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

Sun Bin was completely insane, oblivious to love and affection. Zhongli Qiu lay listlessly on her bed, refusing to eat or drink, ignoring all attempts at comforting her by Zhongli Chun. That day, Gongsun Yue arrived at the Zhongli family home with valuable gifts, saying to Zhongli Chun, "I have long admired Miss Zhongli Qiu's beauty and virtue, and wish to marry her. Therefore, I present these betrothal gifts; please accept them, Miss Zhongli."

Zhongli Chun had no liking for Gongsun Yue and spoke coldly to him, asking him to leave.

Gongsun Yue said leisurely, "If Zhongli Qiu marries me, I can make her forget the madman Sun Bin."

Gongsun Yue's words touched Zhongli Chun. Her immediate priority was to make her sister forget about Sun Bin. Her tone softened considerably as she said to Gongsun Yue, "Gongsun Yue, as Marshal Pang's strategist, you should know etiquette. The betrothal gifts should be delivered by your parents or elder brother."

Gongsun Yue laughed and said, "Miss Zhongli, you may not know this, but I am originally from the State of Qi. Due to the internal strife in Qi, my parents died. I traveled all over the world alone and finally came to the State of Wei. Marshal Pang took me in. Marshal Pang is my elder brother. These betrothal gifts were sent by Marshal Pang on my behalf."

Zhongli Chun, also a native of Qi, had left the country due to internal strife. Hearing Gongsun Yue's words, he intended to accept the betrothal gifts. Zhongli Qiu stormed out of the inner room and said to Gongsun Yue, "Gongsun Yue, take the betrothal gifts back!"

Gongsun Yue smiled broadly and said, "Zhongli Qiu, your sister has already accepted the betrothal gifts."

Zhong Liqiu was still furious: "If she accepts me, I won't. If you want to marry someone, marry her!" After saying that, he turned and went into the inner room.

Zhong Liqiu's actions left Zhong Lichun speechless in front of Gongsun Yue. She said to Gongsun Yue, "Mr. Gongsun, I'm so sorry. Please go back first. I'll try to persuade her."

After seeing Gongsun Yue off, Zhong Lichun returned to her inner room. She sat down beside Zhong Liqiu and gently advised, "Sister, Gongsun Yue is handsome and a strategist for Marshal Pang. What makes him unworthy of you?"

Zhong Liqiu retorted, "Didn't you say that these military strategists are good at plotting and their words can't be trusted?"

"I'm talking about Pang Juan. He had his own reasons for marrying you to Sun Bin. Gongsun Yue is different. He has long admired you and his intention to marry you is sincere."

"I don't believe in his sincerity, I only believe in Sun Bin."

Zhongli Chun's lust subsided, and she said, "Sun Bin is a madman. He can't distinguish between fragrance and stench, or between humans and animals. How can you marry him?"

"I'll wait for him, until he recovers, then I'll marry him."

"What if it never gets better?"

With tears in her eyes, Zhong Liqiu said, "Even if I can't get better, I won't marry anyone else!"

Zhong Lichun immediately flew into a rage: "You have to marry him whether you like it or not! I decide your marriage!"

Zhong Liqiu said to her sister very seriously, "If you force me to marry, I will die. This time I'm not joking!" After saying that, she lay on the bed and wailed, heartbroken.

Zhong Lichun looked at his sister, who was crying uncontrollably, with heartache and said, "Sister, don't cry. I won't force you. I'll go and refuse Gongsun Yue right now..."

Zhong Lichun arrived at Gongsun Yue's residence with the betrothal gifts and said apologetically to Gongsun Yue, "Mr. Gongsun, I am truly sorry, but my sister absolutely refuses to agree, so I have no choice but to return the betrothal gifts."

Gongsun Yue was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "I understand Zhongli Qiu's feelings. I can wait for her... five years, ten years, twenty years, I'll wait a lifetime!"

Seeing Gongsun Yue's deep affection, Zhongli Chun could say nothing more and could only take her leave.

To sever her sister's relationship, Zhong Lichun decided to kill Sun Bin. She found Sun Bin wandering the streets, claiming she had come to rescue him, and led him to a secluded forest on the outskirts of town. Zhong Lichun's face hardened, and she said to Sun Bin solemnly, "Sun Bin, I brought you here not to save you, but to kill you!" As she spoke, she drew her sword.

