W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙 part 5 太平天國 Heavenly Kingdom : Besiege Wei to Save Zhao

W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙

 Besiege Wei to Save Zhao * part 5

西元1860年到1862年，滿清政府率軍包圍了太平天國的首都天京，就是今天的南京。這時候太平天國因為內鬨過。軍事實力越來越差，大不如前。

為了解天京之包圍，太平天國的天王洪秀全，召集手下商量對策。這時忠王李秀成說：「清軍有數十萬人馬，我們不能硬拼。打不過，會死傷慘重。請天王讓我帶兩萬人馬突圍。偷襲清軍的物質及屯糧之地-杭州。吸引清軍分兵。然後我再裡應外合，夾擊清軍。一定可以解除這次清軍對天京的包圍。」這一條計策，得到了贊同。

因此李秀成跟石達開，分別率領部隊，尋找清軍包圍網鬆懈的地方，突圍出去。清軍認為只是小部隊，沒有理睬，也沒有追擊。李秀成跟石達開突圍之後，撲向杭州並猛烈攻擊！清軍一時緊張，分兵回救杭州。

洪秀全看到清軍分兵救援，下令全線出擊。出去的李秀成跟石達開，已經分散了清軍的士兵。所以李秀成跟石達開也迅速地回過神來，回軍。繞過救援杭州的清軍。趕回天京，與洪秀全內外夾擊，擊敗包圍天京的清軍。使得清軍大敗！這一次清軍大敗之後，短時間沒有能量攻擊太平天國。這就是一種『圍魏救趙』的策略應用。在這一次的案例裡面：杭州就是清軍必定要救之處，圍魏救趙的重點就是「攻敵之所必救」。

西元1860年到1862年，滿清政府率軍包圍了太平天國的首都天京，就是今天的南京。這時候太平天國因為內鬨過。軍事實力越來越差，大不如前。

From 1860 to 1862, the Qing government led its army to besiege the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's capital, Tianjing (present-day Nanjing). At this time, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was plagued by internal strife, and its military strength was declining.

為了解天京之包圍，太平天國的天王洪秀全，召集手下商量對策。這時忠王李秀成說：「清軍有數十萬人馬，我們不能硬拼。打不過，會死傷慘重。請天王讓我帶兩萬人馬突圍。偷襲清軍的物質及屯糧之地-杭州。吸引清軍分兵。然後我再裡應外合，夾擊清軍。一定可以解除這次清軍對天京的包圍。」這一條計策，得到了贊同。

To break the siege of Tianjing, the Taiping Heavenly King, Hong Xiuquan, summoned his men to discuss countermeasures. At this point, Li Xiucheng, the Loyal Prince, suggested, "The Qing army has hundreds of thousands of troops. We cannot engage them head-on. We will suffer heavy casualties if we are defeated. Please allow me to lead 20,000 troops to break out. We will attack Hangzhou, where the Qing army holds supplies and food reserves. This will draw the Qing army apart. Then, we will attack them from both inside and outside. This will definitely lift the Qing siege of Tianjing." This strategy was well-received.

因此李秀成跟石達開，分別率領部隊，尋找清軍包圍網鬆懈的地方，突圍出去。清軍認為只是小部隊，沒有理睬，也沒有追擊。李秀成跟石達開突圍之後，撲向杭州並猛烈攻擊！清軍一時緊張，分兵回救杭州。

So, Li Xiucheng and Shi Dakai each led their troops to seek out weak spots in the Qing encirclement and break out. The Qing army, believing it was a small force, ignored them and did not pursue them. After breaking out, Li Xiucheng and Shi Dakai stormed Hangzhou and launched a fierce attack! The Qing army panicked and dispatched troops to rescue Hangzhou.

