The states of Wu and Yue became arch enemies in their fight for
territory. In 497 BC, the King of Yue, Guo Jian, ___1___
Wu forces. The King of Wu subsequently died from a leg injury.
Three years later, his son, Fu Cai attacked Yue to ___2___
his father's death. Yue suffered a total defeat. Only 5,000
armored soldiers were left ___3___
Guo Jian and guarding a remnant territory. The defeated king was
cunning. He began making peaceful overtures.
As if to show his obedience and
___4___, he lived in a cave,
did the chores of a slave and led a degrading life. His feigning ___5___
off when the King of Wu was finally persuaded to let Guo Jian
return to Yue.
Once home, Guo Jian went into ___6___
labor. He slept on a mud bed covered with branches and ___7___
coarse and simple food. He also hung the gallbladder of a pig
from the eaves. Each time he left or entered the house, he would ___8___
the gallbladder for a taste of its bitterness. This was to
constantly remind himself of the humiliation he had ___9___
from the loss of his land and his subjugation as a slave.
All this time, he secretly stepped up military ___10___
and built up the strength of his forces until he finally
defeated his enemy. |