古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事，古德明，香港英语教育作家，他开了一个《征服英语专栏》，在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事，用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
祸 从 口 出
russian poet kondraty ryleyev, one of the leaders of the unsuccessful decembrist revolt in 1825, was condemned to be hanged. the rope, however, broke rather incredibly. such a demonstration of "divine intervention" was usually answered with a pardon. but ryleyev's disrespectful behaviour after the incident led the executioner to send a messenger to the winter palace to consult czar nicholas.
"what did ryleyev say?" nicholas asked.
"sire,"the messenger replied, "he said that in russia we do not even know how to make a rope properly."
"well," said the czar, "let's prove the contrary."