洪秀全看到清軍分兵救援，下令全線出擊。出去的李秀成跟石達開，已經分散了清軍的士兵。所以李秀成跟石達開也迅速地回過神來，回軍。繞過救援杭州的清軍。趕回天京，與洪秀全內外夾擊，擊敗包圍天京的清軍。使得清軍大敗！這一次清軍大敗之後，短時間沒有能量攻擊太平天國。

Seeing the Qing army's divided rescue efforts, Hong Xiuquan ordered an all-out attack. Li Xiucheng and Shi Dakai, who had already dispersed the Qing troops, quickly recovered and returned. They bypassed the Qing troops trying to rescue Hangzhou and rushed back to Tianjing. Together with Hong Xiuquan, they attacked from both inside and outside, defeating the Qing army surrounding Tianjing and inflicting a crushing defeat on the Qing army. Following this crushing defeat, the Qing army had no immediate energy to attack the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. 

這就是一種『圍魏救趙』的策略應用。在這一次的案例裡面：杭州就是清軍必定要救之處，圍魏救趙的重點就是「攻敵之所必救」。

This was an application of the "Besiege Wei to Save Zhao" strategy. In this case, Hangzhou was a location the Qing army had to rescue. The key to "Besiege Wei to Save Zhao" was to "attack the enemy where they must rescue."

W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙 part 4 劉備 Liu Bei : Besiege Wei to Save Zhao

W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙

 Besiege Wei to Save Zhao * part 4

曹操想趁周瑜剛死的時候，攻擊東吳，消滅孫權。

Cao Cao wanted to take advantage of Zhou Yu's death to attack Eastern Wu and destroy Sun Quan. 

這個時候孫權向劉備求救。

At this time, Sun Quan asked Liu Bei for help. 

劉備左右為難：如果拯救孫權的東吳，他就得不到荊州與益州。

Liu Bei was in a dilemma: if he saved Sun Quan's Eastern Wu, he would not get Jingzhou and Yizhou.

但是他如果去取西川(益州)，不顧東吳。曹操又會吞併東吳孫權。

But if he goes to take Xichuan (Yizhou), he will ignore Dongwu. Cao Cao will then annex Sun Quan of Eastern Wu. 

這個時候諸葛亮獻計解決問題：請劉備發信給西北涼州的馬超，讓涼州的馬超，出兵攻擊曹操。

At this time, Zhuge Liang offered a plan to solve the problem: ask Liu Bei to send a letter to Ma Chao in Liang Province in the northwest, and ask Ma Chao in Liang Province to send troops to attack Cao Cao.

這正是圍魏救趙。

 This is exactly the strategy of besieging Wei to save Zhao.

曹操即時起大兵三十萬，逕下江南…早有細作報知孫權。權聚眾將商議。

Cao Cao immediately raised an army of 300,000 and marched straight to the south of the Yangtze River... Sun Quan inform by spies he send to Cao Cao . Quan gathered all the generals to discuss the matter.

…即遣人求救於玄德(劉備-劉玄德)。玄德看了書中之意，留使者於館舍，差人往南郡請孔明。

 …sent people to ask Xuande (Liu Bei – Liu Xuande) for help. After reading the meaning of the letter, Xuande kept the envoy in the guesthouse and sent someone to Nanjun to invite Kongming. 

孔明到荊州，玄德將魯肅書與孔明看畢。

When Kongming arrived in Jingzhou, Xuande give Lu Su's letter to Kongming to read. 

孔明曰：「也不消動江南之兵，也不必動荊州之兵，自使曹操不敢正覷東南。」

Kong Ming said: "There is no need to mobilize the troops in the south of the Yangtze River, nor the troops in Jingzhou. This will prevent Cao Cao from looking directly at the southeast."

玄德問曰：「今曹操起三十萬大軍，會合淝之眾，一擁而來，先生有何妙計，可以退之？」

Xuande asked, "Cao Cao has raised an army of 300,000 and joined the troops at Fei. They are coming at us all at once. Sir, do you have any good plan to repel them?"

孔明曰：「曹操平生所顧慮者，乃西涼之兵也。…主公可作一書，往結馬超，使超興兵入關，則操又無暇下江南矣。」

Kongming said, "What Cao Cao has always worried about is the troops from Xiliang. …My Lord, you can write a letter to Ma Chao and ask him to lead his troops into the pass, so that Cao will have no time to go south of the Yangtze River.”

玄德大喜，即時作書，遣一心腹人，逕往西涼州投下。

 Xuande was overjoyed, and immediately wrote a letter and sent a trusted man to surrender to him in Xiliang Prefecture.

