try fair means before resorting to force(xiān lǐ hòu bīng)

try fair means before resorting to force

Chinese idiom, Pinyin is Xi ā NL ǐ h ò UB ī ng, which means to negotiate with the other party in a polite way first, and then use tough means when it doesn't work. From the romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Analysis of Idioms

A sudden attack or an undeclared battle

The origin of Idioms

Chapter 11 of the romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong of Ming Dynasty: "Liu Bei came to the rescue from afar. He should be polite before the soldiers. The Lord should answer it with good words, prepare his heart slowly, and then attack the city. The city can be broken."

Idiom usage

It refers to the ingenious way of doing things. Your method is really brilliant.

Idioms and allusions

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, wars continued frequently. Beihai Prime Minister Kong Rong was surrounded by the yellow scarf army and was in a critical situation. Kong Rong sent for Liu Bei's army to help him. Then Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou, told Liu Bei that Xuzhou was besieged by Cao Cao's troops and asked Liu Bei to help him. Liu Bei led Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and others to rush into the Cao army and fight their way into Xuzhou. Tao Qian asked Liu Bei to enter the government office, took out the Xuzhou seal letter and handed it to Liu Bei, saying, "now the state affairs are in chaos, and the court platform is not strong. You are the clan of the Han Dynasty, and you should help the country. I'm old and fatuous. I'd like to give up Xuzhou. " Liu Bei declined and said, "I've done little, but I'm not very virtuous. Today I came to help out of righteousness. How dare I have the heart of annexation?" Seeing that it was hard for the officials on one side to get results by pushing around like this, they advised and explained: "now that Cao Cao's troops are in the city, it's better to discuss the plan of withdrawing troops first, and then discuss the matter of abdication later." Liu Bei thought it was a good suggestion, so he said, "I'll write a letter to Cao Cao to persuade him to withdraw. If he doesn't agree, it's not too late to fight him again." He wrote in the letter: "there are endless worries in China. The remaining Party of Dong Zhuo has not been eliminated. There are rebellious peasants everywhere. You should attach importance to the imperial court and not seek revenge. If you withdraw the troops from Xuzhou to save the country, it will be a blessing in the world! " After reading the letter, Cao Cao said angrily, "who is Liu Bei? How dare you teach me a lesson! I'll see what Liu Bei can do if the messenger is decapitated! " Guo Jiaquan, Cao Cao's counselor, explained: "Liu Bei came from a long way. He treated each other with courtesy first, and if it didn't work, he would fight again. We should comfort him with good words, relax his fighting spirit, and then attack the city with soldiers, so that we can succeed. " Cao Cao listened to Guo Jia's advice, treated the messenger well, and wrote back to Liu Bei. Just then, someone reported that Lu Bu had conquered Yanzhou and was attacking Puyang. When Cao Cao got the news, he was so frightened that he cried out, "Yanzhou is lost. We are homeless. Withdraw from Xuzhou immediately!" Guo Jia ordered the troops to withdraw and said to Cao Cao, "we can take the opportunity to sell our personal feelings to Liu Bei, saying that in his face, we have withdrawn." Cao Cao understood and wrote a new letter to Liu Bei.

Chinese PinYin : xiān lǐ hòu bīng