《三十六计》Chapter 1: Winning Stratagems第一套 胜战计

第一计 瞒天过海 crossing the sea under camouflage

▌原文

备周则意怠；常见则不疑。阴在阳之内，不在阳之对。太阳，太阴。

▌英文注释

Mask your real goals, by using the ruse of a fake goal, until the real goal is achieved. Tactically, this is known as an 'open feint': in front of everyone, you point west, when your goal is actually in the east.

第二计 围魏救赵relieving the state of Zhao by besieging the state of Wei

▌原文

共敌不如分敌；敌阳不如敌阴。

▌英文注释

When the enemy is too strong to be attacked directly, then attack something he holds dear. Know that he cannot be superior in all things. Somewhere there is a gap in the armour, a weakness that can be attacked instead. The idea here is to avoid a head-on battle with a strong enemy, and instead strike at his weakness elsewhere. This will force the strong enemy to retreat in order to support his weakness. Battling against the now tired and low-morale enemy will give a much higher chance of success.

第三计 借刀杀人killing someone with a borrowed knife

▌原文

敌已明，友示定，引友杀敌，不自出力，以《损》推演。

▌英文注释

When you do not have the means to attack your enemy directly, then attack using the strength of another. Trick an ally into attacking him, bribe an official to turn traitor, or use the enemy's own strength against him.

第四计 以逸待劳waiting at one's ease for the exhausted enemy

▌原文 

困敌之势，不以战；损刚益柔。

▌英文注释

It is an advantage to choose the time and place for battle. In this way you know when and where the battle will take place, while your enemy does not. Encourage your enemy to expend his energy in futile quests while you conserve your strength. When he is exhausted and confused, you attack with energy and purpose.

第五计 趁火打劫plundering a burning house

▌原文

敌之害大，就势取利，刚决柔也。

▌英文注释

When a country is beset by internal conflicts, when disease and famine ravage the population, when corruption and crime are rampant, then it will be unable to deal with an outside threat. This is the time to attack.

第六计 声东击西making a feint to the east and attacking in the west

▌原文

敌志乱萃，不虞，坤下兑上之象。利其不自主而取之。

▌英文注释

In any battle the element of surprise can provide an overwhelming advantage. Even when face to face with an enemy, surprise can still be employed by attacking where he least expects it. To do this you must create an expectation in the enemy's mind through the use of a feint.