One day in court, Zhao Gao gave Qin Ershi a deer and told him it was a horse. Qin Ershi laughed and said, "Zhao Gao is not a horse, but a deer." In the face of Qin Ershi's questioning, Zhao Gao said unhurriedly, "Your Majesty, you can see clearly that this is indeed a horse, a rare pony that I have worked so hard to find." Qin Ershi still had some doubts when he saw Zhao Gao's insistence: "But how can a horse grow horns?" Zhao Gao shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, this is a horse. You can ask other ministers if you don't believe me. "
Ministers didn't understand what Zhao Gao really wanted at first, but when he turned to ask everyone if it was a deer or a horse, everyone understood Zhao Gao's sinister intentions.
Although everyone knows that this is actually a deer, not everyone has the courage to stand up and tell the truth. Some people are afraid to stand up and tell the truth because of Zhao Gao's power; And people who have the heart to echo Zhao Gao have followed his words that this is a horse, in order to express their determination to stand on the same front with Zhao Gao; Only some honest people insist that it is only a deer, not a horse.
Later, Zhao Gao designed one by one to kill all those who turned against him.
Later, people used this idiom to describe those who confuse right and wrong.