English Original
Among the outstanding figures of Chinese history, famous for their intelligence or treachery, Cao Cao is one of the foremost.
One hot day, he led his troops on a march under a burning sun in a mountainous area. He lost his way. The journey was long and the sun was scorching. After a fruitless and tiresome march, the soldiers voiced great dissatisfaction with Cao Cao's leadership. They bitterly complained of their thirst. Their antagonism grew rapidly, and they were on the verge of mutiny. The subordinate officers were helpless.
However, Cao Cao, just in time, cleverly gave an order to his troops: march to the nearby plum trees for a rest. He announced that the soldiers could eat the juicy sour fruit as much as they wished.
At the thought of the sour fruit, the soldiers' complaints of thirst and their antagonistic feelings were quickly forgotten.
Based on this story, later generations formed the proverb "to quench one's thirst by looking up at plums." It illustrates a situation where one finds comfort in the belief that they have already attained what they desired.
中文翻译
在中国历史上，以智慧或奸诈闻名的杰出人物中，曹操是最重要的人物之一。
一个炎热的日子，他率领军队在烈日下的山区行军。他迷路了。路途漫长，烈日灼人。经过一番徒劳而疲惫的行军后，士兵们对曹操的领导表达了极大的不满。他们痛苦地抱怨口渴。士兵们的对抗情绪迅速增长，濒临兵变的边缘。下属军官们束手无策。
然而，曹操在关键时刻，巧妙地命令他的部队：向附近的梅树林前进并休息。他宣布士兵们可以尽情享用多汁的酸梅。
一想到酸梅，士兵们对口渴的抱怨和对抗情绪很快就烟消云散了。
根据这个故事，后人形成了“望梅止渴”这个成语。它形象地说明了这样一种情况：一个人通过相信自己已经得到了所期望的东西来获得安慰。