in *3 ad, emperor taizong of tang baulked(犹豫,阻止) from crossing the sea to a campaign against koguryo. his general xue rengui thought of a stratagem1(策略,计谋) to get the emperor across and allay2 his fear of seasickness3.
on a clear day, the emperor was invited to meet a wise man. they entered through a dark tunnel into a hall where they feasted. after feasting s*ral days, the emperor heard the sound of waves and realized that he had been lured4 onto a ship! general xue drew aside the curtains to r*al the ocean and confessed that they had already crossed the sea.
upon discovering this, the emperor decided5 to carry on and later completed the succes*ul campaign.
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