To Fish in Muddy Water, 混水摸鱼 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 20: To fish in muddy water, 混水摸鱼
Original: 乘其阴乱，利其弱而无主。随，以向晦入宴息。
Modern: 趁敌人内部纷乱之际，利用其虚弱而无主见的条件，迫使敌人随从我方的意志，就像人到了夜晚要入睡一样。
English: When the enemy is in a state of confusion, one should take advantage and gain control when he is weak and without proper direction. The best way to control the enemy is to let nature takes its course as like all men have to eat and rest.
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During the first year of the Tang Dynasty, the Qi Dan people from the north continuously make incursions into the Tang Territories. The court of Tang Dynasty appointed Zhang Shou Gui as the Governor of Youzhou to settle the problem of the Qi Dan's incursions. The Qi Dan general in charge of conquering Youzhou was Ke Tu Gan. Ke Tu Gan tried many a times times to take over Youzhou but to no avail. So he decided as a ruse, to ask for a truce and seek to be under the Tang Court. Zhang Shou Gui knew immediately it was a ruse, given the fact that the Qi Dan's strength is still strong. He decided to set a counter-ruse instead. The next day, Governor Zhang sent Wang Hui as an envoy to Ke Tu Gan's camp on the pretence of accepting the truce but it is actually to seek out enemy's information.
At the camp, Ke Tu Gan threw a feast for Wang Hui and all the Qi Dan generals were there. During the feast, Wang Hui noticed that not all the generals are hostile towards the Tang Court. Wang Hui also managed to find out there is a Qi Dan general call Li Guo Zhe that is at odds with Ke Tu Gan.
After the feast, Wang Hui went to look for Li Guo Zhe. Pretending not to know the relationship between him and Ke Tu Gan, Wang Hui heaped praises on Ke Tu Gan in front of Li Guo Zhe. Li Guo Zhe was boiling inside when he heard the compliments until he got so angry, he blurted out everything including the fact that Ke Tu Gan is about to attack Youzhou with the new reinforcement.
Wang Hui then tried to persuade Li Guo Zhe to switch side, promising that the Tang Court would hire him and make full use of him. Li Guo Zhe was persuaded and make his intention on switching side know to Wang Hui. Wang Hui on completing his mission went back to Youzhou. The next evening, Li Guo Zhe led his own troops and stormed Ke Tu Gan's camp. Before he was able to react, Ke Tu Gan was killed by Li Guo Zhe. The camp was thrown into total chaos. The Tang troops took the opportunity to rout Qi Dan's troops and scored a decisive victory. Governor Zhang took the opportunity and was able to capture Qi Dan's King, thus completing his mission of stopping Qi Dan's incursions.
唐朝开元年间，契丹叛乱，多次侵犯唐朝。朝廷派张守圭为幽州节度使，平定契丹之乱。契丹大将可突干几次攻幽州，未能攻下。可突干想探听唐军虚实，派使者到幽州，假意表示愿意重新归顺朝廷，永不进犯。张守圭知道契丹势力正旺，主动求和，必定有诈。他将计就计，客气地接待了来使。第二天，他派王悔代表朝廷到可突干营中宣抚，并命王悔一定要探明契丹内部的底细。王悔在契丹营中受到热情接待，他在招待酒宴上仔细观察契丹众将的一举一动。他发现，契丹全将在对朝廷的态度上并不一致。他又从一个小兵口中探听到分掌兵权的李过折一向与可突干有矛盾，两人貌合神离．互不服气。王悔特意去拜访李过折，装作不了解他和可突干之间的矛盾，当着李过折的面，假意大肆夸奖可突干的才干。李过折听罢，怒火中烧，说可突干主张反唐，使契丹陷于战乱，人民十分怨恨。并告诉王悔，契丹这次求和完全是假意，可突干已向突厥借兵，不日就要攻打幽州。王悔乘机劝说李过折，唐军势力浩大，可突汗肯定失败。他如脱离可突汗，建功立业，朝廷保证一定会重用他。李过折果然心动，表示愿意归顺朝廷。王悔任务完成，立即辞别契丹王返回幽州。第二天晚上，李过折率领本部人马，突袭可突干的中军大帐。可突干毫无防备，被李过折斩于营中，这一下，契丹营大乱。忠于可突干的大将涅礼召集人马，与李过折展开激战，杀了李过折。张守圭探得消息，立即亲率人马赶来接应李过折的部从。唐军火速冲入契丹军营，契丹军内正在火并，混乱不堪。张守圭乘势发动猛攻，生擒涅礼，大破契丹军。从此，契丹叛乱被平息。