(Note: Zhao Gao (258-207BC) was the highest official under the Second Emperor of the Qin Dynasty.)
[in translation]
Aspiring to gain complete control of power, and anxious that others might not obey him, Zhao Gao set up a test. He led a deer to the emperor and said, "This is a horse." The emperor laughed. "Are you mistaken? Calling a deer a horse?" When the emperor asked the other officials in the court, some remained silent, some followed Zhao to say the deer was a horse, and some said it was a deer. Zhao then back-stabbed those who said the deer was a deer, causing them to be punished under the law. From that day forward everyone feared Zhao and repeated his alternative fact.
[Original text] 赵高欲为乱，恐群臣不听，乃先设验. 持鹿献于二世，曰：“马也。”二世笑曰：“丞相误邪？谓鹿为马。”问左右，左右或默，或言马以阿顺赵高，或言鹿者。高因阴中诸言鹿者以法。后群臣皆畏高。（司马迁《史记·秦始皇本纪》）
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