Escape as the Best Scheme, 走为上 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 36: Escape as the Best, 走为上
Original: 全师避敌。左次无咎，未失常也。
Modern: 全军退却，避开强敌，以退为进，待机破敌，这部违背正常用兵法则。
English: In a situation where the enemy is obviously stronger, total retreat may be the best option. There is nothing wrong with retreating to avoid confrontation with a stronger enemy.
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During the Spring Autumn Period, the State of Chu was a very strong state. Chu was getting ready to attack the State of Jin and it even coerced the State of Chen, Cai, Zheng and Xu to join in the attack. At the same time, Lord Wen of the State of Jin had just conquered State of Cao, a state that is near State of Chu. Lord Jin knew that a battle between Jin and Chu is inevitable.
The commander-in-chief for Chu was Zi Yu and he led his troops towards State of Cao. Lord Wen analyzed the situation and found that the odds are against him, so he decided to retreat first, to avoid the stronger Chu troops. Lord Wen retreated to Chen Pu, a place that is at the border of the State of Jin. There, the terrain is more suitable for defending and Lord Wen sent messengers to the State of Qin and Qi for help.
Zi Yu arrived at Chen Pu and saw that Lord Jin has made preparation for the battle. Lord Wen, on the other hand, heard that the right wing of Chu's troops are the weakest because they consist of soldiers from the State of Chen and Cai. Zi Yu ordered the right and left wing to launch an attack on Lord Wen with the central troops following behind. Lord Wen beat a retreat. On seeing the situation, the Chen and Cai soldiers thought that Lord Wen is retreating again so they gave chase. Out of nowhether, a group of chariots with horses that wore tiger skins rode out. The horses that the Chen and Cai soldiers are riding, thought that the tigers are here. The whole troop was immediately thrown into chaos. Lord Wen had some of his men mixed into the crowd. These men, reported to Zi Yu that the Chu troops had scored a victory. On hearing that and checking out the dust cloud, Zi Yu ordered that the left wing to attack further.
Again Lord Wen pretend to retreat again, and the left wing of Chu's troops fell into an ambush and was exterminated by Lord Wen's army. When Zi Yu's main forced arrived, it was too late, he was surrounded by Lord Wen's army. Battle cries sounded and Zi Yu's troops fought with Lord Wen's army but was outnumbered and caught by surprise. Zi Yu suffered heavy losses, but managed to escape back to Chu.
春秋初期，楚国日益强盛，楚将子玉率师攻晋。楚国还胁迫陈、蔡、郑、许四个小国出兵，配合楚军作战。此时晋文公刚攻下依附楚国的曹国，明知晋楚之战迟早不可避免。
子玉率部浩浩荡荡向曹国进发，晋文公闻讯，分析了形势。他对这次战争的胜败没有把握，楚强晋弱，其势汹汹，他决定暂时后退，避其锋芒。对外假意说道：“当年我被迫逃亡，楚国先君对我以礼相待。我曾与他有约定，将来如我返回晋国，愿意两国修好。如果迫不得已，两国交兵，我定先退避三舍。现在，子玉伐我，我当实行诺言，先退三舍。（古时一舍为三十里。）”
他撤退九十里，已到晋国边界城濮，仗着临黄河，靠太行山，足以御敌。他已事先派人往秦国和齐国求助。
子玉率部追到城濮，晋文公早已严阵以待。晋文公已探知楚国左、中、右三军，以右军最薄弱，右军前头为陈、蔡士兵，他们本是被胁迫而来，并无斗志。子玉命令左右军先进，中军继之。楚右军直扑晋军，晋军忽然又撤退，陈、蔡军的将官以为晋军惧怕，又要逃跑，就紧追不舍。忽然晋军中杀出一支军队，驾车的马都蒙上老虎皮。陈、蔡军的战马以为是真虎，吓得乱蹦乱跳，转头就跑，骑兵哪里控制得住。楚右军大败。晋文公派士兵假扮陈、蔡军士，向子玉报捷：“右师已胜，元帅赶快进兵。”子玉登车一望，晋军后方烟尘蔽天，他大笑道：“晋军不堪一击。”其实，这是晋军诱敌之计，他们在马后绑上树枝，来往奔跑，故意弄得烟尘蔽日，制造假象。子玉急命左军并力前进。晋军上军故意打着帅旗，往后撤退。楚左军又陷于晋国伏击圈，又遭歼灭。等子玉率中军赶到，晋军三军合力，已把子玉团团围住。子玉这才发现，右军、左军都已被歼，自己已陷重围，急令突围。虽然他在猛将成大心的护卫下，逃得性命，但部队丧亡惨重，只得悻悻回国。
这个故事中晋文公的几次撤退，都不是消极逃跑，而是主动退却，寻找或制造战机。所以，“走”，是上策。