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

Ever since Sun Bin agreed to copy the Art of War for Pang Juan, Pang Juan frequently visited Sun Bin at his residence. When he learned that Sun Bin had already finished the first chapter of the Art of War, he was eager to take it back and read it as soon as possible.

Sun Bin pondered for a moment, then handed the completed military treatise to Pang Juan, saying, "Brother, the Art of War is profound and mysterious. One can only glimpse a part of it and cannot grasp the whole picture. Based on my experience of learning military strategy from Master Guigu, it is better to first understand the whole picture before seeking a deeper understanding."

Fearing that Sun Bin would discover his secret, Pang Juan quickly said, "Brother Sun is absolutely right." He placed the bamboo slips back on the small table where Sun Bin wrote, "Once Brother Sun has written out all the military strategies, I will take them back to study them... At that time, Brother Sun must explain them to me in detail."

Sun Bin readily agreed.

Sun Bin's leg was improving day by day, and Zhong Liqiu was overjoyed. When she got home, she happily told her sister Zhong Lichun, "Mr. Sun can walk now. The doctor said that in another ten days or so, Mr. Sun will be able to walk freely like a normal person."

Zhong Lichun was very indifferent to Sun Bin's matter, saying, "Even so, he cannot lead a chariot into battle. What difference is there between a man who cannot lead a chariot into battle and a cripple?"

"I would be content as long as Mr. Sun can live like a normal person."

Zhong Lichun looked at Zhong Liqiu and asked, "Have you really fallen for Sun Bin?"

Zhong Liqiu blushed and nodded shyly.

Zhong Lichun stared at his younger sister and asked again, "Are you planning to marry him?"

Zhong Liqiu lowered her head and said, "Marshal Pang has already agreed..."

Zhong Lichun said sternly, "He is a traitor to the country. You won't have a good life if you marry him!"

“He is not a criminal against the country,” Zhong Liqiu explained. “Marshal Pang said that he was wronged. After Mr. Sun finishes copying “The Art of War”, Marshal Pang will petition the King to clear Mr. Sun’s name and make him a military advisor.”

Zhong Lichun smiled bitterly and said, "Silly sister, these military strategists talk about deception and falsehood. In order to achieve their own goals, they will tell lies as if they were the truth."

Zhong Liqiu was a little unhappy and said, "Sister, you always think so badly of others."

Zhong Lichun earnestly advised, "Sister, I've traveled all over the country and seen all kinds of people. You can't go wrong by listening to me."

Zhong Liqiu refused to listen, saying, "Even if Marshal Pang is lying, I will believe him! Even if Mr. Sun cannot be exonerated, I will still marry him. I love Mr. Sun."

Zhong Lichun's face darkened, and she said, "Marriage is a major life event, and parents should make the decisions. Our parents are no longer here, so I, as your elder sister, will make the decisions. I will not allow you to marry Sun Bin."

Zhong Liqiu was momentarily speechless, unsure how to retort to her sister. She drew Zhong Lichun's sword and held it to her own neck: "If you won't let me marry Mr. Sun, I'll die right here in front of you!"

Zhong Lichun was at a loss for what to do and advised, "Sister, dear sister, put down your sword, let's talk this out."

"Promise me, and I'll lay down my sword."

"Silly sister, I'm doing this for your own good. If you don't listen to your older sister, you'll regret it later."

"I admit I regret it! You have to promise me now."

Zhong Lichun looked at his sister and sighed, "Alright, I agree..." Taking advantage of Zhong Liqiu's unpreparedness, Zhong Lichun suddenly leaped forward, knocking her down and seizing the sword from her hand. Then, he sneered at the fallen Zhong Liqiu, "I will never agree to that!"

Zhong Liqiu got up from the ground and said angrily, "If you don't agree, I'll die!" As she spoke, she picked up the neatly packed package and walked out.

Zhong Lichun hurriedly stopped her, saying, "You mustn't go looking for death."