W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙 part 3 齊國 Qi : Besiege Wei to Save Zhao

W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙

 Besiege Wei to Save Zhao * part 3

邯鄲(趙國首都)被魏國攻擊，很危險、有困難，趙國求救於齊國。

Being attacked by the State of Wei, the State of Zhao was in great danger and difficulty, so it asked the State of Qi for help.

齊國的主政者:田侯，召集大臣而謀劃，

 The ruler of Qi, Tian Hou, summoned his ministers to make plans.

田侯就問說：「救趙國還是不救趙國？」

 Tian Hou asked, "What are the benefits!" 

鄒子說：「不如不要救。」段幹綸說：「不救，則對我不利。」

Zou Zi said, "It's better not to rescue them." Duan Ganlun replied, "If we don't rescue them, it will be disadvantageous to us."

田侯問說：「為甚麼呢？」

Tian Hou asked, "Why?"

段幹綸回答說:「如果真的讓魏國兼有原本土地加上邯鄲、合併了趙國，取得兩國的力量，這對於齊國有甚麼好處呢！」

Duan Ganlun replied, "If Wei were to take over the original lands and Handan, annex Zhao, and gain the power of both states, what benefit would that bring to Qi?"

田侯回應：「講得真好。」

Tian Hou replied, "You said it very well." 

於是田侯就起兵，計畫說：「移動軍隊到邯鄲城的郊外。」

So Tian Hou raised his army and planned, "Move the army to the outskirts of Handan City." 

段幹綸解釋說：「臣(我)之衡量利或不利的關鍵，不是因為這個原因。

Duan Ganlun explained, "The key to my weighing the benefits or disadvantages is not because of this reason. 

假設要救趙國首都-邯鄲，移動軍隊到其郊外，結果是趙國沒有被魏國攻下；而同時魏國維持完整的樣子。

If we want to save Handan, the capital of Zhao, and move the army to its outskirts, the result is that Zhao is not conquered by Wei; and at the same time Wei remains intact. 

所以不如向南方攻擊襄陵(地名)，用以使魏國受到損失。

So it is better to attack Xiangling (a place name) in the south to cause losses to Wei.

比較起來，就算趙國首都-邯鄲，真的守不住，被魏國攻下，也沒有關係。

 In comparison, even if Handan, the capital of Zhao, really cannot be defended and is conquered by Wei, it does not matter.

趙國被攻破的同時，魏國也被我們攻擊而有損失，是趙國破而同時魏國虛弱。」

 When Zhao is conquered, Wei is also attacked by us and suffers losses. It is Zhao that is defeated and Wei that is weak at the same time."

田侯做出評論：「講得真好。」

 Tian Hou commented, "You said it very well." 

乃起兵向南方攻擊襄陵。七月，邯鄲拔。

So he raised his army to attack Xiangling in the south. In July, Handan was captured. 

齊國因為承接魏國的疲勞狀態(魏國的主力軍隊都到趙國去了，所以魏國國內力量不夠)，齊國大破之於桂陵(地名)。」

Because Qi inherited Wei's exhausted state (Wei's main forces had gone to Zhao, so Wei did not have enough domestic strength), Qi defeated Zhao at Guiling (a place name). 」

W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙 part 2 典故 Allusion: Besiege Wei to Save Zhao

W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙 * part 2

Besiege Wei to Save Zhao * part 2

Later, Wei attacked Zhao. Zhao was in danger and asked Qi for help. 

其後魏國攻擊趙國，趙國很危急，向齊國求救。

King Wei of Qi wanted to make Sun Bin the commander-in-chief, but Sun Bin declined after expressing his gratitude, saying, "A person who has been executed cannot be the commander-in-chief." So, Tian Ji was made the general, and Sun Bin was made the military advisor, sitting in the baggage cart to help with strategies.

