Sun Tzu's Art of War and the Thirty-Six Stratagems

More than 2,300 years ago, China was in the Warring States period, a time of warring states and powerful nations vying for supremacy.

Within the territory of the Zhou State in the Central Plains, there lies a valley with steep cliffs. The valley is lush with trees and dense grass, shrouded in mist, exuding an ethereal aura, yet it is known to all as Ghost Valley. In Ghost Valley dwells a reclusive sage who calls himself Guiguzi. Legend has it that Guiguzi possessed knowledge of the sun, moon, and stars, was skilled in military strategy and tactics, excelled in miscellaneous learning and persuasion, and was an expert in cultivating inner strength and longevity. Even at over a hundred years old, he retained a youthful face and white hair, and was full of vigor.

Guiguzi lectured on a steep, high platform. On days when he lectured, his disciples would climb a long wooden ladder to the platform. Standing on the platform, one could see the verdant mountains in the distance and hear the rustling of the forest in the valley. On one side of the platform stood a thatched cottage made of branches and mountain grass, which was where Guiguzi cultivated his mind and body, and in front of the cottage was the place where Guiguzi lectured.

Guiguzi took in more than a dozen disciples to study military strategy and tactics, among whom Sun Bin (also known as Sun Bin) from Qi and Pang Juan from Wei were particularly outstanding. Pang Juan was competitive and always strived to win; Sun Bin was kind and always humble. The two entered Guiguzi's school in the same year, sharing the ambition to achieve great things, and thus became sworn brothers. Sun Bin was a few months older than Pang Juan, and Pang Juan addressed him as elder brother.

When Guiguzi lectured, he often encouraged his disciples to express their opinions and discuss important world affairs. At that time, the most frequent topic of conversation was who would become the hegemon of the world. On this particular day, the discussion proceeded as usual. "Sun Bin believes that among the seven powerful states, Qi and Qin have the most potential to become hegemons. Qi is wealthy and militarily strong, located in the east, with its back to the sea, eyeing the Central Plains, and possessing the benefits of fishing and salt production, so it has no worries about its rear. Duke Huan of Qi used this to become the hegemon among the feudal lords. While Qin is located in a remote region, after the reforms of Wei Yang, its national strength is great, its laws are strict, and it has both the ambition and the power to become hegemon. Therefore, I believe that the one who can dominate the world is either Qi or Qin." Sun Bin explained in detail, and several disciples nodded in agreement.

"I disagree with what Brother Sun said. I believe that the state of Wei should be the one to dominate the feudal lords."

Sun Bin looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was his junior brother Pang Juan, who had recently gone on a trip. He greeted him with joy, "Junior brother, you're back."

Pang Juan nodded, then continued to the crowd: "Wei is a wealthy and powerful state, and its people are strong. It is located in the Central Plains, so it can ally with Zhao to the north, Chu to the south, and Han to the west, threatening Qi to the east and Qin to the west. It can also ally with Qi to the east and Qin to the west, making Zhao and Han vassals and forcing Chu to cede territory. More importantly, Pang Juan has personally witnessed King Wei's determination to strengthen the state and his recruitment of talented people from all over the world. For a country to dominate the world, the most important thing is to make good use of talent. Therefore, I believe that Wei has the most potential to become a hegemon."

A disciple asked Guiguzi, "Master, who makes more sense, Brother Sun or Brother Pang?"

Guiguzi laughed and said, "One of them is from Qi, and the other is from Wei. They each have their own preferences, so it's hard for me to comment."

"Master," Pang Juan said to Guiguzi, "even if I were not a citizen of Wei, I would still say the same thing."

"Do you want to leave Guiguzi?" Guiguzi smiled slightly.

"Yes, the King of Wei is recruiting talented people from all over the country, and I don't want to miss this opportunity."

"What about your studies?"

"I have been studying military strategy under your tutelage for over three years. Although I have not yet mastered all of your strategies, if I were to leave this world and assist the King of Wei, I could make Wei the most powerful state in the world." Pang Juan's words were filled with an air of dominance.

"One should not speak too definitively," Guiguzi said with a smile.

"If you do not believe me, sir, I swear to Heaven," Pang Juan said, drawing his sword and kneeling before pointing to the sky. "If I cannot assist the King of Wei in dominating the world, I will never see you again, sir!"

