Chinese Idiom: 声东击西 (Sheng Dong Ji Xi)
English Translation: Feinting East, Attacking West
pīn yīn: shēng dōng jī xī
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a military tactic or strategy where one feigns an attack in one direction to divert attention while launching a real attack in another direction. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any situation where someone creates a distraction or diversion to achieve a hidden goal.
Historical Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms (《三国志》), specifically from the Book of Wei (《魏书》) in the biography of Cao Cao (曹操).
Idiom Story:
The story takes place during the famous Battle of Guandu in the year 200 AD, a pivotal confrontation during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. At this time, the powerful warlord Yuan Shao, representing the interests of the northern aristocracy, commanded a massive army to challenge Cao Cao, who controlled the central plains. Yuan Shao’s forces vastly outnumbered Cao Cao’s, creating a seemingly insurmountable challenge for the latter.
Yuan Shao’s campaign began with an order for his general, Yan Liang, to lead an army across the Yellow River and capture Baima (present-day Huaxian in Henan Province), a strategically important location under Cao Cao’s control. As the two sides prepared for the inevitable clash, Cao Cao’s officers were understandably anxious. They saw Yuan Shao’s numerical superiority and vast territory as a significant threat, doubting their chances of victory.
However, Cao Cao, known for his keen strategic mind, was not intimidated. He reassured his men, explaining that despite Yuan Shao’s apparent advantages, he was a flawed leader. Cao Cao pointed out that Yuan Shao was ambitious but lacked wisdom, appeared fierce but was actually cowardly, and had many soldiers but was poor at organizing and deploying them effectively. His generals were arrogant, and his commands were inconsistent, meaning that Yuan Shao’s strength could be turned against him.
To counter Yuan Shao’s overwhelming force, Cao Cao’s strategist, Xun You, proposed a plan. He suggested that Cao Cao feign an attack on Yuan Shao’s western flank by marching towards Yanjin (present-day Xinxiang in Henan Province) as if preparing to cross the Yellow River and strike Yuan Shao’s rear. Xun You predicted that Yuan Shao would be compelled to divert troops to the west in response. Once Yuan Shao’s forces were divided, Cao Cao could swiftly turn back east and launch a surprise attack on Baima, catching Yan Liang off guard.
Cao Cao agreed with Xun You’s plan and executed the “feinting east, attacking west” strategy. He led his troops towards Yanjin, as predicted, Yuan Shao took the bait and sent reinforcements to defend against the perceived threat in the west. With Yuan Shao’s forces distracted, Cao Cao quickly doubled back with a light cavalry force and attacked Baima from the east.
At Baima, Cao Cao’s army engaged Yuan Shao’s forces in battle. Among Cao Cao’s troops was the famed warrior Guan Yu, who had been captured by Cao Cao but refused to abandon his loyalty to Liu Bei. Seeing an opportunity to repay Cao Cao’s kindness, Guan Yu volunteered to confront Yan Liang directly. In a remarkable display of martial prowess, Guan Yu charged into the thick of the battle and killed Yan Liang, delivering a significant blow to Yuan Shao’s campaign.
Cao Cao’s successful use of the “feinting east, attacking west” tactic allowed him to win the first phase of the Battle of Guandu, setting the stage for his eventual victory over Yuan Shao.
This tactic, later documented in military texts like Du You’s Tongdian (《通典》), became a classic example of strategic deception in warfare, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and psychological manipulation in achieving victory. The phrase “声东击西” has since been used to describe any situation where a diversion is used to conceal one’s true intentions.
