One spring, Guan Zhong and Xi Peng followed Huan Gong, King of the State of Qi, in an expedition against the State of Gu Zhu. The war didn't come to an end until winter. On their way back, they lost their way. Guan Zhong said:
有一年春天，管仲、曝朋跟随齐桓公讨伐孤竹国。战争持续到冬天才结束。返回时，他们迷路了。管仲说：
Thereupon, they let several old horses lead in front and the army followed behind. Finally they found their way home.
于是，他们就让几匹老马走在前面，军队尾随在后，终于踏上了归途。
"Old horses are wise animals who know their way. Let them lead the way for us!"
“老马是一种有智慧的动物，能认路，让老马来给我们带路吧！
When the army entered the hills, they ran out of water. Then Xi Peng said:
军队走进山里，水没有了。这时限朋说：
Men of great learning like Guan Zhong and Xi Peng, when coming across difficulties, would also seek help from horses and ants of lower intelligence than human beings to find a way out.
像管仲、瞩朋这样学识渊博的人，在遇到困难时，也会求助于智慧不及人类的马和蚂蚁来解决问题。
"In winter, the ants stay on the south side of a hill, and in summer, on the north side. There is sure to be water source under their nest."
“蚂蚁冬天住在向阳坡，夏天住在背阴坡，蚂蚁窝的下面一定有水源。
Thereupon, the soldiers exerted strenuous efforts to dig the ground. Sure enough, they found water under the ants' nest.
于是，士兵们奋力挖土，果然在蚂蚁窝的下面挖到了水。