A shortcut to success or high office, often implying an opportunistic or less honorable path to achieve one's ambitions.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Tang Dynasty, there was a man named Sima Chengzhen. He lived for decades on Mount Zhongnan, not far from the capital city of Chang'an. His pseudonym was 'White Cloud,' symbolizing his noble and detached character.
When Emperor Xuanzong of Tang learned of him, he invited Sima Chengzhen to serve as an official, but Sima Chengzhen declined. The emperor then ordered a residence built for him, asking him to transcribe and proofread the book 'Laozi' there. After completing this task, Sima Chengzhen went to Chang'an to meet Emperor Xuanzong.
In Chang'an, Sima Chengzhen encountered Lu Cangyong, who had also once lived in seclusion on Mount Zhongnan but was now an official. In his younger years, Lu Cangyong, unable to secure an official position, deliberately went into seclusion on Mount Zhongnan. He believed that by living as a recluse on the mountain, he could attract the emperor's attention, and thus quickly achieved his goal of becoming an official.
When the two met, they exchanged a few pleasantries. Afterward, Lu Cangyong pointed to Mount Zhongnan to the south and jokingly said, 'Indeed, there is boundless joy here!' Sima Chengzhen, genuinely uninterested in officialdom, was fundamentally different from Lu Cangyong. So, Sima Chengzhen satirically remarked, 'You are right. In my opinion, it's not just enjoyable; it's practically a 'shortcut' to officialdom!'