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HSK 5 · Chapter 4 · 898 characters · Listen: mandarinthewild.com/library/read/heroes-over-warm-wine-three-kingdoms-intermediate-chinese-4

煮酒论英雄

Heroes Over Warm Wine

Name: ________________ Date: ________

一转眼yìzhuányǎn，很hěn多年duōnián过去guòqù了le。吕布lǚbù后来hòulái被bèi曹操cáocāo抓住zhuāzhù杀shā了le，刘备liúbèi也yě丢diū了le自己zìjǐ的de城chéng，只好zhíhǎo带dài着zhe关羽guānyǔ、张飞zhāngfēi，跟着gēnzhe曹操cáocāo住zhù在zài许昌xǔchāng。表面biǎomiàn上shàng，曹操cáocāo对duì刘备liúbèi很hěn好hǎo，皇帝huángdì也yě认rèn了le他tā做zuò“皇huáng叔shū”，也yě就是jiùshì皇帝huángdì的de叔叔shūshu；可是kěshì实际上shíjìshàng，曹操cáocāo一直yìzhí在zài看kàn着zhe他tā。

刘备liúbèi心里xīnlǐ也yě有yǒu一yí个gè秘密mìmì：他tā已经yǐjīng和hé几jǐ个gè大臣dàchén说好shuōhǎo，要yào一起yìqǐ对付duìfu曹操cáocāo。为了wèile不bú让ràng曹操cáocāo怀疑huáiyí，他tā每天měitiān都dōu在zài院子yuànzi里li种菜zhòngcài、浇水jiāoshuǐ，好像hǎoxiàng对duì国家guójiā大事dàshì一点yìdiǎn兴趣xìngqù也yě没有méiyǒu。关羽guānyǔ和hé张飞zhāngfēi看不懂kànbudǒng：“大哥dàgē不bù关心guānxīn国家guójiā大事dàshì，怎么zěnme学xué起qǐ种菜zhòngcài来lái了le？”刘备liúbèi只zhǐ说shuō：“这个zhège你们nǐmen不bù懂dǒng。”

一天yìtiān，关羽guānyǔ、张飞zhāngfēi都dōu出去chūqù了le，刘备liúbèi正在zhèngzài院子yuànzi里li浇水jiāoshuǐ，曹操cáocāo忽然hūrán派pài了le几十jǐshí个gè人rén来lái请qǐng他tā：“丞相chéngxiàng请qǐng您nín马上mǎshàng过去guòqù。”刘备liúbèi心里xīnlǐ一yì惊jīng，只好zhíhǎo跟着gēnzhe他们tāmen去qù了le。

一yí见面jiànmiàn，曹操cáocāo就jiù笑xiào着zhe说shuō：“你nǐ在家zàijiā做zuò的de好hǎo大事dàshì啊a！”刘备liúbèi吓xià得de脸liǎn都dōu白bái了le。没想到méixiǎngdào曹操cáocāo拉lā着zhe他tā的de手shǒu走zǒu到dào园子yuánzi里li，又yòu说shuō：“学xué种菜zhòngcài，可不kěbù容易róngyì啊a！”刘备liúbèi这zhè才cái放下fàngxià心xīn来lái。

曹操cáocāo说shuō：“刚才gāngcái看见kànjiàn树shù上shàng的de梅子méizi青青qīngqīng的de，我wǒ忽然hūrán想起xiángqǐ去年qùnián带兵dàibīng出去chūqù，路上lùshang找不到zhǎobudào水shuǐ，大家dàjiā渴kě得de走不动zǒubudòng了le。我wǒ就jiù用yòng马鞭mǎbiān往wǎng前面qiánmiàn指zhǐ了le指zhǐ，说shuō前面qiánmiàn有yǒu一片yípiàn梅林méilín。大家dàjiā一yì听tīng，嘴zuǐ里li都dōu流出liúchū了le口水kóushuǐ，一下子yíxiàzi就jiù不bù渴kě了le。今天jīntiān看见kànjiàn梅子méizi，酒jiǔ又yòu正好zhènghǎo煮zhǔ好hǎo了le，所以suóyǐ请qǐng你nǐ来lái喝hē一yì杯bēi。”

两liǎng个gè人rén在zài小xiǎo亭子tíngzi里li坐下zuòxià，桌zhuō上shàng放fàng着zhe一yì盘pán青梅qīngméi，一yì壶hú煮zhǔ好hǎo的de酒jiǔ。喝hē到dào一半yíbàn，天上tiānshàng的de乌云wūyún越来越yuèláiyuè多duō，很hěn快kuài就要jiùyào下xià大雨dàyǔ了le。曹操cáocāo问wèn：“你nǐ去qù过guo那么nàme多duō地方dìfang，说说shuōshuo看kàn，现在xiànzài谁shéi是shì英雄yīngxióng？”

