Enough feathers can sink a boat(積羽沉舟)
Everyone says this fake piece of gold is
real(眾口鑠金)
During the Warring States Period of China,
there were more than 20 kingdoms in China.
Among these more than 20 kingdoms', 7
kingdoms are relatively powerful.
Among the 7 relatively powerful kingdoms,
(Qin Kingdom) has the most powerful military.
At that time there was a capable strategic
advisor, the person's name was (Su Qin).
He succeeded in persuading the kings of the
six kingdoms to ally with each other against the mighty (the Qin Kingdom).
The king of Qin Kingdom wanted to
disintegrate this alliance, and he sent a strategic advisor named (Zhang Yi) to
visit the king of Wei Kingdom.
In Zhang Yi's discourse on persuading the
king of the Wei Kingdom, his conclusion is as follows.
The main enemy of the Qin Kingdom is the
Chu Kingdom.
Although the Kingdom of Chu looks very
powerful, according to our information, their soldiers are very timid and
loosely trained. If there is a war, their soldiers will quickly flee and
surrender.
If you are willing to cooperate with the
Qin Kingdom, we can send troops to the Chu Kingdom together, and the Chu
Kingdom's army has absolutely no way to resist us.
In the course of the war, we will provide
you with a lot of support.
After this war is won, you will gain a lot
of Chu Kingdom lands.
If you are unwilling to cooperate with the
Qin Kingdom, then you will become the Qin Kingdom's main enemy. The Qin Kingdom's
army will concentrate on attacking you with all their strength.
Zhang Yi paused and continued.
The alliance of your six kingdoms looks
solid, but if you think about it, you will find that none of your six kingdoms
are really benefiting.
The ones who really benefit are the
strategic advisors who connect you to form alliances.
Each of these strategic advisors receives
money from six kingdoms and enjoys great power in all six kingdoms.
There is a proverb.
A single feather is light, but enough feathers
can sink a small boat.
Another proverb.
When everyone says a fake piece of gold is
real, you also believe the piece of gold is real.
The arguments of these strategic advisors
who link you to form alliances are problematic. You can't be at the mercy of
these strategic advisors.
You are a wise king and you can make better
decisions.
After the king of Wei Kingdom heard these
words, he was silent for a few minutes.
He answered.
I agree with your opinion, I have decided
to form an alliance with the Qin Kingdom, and I will give up the cooperation
with the other five kingdoms.
The direct translation of this idiom means
that although feathers are very light, they can make a ship sink if there are
enough feathers.
This idiom is used to remind us that small
bad things can add up to serious consequences.
The direct translation of this idiom means
that when everyone says a piece of fake gold is real, you will also believe
that the piece of gold is real.
This idiom is used to remind us that what
we all think is right is not necessarily right.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
How do you tell if someone's advice to you
is well-meaning or malicious? Have you ever had the experience of making a bad
decision because someone flattered you?
I hope this story will give you something
new to gain.
積羽沉舟Enough feathers can sink a boat)
眾口鑠金(Everyone says this fake piece of gold
is real)
中國的戰國時代，中國有20多個王國。
在這20多個王國'中，有7個王國比較強大。
在這比較強大的7個王國中，(秦王國)的軍力最為強大。
當時有一個有能力的戰略顧問，這個人的名字叫做(蘇秦)。
他成功地說服六個王國的國王，彼此結盟一起抵抗強大的(秦王國)。
秦王國的國王想要瓦解這個聯盟，他派遣了一個名字叫做(張儀)的戰略顧問去拜訪魏王國的國王。
張儀在說服魏王國的國王的論述中，他的結語如下。
秦王國最主要的敵人是楚王國。
楚王國雖然看起來非常強大，但是根據我們的情資顯示，他們的士兵非常膽小而且訓練鬆散，如果發生戰爭時，它們的士兵很快就會逃跑與投降。
如果你願意跟秦王國合作，我們可以一起對楚王國出兵，楚王國的軍隊絕對沒有辦法抵抗我們。
在戰爭的過程中，我們會提供你許多的支援。
這場戰爭勝利後，你將會獲得許多楚王國的土地。
如果你不願意與秦王國合作，那麼你們就會成為秦王國最主要的敵人。秦王國的軍隊會集中全力攻擊你們。
張儀停頓了一下接著說。
你們六個王國的同盟看起來堅固，但如果你深入思考，你會發現你們六個王國都沒有得到真正實際上的好處。
真正得到好處的是那些串聯你們形成同盟的戰略顧問。
這些戰略顧問每個人領六個王國的錢，並且在六個王國中都享有極高的權力。
有一句諺語。
一根羽毛雖然很輕，但是數量夠多的羽毛就可以讓一艘小船下沉。
另一句諺語。
當每個人都說一塊假的黃金是真的，你就也會相信這塊黃金是真的。
這些串聯你們形成同盟的戰略顧問他們的論述是有問題的。你不能被這些戰略顧問所擺布。
你是一個聰明的國王，你可以做出更好的決定。
魏王國的國王聽完這些話後他沉默了幾分鐘。
他回答。
我認同你的看法，我決定與秦王國結成同盟，我要放棄與其他五個王國的合作。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是羽毛雖然很輕，但是如果數量夠多也能夠讓一艘船下沉。
這句成語被用來提醒我們小小的壞事積累起來就會造成嚴重的後果。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是當每個人都說一塊假的黃金是真的，你就也會相信這塊黃金是真的。
這句成語被用來提醒我們，大家都認為正確的事情不一定是對的。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你如何分辨別人對你的建議是出於善意還是惡意的呢?你是否有過這種經驗，因為別人奉承你導致你做出了錯誤的決定?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為戰國策-魏策1-張儀為秦連橫說魏王
