Gain your enemy's trust
and inspire him with peace of mind;
then realize your hidden plans.
Prepare for attack
And attack without hesitation
Don't let the enemy come to his senses.

“Honest speech and an amiable demeanor are rarely combined in people. Anyone who speaks eloquently is rarely humane.”
(Confucius)

“If the enemy seems timid, but is preparing to attack, then he attacks. If he offers peace without an agreement, he is planning a trick. The external flattery of the enemy foretells death.”
(Sun Tzu)

This incident occurred in Ancient China, when the rulers of kingdoms often fought with each other for the right to own lands. The wise Gou Jian, the ruler of the kingdom of Yue, was defeated by the ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Wu. Despite the defeat, Gou Jian decided not to flee, but to accept the conqueror Fu Zhai and pretend complete submission to him. He was going to strengthen ties with the Wu kingdom and wait for the right moment for revenge.

Ruler Fu Zhai graciously left Gou Jian and his relatives near him and set off on new campaigns. He appointed the defeated ruler of Yue as caretaker of his stable. Gou Jian showed excessive courtesy: every day he brought a horse to Fu Zhai and thanked him for the favors he had shown. Over time, Fu Zhai stopped seeing him as a danger. Meanwhile, Gou Jian continued to work on his plans for revenge. In order not to soften his body, he ate a piece of gall bladder every day at lunch and slept on straw and brushwood. He spent a lot of time with Fu Zhai and his men, observing them and developing a strategy for the campaign against the kingdom of Wu. Gou Jian secretly learned new skills and strengthened ties with other rulers to increase his army.

Over time, Fu Zhai began to consider Gou Jian as his faithful servant and allowed him to return to his homeland. Gou Jian took advantage of this moment and suddenly invaded the enemy's undefended lands. There he defeated Fu Zhai's army and was subsequently able to regain his lands and power.