Sun Bin was startled, then limped back and ran, shouting as he ran, "Sir, save me! The King of Wei wants to kill me!"

Zhong Lichun leaped in front of Sun Bin, blocking his path. Sun Bin turned to the left, but Zhong Lichun again blocked his way, his sword pointed at Sun Bin's throat, and sneered, "With those two crippled legs of yours, you think you can run?"

Sun Bin collapsed to the ground, facing Zhong Lichun, his forehead repeatedly pounding against his clasped hands: "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! I will never run away again, I will never ask for heavenly soldiers and generals again..."

"Stop kowtowing! I'm not the king." With that, Zhong Lichun kicked Sun Bin.

"You are the king, my life is entirely in your hands, please spare my life, Your Majesty." Sun Bin looked simple-minded, and then kowtowed to Zhong Lichun again.

Zhong Lichun slapped Sun Bin hard on the shoulder with the back of his sword and said sternly, "Kowtowing won't do you any good, I'll still kill you!"

Sun Bin immediately sat up straight, staring blankly at Zhong Lichun, and asked, "Why did you kill me?"

Zhong Lichun said bitterly, "For my sister Zhong Liqiu! She was deeply in love with you, and now that you're insane, she still thinks of you... As long as you live, she will never marry. I can't let you harm my sister, I must kill you!"

Sun Bin regained his composure and sighed to the heavens, "I possess the 'Art of War' but I cannot conquer battlefields or establish great achievements; I cannot even save my own life. This is the will of Heaven..."

Upon hearing this, Zhongli Chun stared blankly at Sun Bin and asked in confusion, "Are you really crazy or just pretending?"

Sun Bin smiled wryly and said, "Of course I'm faking madness."

Why are you pretending to be crazy?

"Pang Juan wanted to kill me, so I had to feign madness to avoid being killed."

"Pang Juan was like a brother to you, how could he kill you? Are you talking nonsense again?" Zhong Lichun was still puzzled.

Sun Bin recounted to Zhongli Chun the entire story of how Pang Juan had framed him. Zhongli Chun, a chivalrous woman who hated evil, angrily denounced Pang Juan for his treacherous nature and betrayal of his brother, deserving of a terrible death! She urged Sun Bin to flee the State of Wei. Sun Bin sighed, "My legs cannot move quickly, and I have no one to help me. How can I escape?"

Zhongli Chun said, "I'll find you a carriage to help you escape from the State of Wei."

Sun Bin shook his head and said, "No, you can't do it alone. If Pang Juan finds out I'm missing, he'll immediately send people to chase after me. We can't escape on our own, and even if we do, it will be difficult to find a place to stay."

Zhong Lichun asked, "What do you suggest we do?"

Sun Bin said in a deep voice, "We must rely on the strength of a country, preferably the State of Qi."

To rescue Sun Bin, Zhong Lichun disguised herself as a man and traveled day and night to the state of Qi, east of Wei. Hearing that General Tian Ji of Qi was upright and frank, and also held military power, she visited him and told him about Sun Bin's framing by Pang Juan, pleading for his rescue. Tian Ji worried that Sun Bin was a wanted criminal of Wei, and that rescuing him would surely lead to Wei's military action, which he would be unable to explain to the King of Qi.

Zhongli Chun said, "Sun Bin can free the State of Qi from the threat of the State of Wei."

Tian Ji smiled slightly and said, "You're exaggerating. Sun Bin alone doesn't have that much power."

"Sun Bin's talent far surpassed Pang Juan's, and he also possessed the Art of War, which could make one victorious in every battle."

"Sun Tzu's Art of War was lost with the fall of the Wu Kingdom."

"There is another copy, which is in the possession of Master Guigu, and he has already passed it on to Sun Bin."

"I find it hard to believe what you're saying."

Tian Ji's strategist, Qin Hua, was a very insightful young man. When Zhong Lichun pleaded with Tian Ji to rescue Sun Bin, he had been observing Zhong Lichun, who was disguised as a man. At this moment, he said to Tian Ji, "General, this..." He glanced at Zhong Lichun and continued, "What this young man says is not without basis. Several years ago, I heard Master Mozi say that a copy of 'The Art of War' was in the hands of Master Guigu, who never passed on this set of military strategies to others. And Sun Bin is a descendant of Sun Wuzi, so it is not impossible that Master Guigu passed on the military strategy to him."

