In 617 BC, King Mu of Chu allied with the armies of Chen, Zheng, and Cai to attack the State of Song. Duke Zhao of Song, knowing he was no match, personally went to Juemo to greet King Mu and offer his submission, presenting gifts to the Chu army.
King Mu of Chu entered the state of Song in the manner of a hegemon, and accompanied by Duke Zhao of Song, he went to the Mengzhu Marsh for a hunting excursion.
When they reached Mengzhu Marsh, Shen Zhou, the Chu official overseeing King Mu's hunting preparations, ordered the feudal lords to light torches and drive their chariots to the designated assembly point at dawn the next day.
The next day, when Duke Zhao of Song arrived late, Shen Zhou, disregarding the duke's dignity, had the charioteer flogged and paraded through the camps as a warning. This deeply wounded the pride of the Song court. Yet Shen Zhou insisted, "I am merely carrying out my duty—nothing excessive here."
Three years later, King Mu of Chu died of illness, and King Zhuang ascended the throne, further strengthening the state. However, the State of Song not only refused to submit but also formed an alliance with the State of Jin. King Zhuang of Chu launched multiple military campaigns against Song, yet none succeeded in forcing Song to surrender.
Once, King Zhuang of Chu ordered Shen Zhou to deliver a diplomatic mission to Qi. The route from Chu to Qi required passing through Song territory, but the king, dismissing Song as insignificant, commanded Shen Zhou to force his way through without requesting passage.
Shen Zhou said to King Zhuang of Chu, "Your servant once offended the ruler and ministers of Song, and they still harbor resentment. They will seize the opportunity to kill me."
King Huai of Chu insisted that Shen Zhou undertake the mission, promising to immediately send an army against Song if any harm befell him. Knowing full well he was heading to his death yet unable to defy the royal command, Shen Zhou bid a final farewell to his son before setting off.
Sure enough, no sooner had Shen Zhou entered the state of Song than he was discovered, captured, and soon executed.
When the news reached the Chu court, King Zhuang flew into a rage. Without even waiting to put on his shoes or buckle his sword, he threw up his sleeves and rushed straight to the military camp, commanding his troops to march against the state of Song.
The mighty Chu army stormed into the Song state, surrounding its capital, Shangqiu
Later, people used the idiom "Throw Up One's Sleeves and Rise" to describe a determined and spirited start.
Source: *Zuo Zhuan*, "Duke Xuan's Fourteenth Year"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "投袂而起" came to describe a determined and spirited start.