In 497 BC, the two countries fought in Fujiao, and Wu won a great victory. Gou Jian, the King of Yue, was forced to retreat to Huiji. The prince of Wu sent troops to pursue him and besieged Gou Jian on Huiji Mountain. The situation is very critical. At this point, Gou Jian listened to the doctor Wen Zi's plan, prepared some gold and silver treasures and some beautiful women, secretly sent someone to see Wu Taizai, and pleaded with the king of Wu through Taizai. The king of Wu finally agreed to the peace of Gou Jian, the king of Yue, but Wu Zixu of Wu thought it was impossible to make peace with Yue, otherwise it would be tantamount to letting the tiger return to the mountain and the king of Wu would not listen. After the surrender of Gou Jian, the King of Yue, he took his wife to Wu. They live in a stone house next to Focha's father's grave and raise horses. Every time he travels in Fu Cha, Gou Jian always follows him respectfully with a whip. Later, Fu Cha, the king of Wu, became ill. In order to show his loyalty to Fu Cha, Gou Jian personally tasted Fu Cha's stool to judge the date of Fu Cha's recovery. The date of Fu Cha's illness coincides with Gou Jian's prediction. Fu Cha thought Gou Jian was loyal to him, so he put him and his wife back in Yue. After returning to China, Gou Jian, King of Yue, was determined to avenge himself. In order not to forget the national humiliation, he slept on the firewood, and there was a gall hanging in the place where he sat, indicating that he did not forget the national humiliation and the national disaster. After ten years' accumulation, the State of Yue finally changed from a weak country to a strong one, and finally defeated the State of Wu, who committed suicide in shame.

Later, people summarized this story as "tasting courage with salary", which was used to describe people's efforts and self-motivation.