During the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Xian of Jin listened to slanderous rumors and killed the crown prince Shen Sheng, and sent men to arrest Shen Sheng's younger brother Chong Er. Upon hearing the news, Chong Er fled from the state of Jin and went into exile for more than ten years. After a lot of hard work, Chong Er came to the state of Chu. King Cheng of Chu thought that Chong Er would be a great man in the future, so he welcomed him as a king and treated him like a guest. One day, the king of Chu hosted a banquet for Chong Er, and the two of them drank wine and talked in a very cordial atmosphere. Suddenly, the king of Chu asked Chong Er: "If you return to Jin one day and become the king, how should you repay me?" Chong Er thought for a moment and said: "Beautiful ladies and attendants, treasures and silks, you have plenty of them, the king, rare birds and feathers, ivory and animal skins, but also the abundance of the Chu land, where is the Jin country have any rare items to offer to the king?" The king of Chu said, "Your Excellency is too modest. Although you say so, you should show me something, right?"
During the spring and autumn period, Duke Shan of Jin listened to slanderous rumors and killed the crown prince Shen Sheng,
and sent men to arrest Shen Sheng's younger brother Chang'er.
Upon hearing the news, Chang'er fled from the state of Jin and went into exile for more than ten years.
After a lot of hard work, Chang'er came to the state of Chu.
King Cheng of Chu thought that Chang'er would be a great man in the future,
so he welcomed him as a king and treated him like a guest.
One day, the king of Chu hosted a banquet for Chang'er,
and the two of them drank wine and talked in a very cordial atmosphere.
Suddenly, the king of Chu asked Chang'er if you return to Jin one day and become the king,
how should you repay me?
Chang'er thought for a moment, and said beautiful ladies and attendants, treasures and silks, you have plenty of them.
The king, rare birds and feathers, ivory and animal skins, but also the abundance of the Chu land.
Where is the Jin country, have any rare items to offer to the king?
The king of Chu said, your excellency is too modest.
Although you say so, you should show me something right?
Chang'er smiled and replied, if it is thanks to your blessing.
If I can really return to my country to preside over the government,
I would like to be friendly with your country.
If one day there is a war between Jin and Chu, I will order my army to retreat first.
And if I can't get your forgiveness, then I will fight with you again.
Four years later, Chang'er really returned to Jin and became the king of the state,
the famous Duke Wen of Jin in history.
The state of Jin grew stronger and stronger under his rule.
In 633 B.C., the armies of Chu and Jin met in battle.
In order to fulfill his promise, Duke Wen of Jin ordered his army to retreat 90 miles and stationed at Chengpu.
When the Chu army saw the Jin army retreating, they thought the other army was afraid and immediately pursued.
Taking advantage of the weakness of the Chu army's pride and gullibility,
the Jin army concentrated their troops and defeated the Chu army, winning the battle of Chengpu.
When two armies fought, one side retreated.
The situation is roughly two.
One is, the other side is stronger, temporarily avoiding its sharpness.
And the second is to paralyze the other side so that it relaxes its vigilance and plays the role of pride of the enemy.
Subsequently, the other party would be taken by surprise, attacked and defeated in one fell swoop.
The idiom tells people that backing off does not necessarily mean being weak and deceitful.
But, on the contrary, one should be cautious in case of deception.
And when encountering tricky things, knowing how to make a detour and take a step back will still lead to a wider path.
