The State of Yue Builds Chariots | 越人造车

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Most of the territory of the state of Yue was water land, so its people used boats instead of chariots.

A man from Yue once came across a useless chariot with rotten spokes and wheels. He shipped it home and boasted about his extensive knowledge.

Those who came to see the chariot believed him and thought that was what a chariot should look like. They began to copy it and made many such chariots. When people from the state of Jin pointed out that their chariots did not meet proper standards, the Yue people thought the Jin were looking down on them and ignored the advice.

Later, when an enemy army invaded, the chariots of Yue all broke down the moment they were brought onto the battlefield, rendering them useless. Consequently, the state of Yue was soundly defeated.

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