Tian Ji knew that Qin Hua wanted him to rescue Sun Bin, and said with difficulty, "Rescuing Sun Bin will inevitably offend the State of Wei. This matter is of great importance and should be reported to the King."

Qin Hua said, "It is precisely because this matter is of great importance that I cannot inform Your Majesty. Qi has repeatedly been defeated by Wei. If Your Majesty knew of this, you would certainly not offend Wei because of Sun Bin."

Although Tian Ji thought Qin Hua's words made sense, he was still hesitant.

Qin Hua saw that Tian Ji doubted Sun Bin's abilities and didn't want to take such a big risk, so he said, "General, I will go to Wei as an envoy of Qi to meet Sun Bin and test him in person. If he is talented, I will find a way to rescue him; if not, I will return home. What do you say?"

After much deliberation, Tian Ji finally agreed to Qin Hua's request. Zhong Lichun was extremely grateful to Qin Hua for this.

Qin Hua personally went to the outskirts to see Zhong Lichun off. He intentionally revealed Zhong Lichun's true identity as a girl, saying that it was precisely because Zhong Lichun disguised herself as a man and persevered in saving her friend that he was moved, and he was determined to help Zhong Lichun rescue Sun Bin. Zhong Lichun was even more grateful to Qin Hua.

Qin Hua, as an envoy of the State of Qi, arrived in the State of Wei. He first paid homage to King Hui of Wei according to protocol, conveying the King of Qi's wish for peace between the two states. Afterwards, Qin Hua went to see Pang Juan, presenting him with valuable jewels, saying that General Tian wished to befriend the Marshal. Pang Juan smiled slightly and said, "I am General Tian's enemy; how could I possibly befriend him?"

Qin Hua calmly said, "In today's world, the feudal lords are vying for supremacy. The strong win and the weak perish. Kings and generals, for the sake of their respective countries' survival, may be enemies today but friends tomorrow, even if only temporarily."

Pang Juan, intending to make things difficult for Qin Hua, added, "What if I don't want to be friends with General Tian?"

"Qi has been defeated by Wei several times and is no longer able to compete with Wei for hegemony. Chu has also submitted to Wei. Now the only one that can compete with Wei for hegemony is Qin. If Wei wants to defeat Qin, it should befriend General Tian."

"This is a matter between the two countries. As long as the two monarchs are friends, it doesn't matter whether General Tian and I are friends or not."

"Marshal, you are mistaken. The State of Wei is not strong because of the King of Wei, but because of the Marshal. If the Marshal does not agree to be General Tian's friend, my lord and General Tian will have no peace of mind."

Pang Juan laughed heartily, "Mr. Qin, you are very eloquent." He ordered his men to accept the jewels, and Qin Hua bowed to Pang Juan in thanks. Pang Juan was puzzled and asked, "Mr. Qin, you gave me jewels; I should thank you. Why are you thanking me?"

Qin Hua replied, "I've heard that many countries are willing to offer jewels to the Marshal, but he rarely accepts them. If the Marshal accepts one, it means he intends to befriend that country. Today, the Marshal has accepted our Qi's jewels, which shows that he intends to befriend Qi. If Marshal Pang is friends with Qi, other countries will not dare to underestimate Qi. As Qi's envoy, I should of course thank the Marshal."

Pang Juan greatly admired Qin Hua and personally hosted a banquet to entertain him.

Upon learning that Qin Hua had arrived in the State of Wei, Zhong Lichun immediately rushed to Qin Hua's lodging. He waited from sunset until the moon rose above the treetops, but Qin Hua still hadn't returned, and Zhong Lichun grew anxious. Qin Hua's attendants said that Qin Hua was a sociable person who often stayed out all night if he was in the mood, and suggested that Zhong Lichun come again the next day.

Just as Zhong Lichun was about to leave, Qin Hua returned. Zhong Lichun wanted to take him to see Sun Bin immediately. Qin Hua looked at the sky outside the window and said, "It's so late, let's wait until tomorrow."

Zhong Lichun said, "Mr. Sun said that speed is of the essence in war."

Qin Hua's eyes lit up, and he said, "Speed ​​is of the essence in war... Good, that's a good point. Let's go see him."

