expression
thousands die to make one hero; one general reaches glory, ten thousand bones are left to dry
Proverb lamenting that the fame of a leader is built on the sacrifice of countless ordinary soldiers. Often used to criticize the human cost of ambition or war.
See also: 一将功成りて万骨枯る
歴史を振り返ると、一将功成って万骨枯るという言葉が身に染みる。
Looking back at history, the proverb 'one general reaches glory, ten thousand bones are left to dry' really hits home.
Classical literary form of the same proverb, using the classical verb ending なりて instead of the modern contracted なって.
From a Chinese poem by Cao Song (Tang dynasty). The original line is 一将功成万骨枯. The Japanese reading adapts the classical Chinese into a Japanese proverbial form.