"I would never die! I haven't married Mr. Sun yet, wouldn't it be a waste to die!"

"Then...where are you going?"

Zhong Liqiu answered, word by word, "I'm going back to the Marshal's Mansion to take care of Mr. Sun." After saying that, she walked past Zhong Lichun and left the house.

Gongsun Yue worried that if Zhongli Qiu and Sun Bin spent too much time together, their feigned affection might develop into real feelings. One night, he went to see Pang Juan and asked, "Marshal, Sun Bin has only managed to write the first chapter of his military treatise in over ten days. When will he finish writing all thirteen chapters?"

"I'm not in a hurry, why are you?" Pang Juan smiled.

"I'm not in a hurry, I'm afraid he'll see through the marshal's intentions and deliberately delay."

"No, he wrote slowly because he was afraid of making mistakes while copying, and he carefully considered every sentence."

"Marshal, things could change in the meantime. It would be best to urge Sun Bin to write faster."

"Confucius said, 'Haste makes waste.' What I need is a flawless copy of Sun Tzu's *Art of War*. Besides, if I rush him, Sun Bin will become suspicious." Pang Juan glanced at Gongsun Yue and said, "Gongsun Yue, you're not worried about the military treatise, but about Zhongli Qiu, aren't you?"

"Not entirely... I was mainly thinking of the Marshal."

"You can't hide it from me." Pang Juan stared at Gongsun Yue in silence for a moment, then sighed, "I originally didn't intend for Zhongli Qiu and Sun Bin's fake relationship to become real. But then I thought about it, and Sun Bin is unlucky enough. After all, we were classmates for three years. I wanted him to experience the taste of a woman before he died, as a way of fulfilling my duty as a classmate. Don't ruin my important plans for the sake of a woman."

Seeing Pang Juan's words, Gongsun Yue knew he couldn't say anything more. He secretly resolved not to let Sun Bin obtain Zhongli Qiu and to eliminate Sun Bin as soon as possible. However, the arrival of a Zhao merchant the next day changed his mind. This Zhao merchant was named Zhao Li, whom Gongsun Yue had met once when he was on a diplomatic mission to Zhao. Zhao Li's true identity was a high-ranking official of Zhao.

Zhao Li arrived at Gongsun Yue's house carrying many precious jewels, seeking information about the state of Zhongshan. Zhao had annexed Zhongshan, which had submitted to Wei, and Pang Juan was preparing to attack Zhao. Zhao Li told Gongsun Yue that the King of Zhao had agreed to return Zhongshan to Wei, and asked Gongsun Yue to speak well of Zhao to Pang Juan, persuading him not to attack. Gongsun Yue agreed to help.

Zhao Li then inquired about Sun Bin, at which point Gongsun Yue became alert and asked, "Why are you asking about him?"

Zhao Li said, "I've heard from the people of Wei that he was well-versed in Sun Tzu's Art of War and was a rare military talent. Unfortunately, because he wanted to return to Qi, the King of Wei punished him with the dismemberment of his kneecaps, rendering him a cripple who will never be given an important position again. Mr. Gongsun, could you allow me to meet him?"

"What do you want to do?" Gongsun Yue became even more vigilant.

"I want to ask him if he is willing to go to the State of Zhao."

Gongsun Yue gave a cold laugh: "Mr. Zhao, you're dreaming! Marshal Pang won't let him go."

"If you would allow me to see Sun Bin, I will repay you handsomely, regardless of whether he is able to go to the State of Zhao."

"I'm not a money-loving person."

"A beautiful woman, she'll definitely like it."

Gongsun Yue thought of Zhong Liqiu after seeing the beautiful woman. A thought struck him: why not use Zhao Li to achieve his own goals?

On this day, Sun Bin sat on his couch, intently copying military strategy. Zhong Liqiu said beside him, "I have an older sister who wants to be a general. If you could teach my sister military strategy, she would be very happy."