Guiguzi looked at Pang Juan for a moment and said, "Go to the valley and pick a wildflower, and I will cast a divination for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Xie," Pang Juan said, bowing.

The sun blazed fiercely in the sky, and Pang Juan searched the valley for wildflowers in vain, growing increasingly anxious. Just then, he caught a glimpse of a small, delicate wildflower nestled among the reeds. Overjoyed, he quickly picked it. Turning to leave, he suddenly remembered something, and his joy vanished. Pang Juan muttered to himself, "This wildflower is so small; my master will surely think I'm destined for greatness..."

After hesitating for a moment, Pang Juan decided to hide the wildflower in her sleeve.

Back at Guigucao Hall, Pang Juan said to Guiguzi, "Master... there are no flowers in the mountains."

Guiguzi looked at Pang Juan's sleeve and said, "There are no flowers in the mountains, so what is that in your sleeve?"

"This..." Pang Juan was startled and hurriedly took out a withered wildflower from his sleeve and handed it to Guiguzi, explaining, "I thought this wildflower didn't count as a flower."

Guiguzi took the wildflower, held it in his hand, and said to Pang Juan, "This wildflower is called Aristolochia debilis, and it blooms with twelve flowers. It foretells that you will enjoy twelve years of wealth and honor. You picked this flower in Guiguzi, and the flower withered in the sun. The character 'Gui' (鬼) is next to 'Wei' (委), meaning your rise to power will surely be in the State of Wei."

Pang Juan looked delighted and asked, "Sir, does this mean I'll definitely be highly valued after I arrive in Wei?"

Guiguzi nodded slightly.

Pang Juan was extremely excited and said, "Sir, if I am truly given an important position by the King of Wei, I will certainly not let you down after three years of teaching!"

Guiguzi looked at the wildflower in his hand and said slowly, "Pang Juan, you shouldn't have deceived your master just now. Deceiving others will ultimately lead to being deceived yourself. You must get rid of this bad habit. Also, I'll give you eight words, and you must remember them well: Prosper with sheep, wither with horses."

Pang Juan nodded in agreement, then asked, "I have heard that you possess a rare military treatise called 'The Art of War,' which can teach people to win every battle. If you could give me a copy of 'The Art of War,' I would be more confident in helping the State of Wei achieve hegemony."

Guiguzi said calmly, "Sun Tzu's Art of War is indeed a rare military treatise. Back then, Sun Tzu presented this treatise, which he had painstakingly written, to King Helü of Wu. King Helü won many battles and became the hegemon among the feudal lords. King Helü cherished Sun Tzu's Art of War very much and hid it in the Gusu Terrace. Later, the Yue Kingdom destroyed Wu and burned down the Gusu Terrace, and Sun Tzu's Art of War was also reduced to ashes. It was the only copy of Sun Tzu's Art of War in the world."

"I have heard that you were once a good friend of Sun Tzu, and that Sun Tzu gave you a set of military treatises."

"Apart from the King of Wu, Sun Tzu never let anyone else see his military treatises, let alone give them away."

"So, you're saying you don't want to pass on 'The Art of War' to your disciples?"

Guiguzi smiled slightly: "If you don't believe what I say, then stay on the mountain and accompany me day and night, and see if I really have the 'Art of War'."

"It's not that I don't believe," Pang Juan said somewhat embarrassedly, "it's just that I really want to get my hands on 'The Art of War'."

Guiguzi looked at the melancholy Pang Juan and earnestly advised him: "What you are meant to get, you will get; what you cannot get, you will not get no matter how hard you try."

On the day Pang Juan left Guigu, Sun Bin saw him off. Halfway there, Pang Juan stopped and said to Sun Bin, "Brother Sun, don't bother seeing me off."

Sun Bin sighed, "Brother, we part today, and I don't know when we will meet again. Let me see you out of Ghost Valley."

Even if we travel a thousand miles, we will eventually part ways. Let us part here.

"We've been classmates for three years, sharing the same interests and being as close as brothers. I truly hate to part with you..."

"Alas, me too," Pang Juan sighed. "But we left our homes to come here to study military strategy, isn't it all for the sake of achieving great things one day? Since we are going to achieve great things, it is inevitable that we will go our separate ways."

"That's true." Sun Bin hesitated for a moment, then said, "Brother, if you gain the favor of the King of Wei, could you recommend me to him?"

