Blog

  The origin of this proverb is from the  Warring States Period (战国时期 zhànɡuóshíqī). The state of Wèi attacked Zhao and  laid siege (围攻 wéiɡōnɡ) to its capital  Handan (邯郸 Hándān). Zhào turned to Qí for help, but the Qí general Sun Bin determined it would be unwise to meet the army of Wèi head on, so he instead attacked their capital atDaliang (大梁 Dàliánɡ). The army of Wèi  retreated (撤回 chèhuí) in haste, and the tired troops were  ambushed (伏击 fújī) and defeated at the  Battle of Guiling (桂陵之战 Guìlínɡzhīzhàn), with the Wèi general  Pang Juan (庞涓 Pánɡ Juān) slain on the field. Note that this campaign is also described explicitly in the Art of War of Master Sun Bin the younger.