Stratagem 19: Removing the Firewood from Under the Pot (釜底抽薪)

Core Definition

核心释义

Undermine the enemy's source of strength. Instead of confronting the problem directly, eliminate what sustains it.

不敌其力，而消其势，兑下乾上之象。

Historical Origin

历史典故

The Classic Story

Rather than fighting Cao Cao's massive army directly, Zhou Yu attacked their supply lines and spread disease among their northern troops unfamiliar with southern waters. By eliminating the foundation of Cao Cao's power, the coalition neutralized the threat.

周瑜不与曹操大军正面交锋，而是切断其补给线，利用北方士兵不习水战的特点散布疫病。通过消除曹操力量的根基，联军化解了威胁。

Modern Applications

现代应用

◆Cutting off a competitor's key suppliers instead of fighting them in the market
◆Addressing root causes of problems rather than symptoms
◆Acquiring a startup's key talent to undermine their innovation capacity
◆Changing the rules of the game instead of playing by the competitor's rules

Supplementary Case Studies

补充案例分析

Netflix vs Blockbuster

Netflix didn't compete with Blockbuster's stores (the fire). It eliminated the need for physical stores (the firewood) through DVD-by-mail and then streaming. Blockbuster's greatest asset became its greatest liability.

Netflix没有与百视达的门店（火）竞争，而是通过邮寄DVD和流媒体消除了实体店的需求（柴）。百视达最大的资产变成了最大的负担。

Patent Wars as Supply Cuts

When Apple sued Samsung over smartphone patents, the strategy wasn't to win damages — it was to "remove the firewood" by threatening Samsung's supply chain with injunctions. The real target was Samsung's ability to ship products, not the patent fees.

苹果起诉三星智能手机专利时，策略不是赢得赔偿——而是通过禁令威胁三星供应链来"釜底抽薪"。真正的目标是三星的出货能力，而非专利费。