Pang Juan smiled and said, "Brother Sun, don't you think Qi has the most hegemonic aura? Why don't you go back to your homeland?"

Sun Bin hesitated for a moment, then said, "Never mind, just pretend I didn't say anything."

Pang Juan laughed and said, "Brother Sun, don't take it seriously. I was just joking. Brother Sun and I are sworn brothers. Since you want to go to Wei, I will definitely recommend you to the King of Wei when I meet him. We brothers can join hands and work together to achieve great things."

"Is what you're saying true, my dear brother?"

"If I, Pang Juan, break my word, may I die under a hail of arrows!" Pang Juan drew his sword and swore an oath.

Sun Bin complained, "Brother, why make such a solemn oath for a single sentence?"

"A vow is not as important as affection," Pang Juan said sincerely. "I truly hope that Brother Sun will join me in building a great cause."

"Brother..." Sun Bin was deeply moved by Pang Juan's words, "I await your news..."

Pang Juan nodded, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Sun, until we meet again."

Sun Bin returned the greeting and said, "Until we meet again."

After Pang Juan left, Guiguzi summoned Sun Bin and instructed him, "These past few nights, several rats have been grinding their teeth by my pillow. I particularly dislike this sound. Tell the other disciples to take turns standing guard in my room every night to drive away the rats. Tonight, it will start with you." Sun Bin immediately agreed and came to the thatched cottage that night to keep watch for Master Guiguzi.

It was late at night, and Guiguzi lay on his couch, seemingly fast asleep. Sun Bin sat a few steps away on a mat, completely focused, listening intently, afraid that a mouse might run out and disturb his master.

Guiguzi rolled over, opened his sleepy eyes, looked at Sun Bin who was diligently on night duty, and asked, "Sun Bin, what are you doing?"

Sun Bin replied, "This disciple is following Master's instructions, keeping watch to drive away the rats at night."

Guiguzi sat up and smiled, "Military strategists often say that war is won through deception. Don't you suspect that my arrangement is deceptive?"

Sun Bin honestly shook his head: "No."

Guiguzi sighed softly: "Sun Bin, the reason you will suffer in the future is that you trust others too much."

Sun Bin said, "You are my teacher, and I should trust you; if you were an enemy, I would never trust you."

Guiguzi smiled slightly, said nothing more, reached out and opened a wooden box beside his pillow, took out a scroll, and said to Sun Bin, "Sun Bin, this is the thirteen chapters of military strategy written by your great-grandfather Sun Wu, known as 'The Art of War'."

"Sir, didn't you say that 'The Art of War' has been lost?" Sun Bin asked, his face full of doubt.

"It is both lost and not lost. The military strategy that your great-grandfather presented to King Helü of Wu has been lost, but I still have a copy in my possession. He gave it to me, and I have studied it carefully and benefited greatly from it. I have also written annotations for the military strategy. For many years, I have not shown the 'Art of War' to anyone. Sun Bin, you are honest and kind, and a descendant of Sun Tzu. I will now pass on the 'Art of War' to you."

"Pang Juan has been searching desperately for 'The Art of War,' why didn't you pass it on to him?"

"A person who obtains 'The Art of War' will benefit the world if he uses it well; if he uses it poorly, he will cause great harm to the world. I am worried about Pang Juan's character."

"Sir, Pang Juan is a man of great loyalty and integrity. You should not be worried about him."

"Sun Bin, shall we not discuss Pang Juan's matter tonight, but only 'The Art of War'?" Guiguzi said with a smile.

"Yes, I am willing to listen to your teachings, sir."

Autumn passed and spring came, and Sun Bin had memorized the Art of War thoroughly. One day, Guiguzi tested him: "What is the interpretation of 'Warfare is based on deception' in Sun Tzu's Art of War?"

Sun Bin replied, "In warfare, deception is the way. Therefore, if you can fight, pretend you can't; if you want to fight, pretend you don't; if you want to attack nearby, pretend you want to attack far away; if you want to attack far away, pretend you want to attack nearby; if the enemy is greedy, lure him with small gains; if the enemy is in disarray, seize the opportunity to attack; if the enemy is strong, be on guard; if the enemy has a powerful army, temporarily avoid him; if the enemy is aggressive, find a way to thwart him; if the enemy is humble and cautious, make him arrogant; if the enemy is well-rested, exhaust him; if the enemy is harmonious internally, sow discord among them..."

