指鹿为马Call a stag a Horse

Call a stag a Horse(成语 指鹿为马 英文)


Zhao Gao(1) harboured the intention of usurping power, but he was afraid that the ministers would not follow and obey him. So, he tried to test which ones would be faithful to him.

One day he offered a stag to Emperor Ershi(2) and said,"Your Majesty, here is a horse I would like to offer to you."

"You're mistaken, Prime Minister," said the Emperor with a smile."You've called a stag a horse."

Zhao Gao turned to the other ministers present and asked them whether it was a horse or a stag. Some kept silent; other, to please Zhao Gao, affirmed that it was a horse; and still others said that it was a stag.

Later, Zhao Gao secretly framed charges against all those who had asserted that it was a stag and had them executed.

______________remark______________
(1) a eunuch in the Qin court, who after the decease of Qinshihuang(First Emperor of Qin) hounded his heir, Prince Fushu, to death and through a coup detat replaced him with Huhei,while he himself assumed the post of Prime Minister.
(2) Emperor Qin the Second, i.e., young Prince Huhei--made Emperor by Zhao Gao,wishing to usurp his power, later compelled the young emperor to commit suicide.

指鹿为马(chinese idioms)

赵高想要谋反，恐怕群臣不听从他，就先设下计谋进行试验，带来一只鹿献给二世，说：“这是一匹马。”二世笑着说：“丞相错了，把鹿说成是马。”问左右大臣，左右大臣有的沉默，有的故意迎合赵高说是马，有的说是鹿，赵高就在暗中假借法律陷害那些说是鹿的人。

指鹿为马,比喻故意颠倒黑白,混淆是非。