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36 War Strategies of Ancient China
Strategy 18
To Catch the Bandits First Capture Their Leader
If the enemy's army is strong but is allied to the
commander only by money or threats then, take aim at the leader. If the
commander falls the rest of the army will disperse or come over to your side.
If, however, they are allied to the leader through loyalty then beware, the army
can continue to fight on after his death out of vengeance.
Spring and Autumn Period China
In 756 BC the rebel commander Yin Ziqi led an army to
lay siege against the strategic city of Suiyang. The defending commander, Zhang
Xun, noticed that Yin Ziqi oversaw the siege from well outside the range of the
city's archers. He believed that if he could take out the leader the rebel's
morale would sink and he would be able to launch a counter attack. He devised a
plan with his best archers. The next time the rebels assailed the wall they were
to shoot back using the branches of trees. When Yin Ziqi heard that the
defenders were reduced to shooting with branches he felt certain the city was
ready to be taken. Before the next assault he moved in closer to better oversee
the final victory. Riding atop his horse he unknowingly came within range of the
archers who had saved their arrows for just such a moment. One arrow hit Yin
Ziqi in the left eye killing him instantly. The spectacle of their commander's
death in front of almost the entire rebel army served to demoralize them to such
an extent that they dispersed the field.
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