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远交近攻 (yuan3 jiao1 jin4 gong1) - Making distant states allies while attacking a neighbor
By Zhang Ciyun |
December 7, 2008, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
History has proven that neighboring countries can become enemies more often than those separated by distance, just like family members living together are more likely to get into quarrels with each other than with those who live far away.
So sometimes, geographical obstacles could prove to be an advantage for a country to ally itself with distant states in spite of cultural, social or political differences. This policy could help it reduce the number of its enemies and concentrate on dealing with hostile neighbors.
During the Warring States Period (476-221 BC) in Chinese history, the State of Qin adopted this stratagem proposed by strategist Fan Sui and eventually conquered all other states and unified the country.
In the last years of the period, the State of Qin became disproportionately powerful thanks to the reforms of its legal system. Its ruler therefore harbored an ambition to conquer other states and unify the country.
First, the prime minister of Qin urged the king to attack Qi, another powerful state at that time. But Fan Sui immediately expressed his objection to this plan.
He explained that to attack Qi, the king had to send troops via its neighbors, namely the State of Han and the State of Wei. If Qin didn't send enough men, they could hardly win the battle with Qi. Even if the Qin army did win the battle, it would be extremely difficult for them to have total control of the State of Qi due to the major distance and large territory.
Instead, he suggested the king to befriend the State of Qi and work out plans to conquer his two neighbors first.
"By conquering our neighbors, every inch of land Your Majesty takes from them can be immediately incorporated with our own territory," said Fan. "When we consolidate our rule of those new lands, we may then plan further expansion of our state."
So, to prevent the two neighbors from allying themselves with the powerful Qi, he asked the king to make peace with the distant state.
The king was pleased with Fan's proposal and later made him his prime minister.
Within 10 years, Qin conquered one state after another and finally the State of Qi. China was then unified for the first time in its history under the rule of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor.
So sometimes, geographical obstacles could prove to be an advantage for a country to ally itself with distant states in spite of cultural, social or political differences. This policy could help it reduce the number of its enemies and concentrate on dealing with hostile neighbors.
During the Warring States Period (476-221 BC) in Chinese history, the State of Qin adopted this stratagem proposed by strategist Fan Sui and eventually conquered all other states and unified the country.
In the last years of the period, the State of Qin became disproportionately powerful thanks to the reforms of its legal system. Its ruler therefore harbored an ambition to conquer other states and unify the country.
First, the prime minister of Qin urged the king to attack Qi, another powerful state at that time. But Fan Sui immediately expressed his objection to this plan.
He explained that to attack Qi, the king had to send troops via its neighbors, namely the State of Han and the State of Wei. If Qin didn't send enough men, they could hardly win the battle with Qi. Even if the Qin army did win the battle, it would be extremely difficult for them to have total control of the State of Qi due to the major distance and large territory.
Instead, he suggested the king to befriend the State of Qi and work out plans to conquer his two neighbors first.
"By conquering our neighbors, every inch of land Your Majesty takes from them can be immediately incorporated with our own territory," said Fan. "When we consolidate our rule of those new lands, we may then plan further expansion of our state."
So, to prevent the two neighbors from allying themselves with the powerful Qi, he asked the king to make peace with the distant state.
The king was pleased with Fan's proposal and later made him his prime minister.
Within 10 years, Qin conquered one state after another and finally the State of Qi. China was then unified for the first time in its history under the rule of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor.
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