1. Near China's northern borders lived a man well versed in the practices
of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got into the territory of
the nortern tribes.
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2. Everyone commiserated with him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be
a blessing," said his father.
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3. After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the
north.
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4. Everyone congratulated him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a
cause of misfortune," said his father.
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5. Since he was well-off and kept good horses his son became fond of
riding and eventually broke his thigh bone falling from a horse.
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6. Everyone commiserated with him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be
a blessing," said his father.
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7. One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border
regions. All able-bodies young men took up arms and found against the
invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of men died.
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8. This man's son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and
so both the boy and his father survived.
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