Introduction Many people have heard by now, of Thick Black Theory.

Written in the early part of the 20th century by Li Zon wu, it i!part" the hi he"t "trate ie" for per"onal power. If you dili ently "tudy Thick Black Theory every day, you will beco!e a !odern day hero. We offer the fir"t and only tran"lation of Thick Black Theory into the #n li"h lan ua e. If you would like to learn !ore about Thick Black Theory, $ou $ei %ue &ai 'Thick Black Theory (ect) or *u"t et "o!e reat free !aterial + plea"e vi"it u" at http,--www.ThickBlackTheory.net #n*oy the !aterial herein and benefit fro! it. (pread .nd (tudy Thick Black, /Zhao .n %in

THICK BLACK THEORY

Translated by Zhao An Xin and Marilyn Zhang

0opyri ht 2001, thickblacktheory.net

Table Of Contents:

2. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Introduction Thick and Black Theory Thick and Black (cripture Thick and Black Learnin 0onclu"ion

.&&#67I% 2, Who Wa" Li Zon wu8 .&&#67I% 2, The 39 :i, Thick Black Tactic"

Introdu tion

When I read the hi"tory of 0hina, I found a lot of flaw". I think the *ud ent" of the ri"en and fallen / the "ucce"" and failure of the ;24 hi"torie"<, are co!pletely wron . The truth that "a e" "poke i" not ri ht, al"o. I wa" "urpri"ed. The "ucce""ful people fro! ancient ti!e" !u"t have had "o!e "ecret, which wa" un"een by the "a e". I wa" fru"trated becau"e I tried "o hard but could find no an"wer. =nce, when I wa" thinkin about the three kin do!", I reali>ed that the "i!ple "ecret i" nothin !ore than ;Thick ?ace< and ;Black $eart<. Then, I read the 24 hi"torie" a ain. Tho"e four

word" are really included. Then I wrote the book ;Thick Black Theory< with "i!ple word". It had 3 part". They are, Thi ! Bla ! Theory Thi ! Bla ! " ri#ture "#read and "tudy o$ Thi ! Bla ! In 2122, it wa" publi"hed by the &ublic 7aily in 0hen du. .t that ti!e, thi" new theory !ade a bi co!!otion with the reader". Before the "econd part wa" publi"hed, I "topped becau"e !y friend per"uaded !e to. But after that, the 3 word" ;Thick Black Theory< beca!e co!!on noun". #very ti!e I went "o!ewhere, I wa" alway" a"ked to !ake "peeche" about Thick Black Theory, "o I told all the detail". The audience" all nodded their head" and "i hed + ;I failed becau"e I didn@t do thin " in a thick and

black way< . . . (o!e "aid, ;$e wa" "ucce""ful becau"e he knew it to well.< (o!eti!e", when I !et "o!e "tran er", after we eAchan ed na!e" he looked at !e with an a!a>ed look. ;.re you the per"on who invented Thick Black Theory8< =r people introduced !e to other" a" the inventor of Thick Black Theory. What@" !ore funny, i" when "tudent" write e""ay", they u"ed it like it@" a co!!on thin . Then I reali>ed how popular thi" beca!e. I wrote it a" "o!e kind of fun a!e at fir"t, but didn@t eApect it to beco!e "o effective. I@! "urpri"ed !y"elf, too. The rea"on why people like it i" a p"ycholo ical rea"on. Then I kept "tudyin , I reali>ed Thick Black

Theory i" fro! the ;Total 7epravity Theory<. It ha" the "a!e value a" the ;Total Boodne"" Theory< of Wan Can !in @" literature ;To The 0on"ciou"<. The ancient" "aid ;Dindheartedne"" and *u"tice are in everyone@" nature.< But I "ay ;Thick Black i" in everyone@" nature.< Can !in "aid, ;We knew filial piety when we !et our father". We knew honor when we !et our brother". $e wa" "o "ure about that. I "ay ;little babie" rab their !other" food and put it in their own !outh" when they "ee it. The babie" pu"h their brother" away when they "ee the! co!in while they are eatin .< .nd I@! "ure about that, too. &eople love Can !in . . . (o they love Thick Black Theory, too. There wa" the ;Total Boodne"" Theory< fro! Menciu", "o %un>i had hi" ;Total 7epravity

Theory< to fi ht a ain"t it. There wa" ;To the 0on"ciou"< fro! Wan Can !in , "o I have ;Thick Black Theory<, too. What are people" nature" all about8 I really want to fi ure it out. I read "o !any theorie" fro! the (on , Cuan, Min , and Ein 7yna"ty but !o"t of the! are di"connected, borin , and difficult to under"tand. Then I threw the book" away and tried to "tudy p"ycholo y a" phy"ic", becau"e I think they are connected in "o!e way. We can tell if hu!an nature i" ood or bad + *u"t like we can@t tell if fire and water are ood or bad. Menciu"@ Total Boodne"" and %un>i@" Total 7epravity are "ideway" opinion", and the Thick Black Theory I@! talkin about i" !ore "ideway", *u"t like Wan Can !in @" ;To the 0on"ciou"<. If you don@t under"tand, no !atter how thick and black you try to be, it would fail anyway. Cou will

under"tand if you read ;p"ycholo y and dyna!ic"< of !ine. #ven if we don@t want to be thick and black, we "hould be careful about other people bein thick and black to u", "o we have to under"tand the trick".

Thi ! And Bla ! Theory (ince I learned to read, I wanted to be a hero. I "earched in ;four book" and five "cript"<, and ot nothin . I looked in hundred" of "ort" of literary "chool", and I "till ot nothin . But I believed there !u"t be "o!e "ecret to bein a hero. I didn@t find out *u"t becau"e I wa" du!b. I "earched "o hard for year", and didn@t care about anythin eAcept findin it. =nce, when I wa" thinkin about the three kin do!", I "uddenly reali>ed + all the heroe" in hi"tory have nothin !ore than Thick ?ace and Black $eart. .!on "t the heroe" durin the three kin do!", the fir"t i" 0ao 0ao. $i" per"onality wa" all black heart. $e killed Lu

Bo"he, killed Don Fon , killed Can %iu, Dilled 7on 0hen fuwan. Then he killed the Gueen and the prince. $e dared to do anythin . $e even "aid ;I@d rather betray everyone in the world in"tead of other" betrayin !e.< $i" heart wa" "o black that nobody could ever reach it. That@" why he beca!e a hero on top at that ti!e. The "econd one "hould be Liu Bei. It wa" all about thick face in hi" per"onality. $e depended on 0ao 0ao, depended on Lu Bu, depended on Liu Biao, dependin on 0un Ean, depended on Cuan (hao. $e went to "o !any place", lived in other people" hou"e" + and didn@t feel a"ha!ed about it. .nd he liked cryin all throu hout hi" life. In the "torie" of the three kin do!" it wa" portrayed "o vividly. $e cried to everyone when he

!et proble!" he couldn@t "olve. Then, the failure beca!e an achieve!ent. (o people "aid ;Liu Bei cried hi" kin do! up<. It@" al"o an ability. 0ao 0ao and he were ab"olutely on the top of thick and black. They were talkin about heroe" while boilin wine. =ne had the !o"t black heart, one had the thicke"t face + but they both couldn@t help it. We can "ee all the people around the!. They all were not thick and black enou h. That@" why 0ao 0ao "aid to Liu Bei, ;There are only two heroe" in the world. Me and you.< There wa" another one. (un Euan. $e wa" the confederate of Liu Bei and he wa" one of Liu Bei@" relative". (uddenly he killed Buan Cu and occupied :in Zhou "tate. $i" heart wa" al!o"t a" black a" 0ao 0ao@" + They were both top heroe".

