老马识途

老马识途

在春秋时期，齐桓公应燕国的要求，出兵攻打北部的山戎。他们是春天出征的，但是回来时已经是冬天了。到处覆盖着积雪，风也很大。军队迷路了。

大家都很着急，这时管仲说军中的老马有认路的本领。于是齐桓公让管仲挑选了几匹老马，让它们在大军的最前面带路。最终走出了山谷，找到了回齐国的路。

这个成语比喻有经验的人熟悉情况，能在某个方面起指引的作用。

An Old Horse Knows the Way

In the Spring and Autumn Period (chūn qiū 春秋时期,770-476 BC), Duke Huan of Qi (qí huán gōng 齐桓公) led an army to attack a small state in the north. They went in spring when green grass covered the ground. But when they came back it was winter. Everywhere was white with snow and the wind was howling. The troops lost their way.

While everybody was worrying, Guan Zhong, the duke's chief minister, said: "An old horse may know the way." So the duke ordered several old horses to be choosed to lead the army. In the end, they found the way back home.

This idiom refers to the value of experience.