A group of horses that belong to the
ceremonial guard(立仗馬)
There was a famous evil minister in China's
Tang Dynasty. His name was Li Linfu. There is a story about him in the history
books.
He was the Prime Minister of the Tang
Dynasty for 19 years. Although he did not have much education, he was able to
clearly perceive the changes in the economy, military and politics at that time
and promoted a series of innovative policies in response to these changes. .
He gained the trust of the king of the Tang
dynasty and became the most powerful person next to the king at that time.
He had gained enormous power and began to
worry that his position was being replaced by others. He began to exclude some
capable ministers and tried every means to maintain his importance in the
king's mind.
Once, an official criticised the current
policies of the Tang dynasty and also made some good suggestions on how to
improve the policies. The official's behaviour aroused Li Linfu's vigilance,
and he immediately used his influence to have the official removed. The
official was transferred to a city far from the capital.
Then, at a meeting, he told all the
officials.
Don't tell the king what you think. Our
present king is very wise and intelligent. The policies he plans are the best,
and you just have to implement them according to his ideas.
Outside the palace where the king lives,
there is a group of horses that belong to the ceremonial guard. These horses
have been specially selected and trained. They are large and very beautiful.
They stand quietly at the gate of the palace every day. When people see these
horses, they immediately feel the majesty of the royal family.
The main role of these horses is to stand
quietly at the gate of the palace. They don't have to do anything, they just
eat good food every day and live in good and warm stables.
You should learn from these horses, it's
best not to speak during meetings.
If you give your opinion to the king
without informing me first, you will be like those horses that were kicked out
of the guard of honour because they were not good enough, and you will lose
your current official position.
When the officials heard his words, they
all bowed their heads in silence and fear.
The literal translation of this idiom is a
group of horses that belong to the ceremonial guard.
This idiom is used to describe people who
are afraid to express their true opinions in order to protect their current
positions.
Dear friends, what are your feelings or
thoughts after listening to this story?
What do you fear most in your heart right
now? Have you ever hidden your true thoughts because of outside pressure?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
立仗馬(A group of horses that belong to the
ceremonial guard)
中國的唐王朝有一個著名的很壞的大臣，他的名字是李林甫，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
他擔任唐王朝的宰相長達19年的時間，他念的書雖然不多，但是他可以很清楚的覺察到當時的經濟與軍事和政治上面的變化，並且針對這些變化推動一系列革新的政策。
他獲得了唐王朝的國王的信任，他成為當時除了國王之外掌握最大權力的人。
他掌握了巨大的權力，他也開始擔心他的地位被別人所取代，他開始排擠一些有能力的大臣，他想盡辦法維持自己在國王心目中的重要性。
有一次，有一個官員針對唐王朝當下的政策提出批評，這個官員同時提出了如何改進這項政策的一些好的建議，這個官員的行為引起李林甫的警覺，他立刻運用他的影響力把這個官員調職，這個官員被調派到離首都很遠的一座城市。
他隨後在一次會議上對著所有的官員說。
你們不要隨便向國王提出你們的意見。我們現在的國王非常的明智而且有智慧。他所規劃的政策都是最好的，你們只要按照他的想法去執行這些政策就可以了。
國王所住的皇宮外面，站立著一批專屬於儀隊的馬。這些馬都經過特殊的挑選與訓練，這些馬都很高大而且非常的漂亮，這些馬每天安靜地站在皇宮的門口，當人們看到這些馬時就會立刻感受到王室的威嚴。
這些馬最大的作用就是安靜地站在皇宮的門口，牠們甚麼事情都不用作就可以每天吃精緻的飼料與住在高級又溫暖的馬廄。
你們應該向這些馬學習，你們在開會的時候最好都不要說話。
你們如果沒有先向我通報就直接對國王提出你們的意見，那麼你們就會像那些因為不夠優秀所以被踢出儀隊的馬一樣，你們會失去你們現有的官職。
這些官員聽完他的話後，每個人都沉默且害怕地低下頭。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是儀隊中的馬。
這句成語被用來形容一些為了保全自己現有的職位而不敢提出自己的真實意見的人。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
你現在的內心中最恐懼的事情為何呢?你曾經因為外在的壓力而隱藏自己的真實想法嗎?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為新唐書-卷223-李林甫傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E5%94%90%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7223%E4%B8%8A