$e told 0ao 0ao that he wa" 0ao 0ao@" !ini"ter. $i" face wa" al!o"t a" thick a" Liu Bei@". $e wa" neither black a" 0ao 0ao nor thick a" Liu Bei but he had the two "kill", "o he wa" one of the heroe", too. They all couldn@t conGuer any of the other@" kin do!" even if they tried their be"t to fi ht. That@" why the country wa" "eparated into 3 part". .fter 0ao 0aoa, Liu Bei, and (un Euan all died one after another, (i!a "ei>ed the opportunity and ro"e up. $e learned fro! 0ao, Liu, and other" and beca!e the !o"t thick and black per"on. $e could tea"e widow" and orphan". ." black a" 0ao 0ao. $e could take a wo!an@" in"ult. $i" face wa" even

thicker than Liu Bei@". When I read the "tory that (i!a Ci wa" in"ulted by a wo!an, I wa" "o "urpri"ed. ;That@" why the world wa" (i!a@".< The country had to be united by hi!. It@" a ca"e of ;The pre"ent bein cau"ed by little thin " in the pa"t.< Zhu e Lian wa" a eniu" in the country, but when he !et (i!a Ci he couldn@t deal with hi!. $e even deter!ined to ;do hi" be"t to fi ht until the end of hi" life.< But he didn@t et a piece of the land of central 0hina until he died fro! vo!itin blood. #ven the be"t eneral of the kin couldn@t defeat the thick and black ene!y. I "tudied the "torie" of the few reat people, and found out the !y"tical "ecret. . "erie" of 24 hi"torie" can be eAplained with

;Thick and Black<. Let !e "how you !ore proof with the hi"tory of the $an dyna"ty. %ian Cu wa" a hero who could lift a !ountain, and who could cover the "ky. Thou"and" of people died when he "houted, but why did he die in the ea"t city and et lau hed at by the world8 The rea"on why he failed + it@" like what $an %in "aid, ;Wo!en@" kindne"" and !en@" bravene""<. It included everythin . Wo!en are kind becau"e they can@t take the cruel thin " around. ." hi" heart wa"n@t black. Men are brave becau"e they can@t take other people@" in"ult, a" hi" face wa" not thick. In the "tory of the $on !en fea"t, %ian Cu and Liu Ban were "ittin to ether. %ian Cu already took the "word out. What he needed to do wa" *u"t pu"h it into Liu Ban + then he could be e!peror

ri ht away. But he he"itated and didn@t do anythin and allowed Liu Ban to e"cape. In the "tory of the failure in BaiAia, if he could o over Wu*ian river, and did thin " ri ht fro! the be innin , he could have been the winner. But he "aid, ;#i ht thou"and people of thi" land went over the river to the we"t. 6obody ca!e back today but thi" land and the people love !e and treet !e "o well + how can I "it here and not feel uilt about it8< .ll the"e talk" were "o wron H $e "aid he couldn@t lo"e hi" face. $e "aid he wa" uilty for what he had done. $ow can the heroe" be ri ht all the ti!e8 $ow can they "ay they are uilty8 $e didn@t reali>e it and "aid, ;Bod want" !e to die. It@" not becau"e of the war.< I@! afraid he "hould not have bla!ed Bod.

Let@" et deeper into Liu Ban @" "torie". In hi"tory, %ian Cu a"ked $an e!peror 'Liu Ban ), ;The world ha" been a !e"" with war" and fi htin for year" + eAcept u". I@d like to challen e and have a fi ht with you.< $an e!peror "!iled, ;I@d rather fi ht with intelli ence than fi ht with "tren th.< 7o you know why he "!iled8 When Liu Ban !e Li (hen , Liu had two irl" wa"h hi" feet. Li (hen bla!ed hi! for di"re"pectin hi" elder, then he fell on hi" knee" and a"ked for for ivene"". $i" father wa" in reat dan er, but he "till wanted to et "o!ethin fro! hi!. #ven hi" own children + %iaohui and Luyuan, when the ar!y of 0hu al!o"t cau ht the! + he pu"hed the! off the carria e and then he killed $an

%in, and &en Cue. ;&ut up the un after all the bird" are killed. #at the hound after all the rabbit" are killed< 'Dill the helper" after you "ucceed). (o what on earth wa" Liu Ban thinkin about8 $ow could %ian Cu under"tand, who wa" a !an with ;wo!en@" kindne"" and !en@" bravene""<8 In the hi"tory book of (i!a, it "aid Liu Ban had a face of a dra on 'with a lon no"e). %ian Cu had double pupil" '2 pupil" in each eye), but it "aid nothin about if they have thick face or black ehart. It@" a pity. Liu Ban @" face and heart were different fro! other people". They can be called the "aint" fro! heaven. But hi" heart wa" "o black like he wa" born with black nature. #verythin he did could never depart fro! blackne"" and hi" thick face wa" ba"ed on

"o!e ;diplo!a<. $i" teacher wa" Zhan Lian , one of the ;three !o"t talented<. Zhan Lian @" teacher wa" the Brid e =ld Man. We can ea"ily find in the hi"torical docu!ent" about the! teachin and learnin . In the "tory that Zhan Lian !et an old !an on the brid e he wa" actually teachin hi! to have a thick face. (u 7on po co!!ented on thi" "tory and "howed thi" clearly, too. Zhan Lian wa" a "!art per"on. .fter he wa" iven the direction he under"tood. That@" why the old !an eApected hi! a" a teacher of the e!peror. Thi" kind of teachin cannot be under"tood by the du!b people. In hi"tory, ;Lian tau ht a lot of people, but

nobody really learned eAcept Liu Ban .< Lian "aid Liu Ban wa" a ;"tudent fro! Bod<. We can "ee that thi" kind of ability i" like ;?or a "!art per"on, the ood teacher" would be "carce, but it@" even harder to find ood "tudent"<. When $an %in a"ked to be Ei e!peror, Li Ban al!o"t blew hi" top, but hi" teacher Zhan Lian pointed hi! in the ri ht direction. :u"t a" the teacher" correctin the "tudent" fault in the "chool" now. #ven a per"on who wa" "!art like Liu Ban could "o!eti!e" !ake !i"take". We can i!a ine how deep thi" "tudy i". Liu Ban wa" "!art and well/learned. $e broke the 5 relation"hip !oralitie" + ;Din and the !ini"ter, father and "on, brother", hu"band and wife, friend"< . . . $e even wiped out all proprietie" and hu!ilitie" "o he could root out all the heroe" and unite the country fro the neAt 400 year".

The "y"te! of hi" fa!ily wa" be innin to fade out. 7urin the ti!e of the 0hu $an period, there wa" "o!eone who had the thicke"t face, but no black heart. $e failed in the end. Who i" he8 It@" $an %in. $e could crawl between "o!eone@" le " + $i" face wa"n@t thinner than Liu Ban @". But he didn@t pay !uch attention to the black. When he wa" the Ei e!peror, if he li"tened to Duai Ton it would have been awe"o!e but he wa" thinkin about Liu Ban @" favor for hi!. $e "aid, ;Wear hi" clothe", "hould think about hi" worrie". #at hi" food, "hould et killed for hi!<. Then hi" head wa" cut off by Liu Ban . #ven hi" fa!ily were all killed but he de"erved that. Liu Ban lau hed about hi" kindne"" and bravene"". $e knew thi" rule clearly, but he didn@t follow it. .ccordin to the "tudie" about, Thick Black Theory look" "i!ple, ut it@" "ubtle when you u"e it.

I"e a little and you "ee a little effect. I"e a lot, and you@ll "ee a hu e i!pact. Liu Ban and (i!a Ci learned it. They united the country. 0ao 0ao and Liu Bei had each of the! and "till "o!ewhat "ucceeded. $an %in and ?an Zen al"o learned one part but they lived in the wron ti!e" with the thicke"t and blacke"t Liu Ban . That i" why they all failed. But before they died they "till beca!e "o!e kind of !ini"ter or eneral. They were out"tandin once and after they died, they were "till re!e!bered by people. Then we talked about the!. We "till re"pect the!. It@" the power of Thick and Black. Bod ave u" live", with a face which wa" thick, with a heart which wa" black. It look" nor!al on the "urface but if you inve"ti ate it deeply, you would know that there@" no end for black and thick.

&eople"@ wealth, de"ire", nice clothe" and car" all co!e fro! thi". What the creator !ade i" fanta"tic. There are "o !any du!b people who don@t know about it, but the du!be"t people are tho"e who know there i" a way but don@t u"e it. Thick Black Theory ha" 3 part", The 2"t i" ;thick a" the wall, black a" the coal<. The "kin of the face i" like a piece of paper at the be innin , and it@" ettin thicker and thicker. Then it beco!e" a" thick a" the wall. The color of the heart wa" red. It beco!e" darker and darker and then it@" black like coal in the end. But it@" *u"t the fir"t "tep, becau"e no !atter how thick the wall i", it can "till be de"troyed by a cannon. The coal i" black, "o people won@t want to et clo"e to it. (o it@" *u"t a ba"ic "kill. The 2nd "tep i" ;thick and hard, black and bri ht<.

