中国故事43 | The Forest of Plum Trees 望梅止渴

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43、The Forest of Plum Trees

望梅止渴

在一个炎炎夏日，曹操领兵行军。士兵们都负重行进，十分缺水，两眼无神，行军速度缓慢。曹操询问附近是否有水源时却得到否定的答案：如果要去最近的水源，会延迟整整一个小时达到目的地。曹操忽然灵机一动，他告诉士兵们：“前面有一个梅子树林，就在山后，梅子甘甜可口，可以缓解大家的饥渴！”曹操的计谋能奏效吗？

A long, long time ago, there was a Chinese warlord named Cao Cao. He was a good fighter, and an even better leader. His army knew he was wise and knowledgeable, so they trusted him.

One summer day, Cao Cao was leading his army to battle with his rival, Zhang Xiu. It was a truly hot day. The sun burned brightly.

The soldiers struggled in the heat. It didn’t help that they were walking up and down hills. Even worse, they had no water. They were already carrying heavy military supplies, so there was no room for water.

Cao Cao looked out across the crowd of soldiers. He saw tired faces staring back. Their eyes were blank, their faces shiny with sweat. They were slowing down. They looked like they were about to fall over!

Cao Cao knew if the soldiers walked slowly, it might make them lose the battle. He quickly called over his head navigator.

“Is there any water nearby?” Cao Cao asked quietly. He didn’t want the soldiers to hear him and worry.

“No sir,” the navigator replied. “The nearest water is a lake on the other side of that mountain. It is many miles out of our way. If we go to the lake, it will take at least an hour longer to reach the battle.”

An hour? An hour was much too long! By that time his rival Zhang Xiu would have already set up his army. Cao Cao couldn’t let his enemy gain the upper hand. He knew his own army could win the battle if they were prepared.

Cao Cao thought for a moment. What else could he do? Giving up was not an option. But getting drinking water wasn’t an option either. So what’s almost as good as drinking water?

And that’s when he had an idea. Of course! He needed to give his soldiers motivationto continue! And he knew just how to do that.

“Soldiers,” he yelled, “I know it has been a hard day. But there will be an end to your thirst soon! There is a forest of plum trees ahead. The trees are full of ripe, juicy, fat, delicious plums. And they are just waiting to be eaten! The forest is just beyond that hill. Think of the plums and how happy you’ll be when we get there!”

Hearing this, the soldiers’ mouths began to water. They all imagined the sweetness of the plums. Wanting to get to the plums quickly, the army quickened its pace.

Of course, there was no forest of plum trees. But because Cao Cao had given them something to strive for, the soldiers were able to carry on.

The End

Today, Chinese people use the idiom “Ending Thirst by Wishing for Plums” to mean wishful thinking, or to make decisions based on hope instead of logic.

Question: Why couldn’t Cao Cao bring his army to the lake?

1. Because the lake was on the other side of a desert.

2. Because the lake was on the other side of a mountain. [Answer]

3. Because the soldiers were too tired to walk to the lake.

4. Because the enemy was waiting for them at the lake.

核心词汇

warlord n. 军阀

rival n. 对手; 竞争者

military supplies 军资；军需；军需品

be about to do 即将做某事

navigator n. 领航员; 航海家，航行者，航海者; 驾驶员

gain the upper hand 占上风; 处于有利地位; 占优势

option n. 选项; 选择权; 选择; 选择能力

motivation n. 动机; 动力; 诱因

plum n. 葡萄干; 李子，李树; 李属植物

water v.留口水

It didn’t help that they were walking up and down hills. 他们上上下下地爬山也未能使情况好转。it didn’t help指代的是it didn’t help them fight against the heat.

It is many miles out of our way. 它（水源）偏离我们的路线许多里外。out of the way指的是偏离路线。

By that time his rival Zhang Xiu would have already set up his army. 到那时他的对手张绣早已建立了军队。本句为虚拟语气，以过去完成时表示对于将来的推测。

以下翻译来自百度翻译：

很久很久以前，有一个叫曹操的中国军阀。他是一个优秀的战士，甚至是一个更好的领导者。他的军队知道他很聪明，知识渊博，所以他们信任他。

一个夏天，曹操率领他的军队与他的对手张秀作战。那真是一个炎热的日子。阳光明媚。

士兵们在酷热中挣扎。他们在山上走来走去也无济于事。更糟糕的是，他们没有水。他们已经携带了大量的军事物资，所以没有地方取水。

曹操望着人群。他看见疲惫的脸在向后张望。他们的眼睛一片空白，脸上汗水闪闪发光。他们在减速。他们看起来好像要摔倒了！

曹操知道，如果士兵们走得慢，他们可能会输掉这场战斗。他很快把领航员叫了过来。

“附近有水吗？”曹操平静地问。他不想让士兵们听到他的话而担心。

“没有，先生，”领航员回答。“最近的水是那座山另一边的一个湖。它离我们有好几英里远。如果我们去湖边，至少需要一个小时才能到达战场。”

一个小时？一个小时太长了！到那时，他的对手张秀已经组建了他的军队。曹操不能让敌人占上风。他知道，如果自己的军队做好准备，就能赢得这场战斗。

曹操想了一会儿。他还能做什么？放弃不是一种选择。但是获得饮用水也不是一个选择。那么什么几乎和饮用水一样好呢？

那时他有了一个主意。当然他需要给他的士兵激励，让他们继续前进！他知道怎么做。

“士兵们，”他喊道，“我知道这是艰难的一天。但你们的干渴很快就会结束的！前面有一片李子树林。树上长满了成熟、多汁、肥硕、美味的李子。它们正等着被吃掉呢！森林就在那座山的那边。想想这些李子，当我们到达那里时，你们会多么高兴啊！”

听到这些，士兵们开始流口水。他们都想象着李子的甜味。为了尽快到达梅子山，军队加快了步伐。

当然，这里没有李树林。但由于曹操给了他们一些奋斗的东西，士兵们得以继续前进。

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