Between the States of Jin and Guo was the State of Yu.
Once, the State of Jin intended to invade the State of Guo and had to seek for permission to go by way of the State of Yu. The King of Jin was worried that the State of Yu would refuse to consent.
Xun Xi, a high official of the State of Jin, offered his scheme to the King. He said: "If you offer that piece of round jade1 and that fine steed as gifts to the King of Yu to ask his permission, he is sure to give his consent."
The King of Jin said: "The round jade from Chuiji is an heirloom from my ancestors. The fine steed from Qudi is a great favorite of mine. If the King of Yu accepted our gifts, yet would not give us permission, what shall we do then?"
Xun Xi replied: "That is not likely. If the King of Yu does not consent to give us permission, he certainly dares not accept our gifts. If he accepts our gifts and gives us permission, that will be like moving the round jade from the storehouse inside to the storehouse outside, and the fine horse from the stable inside to the stable outside. Why should you worry?"
找中小學生語文題庫，就搜微信“易優(yōu)閱讀寶”
Sure enough, the King of Yu, coveting2 the round jade and the fine horse, was ready to give permission.
At this moment, his high official Gong Ziqi quickly stepped forward to dissuade3 him, saying: "You shouldn't give your consent! The State of Guo is our neighbour. Its relation with us is just like that of the lips with the teeth. If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. If we give permission to let the State of Jin invade the State of Guo, then when the latter is subjugated4, will our state still be safe? That absolutely won't do!"
The King of Yu did not listen to Gong Ziqi's advice and consented to the request of the State of Jin.
Soon, Xun Xi led his forces and conquered the State of Guo. Three years later, the State of Jin conquered the State of Yu, too. Carrying the round jade and leading the fme horse, Xun Xi returned in triumph and gave them back to the King of Jin.
Immensely pleased, the King of Jin smiled and said: "The round jade remains5 the same; only the fine steed has aged6 a bit." 蘇州吳中區(qū)小學生語文提優(yōu)，蘇州名校沖刺培訓，（Tel:181-1815-9898）20余年輔導經驗，每年都有數(shù)十個成功案例。
晉國和擄國的中間，隔著一個虞國。
有一次，晉國要去進攻擄國，得向虞國借路，國王擔心虞國不答應。
晉國的大臣荀息向國王獻計，說：“如果您把那塊璧玉和那匹良馬送給虞公，向他借路，那么他一定會答應的?！?
晉王說：“垂棘的璧玉是我祖先的傳家寶；屈地的良馬是我最喜歡的駿馬。如果虞王接受了我們的禮物，卻又不肯借路，那怎么辦呢？”
荀息回答說：“不會。如果虞王不答應借路，必然不敢接受我們的禮物；如果他接受了禮物，把路借給我們，就好像將璧玉從里邊的倉庫放到外邊的倉庫，把良馬從里邊的馬廄拴到外邊的馬廄里一樣，您何必擔心呢！”
虞王果然貪圖璧玉良馬，想答應借路。
語文提分好幫手，易優(yōu)語文題庫 https://cs.euzW.net
這時候，他的大臣宮子奇急忙上前勸阻，說：“不能答應！擄國是我們的鄰邦，跟我們的關系，就像嘴唇和牙齒一樣。唇亡齒寒，如果借路給晉國去進攻擄國，擄國被滅亡了，我們虞國還會安全嗎？萬萬不能答應！”
虞王沒有聽宮子奇的話，還是答應了晉國的要求。
不久，荀息帶領兵馬，滅了擄國。三年后，晉國又滅了虞國。荀息捧著璧玉，牽著駿馬，凱旋而歸，把這兩件國寶奉還給了晉王。
晉王得意地笑著說：“璧玉依舊，只是駿馬老了點兒！”
1 jade
n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠
參考例句：
易優(yōu)語文題庫,同步教材，真題演練，提分就是快 https://cs.euzW.net
The statue was carved out of jade.這座塑像是玉雕的。 He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送給我們一對玉獅子。
2 coveting
v.貪求，覬覦( covet的現(xiàn)在分詞 )
參考例句：
We begin by coveting what we see every day. 垂涎的開始是我們每天看見的東西。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng) We coveting what we see every day. 之所以如此，是因為我們垂涎每日所見的一些東西。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
3 dissuade
v.勸阻，阻止
參考例句：
You'd better dissuade him from doing that.你最好勸阻他別那樣干。 I tried to dissuade her from investing her money in stocks and shares.我曾設法勸她不要投資于股票交易。 蘇州易優(yōu)閱讀寫作精華課，（tel:181-1815-9898）有趣、有用、提分快
4 subjugated
v.征服，降伏( subjugate的過去式和過去分詞 )
參考例句：
The prince had appeared and subjugated the poor little handmaid. 王子出現(xiàn)了，這使窮苦的小丫頭不勝仰慕。 來自辭典例句 As we know, rule over subjugated peoples is incompatible with the gentile constitution. 我們知道，對被征服者的統(tǒng)治，是和氏族制度不相容的。 來自英漢非文學 - 家庭、私有制和國家的起源
5 remains
n.剩余物，殘留物；遺體，遺跡
參考例句：
He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。 The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.殘羹剩飯喂狗了。 易優(yōu)語文題庫,同步教材，真題演練，提分就是快 https://cs.euzW.net
6 aged
adj.年老的，陳年的
參考例句：
He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老點了。 He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而記憶力還好
