–Mao Zedong, December 26, 1962 Snow weighs on winter clouds; white downflakes fly,Myriad blooms fade fast, now rare and shy.High heaven’s icy currents roll and roar,Yet earth breathes soft warm winds, hope’s gentle core.
–Mao Zedong – 1961 Above Mount Jiuyi, white clouds fleet and fly,The imperial maidens ride the wind down from the sky.A speckled bamboo branch holds a thousand tears, nigh;Ten thousand rosy clouds form a hundred layers high.
The story of “quenching thirst by looking for plums,” mentioned by Cao Cao in Chapter 21 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, is a classic example of psychological mastery in the novel. It illustrates how a leader can use mental stimulation to overcome physical limitations during crises.