Secret Passage through Chen Cang, 暗渡陈仓 - 36 Strategies
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36 Strategies - Strategy No 8: Secret Passage through Chen Cang,暗渡陈仓
Original: 示之以动，利其静而有主，“益动而巽”。
Modern: 故意暴露我方的行动，以牵制敌方在某地集结固守，然后我方迂回到敌人后面发动攻击，攻其不备，出其不意。
English: Intentionally expose movement so as to lure the enemy to defend certain position. Then make a detour to the rear of the enemy and attack, taking him by surprise.
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In 200 BC, before Liu Bang became the Emperor of China and found the Han Dynasty, he was once under the control of Xiang Yu and had to retreat to Han Zhong. Later, Liu Bang managed to break free from Xiang Yu's control and led a troop into Si Chuan. To strengthen his defenses against Liu Bang, Xiang Yu deployed General Zhang Han, a former Qin General, and his troop to monitor Liu Bang's movement. Liu Bang's army was stationed at a place call Shu, surrounded by steep mountains. The main route out of Shu was through wooden bridges. Under the advice of General Zhang Liang, Liu Bang ordered that all the wooden bridges to be burnt. They did this to prevent an attack from Xiang Yu and also to assuage Xiang Yu's fear that he would ever return to take his place.
In the days that followed, Liu Bang appointed Han Xin as his general and began preparing his army for retaliation against Xiang Yu. Just before they were ready to retaliate, Liu Bang ordered soldiers to prepare the burnt briges. Xiang Yu's general, Zhang Han who had stationed his troops on the other side was aware of the movements. So while, wooden bridges were gradually restored, Zhang Han got ready for the attack from Liu Bang's troops. However, there was no sign that Liu Bang's army was charging forward through the almost completed bridges.
General Zhang Han became suspicious and orderd some men to spy on Liu Bang's camp. The men brought back bad news for Zhang Han. Liu Bang had left with all his men leaving behind empty tents. The truth was finally out. Liu Banghad used the restoring work as a decoy so that General Zhang Han would not suspect his main intention. Liu Bang had led his main force secretly out of Shu via a small road to Chen Cang, opposite where General Zhang Han was stationed. Liu Bang's army then launched a surprise attack and defeated Zhang Han's army.
此计是汉大将军韩信创造。“明修栈道，暗渡陈仓”是古代战争史上的著名成功战例。
秦朝末年，政治腐败，群雄并起，纷纷反秦。刘邦的部队首先进入关中，攻进咸阳。势力强大的项羽进入关中后，逼迫刘邦退出关中。鸿门宴上，刘邦险些丧命。刘邦此次脱险后，只得率部退驻汉中。为了麻痹项羽，刘邦退走时，将汉中通往关中的栈道全部烧毁，表示不再返回关中。其实刘邦一天也没有忘记一定要击败项羽，争夺天下。公元前206年，已逐步强大起来的刘邦，派大将军韩信出兵东征。出征之前，韩信派了许多士兵去修复已被烧毁的栈道，摆出要从原路杀回的架势。关中守军闻讯，密切注视修复栈道的进展情况，并派主力部队在这条路线各个关日要塞加紧防范，阻拦汉军进攻。
韩信“明修栈道”的行动，果然奏效，由于吸引了敌军注意力，把敌军的主力引诱到了栈道一线，韩信立即派大军绕道到陈仓（今陕西宝鸡县东）发动突然袭击，一举打败章邯，平定三秦，为刘邦统一中原迈出了决定性的一步。