Guiguzi raised his hand to signal Sun Bin to stop answering, and instructed him: "I hope that you will not only memorize 'The Art of War' thoroughly, but also learn to apply it. Otherwise, you will not only fail to defeat the enemy, but you will also be controlled by the enemy."

"Yes, disciple understands."

Guiguzi placed the wooden box containing the bamboo slips that had been lying beside his pillow in front of Sun Bin and said, "Go to a secluded place at the foot of the cliff and burn this military treatise. Do not leave a single bamboo slip behind."

Sun Bin was taken aback and said, "Sir, this is the only copy of 'The Art of War' in the world. Why burn it?"

Guiguzi laughed and said, "You've already memorized it perfectly, so it's no longer of any use to me."

"The master can pass it on to other disciples, how could it be useless?"

"I promised your great-grandfather that I would only pass on the art of war to the person I trust most."

"Then... may I pass on my military strategies to others?"

"Not now, not even to your closest relatives. As for when it will be possible, I will tell you when the time comes... Go, burn the military treatise."

Down the hillside, Sun Bin shook his head and sighed at the ashes of the bamboo slips. Just as he was about to return, he met a handsome young man dressed smartly with a long sword on his back. The young man explained his purpose to Sun Bin: he had come to learn military strategy from Master Guigu.

"Master Guigu was very strict in accepting disciples," Sun Bin said. "It was already quite good if he could accept one out of ten students."

"I am that one."

Sun Bin chuckled with amusement, "Young man, you're quite confident."

"Of course, I wouldn't have come if I wasn't confident."

Sun Bin asked the young man to wait a moment, then climbed onto the high platform and reported the young man's request to study to Guiguzi. Guiguzi, without even seeing the young man, immediately refused, saying that the young man was a woman.

The handsome young man was indeed a woman; she was Zhong Lichun, disguised as a man. When Zhong Lichun heard that Guiguzi had refused her entry because she was a woman, she angrily retorted, "What's wrong with being a woman? Women can kill, and they can lead troops into battle!"

"Girl, don't be angry," Sun Bin comforted her. "It has been a rule of our master for many years not to accept women as disciples."

"Bullshit rules! Humph, I don't believe women are inferior to you men." Zhong Lichun cursed and left Guigu without looking back.

Not long after Pang Juan returned to the State of Wei, he gained the favor of King Hui of Wei, who appointed him as marshal. Pang Juan led the Wei army to first defeat the smaller states of Wei and Song, then the State of Qi, greatly enhancing his reputation. King Hui of Wei was overjoyed and invited Pang Juan to a delicious meal of steamed mutton. He said to Pang Juan, "My gaining Marshal Pang is like King Wen of Zhou gaining Jiang Ziya."

To the south of Wei was the state of Chu, whose king, also aspiring to dominate the world, dispatched 100,000 Chu troops from Fangcheng to attack Gaoling in Wei. King Hui of Wei and Pang Juan led 300,000 Wei troops to repel the Chu army, and then marched towards Fangcheng, intending to completely defeat Chu and dominate the Central Plains.

The King of Chu's army was stationed at Wancheng, south of Fangcheng. He had sent Chu troops to attack Gaoling of Wei, intending to lure the Wei army into attacking Fangcheng, and then use the advantageous terrain of the Chu Great Wall around Fangcheng to defeat Wei. The King of Chu was overjoyed to hear of the Wei army's attack on Fangcheng and planned to personally lead his army to Fangcheng to fight the King of Wei. The Chu strategist, Shi Huang, was a very astute advisor. He advised the King, "Your Majesty, you should not rush to Fangcheng for a decisive battle now, but rather remain still. The Wei army has repeatedly defeated Qi, and their morale is high. A decisive battle now would be unpredictable. If the Wei army fails to capture Fangcheng after a prolonged siege, their morale will inevitably decline. Then, Your Majesty can then launch a decisive battle and secure victory."

The battle to capture Fangcheng was extremely fierce. When the Wei soldiers, disregarding casualties and braving a hail of stones and arrows, were almost at the top of the city walls, Pang Juan sounded the retreat. King Hui of Wei was furious with Pang Juan's decision and immediately summoned him to his tent, questioning him: "Why did you stop the siege? If you hadn't sounded the retreat, my soldiers would already be standing on the walls of Fangcheng."

