Retreating Three Stages
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
When Chong'er was in exile, he received kindness from the King of Chu and promised that if they ever went to war, he would retreat ninety li (three stages). Later, in the Battle of Chengpu, the Jin army took the initiative to retreat, both fulfilling the promise (trust) and luring the enemy in (strategy).
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Strategic buffer / reputation asset. In competition, taking the initiative to yield is sometimes to occupy the moral high ground, or to stretch the battle line to find an opportunity to counterattack. Taking a loss is a tactic; victory is the strategy.
Anchor fast decisions
Proactively retreating ninety li to avoid the enemy's sharp edge and gain strategic buffer (Battle of Chengpu).
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9F%8E%E6%BF%AE%E4%B9%8B%E6%88%98verified
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