Among the outstanding figures of Chinese history, famous for their intelligence or treachery, Cao Cao is one of the foremost.
One hot day, he led his troops on a march under a burning sun in a mountainous area. He lost his way. The journey was long and the sun was scorching. After a fruitless and tiresome march, the soldiers voiced great dissatisfaction with Cao Cao's leadership. They bitterly complained of their thirst. Their antagonism grew rapidly, and they were on the verge of mutiny. The subordinate officers were helpless.
However, Cao Cao, just in time, cleverly gave an order to his troops: march to the nearby plum trees for a rest. He announced that the soldiers could eat the juicy sour fruit as much as they wished.
At the thought of the sour fruit, the soldiers' complaints of thirst and their antagonistic feelings were quickly forgotten.
Based on this story, later generations formed the proverb "to quench one's thirst by looking up at plums." It illustrates a situation where one finds comfort in the belief that they have already attained what they desired.