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36 War Strategies of Ancient China
Strategy 16
To Catch Something, First Let It Go
Cornered prey will often mount a final desperate
attack. To prevent this you let the enemy believe he still has a chance for
freedom. His will to fight is thus dampened by his desire to escape. When in the
end the freedom is proven a falsehood the enemy's morale will be defeated and he
will surrender without a fight.
Six Dynasties Period China
During the Southern Song period, general Tan Dao-Ji
launched an attack against the north on behalf of the emperor. Throughout the
campaign he seized cities and destroyed fortifications, taking more than four
thousand prisoners. His advisors suggested that he should execute them all and
erect a victory mound with the dead. Tan Dao-Ji replied: "At this time we
have attacked the guilty and consoled the people. The army of a true king takes
the upright as its position, so why is it necessary to slay the people?" He
released all the prisoners and sent them back to their homes. These former
prisoners told their kinsmen of their capture and release and of the fair
treatment they received at the hands of general Tan. Thereupon the barbarians
dwelling in the region were elated, and wherever general Tan went, a great many
came forward to give their allegiance to the emperor.
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