follow sb.'s lead

follow sb.'s lead

Ma shoushizhan is a Chinese idiom. Its pinyin is m ǎ sh ǒ ush ì zh ā n, which originally means that soldiers act on the horse head of the general when they are fighting, but later means obeying the command or depending on someone. From Zuo Zhuan, the fourteenth year of Xianggong.

Analysis of Idioms

Synonyms obedient, like a shadow, follow suit antonyms treason, separation, disintegration, opposite, opposite

Idiom usage

In the past year and a half, although he has often followed the commander-in-chief's instructions, he is not the commander-in-chief and will not be inferior to others. Yao xueyin's Li Zicheng, Vol.2, chapter 27

The origin of Idioms

In the fourteenth year of Xianggong in Zuozhuan, it is said that "the cock crows and drives, the well is blocked and the stove is destroyed, and the horse is the only one who looks forward."

Idiom story

In the spring and Autumn period, the state of Qin was very powerful and often bullied the weak vassal states. It aroused the strong antipathy of the vassal states. In 559 B.C., the Duke of mourning of Jin combined with other vassal states to form a coalition to attack Qin. Xun Yan, the commander-in-chief of the Chinese army of Jin State, was the leader of the Allied forces. He originally estimated that the state of Qin would panic when it learned that the Allied forces of the princes were coming to attack, and the war would be easy to win. I didn't expect that the Allied forces had different aspirations, were not united, and their morale was very low. When the state of Qin learned about these situations, he was not afraid at all, and he didn't show any desire for peace at all. The Qin army also poisoned the upper reaches of the Jinghe River, killing many allied soldiers. Seeing this situation, Xun Yan wanted to launch a general attack as soon as possible. He issued an order to the general of the Allied forces, saying: as soon as the rooster crows at dawn, we are ready to set out. All the troops have to demolish the earthen stoves and fill up the water wells so as to make arrangements. When fighting, everyone looks at my horse's head and moves. Wherever I point, everyone runs. Xun Yan's generals listened to his words and felt that he was too bossy and disgusted. Luan Fu, commander-in-chief of the lower army, said: the state of Jin has never given such an order. If you want to go west to fight the state of Qin, go yourself. My horse head will go east and return to our state of Jin. When the generals of other feudal states saw that the generals of Jin state led their troops back home, they also withdrew to their own countries. The whole army immediately went into chaos without fighting. Xun Yan saw that it was impossible to recover, so he had to withdraw in embarrassment.