During the Warring States period, the state of Wei grew powerful. In 344 BC, King Hui of Wei summoned twelve feudal lords to an alliance at Fengze (northeast of present-day Kaifeng, Henan), then led them to pay homage to the Zhou king at Mengjin (an ancient Yellow River crossing). From then on, King Hui of Wei declared himself hegemon.
In the decades that followed, the state of Wei's power gradually waned. Though it maintained peaceful relations with its neighbor Zhao, military clashes would still erupt from time to time.
One year, King Wei of Wei planned to attack Handan, the capital of Zhao. A man named Ji Liang, upon hearing this news while traveling, rushed back to Daliang (northwest of present-day Kaifeng, Henan) to dissuade the king. Ji Liang said, "Your Majesty, I saw a man on the road heading south with a fine carriage, boasting he was going to Chu. I asked why he was going south when Chu is north. He replied, 'My horse is excellent.' I said, 'But you're going the wrong way.' He answered, 'I have plenty of money.' I said, 'That still won't get you to Chu.' He insisted, 'My driver is skilled.' The better his conditions, the farther he gets from Chu. Your Majesty's actions to become a hegemon—trusting in a large army and strong state—are like this man. The more you attack Zhao, the further you stray from your goal." King Wei, realizing the wisdom, called off the campaign. This story teaches that actions must align with the right direction to achieve one's aims.
He told King Wei a story:
On my way back to Daliang, I met a man on Taihang Road riding north in a carriage. When he said he was heading to Chu, I asked in surprise, 'You're going south to Chu—why travel north?' He pointed to his horse and replied, 'My horse is excellent; it runs fast!' I warned him, 'Your horse may be good, but this isn't the road to Chu.' He then gestured to his luggage and said, 'I have plenty of money for the journey.' I reminded him, 'You may have money, but this still isn't the road to Chu.' He insisted, 'My driver is highly skilled!' Seeing he was determined, I let him go. In truth, the better his conditions, the farther he strayed from Chu.
King Wei couldn't help but say, "This man is so stubborn!"
Ji Liang interjected, "Your Majesty, if you wish to become a true hegemon, every move must earn the world's trust. Relying solely on your nation's size and military strength to attack Handan in Zhao—expanding territory and boosting prestige—will only push you further from your goal. It's like heading south to the state of Chu but traveling north; the more you go, the farther you stray."
After hearing Ji Liang's words, King Wei of Wei realized he had been taught a crucial lesson and immediately decided to call off the attack on Zhao.
Later generations summarized this story with the idiom "South-Bound Chariot, North-Bound Tracks." "Yuan" refers to the two long shafts in front of the cart that flank the draft animal; "zhe" refers to the wheel ruts. It means intending to go south but driving north, used to describe actions that contradict or run counter to one's goals.
Source: *Strategies of the Warring States*, Chapter "Strategies of Wei IV"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "南辕北辙" came to describe intending to go south but driving north, actions that contradict or run counter to one's goals.