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36 War Strategies of Ancient China-#30

 

Exchange the Role of Guest
for that of Host

Defeat the enemy from within by infiltrating the enemy's camp under the guise of cooperation, surrender, or peace treaties. In this way you can discover his weakness and then, when the enemy's guard is relaxed, strike directly at the source of his strength.

Japanese Folk Tale

    In feudal Japan there lived a venerable Kendo master who decided to test his three highest-ranking students. He brought them one by one to an old temple in the nearby mountains where he told each student the following: "You have studied with me many years, now lets see if my teaching has been in vain. There within the temple awaits your test, pass and you will have graduated." 
    Within the dimly lit temple the Master had hidden four Samurai armed with clubs and instructions to jump anyone who entered the temple. The first student entered the temple and before his eyes could adjust to the light, was surprised and beaten by the Samurai.  "I am sorry, you have failed." Said the master.
    The second student entered the temple and sensed the attackers. He was able to deftly evade their attack and defeat them. The student came out of the temple triumphant, but again the master said, "I am sorry, you have failed."
    Finally the third student was brought to the temple and told about the test. The student replied, "But venerable master, protocol dictates that when entering a temple the master must always precede the student, so if you please, I shall follow you in."  To which the master replied, "You rascal, you have learned all I can teach you."

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36 Stratagems

Table of Contents

Introduction

History

1. Fool the Emperor to Cross the Sea

2. Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao

3. Kill With a Borrowed Sword

4. Await the Exhausted Enemy at Your Ease

5. Loot a Burning House

6. Clamor in the East, Attack in the West

7. Create Something from Nothing

8. Openly Repair the Walkway, Secretly March to Chencang

9. Observe the Fire on the Opposite Shore

10. Hide Your Dagger Behind a Smile

11. Sacrifice the Plum Tree in Place of the Peach

12. Seize the Opportunity to Lead a Sheep Away

13. Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake

14. Borrow a Corpse to Raise the Spirit

15. Lure the Tiger Down the Moutain

16. To Catch Something, First Let It Go

17. Toss Out a Brick to Attract Jade

18. To Catch the Bandits First Capture Their Leader

19. Steal the Firewood From Under the Pot

20. Trouble the Water to Catch the Fish

21. Shed Your Skin Like the Golden Cicada

22. Shut the Door To Catch the Thief

23. Befriend a Distant Enemy to Attack One Nearby

24. Borrow the Road to Conquer Guo

25. Replace the Beams With Rotten Timbers

26. Point at the Mulberry but Curse the Locust Tree

27. Feign Madness but Keep Your Balance

28. Lure Your Enemy Onto the Roof, then Take Away the Ladder

29. Tie Silk Blossoms to the Dead Tree

30. Exchange the Role of Guest for that of Host

31. The Strategy of Beautiful Women

32. The Strategy of Open City Gates

33. The Strategy of Sewing Discord

34. The Strategy of Injuring Yourself

35. The Tactic of Combining Tactics

36. If All Else Fails, Retreat

Notes

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Start Date: 6/10/2010

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