打草惊蛇
Stratagems of Attacking · 攻战计Probe the enemy to reveal their disposition. Test their defenses to understand their strengths and weaknesses before committing.
Wang Lu, a magistrate, was corrupt. When his subordinate was investigated, he wrote: "Striking the grass startles the snake" — meaning probing one area can reveal hidden problems elsewhere. The phrase became a strategy of probing to force the enemy to reveal themselves.
Short sellers like Muddy Waters Research publish probing reports on suspected fraud companies. The "grass striking" (initial probe) often causes the "snake" (hidden problems) to reveal itself through panicked responses, delayed filings, or sudden executive departures.
Before major battles, commanders send small probing attacks to reveal enemy positions. The Battle of Gettysburg began when Confederate scouts "struck the grass" by entering the town to forage, triggering a chain of events that revealed the full Union army's position.