《后汉书·列传·南蛮西南夷列传》
假使军队到了那儿，死亡的人一定很多，虽然不足以抵御敌人，那就将重新征调人马，这是切割心腹来弥补四肢。
设军到所在，死亡必众，既不足御敌，当复更发，此为刻割心腹以补四支。
If the army gets there, there will certainly be many deaths, and even though this will not be enough to resist the enemy, new troops will have to be raised; this is like cutting off the heart and stomach to make up for the legs and arms.