During the early Spring and Autumn period, the ruler of the state of Wey, Duke Yi, had a passion for raising cranes. He dressed them in finery and let them ride in grand, ornate carriages, just like high-ranking officials.
Once, the Di people from the north attacked his country, and he ordered his army to resist. The conscripted commoners, unwilling to go, said, "You gave cranes high official salaries and status—you should send them to fight."
Duke Yi of Wei had no choice but to personally lead his army to resist the Di people
“After I leave, all state affairs must follow the arrangements of the two ministers.”
The Wei army clashed fiercely with the Di tribes at Ying Marsh, suffering a crushing defeat. Duke Yi of Wei was killed in battle, while the court historians Hua Longhua and Li Sun were taken prisoner. The Di forces pressed on toward Wei with their captives in tow.
Hua Longhua and Li Sun said to the Di people, "We are the Grand Historians, in charge of Wei's rituals for ghosts and gods. If you do not let us return first to pray for divine aid on your behalf, you will never conquer Wei."
The Di people believed it was true and let the two return to their state first. They rushed to the capital and said to Shi Qizi and Ning Zhuangzi, "The Di army is coming soon. Don't wait to be destroyed—retreat quickly!"
Shi Qizi and Ning Zhuangzi led the entire city's people in a nighttime evacuation
Later, the idiom "An Old Crane Riding a Carriage" came to be used to describe someone unworthy of their official position.
Source: *Zuo Zhuan*, Chapter "Duke Min, Year Two"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "老鹤乘轩" came to describe how someone unworthy of their official position.