Pulling the Ladder After Climbing Up

Remove the Ladder After Luring the Enemy Upstairs Deliberately offer the enemy convenience and expose an apparent flaw, luring him deep into a trap already set; then cut off his reinforcements and support, leaving him isolated in a position of death. The enemy falls into this calamity because he covets immediate advantage and thereby places himself in an untenable position. Allusion:In the late Eastern Han dynasty, Liu Biao, governor of Jingzhou, favored his younger son Liu Cong and cold-shouldered his elder son Liu Qi. His stepmother repeatedly plotted against him, and Liu Qi’s position grew precarious. Liu Qi asked Zhuge Liang time and again for a plan to protect himself, but Zhuge Liang kept declining, since the matter involved meddling in Liu Biao’s family affairs. Liu Qi then falsely claimed that rare ancient books were hidden upstairs and lured Zhuge Liang to a high tower, whereupon he secretly had the ladder removed. Liu Qi said: “Today we are beyond reach of heaven above and earth below; what comes from your mouth enters only my ears—now you may instruct......