刘备liúbèi说shuō自己zìjǐ不bù知道zhīdào，曹操cáocāo却què一定yídìng要yào他tā说shuō。刘备liúbèi只好zhíhǎo说shuō：“淮南huáinán的de袁术yuánshù，有yǒu很hěn多duō人马rénmǎ，也yě有yǒu很hěn多duō粮食liángshi，他tā是不是shìbúshì英雄yīngxióng？”曹操cáocāo笑道xiàodào：“他tā就jiù像xiàng坟fén里li的de一yì堆duī白骨báigǔ，我wǒ早晚záowǎn要yào抓住zhuāzhù他tā！”刘备liúbèi又yòu说shuō：“河北héběi的de袁绍yuánshào，家里jiālǐ四sì代dài都dōu做zuò大官dàguān，手下shǒuxià的de能néng人rén也yě多duō，他tā是不是shìbúshì英雄yīngxióng？”曹操cáocāo又yòu笑xiào：“袁绍yuánshào看上去kànshangqu厉害lìhai，其实qíshí胆子dǎnzi很hěn小xiǎo；喜欢xǐhuan想xiǎng办法bànfǎ，可是kěshì到dào了le关键guānjiàn的de时候shíhou，总是zǒngshì不bù知道zhīdào该gāi怎么办zěnmebàn；做zuò大事dàshì的de时候shíhou怕死pàsǐ，看见kànjiàn一点yìdiǎn小xiǎo好处hǎochù又yòu什么shénme都dōu忘wàng了le。他tā不是búshì英雄yīngxióng！”

刘备liúbèi又yòu说shuō了le好几háojǐ个gè人rén，曹操cáocāo都拍手pāishǒu大笑dàxiào：“这些zhèxiē人rén，有yǒu什么shénme好说shuō的de！”刘备liúbèi说shuō：“除了chúle这些zhèxiē人rén，我wǒ真的zhēnde不bù知道zhīdào还有háiyǒu谁shéi了le。”曹操cáocāo说shuō：“真正zhēnzhèng的de英雄yīngxióng，要yào有yǒu远大yuǎndà的de理想líxiǎng，肚子dùzi里li要yào有yǒu好hǎo办法bànfǎ，还hái要yào能néng把bǎ整个zhěnggè天下tiānxià都dōu装zhuāng在zài心里xīnlǐ。”刘备liúbèi问wèn：“谁shéi能néng做到zuòdào呢ne？”

曹操cáocāo先xiān指zhǐ着zhe刘备liúbèi，又yòu指zhǐ着zhe自己zìjǐ，说shuō：“现在xiànzài天下tiānxià的de英雄yīngxióng，只有zhíyǒu你nǐ和hé我wǒ两liǎng个gè人rén罢了bàle！”

刘备liúbèi听tīng了le，大吃一惊dàchī-yìjīng，手里shǒuli的de筷子kuàizi一下子yíxiàzi掉diào到dào了le地上dìshang。正好zhènghǎo这时zhèshí大雨dàyǔ下来xiàlái了le，天上tiānshàng响起xiángqǐ一yì声shēng雷léi。刘备liúbèi不慌不忙bùhuāng-bùmáng地de把bǎ筷子kuàizi捡jiǎn起来qǐlai，说shuō：“这zhè雷léi真zhēn响xiǎng，吓xià了le我wǒ一yí跳tiào。”曹操cáocāo笑道xiàodào：“大丈夫dàzhàngfū也yě怕pà打雷dǎléi吗ma？”刘备liúbèi说shuō：“古代gǔdài的de圣人shèngrén听到tīngdào打雷dǎléi，脸色liǎnsè都dōu会huì变biàn，我wǒ怎么zěnme能néng不怕búpà呢ne？”曹操cáocāo听tīng了le，就jiù不再búzài怀疑huáiyí他tā了le。

可是kěshì刘备liúbèi知道zhīdào，这zhè一次yícì是shì运气yùnqi好hǎo，下xià一次yícì就jiù不bù一定yídìng了le。许昌xǔchāng不能bùnéng再zài待dāi下去xiàqu了le，他tā必须bìxū想xiǎng办法bànfǎ离开líkāi曹操cáocāo。他tā还hái不bù知道zhīdào，这zhè一yì走zǒu，三sān兄弟xiōngdì就要jiùyào走散zǒusàn了le。

Key words

WordPinyinMeaning
城chéngcity; town
只好zhíhǎoto have no choice but to; to be forced to
就是jiùshìexactly; precisely; is (emphatic)
实际上shíjìshàngin fact; actually; in reality
院子yuànzicourtyard; yard
忽然hūránsuddenly; all of a sudden
表面biǎomiànsurface; face
认rènto recognize; to know (as in 认得)
秘密mìmìsecret; secret; confidential
大事dàshìmajor event; big deal; important matter
派pàito send; to dispatch
煮zhǔto boil; to cook

Lesson plan: 45 minutes (for the teacher)

HSK 5 · Heroes Over Warm Wine. By the end, students can read it aloud, say what it is about and use 表面 and 认 in sentences of their own.

