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借道伐虢 (jie4 dao4 fa2 guo1) - Defeat one enemy at a time
By Zhang Ciyun |
December 14, 2008, Sunday
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The title of this stratagem derives from a story describing how the State of Jin conquered its two neighboring states during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC).
Compared to its two small neighbors, namely, the State of Yu and the State of Guo, Jin was a regional power and it had long been harboring an ambition to annex its two neighbors.
However, the two small neighbors were quite close and if Jin tried to attack either one of them, the other state would certainly join the resistance, thus making things difficult for Jin.
One day, Minister Xun Xi made a proposal to the Duke Xian of Jin on how to capture the two small states.
The minister told the duke that in order to conquer one of the two, Jin must try to persuade the other not to join forces with its neighbor or put up a fight against Jin. Since the ruler of Yu was known for his insatiable greed, the minister asked the duke to give his best horse and a piece of priceless jade to the Yu ruler as a gift to buy him over.
At first the duke was reluctant to part with his favorite horse and gem. But the minister said: "Your Majesty need not worry about that. The horse and jade will only be in the possession of the Yu ruler for a short time and will soon be returned to you."
The Yu ruler was overjoyed when he received the divine horse and the invaluable jade. Jin then requested a passage through the State of Yu to attack its neighbor, the State of Guo. The Yu ruler was urged to reject the request, saying it could put Yu itself in danger once the smaller neighbor was conquered.
But the Yu ruler wouldn't listen and said he would not offend a big power for the sake of a weak friend. So he allowed the Jin troops passage through his state en route to attacking Guo.
Fighting alone, Guo was no match for Jin and was soon conquered.
But on the way home, the Jin troops stopped over in Yu seeking to stay for a short while to "recuperate." The Yu ruler still didn't suspect anything.
But one day when he returned from hunting in the woods, he found his capital had been seized by the Jin troops.
The Yu ruler fled his state and the duke of Jin reclaimed his horse and jade.
What the story tells us is that in order to wipe out two weak enemies who are in alliance, you should figure out a way to defeat one of them first and then follow up with a plan to take the other.
Compared to its two small neighbors, namely, the State of Yu and the State of Guo, Jin was a regional power and it had long been harboring an ambition to annex its two neighbors.
However, the two small neighbors were quite close and if Jin tried to attack either one of them, the other state would certainly join the resistance, thus making things difficult for Jin.
One day, Minister Xun Xi made a proposal to the Duke Xian of Jin on how to capture the two small states.
The minister told the duke that in order to conquer one of the two, Jin must try to persuade the other not to join forces with its neighbor or put up a fight against Jin. Since the ruler of Yu was known for his insatiable greed, the minister asked the duke to give his best horse and a piece of priceless jade to the Yu ruler as a gift to buy him over.
At first the duke was reluctant to part with his favorite horse and gem. But the minister said: "Your Majesty need not worry about that. The horse and jade will only be in the possession of the Yu ruler for a short time and will soon be returned to you."
The Yu ruler was overjoyed when he received the divine horse and the invaluable jade. Jin then requested a passage through the State of Yu to attack its neighbor, the State of Guo. The Yu ruler was urged to reject the request, saying it could put Yu itself in danger once the smaller neighbor was conquered.
But the Yu ruler wouldn't listen and said he would not offend a big power for the sake of a weak friend. So he allowed the Jin troops passage through his state en route to attacking Guo.
Fighting alone, Guo was no match for Jin and was soon conquered.
But on the way home, the Jin troops stopped over in Yu seeking to stay for a short while to "recuperate." The Yu ruler still didn't suspect anything.
But one day when he returned from hunting in the woods, he found his capital had been seized by the Jin troops.
The Yu ruler fled his state and the duke of Jin reclaimed his horse and jade.
What the story tells us is that in order to wipe out two weak enemies who are in alliance, you should figure out a way to defeat one of them first and then follow up with a plan to take the other.
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