It had been three years since King Zhuang of Chu ascended¹ the throne, but he had neither issued a decree nor dealt with any state affairs. Furthermore, there were no deeds worth mentioning. All the civil and military officials of the court couldn't understand what was the matter.

楚庄王即位已经三年了，可是他还没有颁布过一项法令，没有处理过一件政事，更谈不上有什么作为。朝廷中的文武百官都弄不懂这是怎么回事。

One day, a military official quietly asked King of Chu in the carriage:

一天，右司马在马车里悄悄地问楚王:

"Your Majesty², I heard that in the south, there was a big bird dwelling³ in the hills. Three years passed, it neither flew nor cried. Could Your Majesty tell me the reason?"

“大王，我听说南方有一只大鸟栖息在山上，三年过去了，既不飞，也不鸣。请问大王，这是什么原因呢?”

King Zhuang of Chu smiled and answered:

楚庄王笑了一笑，回答说:

"It didn't spread its wings to fly for three years in order to grow full-fledged. It didn't cry for three years in order to carefully observe the conditions of the people in the world. This bird, once it flies, will soar high into the sky; once it cries, it will startle the world with a single cry."

“三年不展翅飞翔，是为了让羽翼长得更加丰满;三年不鸣，是在细心观察天下的民情。这只鸟，不飞则已，一飞冲天;不鸣则已，一鸣惊人。”

Another half a year passed before King Zhuang of Chu began to personally administer state affairs. He abolished ten outmoded rules and regulations, issued nine new policies, sentenced five ministers to death for their evil deeds and promoted six persons with real talents. From then on, the State of Chu became stronger and stronger.

又过了半年，楚庄王开始亲自处理政事。他废除了十项旧的规章制度;颁布了九项新的政策;处决了五个专干坏事的大臣;还提拔了六个真正有才能的人。从此，楚国终于强大起来了。