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反间计 (fan2 jian1 ji4) Sow distrust in enemy camp
February 15, 2009, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ONE way to weaken your enemy's fighting power is to sow distrust within its forces. This will often lead to discord and infighting and, as a result, individuals or groups within the enemy camp will become demoralized and unable to work together.
There are many ways to do this. For instance, you may plant moles to spread rumors in your enemy's ranks. But the stratagem here means to make use of your enemy's spies to work for you.
The Battle of Red Cliff, which happened during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280), remains today one of the textbook cases of using this stratagem.
Zhou Yu, a young general of the Kingdom of Wu, joined forces with the Kingdom of Shu Han to fight the invading troops from the Kingdom of Wei in the north along the Yangtze River.
Wei's troops far outnumbered the combined forces of Wu and Shu Han, but the latter knew better about how to fight on the water.
So, Cao Cao, the ruler of Wei, hired two surrendered generals from Wu to help train his troops for a major battle on the longest river in China.
Zhou, of course, was a bit worried about Cao's move and decided to find a way to remove the two traitors from Cao's camp.
An opportunity came when Cao sent one of his officials to meet Zhou in the guise of a reunion of old friends, but actually on a mission to spy on Zhou's troops.
Zhou entertained the official with a banquet but told his old friend that they should not talk about state affairs and the on-going battle on the river.
"You're serving Cao and he is now fighting with us," Zhou said. "I don't want to see our reunion spoiled by discussion on the war, so let's only talk about our friendship tonight."
The two drank a lot of wine and at the end of the banquet Zhou seemed drunk. So, his old friend helped him walk back to his room and put him into the bed. However, before leaving the room, the old friend sneaked a look at documents scattered on the desk and, to his great surprise, found a letter from the two turncoat generals.
In the letter, the two generals told Zhou they were working inside Cao's camp to help Zhou's troops to win the battle.
The guest tiptoed out of the room with the letter and fled. Upon reading the letter, Cao got hot under the collar and ordered a summary execution of the two generals. But shortly afterwards, he found out that the letter was a forgery.
After losing his water battle instructors, Cao and his troops eventually suffered a disastrous defeat in the famous Battle of the Red Cliff.
There are many ways to do this. For instance, you may plant moles to spread rumors in your enemy's ranks. But the stratagem here means to make use of your enemy's spies to work for you.
The Battle of Red Cliff, which happened during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280), remains today one of the textbook cases of using this stratagem.
Zhou Yu, a young general of the Kingdom of Wu, joined forces with the Kingdom of Shu Han to fight the invading troops from the Kingdom of Wei in the north along the Yangtze River.
Wei's troops far outnumbered the combined forces of Wu and Shu Han, but the latter knew better about how to fight on the water.
So, Cao Cao, the ruler of Wei, hired two surrendered generals from Wu to help train his troops for a major battle on the longest river in China.
Zhou, of course, was a bit worried about Cao's move and decided to find a way to remove the two traitors from Cao's camp.
An opportunity came when Cao sent one of his officials to meet Zhou in the guise of a reunion of old friends, but actually on a mission to spy on Zhou's troops.
Zhou entertained the official with a banquet but told his old friend that they should not talk about state affairs and the on-going battle on the river.
"You're serving Cao and he is now fighting with us," Zhou said. "I don't want to see our reunion spoiled by discussion on the war, so let's only talk about our friendship tonight."
The two drank a lot of wine and at the end of the banquet Zhou seemed drunk. So, his old friend helped him walk back to his room and put him into the bed. However, before leaving the room, the old friend sneaked a look at documents scattered on the desk and, to his great surprise, found a letter from the two turncoat generals.
In the letter, the two generals told Zhou they were working inside Cao's camp to help Zhou's troops to win the battle.
The guest tiptoed out of the room with the letter and fled. Upon reading the letter, Cao got hot under the collar and ordered a summary execution of the two generals. But shortly afterwards, he found out that the letter was a forgery.
After losing his water battle instructors, Cao and his troops eventually suffered a disastrous defeat in the famous Battle of the Red Cliff.
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