"Theory is important, but practice is the only criterion for testing truth. This sentence is similar to the meaning of "it is a mule or a horse, pull it out and walk", emphasizing that it is not just a verbal expression, but should be compared through practical operations.
However, there will always be new questions for the observant reader: Is it really just a matter of taking it out and trying it out to determine whether it is a mule or a horse, why is the line between a mule and a horse so difficult to define, and what are the differences between them, and how much is the key to trying to clarify?
[Differences in the physical characteristics of horses and mules]
The mule, as it is known, is the result of a wonderful blend of horse and donkey. When a male donkey and a mare are combined, they give birth to a vigorous horse and mule, and the intersection of a mare and a male donkey gives birth to a calm donkey and mule. These two kinds of mules, each inheriting the characteristics of their parents, together write the miracle of life.
Although horse and donkey mules are not good at reproduction and are almost unable to reproduce, they are extremely resilient and resilient in their vitality and disease resistance.
The feed conversion efficiency is excellent, the endurance is impressive, and it is easy to handle, and its working life is as long as 20 to 30 years. In contrast, horses and donkeys are clearly no match for this, and their value far exceeds theirs.
The horse has an elegant body with long, powerful limbs, and after a long period of natural selection, its third toe has evolved into a sturdy hoof, while the second and fourth toes have gradually degenerated, leaving only traces of bones. Among the many breeds of horses, heavy horses are burly and can weigh up to one ton to two hundred kilograms at their heaviest and are nearly two meters tall, while small horses are more delicate, usually weighing around 200 kilograms and less than a meter tall.
The muscles of the horses' limbs are sculptural, powerful and energetic, and their fur clings to their skin like a natural protective armor. The horse's hooves are thick and hard, as if they can conquer all ruggedness and obstacles, making the horse gallop on the hard ground, showing the incomparable beauty of running.
It has a rich and varied coat, mostly brown, cyan and black, has a strong heart and lungs, is able to run and work for long periods of time, has an excellent chewing ability, and is usually a staple food on hay. The sense of hearing and smell is unusually acute.
The mule's head is stocky, its ears are elegantly slender, and its limbs are slender, making it somewhat closer to the image of a donkey. In terms of height and tooth shape, the mule is quite similar to the horse, but its call is a combination of donkey and horse characteristics, with the sound of a donkey chirping mixed with the neighing of a horse.
As a unique creature, the donkey and mule not only draw on the strength of the horse and the endurance of the donkey, but also have the ability to save food and live a long life, and its working life can be up to 30 years. However, as the donkey's personality demonstrates, donkey mules can occasionally show some stubbornness.
Horses and mules, although they resemble horses, have an appetite and strength that surpass those of ordinary horses. Its stamina is so strong that it is shoulder to shoulder with horses, but its personality is slightly stubborn. Despite this, the horse and mule are extremely spiritual and empathetic. Unfortunately, its life journey was relatively short, only twenty years old.
Mules, as descendants of horses and donkeys, naturally bring together the essence of both. It not only inherits their respective shortcomings, but also has the unique advantages of both.
To judge the nature of a thing, we must carefully observe its outward manifestation. Therefore, the purpose of showing it is to make the difference clearly visible. No matter how obvious these differences are, if we don't show them, all the efforts will be in vain.
["Pull Out" and "Walk"]
The tricks to tell a horse from a mule are that a donkey and a mule have long ears and a horse and a mule have short ears, and a horse mule has a long tail and a donkey mule has a short tail. Actually, it's not that difficult to tell the difference between a horse and a mule. It is easy to distinguish between mules and horses by pulling them out and looking closely at their nuances. But to further determine which is a horse and which is a mule, a more in-depth "examination" is required.
In the chaotic era of the Warring States Period, Zhao Kuo, the son of the famous general Zhao Hao, has been immersed in the sea of military books since he was a child, and has an almost instinctive familiarity and understanding of various tactics and formations. However, for this prodigy-like existence, his father Zhao Hao seemed extremely indifferent, as if all this had nothing to do with him.
When asked about Zhao Kuo's ability, Zhao Hao had reservations. He said that war is a matter of life and death, but Zhao Kuo was too rash about it. Although his performance was not obviously flawed, it was enough to show that he was not suitable for the heavy role of leading troops in battle. Otherwise, once he is allowed to lead the Zhao army, I am afraid that it will bring unpredictable disasters to the entire army.
At this moment, Zhao Kuo is as dazzling as a thousand miles in the eyes of everyone, but in the eyes of his father Zhao Hao, who knows his son's character, he is more like a mule, and it is difficult to bear heavy responsibilities.
