Story

During the Warring States Period (战国时期 | Zhàn Guó Shí Qī, 475 - 221 BC), the kingdom of 秦国 (Qín Guó) started amassing substantial military and economic power. Soon, the kingdom sent its general 白起 (Bái Qǐ) to launch attacks on the the neighboring kingdoms of 韩国 (Hán Guó), 赵国 (Zhào Guó), and 楚国 (Chǔ Guó). The kingdoms fell quickly, and 白起 pressed his conquering forces onward to the kingdom of 魏国 (Wèi Guó). Once there, it wasn't long before he had the capital completely surrounded.

Inside the capital, the shocked king of 魏国 urgently consulted with his advisors. One of them suggested reaching out to 苏厉 (Sū Lì), a skilled strategist who was also inside the surrounded capital. The king agreed, and he sent people to ask for the strategist's assistance.

苏厉 agreed to assist, but after analyzing the entire situation, he realized that 魏国 had little to no ability to repel the attack with force. After more analysis, he came to the conclusion that the only way of making the invaders retreat was to convince them to do it of their own volition. As such, he reached out directly to the enemy general, 白起.

"You've already come so far," 苏厉 told the general. "And you've already conquered so many countries. What if you were to lose the battle here, and then end up unable to take 魏国? Then all of your efforts will have completely been wasted. Why don't you say that your troops are ill and use that as an excuse to retreat?"

白起 completely ignored this suggestion and continued the attack on the capital, and he managed a resounding victory.