Sun Bin smiled and said, "No, your sister is a woman. It's useless for a woman to learn military strategy."

Zhong Liqiu retorted, unconvinced, "Why can't women do it? My sister says women can kill people and lead troops into battle."

Sun Bin was taken aback, recalling that a girl had said something similar in Guigu Valley. He asked, "I remember you said that your sister had been to Guigu Valley?"

"She went to study military strategy, but Master Guigu did not accept her as a student."

"Was she dressed as a man when she went there?"

"It's very likely that she likes to dress up as a man in her daily life."

Sun Bin suddenly felt a strange interest and wanted to meet this girl who was dressed as a man, so he said to Zhongli Qiu, "Miss Zhongli, I would like to meet your sister."

Zhong Liqiu was delighted and readily agreed. She also wanted her sister to meet the learned and talented Sun Bin; if her sister also liked Sun Bin, perhaps she wouldn't object to her marriage.

The streets of Daliang, the capital of Wei, were bustling with pedestrians and carriages. Zhongli Qiu helped Sun Bin through the busy streets to go home to see her sister. Sun Bin's leg was still not healed, and he walked slowly and with great difficulty. A carriage passed by them, carrying Gongsun Yue and Zhao Li, dressed as a merchant. Gongsun Yue saw Sun Bin and Zhongli Qiu and said to Zhao Li beside him, "Sun Bin is out; you can see him now."

Sun Bin, limping and panting, was too exhausted to walk any further. Zhong Liqiu helped him into a tavern on the street and let him rest there. She went home and asked her sister to come to the tavern to see Sun Bin.

Not long after Zhongli Qiu left, Zhao Li entered the tavern. He sat down opposite Sun Bin and respectfully said, "Greetings, Master Sun. When you came to Wei, Marshal Pang received you with great hospitality, and His Majesty appointed you as a guest minister. I admire you greatly and have waited outside your residence many times to see your esteemed face. Later, I heard that you were unjustly punished with the kneecaps, and I have always wanted to visit you, but the Marshal's residence is surrounded by high walls and deep courtyards, and I have been unable to enter. I am very happy to see you here today."

Upon hearing this, Sun Bin was puzzled, but still politely said to Zhao Li, "Thank you, sir, for remembering this useless man, Sun Bin."

"Sir, please forgive my bluntness," Zhao Li whispered, "The reason you became a cripple is because someone framed you."

"Who is it?"

Pang Juan.

Sun Bin refused to believe it and rebuked Zhao Li for talking nonsense, but Zhao Li said he had witnesses.

When Zhongli Qiu and her sister arrived at the tavern excitedly, Sun Bin had already left. Sun Bin followed Zhao Li to the inn where he was staying, only to discover that the witness Zhao Li had mentioned was Gongsun Yue. Gongsun Yue recounted Pang Juan's conspiracy to Sun Bin in detail and even showed him the letter Sun Bin had entrusted to Ding Yi to take back to Qi. Sun Bin carefully examined the letter, which Pang Juan had altered, and began to believe their words were true.

Sun Bin remained silent for a moment, then asked Gongsun Yue, "Why did you tell me about Pang Juan's conspiracy?"

"Because I can't stand Pang Juan's despicable actions. And..." Gongsun Yue pointed at Zhao Li, "He gave me many jewels."

Sun Bin then asked Zhao Li, "Sir, what about you? What is your reason?"

"I want to have you, sir," Zhao Li replied.

Sun Bin asked Gongsun Yue to leave first, as he wanted to speak with Zhao Li alone. After Gongsun Yue left, Sun Bin bowed deeply to Zhao Li and said, "Thank you, sir. May I ask your name?"

Fearing that Gongsun Yue might be eavesdropping outside, Zhao Li whispered, "Knowing my name is useless. I can only tell you that I am from the State of Zhao."

Sun Bin asked, "Sir, you just said you wanted to have me. Does that mean you want to take me to the State of Zhao?"

