Kill with a borrowed knife illustration
Military / Strategy / Classical Texts
Military / Strategy / Classical Texts

Kill with a borrowed knife

If the enemy is clear and another force is undecided, guide that other force to strike for you.

Aliases
借刀殺人 / Set 1. Winning Stratagems
Domains
Strategy, negotiation, positioning, competition, conflict

Chinese Maxim

  • Chinese title: 借刀殺人
  • Chinese maxim: 敵已明，友未定，引友殺敵，不自出力。
  • Plain-English rendering: If the enemy is clear and another force is undecided, guide that other force to strike for you.

How It Works

  • Simple definition: Use outside force instead of spending your own.
  • Simple explanation: The cleanest win may come from shaping the moves of others.

Usage Example

  • Let regulation, customer pressure, or a partner realignment weaken the competitor before you move directly.