The people who are ood at bein thick + no !atter how hard you "trike the!, they don@t !ove at all. Liu Bei wa" thi" kind of per"on. #ven 0ao 0ao didn@t have any way to beat hi!. When people are black like a blackboard, the !ore black it i" the !ore people will like it. 0ao 0ao wa" like that. $e wa" the fa!ou" black heart per"on. $e !ade all the talented people want to *oin hi!. If you reach the 2nd "tep, it could be "o different than the 2"t "tep, but you can "till "ee the !ark when you pay attention to look. :u"t like we can "ee 0ao 0ao@" heart "o clearly. The 3rd "tep i" ;thick but no trace, Black but no color<. (o thick and "o black. Ip to the heaven", down to the earth. 6obody can "ee it@" thick or black. It@" "o hard to reach that level. We could only find it a!on "t the "aint".

&eople a"ked, ;$ow can it be "o inten"e8< I "aid, ;The !oderation of confu"ion . . . We can only "top until it ha" no "ound or "!ell. The Buddhi"t can only "top until there i" nothin there becau"e there i" nothin in the !ind. That can only be called "ucce"". ;." Thick Black Theory i" a deep "ecret theory, no "hape and no color "hould be above it.< .nyway, until now e!peror", eneral", pre!ier", heroe" and "aint" + the "ucce""ful people were all thick or black. $i"tory ha" been written. The fact" can@t be chan ed. Cou "hould "earch it with the direction" I ave you. Cou will find the true path to "ucce"".

Thi ! and Bla ! " ri#ture Li Zon wu "aid, ;it@" thick if it@" not thin. It@" black if it@" not white.< Thi" i" the true law fro! people in hi"tory. I@! afraid thi" will be for otten by people after a lon ti!e, "o I wrote it down and told people. Thi" book talk" about thick and black at fir"t. It talk" about everythin in the univer"e in the !iddle. .nd talk" about thick and black a ain in the end. It can be u"ed on everythin in the univer"e, but they can be hidden behind face" and heart". It@" what you "hould learn carefully. Tho"e who are ood at under"tandin can u"e and et benefit all their live". It@" called Thick and Black for de"tiny. Makin

thick and black practical i" called "tudy. (tudyin thick and black i" called !orali>ation. &eople can leave thick and black any ti!e. If y ou leave it, it@" not thick and black any!ore. (o !en "hould be careful and afraid if their face" and heart" are not thick and black enou h. 6othin i" !ore dan erou" than a thin face and a ood heart. 6ever "howin any real eApre""ion i" thick. (howin everythin without any doubt i" black. Thick i" the nature of the world. Black i" the truth of the world. Cou have both thick and black, and the world will be afraid of you and you won@t fear any evil or ood. Li Zon wu told the "ecret of people in hi"tory to "et up the i""ue. $e "aid thick and black are the nature

that you can@t chan e. .ctually thick and black are already part of people. Then he told u" the i!portance of bein thick and black, and at la"t he talked about the reat benefit of thick and black. If you !ake the deci"ion to "tudy thick and black theory and u"e your own eAperience to feel it + to era"e the !oral "tuff you have learned in your life "o you can under"tand thick and black theory !ore clearly. Thi" i" the !ain point of thi" book. Li Zon wu@" word" are Guoted in the re"t of the chapter". Zon wu "aid, ;The theory of thick and black i" ea"y and hard. It@" ea"y becau"e nor!al people can under"tand it, but it@" hard becau"e even 0ao and Liu didn@t under"tand deeply.< Zon wu "aid, ;&eople "ay !y heart i" black but put !e in the coal + they are "till different. &eople "ay

!y face i" thick + but it can "till be hurt with a knife.< Zon wu "aid, ;Thick and black theory can be te"ted in "ociety. It can be proven with the 3 e!peror" "torie" 'Cao, (hun, Cu). It won@t be wron . It@" rea"onable in the world. It@" approved by the ho"t" and od". It will "till be ri ht after hundred" of year".< Zon wu "aid, ;&eople work on the ba"ic idea. =nce the ba"ic idea" are approved, they beco!e the path. (houldn@t thick and black be a ba"ic idea8< Zon wu "aid, ;Three people walkin to ether . . . There !u"t be one who can be !y teacher. I choo"e the thick and black one to teach and i!prove !e.< Zon wu "aid, ;Bod ave !e thick and black ability. What can hu!an" do to !e8< Zon wu "aid, ;#ven at a "!all place with ten fa!ilie" there !u"t be "o!eone who i" thick and

black like Li Zon wu. They *u"t don@t "ay it.< Zon wu "aid, ;Breat people won@t leave Thick Black Theory even when they are havin dinner. They will "tay with thick and black no !atter how bu"y they are. 6o !atter how bad their "ituation" are.< Zon wu "aid, ;If there wa" "o!eone with %ian Cu@" talent and ability who had thick face and black heart + The people like Liu Ban wouldn@t even be worth talkin about. Zon wu "aid, ;The thick and black people can have an e!pire with thou"and" of chariot". The other" can@t even et a bowl of rice.< Zon wu "aid, ;0ereal" are ood plant" for people, but the raw one" are u"ele"" like weed". It@" definitely i!portant to !ake thick and black ripe.< Zon wu "aid, ;the teacher" who teach about Taoi"! are bad to our Thick Black Theory. They look hone"t, faithful, and they do thin " ri ht and

ood. #veryone like" the! and they think they are ri ht. They are not the kind of people who can talk about 0ao 0ao or Liu Bei@" thin ".< Zon wu "aid, ;it@" not "tran e that people are not thick and blackH #ven the tou he"t plant can@t live after day" of "tron "un"hine, day" of free>in . I found that the people who talk about thick and black are not "o !anyH The ood people are oin to co!e up if I GuitH Who a! I to a ood per"on8 The theory of thick and black today i" not a "!all thin . Cou won@t under"tand it until you focu" on it.< Li Zon wu i" the per"on who invented Thick Black Theory. If he had 2 "tudent", one li"tened and learned very carefully. The other one learned too, but he wa" afraid the ood people would co!e and et hi!, "o he alway" wanted to be a "aint to other people. 6ow we will "ee they are learnin at the "a!e ti!e,

but he can@t reach a" far a" the other can. I" it becau"e one i" "!arter8 =f cour"e not.< Zon wu "aid, ;If you have failed "o!ethin , "!art people would think, It !u"t be becau"e !y face wa"n@t thick enou h. .fter he thou ht, hi" face would beco!e thicker but he "till failed. $e would think, It !u"t be becau"e !y heart wa"n@t black enou h. Then hi" heart would et !ore and !ore black. But he "till failed. $e would "ay, The one who wa" alway" a ain"t !e wa" *u"t a bea"tH (o what@" "o hard if I kill it with Thick Black Theory8< Zon wu "aid, ;the theory of thick and black + i"n@t it deep and beautiful8 :u"t like walkin far away, you "hould "tart fro! "o!ewhere clo"er. 0li!bin a hi h !ountain, you "hould "tart fro! "o!ewhere lower. If you are not thick and black, you can@t !ake your children to be tou h. If you don@t u"e thick and black on other people, you can@t !ake your children li"ten to you.<

The thick and black "cripture I wrote i" for the people who *u"t learned a bit. It@" ea"ier to read in ca"e they for et. But there i" "o!ethin really deep, "o I wrote "o!e eAplanation around the "cripture. Zon wu "aid, ;Cou "ay it@" not thick + it can@t be round thinner. Cou "ay it@" not black + it can@t be wa"hed white.< I chan ed it into, ;you "ay it@" not thick + the !ore you rind, the thicker it beco!e". Cou "ay it@" not black + the !ore you wa"h the darker it beco!e".< (o!eone "aid, there i" nothin like thi". I "aid, The callu" on your hand". It can be thicker if you rind it !ore. The coal with dirt on it. It can only be darker if you wa"h it. &eople have a thin face at the be innin . The !ore they try in "ociety, the thicker their face will be. &eople have black heart" in the fir"t place, but it@" covered with !oral "tuff "o it doe"n@t look black.

