spread a net for sparrows and dig for rats

spread a net for sparrows and dig for rats

The term "Luo que digs for rats" originally refers to the situation of catching sparrows with a net and catching mice with a hole to satisfy one's hunger. Later it refers to trying every means to raise money. It comes from the biography of Zhang Xun in the new book of Tang Dynasty.

Entry information

Idiom: Luo que digs for rats Pinyin: Lu ó Qu è Ju é sh ǔ source: biography of Zhang Xun in the new Tang Dynasty: "to Luo que digs for rats, cook the crossbow for food." In Yan Fu's you Ru San Bao, it is said that "if you starve the dead, you will dig the rats and the birds, and the food will run out, then you will become barren." Jing xingpao's Shan Zhai Ke Tan Lian GUI Jia Chao in Qing Dynasty: "it's just like writing a document to punish his son. In response to this, the old man began to release when his home was empty. " Liang Qichao's on the local government bonds of Zhili, Hubei and Anhui: "He Yi is not poor and empty, but he has no plan." if you starve the dead, you'll be able to dig up rats. If you run out of food, you'll become barren. (Yan Fu's Three Guarantees)

Idioms and allusions

Zhang Xun was born in Nanyang (now Henan Province) in Tang Dynasty. During the reign of Tianbao, an Lushan rebelled and Zhang Xun led a crusade against Suiyang (now in the south of Shangqiu County, Henan Province). According to the biography of Zhang Xun in the book of Tang Dynasty, the enemy attacked fiercely at that time, sometimes more than 20 times a day. Zhang Xun fought bravely without fear or tiredness. Later, the city of Suiyang was surrounded by Yin Ziqi, the Minister of Anlu mountain, with more than 100000 troops, while Zhang Xun had only 3000 soldiers. The reinforcements did not arrive and the military supplies were about to run out. The situation was very critical. Zhang Xun sent his general Nan Jiyun to break through the encirclement and go to Helan Jinming, the "linhuai prefect". He lanjinming is jealous of Zhang Xun's reputation and can't help him. Ju Yang couldn't get out of the encirclement for several months. The enemy threatened and lured Zhang Xun to surrender. Zhang Xun refused to give in and beat back the enemy's countless attacks. Finally, all the food in the city was eaten up, so Zhang Xun asked the soldiers to catch sparrows and dig mice to satisfy their hunger, and continued to defend the city and fight tenaciously. In the end, Suiyang was defeated. Zhang Xun refused to surrender and was killed by Yin Ziqi. On his deathbed, he scolded the rebels. When Yin Ziqi heard that Zhang Xun had bitten all his teeth because he hated the enemy, he opened his mouth with a big knife. Sure enough, there were only three teeth left in his mouth. As a result of this story, posterity describes that they have eaten up and used up, and searched out the last poor thing, which is called "Luo que digs a rat", or "Luo digs almost", "Luo digs all are poor". (Luo is a net. Use it to catch birds. )