During the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, the Bohai Commandery suffered years of famine, and bandits rose up everywhere. Recommended by the Chancellor and Imperial Censor, Gong Sui, a man from Shanyang Nanpingyang who was already over seventy years old, was appointed as the Governor of Bohai.
When Emperor Xuan of Han summoned him, the man's short stature clashed sharply with the glowing descriptions of his abilities, and the emperor felt a flicker of disdain.
Emperor Xuan casually remarked, "The Bohai region is in chaos, and I am deeply concerned. What good strategy do you have to pacify the bandits and put my mind at ease?"
Gong Sui calmly replied, "I have heard that governing a troubled populace is like untangling a tangled rope—one must not be hasty. Only by first relaxing policies can order be achieved. I hope the Chancellor and Imperial Secretaries will not restrict me with conventional rules; everything must be handled flexibly according to actual circumstances."
Emperor Xuan of Han listened and expressed great admiration.
When Gong Sui took office, the commandery sent soldiers to greet the new governor. He dismissed them all and immediately issued an order to every county: "Stop hunting down bandits at once. Anyone holding farming tools like sickles and hoes in the fields is an honest citizen—officials must not interfere. Only those carrying weapons are outlaws."
Gong Sui then traveled alone to the commandery, and true to his word, he followed through on everything he had promised. As a result, the bandits ceased their rebellion entirely.
He also implemented numerous measures to encourage the people to prioritize farming and agriculture. He went around proclaiming, "Any commoner found carrying a sword or blade must sell it and instead buy a strong ox or calf. If someone asks, 'Why can't I wear a sword and instead must trade it for an ox or calf—essentially "carrying an ox and leading a calf"?' I will tell them: Spring and summer arrive, the seasons urge us on, and you cannot avoid working in the fields. Otherwise, come autumn and winter, what will you harvest and what will you eat?"
The idiom "Leading Oxen, Wearing Calves" originally refers to Gong Sui, Governor of Bohai during Emperor Xuan of Han, who persuaded armed rebellious farmers to abandon weapons for farming, later used to describe returning to agriculture.
Source: *Book of Han*, "Biography of Gong Sui"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "带牛佩犊" came to describe how returning to agriculture.