事实上，那个人是假扮姜维的替身，是诸葛亮与赵云设计的计谋。他们站在远处的山上观察，确认马真已中计后，便带兵转攻季城。

      真姜维正镇守季城，忽见蜀军主力远去，仅余一队运送粮草的小兵，遂起夺粮之意，亲率兵马追击。不料赵云伏兵杀出，措手不及，只得退兵返城。待他撤回季城时，却发现城门早已为蜀军所据。姜维大惊失色，只得一路败逃，兵力尽失。

      他孤身奔回天水，站在城高呼下请求开门。马真看到他，大骂其反复无常，再次命人放箭驱赶。姜维伤心地逃走，想到马真对自己的误解以及母亲在季城的安危，悲从中来，泪落满面。

本文对Du Chinese - Three Kingdoms 8: Reunification of the Three Kingdoms Under Jin进行了诠释。

📘 Advanced Vocabulary & Idioms (HSK 6+)

1. 巧设奇谋 (成语)
   To devise a clever strategy
   诸葛亮巧设奇谋，以智胜敌。

2. 归顺（某人） (动词)
   To surrender or submit to (someone)
   他决定归顺诸葛亮。

3. 劝其投降 (短语)
   To persuade someone to surrender
   姜维劝其也一同投降。

4. 命令士兵放箭 (动宾结构)
   To order soldiers to shoot arrows
   马真立刻命令士兵放箭。

5. 假扮 / 替身 (动词 / 名词)
   To disguise as / A stand-in
   假扮姜维的替身。

6. 中计 (动词)
   To fall into a trap
   马真已中计。

7. 转攻 (动词)
   To turn and attack another target
   随即转攻季城。

8. 遂（起……之意） (文言副词)
   Thus / Therefore / Then (formal/literary)
   遂起夺粮之意。

9. 措手不及 (成语)
   Caught unprepared, taken by surprise
   赵云伏兵杀出，使姜维措手不及。

10. 大惊失色 (成语)
    Extremely shocked and pale
    姜维大惊失色。

11. 兵力尽失 (描述性词组)
    All troops lost
    只得一路败逃，兵力尽失。

12. 反复无常 (成语)
    Fickle, inconsistent
    被骂为反复无常。

13. 悲从中来 (成语)
    Overcome with sadness
    姜维悲从中来。

14. 流泪满面 (成语)
    Tears streaming down the face
    悲从中来，流泪满面。

📙 Grammar Points & Sentence Patterns

1. “以……胜……”
   “To win by means of…” (formal)
   Example: 以智胜敌

2. “并 + verb phrase”
   Formal way to link actions, more concise than “然后” or “而且”
   Example: 并告知太守……

3. “劝其……”
   “To persuade him/her to…” — formal 3rd-person structure
   Example: 劝其也一同投降

4. “待……时”
   “By the time…” (classical/literary usage)
   Example: 待他撤回季城时

5. “不料……”
   “Unexpectedly…” introduces a surprising twist
   Example: 不料赵云伏兵杀出

6. “只得……”
   “Can only…” / “Have no choice but to…”
   Example: 只得退兵返城

7. “却……”
   Used to contrast expectation
   Example: 却发现城门已落入蜀军之手

8. “再次……”
   “Once again” — used for narrative sequencing
   Example: 再次命人放箭驱赶

9. “悲从中来” (作为句末结构)
   Emotion-stating phrase used in literary narrative endings
   Example: 姜维悲从中来，流泪满面。

“It is a truism to say that the culture of any nation is the product of its mind”

“任何一个民族的文化都是他的思想产物”

Lin Yutang argues that Chinese thought is fundamentally different from Western philosophy, shaped by centuries of distinct cultural and historical experiences. Given that Chinese culture evolved largely independent of Western influence, it could offer fresh perspectives and methods to give answers to the problems of life.

“中国民族思想在种族性上和西方文化是那么不同，在历史上又和西方文化那么隔离着；因此，我们自然能从这种地方，找到一些人生问题的新答案，或者好一些，找到一些探讨人生问题的新方法。”

Lin notes that while China has brilliant artistic achievements, it lacks the kind of formalised, scholarly philosophy seen in the West. Chinese thought is practical, intuitive, and poetic rather than logical or scientific. Lin highlights the distinct value of this approach: unlike many cultures that may produce a few great philosophers, the Chinese worldview embodies philosophical thinking at a societal level. It is not about isolated intellectual figures but a general cultural tendency to observe life with wisdom and balance.

“For a nation to have a few philosophers is not so unusual, but for a nation to take things philosophically is terrific”

“一个民族产生过几个大哲学家没什么稀罕，但一个民族能以哲理的眼光去观察事物，那是难能可贵的。”

This difference, Lin suggests, is what has allowed Chinese civilisation to endure for over four thousand years. China is more philosophic than it is efficient. Otherwise, the nation would not have survived for such a long time with the high blood pressure of an efficient life.

“中国这个民族显然是比较富于哲理性，而少实效性，假如不是这样的话，一个民族经过了四千年专讲效率生活的高血压，那是早已不能继续生存了。四千年专重效能的生活能毁灭任何一个民族。”

“An important consequence is that, while in the West, the insane are so many that they are put in an asylum, in China the insane are so unusual that we worship them.”

