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苦肉计 (ku3 rou4 ji4) - When one hurts himself is really to hurt his enemy
February 22, 2009, Sunday
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PEOPLE naturally do not want to harm themselves physically. It's cruel and also painful. Therefore, when someone tries to ingratiate themselves with an enemy after being badly harmed by their own people, their hatred will be convincing and their desire to switch camps and seek opportunities for revenge totally understandable.
Because of this people sometimes injure themselves to win the trust of an enemy so that they can destroy them later. These injuries can go as far as chopping off a whole arm or worse.
He Lu, the king of the State of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), came to power after he murdered his predecessor King Liao. But, the murdered king had a son called Qing Ji, who was a very brave warrior.
The former prince was then in exile, but he had publicly pledged that he would avenge the death of his father and take back the State of Wu. This worried the new king very much. He had long planned to kill the prince, but he failed to find a hit man who could do the job.
One day, an official recommended a man called Yao Li to the king, saying he was the right candidate to carry out the assassination.
At first, the king did not believe this short, ugly man could be a match for the young warrior. But after talking to him, he was convinced and the two cooked up a cruel scheme.
The following day Yao seriously insulted the king in front of many people. The king was so angry, he ordered his men to chop off Yao's right arm and throw him into prison.
A few days later, the mutilated man "accidentally" escaped from the prison and fled to a neighboring state to look for refuge with the former prince.
Although the prince was recruiting men to build up his own army, he was suspicious of Yao's story. So, he sent out someone to the State of Wu to check it out.
When the scout came back, he not only confirmed Yao's story, but also brought back the news that Yao's wife had been beheaded by the king after his escape.
The prince was finally convinced and trusted Yao with the task of training his soldiers and building warships.
When he thought he was ready and after being constantly encouraged by Yao, the prince launched an attack against the king of Wu.
But midway through the journey, when the prince and Yao were on the same ship, Yao took an opportunity to stab the prince to death and then immediately slit his own throat.
After using the self-injury tactic successfully to remove the former prince, the king of Wu secured his power and dominated the southern region for many years.
Because of this people sometimes injure themselves to win the trust of an enemy so that they can destroy them later. These injuries can go as far as chopping off a whole arm or worse.
He Lu, the king of the State of Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), came to power after he murdered his predecessor King Liao. But, the murdered king had a son called Qing Ji, who was a very brave warrior.
The former prince was then in exile, but he had publicly pledged that he would avenge the death of his father and take back the State of Wu. This worried the new king very much. He had long planned to kill the prince, but he failed to find a hit man who could do the job.
One day, an official recommended a man called Yao Li to the king, saying he was the right candidate to carry out the assassination.
At first, the king did not believe this short, ugly man could be a match for the young warrior. But after talking to him, he was convinced and the two cooked up a cruel scheme.
The following day Yao seriously insulted the king in front of many people. The king was so angry, he ordered his men to chop off Yao's right arm and throw him into prison.
A few days later, the mutilated man "accidentally" escaped from the prison and fled to a neighboring state to look for refuge with the former prince.
Although the prince was recruiting men to build up his own army, he was suspicious of Yao's story. So, he sent out someone to the State of Wu to check it out.
When the scout came back, he not only confirmed Yao's story, but also brought back the news that Yao's wife had been beheaded by the king after his escape.
The prince was finally convinced and trusted Yao with the task of training his soldiers and building warships.
When he thought he was ready and after being constantly encouraged by Yao, the prince launched an attack against the king of Wu.
But midway through the journey, when the prince and Yao were on the same ship, Yao took an opportunity to stab the prince to death and then immediately slit his own throat.
After using the self-injury tactic successfully to remove the former prince, the king of Wu secured his power and dominated the southern region for many years.
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