Give up studying to join the army and devote yourself to the country.
The idiom "throw your pen and join the army" means abandoning literature and joining the army, putting down your pen and joining the army. This allusion comes from the Western general Ban Chao.
Ban Chao (32-102 BC) was a native of Pingling, Fufeng, Eastern Han Dynasty (now in Xingping County, Shaanxi Province). Because his family was poor, in order to make ends meet, he had to do copywriting work for the government, which was very hard. One day, he threw the pen on the table and said with emotion: "Oh! If a real man can't do other big things, he should go to the frontier to start a business and make contributions to the country like Zhang Qian! How can he be leisurely with his pen and inkstone? How about dealing with people for the rest of their lives?" Ban Chao sighed. It was also the time when the army in the early Eastern Han Dynasty was in urgent need of recruits. Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty recruited warriors, and Ban Chao really "joined the army" and was actually appointed as a fake horse commander. Dou Gu sent him to lead troops to attack Yiwu. He fought with King Huyan by Puhai and "beheaded many prisoners" and won a complete victory, which was appreciated by Dou Gu.
In 73 AD, on the recommendation of Dou Gu, Ban Chao and the official Guo Xun led 36 strong men on an envoy to the Western Regions. After leaving the customs, we first came to Shanshan Kingdom, a key point near Lop Nur. Yongzhi defeated the Huns and was appreciated by King Shanshan. He immediately expressed his intention to break away from the Huns and join the Han Dynasty. Dou Gu reported the merits of Ban Chao and others to the imperial court, and requested to send official envoys to garrison the Western Regions. Ban Chao went to garrison the Western Regions for the marching Sima, but Ban Chao returned to the Western Regions again with more than thirty people. This time, Ban Chao's just actions won the support of the people of Shule. Ban Chao also established a base for his activities in Shule.
In 94 AD, Banchao finally surrendered Yanqi, Weixu and Yuli under the rule of the Northern Huns, and the entire territory of Xizai was once again unified under the Eastern Han Dynasty. Ban Chao was awarded the title of Marquis of Dingyuan due to his meritorious service, and he was called "Ban Dingyuan" in history.