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味如鸡肋 (wei4 ru2 ji1 lei4) Chicken ribs maneuver
November 29, 2009, Sunday
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CAO Cao, ruler of the Kingdom of Wei (AD 220-265), was not only a famous strategist and poet, but also the creator of a number of Chinese sayings which are still popular today.
One such expression is "wei4 ru2 ji1 lei4" or "tastes like chicken ribs."
After several years of seesaw battles between the kingdoms of Wei and Shu in the Hanzhong area (today's Shaanxi Province), Cao decided to personally command a large army to stage a major offensive against the enemy troops.
However, because the Shu had fortified their defense, Cao's attack was not as successful as expected.
During the following months, the two armies were locked in a demoralizing standoff.
Meanwhile, provisions for the Cao troops were running low.
One evening, while Cao was having his supper, a general came in and asked Cao what would be the password for that night.
Looking at the chicken rib soup on the table, Cao said: "Chicken ribs."
When Yang Xiu, a military adviser, was told the password, he immediately ordered his subordinates to start packing and get ready for withdrawal.
The general was puzzled and asked Yang: "How do you know we are going to pull out?"
Yang said: "We've been in this stalemate for months. Tonight, the password named by the commander-in-chief was a signal of withdrawal.
"Chicken ribs give a good chew, but they are almost tasteless. We are now facing the same problem. The commander-in-chief is reluctant to pull out of the Hangzhong area but it is certainly unconstructive and meaningless to stay any longer."
Yang's prediction proved to be correct. The next morning, Cao ordered the withdrawal.
In modern usage, the idiom "wei4 ru2 ji1 lei4" is often quoted to describe anything that is of little value but would be a pity to just throw away.
One such expression is "wei4 ru2 ji1 lei4" or "tastes like chicken ribs."
After several years of seesaw battles between the kingdoms of Wei and Shu in the Hanzhong area (today's Shaanxi Province), Cao decided to personally command a large army to stage a major offensive against the enemy troops.
However, because the Shu had fortified their defense, Cao's attack was not as successful as expected.
During the following months, the two armies were locked in a demoralizing standoff.
Meanwhile, provisions for the Cao troops were running low.
One evening, while Cao was having his supper, a general came in and asked Cao what would be the password for that night.
Looking at the chicken rib soup on the table, Cao said: "Chicken ribs."
When Yang Xiu, a military adviser, was told the password, he immediately ordered his subordinates to start packing and get ready for withdrawal.
The general was puzzled and asked Yang: "How do you know we are going to pull out?"
Yang said: "We've been in this stalemate for months. Tonight, the password named by the commander-in-chief was a signal of withdrawal.
"Chicken ribs give a good chew, but they are almost tasteless. We are now facing the same problem. The commander-in-chief is reluctant to pull out of the Hangzhong area but it is certainly unconstructive and meaningless to stay any longer."
Yang's prediction proved to be correct. The next morning, Cao ordered the withdrawal.
In modern usage, the idiom "wei4 ru2 ji1 lei4" is often quoted to describe anything that is of little value but would be a pity to just throw away.
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