yǐ以zhǎng长gōng攻duǎn短
To exploit one's strengths to attack another's weaknesses; to leverage one's advantages against another's disadvantages.
Era:
Modern
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Story:
Song Jiang, exiled to Jiangzhou after committing a crime, went drinking with Dai Zong and Li Kui, fellow outlaws, at the Pipa Pavilion riverside tavern.
He expressed a desire for fresh fish soup. Li Kui went to a fishing boat by the river to get some, but got into a dispute with Zhang Shun, the boat owner, and they began to fight.
Zhang Shun, taking advantage of Li Kui's inability to swim, pulled him into the water and gave him a severe beating. Dai Zong then intervened to mediate, and the two eventually became good friends.