Self Injury Scheme, 苦肉计 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 34: Self Injury Scheme, 苦肉计
Original: 人不自害，受害必真。假真真假，间以得行。童蒙之吉，顺以巽也。
Modern: 人们通常不会自己伤害自己。如果受到伤害必定不受怀疑。我方以假做真，令敌人信假为真，这样离间的计谋就能实现了。要像欺骗幼童那样迷惑敌人，顺势进行活动。
English: No one would intentionally harm himself. Therefore, if someone is hurt, others would believe that he has been injured by others. Pretence will thus gain the enemy's trust and sow discord among enemy members. This is similar to playing with an innocent child. As long as you act according to his wishes, you will be able to trick him.
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During the Spring and Autumn Period, Ji Guang killed the Lord of Wu, Liao, and declared himself the lord of State of Wu. He gave himself the tilte He Lu. The deceased lord's son Qing Ji was gathering capable men to overthrow He Lu. As Qing Ji was courageous and intelligent, he posed a great threat to He Lu's life. Wu Zixu, He Lu's trusted advisor recommended Yao Li, an assassin to him.
Yao Li was small in size but this disadvantage was made up for it with his courage and intelligence. He revealed to He Lu his plan for befriending Qing Ji," Qing Ji is now looking for capable men. I will pretend to be an exile from your kingdom who wishes to join his camp. To obtain his trust, Your Lordship wll have to chop off my right arm and execute my whole family." Such drastic actions! He Lu was reluctant at first but finally agreed to the plan. Yao Li was arrested and imprisoned on the pretext of having offended the Lord and had his right arm chopped off as punishment. Later, Yao Li was secretly released but He Lu announced that he had escaped from prison and had his family beheaded.
Yao Li went to Qing Ji. When Qing Ji saw Yao Li's amputated arm and learn that his wife and children had been executed, he believed Yao Li's story and kept him as his aide.
When Qing Ji planned to attack Wu, Yao Li volunteered to be the guide, convincing Qing Ji that he was the best person for the job. Troops were sent both by land and sea and Yao Li sailed on the same boat as Qing Ji. When the boat was in the middle of the sea, Yao Li took out a spear and ran it through Qing Ji.
Qing Ji, an experience fighter himself, caught Yao Li and pushed his head into the water. When his men came forward to kill Yao Li, Qing Ji said,"This man is a courageous fighter.No one should kill two courageous fighters in a day." Qing Ji then pulled out the spear from his body and bled to death. As for Yao Li, after completing the mission, he too committed suicide.
春秋时期，吴王阖闾杀了吴王僚，夺得王位。他十分惧怕吴王僚的儿子庆忌为父报仇。庆忌正在卫国扩大势力，准备攻打齐国，夺取王位。
阖闾整日提心吊胆，要大臣伍子胥替他设法除掉庆忌。伍于胥向阖闾推荐了一个智勇双全的勇士，名叫要离。阖闾见要离矮小瘦弱，说道：“庆忌人高马大，勇力过人，如何杀得了他？”要离说：“刺杀庆忌，要靠智不靠力。只要能接近他，事情就好办。”阖闾说：“庆忌对吴国防范最严，怎么能够接近他呢？”要离说：“只要大王砍断我的右臂，杀掉我的妻子，我就能取信于庆忌。”阖闾不肯答应。要离说：“为国亡家，为主残身，我心甘情愿。”
吴都忽然流言四起：阖闾弑君篡位，是无道昏君。吴王下今追查，原来流言是要离散布的。阖闾下令捉了要离和他的妻子，要离当面大骂昏王。阖闾假借追查同谋，未杀要离而只是斩断了他的右臂，把他夫妻二人关进监狱。
几天后，伍子胥让狱卒放松看管，让要离乘机逃出。阖闾听说要离逃跑，就杀了他的妻子。这件事不断传遍吴国，邻近的国家也都知道了。要离逃到卫国，求见庆忌，要求庆忌为他报断臂杀妻之仇，庆忌接纳了他。
要离果然接近了庆忌，他劝说庆忌伐吴。要离成了庆忌的贴身亲信。庆忌乘船向吴国进发，要离乘庆忌没有防备，从背后用矛尽力刺去，刺穿了胸膛。庆忌的卫士要捉拿要离。庆忌说：“敢杀我的也是个勇士，放他走吧！”庆忌因失血过多而死。要离完成了刺杀庆忌的任务，家毁身残，也自刎而死。