Putting Flowers on Tree, 树上开花 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 29: Putting flowers on Tree, 树上开花
Original: 借局布势，力小势大。鸿渐于陆，其羽可以为仪也。
Modern: 借助别人的局面布成有利的阵势，兵力虽少，但气势颇大。鸿雁在高空飞翔，全凭其丰满的羽翼助成气势。
English: Borrowing a setting to boost one's image. Although one may be on the weak side, one's battle array can appear to be strong.
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Towards the end of the Han Dynasty, when Liu Biao, one of the warlords had died, Liu Bei was entrusted the Jing province but he was very weak then. On seeing the situation, Cao Cao brought an army to attack Liu Bei towards Wang city. Liu Bei together with the peasants and army retreat to Jiang Ling. Because the numbers of peasants and army that was retreating was huge, the retreat was very slow. Cao Cao managed to reach the rear of the retreating contingent and had a small battle with Liu Bei's army. Liu Bei lost and had to retreat, asking his sworn brother, Zhang Fei, to cover his rear. But Zhang Fei had only 20 to 30 calvary soldiers with him, there was no match at all. But Zhang Fei came up with a plan. He ordered his calvary soldiers to cut down some branches, tie them to the back of their horses and run in large circles in the forest. Zhang Fei himself riding on his black steed went to the middle of the bridge at Chang Ban Slope, to wait for Cao Cao's army.
When Cao Cao arrived, he saw that Zhang Fei was alone at the bridge and was curious why was this so till he saw the dust clouds that was rising above the forest. Cao Cao suspected that there might be an ambush thus decided to stop advancing. Zhang Fei was thus able to stop Cao Cao's large army with only 20-30 calvary soldiers by using "Putting flowers on Tree" ruse. This bought time for Liu Bei's contingent to retreat succesfully to Jiang Ling.
无人不知张飞是一员猛将，而他却是一个有勇有谋的大将。刘备起兵之初，与曹操交战，多次失利。刘表死后，刘备在荆州，势孤力弱。这时,曹操领兵南下，直达宛城，刘备荒忙率荆州军民退守江陵。由于老百姓跟着撤退的人太多，所以撤退的速度非常慢。曹兵追到当阳，与刘备的部队打了一仗，刘备败退，他的妻子和儿子都在乱军中被冲散了。刘备只得狼狈败退，令张飞断后，阻截追兵。
张飞只有二三十个骑兵，怎敌得过曹操的大队人马？那张飞临危不惧，临阵不慌，顿时心生一计。他命令所率的二三十名骑兵都到树林子里去，砍下树枝，绑在马后，然后骑马在林中飞跑打转。张飞一人骑着黑马，横着丈二长矛，威风凛凛站在长板坡的桥上。
追兵赶到，见张飞独自骑马横矛站在桥中，好生奇怪，又看见桥东树林里尘土飞扬。追击的曹兵马上停止前进，以为树林之中定有伏兵。张飞只带二三十名骑兵，阻止住了追击的曹兵，让刘备和荆州军民顺利撤退，靠的就是这“树上开花”计。