Classic Chinese Idioms of Three Kingdoms

Story

Zhuge Liang, word Kong Ming, Xiangyang people. Liu Bei was a native of Zhuo County. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the world was in chaos and the great and the good rose up to fight for supremacy, Liu Bei, in order to realize his ambition to unify the world, searched for talents from all directions, and paid a special visit to Zhuge Liang, who lived in a secluded position in Wolonggang, Longzhong, to ask him to come out to the mountain. He even went to two times were unable to see, the third time to go, only met. Liu Bei explained his intention and talked freely about his ambitions. Zhuge Liang put his heart and soul into it and put forward the `strategic policy' of seizing Jingzhou and Yizhou, making peace with the minorities of the south-west, linking up with Sun Quan in the east, and fighting against Cao Cao in the north, and prophesied that the world would become a three-legged triangle of Shu, Wei, and Wu in the future. Liu Bei was overjoyed at the news, so he appointed Kong Ming as his military advisor. Kong Ming did his best to assist Liu Bei, but Liu Bei's trust and use of Kong Ming aroused the displeasure of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and other generals. From time to time, they showed their dissatisfaction in front of Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei, who was a straightforward person, was even full of complaints. Liu Bei patiently explained, he imagined himself as a fish, Kong Ming as water, repeatedly explaining that Kong Ming's talent and boldness, to complete the great cause of taking over the world of their own importance. He said: "I Liu Bei with Kong Ming, as if the fish got water, I hope you do not say more."

A horse takes the lead

Allusion source: From the chapter of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms," 71st chapter, "Occupying the right mountain and waiting for the labor of Huang Zhong".

Jian'an twenty-four years (219), Shu first Lord Liu Bei and Cao Wei to fight for Hanzhong, Wei Hanzhong generals - General Xiahou Yuan fixed Dingjunshan, Tiandangshan and Yangpingguan passes, the Shu army is very difficult to attack. To this end, Liu Bei asked to stay in Chengdu Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Liang according to Xiahou Yuan has the courage to be tactless and good at anger characteristics, sent nearly seventy years of veteran Huang Zhong to Hanzhong and Xiahou Yuan fighting to paralyze Xiahou Yuan so that it relaxes its vigilance, and at the same time, sent resourceful Fazheng for the Supervisors, secretly to insert the flag as a signal to command the Huang Zhong fighting.

Under the planning of Zhuge Liang and Fazheng, Huang Zhong first followed the plan to "cross the Shinshui south", Liu Bei and "the guest as the host" under the Tingjun Mountain, "step by step" to force Xiahou Yuan's army. Liu Bei's attack on Xiahou Yuan's army at the foot of Dingjun Mountain was a "counter-attack". Taking Xiahou Yuan Cao's army was negligent in defense, Fazheng, Huang Zhong and secretly occupied the western end of Dingjun Mountain of the descending mountain (Dingjun Mountain after the battle was renamed Flagpole Hill), which is located in the high ground, not only threatening Dingjun Mountain Wei camp, but also can be peeped into the Dingjun Mountain within the main peak of the "Yangtian Puddle" Xiahou Yuan in the army tent reality, so that, completely infuriated Xiahou Yuan, who did not even put the old! Huang Zhong in the eyes, so personally led the army to the descending mountain shouting, challenge, want to retake the position. Huang Zhong army in the mountain let Wei army scolding, he according to Fazheng "waving a red flag as a signal" of the agreement, hold but not out of the battle. To be Xiahou Yuan army shouting at the bottom of the mountain, people tired, people less than armor, horse less than saddle, the law is waving the red flag on the top of the mountain, Huang Zhong "a horse first, galloped down the mountain, as if the sky and the earth", Xiahou Yuan was caught off guard, was Huang Zhong even with the head and shoulders, split into two pieces. Cao's army was defeated, and Liu Bei took Hanzhong.

Allusion to the meaning of the word: this describes the lead, rushed in front.

The passage of time

Allusion to: "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms," Chapter 101, "Running to the Sword Pavilion, Zhang He's in the middle of a plan".

Jianxing nine years (231) in February, Zhuge Liang led the army "out of Qishan" for the fourth northern expedition against Cao Wei, and "wooden oxen" from Hanzhong to the front line of grain and grass, ready to start a protracted war with the Wei army. Emperor Ming of Wei sends Governor Sima Yi to govern the troops and horses of Yong and Liang states to break Shu. Zhuge Liang divided his troops and attacked, defeated the Wei army, beheaded more than 3,000, captured a large number of weapons and materials, Shu army won a great victory. At this time, rainy for more than a month, the road is dangerous and difficult, Li Yan, the food officer is afraid of the army food is not good to be punished, then borrowed the latter's order to let Zhuge Liang withdraw their troops back to Hanzhong. Wei Che Cavalry General Zhang He led the army to pursue the Shu army, was Zhuge Liang in the Wood Gate Road (now Tianshui City, Gansu Province, South Zi Village) set up an ambush randomly shot. Li Yan was afraid of Zhuge Liang to trace the responsibility, then preemptive strike, and to the master of the later dirt accusing Zhuge Liang unauthorized withdrawal of troops. Zhuge Liang find out the truth of the matter, in August of the same year after the Lord will be abolished as a civilian, exiled to Zitong County (now Sichuan Zitong County). Zhuge Liang since then in Huangsha (now Mianxian Huangsha Town, Shaanxi Province) "resting soldiers to persuade farmers", and build "wooden oxen and horses"; in Dingjun Mountain (now Mianxian City, Shaanxi Province, five kilometers south of the) "teaching soldiers to perform martial arts, deduce the eight formation diagrams ", for the next northern expedition to make full preparation. At that time, Zhuge Liang said with emotion: "Time flies, already do not realize three years". So, Jianxing twelve years (234) in the spring of February, Zhuge Liang and out of the oblique valley troops five zhangyuan (today's Qishan County, Shaanxi Province, South GaoDian town of this south of the plain), began the fifth northern expedition against Cao Wei. The first time I saw this was when I was a kid, and it was the first time I'd ever seen a kid.