Pang Juan explained, "My spies have discovered the Chu army in Wancheng, a hundred miles away, and the King of Chu is also among them. Even if we capture Fangcheng, we will suffer heavy losses. If the King of Chu leads his army to fight us now, we will lose more than we win."

Pang Juan ordered his troops to retreat one she (unit of distance) and spread rumors that more than 30% of the soldiers had fallen ill due to acclimatization issues.

When the King of Chu learned that the Wei army had retreated by one she (a unit of distance), he clapped his hands with joy and immediately decided to march on Fangcheng to fight a decisive battle with the Wei army. The Grand Master Shi Huang advised the King of Chu not to be deceived by Pang Juan's feigned strength, saying, "The Wei general Pang Juan is a cunning strategist; the Qi state was defeated by him for this reason. If the Wei army truly had more than 30% wounded or sick, he would have already quietly withdrawn his troops and returned home."

"What should we do?" the King of Chu asked.

"He has a thousand variations, but I have fixed rules. The Fangcheng army will hold firm and not come out, while Your Majesty's army will remain stationary."

"What if the King of Wei withdraws his troops and returns home because of this?"

"Your Majesty will win without a fight, and all the feudal lords of the world will therefore abandon King Wei and submit to Your Majesty."

The King of Chu remained inactive, and Pang Juan frowned in worry. Pang Juan had a young strategist named Gongsun Yue, who was exceptionally intelligent and courageous. He advised Pang Juan, "General, the difference in strength isn't determined by time or place. It would be better to withdraw our troops and return to our country first, and then fight Chu again when the time is more favorable for us."

Pang Juan considered things more deeply than Gongsun Yue: "The Battle of Fangcheng will not only determine Wei's hegemony, but also whether I can maintain my position as marshal in Wei. If I return defeated, the king will no longer trust me; if I win this battle, even if I lose in the future, the king will not abandon me."

Gongsun Yue said, "Let alone the fact that no one in Wei can command the army except Marshal Pang, even if Your Majesty recruits talented people from all over the world, apart from Master Guigu, there is no one above the Marshal."

"Those who are below me are not necessarily incapable of becoming marshals," Pang Juan said with a smile. "Master Guigu has many disciples who study military strategy and tactics. Although they are inferior to me, they are all capable of commanding troops."

"This place isn't too far from Guigu Valley," Gongsun Yue asked. "Why doesn't the Marshal ride a fast horse to invite Master Guigu to offer a good strategy?"

Pang Juan hesitated for a moment, then said, "When I came out of seclusion, I made a promise that I would never see you again, sir, until I had conquered the world."

Gongsun Yue said he could go to Guigu in Pang Juan's place.

Gongsun Yue arrived at Guiguzi's thatched cottage and asked him how to defeat the State of Chu, but Guiguzi refused. Gongsun Yue said, "Marshal Pang said that as a disciple of Master Guiguzi, if he were to be defeated at Fangcheng, not only would he be disgraced, but he would also tarnish Master Guiguzi's reputation."

Guiguzi laughed and said, "I am a recluse and have never valued fame."

Gongsun Yue drew his sword, pointed the tip at his abdomen, and threatened, "If you don't agree, sir, I will die in front of you."

Guiguzi smiled slightly and said, "Young man, there is no need to take your own life. If I don't help, someone else will."

"Who is it?"

"My disciple, Sun Bin."

"Marshal Pang said that in Guigu Valley, no one but Master Pang can help him."

"Pang Juan is far too arrogant," Guiguzi laughed. "Sun Bin is only above Pang Juan, not below him. I'll call him over, and you can test him in person."

Upon hearing the summons, Sun Bin climbed the wooden ladder and arrived at the thatched cottage on the high platform. Guiguzi had already quietly left. Gongsun Yue gave Sun Bin a detailed account of the battle at Fangcheng. As the sun was about to set, Sun Bin still hadn't devised a winning strategy. Gongsun Yue grew anxious and said to Sun Bin, "Mr. Sun, the hegemony of Wei, Marshal Pang's reputation, and my life all depend on you. Please don't let us down!"

Sun Bin told Gongsun Yue to go eat first, and they could discuss the battle of Fangcheng afterward. Gongsun Yue replied, "The wooden ladder under the platform has been removed; you can't get down."

