This article explains Sun Tzu’s tactic of feigning humility to inflate enemy arrogance. Modu Chanyu yielded treasures and his wife to lull Donghu, then crushed them. It also parallels Lu Xun’s flattering ploy that tricked arrogant Guan Yu into losing Jingzhou.
This article explains Sun Tzu’s tactic of provoking hot-tempered foes. Two contrasts: Cao Jiu lost Chenggao after being insulted into reckless battle, while Sima Yi stayed calm amid humiliating gifts and outlasted Zhuge Liang, proving emotional control wins wars.
This article illustrates Sun Tzu’s rule “evade strong foes” via Chu’s invasion of Sui. Wise Ji Liang advised striking Chu’s weak right flank, yet the vain Sui lord fought their elite left wing head-on, suffering a crushing defeat due to blind pride over rational tactics.
This article analyzes the Battle of Xiangfan through Sun Tzu’s strategies. Sima Yi urged Cao Cao to ally with Wu, luring Sun Quan with territory to attack Guan Yu’s rear. Arrogant Guan Yu ignored hidden threats, lost Jingzhou, embodying the cost of ignoring diplomatic and deceptive warfare principles.
Based on The Art of War, this article analyzes Guan Yu’s ruinous arrogance. Wu’s Lü Meng and Lu Xun used feigned weakness and flattering words to relax his vigilance. Guan Yu moved rear troops north, lost Jingzhou, and his defeat crippled Shu Han’s unification ambitions.
This article takes Jingzhou’s fall as a deception case for Sun Tzu’s rule. Eastern Wu used Lü Meng’s feigned illness and Lu Xun’s flattering letters to lull arrogant Guan Yu, bribed his discontented subordinates, and seized Jingzhou stealthily, costing Guan Yu his life.
This article illustrates Sun Tzu’s tactic “feign inaction when ready to strike” via the Baideng Siege. Modu hid elite troops and showed weaklings, trapping Emperor Gaozu for seven days, a warning against mistaking feigned vulnerability for true weakness.
This article analyzes Sun Bin’s classic deception at the Battle of Maling. He reduced cooking stoves daily to feign desertion, luring arrogant Pang Juan into an ambush. It perfectly embodies Sun Tzu’s maxim of hiding strength to manipulate foes psychologically.
This story tells how strategist Sun Bin helped General Tian Ji beat King Wei in horse races. By rearranging horse tiers to sacrifice one round for two wins, it illustrates strategic trade-offs and instrumental rationality echoing Sun Tzu’s deceptive warfare thought.