.nd if we wa"h it, we can "ee the black nature. Zon wu "aid, ;Thick and black are not iven by the "urroundin ". #veryone ha" it. The nor!al people are all thick or black. It@" *u"t people@" nature.< Thi" can be te"ted. ?ind a rando! !other with a baby in her ar!" who i" eatin "o!ethin in a bowl. The baby will rab that bowl. If the !other ha" a pie in her hand, the baby i" oin to rab that pie and even rab the part which i" already in her !outh and eat it. =r the baby i" in the !other@" ar!" drinkin !ilk when hi" brother ca!e to hi!. $e would pu"h hi! away. The"e are all ;ability without learnin , without thinkin <. When you try to do thi" no !atter where or when, you would !ake a difference. The Tan dyna"ty e!peror Li (hi!in killed hi" older brother :ianchen and hi" youn er brother Cuan*i. #ven all :ian chen and Cuan*i@" "on", and

took all their wive" for hi!"elf, and forced hi" father to ive hi! the whole country. $e wa" u"in that kind of ability on everythin . But nor!al people don@t think about u"in it on other thin ". $e did it, "o he beca!e a hero for the whole of hi"tory. (o Zon wu "aid, ;?lavor to the !outh i" called ta"tin . (ound to the ear i" called li"tenin . 0olor" to the eye" i" called lookin . .nd what@" to the heart8 What ha" "o!ethin to do with heart8 It@" called thick and black. (o heroe" put it to face" and heart".< The theory of thick and black i" "o clearly "hown in everyone@" face but !any people are "cared or per"uaded by the ; ood people<. (o Zon wu "aid, ;The !ountain which i" u"ed to far! the cow" wa" cut by aAe". It@" not unhar!ed. The cow" and "heep depend on the plant", "o both the ani!al" and the plant" are killed.<

There are alway" "o!e people in the world who are thick and black. Cou try to "top it. It@" *u"t like when people cut the plant" + thick and black will be one. (o it will be eAtre!ely hard to have a heroH &eople know there i" no hero, but they don@t know it@" becau"e there i" no thick and black any!ore. $ow dra!atic it i"H If we keep it, then we will have thick and black in the future. If we don@t keep it, it will be one "oon.< Zon wu "aid, ;When kid" "ee their !other" have food in their !outh", they *u"t rab it and eat it, but people don@t u"ually u"e it !uch. That@" why people can@t be heroe". That i", the reat people alway" keep their real nature fro! their childhood", and people u"ually ive up their nature, called + "elf abandon!ent.< (o!e people who are very "!art under"tand the theory and do it without tellin anyone.

.nd "o!e other people who are not "o "!art o on the way already, but they don@t know what it i". (o Zon wu "aid, ;Dnow it but don@t "ay it. 7o it but don@t know it. ?or all their live" they "till don@t know thick and black i" "uch a co!!on thin .< .ll the theorie" in the world can !i"lead people, but thick and black theory never !i"lead" you. #ven when you don@t have anythin a" a be ar, you can "till et !ore food than other". (o Zon wu "aid, ;?ro! a pre"ident to a be ar, Thick Black Theory can help you. Thick black theory i" deep and hard. If you want to u"e it really well, you have to "tudy hard, and you can u"e it after a year. Cou can do "o!ethin bi after 3 year". (o Zon wu "aid, ;Tho"e who want to learn Thick Black TBheory will under"tand it after !onth", but can !ake a difference after 3 year".<

Thi ! And Bla ! Learning

(o!e people a"ked !e, ;Cou invented Thick Black Theory, but why did you lo"e doin anythin 8 Why are your "tudent" a lot better than you are8 #ven until they tricked or cheated on you8< I "aid, ;Cou are wron . .ll the inventor" can@t do very well in the thin they invent. 0onfuciani"! wa" invented by 0onfuciu". $e beca!e the be"t about it, and all hi" "tudent" were not better than hi!. They all had lower knowled e. That@" becau"e the !a"ter i" to ood about it. But the We"tern "cience i" different. It wa" "i!ple a the be innin , and the !ore people that "tudied, the deeper and better it beca!e. The per"on who invented the "tea! !achine + he only knew "tea! can pu"h up the lid. The one who found electricity only knew that dead fro !oved

with an electric "hock. .nd people after !ade !ore and !ore !achine" with it. The ance"tor" never thou ht of it. The thin with We"tern "cience i" that the youn er people do better than the older people. My Thick Black Theory i" !ore like We"tern "cience. I can only talk about pu"hin up the lid and dead fro " !ovin . . lot of theorie" will be di"covered after !e, and !y "tudent" !u"t be better than !e. When I !eet the!, I will lo"e for "ure. .fter they have their own "tudent", their "tudent "will beat the! al"o. Beneration after eneration Thick Black Theory will o on the ri ht wayH< (o!e a"ked !e, ;Cou are talkin "o well about Thick Black Theory + Why didn@t you do "o!ethin bi 8< I "aid, ;I have a Gue"tion. What did 0onfuciu" do8 $e talked about doin thin " for the overn!ent,

for the country. $ow !any thin " did he do8 Zen Zi wrote ;7a %ue< 'Breat Dnowled e). It wa" about how to !ana e the country and !ake it peaceful, but what did he do to !ana e the country8 What did he do to !ake it peaceful8 Zi (i wrote ;Zhon Con <. It wa" about "tayin the "a!e, tryin to adapt to the environ!ent, and !akin no difference. Why did he "ay that8 Why didn@t you doubt it8 It@" hard to !eet a teacher who know" "o!ethin clearly. Thi" i" ;The delicate way that there i" nothin el"e above it, that you can@t !eet it no !atter how !any thin " you will o throu h<. Cou doubt "o !uch about it. 7on@t fool your"elf. When I publi"hed Thick Black Theory, !any people "aid, ;Thick Black Theory i" to deep and hard to under"tand. &lea"e "how !e a "hortcut.< Then I a"ked the!, ;What do you want to do8< $e "aid, ;I want to be a overnor of "o!ethin , and

I want to do "o!ethin bi , and other people would think I@! a !an who i" in char e of bi thin ".< Then I told hi! the 9 true word" to a"k to be a overnor or officer. 9 true word" to be an officer or overnor, and 2 ood way" to do thin ". The % true &ords to get a #osition o$ a go'ernor or o$$i er( ;?ree, 7i , Lie, Brea"ine"", Threaten, Bive.< )ree It !ean", =ne i" about affair". The people who want to be a overnor or officer have to put away everythin . 6o *ob. 6o bu"ine"". 6o far!in . 6o tradin + don@t even read or teach. :u"t do one thin + a"k to be it. .nother i" about ti!e. &eople who want to be a overnor or officer have to be patient. 6o hurrie". It didn@t work to day, "o do it to!orrow. It didn@t work thi" year, "o do it neAt year.

*ig The people who want to be a overnor or officer have to di . #veryone know" that, but it@" hard to define. (o!e "ay ;7i < !ean" di wherever there i" a hole. I "ay it@" *u"t half ri ht. 7i !ean" di when there i" a whole, and di when there i" nothin . I define it a", 7i no !atter where. 7i it deeper when there i" a hole. 7i a new one when there i" nothin . Lie Lie to everyone you can think of. To your bo"" or the public. =rally or on the paoper about your ability and talent. +reasiness It !ean" flattery. I think everyone know" what it@" about.

