Chapter 1: Winning Strategies

1. Deceive the sky to cross the ocean (Traditional Chinese: 瞞天過海; Simplified Chinese: 瞒天过海; Pinyin: Mán tiān guò hǎi)
   Moving about in the darkness and shadows, occupying isolated places, or hiding behind screens will only attract suspicious attention. To lower an enemy's guard you must act in the open and hide your true intentions under the guise of common every day activities.
   
   
2. Besiege Wèi to rescue Zhào (Traditional Chinese: 圍魏救趙; Simplified Chinese: 围魏救赵; Pinyin: Wéi Wèi jiù Zhào)
   When the enemy is too strong to be attacked directly, then attack something he holds dear. Know that in all things he cannot be superior. Somewhere there is a gap in the armour, a weakness that can be attacked instead.
   The origins of this proverb is from the Warring States Period. The state of Wèi attacked Zhao and laid siege to its capital Handan. Zhào turned to Qí for help, but the Qí general Sun Bin determined it would be unwise to meet the army of Wèi head on, so he instead attacked their capital at Daliang. The army of Wèi retreated in haste, and they were ambushed and defeated at the Battle of Guiling, with the Wèi general Pang Juan slain on the field.
   
   
3. Kill with a borrowed knife (Traditional Chinese: 借刀殺人; Simplified Chinese: 借刀杀人; Pinyin: Jiè dāo shā rén)
   Attack using the strength of another (in a situation where using one's own strength is not favourable). Trick an ally into attacking him, bribe an official to turn traitor, or use the enemy's own strength against him.
   
   
4. Substitute leisure for labour (Traditional Chinese: 以逸待勞; Simplified Chinese: 以逸待劳; Pinyin: Yǐ yì dài láo)
   It is an advantage to choose the time and place for battle. In this way you know when and where the battle will take place, while your enemy does not. Encourage your enemy to expend his energy in futile quests while you conserve your strength. When he is exhausted and confused, you attack with energy and purpose.
   
   
5. Loot a house on fire (Chinese: 趁火打劫; Pinyin: Chèn huǒ dǎ jié)
   When a country is beset by internal conflicts, when disease and famine ravage the population, when corruption and crime are rampant, then it will be unable to deal with an outside threat. This is the time to attack.
   
   
6. Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west (Traditional Chinese: 聲東擊西; Simplified Chinese: 声东击西; Pinyin: Shēng dōng jí xī)
   In any battle the element of surprise can provide an overwhelming advantage. Even when face to face with an enemy, surprise can still be employed by attacking where he least expects it. To do this you must create an expectation in the enemy's mind through the use of a feint.

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