成语典故：风吹草动

Alarmed by the Rustling of Leaves

　　Explanation：

　　A fugitive is frightened even by the slightest sudden sound.

　　Story：

　　King Ping of the State of Chu in the Spring and Autumn Period was notorious for his incompetence and cruelty. On the advice of his evil councilor Fei Wuji， he decided to deprive his crown prince， Jian， of the title.

　　But he worried that Wu She， Jian's tutor， would oppose any such move. So， he called in Wu She and told him to accuse Jian of rebellion. Wu She refused， and was immediately thrown into prison.

　　Fei Wuji warned the king： Wu She's two sons are very capable， and sure to attempt to avenge their father. Your majesty must eliminate them somehow." The king forced Wu She to write a letter to his two sons， Wu Shang and Wu Zixu， in an attempt to lure them to the capital.

　　Reading his father's letter， Wu Zixu said to his elder brother Wu Shang： "The king is planning to murder us. We must flee first and avenge our father in the future！" But Wu Shang refused to flee， and was put to death by King Ping， together with his father. The king then ordered his men to search high and low for Wu Zixu.

　　Hiding in woods in the daytime and traveling only at night， Wu Zixu finally came to Shaoguan Pass on the border of Chu. The pass was strictly guarded， but as Wu's black hair had by this time turned completely grey with worry， it was easy for a sympathizer to find a man looked like Wu to fool the guards.

　　Having sneaked through the pass， Wu was ferried across a river by a friendly fisherman， who left him to go and get some food for him. Sitting alone on the riverbank， the exhausted Wu Zixu was alarmed by a sudden gust of wind， which rustled the leaves and the grass. Thinking that his pursuers had come upon him， Wu dived into the underbrush. To his great relief， he realized his mistake.

　　After he had eaten his fill， Wu offered the fisherman his valuable sword as a reward for his help， but the man said， "I don't even covet the king's reward for your arrest. Why do you think I could be tempted by a mere sword， no matter how fine？ I helped you because I admire your heroism， that's all." And he sent Wu Zixu on his way without even telling him his name.

风吹草动

　　解释：

　　风一吹，草就摇晃，比喻有一点点动静而引起警觉。

　　故事：

　　春秋时，楚平王是一个昏庸无道的君主。他听信一个叫费无忌的小人的谗言，要把太子建废掉。

　　但又担心太子建的老师伍奢不同意，于是把伍奢叫来，让他说太子建企图谋反。伍奢不承认，立刻被关进了监狱。

　　这时，费无忌又对楚平王说：“伍奢的两个儿子很厉害，大王一定要把他们父子三人一起除掉！”楚平王逼伍奢写信给他的两个儿子伍尚和伍子胥，骗来京城，一起除掉。

　　伍子胥看了父亲的信，对哥哥伍尚说：“平王想加害我们啊，还是快些逃走吧，日后为父亲报仇！”但是伍尚不肯逃走，结果和伍奢一起被楚平王杀害了。平王一定要斩草除根，下令官兵四处捉拿伍子胥。

　　伍子胥白天躲在丛林中，晚上出来赶路，来到了楚国的边境昭关。关上的官吏盘查得很紧。伍子胥因为出不了关而愁得睡不着觉，几天以后满头黑发竟全部变成了灰白。幸亏好心的东皋公同情伍子胥，找个模样像伍子胥的人冒充伍子胥过关。守关的逮住了假伍子胥，而那个真伍子胥却混出关去了。

　　伍子胥逃到一条江边正在着急时，江上过来个渔夫，把他渡过江去。

　　到了对岸，渔夫对伍子胥说：“将军，我回家给你弄些吃的来。”伍子胥坐在岸边等候，忽然一阵清风吹来，芦苇和野草簌簌地响了起来，伍子胥吓了一跳，以为是楚兵追来，慌忙躲进草丛里。仔细一看，原来是“风吹草动”。

　　渔夫让伍子胥饱餐一顿。伍子胥说：“我这把宝剑价值千金，送给你，答谢你的救命大恩。”渔夫说：“楚王悬赏捉拿你，我都没有贪图，难道会要你这宝剑吗？”

　　“请问你的贵姓大名，让我日后图报。”伍子胥刚说完，渔夫就正色地说：“我救你的性命，是仰慕你是位英雄，并不冀求你什么报答，你又何必问我姓名呢！快走吧！”