100 Historical Stories That Unlock Teenage Wisdom

Chapter 64 1 The Cao GUI Controversy

Chapter 7 Strategies for Acting
After mastering the concept of doing things, we still need to talk about strategies when doing things.If the concept of doing things is the result of induction, then the strategy of doing things is the deduction of the concept of doing things.Doing twice the result with half the effort or getting half the effort with half the effort, it is very important to talk about strategy, so we must master the strategy of doing things.

Strategy is like a finger that can turn iron into gold. Wherever it is used, it will turn decay into magic, explain the profound things in simple terms, and lift weights like light.Who wants to work hard and come up with nothing?Our expectation is to avoid detours and achieve success in no time!
So, talk more about strategy and let it be an assistant to help us collect a thousand laurel crowns! Chapter 71 The Cao GUI Controversy
——When you do things, you must seize the right time to do things recklessly for three hours. It is better to meditate for one minute. It is better to come up with your own strategic opinions than to fight hard!

After Duke Huan of Qi came to power, he sent troops to attack the State of Lu because he hated that the State of Lu had helped Prince Jiu, who was contending with him for the throne.In 684 BC, Qi State and Lu State fought a battle at Changshao, which is the famous Battle of Changshao.

Qi State was already a very powerful country at that time, but Lu State was an ordinary country with weak national strength, and it did not seem to be Qi State's opponent.

There was a man named Cao GUI in the state of Lu, who knew that war between the two countries was inevitable, so he went to see Duke Zhuang of Lu.Some of Cao GUI's fellow villagers didn't take his behavior very seriously. Someone persuaded him, "Wars in a country are the business of officials. Why do you meddle in it as a commoner?"

Cao GUI replied: "Those officials think about their own gains and losses all day long, and they are all short-sighted. They may not be able to win this battle."

When Cao GUI saw Duke Zhuang of Lu, he directly asked Duke Zhuang what he was worried about, and asked Duke Zhuang if he had a good strategy to deal with the Qi army. Duke Zhuang said that it was the unity of the people of Lu.Cao GUI said: "How does your majesty know that the people will be willing to fight Qi for you?"

Zhuang Gong said: "Whenever I come across something delicious or nice to wear, no one dares to enjoy it alone. Instead, I share it with the common people. I think based on this, the common people will support me."

Cao GUI didn't take it seriously when he heard this, he said: "You are a small favor, after all, only a small number of people get it. Those who get this kind of benefit may help you, but others may not be willing to sacrifice their lives."

Lu Zhuanggong said: "If you want to say that it is a small aspect, I will tell you a big aspect. For example, when I sacrifice, I am always very pious and there is no falsehood. Can't I influence the gods by doing this?"

Cao GUI shook his head straight and said, "Piety in the sacrifice is nothing. It cannot make the gods trust you and bless you."

Duke Zhuang of Lu was silent for a while, then said: "If you want to say that I usually treat the common people very seriously, although I can't say that I have been involved in every case brought by the common people, I still try my best to deal with it. The fair people are very satisfied."

Cao GUI nodded in praise and said: "This is something that is in line with the will of the people. I think it can fight Qi with this." He then said: "If you fight, please allow me to go with you." Lu Zhuanggong felt that this man was indeed resourceful, so he agreed, and he drove to the battlefield in the same car with him.

The two armies of Qi and Lu set up the battlefield in Changshao, the troops of both sides lined up in formation, the battle flags fluttered in the wind, the soldiers of Lu State held weapons in their hands, and the war horses were nervously trampling in front of the formation.

However, the front of the Qi army was a different scene. The Qi army relied on its own strength and did not take the Lu army seriously.

Duke Zhuang of Lu was very angry when he saw the Qi army's arrogance, and wanted to order the soldiers to attack with drums. Cao GUI saw that it was not the time, so he stopped him quickly, saying, "wait a minute, it's not time yet."

The Qi army attacked with drums and rushed towards the Lu army's formation, but the Lu army didn't move. The Qi army didn't know what was going on, and they didn't dare to attack lightly.

When the Qi army observed that the Lu army did not appear to be attacking at all, they beat the second drum. The soldiers charged forward again and found that the Lu army was still silent.

After a while, the Qi army beat the drum again and launched a third attack.

When the Qi State attacked them for the third time, the Lu army still stood still at first. When the Qi soldiers were puzzled, Cao GUI said: "My lord, it's time for us to attack. Now you give the order."

Suddenly, the sound of drums in the Lu army's formation shook the sky, and the Lu army rushed towards the Qi army like a tiger. The Qi army never expected that the Lu army would attack suddenly. They were all discouraged, so when the Lu army came to kill them , One by one, they dropped their helmets and armor, and were defeated.

The Qi army fled, and Duke Zhuang of Lu was about to order his soldiers to pursue him. Cao GUI hurriedly stopped him, saying, "Wait a minute."

He got out of the chariot, carefully observed the tracks of the wheels and the footprints of the horses when the enemy retreated, and found that there was a lot of confusion, so he said: "Now we can catch up."

Duke Zhuang of Lu gave the order to pursue, and all the soldiers fought bravely to be the first, and drove the Qi army out of the land of Lu State with one go.

After returning from victory, Duke Zhuang of Lu asked Cao GUI why he didn't let the soldiers go to meet the Qi army when they beat two drums?
Cao GUI replied very calmly: "War is a matter of morale. When both sides are ready to fight, they are in the best fighting condition. When the enemy beats the drum first, their morale is also the highest. ;When the second drum was played, their soldiers were a little discouraged; when the third drum was played, the soldiers were almost exhausted. Under such circumstances, our army went to meet them, and their anger was exhausted. We are full of anger. There is no reason for this. Although Qi State was defeated, Qi State is a big country. I was afraid that they might have an ambush and lure us to pursue them, so I got out of the car to have a look. I saw them The ruts are already in disarray, and when I stood on the car and saw their battle flags were also crumbling, I concluded that they were really fleeing. That’s why I suggest you order your soldiers to pursue them.”

This is where the idiom "all in one go" comes from.

Wisdom Interpretation:

In combat, we must grasp the "fighting opportunity", and similarly, in doing things, we must grasp the "opportunity".Seizing the opportunity is an art, the so-called "beating a snake and hitting seven inches", which requires us to know how to make the most appropriate choice and action at the most appropriate time.

(End of this chapter)