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趁火打劫 (chen4 huo3 da3 jie2) - Looting a house when it's on fire
By Zhang Ciyun |
August 31, 2008, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Literally, this stratagem means to take advantage of the chaos when someone's house is on fire and steal the valuables. When it is applied in war and other circumstances, it takes on a much broader meaning.
According to this scheme, you should try to annex territory when your enemy's country is suffering from internal turmoil. You should take its people when it is being invaded by other forces. Finally, when the enemy's country is beset with both internal and external crises, you should mercilessly attack and destroy it.
One exemplary story is about Gou Jian (520-465 BC), the king of the State of Yue. Gou's country was conquered by the State of Wu in 499 BC and he was captured and forced to work as a slave in the enemy state for three years.
When he was allowed to return home, Gou started to lead an austere life and concentrate on rebuilding his country. After seven years' unremitting endeavor, the State of Yue became strong again but Gou never stopped seeking an opportunity to revenge his humiliation.
Gou bribed many venal officials in the State of Wu with gold, jade, other precious jewels and beautiful young women. He wanted to gain inside information about Wu and sow discord among its senior officials.
As a result, some of the loyal officials in the Wu court dropped out of favor or were driven to commit suicide. All those years, the king of Wu wasted the country's resources on personal pleasures.
Rubbing salt into the wound, the State of Wu was hit by a severe drought, leaving behind almost nothing but parched lands. Even at such a detrimental moment, the king led all his elite troops to the north to attend a ceremonial gathering.
Taking advantage of his enemy's natural disaster, wide-spread corruption, internal conflicts and weak defense, the king of Yue launched an all-out offensive against the State of Wu. Eventually Wu was overrun and the king was captured by Yue troops. Facing humiliating execution, the Wu king finally committed suicide.
Simply put, to beat your enemy, you should always try to make the best use of his troubles and attack him when he is in a difficult situation.
According to this scheme, you should try to annex territory when your enemy's country is suffering from internal turmoil. You should take its people when it is being invaded by other forces. Finally, when the enemy's country is beset with both internal and external crises, you should mercilessly attack and destroy it.
One exemplary story is about Gou Jian (520-465 BC), the king of the State of Yue. Gou's country was conquered by the State of Wu in 499 BC and he was captured and forced to work as a slave in the enemy state for three years.
When he was allowed to return home, Gou started to lead an austere life and concentrate on rebuilding his country. After seven years' unremitting endeavor, the State of Yue became strong again but Gou never stopped seeking an opportunity to revenge his humiliation.
Gou bribed many venal officials in the State of Wu with gold, jade, other precious jewels and beautiful young women. He wanted to gain inside information about Wu and sow discord among its senior officials.
As a result, some of the loyal officials in the Wu court dropped out of favor or were driven to commit suicide. All those years, the king of Wu wasted the country's resources on personal pleasures.
Rubbing salt into the wound, the State of Wu was hit by a severe drought, leaving behind almost nothing but parched lands. Even at such a detrimental moment, the king led all his elite troops to the north to attend a ceremonial gathering.
Taking advantage of his enemy's natural disaster, wide-spread corruption, internal conflicts and weak defense, the king of Yue launched an all-out offensive against the State of Wu. Eventually Wu was overrun and the king was captured by Yue troops. Facing humiliating execution, the Wu king finally committed suicide.
Simply put, to beat your enemy, you should always try to make the best use of his troubles and attack him when he is in a difficult situation.
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