In a highly precarious or extremely dangerous situation, on the verge of collapse or ruin, like a stack of eggs that could topple at any moment.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Ling of Jin, indulging in pleasure, ordered his minister Tu An to build a nine-story magnificent terrace. Fearing opposition, he decreed, "Anyone who dares to admonish will be executed!"
Minister Xun Xi learned of this and sought an audience with Duke Ling. To prevent Xun Xi from offering advice, Duke Ling commanded his warriors to draw their bows and nock their arrows, ready to shoot Xun Xi immediately if he spoke against the project.
When Xun Xi met Duke Ling, he pretended to be relaxed and said, "I have come to see Your Majesty today not to offer any advice, but merely to perform a special trick for you. I can stack 12 chess pieces and then pile 9 eggs on top without them toppling over." Duke Ling, intrigued, asked Xun Xi to demonstrate.
Xun Xi first stacked the 12 chess pieces, then carefully added the eggs one by one. Duke Ling, watching, exclaimed loudly, "Dangerous!" Xun Xi calmly replied, "What's dangerous about this? There's something even more perilous."
Duke Ling asked what could be more perilous. Xun Xi said, "Your Majesty, you are building a nine-story high terrace, which has left no men to farm the land in the country, and the national treasury is empty. If an enemy invades, the state will be in imminent peril. Isn't that far more dangerous?"
Hearing this, Duke Ling suddenly came to his senses and immediately ordered the halt of the nine-story terrace project.