Deceiving Heaven to Cross the Sea, 瞒天过海 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 1:Deceiving Heaven to Cross the Sea, 瞒天过海
Original: 备周则意怠，常见则不疑。阴在阳之内，不在阳之对。太阳，太阴。
Modern: 自认为防备周到，就容易产生麻痹松懈的情绪；平常看惯的就不在怀疑。秘密蕴藏在暴露的事物中，而不是与暴露的事物相排斥。所以那些公开的事物，也可以蕴藏非常机密的东西。
English: When one thinks he is well-prepared, he will tend to let down his guard. Things we see often, we will not be suspicious about. Secrets should be kept in the obvious, and not something that is incompatible with the obvious. In this way, the obvious can be used to hide the secrets in them.
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Illustration
In the year 643 BC, 17 years into his reign, the Emperor of Tang Dynasty, Emperor Tang Tai Zong was asked to send his troop to help a small country. Emperor Tang Tai Zong decided to personally lead his men of 300,000. His loyal subjects tried to dissuade him from going as the trip required them to cross the sea, but to no avail. The Emperor, however, lost his heart to cross the sea after seeing the immensity of it. He summoned his subjects to think of a plan for him to cross the sea but none was able to offer a good plan.
When the Emperor asked again, a follower reported that an old but rich peasant living by the sea requested to see him. The old man claimed that he would be able to provide food for the whole troops, for their journey across the sea. The Emperor on hearing this was delighted. The old man invited the Emperor to his house for drinks. Emperor Tang happily agreed and went with his men.
After traveling for a few miles, the Emperor and his men were then led into an enormous tent. Inside the tent, it was beautifully decorated and there were servants inside. There the feasting began in fine wine, food and music. Not long after, the Emperor and his subjects heard the strong winds blowing and thundering roars of wave. The Emperor suspected something and order some of his men to rip open the tent. He then realised that they were not in the house of the old man but was actually out at sea. And the old man was actually Xue Ren Gui in disguise and he is the creator of this strategy 'Deceiving Heaven to Cross the Sea.
见《永乐大典—薛仁贵征辽事略》。唐太宗贞观十七年，御驾亲征，领三十万大军以宁东土。一日，浩荡大军东进来到大海边上，帝见眼前只是白浪排空，海茫无穷，即向众总管问及过海之计，四下面面相觑。忽传一个近居海上的豪民请求见驾，并称三十万过海军粮此家业已独备。帝大喜，便率百官随这豪民来到海边。只见万户皆用一彩幕遮围，十分严密。豪民老人东向倒步引帝入室。室内更是绣幔彩锦，茵褥铺地。百官进酒， 宴饮甚乐。不久，风声四起，波响如雷，杯盏倾侧，人身摇动，良久不止。太宗警惊，忙令近臣揭开彩幕察看，不看则已，一看愕然。满目皆一片清清海水横无际涯，哪里是什么在豪民家作客，大军竟然已航行在大海之上了！原来这豪民是新招壮士薛仁贵扮成，这“瞒天过海”计策就是他策划的。