Finally, in 260 BC, the two countries of Zhao and Qin fought a fierce battle in the land of Changping. Lian Po, who knew that the Qin army was brave and good at fighting, understood that it was difficult for the Zhao army to compete with it with strength alone. Therefore, he skillfully took advantage of the terrain and ordered the construction of strong fortifications, intending to drag down the Qin army in a protracted battle and deliver a fatal blow when it was exhausted.
After a long tug-of-war, the Qin army and the Zhao army were still evenly divided, and the stalemate was not broken. At this time, the Qin army adopted an ingenious anti-intermediary strategy and successfully induced King Zhao to relieve Lian Po of his military power and replace him with Zhao Kuo as the main general. As soon as Zhao Kuo took office, he quickly adjusted his tactics and decisively ordered the whole army to pursue the Qin army. Surprisingly, this sudden and fierce offensive achieved a surprising victory, and the Qin army was instantly beaten to pieces and collapsed.
The morale of the Zhao army was high, and they marched all the way, but unexpectedly, the Qin army had already retreated for dozens of miles. Seeing this, Zhao Kuo's confidence doubled, so he ordered the slaughter of chickens and sheep to reward the soldiers of the whole army.
The next day, their pursuers went deep behind enemy lines, and unfortunately they were trapped for three months by Bai Qi's clever design. Due to the lack of assistance, they eventually died heroically on the battlefield. The battle brought irreparable losses to the Zhao state, and the national power plummeted, and it was soon completely annexed by the Qin state.
Zhao Kuo's failure is obviously not simply due to the flowery rhetoric, but also to the lack of action. We cannot judge Zhao Kuo's actual ability based on his words alone, but should gain insight into his true level through his behavior. Zhao Kuo failed precisely because he relied too much on paper and lacked real practical experience. Therefore, we must be clear that true talent lies not only in words, but also in actions and results.
However, decision-makers' decisions about their reuse are grossly misguided, which makes the entire decision-making process complex and difficult. Therefore, we need to take a more sensible approach, which is to test their true capabilities through practice. After all, from some perspectives, this strategy of "whether it is a mule or a horse, pull it out for a walk" undoubtedly reflects the wisdom of the ancestors.
In short, "walking" is like an assessment or test, and only through this link can we confirm whether a person's ability meets our approved standards.
【Weight of horses and mules】
The reason for walking horses and mules stems from the significant difference in economic value between them. In ancient times, mules were loved by the nobles of the royal palace due to their unique appearance and rarity, and were regarded as ornamental treasures, and their value rose as a result. However, with the continuous progress of cross-breeding technology, after the Ming Dynasty, a large number of mules began to be used for labor and became the draft animals of the common people, thus losing their former noble status. It is because of this shift in values that people are beginning to realize that they need to be given proper exercise and ventilation to keep them healthy and energetic.
Mules have earned praise for their versatility and toughness. Not only is it capable of carrying luggage, grinding and other heavy tasks, but it has also shown amazing adaptability and diligence in remote areas. Despite its hard-working nature, it is never ostentatious, and this understated and practical quality has left a deep impression on people's hearts.
In ancient times, horses were the right-hand man in war, providing the lord with swift speed, enabling the lord to seize the opportunity or quickly counterattack, and make great achievements for the victory of the war. These horses act as guardian saints on the battlefield, protecting the safety of the main commander and leaving the enemy in the dust. However, as history progressed, the role of horses in warfare gradually diminished and became the object of admiration, and their beauty and elegance became the focus of praise.
With the growing popularity of horse racing and equestrian competitions, these events are not only exciting competitions, but also powerful engines for the region's economic growth. They promote the prosperity and development of tourism, enrich people's cultural and recreational life, and also inject new vitality into the aquaculture industry. In this context, horse breeding has gradually become the dominant industry in the region, playing an important role in the rise of the local economy and the prosperity of the people.
The performance of the mule in this regard is obviously not comparable to that of the war horse. From the price level, during the Ming Dynasty, the price of a war horse was as high as 30 lines of silver, compared to the price of a mule was only 5 lines of silver, and the price gap between the two can be described as worlds apart.
A clear distinction between mules and horses is crucial, and if left unchecked, they can lead to irreparable losses and even unimaginable consequences.
【Conclusion】
"Mule or horse, pull it out and slip it", this is said bluntly and down-to-earth. Perhaps it is easier to distinguish a mule or a horse than to judge a person's talent or incompetence.
Therefore, judging a person's ability is not an easy task, and it is necessary to observe his actual actions and evaluate his or her ability according to certain criteria. Human beings often judge a person's ability by what he does, which is also an important way for us to know a person's ability.
Assessment and evaluation are gradually emerging as a means of selection and evaluation, and if we ignore them, we may only fall into the dilemma of empty talk without real results. After all, the difference between people is sometimes much more significant than the difference between a mule and a horse. Therefore, we should cherish every moment, constantly sharpen ourselves, and move forward bravely!
Source: Baidu Historical Mystery Decryption
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