Shortly after King Zhao of the State of Yan came to the throne, he visited Guo Kui, a virtuous scholar, seeking advice on how to govern the state, make it strong, and avenge his father. Guo Kui told him the story of "Buying Bones with 1,000 Pieces of Gold."
In ancient times, a king was very fond of horses that could cover a thousand li a day. He sent many people, tried many means, and spent much money to buy such horses. Yet three years passed, and no such horses were found.
One day, a guard volunteered, saying to the king: "I am willing to buy a thousand-li steed for Your Majesty."
The king was pleasantly surprised. "You? Can you do it?"
"Your Majesty, you can rest assured," replied the guard.
The king agreed and let him go.
The guard sought the horse wholeheartedly. After three months of effort, he found the whereabouts of one. But when he hastened there, the horse had already died. Without hesitation, he bought its bones for 500 pieces of gold and returned to report.
Seeing the bones, the king flew into a rage. "You! I want a live horse, but you bought the bones of a dead one. What use are they? You have wasted 500 pieces of gold. What punishment do you deserve?"
The guard replied calmly: "Your Majesty, this is to let the public know that you are willing to pay a high price even for a dead thousand-li horse, let alone a live one. All the world will know you sincerely wish to buy one. Please do not be angry. Just wait, and the horse you want will come soon."
As the guard had expected, the king bought three thousand-li horses within a year.