36 strategems illustrated book us

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Stratagemsforconfusedsituations

StealTheFirewoodFromUnderthePotWhenfacedwithanenemytoopowerfultoengagedirectlyyoumustfirstweakenhimbyundermininghisfoundationandattackinghissourceofpower.

TroubleTheWaterToCatchTheFishBeforeengagingyourenemy'sforcescreateconfusiontoweakenhisperceptionandjudgment.Dosomethingunusual,strange,andunexpectedasthiswillarousetheenemy'ssuspicionanddisrupthisthinking.Adistractedenemyisthumorevulnerable.

Stratagemswheninasuperiorposition

theEmperortoCrosstheSea ngaboutinthedarknessandshadows,occupyingisolatedplaces,orhiding dscreenswillonlyattractsuspiciousattention.Toloweranenemy'sguardustactintheopenhidingyourtrueintentionsundertheguiseofcommondayactivities.

egeWeitoRescueZhaotheenemyistoostrongtoattackdirectly,thenattacksomethingheholds

Knowthatinallthingshecannotbesuperior.Somewherethereisagapinmour,aweaknessthatcanbeattackedinstead.

Shed Your Skin Like the Golden Cicada

When you are in danger of being defeated, and your only chance is to escapend regroup, then create an illusion. While the enemy's attention is focused onhis artifice, secretly remove your men leaving behind only the facade of yourresence.

Shut the Door to Catch the Thief

If you have the chance to completely capture the enemy then you should do so

hereby bringing the battle or war to a quick and lasting conclusion. To allowour enemy to escape plants the seeds for future conflict. But if they succeed inscaping, be wary of giving chase.

Unknown (Chinese Ming or early Qingd nast

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The Thirty SixStratagems


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TheTacticofCombiningTacticsInimportantmattersoneshoulduseseveralstrategiesappliedsimultaneously.Keepdifferentplansoperatinginanoverallscheme;inthismannerifanyonestrategyfailsyouwouldstillhaveseveralotherstofallbackon.

IfAllElseFailsRetreatIfitbecomesobviousthatyourcurrentcourseofactionwillleadtodefeatthenretreatandregroup.

taBurningHouseacountryisbesetbyinternalconflicts,whendiseaseandfamineravagepulation,whencorruptionandcrimearerampant,thenitwillbeunablelwithanoutsidethreat.Thisisthetimetoattack.

morintheEast,AttackintheWestybattletheelementofsurprisecanprovideanoverwhelmingadvantage.

whenfacetofacewithanenemy,surprisecanstillbeemployedbyingwhereheleastexpectsit.Todothisyoumustcreateanexpectationinemy'smindthroughtheuseofafeint.

Kill with a Borrowed SwordWhen you do not have the means to attack your enemy directly, then attack the strength of another. Trick an ally into attacking him, bribe an officturn traitor, or use the enemy's own strength against him.

Await the Exhausted Enemy at Your EaseIt is an advantage to choose the time and place for battle. In this way you

when and where the battle will take place, while your enemy doesEncourage your enemy to expend his energy in futile quests while you conyour strength. When he is exhausted and confused, you attack with energypurpose.

22nd May 2009

The Thirty Six Stratagems

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Unknown (Chinese Ming or early Qingdynasty)

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Stratagemsfordesperatesituations

heStrategyofBeautifulWomenSendyourenemybeautifulwomentocausediscordwithinhiscamp.Thistrategycanworkonthreelevels.First,therulerbecomessoenamoredwiththbeautythatheneglectshisdutiesandallowshisvigilancetowane.Second,othemalesatcourtwillbegintodisplayaggressivebehaviorthatinflamesminodifferenceshinderingco-operationanddestroyingmorale.Third,otherfemalesacourt,motivatedbyjealousyandenvy,begintoplotintriguesfurtherexasperatin

thesituation.

TheStrategyofOpenCityGatesWhentheenemyissuperiorinnumbersandyoursituationissuchthatyou

expecttobeoverrunatanymoment,thendropallpretenceofmilitarypreparednessandactcasually.Unlesstheenemyhasanaccuratedescriptionofyoursituationthisunusualbehaviorwillarousesuspicions.Withluckhewillbedissuadedfromattacking.

ervetheFireontheOppositeShoreenteringthefieldofbattleuntilalltheotherplayershavebecome

stedfightingamongstthemselves.Thengoinfullstrengthandpickupthe

eYourDaggerBehindaSmile mandingratiateyourselftoyourenemy.Whenyouhavegainedhistrust,oveagainsthiminsecret.

The Strategy of Sowing DiscordUndermine your enemy's ability to fight by secretly causing discord between himnd his friends, allies, advisors, family, commanders, soldiers, and population.

While he is preoccupied settling internal disputes his ability to attack or defend,s compromised.

