◎ Book of Wei by Wei Shou
Achai, the leader of the Tuyuhun Tribe, had twenty sons in all. One day, Achai told them, “Each of you must now go get an arrow, and put it on the ground.”
After a short while, Achai called his brother Mu Liyan to come, and stated, “Now, pick up an arrow and break it.” Mu Liyan broke the arrow very easily.
Achai said to Mu Liyan again, “Now, pick up nineteen arrows and break them.”
Mu Liyan picked up nineteen arrows, but failed to break them, tired with a flushing face and breaking into a sweat.
Next, Achai turned to his sons, “You have all seen that a single arrow is very easy to break, but many arrows bundled together are very difficult to break. Only if you join forces, can our country be consolidated and undefeatable.”