Threaten Threaten. There@" no har! to talk !ore about it. (o!e people pay "o !uch attention to ; rea"ine""< but it "till doe"n@t work. It@" becau"e they don@t threaten. =nce you are a bi !an, you have to be careful about what you are "cared of. :u"t a hint + they will ive you whatever you want. Cou have to know that rea"ine"" oe" with threatenin . =ther people think that every word you "ay to the! i" all about flattery, but actually + it@" al"o "o!e hint to find what they@re "cared of. The people who are ood at rea"ine"" can !ake people happy even when it "ound" like you are critici>in the!. Thi" i" "o!ethin you have to "tudy deeply. What@" !o"t i!portant i" when you threaten the!, don@t over u"e it, or they are oin to blow their top. Cou can even put your"elf in hell. 7on@t u"e ;threaten< until you have ot

nothin el"e to do. +i'e It !ean" bribe". There are 2 kind" of bribe", Bi pribe", like pack" of !oney, and "!all bribe", like "o!e wine or little thin " like a"kin the! to o to dinner. There are 2 kind" of people who you need to bribe. The people who have ri ht" and power to u"e it to help, and the people who will ive their po"ition to you. Cou will "ee the !iracle if you have done what the 9 word" tell you. (o!e bi !an "it" there and talk" to hi!"elf, ;(o!eone want" to have "o!e title. $e talked "o !uch about it 'here i" ;free), he ha" "o!ethin to do with !e 'di ), thi" per"on i" "!art 'lie), and he treat" !e well ' rea"ine""). But he i" a bit bad. If I don@t deal with it, he !i ht do "o!ethin not ood for !e 'threaten), "o now he turn" around and "ee" a bunch of "o!ethin lyin on the table ' ive), he can "ay nothin !ore and a"k" "o!eone to ive you "o!e po"ition.

6ow you "hould have otten all that you want. Then take up and do what the 9 word" below tell you.< The % true &ords to learn to hold #o&er as a go'erner or o$$i er( ;#!pty, 0o!pli!ent, Ti ht, #vil, 7eaf, Bet.< The !eanin " of the "iA word", E,#ty #!pty !ean", ?ir"t i" on the paper, when you write or "i n "o!e docu!ent". They "hould all be e!pty. It@" hard to eAplain thi". Cou can o to all kind" of overn!ent office" and read the "tuff on the wall or paper. Cou will under"tand. (econd i" about thin ". Whatever you do, you "hould !ake "ure it either can be left or ri ht. (o!eti!e" you !ake it fa"t and "trict, but there i" a path where you can walk away. 6ever !ake it have anythin to do with you when it beco!e"

difficult. Co,#li,ent 0o!ple!ent !ean" bend your knee", crin e and "!ile ob"eGuiou"ly. Cou can do it directly to your bo"", or indirectly to the friend" or fa!ily of your bo"". Tense Ten"e i" the oppo"ite of co!pli!ent. Cou do it to the! who are lower than you. ?ir"t i" your appearance. Make your"elf like a "aint who can@t be offended. (econd i" your talk. Cou "hould talk like you are really knowled eable. But "o!eti!e" you can be ob"eGuiou" to the lower people, and be ten"e to the hi her. Cou need to learn it by your"elf, and !ake it fleAible. E'il 7o whatever you can to reach your purpo"e. Dill hi!!, "ell hi" kid". 7on@t worry about anythin ,

but there i" "o!ethin you have to be careful about, Cou "hould do every evil thin with a cover of !orality. *ea$ Be deaf to "o!ethin you don@t want to hear. :u"t be your"elf and do whatever you need to. .nd it can al"o be blind. Be blind if you don@t@ want to "ee it. +et It !ean" ettin !oney. .ll the 22 word" above are for thi" one. Bet co!pare" to Bive above, et co!e" after ive. But you have to et "o!ethin done before you et. If you can@t et it done, "o!e !oney "hould be iven. The 22 word" I talked about are *u"t an outline. Mo"t of the "pirit i" not told yet. Cou can follow the outline and o "tudy for your"elf. T&o good &ays o$ dealing &ith things

Arro& utting &ay (o!eone ot "hot by the arrow and went to "ee a doctor. The doctor cut off the part" out"ide, then a"ked for the !oney. Why didn@t he take it out8 $e "aid, ;It@" a "ur eon@" *ob. Bo find one.< Thi" i" an old "tory. 6owaday" the people in the overn!ent" and the office" all u"e the"e way" to deal with thin ". Like ;Thi" "ituation i" not a part of our *ob, plea"e o to AA depart!ent to find "o!eone el"e who i" in char e, and et it done "oon< ;6ot part of our *ob"< i" like cuttin the arrow. (o!eone el"e i" like the "ur eon. =r when I "ay to "o!eone who want" !y help, ;I totally a ree with it, but I have to talk to "o!eone el"e to !ake "ure<. ;Totally a ree< i" like cuttin the arrow. ;(o!eone el"e< i" the "ur eon a ain. There are "till a lot of eAa!ple" you need to ta"te by your"elf.

-an )i.ing /ay The cookin pan i" broken. Cou had a pan fiAer to fiA it. While the pan fiAer i" "cratchin the black dirt off the botto! of the pan, he "ay" to you, ;&lea"e !ake "o!e fire for !e.< When you turn your back to hi!, he hit the pan a few ti!e", then the crack on the pan et" bi er. Then he tell" you, ;Look, the crack on thi" pan i" "o lon . Cou couldn@t "ee it if I didn@t "cratch the dirt off. 6ow I have to put !ore nail" in it.< Then you look and "ay, ;BreatH I@! "o happy I found you, or the pan wouldn@t work without youH< .fter it@" done the pan fiAer and the pan owner are all happy in the end. There are "o !any affair" in hi"tory that went like thi". (o!e "ay, ;Many of the 0hine"e revolution" + they cut the ood part and cured it.< Thi" i" the ;pan fiAin way<. In the Ein dyna"ty,

people !o"tly u"ed arrow cuttin way. .fter that, people u"ed both arrow cuttin and pan fiAin way. The 2 way" above are eAa!ple" of doin thin ", no !atter when and where. It will be "ucce""ful if you u"e it ri ht, and it will fail if you don@t u"e it. Buan >hon wa" a reat politician in 0hine"e hi"tory. $e !ade thin " in the"e 2 way". 7iren cru"aded a ain"t the Eei. Ei 'e!pire) waited. .fter 7iren beat down Wei, Ei ca!e out and "aid ;$ave to keep it even if we lo"e everythin <. Thi" i" pan fiAin way. In the war of Zhaolin, he didn@t bla!e 0hu e!peror about u"urpin hi!, but bla!e" that he didn@t pay the tribute he had to. Thi" i" the arrow cuttin way. .t that ti!e, the 0hu e!pire wa" "o !uch "tron er than Ei. Buan >hon a"ked EI $uan on to cru"ade a ain"t the 0hu. Cou can "ay he broke the pan to fiA it.

.nd when the 0hu tried to fi ht, he cut the arrow ri ht away. The war of Zhaolin "tarted with pan fiAin , and ended with arrow cuttin . $e could fiA the broken pan + that@" why he wa" called ;The reat eniu"<. Wan 7ao wa" the pri!e !ini"ter in :in 7yna"ty. There wa" a traitor at that ti!e. Wan 7ao didn@t o catch hi!. Tao Dan bla!ed hi!, and he an"wered, ;I@! *u"t waitin for the ood ti!e to attack.< Dan lau hed and "aid, ;$e wa" *u"t waitin for the traitor to beco!e "tron er.< Wan 7ao@" ;Bood ti!e waitin < i" like keepin the top of the arrow, and waitin for the "ur eon. Many bi !en were cryin in %intin . Wan 7ao chan ed color" and "aid, ;We "hould et to ether and revive our e!pire. Why are we cryin here a"

the pri"oner" of 0hu8< $e acted like he wa" doin it for *u"tice, picked up the ha!!er and tried to fiA the pan, but he *u"t didn@t !ean to do anythin . The two e!peror", $uai and Min were left 6orth, and could never co!e back a ain. The arrow wa" never taken out. Wna 7ao@" action i" kind of like Buan Zhon . That@" why he wa" called the ;Buan Zhon on the other "ide of the river ':ian Zuo Ciwu)<. If you followd what I "aid, you "hould have been a reat politician.

