敗戰計

敗戰計Chapter 6 of 6 · Bài zhàn jì

Desperate Stratagems

You're losing. Buy time, sow discord, trade a little blood for trust — and if all else fails, leave.

31 美人計 Měi rén jì The Beauty Trap Against a strong opponent, don't attack the army — attack the appetites and attachments of the person leading it. 32 空城計 Kōng chéng jì The Empty Fort When you're too weak to defend, project total calm. An enemy who fears a trap won't attack an open gate. 33 反間計 Fǎn jiàn jì Turn the Enemy's Spy Take the channel the other side uses to learn about you, and feed it back exactly what you want them to believe. 34 苦肉計 Kǔ ròu jì The Self-Injury Ploy Take a visible, credible loss yourself so the other side trusts you — nobody suspects the one who is clearly hurting. 35 連環計 Lián huán jì Chain the Stratagems Together Don't rely on one scheme. Link several so each sets up the next and the target can't escape them all at once. 36 走為上 Zǒu wéi shàng If All Else Fails, Retreat When the position is truly lost, the smartest move is to leave intact. A live army fights another day; a dead one doesn't.