Befriend the Far And Attack the Near, 远交近攻 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 23: Befriend the far and attack the near, 远交近攻
Original: 形禁势格，利从近取，害以远隔。上火下泽。
Modern: 地理位置受到限制，形势发展受到阻碍，攻击近处之敌对自己有利，攻击远处之敌对自己有害。火焰是向上蹿，水是向下流的，天地万物的发展变化莫不如此。
English: Sometimes, it is more beneficial to attack a nearby enemy than a distant one because of geographic constraints. So it is advisable to form an alliances with a distant enemy to destroy the nearby one.
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Illustration
During the end of the Warring States Period, there were left only seven states. The Qin states had very notable growth both military and economically after it adopts the teaching of Shang Yang in its state administration. On 270 BC, Lord Zhao of Qin wanted to annexed the State of Qi. Fan Sui suggested "Befriend the far and attack the near" strategy. Fan Sui said,"The State of Qi is strong and it is far away from Qin. If we were to attack it, we need to pass by State of Han and Wei. If we send too few troops, we are not able to win. If we send in too many troops, we cannot concretely annexed the land we conquered. Why not attack the nearby States of Han and Wei instead? To prevent the State of Qi from forming an alliance with State of Han and Wei, we proposed an alliance with Qi first." Lord Zhao agreed with Fan Sui and carried out his plan. With that this became the main focus of Qin's foreign policy for the next forty years. Thus State of Qin was later, able to annexed the other six states and united ancient China.
战国末期，七雄争霸。秦国经商鞅变法之后，势力发展最快。秦昭王开始图谋吞并六国，独霸中原。公元前270年，秦昭王准备兴兵伐齐。范睢此时向秦昭王献上 “远交近攻”之策，阻秦国攻齐。他说：齐国势力强大，离秦国又很远，攻打齐国，部队要经过韩、魏两国。军队派少了，难以取胜；多派军队，打胜了也无法占有齐国土地。不如先攻打邻国韩、魏，逐步推进。为了防止齐国与韩、魏结盟，秦昭王派使者主动与齐国结盟。其后四十余年，秦始皇继续坚持“远交近攻”之策，远交齐楚，首先攻下韩、魏，然后又从两翼进兵，攻破赵、燕，统一北方；攻破楚国，平定南方；最后把齐国也收拾了。秦始皇征战十年．终于实现了统一中国的愿望。