◎I.An Old Horse Knows the Way

Guzhu State was founded more than 3,500 years ago by the Motai family, the direct descendant of Xie, the first ancestor of the Shang Dynasty.It lasted nearly 1,000 years.Its capital was located in today's Lulong County,Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, Shanrong State repeatedly sent troops to invade the Central Plains.In 664 BC, Shanrong State sent troops to attack Yan State.King Zhuang of Yan State couldn't resist and asked Qi State for help.Duke Huan of Qi State led his troops to save Yan State.Shanrong State was defeated, and the defeated soldiers fled to its neighbor state, Guzhu State.Therefore, the Army of Qi State attacked Guzhu State.Hearing the news, the king of Guzhu State fled into the mountains.The soldiers of Qi State entered Guzhu State and only got an empty city.At this time, the king of Guzhu State sent a general to the city to pretend to surrender, and oあered the head of Shanrong leader, falsely claiming that the king of Guzhu State had fled to the desert.Duke Huan of Qi State asked the surrendered general to guide the way and led his troops to chase the king of Guzhu State.The general of Guzhu State lured the army of Qi State to the desert called“Mysterious Valley,” and fled by surprise.At the time, the sand and rocks were flying and the sky was dark in the desert, so it was diきcult to distinguish from each other.Qi solders could not find a way back.Guan Zhong,Prime Minister of Qi State, said to Duke Huan of Qi State, “I heard that old horse knows the way.This place is bounded by Shanrong State.Most of the local horses were bought from Mobei.If we choose a few old horses and follow them, we may find a way out.” Following Guan Zhong's advice, Duke Huan of Qi State led his army to follow the old horses and walked out of the“Mysterious Valley.”

Later, people often used the allusion of “An old horse knows the way”to mean that experienced people can play a guiding role and come up with solutions to problems, whose meaning is similar to that an old hand is a good guide in English.