An Old Horse

Tian Zhifang saw an old horse on a road. He heaved a sign, deeply moved.

"What horse is this?" he aksed his carriage driver.

"Master, this horse used to be kept by you," replied the driver. "Since it is old and weak, it is not much used, so it was taken out to be sold."

"To exploit its strength in its youth and then get rid of in its old age is not the way a man with decency and honour should behave."

Therefore Tian Zifang used five rolls of silk to buy back the horse. When old veterans heard of this, they were full of admiration and respect for him.

Huainanzi