養兵

to train troops

to raise (animals) / to bring up (children) / to keep (pets) / to support / to give birth

soldiers / a force / an army / weapons / arms / military / warlike / CL:個|个[ge4]

lit. train an army for a thousand days to use it for one morning (idiom) / fig. extensive preparation eventually pays off

see 養兵千日，用兵一時|养兵千日，用兵一时[yang3 bing1 qian1 ri4 , yong4 bing1 yi1 shi2]

lit. Train an army for a thousand days to use it for an hour. (idiom); fig. extensive preparation eventually pays off