成语：望梅止渴
成语 望梅止渴 的故事
有一年夏天，曹操率领部队去讨伐张绣，天气热得出奇，骄阳似火，天上一丝云彩也没有，部队在弯弯曲曲的山道上行走，两边密密的树木和被阳光晒得滚烫的山石，让人透不过气来。到了中午时分，士兵的衣服都湿透了，行军的速度也慢下来，有几个体弱的士兵竟晕倒在路边。
曹操看行军的速度越来越慢，担心贻误战机，心里很是着急。可是，眼下几万人马连水都喝不上，又怎么能加快速度呢？他立刻叫来向导，悄悄问他：“这附近可有水源？”向导摇摇头说：“泉水在山谷的那一边，要绕道过去还有很远的路程。”曹操想了一下说，“不行，时间来不及。”他看了看前边的树林，沉思了一会儿，对向导说：“你什么也别说，我来想办法。”他知道此刻即使下命令要求部队加快速度也无济于事。脑筋一转，办法来了，他一夹马肚子，快速赶到队伍前面，用马鞭指着前方说：“士兵们，我知道前面有一大片梅林，那里的梅子又大又好吃，我们快点赶路，绕过这个山丘就到梅林了！”士兵们一听，仿佛已经吃到嘴里，精神大振，步伐不由得加快了许多。
故事出自《世说新语·假谲》。成语“望梅止渴”，比喻用空想安慰自己或他人。
QuenchingThirstbyWatchingPlums
CaoCaooftheThreeKingdomsperiod(220-265)wasnotonlyacapablepoliticianinmanagingstateaffairs,butalsoastrategistgoodatleadingtroopsingoingtowar.
Onesummer,CaoCaowasleadinghistroopsinapunitiveexpeditionagainstZhangXiu.Itwasextraordinarilyhot.Theburningsunwaslikeafire,andtheskywascloudless.Thesoldierswerewalkingonthewindingmountainpaths.Thedenseforestandthehotrocksexposedtothesunonbothsidesofthepathsmadethesoldiersfeelsuffocated.Bynoontimethesoldiers'clotheswerewetthroughwithsweat,andthemarchingspeedsloweddown.Somesoldersofweakphysiqueevenfaintedontheroadside.
Seeingthatthemarchingspeedwasslowerandslower,CaoCaowasveryworriedbecausehefearedthathemightbunglethechanceofwinningthebattle.Buthowcouldtheyquickentheirspeed?CaoCaoatoncecalldetheguideandaskedhimonthequietwhethertherewasasourceofwaternearby.Theguideshookhishead,sayingthatthespringwaterwasontheothersideofthemountain,whichwasveryfartohavetomakeadetourtoreach.CaoCaorealizedthattimedidn'tpermitthemtomakesuchadetour.Afterthinkingforamoment,hesaidtotheguide,"Keepquiet.I'llfindawayout."Heknewthatitwouldbetonoavailtoorderhistroopstoquickenthesteps.Hehadabrainwaveandfoundagoodsolution.Hespurredhishorseandcametotheheadofthecolumn.Pointinghishorsewhiptothefront,CaoCaosaid,"Soldiers,Iknowthereisabigforestofplumsahead.Theplumstherearebothbiganddelicious.let'shurryalong,andwewillreachtheforestofplumsafterbypassingthishill."Whenthesoldersheardthis,theyimmediatelyslobbered.Picturingintheirmindsthesweetandsourflavouroftheplums,thesoldiersfeltasiftheywereactuallyeatingtheplums,thesoldiersfeltasiftheywereactuallyeatingtheplumsthemselves.Themoralegreatlyboosted,thesoldiersquickenedtheirstepsagreatdealautomatically.
Thisstorycomesfrom"TheFakeTangery"inAnecdotesofThisWorldbyLiuYiqingoftheSouthernDynastiesperiod(420-589).Fromthisstory,peoplehavederivedthesetphrase"quenchingthirstbywatchingplums"torefertotryingtocomfortoneselfofothersbyidledreams.