1. Looking at plum trees to quench thirst

During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao led his troops on a long march. The soldiers were very thirsty, so Cao Cao said: "There is a large plum forest in front of us, with many plums. It's sweet and sour and can quench thirst." After hearing this, the soldiers' mouths drooled and they were no longer thirsty. It is a metaphor that the wish cannot be realized, so it has to be comforted by fantasy.

2. Three visits to the thatched cottage

At the end of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei went to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage three times to invite him to come out and help him conquer the world. Finally, Zhuge Liang agreed. The latter metaphor refers to repeated sincere invitations.

3. Besieged on all sides

During the war between Chu and Han, Xiang Yu's army was stationed in Gaixia. With few soldiers and no food, it was surrounded layer by layer by the Han army and the armies of the princes. The army was singing songs of Chu from all sides. Xiang Yu was surprised and said: "Have the Han army occupied all the Chu lands? Why are there so many Chu people?" This is a metaphor for being surrounded by enemies on all sides and being in an isolated and critical predicament.

4. The State of Yue was defeated by the State of Wu, and King Gou Jian of Yue was determined to take revenge. It is said that he slept on firewood and tasted gall before eating and sleeping to encourage himself not to forget his shame. After long preparations, Wu was finally defeated. Describes a person who is hardworking and self-motivated, determined to avenge the country.

5. A Last Stand

When Chu and Han were fighting, Liu Bang ordered his general Han Xin to lead an army to attack Zhao. King Zhao led an army of 200,000 to attack at Jingxing Pass in the Taihang Mountains. At that time, Han Xin only brought 12,000 troops. In order to defeat Zhao Jun, he stationed 10,000 people on the river bank and formed a backwater formation. Another two thousand light cavalry were sent to lurk around the Zhao army's camp.

After the battle, Zhao Ying’s 200,000 troops came towards the 10,000 Han troops by the river. The Han army faced a formidable enemy and had no choice but to fight to the death. This is when the two thousand soldiers who were lurking took advantage of a false attack to enter the Zhao camp. Zhao Jun was attacked from both sides and was quickly defeated by Han Xin. After the war, someone asked Han Xin: "It is a taboo for soldiers to form a formation with their backs against the water. Why did the general knowingly commit the crime?" Han Xin said with a smile: "You will survive after death. This is also recorded in the military books."