Let Go to Catch

If You Want to Capture, First Let Go Press an enemy until he has no way out, and he will fight desperately and launch a counterattack; let him escape, and his momentum will instead be weakened. In pursuit, follow closely but do not press him too hard; use this to exhaust his strength and undermine his will to fight. Wait until his forces are scattered and his morale has collapsed, and then capture him—thus one may win without shedding a drop of blood. In accordance with the principle of the Xu (Waiting) hexagram in the I Ching, one should wait until the enemy is thoroughly convinced in his heart, and only then can a bright outcome be won. Allusion:During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang campaigned in the south and captured Meng Huo, leader of the Southern Zhong. Meng Huo refused to submit, so Zhuge Liang released him on the spot and let him regroup his troops and return. Thereafter, each time Meng Huo was captured, Zhuge Liang sent him back on the grounds that “you are not yet convinced in your heart.” Meng Huo was defeated and released again and again; in the......