Historical idioms about Cao Cao

Looking at plums to quench thirst: The original meaning is sour plums, and people will salivate when they want to eat plums, thus quenching their thirst. Metaphorically, after the wish can't be realized, comfort yourself with fantasy.

During the Three Kingdoms period, when Cao Cao led troops to attack Zhang Xiu in Wancheng (now Nanyang, Henan), he passed a place called Meilinpu in Fangcheng County. It was noon, sunny and hot. Cao Cao sent people to look for water everywhere and ordered soldiers to dig wells on the spot, but there was never a drop of water.

The soldiers and the whole army are thirsty. In order not to delay the March, Cao Cao had a brainwave, stood on a high place, pointed to a hill in front and said, "There is a large piece of Meilin in front, bearing many plums, which are sweet and sour, and can quench your thirst." Hearing this, the soldiers drooled for a while and stopped thirsty. They all recovered their spirits, accelerated their March, and finally reached the place where there was water in front.