The Thirty-six Chinese Stratagems

Mask one's real goals and avoid alerting the enemy to one's movements or plans.

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Battle: The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

Year: 9

Brief: The Germanic Cherusci Chieftan Arminus leads the Roman Army under the Command Publius Varus into an ambush. Over 10000 Romans are killed.

Attack something the enemy cherishes to avoid a direct battle.

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Battle: The Battle of the Metaurus

Year: 207 BC

Brief: The Carthaginians, under Hasdrubal, were attempting to join forces with Hannibal in Italy. The Romans, led by Gaius Claudius Nero, disrupted this plan by attacking Hasdrubal’s army. Rather than confronting the larger Carthaginian force head-on, the Romans attacked Hasdrubal’s vulnerable flank, cutting off his ability to join Hannibal, and forcing him to retreat, thus neutralizing a potential threat without a direct battle with Hannibal.

Use another's strength to attack the enemy or cause damage via a third party.

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Battle: The Battle of Myeongnyang

Year: 1597

Brief: Admiral Yi Sun-sin, with only 13 ships, lured the much larger Japanese fleet (133 ships) into the narrow Myeongnyang Strait. He used the strong tides and confined waters to neutralize the Japanese fleet's numerical advantage. Ship by ship, Yi Sun-sin destroyed the Japanese fleet using his superior range via his Turtle Ship cannons.

Conserve strength and attack when the enemy is exhausted.

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Battle: The Battle of Hattin

Year: 1187

Brief: Saladin lured the Crusader army, led by Guy of Lusignan, away from water sources by strategically positioning his forces and cutting off access. The Crusaders were forced to march under the scorching sun without sufficient water, leading to exhaustion and demoralization. Once they were sufficiently weakened, Saladin's forces launched a decisive attack. The battle resulted in a significant defeat for the Crusaders, leading to the fall of Jerusalem later that year.

Attack the enemy when they are in their weakest state.

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Battle: The Siege of Damascus

Year: 634

Brief: The Rashidun Caliphate, led by Khalid ibn al-Walid, besieged the city of Damascus, which was under Byzantine control. After a fierce battle, the city fell to the Rashidun forces. Following the surrender of Damascus, Khalid ibn al-Walid pursued the fleeing Byzantine survivors. He ambushed and slaughtered them, killing the former defender of Damascus, Thomas, in a duel.

Use surprise by attacking where the enemy least expects it.

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Battle: The Battle of Normandy

Year: 1944

Brief: In World War II, the Allies used deception to mislead the Germans about the location of the invasion. Operation Fortitude created the illusion of an impending attack in the Pas-de-Calais region (east), while the actual invasion took place in Normandy (west). This surprise attack was crucial to the success of the Allied forces