Ever since Pang Juan believed Sun Bin's madness, Sun Bin began leaving early and returning late, sometimes begging, sometimes telling fortunes, sometimes laughing and joking, sometimes weeping incessantly. At first, Pang Juan had people watching him, but later he relaxed his guard, and Sun Bin often slept in the marketplace, not returning home for several nights. That night, as agreed with Zhongli Chun, he lay disheveled and filthy by the roadside, waiting for her.

Gongsun Yue was riding through the street in his carriage when he happened to see Sun Bin lying by the roadside. He jumped out of the carriage and told the driver to drive on ahead. Gongsun Yue went to Sun Bin's side and advised, "Sun Bin, why don't you go back to your residence and rest?"

Sun Bin turned and glanced at him, then asked, "Back to the palace? The Heavenly Palace or the Underworld Palace?"

Gongsun Yue sneered, "Mr. Sun, don't pretend to be crazy in front of me."

Sun Bin sat up, looked around, and said, "Mr. Gongsun, didn't we agree that you wouldn't concern yourself with my affairs, and I wouldn't ask about yours?"

"I want to win Zhong Liqiu's heart, but she hasn't agreed yet. I'd like you to help me think of a way."

"I can't do anything about women's affairs."

Gongsun Yue gave a cold laugh: "If I can't get Zhongli Qiu, I can no longer keep your secret."

Sun Bin sensed that Zhongli Chun was arriving soon and wanted to get rid of Gongsun Yue as soon as possible, so he said, "Give me a few days so I can think it over."

Gongsun Yue left, and Sun Bin lay down again by the roadside. Zhongli Chun emerged from behind a house, walked to Sun Bin's side, and whispered, "Mr. Sun, follow behind me."

Sun Bin got up, looked around, and followed Zhong Lichun at a distance.

Gongsun Yue didn't go far. He hid in the shadows of a shop, watching Zhongli Chun and Sun Bin walk away, a sinister smile on his face.

Sun Bin followed Zhong Lichun to a simple inn, where he met Qin Hua, who was dressed as a merchant. After Sun Bin and Qin Hua exchanged greetings, Zhong Lichun helped Sun Bin sit on a mat.

Looking at Sun Bin's crippled legs, Qin Hua cut to the chase: "Excuse my bluntness, but with Mr. Sun's legs so weak, how will he fight on the battlefield in the future?"

Sun Bin calmly replied, "It is the generals who fight on the battlefield; I only wish to be a strategist, offering advice and strategies to help the generals win on the battlefield."

"A strategist may remain unknown his entire life."

"I am a useless person, I don't seek fame, but I seek merit."

Qin Hua thought for a moment and asked, "There are two countries, one strong and one weak. As the strategist of the weaker country, what methods do you have to help the weaker country's army defeat the stronger country?"

Sun Bin replied: "First, ensure the government is prosperous and enlightened, so that the people and the ruler are of one mind; second, seize the opportune time for battle; third, occupy the advantageous terrain; fourth, appoint generals who possess wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage, and discipline; fifth, strictly enforce military discipline and manage provisions. This is what Sun Tzu's Art of War refers to as the Way, Heaven, Earth, General, and Law."

Qin Hua nodded slightly and continued, "What is the best strategy to defeat the enemy?"

Sun Tzu said: "The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans."

"And then?"

"Secondly, disrupt their diplomacy. Defeat the enemy's diplomacy."

"And again?"

"To subdue the enemy's army. To defeat the enemy's army."

"And then what?"

Sun Bin replied, "Attack the city."

Qin Hua clapped his hands and said, "Brilliant! That's a brilliant answer! Mr. Sun, even if it costs me my life, I will save you from this danger!"

Sun Bin was deeply moved and said, "Mr. Qin, I will never forget your great kindness..." As he spoke, he stood up and was about to kneel in front of Qin Hua when Zhong Lichun stepped forward and grabbed Sun Bin, saying, "Mr. Sun, your legs cannot kneel."

"I cannot express my gratitude to Mr. Qin without kneeling."

"Now is not the time to be grateful; we should quickly discuss how to leave Wei."

Qin Hua said to Sun Bin, "Miss Zhongli is right, Mr. Sun. I need to rescue you, but I can't alert the Wei Kingdom. Do you have any good ideas?"

"There is a solution..."

