Stratagem 5: Loot a Burning House — When a country is beset by internal conflicts, when disease and famine ravage the population, when corruption and crime are rampant, then it will be unable to deal with an external threat. This is the time to attack.

Stratagem 6: Make a Sound in the East, Then Strike in the West — In any battle, the element of surprise can provide an overwhelming advantage. Even when face to face with an enemy, surprise can still be employed by attacking where they least expect it.

Stratagem 7: Create Something from Nothing — You use the same feint twice. Having reacted to the first and often the second as well, the enemy will be hesitant to react to a third feint. Therefore the third feint is the actual attack, catching the enemy off guard.