Beauty Scheme, 美人计 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 31: Beauty Scheme, 美人计
Original: 兵强者，攻其将；将智者，伐其情。将弱兵颓，其势自萎。利用御寇，顺相保也。
Modern: 如果敌人的兵力强大，就设法打击将领；如果敌人的将领足智多谋，就要挫败他的意志。敌人将领斗志衰弱，兵卒士气低落，敌军的战斗力酒会丧失殆尽。充分利用敌人弱点进行控制和分化瓦解，就可以保存自己，扭转局势。
English: With regards to a strong enemy, one should aim to control its general. Against an intelligent enemy general, one should plot to dampen his morale and will to fight. Once the generals fighting spirit is quenched, the army will be weakened. Therefore, one should try to hit the enemy at its weaknesses while conserving one's energy.
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In Strategy No. 5 we have mentioned about the fight between the State of Wu and State of Yue. Gou Jian who is the lord of Yue was defeated by Fu Chai, the Lord of Wu first and became Fu Chai's surbordinate. Gou Jian was subservient to Fu Chai, gaining his trust in the process. In the end, after a long humiliating period, Gou Jian was allowed to go back to the State of Yue. When he was back to Yue, Gou Jian was determined to avenge his humiliation. One Yue official spoked to Gou Jian saying,"A bird that flies high can die because of food. A fish that is swims deep can die because of bait. To seek revenge, we should first reduce their fighting spirit. Only then can are we able to achieve our aim."
Noting this, Gou Jian sent two ladies, considered to be the most beautiful during that time, Xi Shi and Zheng Dan, to Fu Chai. Gou Jian also sent tribute to Fu Chai every year. These actions gained more of Fu Chai's trust. And when Fu Chai led an expedition against the State of Qi, Gou Jian even lend him an army to achieve his goal. Gou Jian went to congratulat Fu Chai on his victory as well. This reduced Fu Chai guard against Gou Jian.
Fu Chai being licentious was indeed smitten by the two ladies so much so he does not listen to the advice of his important official, Wu Zixu anymore or even attend to court matters. In the end, in the year 482BC, when the State of Wu was met with a serious drought, Gou Jian led a strike against State of Wu and defeated Fu Chai.
前面曾讲到春秋时吴越之战，勾践先败于夫差。吴王夫差罚勾践夫妇在吴王宫里服劳役，借以羞辱他。越王勾践在吴王夫差面前卑躬屈膝，百般逢迎，骗取了夫差的信任，终于放他回到越国。后来越国趁火打劫，终于消灭了吴国，逼得夫差拔剑自刎。
那所趁之“火”是怎样烧起来的呢？原来勾践成功地使用了“美人计”。勾践被释回越国之后，卧薪尝胆，不忘雪耻。吴国强大，靠武力，越国不能取胜。越大夫文种向他献上一计：“高飞之鸟，死于美食，深泉之鱼，死于芳饵，要想复国雪耻，应投其所好，衰其斗志，这样，可置夫差于死地。”于是勾践挑选了两名绝代佳人：西施、郑旦，送给夫差，并年年向吴王进献珍奇珠宝。夫差认为勾践已被他臣服，所以一点也不加怀疑。夫差整日与美人饮酒作乐，连大臣伍子胥的劝谏也完全听不进去。后来，吴国进攻齐国，勾践还出兵帮助吴王伐齐，借以表示忠心，麻痹夫差。吴国打胜之后，勾践还亲自到吴国祝贺。
夫差贪恋女色，一天比一天厉害，根本不想过问政事。伍于胥力谏无效，反被逼自尽。勾践看在眼里，喜在心中。公元前482年，吴国大旱，勾践乘夫差北上会盟之时，突出奇兵伐吴，吴国终于被越所灭，夫差也只能一死了之。