The 36 Stratagems According to the treatise 36 Stratagems: The Secret Book of the Art of War (Sanshiliu Ji: Miben Bingfa) from circa AD 1500. 1. Crossing the sea while deceiving the heaven/Deceiving the emperor [by inviting him to a house by the sea that is really a disguised ship] and [thus causing him to] cross the sea 2. Besieging [the undefended capital of the country of] Wei to rescue Zhao [the country that has been attacked by the Wei forces] 3. Killing with a borrowed knife 4. Awaiting at one’s ease the exhausted enemy 5. Taking advantage of a conflagration to commit robbery 6. Clamor in the east, attack in the west 7. Creating something out of nothing 8. Openly repairing the [burned wooden] walkway, in secret [before completing the repairs] marching to Chencang [to attack the enemy] 9. Observing the fire burning on the opposite shore [seemingly uninvolved] 10. Hiding the dagger behind a smile...