English Original
Between the States of Jin and Guo lay the State of Yu.
Once, the State of Jin planned to invade Guo but needed permission to pass through Yu. The King of Jin worried Yu would refuse.
Xun Xi, a high official of Jin, proposed a scheme: "Offer the round jade and the fine steed as gifts to the King of Yu. He is sure to grant permission."
The King of Jin hesitated: "The jade from Chuiji is my ancestral treasure; the steed from Qudi is my favorite. What if he accepts the gifts but denies us passage?"
Xun Xi replied: "Unlikely. If he refuses passage, he will not dare accept the gifts. If he accepts and grants permission, it will be like moving the jade from an inner storehouse to an outer one, and the horse from an inner stable to an outer one. Why worry?"
As predicted, the King of Yu, coveting the treasures, was ready to agree.
His official, Gong Ziqi, urgently dissuaded him: "You must not consent! Guo is our neighbor. Our relationship is like that of lips and teeth. If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. If we let Jin invade Guo, once Guo falls, can Yu remain safe? Absolutely not!"
The King of Yu ignored this advice and consented.
Soon, Xun Xi led his forces and conquered Guo. Three years later, Jin conquered Yu as well. Xun Xi returned in triumph, carrying the jade and leading the horse, and returned them to the King of Jin.
The King, immensely pleased, smiled and said: "The jade remains the same; only the steed has aged a bit."
中文翻译
晋国和虢国之间，有一个虞国。
一次，晋国计划进攻虢国，但需要向虞国借路。晋王担心虞国不会答应。
晋国大臣荀息献计说：“如果您将那块圆玉和那匹良马作为礼物送给虞公，请求借路，他一定会同意。”
晋王犹豫道：“垂棘的美玉是我祖先的传家宝；屈地的良马是我的最爱。如果他收了礼物却不借路，我们该怎么办？”
荀息答道：“这不太可能。如果虞公不答应借路，他必然不敢接受礼物。如果他收了礼并借路给我们，那就像把美玉从内库移到外库，把良马从内厩牵到外厩一样。您何必担心呢！”
果然，虞王贪图玉和马，准备答应。
他的大臣宫之奇急忙上前劝阻：“绝不能答应！虢国是我们的邻邦。我们两国的关系，就如同嘴唇和牙齿。唇亡则齿寒。 如果我们借路给晋国去攻打虢国，虢国灭亡了，我们虞国还能安全吗？万万不可！”
虞王没有听从宫之奇的劝告，还是答应了晋国的请求。
不久，荀息率军灭了虢国。三年后，晋国也灭了虞国。荀息捧着玉，牵着马，凯旋而归，将两件宝物归还给了晋王。
晋王得意地笑着说：“玉还是原来的玉；只是马老了一点。”