The
Wrong Direction
The
Prince of Wei decided to invade Hantan, the capital of the
state of Chao. Although Chi-liang was on a journey when he
heard this, he turned back at once and, without waiting to
smooth his crumpled
garments or brush the dust from his head, went to see the
king.
"
On my way back," he said, I came across a man at
Taihang Mountain, who was riding northwards. He told me he
was going to the state of Chu.
"
In that case, why are you heading north" ? I asked him.
"
That's all right," he replied. I have good horses.
Your
horses may be good, but you're taking the wrong direction.
Well,
I have plenty of money.
You
may have plenty of money, but this is the wrong direction.
Well,
I have an excellent charioteer.
"
The better your horses," I told him, " the
more money you have and the more skilled your charioteer,
the further you will get from the state of Chu."
crumpled |
If you crumple
something such as paper o cloth, or if it crumples,
it is squashed and becomes full of untidy creases
and folds. |
|
|
charioteer |
In
ancient time, a charioteer was a
chariot driver. Chariots were fast-moving vehicles
with two wheels that were pulled by horses. |
|