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顺手牵羊 (shun4 shou3 qian1 yang2) - Pilfering a goat in passing
By Zhang Ciyun |
September 21, 2008, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Bringing home a goat from the battlefield could hardly be deemed a victory or anything significant. But when the opportunity presents itself, no matter how small, why should you let it slip by?
Chinese people began to apply this stratagem as early as more than 2,300 years ago.
In 354 BC, the king of the State of Wei decided to attack the State of Zhao in the north. He called on General Pang Juan to lead an elite army to carry out the offensive. With little effort, General Pang and his army quickly moved into the State of Zhao and put its capital Handan under a tight siege.
In face of the overwhelming enemy force, the ruler of Zhao turned to its powerful neighbor, the State of Chu, for help.
However, the king of Chu could not make up his mind whether to lend a hand to Zhao. So, he summoned his advisors to discuss the issue.
But his advisors were also in two-minds. Some said that they should sit on their hands and wait until both the fighting states suffered serious losses. Then they could reap the benefits from the conflict without spending any effort. Others didnít agree. They proposed to send their troops in the name of saving the State of Zhao and avail themselves of any benefits in the process.
The Chu king finally followed the advice of the latter and sent an army into the State of Zhao and immediately passed the message to the Zhao king.
But this move didnít help much. After a seven-month siege, General Pang and his army charged into Handan and seized the capital.
Just then, an army from the State of Qi moved toward the capital of the State of Wei. On learning this, General Pang hastily withdrew his troops and rushed them back to defend their own capital.
On the way, General Pangís troops were ambushed by the Qi army and suffered a humiliating defeat.
After the Wei troops left the State of Zhao, the Chu troops remained there and occupied some territory of the state afterwards without even engaging in a single battle.
This stratagem encourages one to take advantage of any minor lapse on your enemyís side to benefit yourself, no matter how slight that might be.
Chinese people began to apply this stratagem as early as more than 2,300 years ago.
In 354 BC, the king of the State of Wei decided to attack the State of Zhao in the north. He called on General Pang Juan to lead an elite army to carry out the offensive. With little effort, General Pang and his army quickly moved into the State of Zhao and put its capital Handan under a tight siege.
In face of the overwhelming enemy force, the ruler of Zhao turned to its powerful neighbor, the State of Chu, for help.
However, the king of Chu could not make up his mind whether to lend a hand to Zhao. So, he summoned his advisors to discuss the issue.
But his advisors were also in two-minds. Some said that they should sit on their hands and wait until both the fighting states suffered serious losses. Then they could reap the benefits from the conflict without spending any effort. Others didnít agree. They proposed to send their troops in the name of saving the State of Zhao and avail themselves of any benefits in the process.
The Chu king finally followed the advice of the latter and sent an army into the State of Zhao and immediately passed the message to the Zhao king.
But this move didnít help much. After a seven-month siege, General Pang and his army charged into Handan and seized the capital.
Just then, an army from the State of Qi moved toward the capital of the State of Wei. On learning this, General Pang hastily withdrew his troops and rushed them back to defend their own capital.
On the way, General Pangís troops were ambushed by the Qi army and suffered a humiliating defeat.
After the Wei troops left the State of Zhao, the Chu troops remained there and occupied some territory of the state afterwards without even engaging in a single battle.
This stratagem encourages one to take advantage of any minor lapse on your enemyís side to benefit yourself, no matter how slight that might be.
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