China Historical Story Bilingual Edition: Cockcrow and Dog Thief
During the Warring States Period (475-2265438 BC), Meng Changjun, the prince of Qi, liked to make friends with all kinds of people. It is said that there were as many as 3,000 of them. He never refuses anyone who comes to him, lets talented people do what they can, and also provides accommodation for mediocre people.
During the Warring States Period, Meng Changjun of Qi liked to attract all kinds of people as guests, claiming to be 3,000 guests. He is open to all guests. Those who are talented let them do their best, and those who are not talented also provide accommodation.
On one occasion, Meng Changjun was sent to the State of Qin on a diplomatic mission, and his entourage followed. Zhao Haoqi of Qin wanted him to be the prime minister of Qin, but wouldn't let him leave. Not daring to offend the king, Meng Changjun stayed here. He comes from the royal family, and he has feuds and family feuds in Qi. How can he serve Qin wholeheartedly? "The king thought it seemed reasonable, so he changed his mind. He put Meng Changjun and his minions under house arrest, waiting for an excuse to kill them.
On one occasion, Meng Changjun led all the guests to the State of Qin. Zhao Haoqi of Qin kept him and wanted him to be prime minister. Meng Changjun didn't dare to offend Zhao Haoqi of Qin, so he had to stay. Soon, the ministers advised the king of Qin, saying, "It is not good for the king of Qin to keep Meng Changjun. He was born in the royal family, and he had fiefs and family members in the state of Qi. How can he really work for Qin? " Zhao Haoqi of Qin felt right, so he changed his mind and put Meng Changjun and his men under house arrest, just waiting for an excuse to kill them. The king had a favorite imperial concubine. He never refused her anything. Meng Changjun sent someone to help her. The princess promised to help if she could get the unique white fox fur coat of Qi as her reward. Meng Changjun was very upset because he had given it to the king of Wu as a gift when he arrived here. Just then, a diner said, "I can manage to get it." H "He left at once.
King Taizhao has a favorite concubine. As long as the concubine says one, Zhao Haoqi won't say two. Meng Changjun sent for her help. The princess agreed, on the condition that she would get a white fur coat (made of the hair under the armpit of the white fox) as a reward. This can be called Meng Changjun, because he gave this fox's white fur to Zhao Haoqi of Qin as soon as he arrived in Qin. Just then, a door said, "I can get the fox and the white fur!" " "Say that finish and left.
It turns out that this man is a skilled thief. He once entered the horse through the dog hole in the wall. He made an investigation first, and learned that the king liked the fox fur coat so much that he didn't want to wear it. The coat was kept in the fine storage room in the palace. He avoided the thief and easily found the storage room in the moonlight and took out the leather coat. The princess was very happy to see this coat. She tried her best to persuade the king to give up the idea of killing Meng Changjun. The king also planned to bid farewell to Prince Mingchang two days later before sending him back to Qi.
It turns out that this doorman is best at stealing dogs. He first learned the situation, knowing that Zhao Haoqi liked the fox fur coat so much that he couldn't bear to wear it for a while, so he put it in the exquisite storeroom of the palace. By moonlight, he escaped the patrol's eyes and easily got into the storage room to steal the fox hair. The princess was very happy to see the fox Bai Qiu. She tried to persuade Qin to give up the idea of killing and prepared to send him back to Qi in a few days.
But Meng Changjun didn't dare to wait two more days. That night, he and his men got on their horses and ran quietly to the east. When they arrived at Hanguguan (in today's Lingbao County, Henan Province, which is the east gate of Qin State), it was already midnight. According to the law of the state of Qin, the gate of the pass cannot be opened before the cock crows every morning. But how can they crow at midnight? They were very worried when they heard the cock crow. All the cocks inside and outside the pass immediately crowed with the chickens. It turned out that another diner could imitate the cock crow very well, and the first crow was actually imitated by him. The guards at the pass were surprised. They heard the rooster crowing before they got enough sleep. However, they had to open the gate and let them go.
Meng Changjun did not dare to wait for two days, and immediately led his men to ride eastward overnight. It was midnight when I arrived at Hanguguan (now Lingbao County, Henan Province, which was the east gate of Qin State). According to the law of Qin State, Hangu Pass is not opened until the cock crows every day. Why do chickens crow in the middle of the night? When everyone was worried, only a few "oh oh" cocks crowed, and then all the cocks outside the city crowed. It turns out that another public in Meng Changjun can crow like a chicken, and the chicken will crow as soon as it hears the first crow. Why do you crow before going to bed? Although the soldiers guarding the customs felt strange, they had to get up and open the door to let them out.
At dawn, the king of Qin learned that Meng Changjun and his men had escaped. He immediately sent troops after them. When the troops arrived. He immediately sent troops after them. When the troops arrived at Hangu Pass, they had already gone for a long time.
At dawn, Zhao Haoqi of Qin learned that Meng Changjun and his party had escaped, and immediately sent troops after them. I've been through Hangu Pass for a long time.
With the help of those who know little tricks such as crowing and grabbing, Meng Changjun finally returned to Qi.
Meng Changjun fled back to Qi with the help of a confidant.
This story appeared in Biography of Historical Records and Meng Changjun written by Sima Qian. Later, the idiom "a cock crows and a dog grabs" was used to describe tricks or people who know tricks.