This idiom literally means "when all hares are killed, the hounds will be stewed and eaten". It is often used to describe the scenario of trusted aides being eliminated when they have outlived their usefulness. It was exactly the case for Wen Zhong, an advisor to King Goujian. When King Goujian wiped out the State of Wu, his advisor Fan Li retired after making great achievements. He went to the State of Qi, where he wrote a letter to Wen Zhong, suggesting that he should retire, too. In the letter, Fan Li said: "When all birds are shot, the bow will be set aside; when all hares are killed, the hounds will be stewed and eaten." Wen Zhong didn't follow his advice. It turned out that King Goujian became suspicious and jealous of Wen Zhong, trying to get rid of him.

Goujian said to Wen Zhong: "You have an excellent command of nine tactics, but we wiped out the powerful Wu State by using just three of them, with the remaining six unused. With you alive, how can I fall asleep?" Then, he ordered the death of Wen Zhong.