Zhao Li frankly replied, "No, I was saying that to Gongsun Yue."

"Then why did you let me know the truth, sir?"

"The Wei army is a constant threat to the Zhao state, and I don't want to see the Wei general obtain 'The Art of War'."

Sun Bin pleaded, "If you take me to the State of Zhao, I can help Zhao resist the State of Wei."

Zhao Li shook his head and said, "No, my country cannot afford to offend the powerful Wei Kingdom just because of you."

Sun Bin remained silent, understanding Zhao Li's thoughts. After a moment, he sighed, "Am I really going to die in Wei...?"

Gongsun Yue returned to the house and urged Sun Bin to hurry back, lest Pang Juan become suspicious if he was late.

Sun Bin returned to his residence by carriage and encountered the Zhongli sisters, who were searching for him. Zhongli Qiu called out, "Mr. Sun," but Sun Bin in the carriage remained expressionless, as if in a daze, completely ignoring the two women. Zhongli Chun, standing nearby, snorted and said to her sister, "This Sun Bin doesn't care about you at all."

Zhongli Qiu, knowing Sun Bin well, said to her sister, "Mr. Sun seems to have encountered something, something very important... Sister, you should go home, I'll go to the Marshal's Mansion..."

Zhong Liqiu rushed back to Sun Bin's residence at the Pang Mansion, only to find Sun Bin lying on his bed, his eyes glazed over. No matter what Zhong Liqiu asked him, he remained silent, and he wouldn't eat the food served to him. Zhong Liqiu couldn't help but cry, "Mr. Sun, please say something! What's troubling you? Tell me, I'll help you..."

Gongsun Yue walked in, and Zhong Liqiu turned around and grabbed his arm, crying, "Mr. Gongsun, please go and tell Marshal Pang that Mr. Sun is not eating or drinking, and he is not speaking... He... he is ill... Please tell Marshal Pang to quickly fetch a doctor..."

Gongsun Yue comforted him, "There's no need to call a doctor. He has a mental illness. Let him think about it quietly by himself, and his mental illness will naturally get better."

Gongsun Yue told Zhong Liqiu to go home, but Zhong Liqiu was worried and said she had to take care of Sun Bin that night. Gongsun Yue hated hearing Zhong Liqiu say that, but he still patiently persuaded her to leave.

After Zhongli Qiu left, Gongsun Yue walked to the bedside and said to Sun Bin, "Mr. Sun, I am not after the gold. I want Zhongli Qiu. If you give up Zhongli Qiu, I can guarantee your life and help that Zhao man to take you to Zhao."

Sun Bin remained stunned and speechless.

Gongsun Yue threatened, "If you don't give up Zhongli Qiu, not only will you not get her, but you will also lose your chance to live. Think about it carefully." After saying that, Gongsun Yue also left Sun Bin's room.

Sun Bin was left alone in the room. He sighed deeply and muttered sadly to himself, "How treacherous people's hearts are!" Looking at the bamboo slips on the table, he sighed again, "For the sake of 'The Art of War,' they completely disregarded brotherhood and committed such a heinous act..." Tears streamed down his face. "I can't walk, I can't run, and there's no one to help me. Am I really going to die here...?"

He suddenly remembered that Guiguzi had given him a brocade pouch when he descended the mountain, instructing him, "If you encounter great calamity, open this pouch; inside lies a brilliant plan." Sun Bin quickly sat up, took the bundle, and pulled out the pouch. Inside was a yellow silk cloth with two hexagrams drawn on it: the "Tun" hexagram and the "Meng" hexagram. He had heard Guiguzi explain these two hexagrams: the "Tun" hexagram signifies the hardship of survival; to survive, one must appear indifferent on the surface but act secretly. The "Meng" hexagram symbolizes ignorance and naivety. Combined, these two hexagrams meant that by feigning ignorance and naivety on the surface, one could secretly escape the hardship foreshadowed by the "Tun" hexagram. Sun Bin now knew how to deal with his current perilous situation.

