The Strategy of Self-Mutilation
故事全文
In the Three Kingdoms Period, after Cao Cao executed Cai Mao, the victim's brothers, Cai Jhong and Cai He, plotted a false surrender to Jhou yu. Noticing that they did not bring their families with them, Jhou Yu knew that this was a trick. Pretending to be unaware, Jhou Yu called on his old comrade Huan Gai to perform a two-man show of "self-mutilation" in front of the two spies. Jhou Yu had previously given an order that said anybody who says the words "surrender" in his army will be executed. The next day Jhou Yu ordered an attack on the Cao army. Huan Gai was against it. He said, "We cannot possible defeat Cao Cao's huge army. Why not just surrender now?" Jhou Yu pretended to be furious at those remarks and ordered Huan Gai to be beheaded. Everybody fell on their knees to plead for Huan Gai's life. So Jhou Yu relented and said, "All right. I hereby commute your death penalty. But you shall be caned fifty times as punishment."
Afterwards, Huan Gai wrote a letter of defection to Cao Cao. And Cao Cao'spy Cai Jhong was able to verify that Huan Gai was nearly beaten to death. The usually paranoid Cao Cao therefore believed him. Huan Gai wrote, "The military supply ships I am going to take with me tonight when I defect will be flying the colors of blue dragons. We will meet in the middle of the river." That night, at the sight of a whole fleet flying blue dragon flags, Cao Cao said joyfully, "Magnificent! He even brought a big present for me." When the fleet came close, Cao Cao's military advisor suddently noticed something wrong and shouted out loud, "Supply ships are usually very heavy. These ships take on too little water. We have been tricked. Turn back immediately!"
As soon as he said that, the supply ships started to burn. At that time, there was an east wind blowing the fire from the supply ships towards Cao Cao's fleet. And because Cao Cao's fleet of ships were chained together, the ships could not turn around in time to get away from the fire. As a result, the fire spread from ship to ship, and Cao Cao's entire fleet was completely burned.
Strategy 34: The Strategy of Self-Mutilation
Injuring yourself in order to win the trust of your enemy. Then spy and sow discourse among the enemy to cause division and strife, weakening the enemy until final victory is achieved.
