English Original
To suppress opposition, Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty appointed ruthless judges, among whom Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen were notoriously brutal. They framed and tortured many upright officials and commoners.
Once, Wu Zetian received a letter accusing Zhou Xing of plotting rebellion. Furious, she ordered Lai Junchen to investigate severely. Lai Junchen was apprehensive; he knew Zhou Xing was too cunning to confess based on a mere letter, and failure would bring the Empress's wrath. He devised a plan.
Lai Junchen invited Zhou Xing to a sumptuous feast. After several rounds of wine, Lai sighed, "I often encounter prisoners who stubbornly refuse to confess. Do you have any effective methods?" Zhou Xing, smiling insidiously, took a sip and said, "Get a large vat, scorch it with charcoal fire all around, and then ask the prisoner to step in. Will he still refuse to confess?"
Lai Junchen nodded in approval. He immediately had a vat brought in and a charcoal fire lit around it as described. Then he turned to Zhou Xing and said, "Someone at court has informed against you for plotting rebellion. The Empress has ordered me to investigate severely. So I beg your pardon, but would you kindly step into the vat?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xing dropped his wine cup in shock. He knelt down, nodded repeatedly, and confessed, "I am guilty. I confess I am guilty."
This story from Sima Guang's Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government gave rise to the idiom "kindly step into the vat," meaning to make someone suffer the same scheme they devised for others.
中文翻译
为了镇压反对者，唐朝女皇武则天任命了一些残忍的法官，其中周兴和来俊臣尤为暴虐。他们通过构陷案件和施加酷刑，杀害了许多正直的文武官员和普通百姓。
一次，武则天收到一封告发周兴谋反的信件。她勃然大怒，立即命令来俊臣严查此案。来俊臣心有顾虑；他知道周兴非常狡猾，仅凭一封信无法让他招供，而如果办案失败，自己必将受到武则天的责罚。于是他想出了一个“妙计”。
来俊臣设下丰盛的宴席，邀请周兴到家中。酒过三巡，来俊臣假装叹息道：“我平时办案，常遇到囚犯顽固不认罪。不知你可有什么有效的办法？”周兴阴险地笑了笑，抿了一口酒说：“找一个大瓮，四周用炭火烤得滚烫，然后让囚犯进去。他还能不招供吗？”
来俊臣连连点头称妙。他立刻命人搬来一个大瓮，按周兴所说在四周点上炭火。然后他转向周兴说：“朝廷有人告发你谋反，皇上命我严查。恕我冒昧，就请您进这瓮里吧？”
周兴一听，吓得手中的酒杯掉在地上摔碎了。他扑通一声跪下，连连磕头认罪：“我有罪，我认罪。”
这个故事出自宋代司马光的《资治通鉴》。由此衍生出成语“请君入瓮”，比喻用某人整治别人的办法来整治他自己。