Sun Bin was somewhat displeased and said, "A plan is devised, not forced."

"I didn't force you; it was Master Guigu who told me to do this. He entrusted Marshal Pang and the fate of the Wei Kingdom to you. I wasn't at ease with him, so he said that as long as you cut off your escape route, you'll have a good plan."

At this moment, Sun Bin's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed happily, "Mr. Gongsun, I have a plan!"

"What scheme?"

"Climbing high requires using a ladder."

Gongsun Yue rushed back to the camp day and night, and, under the guise of Guiguzi, told Pang Juan about Sun Bin's plan. He said, "Master Guiguzi is right to say that the commander-in-chief should stop attacking Fangcheng and lure the King of Chu into a decisive battle, but he should not show weakness to Chu. The Wei army has repeatedly defeated Qi, demonstrating the shrewdness of Wei's commanders and the strength of its army to the world. If we show weakness to Chu before being defeated, Chu will surely suspect a trap and refuse to fight."

Pang Juan nodded: "That makes sense..."

Gongsun Yue continued, "Master Guigu said that at this time, we should show strength so that the State of Chu feels that the State of Wei despises it and does not take it seriously. By showing strength, we should take actions that are reckless and underestimating the enemy. In this way, we can lure the King of Chu to come and fight."

Pang Juan asked Gongsun Yue to be more specific. Gongsun Yue pointed to the military map and said, "Sir, you ordered the marshal to leave 100,000 men to guard the main camp, and the remaining 200,000 troops to march south along the Chu Great Wall, then bypass the southern end of the Great Wall, seemingly to directly attack Wancheng and challenge the King of Chu to a decisive battle. But that's not actually the case. The marshal left 50,000 men to monitor the King of Chu, while the remaining 150,000 troops changed course and marched south towards the Chu capital. This will create the appearance of a thousand-mile raid, a swift capture of the Chu capital, and the complete annihilation of Chu. At this point, the King of Chu will surely think that the Wei army is underestimating us and acting rashly, and he will definitely lead a large army to challenge us to a decisive battle."

Pang Juan asked with some doubt, "But...doing this will put the Wei army in a deadly situation. If they cannot win, they will be completely wiped out."

"I asked the same question to you, but you said, 'The Art of War says: Throw them into a place of certain death, and they will live; trap them in a deadly situation, and they will survive...'"

Pang Juan was taken aback and asked, "Sir, you mentioned 'The Art of War'?"

Gongsun Yue nodded.

Pang Juan was silent for a moment, then said, "Continue, continue."

"The art of war says: When soldiers are in a dead end with no way out, they will be on guard without the need for clear laws; they will complete their mission without being forced; they will work together without being restrained; they will obey military discipline without being ordered. Cutting off their retreat is like removing the ladder when climbing a mountain, and every soldier will forge ahead."

Pang Juan exclaimed, "That's absolutely right!"

Gongsun Yue continued, "The master said that once the King of Chu's army leaves Wancheng, the marshal will immediately transfer 50,000 troops from the main camp..."

Pang Juan interrupted Gongsun Yue, excitedly saying, "Let's combine with the 50,000 troops left at the southern end of the Great Wall, cut off the Chu army's retreat route, and surround the Chu army in the mountains and fields where there are no natural defenses."

Gongsun Yue nodded and continued, "The Chu army will surely be thrown into panic. How could a brave and determined army not be able to defeat a panicked and disorganized force?"

Pang Juan couldn't help but clap his hands: "Brilliant! Brilliant! If I had studied 'The Art of War,' I could have come up with such a brilliant plan too."

Gongsun Yue asked Pang Juan why Guiguzi hadn't passed on his military strategies to him. Pang Juan smiled and replied, "As a teacher, I always have to hold back some knowledge; otherwise, wouldn't my disciple surpass me?"

Gongsun Yue originally wanted to tell Pang Juan the truth, but he was worried that Pang Juan would not act according to the plan after knowing the truth, so he had to give up.

King Hui of Wei remained at the main camp outside Fangcheng with his 100,000 troops, while Pang Juan led 200,000 troops, bypassing the Chu Great Wall and heading straight for Wancheng. Upon learning this news, the King of Chu was extremely pleased, saying, "The people of Wei have finally lost their patience. They have marched a long distance, penetrating deep into my territory to fight, and I have already gained the upper hand."

