以石投卵(Throwing a stone at an egg)
中國東晉王朝有一個著名的將軍，他的名字是陶侃(西元259-西元334)，歷史書上記載過一個關於他的故事。
東晉王朝的第二任國王是一個非常有遠見的人，西元324年，他指定陶侃駐守在武昌市並且負責管理駐紮在武昌市的軍隊，武昌市是長江中游最重要的交通樞紐，而且具有極高的戰略價值，這個地方需要一個非常有經驗的人來管理，陶侃成為當時擁有最強大的武力的將軍。
西元327年，東晉王朝兩個在地方政府中掌握著屬於自己的軍隊的將軍聯合起來發動叛變，這兩個將軍一個名字叫做蘇峻另一個名字叫做祖約。
這支叛亂的軍隊的戰力非常的強大，西元328年，叛軍攻佔了首都建康市，皇宮被大火燒毀，蘇峻與祖約沒有殺害年紀只有8歲的第三任國王，但是中央政府的實際控制權全落入他們兩個人的手中。
這場叛亂發生之後，有一個名字叫做溫嶠的大臣立刻召集了東晉王朝地方上許多有軍事實力且效忠於晉王朝的將軍，溫嶠與這些將軍們舉開了一場會議，並且與這些將軍們達成共識，他們要組成一支聯合軍隊去對抗由蘇峻與祖約所領導的叛軍。
陶侃是一個很有宏觀眼光的人，他知道武昌市的重要性在於這個地方是防備北方的後趙王國南下侵略的重要的關口，所以主力軍隊不應該隨便調動。
加上自從東晉王朝第二任國王病死後，中央政府中現任的當權者對他非常的不信任，所以他的內心感到不開心，因此他沒有表現出很積極要對抗叛軍的意思。
溫嶠覺察到陶侃的想法，他私底下又特別寫了一封信給陶侃，在他的信中，有這樣一段話。
我們的國家目前正陷入傾覆的危機之中，我們的國王被軟禁，我知道你跟我一樣都是對國家非常忠誠的大臣，我們應該要想辦法改變這個現象。
更何況，你不要忘記，你的兒子不久之前才在對抗這支叛軍的一場戰役中光榮地戰死，你應該要幫你的兒子報仇。
根據我的情報顯示，祖約與蘇峻這兩個凶暴之人現在在首都之中的一些行為引起了首都內的百姓的憤怒，他們囚禁與控制那些反對他們的知識分子，為了侮辱這些反對他的人他們還強迫這些人脫光衣服不給這些人衣服穿。
首都中的百姓們因為戰爭所以家庭破散，許多父母被迫跟他們的孩子分開，所有的百姓都非常的痛恨這支叛軍，這些百姓迫切的需要我們去拯救他們。
我認為，以現在的情勢看起來，我們的軍隊只要集結完成，我們攻打這支叛軍就像是拿一顆石頭去丟向一顆雞蛋，我們一定很快就獲得勝利。
陶侃後來被說服，他改變主意積極的投入對抗叛軍的戰爭中。
這句成語的直接翻譯的意思是拿一顆石頭去丟向一顆雞蛋。
這句成語被用來形容一股強大的力量去攻打一股很弱小的力量。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
你是否曾經因為別人的說服而改變自己原本的想法呢?你如果家人遭受傷害，你會怎樣做呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉書-卷67-溫嶠傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%99%89%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7067
Throwing a stone at an egg(以石投卵)
There was a famous general in China's
Eastern Jin dynasty named Tao Kan (259–334 AD), and history books tell a story
about him.
The second emperor of the Eastern Jin
dynasty was a very farsighted man. In 324 AD, he appointed Tao Kan to garrison
Wuchang and oversee the troops stationed there. Wuchang was a crucial
transportation hub in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, possessing
extremely high strategic value, so it required someone with a great deal of
experience to manage it.
Upon assuming this position, Tao Kan became
the general with the most powerful military force at the time.
In 327 AD, two generals of the Eastern Jin
Dynasty who commanded armies in local governments joined forces and launched a
rebellion.
The generals were named Su Jun and Zu Yue.
This rebel army was extremely powerful. In
328 AD, they captured the capital, Jiankang, burning down the imperial palace
in the process. Su Jun and Zu Yue did not kill the eight-year-old third king,
but they gained effective control of the central government. Following the
rebellion, a minister named Wen Qiao immediately summoned many powerful and
loyal generals from the Eastern Jin dynasty. He held a meeting with these
generals and they reached a consensus to form a united army to fight the rebels
led by Su Jun and Zu Yue.
Tao Kan, a general of great foresight,
recognised the importance of Wuchang as a crucial gateway against invasion from
the Northern Zhao Kingdom. Therefore, he cautioned against the unauthorised
mobilisation of the main force.
Furthermore, the current central government's
distrust of him since the death of the second Eastern Jin emperor had made him
unhappy, and he therefore did not show much enthusiasm for fighting the rebels.
Wen Qiao sensed Tao Kan's thoughts and
privately wrote him a letter containing the following passage:
Our nation is currently teetering on the
brink of collapse. Our king is under house arrest. Like me, I know you are a
deeply loyal minister to this country, and we must find a way to change this
situation.
Furthermore, do not forget that your son
recently died a glorious death fighting against the rebel army. You must avenge
him.
According to my intelligence sources, Zu
Yue and Su Jun, two ruthless men, have angered the people of the capital. They
are imprisoning and controlling intellectuals who oppose them and, to humiliate
their opponents, are forcing them to strip naked.
The war has torn families in the capital
apart, forcing many parents to separate from their children. The people hate
this rebel army and desperately need our help.
Given the current situation, I believe that
attacking this rebel army will be as easy as throwing a stone at an egg once
our army is fully assembled. We will surely achieve a quick victory.
Tao Kan was later persuaded to change his
mind and actively join the war against the rebels.
The literal translation of this idiom is
'Throwing a stone at an egg'.
It is used to describe a powerful force
attacking a very weak one.
Dear friend, what are your thoughts or
feelings after hearing this story?
Have you ever changed your mind because
someone else persuaded you? What would you do if your family was harmed?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.