Con lusion I have "aid "o !uch until now, at thi" !o!ent we are waitin for the bi !elon we rew. I have to tell the reader" that, While u"in Thick Black Theory we have to put "o!e !oral cover over it. We cannot "how it directly. The rea"on why Wan Man failed wa" becau"e people knew he wa" black and thick to !uch. If he didn@t "how "o !uch, I@! afraid he would "till be eatin cold pork in 0onfuciu"@" te!ple. $anfe Zi "aid, ;Tell people that you di"like it, but u"e it behind their back.< Thi" i" a nece""ary way too. Like the book you are readin now, you "hould hide it under your pillow. 6ot on the table. .nd if "o!ebody a"k" if you know Li Zon wu, you

"hould "ay "eriou"ly, ;That uy wa" the !o"t terrible per"onH $e wa" talkin about Thick and Black. I "houldn@t have known hi!.< But you "hould treat Li Zon wu a" a !a"ter who ;enli hten" your way to "ucce""<. I believe you will have a wonderful career in front of you, and you will be eatin cold pork in 0onfuciu"@" te!ple. .nd every ti!e when I hear "o!ebody critici>in !e, I will be lad and "ay, ;My idea i" on the road.< What I "aid about Thick Black Theory i" that, ;We "hould put "o!e !oral cover over Thick Black Theory<. I !ean to the !oral people. If you !et "o!ebody who "tudie" "eA, I ue"" it@" not intere"tin for hi! to talk about !orality. .nd now, you "hould put the ;love i" holy< cover on it. If you !et a friend of MarA, you "hould put the cover of ;the people are everythin <. $e would

probably call you ;co!rade<. .nyway, we need to put on "o!e kind of cover, which i" al"o "o!ethin we need to learn. .nyti!e, anywhere, every way to "ucce"" i" around Thick Black Theory. Cou "hould think about it !ore if you really want to learn.

A##endi. 0

/ho &as Li Zong&u1 6an $uaidon relate" hi" eAperience of Li >on wu, ;I left Zhe*ian for 0hen du. I had *u"t turned 20 year" old. &eople in 0hen du weren@t too fond of people fro! Zhe*ian , but I wanted to "tudy ?ei*ian kun /fu and fi ht the :apane"e ar!y. (o, I often vi"ited people who were fa!ou", well educated and had a lot of kun /fu "kill and knowled e. In 0hen du at the ti!e, there were a lot of tea hou"e" in (haochen &ark. Brew a pot of tea, "it for half the day or the whole day and pay when you left. If you had to leave at "o!e point to run "o!e errand", you could leave and *u"t put the lid on your cup up/"ide down, the owner of the "hop would leave it until you ot back. If you didn@t have any !oney to drink tea, that wa" okay too. When the bo"" a"ked you what you wanted, you *u"t told the! ;I@ll have a la"".< .nd they would brin you a la"" of water. I don@t think we@ll "ee thi" kind of rural relaAed at!o"phere ever a ain.

(haochen &ark wa" a the place to ather for !any fa!ou" people and !any people that "till followed older tradition". Cou could often "ee people wearin lon qipao" and cloth "hoe". The"e were *u"t the type of people I wa" lookin for, "o I often went there. To the people there, I wa" *u"t a kid. I wore (un/Cat (en "tyle "uit" and I wa" fro! Zhe*ian Jthe place 0han Dai/(hek wa" fro!. &eople were "u"piciou" of !e at fir"t. Maybe I wa" "ent out to 0hen du by 0han Dai/(hek. .fter awhile, people "lowly be an to under"tand. I wa" out there to learn. The "u"picion faded and I be an to !ake friend". =ne day, I wa" at 0hen "hao &ark with "o!e friend" drinkin tea and playin che"". . !an walked in. $e wa" tall, hunched over and wearin a felt cap. $e had an intere"tin lookJhe looked like "o!eone fro! ancient ti!e". When he ca!e in, everyone nodded and "aid hello. I a"ked !y friend Mr. Lian who it wa". $e told !e that it wa" the ;father of Thick Black Theory< Li Zon wu and that he wa" Guite fa!ou" in (ichuan. Then Mr.

Lian told !e Li Zon wu@" "tory. I wanted to !eet hi!. (o, Mr. Lian took !e over there and introduced !e. The father of Thick Black Theory invited u" to "it down and have "o!e tea and chat. =ur "o/called ;chat< con"i"ted of u" "ittin there and li"tenin to hi! eApound hi" theorie" of thi" and that, talk about the :apane"e occupation, li"ten to hi! cur"e the (ichuan .r!y and li"ten to hi! talk about how thi" and that per"on were worthle"". Thi" wa" !y fir"t !eetin , but after I would "ee hi! often in 0hen "hao &ark. =ne ti!e he "aid to !e, ;I can "ee that you want to !ake a na!e for your"elfJbeco!e a hero. I can teach you a way that will !ake it happen !uch fa"ter. If you want to "ucceed and !ake a na!e for your"elf you "hould cur"e people, that@" what I did. .nd you don@t need to cur"e a lot of people, *u"t cur"e !e. (ay KThat Li Zon wu i" a ba"tard. $e "hould die.@ .nd you@ll "ucceed. But you need to "tick a note eAtollin 0onfu"ciou" on your forehead while you do "o. .nd in your !ind

honor !e Li Zon wu a" the od of Thick and Black.< I didn@t take hi" advice and thu" didn@t !ake a na!e for !y"elf. .nother ti!e when I wa" talkin to hi!, I told hi! that he doe"n@t need to talk about Thick Black Theory any!ore and he doe"n@t need to cur"e people any!ore. $e turned and "aid to !e, ;I@! not *u"t cur"in people at rando!. #veryone ha" a Kthick face.@ I@! only takin that fal"e face and peelin it off.< I told hi! that he need" to be careful and that there are people in the central overn!ent that are noticin hi!. There he !i ht et taken to *ail. $e replied, ;My boy, you don@t under"tand. I@! the "a!e a e a" #in"tein. #in"tein invented the Theory of Felativity and now he i" a world fa!ou" "cienti"t. But I@! here in (ichuan, in 0hen du and I haven@t really !ade a na!e for !y"elf. I hope they catch !e. If they throw !e in *ail, then I@ll be world fa!ou".<

$e wa" never taken to *ail and he didn@t beco!e world fa!ou". Later he "aid that it wa" bad luck. But that year, hi" book wa" very popular all acro"" 0hina. . lot of people were a bit "cared of hi! after that, but not !e. I "till talked to hi! Guite often. . couple year" later, a friend of !ine, a !onk, had pa""ed away. My friend, al"o a !onk, and I wanted to o to Zilon *in to pay our re"pect". We traveled for ei ht day". When we found the friend@" rave, we bowed our head" and burned incen"e. .t the ti!e, I hadn@t reali>ed how far away Zilon *in wa" fro! 0hen du. It would be another ei ht day" to et back. It dawned on !e that I wouldn@t have enou h !oney to et back. I "tarted to et very worried. Then I re!e!ber that Li Zon wu wa" fro! Zilon *in . .nd he wa" a fa!ou" per"on, "o I wa" "ure that anyone I a"ked would know where hi" hou"e wa". We be an walkin and a"ked around. $i" hou"e wa" Guite bi and the front ate wa" wide open. Before it wa" alway" like that in the

country"ide, The front ate wa" opened in the !ornin and not "hut until ni ht. 6ot like how it i" in the bi citie" the"e day". We walked in and called hi" na!e. $e ca!e ri ht away and he "ee!ed very happy to "ee !e. ;Where did you co!e fro!8 What are you doin out here8< ;I ca!e to vi"it a friend of !ine who pa""ed away.< ;But I@! not dead yetH< .fter the brief !i"under"tandin wa" cleared up, he arran ed for dinner to be prepared. .fter the !eal and "o!e drink" I told hi! that there wa" another rea"on I wa" there to "ee hi!. I told hi! that I didn@t have enou h !oney to et back to 0hen du. $e a"ked how !uch I needed and I told hi! that I needed ten dollar". $e ot up and went to a cabinet in the livin roo! and ot and envelope and ave it to !e. There were twenty dollar" in there. I told hi! that I only needed ten. $e in"i"ted that I take twenty. I told hi! that I

didn@t know when I would be able to pay hi! back. $e "aid to "pend the !oney fir"t, then fi ure it out. We chatted for a bit and he "uddenly "u e"ted that I don@t return to 0hen du, that I "tayed there for awhile. ;(tay here and do what8< I a"ked. ;7on@t you like kun /fu8 There i" a uy na!ed Ma"ter Zhao in thi" town who ha" eAcellent kun / fu "kill". $e wa" born a cripple, but hi" kun /fu i" "till very ood, e"pecially hi" "oft/"tyle. $e can put on a pair of new "hoe" and walk a !ile in the "now and there won@t be a "peck of !ud on the!. $e once had a di"ciple that learned kun /fu pretty well but !i"u"ed what he had learned. =ne ni ht the di"ciple crept over a wall into a fa!ilie" hou"e and raped a wo!an, "o Ma"ter Zhao had to kill hi!. .nd after that he ha"n@t taken on any !ore "tudent". It@" a "ha!e that "o!eone with "uch ood "kill" won@t pa"" the! on to anyone. But with !y reco!!endation I think he would take you on a" a "tudent. If you train with hi! for three year", you will be a !a"ter your"elf.< I told hi! that I would o back to !y lod in and think about it.

