A delaying tactic or stratagem used to gain time, postpone an opponent's action or attack, and allow for better preparation or finding a solution.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang (Kongming) and Sima Yi were engaged in battle at Qishan. The Shu army, led by Zhuge Liang, had successfully defeated Wei generals Guo Huai and Sun Li, subsequently capturing Wudu and Yangping. When Wei generals Zhang He and Dai Ling led reinforcements, they too were defeated by Zhuge Liang.
The two armies then settled into a stalemate for about half a month. Observing Sima Yi's reluctance to engage in direct combat, Zhuge Liang devised a clever stratagem.
He feigned a retreat, using this as a 'delaying tactic' to lure Sima Yi. Sima Yi, seeing what he thought was an opportunity, pursued Zhuge Liang's retreating forces and consequently fell into the trap, suffering a major defeat.