说苑/18_17

Eric Henry

Once, in the course of his northern campaign against the land of Guzhu, Lord Huan of Qi86 had not gone ten li into the valley by Mount Bei Er87 when he all at once stopped, stood stock still, and stared straight ahead, his arms bearing a load of arrows that he dared not shoot.

Eric Henry

After a time, he heaved a great sigh and said, “Could it be that this venture will come to naught?

Eric Henry

There is a man scarcely a foot tall wearing a hat, who has all the features of a normal person holding his left lapel open and running before the horses.” Guan Zhong88 said, “This venture will assuredly be successful.

Eric Henry

This man is a spirit who knows the way we are to follow.

Eric Henry

That he runs before the horses shows that he is leading us.

Eric Henry

That he holds his left lapel open shows that there is water ahead; we shall ford it on our left.