When all other options have been exhausted and no good solution remains, the best course of action is to retreat or escape; fleeing is the ultimate stratagem.
Era:
Ancient
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The idiom "三十六策，走是上计" (Thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best) is rooted in an anecdote from the Southern Dynasties period of China. During the Southern Qi Dynasty, after Emperor Ming of Qi died suddenly, General Wang Jingze hastily launched a rebellion in the eastern region, causing significant alarm in the imperial court.
Emperor Xiao Baojuan, known as the Marquis of Donghun, convened his subordinates in the Eastern Palace to secretly discuss how to handle the rebellion. He sent someone to observe the situation from a high tower. When a fire broke out at Zhengluting, indicating Wang Jingze's imminent arrival, the Marquis reportedly feigned an intention to flee.
It is said that Wang Jingze himself, upon hearing of potential retreats by his adversaries, once scoffed at General Tan Daoji and his son for their past irresponsible flight. Despite this, the underlying wisdom of the idiom highlights that in truly desperate situations, when all other plans have failed, strategic withdrawal or escape becomes the most sensible and effective course of action.