Stories of Chinese word and term (9)

一鼓作气, accomplish with one effort,

Last time we have said two dukes from 齐and 鲁talking about how to rule their states. Few hundred years later, there was a war between these two states. At that time the 齐turned to be a powerful state already and 鲁 changed into a weak state.

684 BC,  a war had started between these two states. Against expectation, the weak dukedom 鲁 defeated the powerful dukedom 齐. The reason was from a normal person of dukedom 鲁 named 曹刿. He was neither a high rank officer nor a general but he was a good strategist. When he learnt about that the dukedom 齐was going to invade his country, he required the duke of 鲁, gave him a chance to speak.

Before he did this, all of his friends advised him, ‘It is a very dangerous job. The meat eater (at that time only officers can have meat.) have to take responsibility for the dukedom. It is none your business.’

But曹刿 insisted his own opinion. He said to them, ‘Those high rank officer cannot see beyond their nose. How can we trust them with our life?’

Finally he persuaded the duke to trust him to direct the battle.

When the two armies getting closer, the troop of 齐beat the drum for a charge. The Duke of 鲁 was doing the same thing but 曹刿 stopped him said, ‘Wait, we can’t do it.’ Their enemy found the troop of 鲁 had no reaction, they beat the drum again. Again there was no reaction. Then the 齐 army beat the drum for the third time. When they believed the coward 鲁 army would no reaction again, 曹刿 said, ‘Now, it is time, let’s go.’ Then all his men followed him to attack their enemy. Soon their enemy had collapsed.

After the war, the duke asked曹刿 how you win the battle?

曹刿said, ‘When two army meet, normally the powerful side always accomplish with one effort. But if you avoid this, the second time it will be weaker, and at the third time all the courage is gone.’