Borrow a Passage to Attack Guo, 假道伐虢 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 24: Borrow a passage to attack Guo, 假道伐虢
Original: 两大之间，敌胁以从，我假以势。困，有言不信。
Modern: 地处敌我两大国之间，当敌方胁迫它屈服的时候，我方要立即援助，并借机把自己的势力渗透进去。对于处于困境的国家，只有空话而无实际的援助，是不能取得信任。
English: A smaller state situated between enemy and oneself should be given immediate support when the enemy threatens to attack it. In this way one will earn the trust of the smaller state and may eventually exert one's influence on it. Words without action will not win the trust of the small state in a precarious situation.
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During the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Jin was eyeing on two smaller states beside it, the State of Yu and Guo. The problem is the relationship between these two states are strong, whoever is attacked, the other people will definitely send reinforcement. A Jin advisor Xun Xi suggested sowing discord between the two states, by bribing the Lord of Yu with a prized horse and a precious jade piece that the Lord Xian of Jin is holding. But these are prized possession of the Lord of Jin thus he was hesitant. Xun Xi persuaded Lord of Jin,"My lord, there is no need to worry. You will get back your prized possession once you annexed the two states. You are just entrusting them temporarily to the Lord of Yu." Lord Xian was convinced and send someone to present the gifts to Lord of Yu. Lord of Yu was overjoyed when he received the gifts.
For the next step of the plan, Lord Xian sent someone to create trouble at the border of State of Jin and Guo thus creating an excuse to send an army against Guo. Lord Xian requested to borrow a passage from the State of Yu to pass through to attack State of Guo. As the Lord of Yu had initially accepted the gifts from Jin, he felt obliged to accede to the request, but his advisors were against it. But Lord of Yu rationalise his decision by saying,"It would be stupid to honor the alliance to a weak state by sacrificing the relationship with a strong state."
So the Jin troops used the path that they borrowed to attack Guo and they scored a decisive victory. When they returned pass the State of Yu, they share their bounty with the Lord of Yu. The Lord of Yu was immensely happy and even allow the Jin troops to rest near the capital. A few days later, Lord Xian of Jin arrived with a large army and the Lord of Yu went out to welcome Lord Xian. Lord Xian invited Lord of Yu for a hunting trip and the latter obliged. Before long, the capital of Yu was captured by the large Jin army that was left behind. Thus both the States of Yu and Guo was captured.
春秋时期，晋国想吞并邻近的两个小国：虞和虢，这两个国家之间关系不错。晋如袭虞，虢会出兵救援；晋若攻虢，虞也会出兵相助。大臣荀息向晋献公献上一计。他说，要想攻占这两个国家，必须要离间他们，使他们互不支持。虞国的国君贪得无厌，我们正可以投其所好。他建议晋献公拿出心爱的两件宝物，屈产良马和垂棘之壁，送给虞公。献公哪里舍得？苟息说：大王放心，只不过让他暂时保管罢了，等灭了虞国，一切不都又回到你的手中了吗？献公依计而行。虞公得到良马美璧，高兴得嘴都合不拢。
晋国故意在晋、虢边境制造事端，找到了伐虢的借口。晋国要求虞国借道让晋国伐虢，虞公得了晋国的好处，只得答应。虞国大臣宫子奇再三劝说虞公，这件事办不得的。虞虢两国，唇齿相依，虢国一亡，唇亡齿寒，晋国是不会放过虞国的。虞公却说，交一个弱朋友去得罪一个强有力的朋友，那才是傻瓜哩！
晋大军通过虞国道路，攻打虢国，很快就取得了胜利。班师回国时，把劫夺的财产分了许多送给虞公。虞公更是大喜过望。晋军大将里克，这时装病，称不能带兵回国，暂时把部队驻扎在虞国京城附近。虞公毫不怀疑。几天之后，晋献公亲率大军前去，虞公出城相迎。献公约虞公前去打猎。不一会儿，只见京城中起火。虞公赶到城外时，京城已被晋军里应外合强占了。就这样，晋国又轻而易举地灭了虞国。