"Pointing to a deer as a horse" is a famous allusion in Chinese history, and the origin of this allusion is a story full of absurdity and drama.
The story takes place in the last years of the Qin Dynasty and follows a political struggle by Zhao Gao during the reign of Qin II.
Zhao Gao was a eunuch during the reign of Qin Shi Huang and later became the prime minister of Qin II.
He wielded a lot of power during the reign of Qin II, but he also caused dissatisfaction and jealousy among other **.
In order to consolidate his position, Zhao Gao came up with an absurd plan, he wanted to show his authority in the court and let everyone know that his word was the law.
One day, Zhao Gao entered the court with a deer, and he said to Qin II: "Your Majesty, I have brought you a thousand-mile horse. ”
Qin II looked at the deer and thought it was strange, because the deer was obviously not a horse.
He asked Zhao Gao: "Prime Minister, this is obviously a deer, how can it be a maxima?"”
Zhao Gao replied: "Your Majesty, you are mistaken, this is indeed a thousand-mile horse.
If you don't believe me, ask the ministers here. ”
So, Zhao Gao asked the ministers to express their opinions. Some ministers knew Zhao Gao's intentions, so they were silent;
In order to curry favor with Zhao Gao, some ministers said that this was a thousand-mile horse;
Some ministers, in order to maintain the authority of Qin II, said that it was a deer.
In the end, Zhao Gao announced: "Your Majesty, this is a thousand-mile horse.
If someone says that this is not a Maxima, it is deceiving His Majesty and should be punished. ”
The moral of this story is that some people will do anything to deceive and deceive others in order to achieve their own ends.
The story of referring to the deer as a horse has also become an allusion in Chinese culture to describe those who turn black and white upside down and confuse right and wrong.
The event took place in Xianyang, the capital of the Qin Dynasty, in present-day Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province.
Xianyang was the political, economic, and cultural center of the Qin Dynasty and one of the most important ancient capitals in Chinese history.
During the Qin Dynasty, Xianyang was a magnificent city with tall walls, wide streets, and lavish palaces.
However, with the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Xianyang also gradually declined and became a ruin.
Today, Xianyang has become a modern city, but it still retains some relics and cultural heritage from the Qin Dynasty, such as the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and the Terracotta Warriors.