"冰山难靠"，这句成语源自古代政治智慧，它比喻着权势的脆弱性，长久不易依赖。这一表达，在历史长河中有着深刻的寓意和故事。今天，我们就一起探索“冰山难靠”背后的历史故事。

“冰山难靠”的典故：

在唐朝末年，玄宗皇帝宠爱杨贵妃至极，以致忽视国家大事。杨家因而显赫一时，其堂兄杨国忠不仅担任宰相，还兼并了四十多个官职，使其家族掌握了大量权力。在这个时候，一位名叫张彖的进士没有机会出仕。他朋友们都劝他去投靠杨国忠，以期获得升迁和财富。但张彖坚决不同意，他说：“你们都把杨国忠看得像座泰山，可我觉得他不过是一座即将化掉的冰山罢了。当天下稍有变动，他就会崩溃，就像太阳照射到冰山一样融化，当那时候发生，你们都会失去依仗。”

很快，安禄山发起叛乱攻破长安，玄宗逃往四川，在马嵬坡（今陕西境内），杨国忠遭民众杀害。无奈之下玄宗令杀死杨贵妃。这样的一次巨大的变故证明，“靠”的确是脆弱不可取捨。

“Iceberg is difficult to lean on”， a Chinese idiom that metaphorically describes the instability of relying on someone or something for long. Its historical origin dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when Emperor Xuanzong was deeply infatuated with his concubine Yang Guifei, neglecting state affairs. The Yang family thus flourished, and her cousin Yang Zhong became Prime Minister, holding multiple high-ranking positions. A friendless scholar named Zhang Bian had failed to secure an official position despite his talent and education. His friends advised him to seek favor from Yang Zhong for career advancement but he refused saying: "You all view Yang Zhong as an unshakeable mountain but I think he's just like an iceberg that will melt once exposed to sunlight." He predicted that when changes occur in the empire, those who rely on such unstable powers would lose their support.

Indeed, soon after this conversation took place, An Lushan's rebellion broke out and captured Chang'an (now Xi'an), forcing Emperor Xuanzong into exile in Sichuan where Yang Zhong was killed by rebels at Ma'anshan (in present-day Shaanxi). In desperation Emperor Xuanzong ordered the execution of Yang Guifei proving that leaning too heavily on anyone or anything can be precarious.

The phrase "iceberg is difficult to lean on" serves as a reminder of the impermanence of power and influence; it cautions against overreliance on transient sources of support.