Home » Sunday » Now and Then
调虎离山 (diao4 hu3 li2 shan1) - Luring tiger from his lair
By Zhang Ciyun |
October 19, 2008, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Chinese always believe that tigers are more powerful when they are in the mountains. So, there are a few Chinese sayings linking tigers with mountains. The title of this stratagem, namely, "Luring the tiger out of the mountain," is one of them.
The stratagem advises you not to directly attack an enemy entrenched in his stronghold. Instead you should lure him to leave his territory, thus depriving him of the geographical advantage and separating him from a source of strength.
As a result, your enemy will become easier to subdue, just like lifting Antaeus off the ground.
In 199 AD, Sun Ce, a 17-year-old warlord in southern China, successfully seized a well-defended town in the north by adroitly applying this stratagem.
Sun Ce was the elder son of Sun Jian, ruler of the State of Wu (222-280 AD) in today's eastern China. After succeeding his father, Sun Ce consolidated his rule and became quite powerful. Then, he decided to seize Lujiang, a strategic town in the prosperous region to the north of his territory.
However, he understood it would prove to be a hard nut to crack as the town was guarded by a powerful army led by warlord Liu Xun and was well protected by two major rivers.
After consulting with his advisors, Sun Ce decided that the only way to defeat Liu Xun and capture the town was to lure him to leave the seemingly impregnable centre.
By learning that Liu was a very greedy man, Sun Ce wrote a letter to him. In the letter, he effusively extolled the warlord and he also sent Liu an extremely expensive present.
By the end of the letter, Sun begged Liu to help him to expel the troops from Upper Liao in the further north. He accused the Upper Liao troops of looting his territory.
"We are too weak to fend them off," Sun said in the letter. "So, we will greatly appreciate if your Majesty can help us and drive the Upper Liao troops away."
Warlord Liu was flattered by Sun's letter and present. He also liked the proposal to attack the Upper Liao because he had long harbored an ambition to take over its rich lands.
So, Liu personally led his troops to attack the capital of the Upper Liao.
When Sun learned that the warlord had left Lujiang, he launched a surprise offensive and easily captured the strategic town.
Liu's expedition didn't go smoothly and when he got the news that his town had been taken by Sun, it was too late for him to save the situation. So he sought refuge in another state.
The stratagem advises you not to directly attack an enemy entrenched in his stronghold. Instead you should lure him to leave his territory, thus depriving him of the geographical advantage and separating him from a source of strength.
As a result, your enemy will become easier to subdue, just like lifting Antaeus off the ground.
In 199 AD, Sun Ce, a 17-year-old warlord in southern China, successfully seized a well-defended town in the north by adroitly applying this stratagem.
Sun Ce was the elder son of Sun Jian, ruler of the State of Wu (222-280 AD) in today's eastern China. After succeeding his father, Sun Ce consolidated his rule and became quite powerful. Then, he decided to seize Lujiang, a strategic town in the prosperous region to the north of his territory.
However, he understood it would prove to be a hard nut to crack as the town was guarded by a powerful army led by warlord Liu Xun and was well protected by two major rivers.
After consulting with his advisors, Sun Ce decided that the only way to defeat Liu Xun and capture the town was to lure him to leave the seemingly impregnable centre.
By learning that Liu was a very greedy man, Sun Ce wrote a letter to him. In the letter, he effusively extolled the warlord and he also sent Liu an extremely expensive present.
By the end of the letter, Sun begged Liu to help him to expel the troops from Upper Liao in the further north. He accused the Upper Liao troops of looting his territory.
"We are too weak to fend them off," Sun said in the letter. "So, we will greatly appreciate if your Majesty can help us and drive the Upper Liao troops away."
Warlord Liu was flattered by Sun's letter and present. He also liked the proposal to attack the Upper Liao because he had long harbored an ambition to take over its rich lands.
So, Liu personally led his troops to attack the capital of the Upper Liao.
When Sun learned that the warlord had left Lujiang, he launched a surprise offensive and easily captured the strategic town.
Liu's expedition didn't go smoothly and when he got the news that his town had been taken by Sun, it was too late for him to save the situation. So he sought refuge in another state.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