A cacophony of footsteps echoed outside the inn. A group of soldiers burst through the door; they were looking for Sun Bin. Zhong Lichun tried to stop them, but Qin Hua pulled her back. Qin Hua whispered, "A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan."

Zhong Lichun sighed deeply, "Such a talented person has been insulted in this way. I simply cannot bear it."

"To prevent Mr. Sun from being humiliated again, we must endure it, no matter how unbearable it may be..."

Zhong Lichun and Qin Hua watched helplessly as the soldiers took Sun Bin away.

Sun Bin was locked back in the pigsty and couldn't leave for several days. Sun Bin was somewhat surprised; he suspected that Gongsun Yue had told Pang Juan about his feigned madness. Sun Bin threatened Gongsun Yue, who came to visit him in the pigsty, saying, "Telling Pang Juan about me won't do you any good; you'll only expose his plot."

Gongsun Yue didn't mind: "If I can't have Zhongli Qiu, I'd rather take the risk."

Sun Bin retorted without backing down: "If you dare to take the risk, why shouldn't I, a carefree madman, dare to?"

Gongsun Yue smiled and said, "You wouldn't dare, because there's Zhongli Chun and that Qi envoy."

Sun Bin was taken aback and asked, "How did you know?"

Gongsun Yue replied, "I saw you all go to the inn together."

Sun Bin was furious and cursed Gongsun Yue for being despicable.

Gongsun Yue was not angry. He said to Sun Bin, "Don't be angry. If I hadn't seen it, someone else would have, and that would have been even worse. Mr. Sun, Pang Juan hasn't let his guard down around you. There are people watching you every day. You have no other choice but to help me get Zhongli Qiu in exchange for my help."

Sun Bin was silent for a moment, then said, "I will give you an answer in a few days."

Gongsun Yue gave a cold laugh and said, "A few days from now, you won't be in Wei anymore."

Sun Bin said, "It is precisely because I am not in Wei that I will not be a hindrance to you."

Gongsun Yue thought about it and realized that Sun Bin's words made sense, so he agreed to help Sun Bin leave the State of Wei.

One dark and windy night, Zhong Lichun and one of Qin Hua's attendants scaled the wall of the Pang residence and quietly approached the pigsty. Gongsun Yue, who had been waiting outside, emerged from the shadows and opened the pigsty door. Zhong Lichun and the attendant entered the pigsty. Sun Bin and the attendant swapped clothes, the attendant smearing his face and disheveling his hair, lying on his side in the pigsty like Sun Bin. Gongsun Yue then quietly led Sun Bin away from the Pang residence.

Early the next morning, Sun Bin hid in Qin Hua's carriage and sped eastward towards the State of Qi. He felt the eastern sun was so bright and beautiful, and exclaimed, "I never thought that I, Sun Bin, would have a day to rise in the world."

Before he finished speaking, several military vehicles came chasing after them from a distance. Qin Hua quickly told Sun Bin to hide under a burlap sack inside one of the vehicles.

The speeding chariots caught up, with Pang Juan in the first one. Pang Juan loudly asked Qin Hua, "Why did you leave without saying goodbye, Mr. Qin?"

"I went to your residence yesterday to say goodbye, but the Marshal was not there."

"Mr. Qin, you cannot leave the State of Wei."

Qin Hua was taken aback, wondering if Pang Juan had discovered Sun Bin... He quickly regained his composure and said to Pang Juan, "I am an envoy of Qi, why can't I leave Wei?"

Pang Juan smiled and said, "I once said that Mr. Qin is a very intelligent person. I admire you very much. If you can stay in Wei, I will definitely ask the King to give you an important position."

Qin Hua secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I am deeply grateful for the general's high regard for me. However, I promised General Tian that I would serve him for three years, and I dare not break my promise."

"And what about three years from now?"

"I will follow the most outstanding military strategist in the world."

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you in three years."

Pang Juan's carriage moved aside.

Qin Hua nodded in acknowledgment, then drove the carriage, carrying Sun Bin, and sped off towards the eastern state of Qi.

Note: "The Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell" is the twenty-first of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. Its original meaning is to maintain one's original form, deceive the enemy, and secretly relocate. Sun Bin and his comrades followed this strategy, having a servant of Qi disguise himself as Sun Bin, using him as a shell, to secretly escape from Wei. To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter: "Substituting a Plum for a Peach."