“在西方狂人太多了，只好把他们关在疯人院里；而在中国狂人太罕有了，所以崇拜他们。”

Lin concludes that the Chinese approach to life is one of lightness, joy, and balanced wisdom. A philosophy that finds its truest expression in the everyday life.

“中国有一种轻逸的，一种近乎愉快的哲学”

Two character words

• 产物 chǎnwù
  Product, result (of)
  Example sentence: 任何一个民族的文化都是他的思想产物。
• 种族 zhǒngzú
  Ethnicity
  Example sentence: 中国民族思想在种族性上和西方文化是那么不同。
• 隔离 gélí
  Isolated
  Example sentence: 在历史上又和西方文化那么隔离着。
• 探讨 tàntǎo
  Explore, discuss
  Example sentence: 找到一些探讨人生问题的新方法。
• 稀罕 xīhan
  Rare, uncommon
  Example sentence: 一个民族产生过几个大哲学家没什么稀罕。
• 哲理 zhélǐ
  Philosophical theory
  Example sentence: 能以哲理的眼光去观察事物，那是难能可贵的。
• 可贵 kěguì
  To be treasured
  Example sentence: 能以哲理的眼光去观察事物，那是难能可贵的。
• 崇拜 chóngbài
  To worship
  Example sentence: 在中国狂人太罕有了，所以崇拜他们。
• 轻逸 qīngyì
  Light, carefree
  Example sentence: 中国有一种轻逸的，一种近乎愉快的哲学。

Three & Four character words

• 高血压 gāoxuèyā
  High blood pressure
  Example sentence: 四千年专讲效率生活的高血压。
• 民族思想 mínzú sīxiǎng
  National thought
  Example sentence: 中国民族思想在种族性上和西方文化是那么不同。

All the quotes and paraphrases come directly from the book The Importance of Living by Lin Yutang and 生活的艺术 by the same writer.

网约车，开不下去了。

This assertion is based on recent statistics from Guangzhou’s Transport Bureau (广州市交通运输局). According to these figures, not only has the number of ride-hailing orders decreased, but the average daily revenue has also dropped from last December to this May. The article uses these statistics to illustrate the average income of a typical taxi driver working 10 hours a day without a break. Even then, their monthly earnings, after accounting for car rental and other expenses, would only be around 6,000 to 7,000 RMB.

这意味着，一些网约车司机即便是「整月无休」，每天工作 10 小时以上，在未扣除用车成本的情况下，月收入也不超过 1 万元，除去每月租车及用车成本后，纯收入基本在 6000 元-7000 元之间。

The explanation is straightforward: more and more people are entering the ride-hailing business. The article uses the metaphor of having to share the cake with more people (分蛋糕的人变多了). There are currently 6,964,000 ride-hailing drivers (the drivers available through apps like Didi Chuxing), excluding traditional taxi drivers.

背后的原因很简单，分蛋糕的人变多了——全国多地发布网约车行业风险预警，公开提醒慎入网约车行业。

Then we get to the main part of the article: robotaxis. The bad news continues for drivers as they now not only compete with each other but also with robotaxis. The idiom used in the article 坏消息接踵而至, meaning “bad news follows in succession,” aptly describes their situation.

坏消息接踵而至，一些入行还没半年的师傅们发现，自己非但在和同行竞争，同时也在和自动驾驶赛跑。

Baidu’s robotaxis have also garnered significant attention on Weibo this month. Posts on Weibo indicate that 1,000 robotaxis are already deployed in Wuhan, impacting the orders of traditional taxi drivers significantly. Traditional taxi drivers have been hit especially hard, leading to protests (抗议) against the robotaxis with slogans such as “满大街接单,” meaning the robotaxis are taking orders all over Wuhan, and “让底层人吃不饱,” implying that the robotaxis are making it difficult for lower-class workers to earn a living (literally: unable to get enough food 吃不饱).

受影响更大的是巡游出租车，上个月，武汉还有大量出租车司机发出强烈抗议，称无人车不应「满大街接单」，「让底层人吃不饱」。

As you can read, the Baidu robotaxis got quite some attention. Next time we will investigate in more detail the impact these taxis have.

Two character words

• 慎入 shèn rù
  Proceed with caution. In the context of the article, it is a warning to those considering entering the ride-hailing industry, which is becoming increasingly risky and less profitable.
  Example sentence: 全国多地发布网约车行业风险预警，公开提醒慎入网约车行业。

Three character words

• 网约车 wǎng yuē chē
  Ride-hailing. This term refers to services like Didi Chuxing (similar to Uber), where passengers book rides through an online platform.
  Example sentence: 网约车，开不下去了。

Idioms (成语)

• 接踵而至 jiē zhǒng ér zhì
  To follow one after another. This idiom is used to describe a situation where problems or events occur in quick succession. In the article, it refers to the series of challenges that ride-hailing drivers are facing, including competition from both other drivers and emerging autonomous vehicles.
  Example sentence: 坏消息接踵而至，一些入行还没半年的师傅们发现，自己非但在和同行竞争，同时也在和自动驾驶赛跑。