  1. Warm-up 5 min

    Write 煮酒论英雄 on the board. Ask what the class thinks it is about, then give the English: “Heroes Over Warm Wine”.

  2. Key words 10 min

    Teach 表面 (biǎomiàn, surface; face), 认 (rèn, to recognize; to know (as in 认得)), 秘密 (mìmì, secret; secret; confidential), 大事 (dàshì, major event; big deal; important matter), 派 (pài, to send; to dispatch), 煮 (zhǔ, to boil; to cook). Say each one, the class says it back, then ask for its meaning with the word covered. The rest are in the handout’s table.

  3. Listen 10 min

    Play it read aloud from mandarinthewild.com/library/read/heroes-over-warm-wine-three-kingdoms-intermediate-chinese-4: once with the text face down, once reading along. Students tap any word there for its meaning.

  4. Read and check 10 min

    Students read it alone, then tell a partner in two sentences of Chinese what it says.

  5. Use it 10 min

    In pairs, each student writes two sentences of their own, one with 表面 and one with 认, and reads one to the class.

Homework. Students read it again at home and Review its words. Put it in a free class (mandarinthewild.com/teachers/class) and you see who read it.

English (for the teacher)

In the blink of an eye, many years passed. Lü Bu was later captured and killed by Cao Cao, and Liu Bei, having lost his own city, had no choice but to take Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and live under Cao Cao in Xuchang. On the surface Cao Cao treated Liu Bei very well, and the emperor himself had acknowledged him as "Imperial Uncle", that is, the emperor's uncle; but in fact Cao Cao was watching him all the time.

Liu Bei had a secret of his own: he had already agreed with a few ministers to work together against Cao Cao. So that Cao Cao wouldn't suspect him, he spent every day growing vegetables and watering them in the courtyard, as if he had no interest at all in affairs of state. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei couldn't make sense of it: "Brother, you don't care about affairs of state, so why have you taken up growing vegetables?" Liu Bei only said: "This is something you don't understand."

One day, when Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were both out and Liu Bei was watering in the courtyard, Cao Cao suddenly sent dozens of men to fetch him: "The chancellor asks you to come at once." Liu Bei's heart jumped, but he had no choice but to go with them.

As soon as they met, Cao Cao said with a smile: "What great things you've been doing at home!" Liu Bei went white with fear. But Cao Cao took him by the hand, led him into the garden and added: "Learning to grow vegetables isn't easy, is it!" Only then could Liu Bei breathe again.

Cao Cao said: "Just now I saw the plums on the trees, all green, and I suddenly remembered leading my troops out last year: there was no water on the road, and the men were so thirsty they could hardly walk. So I pointed ahead with my whip and said there was a plum grove up ahead. When they heard that, their mouths watered, and all at once they weren't thirsty any more. Seeing the plums today, with the wine just warmed, I invited you over for a cup."

The two of them sat down in a little pavilion, with a plate of green plums and a pot of warmed wine on the table. Halfway through, dark clouds piled up in the sky, and it was about to pour. Cao Cao asked: "You've been to so many places; tell me, who are the heroes of today?"

Liu Bei said he didn't know, but Cao Cao insisted he answer. Liu Bei had no choice: "Yuan Shu of Huainan has plenty of men and plenty of grain; is he a hero?" Cao Cao laughed: "He's like a pile of bones in a grave; sooner or later I'll catch him!" Liu Bei went on: "Yuan Shao of Hebei, whose family have been high officials for four generations, and who has many able men under him; is he a hero?" Cao Cao laughed again: "Yuan Shao looks fearsome but is a coward at heart; he loves making plans, but when it really counts he never knows what to do; when there's a great deed to be done he fears for his life, and when he sees a small gain he forgets everything else. He is no hero!"

Liu Bei named several more, and each time Cao Cao clapped and roared with laughter: "Those people? Not worth mentioning!" Liu Bei said: "Apart from these, I truly don't know who else there could be." Cao Cao said: "A true hero has great ambitions and good plans in his belly, and can hold the whole world in his heart." Liu Bei asked: "And who can do that?"

Cao Cao pointed first at Liu Bei, then at himself, and said: "The only heroes in the world today are you and I!"

At these words Liu Bei was so startled that his chopsticks dropped to the floor. Just then the rain came down, and a clap of thunder sounded in the sky. Without any hurry, Liu Bei picked up his chopsticks and said: "That thunder was loud; it gave me a fright." Cao Cao laughed: "A grown man, afraid of thunder?" Liu Bei said: "Even the sages of old changed colour when it thundered; how could I not be afraid?" After hearing this, Cao Cao no longer suspected him.

But Liu Bei knew he had been lucky this time, and next time might be different. He could not stay in Xuchang any longer; he had to find a way to get away from Cao Cao. What he did not yet know was that when he left, the three brothers would be scattered.