齊威王想要讓孫臏當統帥，孫臏感謝後推辭，說：「被處刑過的人不可以當統帥。」於是乃以田忌為將，而孫臏作為軍師，坐在輜車中，幫忙出計謀。

 Tian Ji wanted to lead his troops to Zhao, but Sun Bin explained: "If you want to resolve the chaos, don't get involved in the dispute yourself; to save the friendly forces in the battle, don't take up weapons yourself to avoid chaos; if you really want to help the friendly forces, you should: resist the strong part of the opponent while directly attacking the opponent's weaknesses. 

田忌想要領兵到趙國，孫臏解釋說：「想要解除雜亂紛糾的話，自己不要捲入糾紛；拯救戰鬥中的友軍，不要拿兵器自己上，以免亂成一團；真的要幫助友軍，就要一邊:抵擋對手強大的部分，同時直接攻擊對手弱點。

If you do this, the opponent will be blocked and the situation will be critical, and the crisis will naturally be resolved. 

這樣做的話，對手被擋住又形勢危急，則自然危機解除。

Today, Wei and Zhao are attacking each other. Wei's light infantry and elite soldiers must be fighting outside, and they may be exhausted outside, while Wei's old and weak soldiers are defending the city inside. 

今天魏國跟趙國互相攻伐，魏國的輕步兵、精銳士卒必定在外作戰，可能在外面打的精疲力竭，魏國的老弱兵卒在內部守城。

Instead of leading troops to fight against the main force of Wei, it is better for the general to lead troops to quickly attack Daliang (the capital of Wei) and occupy its important transportation routes, so that the enemy's supplies cannot be transported, causing the enemy's situation to become more urgent.

將軍與其帶兵跟魏國主力軍交戰，倒不如引兵快速的攻擊大樑 (魏國首都)，佔據其重要的交通要道，使對手補給運輸不上，導致對手情況變得更加緊急。

 At the same time, attack the places where Wei has just become weak because of the supply cut off, and he will definitely release Zhao and turn around to save himself. 

同時衝擊魏國剛剛因為補給被切斷而變虛弱的地方，他一定釋放趙國而回身自救。

By doing this, I can solve the siege of Zhao at once, and at the same time, I can receive my benefits in Wei." Tian Ji followed this advice and implemented it. 

我這樣做就一次解決趙國的圍困，而能夠同一時間，在魏國收到我的好處。」田忌聽從這個建議，照樣實行。

As expected, Wei State went to Handan (the capital of Zhao State) and fought with Qi State in Guiling, and defeated the Liang Army (the Liang Army was the Wei Army). "

魏國果然去邯鄲(趙國首都)，與齊國戰於桂陵，大破梁軍(梁軍就是魏軍)。」

W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙 part 1 解釋 Explanation: Besiege Wei to Save Zhao

W. Strategy 2: 圍魏救趙 * part 1

Besiege Wei to Save Zhao * part 1

解釋：共敵不如分敵，敵陽不如敵陰。

Explanation: It is better to divide the enemy than to fight together, and it is better to fight the yin than to fight the yang.

歷史上在戰國時期，魏圍攻趙國首都-邯鄲，

Historically during the Warring States Period, Wei besieged Handan, the capital of Zhao State. 

趙國求救於齊國，

Zhao State asked Qi State for help.

齊國以田忌為將，孫臏為軍師，率兵救趙國。

 Qi State appointed Tian Ji as general and Sun Bin as military advisor to lead troops to rescue Zhao State. 

孫臏趁魏國重兵在外，國內空虛，派兵直搗魏國首都-大樑。

Sun Bin took advantage of the fact that Wei had many troops stationed abroad and the country was empty and sent troops to attack the Wei capital - Daliang. 

魏軍被迫撤回，並於桂陵遭齊兵截擊，大敗。

The Wei army was forced to retreat and was intercepted and defeated by the Qi army in Guiling.

趙國之危遂因此而解。

 The crisis of Zhao State was thus resolved.

以後解釋引此典故說明:圍魏救趙就是指襲擊敵人後方，因為很重要所以不得不救的部分，迫使敵兵/對手撤回的戰略。

 This allusion is used later to explain that "Besieging Wei to Save Zhao" refers to the strategy of attacking the enemy's rear, a part that must be rescued because it is so important, to force the enemy soldiers/opponents to withdraw.