Guest Taking Over the Host, 反客为主 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 30: Guest Taking over the Host, 反客为主
Original: 乘隙插足，扼其主机，渐之进也。
Modern: 乘着空隙插足进去，设法控制敌人的要害，这必须循序渐进。
English: Try to put the foot in where there is a crack and eventually, gain control of the brain of enemy. This involves a logical sequence.
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This happened during the end of the Han Dynasty, when warlords are fighting amongst each other for territories.
Yuan Shao and Han Fu used to be ally, and they were in the group of warlords that aimed to overthrow Dong Zhuo but the campaign failed in the end. After the campaign, the strength of Yuan Shao grew together with his ambitions as well. He stationed troops in Hebei for expansion purposes but his provision supply was inadequate. On seeing that his ally lacks provision, Han Fu decided to lend a hand by sending provisions to Yuan Shao.
But Yuan Shao was dissatisfied, he does not like the idea of depending on someone to send him provisions. On heeding the advice of his advisor Feng Ji, he decided to grabbed the provision depot at Ji Zhou. The governor of Ji Zhou was Han Fu himself, but Yuan Shao was desperate to solve his provision problem. Yuan Shao wrote a letter to Gongsun Zan, suggesting that they attack Ji Zhou together. This proposal suited Gongsun Zan very well because he has the intention of attacking Ji Zhou for a long time. So Gongsun Zan accepted Yuan Shao's proposal.
Yuan Shao also sent another messenger to Han Fu informing him that Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan has allied together to attack Ji Zhou. The messenger suggested, " Since Yuan Shao is your good friend, and you have sent him provision before, why not ask him to come over to your side? Ally with him to fend off Gongsun Zan instead." Han Fu agreed with the proposal and sent a letter to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao agreed to change side and went to Ji Zhou with his troops. Yuan Shao was let into the city and slowly he replaced critical defense positions with his own generals. When Han Fu realised that this invited "guest" has taken over the "host", it was too late, so Han Fu escaped from Ji Zhou.
袁绍和韩馥，应当是一对盟友，当年曾经共同讨伐过董卓。后来，袁绍势力渐渐强大，总想不断扩张，他屯兵河内，缺少粮草，十分犯愁。老友韩馥知道情况之后，主动派人送去粮草，帮袁绍解决供应困难。
袁绍觉得等待别人送粮草，不能够解决根本问题。他听了谋士逢纪的劝告，决定夺取粮仓冀(jì)州。而当时的冀州牧正是老友韩馥，袁绍顾不了那么多了，马上下手，实施他的锦囊妙计。他首先绘公孙瓒写了一封信，建议与他一起攻打冀州。公孙瓒早就想找个由头攻占冀州，这个建议，正中下怀。他立即下令，准备发兵攻打冀州。
袁绍又暗地派人去见韩馥，说：“公孙瓒和袁绍联合攻打冀州，冀州难以自保。袁绍过去不是你的老朋友吗？最近你不是还给他送过粮草吗？你何不联合袁绍，对付公孙瓒呢？让袁绍进城，冀州不就保住了吗？” 韩馥只得邀请袁绍带兵进入冀州。这位请来的客人，表面上尊重韩馥，实际上他逐渐将自己的部下一个一个似钉子扎进了冀州的要害部位，这时，韩馥清楚地知道，他这个“主”被“客”取而代之了。为了保全性命，他只得只身逃出冀州去了。