Beg for Apologize

◎供稿：王梓菲

负荆请罪的故事大家想必不陌生。犯错在所难免，但犯了错不要紧，重要的是我们犯错后要有和廉颇一样的知错、认错、改错的勇气和决心。

In the Warring States Period，Lian Po and Lin Xiangru were both senior generals of the State of Zhao.They both did great job to their country.

One day，Lin Xiangru took a lot of trouble to get a valuable jade back for the king.Then he got a promotion above Lian Po.Out of envy，Lian Po said，“I’ll make Lin feel ashamed and foolish the next time I meet him.” Lin Xiangru heard of this from others.In order not to cause conflict，he tried his best to avoided meeting Lian.Because Lin put benefit of the country first，he thought that any conflict between him and Lian would be used by the enemy of their country.Therefore，he brought doubts and1)blame [bleɪm] n.指责；责备blame from others on himself.Later when Lian Po realized his mistake，he was so ashamed.So he went to Lin’s home carrying2)bramble [ˈbræmbl] n.荆条；荆棘brambles on his3)naked [ˈneɪkɪd] adj.赤裸的naked back and asked for punishment.

词组加油站

out of envy 出于嫉妒

cause conflict 引起冲突

brought … on oneself 独自承担

战国时期，廉颇和蔺相如都是赵国的大将。他们都对国家做出了巨大的贡献。

有一天，蔺相如因“完璧归赵”而升官，官位在廉颇之上。廉颇愤愤不平地宣称：“下次见到蔺相如，我一定要让他自惭形秽。”蔺相如从他人那里听说之后，为了不引起冲突，尽量避免与廉颇见面。蔺相如把国家利益放在第一位，他认为他和廉颇之间的冲突可能会被敌国利用，因此，独自承受着别人的质疑和指责。后来，廉颇意识到了自己的错误，羞愧难当。于是，他就来到蔺相如的家，赤裸的上身背着荆条，请求蔺相如的责罚。

Questions:

1.Why did Lin Xiangru get a promotion above Lian Po?

2.What did Lian Po carry when he went to Lin’s home and asked for punishment?

Know More

Seven Warring States

战国七雄

The seven kingdoms of the Warring States Period are a general name for the seven most powerful states.During the Spring and Autumn Period，the number of vassal states in the Zhou Dynasty was greatly reduced.The Royal family of the Zhou dynasty was nominally the common ruler of the world，but only in name.The vassal states were fighting each other constantly.The pattern of seven kingdoms in the Warring States period formally came into being.These seven states are:Qin，Chu，Qi，Yan，Zhao，Wei，Han.

战国七雄，是战国时期七个最强大的诸侯国的统称。经过春秋时期旷日持久的争霸战争，周王朝境内的诸侯国数量大大减少。周王室名义上为天下共主，但已名存实亡。诸侯国互相攻伐，战争不断，到战国时期七雄并立的格局正式形成，这七国分别是：秦国、楚国、齐国、燕国、赵国、魏国、韩国。