25
Deliberate tactical errors and minor losses are the means by which to bait the enemy.
-- Sun Bin
25th Stratagem
偷梁换柱
(tōu liáng huàn zhù)
Replace the Beams with Rotten Timbers
The opportunity to interfere with an opponent's formations, methods of operation, or even to change the rules by which they engage, should never be forgone.
In 383 A.D. the states of Former Qin and Jin faced each other from opposite sides of the Fei River. Neither could advance, as trying to cross would make them vulnerable. Xie Xuan (謝玄, 343-388 A.D.), the general of Jin, sent a messenger to Fu Rong (苻融, died 383 A.D.), the general of Former Qin, suggesting that the Former Qin forces retreat slightly west to allow for the Jin troops to cross. Fu Rong agreed, while actually planning to double back and attack them while they crossed. Meanwhile, Jin troops were infiltrating the ranks of the Former Qin, spreading rumors that Former Qin was retreating in the face of a powerful attack. The Former Qin troops then panicked and fled, turning a planned attack into a rout [20].
Battle formations in ancient China were often described as having two axles -- one horizontal and earthly, and one vertical and heavenly [1]. By manipulating these support structures, formations could be made to lose their integrity. Replace the Beams with Rotten Timbers is associated with the 64th
hexagram, Fire over Water. The yang lines here can be viewed as the axles of a cart. As Fire is moves upward, and Water downward, the lower axle here risks being bogged down or stuck, a vulnerability which might well be used against one's opponent [1], [28].
VOCAB LIST 25:
leather: 皮/皮革: pí/pígé
leather belt: 皮带: pídài
perfume: 香水: xiāngshuǐ
paper: 纸: zhǐ
to bite/take a bite: 咬/咬一口: yǎo/yǎo yīkǒu scarf: 围巾: wéijīn
pillar: 栋梁/柱子: dòngliáng
column(architectural): 柱子: zhùzi
remote control: 遥控器: yáokòng qì
napkin: 面纸: miàn zhǐ
hill: 小山: xiǎoshān
luggage bag: 行李袋: xínglǐ dài
to argue/debate: 争论: zhēnglùn
to argue/quarrel: 吵架/争吵: chǎojià/zhēngchǎo
reasonable: 合理: hélǐ
price: 价格: jiàgé
to replace: 替换: tìhuàn
killer/assassin: 杀手: shāshǒu
paint: 油漆: yóuqī
to paint: 刷油漆: shuā yóuqī
brush: 刷子: shuāzi
to push: 推: tuī
air conditioner: 空调: kòngtiáo
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New Characters:
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Sample Sentences 25:
1) 你的香水很好闻。
Trans.: Your perfume smells very good.
2) I. 把我的皮带和围巾带给我，可以吗？
II. 它们在哪？
III. 在我的行李袋里。
3) 这些年轻人是国家的栋梁。
4) 这个柱子好像不太直。
A: 在小山上，有一个小店卖的遥控器不贵。
7) 别推你的弟弟。
Trans.: Don’t push your little brother.
8) Q: 他们为什么吵架？
9) Q: 你在看什么书？
A: 是一本关于杀手的书。
10) 要刷油漆的话，需要一些质量好的刷子。
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