According to Wu Gongheng's "Lian Tan" (Qing Dynasty), this sentence was written for the famous anti-Qing Jin Sheng (Zheng), and the whole couplet is as follows:
Where there is a will, there is a way. If you burn your bridges, you will end up in Chu. Hard-working people live up to expectations, and 3 thousand armor can swallow Wu.
Translation:
Ambitious people are bound to succeed in doing things. Xiang Yu did not leave a retreat, and finally defeated Qin Jun. The pass of the Qin Dynasty eventually became the territory of Da Chu. God will not let those who work hard down. Gou Jian, the King of Yue, endured humiliation, slept on firewood, suffered a lot, and finally defeated Wu with several Vietnamese troops.
This association uses many allusions, just right, and there is a story behind every allusions.
Extended data:
Appreciation of couplets
Since its formation, this couplet has been widely circulated because of its implications and allusions, and has become an inspirational couplet. The first couplet is based on the allusion of Xiang Yu burning boats, and the second couplet is based on the allusion of Gou Jian rejuvenating the country, which embodies a high artistic level.
Xiang Yu is ambitious. Although Chen Sheng and his men raised the banner of resisting tyranny, Xiang Yu and his army were all elite troops against Qin before the siege by beggars' gangs. In particular, their courage and boldness in the Battle of Julu have always been valued by people. It is this courage to burn one's bridges and die, which makes 120 Qin Guan a classic example of Chu State.
Gou Jian was the king of national subjugation, but he did not forget the humiliation of Ji. Gou Jian hangs a gallbladder in the place where he sits and lies, and lies on the straw at night, facing the gallbladder. Try gall at dinner every day. I always blame myself: "Have you forgotten the humiliation of being defeated?" In this way, Gou Jian shares weal and woe with fate. After ten years of development and production, accumulation of strength and ten years of training, Fu Cha was defeated and Wu was destroyed in 473 BC.
The upper and lower couplets, with vivid and accurate allusions and profound implications, are a model of inspirational couplets.
Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-102 Qin Guan finally returned to Chu.