捲土重來

First attested in 841 in Du Mu's famous poem On the Pavilion by the Wu River:

勝敗兵家事不期，包羞忍恥是男兒。江東子弟多才俊，卷土重來未可知。
胜败兵家事不期，包羞忍耻是男儿。江东子弟多才俊，卷土重来未可知。

From: 841 (or 839), Du Mu, 《題烏江亭》

Shèngbài bīngjiā shì bùqī, bāoxiūrěnchǐ shì nán'ér. Jiāngdōng zǐdì duō cáijùn, juǎntǔchónglái wèi kězhī.

Battle results are always hard to be foretold;
But to endure the shame is indeed brave and bold.
There's no lack of talents at River's East,
A comeback may be launched before you can know.

捲土重來

1. to stage a comeback after regaining one's strength

   • 項氏以八千人渡江，敗亡之餘，無一還者，其失人心為甚，誰肯復附之！其不能捲土重來決矣。
     项氏以八千人渡江，败亡之余，无一还者，其失人心为甚，谁肯复附之！其不能卷土重来决矣。

     From: 1167, 胡仔 (Hú Zī),《苕溪漁隱叢話》Second Collection, Volume XV

     Xiàng-shì yǐ bāqiān rén dùjiāng, bàiwáng zhīyú, wú yī huán zhě, qí shī rénxīn wéishèn, shúi kěn fù fù zhī! Qí bùnéng juǎntǔchónglái jué yǐ.

     Xiang Yu initially led eight thousand young men across the Wu River, yet by the time he retreated to the riverbank after the tremendous defeat not a single one of them had survived. he would have completely lost people's support. Who would be willing to follow him again? It was absolutely impossible to make a comeback.