[Chinese Idioms And Fables] Thirty-Six Strategies 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.

[Chinese Idioms And Fables] Thirty-Six Strategies 29: Deck The Dead Tree With Silk Blossoms

Tying 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 appear valuable; of no threat appear dangerous; of no use, useful.

[Chinese Idioms And Fables] Thirty-Six Strategies 28: Lure Your Enemy Onto The Roof, Then Take Away The Ladder

With baits and deceptions lure your enemy and draw the opponent into a trap. Then cut off his lines of communication and avenue of escape.

[Chinese Idioms And Fables] Thirty-Six Strategies 27: Feign Madness, But Keep Your Balance

The man who survived danger by pretending to be insane or mentally deficient. It's not fun to be thought of as stupid, but it is safer than to be reckoned intelligent and therefore dangerous.

[Chinese Idioms And Fables] Thirty-Six Strategies 26: Point At The Mulberry, But Curse The Locust Tree

To discipline, control, or warn others whose status or position excludes them from direct confrontation; use analogy and innuendo.

[Chinese Idioms And Fables] Thirty-Six Strategies 25: Replace The Beams With Rotten Timbers

One way of making for the enemy's weak points is to give the enemy weaknesses that he does not recognize...

[Chinese Idioms And Fables] Thirty-Six Strategies 24: Borrow The Road To Conquer Guo

This stratagem advises using an ally's strategic location as a launch point for your own troops.

[Chinese Idioms And Fables] Thirty-Six Strategies 23: Befriend A Distant Enemy To Attack One Nearby

This stratagem has two applications: the first is the more obvious. Avoid a two-front war by making peace with everybody else before you go to war against an opponent.

[Chinese Idioms And Fables] Thirty-Six Strategies 22: Shut The Door To Catch The Thief

If you have the chance to completely capture the enemy then you should do so thereby bringing the battle or war to a quick and lasting conclusion. To allow your enemy to escape plants the seeds for future conflict...

[Chinese Idioms And Fables] The Latecomers Surpass the Old-timers

This story comes from The Historical Records. Later generations use the set phrase "the latecomers surpass the old-timers " to indicate that successors can excel the predecessors...