#arly the neAt !ornin , Li Zon wu !et u" at our lod e and continued with the idea of !e trainin with Ma"ter Zhao. $e "aid that he would even pay for tho"e three year" of "tudy for !e. But I had decided that three year" wa" too lon . I went back to 0hen du. 6ot lon after, I heard new" of Li Zonwu@" pa""in . $e died of natural cau"e". I wa" Guite "ad. I thou h of hi! lendin !e the !oney and hi" offerin to pay for !y kun /fu "tudie", thi" ;father of Thick Black Theory< didn@t "ee! to be very ;Thick< and ;Black< at all. $e actually "ee!ed Guite "incere.

Strategies When In A Superior Position 2 ?ool The #!peror To 0ro"" The (ea 2.2 (ky-$eaven-#!peror 2.2 7onLt Behave (u"piciou"ly =r $ide 2.3 .ct In The =pen 2.4 $ide Cour True Intention" 2 Be"ie e Wei To Fe"cue Zhao 2.2 If The =pponent I" To (tron To .ttack 7irectly, .ttack $i! .t . Weak &oint 2.2 .ttack What They 0are .bout 2.3 #veryone $a" Mulnerable &oint" 3 Dill With . Borrowed (word 3.2 If Cou 0anLt (ucce""fully .ttack .n #ne!y, I"e (o!eone #l"e To .ttack $i! 3.2.2 Trick =ne =f $i" =wn .llie" Into .ttackin 3.2.2 0reate Traitor" In $i" Mid"t 3.2.3 I"e $i" =wn (tren th . ain"t $i! 4 .wait The #Ahau"ted #ne!y .t Cour #a"e 4.2 Cou 0hoo"e The Ti!e .nd &lace To ?i ht 4.2 ?orce The =pponent To I"e $i" #ner y =n Wa"ted #ffort" 4.3 0on"erve Cour =wn #ner y

4.4 When $eL" #Ahau"ted .nd 0onfu"ed .ttack With &ower .nd &urpo"e 5 Loot . Burnin $ou"e 5.2 When =pponent I" 7ealin With Internal 0onflict", .ttack 9 0la!or In The #a"t, .ttack In The We"t 9.2 .ttack Where =pponent Lea"t #Apect" It 9.2.2 0reate #Apectation" In =pponent" Mind I"in ?eint"

Strategies For Confrontation 2 0reate (o!ethin ?ro! 6othin 2.2 I"e The (a!e ?eint Twice 2.2 =pponent Will Be (cared To Feact To Third ?eint 2.3 Third ?eint I" The .ctual .ttack 2.4 0atch The #ne!y With $i" Buard 7own 2 =penly Fepair The Walkway, (ecretly March To 0hencan 2.2 .ttack The =pponent With 2 0onver in ?orce" 2.2 ?ir"t .ttack I" 7irect .nd =bviou" 2.3 (econd .ttack I" (neaky .nd IneApected 2.3.2 0au"e" $i! To 7ivide $i" ?orce" .t The La"t Minute 3 =b"erve The ?ire =n The =ppo"ite (hore 3.2 .void Boin Into Battle Intil .ll &layer" .re #Ahau"ted ?i htin #ach =ther 3.2.2 Bo In ?ull (tren th 3.2.2 &ick Ip The &iece" 4 $ide Cour 7a er Behind . (!ile 4.2 Bain The #ne!ie" Tru"t 4.2 (ecretly Move . ain"t $i!

5 (acrifice The &lu! Tree In &lace =f The &each 5.2 (acrifice (hort Ter! =b*ective" To =btain Lon Ter! Boal 9 Beat The Bra"" To (tartle The (nake 9.2 If Cou 0anLt (ee The #ne!ie" &lan, 9.2.2 Fun a (hort, 7irect .ttack $i" Feaction Will (how $i" (trate y

Strategies For Attack 2 Borrow . 0orp"e To Fai"e The (pirit 2.2 Fevive (o!ethin ?ro! The &a"t .nd Bive It 6ew &urpo"e =r 6ew Meanin 2.2.2 =ld In"titution 2.2.2 =ld Technolo y 2.2.3 =ld Method 2 Lure The Ti er 7own The Mountain 2.2 7onLt .ttack Well #ntrenched =pponent 2.2.2 Lure $i! ?ro! $i" (tron hold 2.2.2 (eperate $i! ?ro! The (ource =f $i" (tren th 3 To 0atch (o!ethin ?ir"t Let It Bo 3.2 0ornered =pponent" Will ?i ht 7e"perately 3.2 Make $i! Believe $e (till $a" . 0hance ?or ?reedo! 3.3 In The #nd When $i" Morale I" Low $e Will (urrender #a"ily 4 Throw =ut . Brick To .ttract :ade 4.2 &repare . Trap I"in Bait 4.2.2 Illu"ion =f =pportunity 5 To 0atch The Bandit" ?ir"t 0apture Their Leader 9 (teal The ?irewood ?ro! Inder The &ot

9.2 Inder!ine =pponent" ?oundation .ttack The (ource =f $i" &ower

Strategies For Confused Situations 2 Trouble The Water To 0atch The ?i"h 2.2 0reate 0onfu"ion 2.2.2 Weaken =pponent" &erception 2.2.2 Weaken =pponent" :ud e!ent 2.2 7o (o!ethin Inu"ual, (tran e =r IneApected 2.3 . 7i"tracted #ne!y I" More Mulnerable 2 (hed Cour (kin Like The Bolden 0icada 2.2 If In 7an er =f 7efeat 0reate .n Illu"ion 2.2 Move Cour ?orce" .way Behind ?ront ?acade 3 (hut The 7oor To 0atch The Thief 3.2 0apture #ne!y Euickly If &o""ible 3.2.2 If They ?lee 7onLt &ur"ue 4 Befriend . 7i"tant #ne!y To .ttack =ne 6earby 4.2 Borderin 6ation" Beco!e #ne!ie" 4.2 7i"tant 6ation" Make Bood .llie" 5 Borrow The Foad To 0onGuer Buo 5.2 Borrow The Fe"ource" =f .n .lly To 7efeat .n =pponent 5.2 =nce #ne!y I" 7efeated I"e Fe"ource"

. ain"t .lly 9 Feplace The Bea!" With Fotten Ti!ber" ?orce =pponent To Feact 7ifferently Than $e Wa" Trained

Strategies For Gaining Ground 2 &oint .t The Mulberry But 0ur"e The Locu"t Tree 2.2 7i"cipline, 0ontrol =r Warn &eople Cou 0anLt 7irectly 0onfront I"in .lle ory .nd Inuendo 2.2.2 If Cou 7onLt 6a!e 6a!e" They 0anLt Fe"pond Without Fevealin The!"elve" &ublically 2 ?ei n Madne"" But Deep Cour Balance 2.2 0reate 0onfu"ion .bout Cour Intention" .nd Motivation" 2.2 Make =pponent Indere"ti!ate Cour .bility 2.3 When $e 7rop" $i" Buard .ttack 3 Lure Cour #ne!y =nto The Foof Then Take .way The Ladder 3.2 I"e Bait" .nd Trick" To Lure Cour #ne!y =nto 7an erou" Bround 3.2 0ut =ff $i" Line" =f 0o!!unication .nd Mean" =f #"cape 3.3 Cour =pponent Mu"t ?i ht Cou .nd The 7an erou" Bround 4 Tie (ilk Blo""o!" To . 7ead Tree

4.2 Make (o!ethin =f 6o Malue (ee! Malueable 4.2 Make (o!ethin =f 6o Threat .ppear 7an erou" 4.3 Make (o!ethin =f 6o I"e (ee! I"eful 5 #Achan e The Fole =f Bue"t ?or That =f $o"t 5.2 Infiltrate =pponent I"in , 5.2.2 0ooperation 5.2.2 (urrender 5.2.3 &eace Treatie" 5.2 7i"cover =pponent" Weakne"" 5.3 .ttack The (ource =f =pponent" (tren th 9 The (trate y =f Beautiful Wo!en 9.2 (end Beautiful Wo!en To 9.2.2 Weaken =pponent" Will 0reate 7i"cord In $i" 0a!p