It was late at night, but Pang Juan was still reading bamboo slips. This was his habit; whenever he had nothing to do, he would read until very late. He understood that those who wanted to achieve great things had to read all the bamboo slips in the world.

Gongsun Yue rushed in and said to Pang Juan, "Marshal, something terrible has happened! Mr. Sun has gone mad!"

Pang Juan was taken aback: "What did you say?"

"Mr. Sun has gone mad. He's crying and laughing, smashing things and making a scene. He even burned the copied military treatise... You should go and see him quickly."

Pang Juan and Gongsun Yue rushed to Sun Bin's residence, where they saw bamboo slips that had not yet been completely burned still emitting blue smoke in the brazier, and fragments of pottery jars scattered all over the ground. Sun Bin was lying on the ground with disheveled hair, his face covered with phlegm and soot, and he was grinning foolishly for no reason.

Pang Juan approached Sun Bin, bent down, and asked with concern, "Brother Sun, what's wrong?"

Sun Bin glanced at Pang Juan, then suddenly burst into tears, his crying so loud it was unsettling.

"Brother Sun, what's wrong? Tell me, and I'll definitely stand up for you."

Sun Bin suddenly burst into laughter again, saying, "King of Wei, you want to harm me? You're dreaming! I, Sun Bin, have 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals to aid me; you can't do anything to me!" After laughing, he burst into tears again, crying, "Wei is finished, finished! I, Sun Bin, am now a cripple; Wei will have no one left to lead the army..."

Gongsun Yue, who was standing nearby, kicked him and said sternly, "Sun Bin, don't talk nonsense! Wei has Marshal Pang leading troops in battle, how can you say there's no one else?"

Sun Bin scrambled to his feet and repeatedly kowtowed to Pang Juan, pleading, "Master Guigu, please save your disciple! The King of Wei wants to kill me..." Sun Bin reached out his filthy, mud-covered hands and grabbed Pang Juan's sleeve, crying, "Master, save me! Master, save me!"

Pang Juan impatiently pulled his hand away from Sun Bin's: "I am Pang Juan, not your husband!"

Sun Bin then grabbed Pang Juan's leg and cried, "Sir, save me! The King of Wei wants to kill me..."

Gongsun Yue stepped forward and pulled Sun Bin away. Sun Bin stretched out his arms and cried out, "Master, don't abandon me! Master, don't abandon me..."

Pang Juan took Sun Bin's sword from the wall and pointed it at Sun Bin: "Sun Bin, if you continue to feign madness, I will kill you immediately!"

Sun Bin grabbed the sword and burst into laughter: "King of Wei, kill me! My heavenly soldiers and generals have already surrounded you, you can't escape..." After saying this, he laughed wildly again.

Pang Juan refused to believe that Sun Bin had truly gone mad. He ordered his soldiers to drag Sun Bin into the pigsty and make him keep company with the pigs. Gongsun Yue dissuaded him, saying, "Marshal, although Sun Bin has gone mad, he is still your classmate. If you treat him like this, people will say that you are heartless and ungrateful."

Pang Juan sneered, "I want to see if he's really crazy or just pretending."

Sun Bin lay in the mud of the pigsty. Soldiers brought him food, but he refused to eat, claiming it was poisoned, and threw the food on the soldiers. Enraged, the soldiers brought him excrement and mud, which he ate with relish. The soldiers reported Sun Bin's actions to Pang Juan, who still suspected Sun Bin was feigning madness.

Upon hearing that Sun Bin had been locked in a pigsty, Zhongli Qiu angrily questioned Pang Juan, "What law has Mr. Sun broken? Why are you locking him in a pigsty and mistreating him like this!"

