flog a dead horse

curry favour by claptrap - huá zhòng qǔ chǒng

A snake swallows an elephant when the heart is weak - rén xīn bù zú shé tūn xiàng

carved balustrades and marble steps - diāo lán yù qì

Stupid man - cǎo mù yú fū

serve the country - gōng zhōng tǐ guó

a strange story from beyond the seas - hǎi wài qí tán

Baierheshan - bǎi èr hé shān

Take the devil to the sword - qiān guǐ shàng jiàn

substitute - yǐ yáng yì niú

north vital area - běi mén suǒ yuè