Feign an Attack in the East and Attack in the West, 声东击西 - 36 Strategies
From World's Chinese Wiki
36 Strategies - Strategy No 6:Feign an attack in the east and attack in the west, 声东击西
Original: 敌志乱萃(cuì)，不虞。坤下兑上之象，利其不自主而取之。
Modern: 敌人乱得像野生的草，意料不道所要发生的事，这是《易经》萃卦中所说的那种混乱溃败的象征。因此，要利用敌人不能自主的机会去夺取胜利。
English: The enemy is in chaos and have no idea what will happen. This is similar to the Cui sign in Book of Change. One should seize the opportunity to attack the enemy when it is not able to regain full control.
Contents |
Illustration
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Ban Chao was sent to Xiyu with the goal of persuading the smaller countries to join forces with the Han forces to attack Xiongnu. But for the alliances to work, the Han forces have to create a north-south corridor, which cuts across the small country of Sha Che. Sha Che has been rallying countries to succumb to Xiongnu and go against the Han. So Ban Chao made a decision to attack Sha Che. Sha Che on knowing the situation seek for reinforcement from Gui Ci, and Gui Ci sent a reinforcement of 50,000. Ban Chao, together with another ally the Yu Tian , have only 25,000 soldiers,thus was no match for Sha Che numerically, so Ban Chao hatch up a plot to achieve victory.
Ban Chao spread rumors within his camp that he is contemplating retreat since they do not have the numerical advantage. And this rumor was intentionally spread to the captured Sha Che soldiers. That very night, the Han troops start to retreat. The Yu Tian troops retreat to the east while Ban Chao and his troops retreat tho the east and when they retreat, they pretend to be retreating hastily and in disarray. The prisoners-of-war took the 'chance' to retreat and report the matter to Gui Ci.
Gui Ci was happy to hear the news and thought that the Han and Yu Tian forces are afraid of him. Gui Ci led his 10,000 of his forces to chase after the retreating troops. Ban Chao and Yu Tian troops had used to darkness to help them hide away from Gui Ci. Gui Ci being very eager to win, rush his troops to find Ban Chao, thus very soon they are far away from Sha Che. Once Gui Ci have gone far, Ban Chao and Yu Tian troops turn back and launch an attack on Sha Che. Sha Che troops were caught by surprise and in the end, the King of Sha Che surrendered to the Han. Gui Ci, after a unfruitful night, heard that Sha Che had suffered huge losses and surrendered to Han. Knowing he is fighting a lost cause, he gathered what is remaining of his troops and return to his place.
东汉时期，班超出使西域，目的是团结西域诸国共同对抗匈奴。为了使西域诸国便于共同对抗匈奴，必须先打通南北通道。地处大漠西缘的莎车国，煽动周边小国，归附匈奴，反对汉朝。班超决定首先平定莎车。莎车国王北向龟兹求援，龟兹王亲率五万人马，援救莎车。班超联合于阗等国，兵力只有二万五千人，敌众我寡，难以力克，必须智取。班超遂定下声东击西之计，迷惑敌人。他派人在军中散布对班超的不满言论，制造打不赢龟兹，有撤退的迹象。并且特别让莎车俘虏听得一清二楚。这天黄昏，班超命于阗大军向东撤退．自己率部向西撤退，表面上显得慌乱，故意放俘虏趁机脱逃。俘虏逃回莎车营中，急忙报告汉军慌忙撤退的消息。龟兹王大喜，误认班超惧怕自己而慌忙逃窜，想趁此机会，追杀班超。他立刻下令兵分两路，追击逃敌。他亲自率一万精兵向西追杀班超。班超胸有成竹，趁夜幕笼罩大漠，撤退仅十里地，部队即就地隐蔽。龟兹王求胜心切，率领追兵从班超隐蔽处飞驰而过，班超立即集合部队，与事先约定的东路于阗人马，迅速回师杀向莎车。班超的部队如从天而降，莎车猝不及防，迅速瓦解。莎车王惊魂未定，逃走不及，只得请降。龟兹王气势汹汹，追走一夜，未见班超部队踪影，又听得莎车已被平定，人马伤亡稍重的报告，大势已去，只有收拾残部，悻悻然返回龟兹。