Strategies For Desperate Situations 2 The (trate y =f =pen 0ity Bate" 2.2 If Cou .re Boin To Loo"e (top &reparin To ?i ht .nd .ct 0a"ual 2 The (trate y =f (owin 7i"cord 2.2 7e"troy =pponent" .bility To ?i ht By 0reatin 7i"chord With 2.2.2 .llie" 2.2.2 .dvi"or" 2.2.3 ?a!ily 2.2.4 0o!!ander" 2.2.5 (oldier" 2.2.9 &eople 2.2 While $eL" Fepairin The"e Felation"hip" .ttack 3 The (trate y =f In*urin Cour"elf 3.2 Make Cour #ne!y 7rop $i" Buard 3.2 &retend . Mutual #ne!y In*ured Cou To Bet 0lo"e To $i! 4 The Tactic =f 0o!binin Tactic" 5 If .ll #l"e ?ail" Fetreat

The 2% 3i

The Thirty "i. 3i 42% "trategies5 "tratege,s &hen in a su#erior #osition "tratage,s $or on$rontation "tratage,s $or atta ! "tratage,s $or on$used situations "tratage,s $or gaining ground "tratage,s $or des#erate situations

I.

Stratagems when in a

superior position

)ool the E,#eror to Cross the "ea Thi" :i ha" often been !i"/tran"lated a" fool the "ky, or fool heaven to cro"" the "ea. $owever, the literal !eanin i" to fool the #!peror. In ancient 0hina, the e!peror wa" re arded a" the ;(on of $eaven<. ?oolin the e!peror to cro"" the "ea "i!ple !ean" to hide your true intention". 7onLt hide your activity, becau"e then you will be "u"pect. In"tead, hide your true activitie" behind a feint. Besiege /ei to Res ue Zhao If your opponent i" to "tron to attack directly, attack hi! at a weak point. Tho"e weak point" could be thin ", people or place" which they care

about. ItL" i!portant to keep in !ind that every hu!an, no !atter how invincible they !ay "ee! ha" point" of vulnerability. Kill &ith a Borro&ed "&ord If you canLt "ucce""fully attack an ene!y, u"e "o!eone el"e to attack hi!. ?or eAa!ple + Trick one of hi" allie" into attackin hi!. 0reate traitor" within hi" !id"t, or u"e hi" own "tren th a ain"t hi!. A&ait the E.hausted Ene,y at Your Ease 7onLt allow your opponent to cho"e the ti!e or the place for a confrontation. Cou "hould choo"e both the "pace and ti!e for en a in your opponent. ?orce hi! to u"e hi" ener y on wa"ted effort" while con"ervin your own ener y. When heL" eAhau"ted and confu"ed attack with

power and purpo"e. Loot a Burning House When your opponent i" dealin with internal conflict, attack. Cla,or in the East6 Atta ! in the /est .ttack where your opponent lea"t eApect" it. 0reate fal"e eApectation" in your opponent" !ind by u"in feint".

II.

Stratagems for confrontation

Create "o,ething )ro, 7othing In fi htin , u"e the "a!e feint twice. Cour opponent will be afraid to react to the third "i!ilar feint. $owever, the third feint i" the actual attack. O#enly Re#air The /al!&ay6 "e retly Mar h to Chen ang .ttack your opponent with two conver in force". The fir"t attack "hould be direct and obviou". The "econd attack i" "neaky and uneApected, cau"in hi! to divide hi" force" at the la"t !inute. Obser'e the )ire on the O##osite "hore .void oin into battle until all the player" are eAhau"ted fro! fi htin each other. Bo in with full "tren th and pick up the piece". Hide Your *agger Behind a ",ile Bain your ene!ie" tru"t while "ecretly !ovin

a ain"t hi!. "a ri$i e the -lu, Tree In -la e o$ the -ea h (acrifice "hort ter! ob*ective" in the intere"t of obtainin lon ter! oal". Beat The +rass To "tartle The "na!e If you canLt "ee your ene!ie" plan run a "hort, direct attack. $i" reaction will "how hi" "trate y.

III.

Stratagems for attack

Borro& a Cor#se to Raise the "#irit Fevive "o!ethin fro! the pa"t and ive it a new purpo"e or new !eanin . The"e could include, old in"titution" old technolo y old !ethod" Lure the Tiger *o&n the Mountain 7onLt attack a well entrenched opponent. Lure hi! fro! hi" "tron hold and "eperate hi! fro! the "ource of hi" "tren th. To Cat h "o,ething6 )irst Let It +o . cornered opponent will alway" fi ht !ore de"perately. Make hi! believe he "till ha" a chance for freedo! and in the end when hi" !orale i" low he will "urrender !ore ea"ily. Toss Out A Bri ! To Attra t 3ade 0reate an illu"ion of opportunity.

To Cat h the Bandits )irst Ca#ture Their Leader In order to capture, weaken or de"troy an opponent" force", focu" on attackin their leader. "teal The )ire&ood )ro, 8nder the -ot Inder!ine your opponent" foundation. .ttack the "ource of hi" power.

IV.

Stratagems for confused situations

Trouble The /ater To Cat h The )ish 0reate confu"ion to weaken your opponent" perception and *ud e!ent. 7o "o!ethin unu"ual, "tran e or uneApected. . di"tracted ene!y i" !ore vulnerable. "hed Your "!in Li!e the +olden Ci ada If you are in dan er of defeat, create an illu"ion. Move your force" away behind the facade. "hut the *oor to Cat h the Thie$ 0apture your ene!y Guickly if po""ible. If they flee, donLt pur"ue. Be$riend a *istant Ene,y to Atta ! One 7earby Borderin nation" often beco!e ene!ie" while di"tant nation" !ake for ood allie". Borro& the Road to Con9uer +uo

Borrow the re"ource" of an ally to defeat an opponent. =nce your opponent i" defeated, turn the re"ource" back a ain"t the ally. Re#la e The Bea,s /ith Rotten Ti,bers ?orce your opponent to react differently than he wa" trained to.

V.

Stratagems for gaining ground

-oint At The Mulberry But Curse The Lo ust Tree 7i"cipline, control or warn people who you canLt directly confront u"in alle ory and inuendo. If you donLt na!e na!e" they canLt re"pond without revealin the!"elve" publicly. )eign Madness But Kee# Your Balan e 0reate confu"ion about your intention" and !otivation". Make your opponent undere"ti!ate your ability. When he drop" hi" uard, attack. Lure Your Ene,y Onto the Roo$6 Then Ta!e A&ay the Ladder I"e bait and trick" to lure your ene!y onto dan erou" round. 0ut off hi" line" of co!!unication" and !ean" of e"cape. Cour opponent !u"t fi ht both you and the dan erou" round.

Tie "il! Blosso,s to the *ead Tree Make "o!ethin of no value "ee! valuable. Make "o!ethin of no threat "ee! dan erou". Make "o!ethin of no u"e "ee! u"eful. E. hange the Role o$ +uest $or that o$ Host Infiltrate your opponent" ca!p u"in cooperation, "urrender and peace treatie". 7i"cover hi" weakne"" and attack the "ource of hi" "tren th. The "trategy o$ Beauti$ul /o,en (end beautiful wo!en to your opponent to weaken hi" will and create di"cord and *ealou"y in hi" ca!p.

VI.

Stratagems for desperate situations

The "trategy o$ O#en City +ates If you know you are oin to lo"e "top preparin to fi ht and act ca"ually in the hope" that you can trick your ene!y into believin you have !ore power or are !ore prepared than you actually are. The "trategy o$ "o&ing *is ord 7e"troy your opponent" ability to fi ht by creatin di"chord with hi" allie", advi"or", fa!ily, co!!ander", "oldier", and people. While heL" repairin the"e relation"hip" attack. The "trategy o$ In:uring Yoursel$ &retend to be in*ured to !ake your opponent drop hi" uard. &retend a !utual ene!y in*ured you to et clo"e to hi!. The Ta ti o$ Co,bining Ta ti s 0o!bine tactic" a" nece""ary.

I$ All Else )ails Retreat

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