Chapter 4: Chaos Stratagems
第四套：混战计
第十九计 釜底抽薪
extracting the firewood from under the cauldron
▌原文
不敌其力，而消其势，兑下乾上之象。
▌英文注释
Take out the leading argument or asset of someone; 'steal someone's thunder'. This is the very essence of indirect approach: instead of attacking enemy's fighting forces, the attacks are directed against his ability to wage war.
第二十计 混水摸鱼
muddling the water to catch the fish;
fishing in troubled waters
▌原文
乘其阴乱，利其弱而无主。随，以向晦入宴息。
▌英文注释
Create confusion and use this confusion to further your own goals.
第二十一计 金蝉脱壳
slipping away by casting off a cloak;
getting away like the cicada sloughing its skin
▌原文
存其形，完其势；友不疑，敌不动。巽而止蛊。
▌英文注释
Mask yourself. Either leave one's distinctive traits behind, thus becoming inconspicuous, or masquerade as something or someone else.
This strategy is mainly used to escape from enemy of superior strength.
第二十二计 关门捉贼
catching the thief by closing / blocking his escape route
▌原文
小敌困之。剥，不利有攸往。
▌英文注释
To capture your enemy, or more generally in fighting wars, to deliver the final blow to your enemy, you must plan prudently if you want to succeed. Do not rush into action. Before you 'move in for the kill', first cut off your enemy's escape routes, and cut off any routes through which outside help can reach them.
第二十三计 远交近攻
befriending the distant enemy while attacking a nearby enemy
▌原文
形禁势格，利从近取，害以远隔。上火下泽。
▌英文注释
It is known that nations that border each other become enemies while nations separated by distance and obstacles make better allies.
When you are the strongest in one field, your greatest threat is from the second strongest in your field, not the strongest from another field.
第二十四计 假途伐虢
attacking the enemy by passing through a common neighbor
▌原文
两大之间，敌胁以从，我假以势。困，有言不信。
▌英文注释
Borrow the resources of an ally to attack a common enemy. Once the enemy is defeated, use those resources to turn on the ally that lent you them in the first place.
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