36+stratagems,+chaos+stratagems

Chaos Stratagems
(Return to Book archives) (Return to the 36 stratagems)

19. Remove the firewood under the cooking pot
 * **Quote:** ||
 * Take out the leading argument or asset of someone; "steal someone's thunder". ||

20. Catch a fish while the water is disturbed
 * **Quote:** ||
 * Create confusion and use this confusion to further your own goals. ||

21. Slough off the cicada's golden shell Mask yourself. Either leave flamboyant traits behind, thus going incognito; or just masquerade yourself and create an illusion to fit your goals and distract others. With the Battle of Gallipoli evacuation the British and Anzac forces were able to retreat without being routed by creating the illusion that their trenches remained occupied.

In the Biblical story of the judge, Gideon in the Book of Judges, the smaller Israelite army, led by Gideon, was able to defeat the larger Midianite army by first carrying torches and trumphets, thus appearing as the torch bearers of a much larger force that had surrounded the Midianite encampment.

22. Shut the door to catch the thief
 * **Quote:** ||
 * If you have the chance to completely capture the enemy then you should do so thereby bringing the battle or war to a quick and lasting conclusion. To allow your enemy to escape plants the seeds for future conflict. But if they succeed in escaping, be wary of giving chase. ||

23. Befriend a distant state while attacking a neighbour
 * **Quote:** ||
 * It is known that nations that border each other become enemies while nations separated by distance and obstacles make better allies. When you are the strongest in one field, your greatest threat is from the second strongest in your field, not the strongest from another field. ||

Otto von Bismarck made the League of the Three Emperors and treaties with the British Empire and Italy in order to isolate France, from which he feared an attack.

24. Obtain safe passage to conquer the State of Guo
 * **Quote:** ||
 * Borrow the resources of an ally to attack a common enemy. Once the enemy is defeated, use those resources to turn on the ally that lent you them in the first place. ||

The Peninsular War started when Napoleon attempted to conquer Spain by stealth, under the guise of friendship and forming an alliance against Britain and Portugal.