In the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Huan of Qi led an army to attack a small state in the north. They went in spring when green grass covered the ground. But when they came back it was winter. Everywhere was white with snow and the wind was howbing. The troops lost their way. While everybody was worrying, Guan Zhong, the Duke's chief minister, suggested:"An old horse may know the way." So the duke ordered several old horses to be selected to lead the army. Finally, they found the way back home.
This idiom refers to the value of experience.
春秋時，齊桓公與大臣等仲、隰朋進攻孤竹國，回來時迷了路。管促說：老馬能識途。於是讓老馬在前面走，大家跟著，果然找到了歸路。見《韓非子·說林上》。後以"老馬識途"等喻富有經驗或富有經驗的人。汪趙執信《為求書者所苦戲題長句》："諸君且休共和談，老馬識途猶尚堪。"
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