During the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, a famine struck the Bohai Commandery, leaving farmers starving and rising in revolt, while the local governor proved powerless to restore order. Seeking a capable leader, the emperor turned to his ministers, who unanimously recommended Gong Sui. Emperor Xuan promptly appointed Gong Sui as the new governor of Bohai.
At that time, Gong Sui was over seventy years old. When Emperor Xuan of Han summoned him and saw he was a short, elderly man, he looked down on him and asked, "There is unrest in Bohai, and I am deeply worried. Once you arrive there, how will you quell the bandits?"
Gong Sui replied, "The people there are freezing and starving, yet the officials do not care for them, so they have taken up arms. Now that Your Majesty sends me, do you wish me to pacify them or to subdue them?"
Emperor Xuan of Han was very pleased and said, "Sending virtuous officials there is naturally meant to pacify them." Gong Sui replied, "I have heard that governing unruly people is like untangling a knotted rope—one must not rush; only by taking it slowly can order be restored. I hope Your Majesty will give me the freedom to act."
Emperor Xuan of Han agreed.
Upon arriving at Bohai Commandery, Gong Sui immediately issued orders to all counties, dismissing officials who had been suppressing peasant uprisings. The decree stated, "Anyone holding farming tools is a good citizen—officials must not harass them."
When the common people rose in rebellion, it was the officials who had driven them to it. Upon learning of Gong Sui's decree, they cast aside their bows and arrows, took up their farming tools, and returned to the fields. Gong Sui then opened the granaries to relieve the starving farmers and appointed upright officials to pacify the people. Before long, the uprising had completely subsided.
When Gong Sui saw that the local customs were extravagant and the people preferred wandering as knights-errant or engaging in commerce rather than farming, he led by example in frugality and urged them to cultivate mulberry trees for sericulture. He decreed that every farming household must plant trees and vegetables, and also raise two sows and five chickens. Spotting a commoner carrying both a sword and a dagger, Gong Sui advised him, "Sell your sword to buy an ox, and sell your dagger to buy a calf," adding with a grin, "Why carry an ox and a calf on your belt!"
His point was: Instead of selling your swords and spears to buy calves, you wear them on your person—this is like "wearing a calf while carrying a sword"—what good does it do?
Under his diligent oversight, the people all worked hard at farming, and soon the region grew prosperous, ushering in an era of peace and plenty.
Later, the idiom "Selling Swords to Buy Oxen" was used to praise officials who encouraged farming and achieved good governance, and sometimes also to refer to ending warfare and emphasizing agriculture.
Source: *Book of Han*, "Biography of Gong Sui"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "卖剑买牛" came to describe praising officials who encouraged farming and achieved good governance, and sometimes also to refer to ending warfare and emphasizing agriculture.