The Cicada Sheds Its Shell

Slough Off the Golden Cicada’s Shell Preserve the original form and keep the original deployment intact, so that allies do not become suspicious and the enemy dares not act rashly. In secret, shift the main force. This follows the principle of “Xun and Zhi” in the Gu hexagram of the I Ching: use surface stillness to cover substantive movement. Allusion:During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, on his fifth Northern Expedition, fell ill from overwork and died in the army at Wuzhang Plains. To prevent the Shu army from suffering losses during the retreat, Jiang Wei withheld the news of his death, imposed strict secrecy, and withdrew secretly with the coffin. Sima Yi led the Wei army in pursuit. Jiang Wei ordered Yang Yi to lead part of the troops in a great show of force as if to attack, and had craftsmen carve a wooden statue of Zhuge Liang, with feather fan and silk headdress, sitting calmly in a carriage. From afar, the Wei troops saw the Shu ranks orderly and their banners and drums imposing, and saw “Zhuge Liang” directing with composure. Suspecting a lure,......