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36 War Strategies of Ancient China
Strategy 10
Hide Your Dagger Behind A Smile
Charm and ingratiate yourself to your enemy. When you
have gained his trust, you move against him in secret.
Warring States Era China
The king of Wei sent a beautiful courtesan to the king
of Chu who took great delight in the new girl. His queen, Zheng Xiu, knowing how
fond the king was of his new woman, treated the newcomer as a sister supplying
her with gifts and treasures and whatever she needed. The king hearing of this
summoned his queen and said: AA woman serves a man with her beauty and thus
jealousy is a part of her very nature. Yet you, knowing how much the new woman
pleases me, have treated her more kindly than I have myself. These actions are
those of a child to her parents or a minister to his ruler, how unexpected it is
to find this in a queen to her husband." The queen thus knew that her
husband did not suspect her of jealousy. When she next met with the new girl the
queen told her: "His majesty is much taken with your beauty but he dislikes
the shape of your nose. When next you serve him be sure to cover it with your
hand." Grateful for the advice, when she next served the king this is what
she did.
The next day the king asked his queen: "The new
woman covers her nose when she is with me. Do you know why?"
"I know." replied the queen.
"Well then no matter how unpleasant you must tell
me the reason."
"It seems she does not like the way your majesty
smells."
"The shrew!" cried the king.
In a rage the king ordered that the unfortunate girl's
nose be cut off.
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