Allusion to the meaning of the word: this describes the time passed unknowingly.

The great weapon is late

The Three Kingdoms - The Book of Wei

This is the so-called great weapon is late, and the end will be far away. Idioms

Comment

It describes a late success.

Story

Yuan Shao's side of a gatekeeper, named Cui Yan, he grew up to like to practice martial arts, until the age of 23 years old began to read the "Analects of Confucius", "Han Poetry", and seek a teacher to learn.

As he worked hard, he gradually learned more and more. At that time, Yuan Shao's soldiers were so brutal that they dug up graves to expose the bones. Cui Yan persuaded Yuan Shao not to do so, and Yuan Shao thought he was right and made him a cavalry captain. Later, Cui Yan followed Cao Cao and gave him many ideas.

When he was a shangshu, Cao Cao wanted to make Cao Zhi his heir, and Cui Diem objected, saying, "The rule since ancient times has been to make the eldest son, how can you make Cao Zhi?" Cao Zhi was Cui Yan's niece-in-law, despite being a relative he did not show favoritism, Cao Cao admired his fairness, Cui Yan had a cousin named Cui Lin, neither achievement nor fame when he was young, his relatives and friends looked down on him, but Cui Yan valued him, Cui Yan often said to people, "people with great talent need a long time to become a weapon, Cui Lin will certainly become a great weapon in the future. Cui Lin would surely become a great man in the future." Later on, Cui Lin really became the chief minister of Yizhou, the royal historian, and also served under Emperor Wei Wendi as the emperor.

A Place of Square Inches

Comment

Originally, it refers to a very small place, and later used to refer to the narrow-mindedness of people.

Source

Three Kingdoms Zhi, Volume 35, Shu Shu - Zhuge Liang Biography ~ 94 ~

Liu table's eldest son Qi, also deep ware Liang. The table is subjected to the words of his wife, love less son William, displeased with Qi. QI every want to plan with the bright art of self-security, bright always refused to plug, not with the place painting. Qi will be bright tour to see the back garden, *** on the high floor, between drinks and banquets, people go to the ladder, because he said: "Today, not to the sky, not to the ground, the words out of the mouth of the child, into my ears, can not say?" Liang replied: "Do not see Shen Sheng within the danger, heavy ear outside and safe?" Qi intention to realize, Yin Gui out of the plan. Huang Zu will die, come out, and then for Jiangxia governor. After the death of Huang Zu, he was appointed as the governor of Jiangxia, but when he died, he heard that Cao Gong was coming to conquer the city, and sent an envoy to ask him to surrender. When the late lord heard about this in Fan, he led his people southward, and Liang and Xu Shu went with him, but they were chased and broken by Cao Gong and captured Shu's mother. Shu resigned from the late lord and pointed to his heart, said: "I want to work with the general *** figure the king of the industry, this square inch of land also. Now has lost his mother, the square inches of chaos, not beneficial to the matter, please leave from here." I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that, but I'm going to be able to do it.

Story

Liu Qi, Liu Biao's eldest son, also y valued Zhuge Liang. Liu Biao listened to the slanderous words of his step-wife and loved his youngest son, Liu Chong, and disliked Liu Qi. Liu Qi every time you want to discuss with Zhuge Liang how to protect themselves, Zhuge Liang every stalling perfunctory him, and did not help him out of the plan. (Once) Liu Qi invited Zhuge Liang to the back garden and climbed up to a high building together. While drinking and eating, Liu Qi asked someone to take away the ladder, and then said to Zhuge Liang: "Today (the two of us here), up to the sky, down to the ground; words from your mouth, into my ears to come. You may speak, may you not?" Zhuge Liang replied to him, "Do you not see that Prince Shen Sheng is in danger by remaining within the city, and that Duke Chong Er is safe instead by fleeing out of the city?" Liu Qi was enlightened inwardly and secretly planned to escape from the city. When Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia, passed away, Liu Qi requested to be transferred out of the city and became the governor of Jiangxia. Soon after Liu Biao passed away, Liu Qiang heard that Cao Cao was coming north to conquer the city, so he sent an ambassador to ask for surrender. Liu Bei heard about this in Fancheng and led his army to walk south. Zhuge Liang and Xu Shu followed Liu Bei, and were defeated and chased by Cao Cao's army, which also captured Xu Shu's mother. Xu Shu pointed to his own heart and Liu Bei farewell, said: "I had wanted to and general you *** together to seek the cause of the king and hegemony, relying on this heart, and now my old mother has been captured, and my square is all messed up, not much help to your great cause. I beg to bid you farewell henceforth."