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MENTAL MODEL · M1671

Borrow a Road to Conquer Guo

Borrow a Road to Conquer Guo
BusinessHigh supportStrategic Management
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-28

CORE DEFINITION

Borrow a Road to Conquer Guo is the 24th stratagem of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. During the Spring and Autumn period, the state of Yu was in internal turmoil, and the Duke of Guo led troops to help Yu quell the rebellion, making Yu and Guo brotherly city-states. The state of Jin wanted to attack Guo by borrowing a road through Yu. Duke Xian of Jin bribed the Duke of Yu with beautiful jade, fine horses, and beautiful women, so the Duke of Yu agreed. After Jin destroyed Guo, on its return it also destroyed Yu. Later, it refers to a scheme to destroy someone under the pretext of borrowing a road. Also known as 'Borrowing a Road to Destroy Guo'. Between two great powers, when the enemy coerces one to submit, I use this to my advantage. When in difficulty, words are not believed.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Borrow a Road to Conquer Guo is the 24th stratagem of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. During the Spring and Autumn period, the state of Yu was in internal turmoil, and the Duke of Guo led troops to help Yu quell the rebellion, making Yu and Guo brotherly city-states. The state of Jin wanted to attack Guo by borrowing a road through Yu. Duke Xian of Jin bribed the Duke of Yu with beautiful jade, fine horses, and beautiful women, so the Duke of Yu agreed. After Jin destroyed Guo, on its return it also destroyed Yu. Later, it refers to a scheme to destroy someone under the pretext of borrowing a road. Also known as 'Borrowing a Road to Destroy Guo'. Between two great powers, when the enemy coerces one to submit, I use this to my advantage. When in difficulty, words are not believed.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Exploit the other party's trust in 'short-term common interests' to enter their defensive depth under the pretext of borrowing a road; after destroying the third party, on the return trip, take advantage of the favorable position already occupied and the other party's lack of vigilance to annex the one who lent the road. The essence is that 'transitional cooperation' is transformed into a 'strategic corridor'—once the corridor is opened, the original ally has no defensible position geographically or in negotiations.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%81%87%E9%81%93%E4%BC%90%E8%99%A2ZH · Explicit
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