After seizing the throne through the Chenqiao Mutiny, Song Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin constantly feared his own generals might follow his example and stage a rebellion.
Shi Shouxin had been leading troops since the Later Zhou Emperor Guo Wei's reign, and after Zhao Kuangyin became emperor, he earned repeated military merits as one of the founding heroes, enjoying great imperial trust. One day in the early Qiande era, Zhao Kuangyin hosted a banquet at court for Shi Shouxin and other ministers. When the wine was flowing, the emperor lamented, "My dear ministers, I don't know why, but ever since I became emperor, I've been suffering from insomnia at night, never able to sleep soundly. It's far less enjoyable than my days as a military governor."
After hearing this, Shi Shouxin and others said with concern, "Your Majesty has worked hard for many years. Now that the realm is settled, who would dare to harbor rebellious intentions?"
Emperor Taizu of Song said, "Indeed, I know you are utterly loyal and harbor no disloyal intentions. But if among your subordinates, someone, driven by greed for glory and wealth, were to support you as emperor, how would you feel then? At that point, you would have no choice but to go along."
Upon hearing these words, the generals were so terrified they could not eat, each prostrating themselves to kowtow and beg for forgiveness, repeatedly declaring they harbored no disloyal intentions, and implored the emperor to show them the way.
Seeing that the time was right, Emperor Taizu of Song said, "The ancient sage Zhuangzi wrote in his chapter 'Knowledge Wandering North,' 'Human life between heaven and earth is like a white colt galloping past a crack in the wall—suddenly it is gone.' He meant life is fleeting, like a white steed flashing past a narrow gap. You have already held high office, so it is better to amass wealth, acquire estates, and retire to the countryside to enjoy life with your children, singers, and dancers."
As the saying goes, "Listen to the drumbeat, catch the meaning." Shi Shouxin and the others knew well that "serving the emperor is like living with a tiger." Realizing the emperor now distrusted them, they saw no point in holding office. One by one, they petitioned Zhao Kuangyin to relieve them of their military commands in exchange for a peaceful retirement. Zhao promptly approved, granting each a hollow title and a generous fortune to enjoy their remaining years. This became known as Zhao Kuangyin's "removing military power over cups of wine."
"A white colt flashes past a crack" — this phrase appears in *Zhuangzi*, *Records of the Grand Historian*, and *Book of Han* to describe time flying by. Similar expressions include "four horses galloping past a gap."
Source: *History of Song*, "Biographies, Volume 3: Shi Shouxin"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "白驹过隙" came to describe how time flies by quickly.