached the border, Xuan Gao, a farmer from the State of Zheng, found the tracks of Qin’s army when he was driving 12 cattle to the market. Xuan Gao sent of his companions to tell them the information and he sacrificed his cattle to Qin’s army and said: “My lord knew that you would pass by so he sent me to give you the food. Please don’t mind our modest gift.”
When the Duke of Zheng heard the information about Qin’s invasion, he sent his men to check the situation. The investigators found that Qi Zi and his underlings were preparing their armors, sharpening their weapons and feeding their horses. When Duke of Zheng heard of this he said to Qi Zi: “You’ve already stayed in our country for so long. Our country is small so I will not blame you for your will to leave.”
Qi Zi knew that his conspiracy had failed and had to flee out of the country. Qin’s army, then, retreated.