Military Strategy, Volume 5: The Three Kingdoms, Part 2

Their ○ positions ○ cannot ○ both ○ remain ○ intact. ○ If ○ one ○ is ○ absorbed, ○ then ○ power ○ becomes ○ concentrated. ○ When power ○ is concentrated, ○ then ○ it is difficult ○ to plan ○ against them. ○ By ○ taking ○ advantage ○ of ○ their ○ chaos ○ and ○ seizing ○ them, ○ the world ○ will be ○ settled. ○ This ○ time ○ must ○ not ○ be ○ lost. ○ Cao Cao ○ followed ○ this advice and ○ spoke

to this man of understanding Xin Pi, ○ saying: ○ "Can Yuan Tan ○ surely ○ be ○ trusted? ○ Can Yuan Shang ○ surely ○ be ○ overcome ○ or not?" ○ Pi ○ replied, ○ saying: ○ "My Lord, ○ do not ○ ask ○ about ○ trust ○ or ○ deceit. ○ You ○ should ○ simply ○ disrupt ○ their ○ position. ○ The ○ brothers ○ of the Yuan ○ clan ○ attacked ○ each other ○ because they originally ○ thought ○ the world ○ could ○ be ○ settled ○ by ○ themselves. ○ Yet ○ suddenly, ○ they seek ○ help ○ from ○ you, My Lord; ○ from this ○ one ○ can ○ know ○ their desperation. ○ Now ○ their ○ military ○ forces ○ are defeated ○ abroad, ○ their advisors ○ are executed ○ within, ○ and the brothers ○ slander ○ and fight ○ each other. The country ○ is divided ○ into ○ two. ○ After consecutive ○ years ○ of war ○ and conflict, ○ their armor ○ and helmets ○ breed ○ nits ○ and lice. ○ Added ○ to ○ this, ○ drought, ○ locusts, ○ hunger, ○ and famine ○ have all ○ arrived at once. ○ Now, ○ if you go ○ to attack Ye original: "鄴" (Ye); the strategic capital and power base of the Yuan family, ○ if Shang ○ does not ○ return ○ to save it, ○ then ○ he will be unable ○ to ○ defend ○ himself. ○ If he does return ○ to save it, ○ then Tan ○ will follow ○ at his ○ heels. ○ This ○ is ○ indeed ○ the time ○ when Heaven ○ destroys ○ Shang. ○ Heaven ○ is using ○ Shang ○ to grant ○ victory to you, My Lord. ○ If you, My Lord, ○ do not ○ take ○ him, but ○ instead attack Jingzhou..."