Phrases

• 网约车，开不下去了 wǎng yuē chē, kāi bù xià qù le
  Ride-hailing services cannot continue any longer. This phrase expresses the dire situation facing the ride-hailing industry, where decreasing demand, lower fares, and competition are making it increasingly difficult for drivers to sustain their business.
  Example sentence: 网约车，开不下去了
• 运价下调 yùn jià xià tiáo
  Decreased fares. This refers to the reduction in prices that ride-hailing drivers can charge, which directly impacts their income.
  Example sentence: 在网约车运力过剩、运价下调等多重因素的影响下，网约车司机们要么接受低价订单，要么无单可接。
• 无单可接 wú dān kě jiē
  No orders to take. This phrase describes a situation where there is insufficient demand for ride-hailing services, leaving drivers without any business.
  Example sentence: 在网约车运力过剩、运价下调等多重因素的影响下，网约车司机们要么接受低价订单，要么无单可接。
• 风险预警 fēng xiǎn yù jǐng
  Risk warning. In this case, it pertains to warnings about the declining profitability and increasing risks in the ride-hailing industry.
  Example sentence: 全国多地发布网约车行业风险预警，公开提醒慎入网约车行业。
• 分蛋糕的人变多了 fēn dàn gāo de rén biàn duō le
  More people sharing the cake. This metaphorical phrase indicates that there are more people competing for the same limited resources or opportunities.
  Example sentence: 背后的原因很简单，分蛋糕的人变多了——全国多地发布网约车行业风险预警，公开提醒慎入网约车行业。
• 让底层人吃不饱 ràng dǐ céng rén chī bù bǎo
  Making it hard for lower-class people to earn a living (literally: to not get enough food). In the article, it refers to the impact of autonomous vehicles on traditional taxi drivers, who are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
  Example sentence: 受影响更大的是巡游出租车，上个月，武汉还有大量出租车司机发出强烈抗议，称无人车不应「满大街接单」，「让底层人吃不饱」。
• 整月无休 zhěng yuè wú xiū
  Having no rest for the entire month. This phrase describes the grueling work schedules that ride-hailing drivers are often forced to endure.
  Example sentence: 这意味着，一些网约车司机即便是「整月无休」，每天工作 10 小时以上，在未扣除用车成本的情况下，月收入也不超过 1 万元，除去每月租车及用车成本后，纯收入基本在 6000 元-7000 元之间。
• 和自动驾驶赛跑 hé zì dòng jià shǐ sài pǎo
  Racing against autonomous driving. This phrase metaphorically represents the competition between human drivers and autonomous vehicles.
  Example sentence: 坏消息接踵而至，一些入行还没半年的师傅们发现，自己非但在和同行竞争，同时也在和自动驾驶赛跑。

Original article

The article begins by summarising the existing payment methods and introducing a new one. The existing methods involve either the consumer scanning the merchant’s QR code or the merchant scanning the consumer’s QR code. With the new method, the phone just needs to ‘tap’ the POS.

Besides ‘I scan you’ and ‘you scan me’,
can there be an even more convenient payment method than barcode payments?
Today you will see!
When you are about to pay,
and you see the below device
you only have to unlock your phone
and tap it once to pay

除了“我扫你”和“你扫我”，
条码支付还能有什么更方便的形式吗？
诶！今天你就看到啦～
如果在消费的时候，
看到下面这台机器👇
只要手机是解锁状态
碰一下就能付款

There are a total of 900 million Android (安卓) users and 200 million Apple (苹果) users who can now use the latest AliPay functionality. AliPay Tap makes it possible to pay while watching series, playing games, or video calling with friends, which is not possible with QR code payments.

如果你在追剧、
玩游戏、跟朋友视频……
“碰一下”就行

The article also very subtly refers to the competitor WeChat Pay by calling it a ‘different colour’. AliPay’s QR codes are shown on a blue background, while WeChat Pay is shown on a green background. Let’s have a look at the text:

If you want to show a payment code of a ‘different colour’
based on your mood or outfit of the day,
that’s also fine!

如果你想根据当天的心情
或者穿搭，
出示“别的颜色”的付款码
也行！

Phrases

1. 我扫你 wǒ sǎo nǐ
   I scan you
   A phrase often used for payments where the other party scans your QR code.
2. 你扫我 nǐ sǎo wǒ
   You scan me
   A phrase often used for payments where you scan the other party’s QR code.

Words

1. 条码支付 tiáo mǎ zhī fù
   Barcode payment
   Refers to the payment method where the barcode on your phone is scanned.
2. 解锁 jiě suǒ
   Unlock
   In this context, it refers to having an unlocked phone.
3. 安卓
   Android
   The Android operating system.
4. 苹果
   Apple
   Refers to the Apple operating system. In Chinese, the word is used for both the company name and the fruit, similar to how “Apple” is used in English
5. 碰一下
   Tap once
   The action of tapping. In this context, it refers to tapping your phone on the POS.

Original article