DuringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod, anarmyfromtheStateofQiconfrontedonefromtheStateofLu. AfterthefirstrollofdrumsfromtheQisidetosummonLutobattle, theLurulerwantedtoattack. ButhiscounsellorCaoGuisaid, "Weshouldwaituntilthethirddrumroll, sire(陛下，大人)." AftertheQisidehadbeatenthedrumsthreetimes, theLuarmyattackedanddefeatedtheQiarmy. Afterthebattle, thekingaskedCaoGuithereasonforhisoddadvice. CaoGuianswered, "Fightingneedsspirit. Theirspiritwasarousedbythefirstrollorthedrums, butwasdepleted(减少，耗尽) bythesecond. Anditwascompletelyexhaustedbythethird. Westartedtoattackwhentheirspiritwasexhausted. That'swhywewon."
Thisidiomlatermeanttogetsomethingdonewithonesustainedeffort.