Wang yuqi was a well-known expert in driving carriages in the State of Zhao.
When Xiang Zi of Zhao heard of this, he asked Wang to teach him to drive a carriage. Not long after, xiang Zi of Zhao thought he had already mastered the skills, and suggested a race against Wang. He didn’t expect that after he had changed horses three times in succession, he still lost the race to Wang.
Xiang Zi of zhao was flustered and exasperated. He said to Wang:
“in teaching me to drive, have you held anything back and not taught me all your skills?”
Hearing this, Wang smiled and said:
“You ought to believe that I have taught you all the skills in driving a carriage. But, when your Highness was racing against me, you always tried to keep in front of me. Once you lagged behind, you strove to overtake me; but after you overtook me, you were afraid that I would catch up with you. You focused all your attention on me. You forgot that in driving a carriage, the most important thing is to take of the horses wholeheartedly and pay attention to the handlebars of the carriage and the harness to see whether they fit of not. Only then can you give the rein to the horses and let them gallop for 1000 li. But during the race, you not only strove to be the first but also feared to lag behind. How could you concentrate your mind on driving the carriage? ”
