By name: strategic-alliance-encirclement description: "Use when building a coalition to encircle and weaken a superior adversary through indirect means. Based on Feng Tong's advice to Goujian: conceal intentions, ally with enemy's rivals (Qi, Chu, Jin), flatter the enemy into arrogance, and strike when they are overextended on multiple fronts."
Strategic Alliance Encirclement Strategy
Overview
A diplomatic-military procedure for building a coalition to encircle and weaken a superior adversary, based on Feng Tong's advice to Goujian.
Steps
- Assess enemy position - Identify if enemy is engaged on multiple fronts or has made enemies
- Conceal intentions - Hide your true strength and ambitions (like a hunting bird hiding its form)
- Identify enemy's adversaries - Find states/groups that have grievances against your enemy
- Build separate alliances - Ally with Qi, befriend Chu, attach to Jin (your enemy's rivals)
- Flatter the enemy - Send generous gifts to make them arrogant and complacent
- Wait for overextension - Let enemy become overconfident and engage in costly wars
- Coordinate attack timing - Strike when enemy is weakened by fighting others
Key Principle
"The hunting bird must hide its form before striking" - conceal capabilities until the moment of attack.
Expected Outcomes
- Enemy becomes isolated and overextended
- Multiple fronts drain enemy resources
- Opportunity for decisive victory emerges
Verification
- Confirm that your true strength and intentions remain concealed from the enemy ("the hunting bird must hide its form before striking").
- Validate that alliances with the enemy's rivals are secured and coordinated before any overt action.
- Check that the enemy has demonstrably become arrogant and overextended before initiating the strike.