Pang Juan, seizing the opportunity, said to Zhongli Qiu, "Sun Bin is like a brother to me, how could I mistreat him? He's gone mad and wants to go to the pigsty... Miss Zhongli, Sun Bin is still in your care. As long as you care for him with your heart and soul, his madness will surely be cured."

Sun Bin was escorted back to his original residence by his servants, where he changed into clean clothes and lay down on his bed. After the servants left, Zhong Liqiu sat beside Sun Bin, weeping uncontrollably, crying, "Sir, why are you like this? Why... have you really gone mad...?"

Sun Bin remained silent, his face expressionless.

Zhong Liqiu thought, "If I caress him with a woman's tenderness, he will surely wake up." So she embraced Sun Bin, whose body trembled involuntarily. But in an instant, Sun Bin calmed down, shoved Zhong Liqiu away, sat up, and shouted, "You want to suck my blood! You want to kill me! You traitor to the King of Wei!"

Zhong Liqiu stepped forward again and hugged Sun Bin, saying, "I'm not a spy, I really care about you..."

Sun Bin forcefully pushed her to the ground, shouting, "You traitor, you can't fool me! Get out! Get out!"

Zhong Liqiu stood up, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked at Sun Bin, sobbing sadly, "Mr. Sun, if you don't acknowledge me, what use am I in this world..." As she spoke, she took Sun Bin's sword, "Mr. Sun, answer me, do you want me or not..."

A fleeting hint of hesitation crossed Sun Bin's face, then he burst into wild laughter: "You can't fool me, I won't fall for your tricks, I have heavenly soldiers and generals..."

Tears streamed down Zhongli Qiu's face. She sighed deeply, closed her eyes, and placed the sword against her neck.

At that moment, Gongsun Yue burst through the door, knocking the sword from Zhong Liqiu's hand with a single palm strike. Then, Pang Juan also entered. Zhong Liqiu knelt before Pang Juan with a thud, crying, "Marshal Pang, please save Mr. Sun! He's truly gone mad..."

Pang Juan remained skeptical of Sun Bin's supposed madness and intentionally let him leave the mansion so he could secretly monitor him.

Sun Bin, his face filthy and clothes filthy, stood in the marketplace, begging from passersby. Those intending to buy goods avoided him. The stall owners behind him, seeing he was interfering with their business, loudly urged him to leave. Sun Bin seemed not to hear, continuing to beg. Enraged, one stall owner stepped forward and kicked Sun Bin to the ground, shouting, "If you don't leave, I'll kill you!"

Sun Bin got up and kowtowed to the stall owner, saying, "Sir, please save me! The King of Wei wants to harm me..."

The stall owner stepped forward and kicked him again, yelling, "I'll teach you to play dumb!"

Sun Bin got up again and kowtowed to the stall owner, saying, "Sir, please save me! The King of Wei wants to harm me..."

Seeing that Sun Bin wouldn't leave, the stall owner used both hands and feet to beat him until his face was covered in blood. Sun Bin lay on the ground, clutching his head and crying out, "Sir, save me! The King of Wei wants to harm me! Sir, save me! The King of Wei wants to harm me..."

Pang Juan, standing not far away, watched all this, still suspicious of Sun Bin. He observed Sun Bin for several more days but still couldn't see anything suspicious. Gongsun Yue said to Pang Juan, "Marshal, I think he's truly gone mad."

Pang Juan sighed, "What a pity, 'The Art of War'..."

Gongsun Yue comforted him, saying, "Sun Bin has gone mad; he is no longer a threat. Even without 'The Art of War,' Marshal Sun is invincible."

Pang Juan still lamented, "That's true, but after all, we'll never get our hands on 'The Art of War' again."

Note: "Feigning Ignorance" is the twenty-seventh of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. It means to feign ignorance and conceal one's abilities, like thunderclouds gathering and disappearing in winter. Sun Bin used this stratagem to deceive Pang Juan and avoid being killed. However, Sun Bin was not completely out of danger. To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter: "The Cicada Sheds its Shell."