After Pang Juan's army bypassed the Chu Great Wall, a portion halted, while the main force suddenly changed direction and headed towards Tang City. This puzzled the King of Chu. The Grand Historian Shi Huang believed that the Wei army might be using a portion of its forces to tie down the Chu army before attacking the Chu capital via Tang City. The King of Chu laughed at Pang Juan's audacity and ordered a full-scale attack to catch up with the Wei army and engage in a decisive battle. The Grand Historian Shi Huang, still somewhat worried, advised, "Your Majesty, shouldn't we investigate further to prevent any trickery from the Wei?"

The King of Chu gave a cold laugh and said, "Investigate what? They've ventured deep into the heart of Chu, which is tantamount to entering a death trap. Even if there's a trap, they're still doomed."

Pang Juan led the Wei army to the pre-arranged battlefield and solemnly warned his soldiers: "We are fighting the Chu army in a desperate situation. We will either win or perish. Only by advancing bravely and fighting to the death can we survive!"

At Pang Juan's command, tens of thousands of Wei troops pounced on the Chu army like tens of thousands of tigers and wolves fighting for survival, and the Chu general Sima's 80,000 troops were instantly routed.

Upon learning of the situation at the front, the King of Chu was at a loss. His advisor, the Grand Scribe, urged him to immediately retreat to Fangcheng and join forces with the Fangcheng army to fight the Wei forces. Just as the King was about to order the retreat, an urgent report arrived from the rear: the Wei army at Fangcheng had suddenly appeared behind the King's army, severing their connection. The King was bewildered. In desperation, the Grand Scribe suggested that the King cede cities and submit to Wei. The King firmly opposed this, saying, "No! My country is a great and powerful state; how can I submit to Wei?"

"Your Majesty, General Sima's army was the most valiant and skilled in battle among the Chu troops, yet it was routed in less than two hours. How could Your Majesty's remaining army possibly be a match for the Wei people? Now that Your Majesty's retreat is cut off, what else can you do but refuse to surrender?"

The King of Chu remained silent.

The Imperial Physician added, "Your Majesty, only by being able to bend and yield can one ultimately achieve hegemony."

The King of Chu remained silent.

The Grand Master Shi concluded, "If Your Majesty refuses to submit even temporarily, you will find it difficult to survive. If you lose your life, how can you even begin to talk about hegemony?"

Upon hearing this, the King of Chu had no choice but to agree.

In less than a day, a powerful nation had submitted to the State of Wei, and Pang Juan was extremely pleased with himself. On the way back, he smiled and asked Gongsun Yue, who was traveling with him, "Mr. Gongsun, who in the world do you think is my match?"

Gongsun Yue did not agree to him, but instead said with an apologetic expression, "Marshal, there is something I have not told you."

"What is it?"

"The plan to defeat Chu did not come from Guiguzi, but from your senior brother Sun Bin."

Pang Juan was stunned and asked, "Is this true?"

Gongsun Yue said, "Sun Bin was afraid that the Marshal would not believe his plan, so he asked me to use the name of Guiguzi."

Pang Juan's face darkened: "So, you're saying those words from 'The Art of War' were also his?"

Gongsun Yue nodded and replied, "Yes. He speaks of 'The Art of War' with great familiarity."

Pang Juan was furious. Guiguzi had not told him the truth. He had a copy of "The Art of War" and had even passed it on to Sun Bin.

Gongsun Yue said to Pang Juan with great concern, "If Sun Bin comes out of seclusion, he will likely become a formidable enemy that the Marshal will find difficult to defeat."

Pang Juan remained silent for a moment, then coldly laughed, "I want to use him for my own purposes."

Note: "Removing the ladder after climbing to the roof" is the 28th of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, a name summarized by later generations. The stratagem means: deliberately display a profitable point to lure the enemy "to the roof," into a battlefield advantageous to oneself, and then "remove the ladder" to cut off their retreat, forcing them to submit. This stratagem also has another meaning, echoing Sun Tzu's "like climbing to a high place and then removing the ladder," placing one's army in a position of no return, forcing soldiers to fight to the death. Sun Bin devised the "removing the ladder after climbing to the roof" strategy for Pang Juan, forcing the State of Chu to submit, which made Pang Juan jealous of Sun Bin. To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter: "A Smile Conceals a Dagger."