The Strategy of Injuring Yourself

Pretending to be injured has two possible applications. In the first, the enemy isulled into relaxing his guard since he no longer considers you to be an immediatehreat. The second is a way of ingratiating yourself to your enemy by pretendinghe injury was caused by a mutual enemy.

Stratagems for confrontationCreate Something From NothingYou use the same feint twice. Having reacted to the first and often the s

feint as well, the enemy will be hesitant to react to a third feint. Therefo

third feint is the actual attack catching your enemy with his guard down.

Openly Repair The Walkway, Secretly March to

ChencangAttack the enemy with two converg ent forces. The first is the direct attackthat is obvious and for which the enemy prepares his defense. The second indirect, the attack sinister, that the enemy does not expect and which causto divide his forces at the last minute leading to confusion and disaster.

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FeignMadnessButKeepYourBalanceHidebehindthemaskofafool,adrunk,oramadmantocreateconfusionaboutyourintentionsandmotivations.Lureyouropponentintounderestimatinyourabilityuntil,overconfident,hedropshisguard.Thenyoumayattack.

LureYourEnemyOntotheRoof,ThenTakeAwayth

LadderWithbaitsanddeceptionslureyourenemyintotreacherousterrain.Thencuoffhislinesofcommunicationandavenueofescape.Tosavehimselfhemustfightbothyourownforcesandtheelementsofnature.

Stratagemsforattack

tTheGrassToStartleTheSnakeyoucannotdetecttheopponent'splanslaunchadirect,butbrief,attackbserveyouropponentreactions.Hisbehaviorwillrevealhisstrategy.

rowaCorpsetoRaisetheSpiritaninstitution,atechnology,oramethodthathasbeenforgottenordedandappropriateitforyourownpurpose.Revivesomethingfromtheygivingitanewpurposeortoreinterpretandbringtolifeoldideas, ms,andtraditions.

Tie Silk Blossoms to the Dead TreeTying silk blossoms on a dead tree gives the illusion that the tree is healthy.Through the use of artifice and disguise make something of no value appearaluable; of no threat appear dangerous; of no use, useful.

Exchange the Role of Guest for that of HostDefeat the enemy from within by infiltrating the enemy's camp under the guise

f cooperation, surrender, or peace treaties. In this way you can discover hisweakness and then, when the enemy's guard is relaxed, strike directly at theource of his strength.

Sacrifice the Plum Tree In Place of the PeachThere are circumstances in which you must sacrifice short-term objectives iorder to gain the long-term goal. This is the scapegoat strategy whereby somelse suffers the consequences so that the rest do not.

Seize the Opportunity To Lead a Sheep AwayWhile carrying out your plans be flexible enough to take advantage of

opportunity that presents itself, however small, and avail yourself of any phowever slight.

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BefriendaDistantEnemytoAttackOneNearbyItisknownthatnationsthatbordereachotherbecomeenemieswhilenationsseparatedbydistanceandobstaclesmakebetterallies.Whenyouarethestrongestinonefield,yourgreatestthreatisfromthesecondstrongestinyourfield,notthestrongestfromanotherfield.

BorrowtheRoadtoConquerGuoBorrowtheresourcesofanallytoattackacommonenemy.Oncetheenemyisdefeated,usethoseresourcestoturnontheallythatlentyoutheminthefirstplace.

sOutABrickToAttractJadereatrapthenlureyourenemyintothetrapbyusingbait.Inwarthebaitillusionofanopportunityforgain.Inlifethebaitistheillusionof h,power,andsex.

CatchtheBanditsFirstCaptureTheirLeaderenemy'sarmyisstrongbutisalliedtothecommanderonlybymoneyorsthen,takeaimattheleader.Ifthecommanderfallstherestofthearmyisperseorcomeovertoyourside.If,however,theyarealliedtotheleader ghloyaltythenbeware,thearmycancontinuetofightonafterhisdeathoutgeance.

Stratagems for gaining ground

Replace The Beams With Rotten TimbersDisrupt the enemy's formations, interfere with their methods of operations,hange the rules in which they are used to following, go contrary to their

tandard training. In this way you remove the supporting pillar, the common linkhat makes a group of men an effective fighting force.

Point At The Mulberry But Curse The Locust TreeTo discipline, control, or warn others whose status or position excludes themfrom direc t confrontation; use analogy and innuendo. Without direc tly namingames, those accused cannot retaliate without revealing their complicity.

Lure the Tiger Down the MountainNever directly attack a well-entrenched opponent. Instead lure him away frhis stronghold and separate him from his source of strength.

To Catch Something, First Let It GoCornered prey will often mount a final desperate attack. To prevent this youthe 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 afalsehood the enemy's morale will be defeated and he will surrender withoufight.

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36 strategems illustrated book us

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