英语绘本 ▏每日一读之《田忌赛马 Tian Ji's Strategy For A Horse Racing》
In Qi, horse racing was the most popular entertainment activity among the nobles.
Tian Ji was a general of Qi. He loved horse racing and often competed with the king and other ministers. But Tian Ji lost almost every time.
One day, Tian Ji lost the horse race again. His good friend Sun Bin comforted him and said, "Take me to your racecourse next time, maybe I can help you."
During another horse race, Sun Bin followed Tian Ji to the racecourse. Sun Bin learned that horses can be divided into three grades according to their running speed, and the decorations are different for different grades. The competition is a best-of-three game.
The competition requires top horses to compete against top horses, middle horses to compete against middle horses, and low horses to compete against low horses. The king's horses of each grade are better than Tian Ji's horses. How can Tian Ji win?
So Tian Ji want to leave the racecourse before the game was over. Sun Bin patted Tian Ji on the shoulder and said with a smile, "I have a way for you to beat the king." Tian Ji was very happy.
Tian Ji said to the king, "My King, I want to race with you again." The king was boasting about his horse with great pride. After hearing Tian Ji's invitation, he agreed without a second thought.
Before the race, Tian Ji followed Sun Bin's idea and put a saddle of a superior horse on his inferior horse to race with the king's superior horse.
The first game started, and there was no doubt that Tian Ji lost.
第二局比赛开始了，按照孙膑的安排，田忌用自己的上等马与国王的中等马比赛，在一片喝彩声中田忌的马竟然超过了国王的马，轻轻松松的赢了第二场比赛。
The second game started. According to Sun Bin's arrangement, Tian Ji used his superior horse to race with the king's medium horse. Amid cheers, Tian Ji's horse actually surpassed the king's horse and easily won the second game.
The king couldn't believe his eyes.
The third game was the most critical one. Tian Ji used a medium horse to race with the king's inferior horse. As a result, Tian Ji's horse once again rushed in front of the king's horse and won the third game.
Tian Ji finally won a horse race. The king, who had never lost a race, was stunned and thought: "Huh? Where did Tian Ji get such a good racehorse?"
Tian Ji came to the king and told him Sun Bin's strategy. The king suddenly realized it. The king said to Sun Bin: "You are good at scheming for the countrymen. I want to use you!"
Sun Bin was recruited into the palace as a military advisor and took on the important task of commanding the army.
This story tells us that wisdom and strategy are very important in competition. Sometimes, we may not be able to compete directly with our opponents, but through clever arrangements and strategies, we still have a chance to win.