To Remove the Firewood Under the Cooking Pot, 釜底抽薪 - 36 Strategies
From World's Chinese Wiki
36 Strategies - Strategy No 19: To remove the firewood under the cooking pot, 釜底抽薪
Original: 不敌其力，而消其势，兑下乾上之象。
Modern: 不直接面对敌人的锋芒，而是间接瓦解敌人的气势，也就是说以柔克刚的方法转弱为强。
English: Direct confrontation may not be advisable when facing a strong opponent. It may be better to use tactics to destroy his morale.
Contents |
Illustration
Towards the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the warlords are fighting among each other and at the northern part of China, Hebei region, one warlord stand out and that is Yuan Shao. In the year 199 AD, Yuan Shao attacked Xu Chang with 100,000 troops. At that time, Cao Cao was at Guan Du with only 20,000 troops to defend against Yuan Shao. The stand up between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao last for a long time and provision supply became an issue during the war. Yuan Shao sent for another 10,000 carts of provision from his base and stationed it at Wu Cao.
On hearing that Yuan Shao did not have enough troops to defend Wu Cao, Cao Cao immediately lead 5000 men disguised as Yuan Shao troops to Wu Cao. Under the cover of the night, Cao Cao's troops surrounded Wu Cao and before long, raided the supply depot and set fire to many of the provision there. Yuan Shao on hearing the attack and knowing that his large troops needs large amount of provision, was lost for action. News of the attack also spread through Yuan Shao camp and the morale of the soldiers were affected. Cao Cao took this opportunity to deal a huge blow to Yuan Shao troops. Yuan Shao was badly defeated and managed to escape back to Hebei with only 800 soldiers.
东汉末年，军阀混战，河北袁绍乘势崛起。公元199年，袁绍率领十万大军攻打许昌。当时，曹操据守官渡（今河南中牟北），兵力只有二万多人。两军离河对峙。袁绍仗着人马众多，派兵攻打白马。曹操表面上放弃白马，命令主力开向延津渡口，摆开渡河架势。袁绍怕后方受敌，迅速率主力西进，阻挡曹军渡河。谁知曹操虚晃一枪之后，突派精锐回袭白马，斩杀颜良，初战告捷。
由于两军相持了很长时间，双方粮草供给成了关键。袁绍从河北调集了一万多车粮草，屯集在大本营以北四十里的乌巢。曹操探听乌巢井无重兵防守，决定偷袭乌巢，断其供应。他亲自率五千精兵打着袁绍的旗号，衔枚急走，夜袭乌巢，乌巢袁军还没有弄清真相，曹军已经包围了粮仓。一把大火点燃，顿时浓烟四起。曹军乘势消灭了守粮袁军，袁军的一万车粮草，顿时化为灰烬，袁绍大军闻讯，惊恐万状，供应断绝，军心浮动，袁绍一时没了主意。曹操此时，发动全线进攻，袁军士兵已丧失战斗力，十万大军四散溃逃。袁军大败，袁绍带领八百亲兵，艰难地杀出重围，回到河北，从此一蹶不振。