Collected Works of Master Zhizhai, Volume 21

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... at Touyuan. Afterward, Yao Chang, the Lord of Later Qin Yao Chang, the founding emperor of the Later Qin state during the chaotic Sixteen Kingdoms period, led his troops to meet the enemy in battle. Fu Deng The rival emperor of the Former Qin, who spent years in a brutal stalemate with Yao Chang attacked them, beheading the Right General, Wu Zhong.

Chang withdrew his troops to regroup for further combat. Yao Shuode Yao Chang’s brother and a trusted general said: "Your Majesty is usually cautious about rushing into battle, always preferring to seize victory through careful calculation. Now, having suffered a loss, you are pushing forward again. Why is this?"

Yao Chang replied: "Fu Deng is slow in his military movements; he is sluggish and does not recognize where the enemy is weak or strong xu-shi Literally "emptiness and fullness," a core concept from Sun Tzu’s Art of War regarding identifying an enemy's vulnerabilities and strengths. Now, seeing his light troops advancing directly, he must have a secret plot with Gou Yao. If we are slow to act, their plot will succeed. Therefore, before they can join forces, we must strike them with urgency."

He then advanced to battle and decisively defeated them. Fu Deng was forced to retreat and station his troops at Mei.

Murong Chui, the Lord of Yan Known as Later Yan, attacked Zhai Zhao. Zhai Zhao sought help from the Lord of Western Yan. The Lord of Western Yan sought counsel from his ministers.

The Minister Bao Zun said: "Let the two enemies exhaust each other, then we can take advantage of the aftermath. This is the strategy of Bian Zhuangzi original: "下莊子之策" — A reference to a famous story where a man waits for two tigers to wound each other before killing both with ease."

The Attendant Zhang Teng countered: "Murong Chui is strong while Zhai Zhao is weak; what 'exhaustion' is there to take advantage of? It would be better to quickly...