Original text
Qi Huangong cut down the mountain warriors and passed through the Guzhu Kingdom. The water was blocked in front of him, and the depth was unfathomable. It was dark at night and he lost his way. Guan Zhong said: "The old horse knows the way well." He put the old horse in front of him and followed him, and he found the way. There was no water in the mountains. Xi Peng said: "Ants live in the sun of the mountains in winter and in the shade of the mountains in summer. There is water within an inch of ant soil." So he dug in the ground and found water. It is not difficult for Guan Zhong's sage and Xi Peng's wisdom to learn from the old horse and ant. People today do not know that they can learn the wisdom of the saint with their foolish heart. It is not too much!
Translation
In the Spring and Autumn Period, Guan Zhong and Xi Peng once accompanied Duke Huan of Qi on an expedition to the Guzhu Kingdom. When they returned home in triumph, they lost their way during the march at night and could not move forward. Guan Zhong said: "The old horse knows the way." So he let go of the old war horse and let it go forward freely. The whole army followed it, and soon they found the road back to Qi.
While traveling through mountainous areas, the army had no extra water reserves. Xi Peng said: "Ants build their nests in the south of the mountain in winter and in the north of the mountain in summer. If you dig down an inch away from the ant nest, you can find a source of water." He ordered people to dig the ground, and sure enough, springs gushed out.
With Guan Zhong’s sage and Xi Peng’s wisdom, it is still necessary to take the old horse and the ant as teachers, but now people do not admit their own ignorance and do not know how to learn and absorb the wisdom of the saints. Isn’t it too much?