Idiom stories that talk in plain words

Talking about troops on paper

zhǐ shàng tán bīng

[Explanation] Talking about using troops on paper (bing: fighting; using troops). Metaphors are empty talk that do not solve actual problems.

[Quotation] "A Dream of Red Mansions" by Cao Xueqin of the Qing Dynasty: "There are such poets here, but they talk about military affairs on paper every day."

[Similar meaning] Sitting and talking about Taoism, painting cakes to satisfy hunger and looking forward to plum blossoms to quench thirst.

[Antonym] Work hard and be down-to-earth

[Usage] It has a derogatory meaning. Generally used as predicate, object and attributive.

[Structure] More formal.

[Analysis] See "Rhetoric" (page 582).

[Example] People hate those who can only ~; but cannot solve actual problems.

[English translation] talk about strategyms on paper

[idiom story]

During the Warring States Period, Zhao She, the general of the State of Zhao, once defeated many with less and was defeated. The invading Qin army was promoted to Shangqing by King Zhao Huiwen. He had a son named Zhao Kuo, who had been familiar with military books since he was a child and loved to talk about military affairs. Others often couldn't speak well of him. Therefore, he is very arrogant and thinks he is invincible. However, Zhao She was very worried about him, thinking that he was just talking on paper, and said: "Zhao will not use him as a general in the future. If he is used as a general, he will definitely cause the Zhao army to fail." Sure enough, in 259 BC, , the Qin army invaded again, and the Zhao army persisted in resisting the enemy in Changping (near today's Gaoping County, Shanxi). Zhao She had passed away by then. Lian Po was responsible for commanding the entire army. Although he was old, he was still very capable in fighting, making it impossible for the Qin army to win. Qin State knew that procrastination would be detrimental to itself, so it implemented counterintuitive tactics and sent people to Zhao State to spread the word that "the Qin army is most afraid of Zhao She's son, General Zhao Kuo." King Zhao was deceived and sent Zhao Kuo to replace Lian Po. Zhao Kuo thought he was good at fighting, and he followed the provisions in the military book. After arriving in Changping, he completely changed Lian Po's battle plan. As a result, more than 400,000 Zhao troops were annihilated, and he himself was shot to death by an arrow from the Qin army.