During the Chu-Han contention, Han Xin, a general under Liu Bang, led tens of thousands of troops east to attack Zhao. Zhao King Xie and Zhao's chief commander Chen Yu deployed 200,000 soldiers to defend at Jingxing.
Li Zuoche, a strategist for the King of Zhao, proposed a plan: "The Jingxing Pass lies in mountainous terrain where chariots cannot travel side by side and cavalry cannot form ranks. The Han army's supplies must be trailing behind. Let me take 30,000 soldiers on a hidden path to cut off their supply line and block their retreat. You hold the camp and refuse battle. Trapped between two fronts, we can capture Han Xin's head within ten days!"
When the King of Zhao and his advisor Chen Yu rejected his strategy, Han Xin was overjoyed, knowing their stubbornness would lead to their downfall.
The Han army won a decisive victory: Chen Yu was killed, and the King of Zhao along with Li Zuoche were captured. Han Xin, who admired Li Zuoche as a man of exceptional talent, had offered a thousand gold pieces for his capture alive from the very start of the battle.
Li Zuoche was brought before Han Xin, who personally untied his bonds, treated him with the respect due a teacher, and shared his plan to press the attack on Yan and Qi, asking for his advice.
Li Zuoju said, "A minister of a fallen state cannot hope to live on, and a general of a defeated army cannot speak of bravery again. I am not qualified to offer you any advice." Han Xin replied, "I am sincerely seeking your guidance, please do not decline."
Li Zuojie, seeing Han Xin's sincerity, advised, "Your Han army has just conquered Wei, captured its king, and in less than a morning crushed 200,000 Zhao troops and taken their ruler—your fame now shakes the realm. The other feudal lords, fearing their own doom, are all living for the moment, indulging in pleasure. But I believe your troops are exhausted from these campaigns. If you march straight on Yan and Qi, Yan's walls are strong, and Qi will guard its borders fiercely. A stalemate would leave the outcome of the Chu-Han struggle uncertain. Better to rest your forces now and send envoys to win over Yan and Qi diplomatically, planning for the future."
Han Xin adopted his advisor's suggestion.
Later, the idiom "Luxurious Clothes, Stolen Meals" came to describe those who, sensing impending doom, live extravagantly without long-term plans, drifting through life in a daze.
Source: *Book of Han*, "Biography of Han Xin"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "靡衣偷食" came to describe those who, sensing impending doom, live extravagantly without long-term plans, drifting through life in a daze.