I can't believe we're at this stage.

• Hide a knife behind a smile (笑里藏刀 xiào lǐ cáng dāo)

--Build relationships with their officials and high-ranked officers, then secretly gain their loyalty through any means necessary so that when the time comes, they will betray your enemy.

• Loot a burning house (趁火打劫 chèn huǒ dǎ jié)

--Spread rumours throughout their ranks and kingdom, spread disease, disrupt their supplies causing famine and encourage waves of crime.

--As they draw resources to focus on putting out the flames, attack without mercy.

The Chinese have executed these ruses patiently, but they are not done yet. We are now trying to put out the flames.

I can't believe we're at this stage.

• Hide a knife behind a smile (笑里藏刀 xiào lǐ cáng dāo) --Build relationships with their officials and high-ranked officers, then secretly gain their loyalty through any means necessary so that when the time comes, they will betray your enemy.

• Loot a burning house (趁火打劫 chèn huǒ dǎ jié) --Spread rumours throughout their ranks and kingdom, spread disease, disrupt their supplies causing famine and encourage waves of crime. --As they draw resources to focus on putting out the flames, attack without mercy.

The Chinese have executed these ruses patiently, but they are not done yet. We are now trying to put out the flames.