When the exiled Prince Chong'er of Jin was living in the state of Chu, King Cheng of Chu treated him with great generosity. The king asked: "If you return to Jin one day, how will you repay me?"
Chong'er answered: "If by your grace I return to Jin, and our two states ever go to war, I will order my army to retreat three she — ninety li — as a sign of respect. If even that is not enough to avoid battle, then I shall take up my whip and bow, and face you on the field."
Years later, Chong'er became Duke Wen of Jin. At the Battle of Chengpu, when Jin faced Chu's army, he ordered his forces to retreat ninety li — fulfilling his promise made years ago in exile. The Chu generals, seeing the retreat, assumed Jin was cowardly and pursued eagerly. They drove straight into a devastating ambush. Chu was crushed, and Duke Wen became the hegemon of all the states.
晋公子重耳流亡楚国时，楚成王以厚礼相待。成王问：「你若回到晋国，用什么来报答我？」重耳答：「若托您的福回到晋国，将来晋楚交战，我必退避三舍。若仍不得免，我将左手执鞭执弓，右边挂着弓袋箭袋，与君周旋。」
后来重耳果然成为晋文公。晋楚城濮之战中，晋军后退九十里（三舍），兑现了当年的承诺。楚军以为晋军怯懦，追击不止，结果中了晋军埋伏，大败而归。
晋公子重耳流亡楚国时，楚成王以厚礼相待。成王问：「你若回到晋国，用什么来报答我？」重耳答：「若托您的福回到晋国，将来晋楚交战，我必退避三舍。若仍不得免，我将左手执鞭执弓，右边挂着弓袋箭袋，与君周旋。」
后来重耳果然成为晋文公。晋楚城濮之战中，晋军后退九十里（三舍），兑现了当年的承诺。楚军以为晋军怯懦，追击不止，结果中了晋军埋伏，大败而归。
Reflection & Analysis · 寓意解读
Core Wisdom
A promise kept is a weapon sharpened. The man who honors his word — even when it costs him — builds a reputation that defeats enemies before the battle begins.
The phrase "退避三舍" (retreating three she) became an idiom for yielding or making concessions. But the deeper lesson is about strategic integrity: Duke Wen's retreat was not weakness — it was a promise fulfilled, a trap set, and a reputation cemented.
By retreating, he achieved three things simultaneously: honored his word to the king of Chu, lured the enemy into overconfidence, and demonstrated to all the other states that Jin was both honorable and formidable. The retreat was the victory.