23
Make friends with those who are far away and fight with those near you.
Interpretation:
If you are cramped in positions
and you can't act
Take advantage of weaknesses
enemy close
and avoid waging war
against an enemy in the distance.
In a war with several participants, many different alliances arise. Everyone is looking for benefit for themselves.
It is difficult to wage a war against a distant enemy; it is better to form an alliance with him. It is more dangerous to enter into an alliance with your neighbor - its termination can lead to defeat.
and you can't act
Take advantage of weaknesses
enemy close
and avoid waging war
against an enemy in the distance.
In a war with several participants, many different alliances arise. Everyone is looking for benefit for themselves.
It is difficult to wage a war against a distant enemy; it is better to form an alliance with him. It is more dangerous to enter into an alliance with your neighbor - its termination can lead to defeat.
Historical example:
In the middle of the 4th century. BC. The Qin kingdom was the most powerful of all the ancient Chinese kingdoms of that time. The Qin ruler seized part of the lands of the Wei kingdom and did not intend to stop there. To resist the onslaught of the Qin, the rulers of the five largest states entered into an alliance among themselves.
On the contrary, a talented diplomat from the Kingdom of Wei named Fan Sui left his lands to become a strategist in the Kingdom of Qin. The Qin ruler initially wanted to attack the distant kingdom of Qi, leading his army through the lands of Han and Wei. Fan Sui rejected this plan:
− “Sending a large army far from the borders of the kingdom means weakening your state and endangering it. You should seek alliances with distant states and fight with your neighbors. Then each conquered plot will forever become your possession. The kingdoms of Han and Wei are located in the middle of the inhabited world. First, it’s better to establish friendly relations with them, there is a chance that you won’t have to fight with them.”
The ruler agreed with Fan Sui's advice. He decided to follow his strategy and asked:
- I have long wanted to establish good relations with Wei, but have not yet achieved what I wanted. What do we have to do?
“First use flattering speeches and rich gifts,” answered Fan Sui. “You need to show the ruler of Wei that you have enough gifts and strength to achieve superiority.” Then invite him to cede the land to you. And only when he refuses, start a war against him.
On the contrary, a talented diplomat from the Kingdom of Wei named Fan Sui left his lands to become a strategist in the Kingdom of Qin. The Qin ruler initially wanted to attack the distant kingdom of Qi, leading his army through the lands of Han and Wei. Fan Sui rejected this plan:
− “Sending a large army far from the borders of the kingdom means weakening your state and endangering it. You should seek alliances with distant states and fight with your neighbors. Then each conquered plot will forever become your possession. The kingdoms of Han and Wei are located in the middle of the inhabited world. First, it’s better to establish friendly relations with them, there is a chance that you won’t have to fight with them.”
The ruler agreed with Fan Sui's advice. He decided to follow his strategy and asked:
- I have long wanted to establish good relations with Wei, but have not yet achieved what I wanted. What do we have to do?
“First use flattering speeches and rich gifts,” answered Fan Sui. “You need to show the ruler of Wei that you have enough gifts and strength to achieve superiority.” Then invite him to cede the land to you. And only when he refuses, start a war against him.