混水摸鱼
Stratagems of Contending · 混战计Exploit confusion and disorder. When multiple parties are in conflict, the resulting chaos creates opportunities.
During the chaotic period after the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang emerged as a relatively minor player but used the widespread confusion and infighting among larger forces to position himself advantageously, eventually founding the Han Dynasty.
Uber entered markets where taxi regulations were fragmented and contested. The "turbid waters" of regulatory confusion allowed Uber to operate in gray areas while incumbents fought regulators. By the time rules were clarified, Uber was entrenched.
While markets were in chaos during the 2008 financial crisis, some hedge funds profited enormously by "fishing in troubled waters" — buying distressed assets at rock-bottom prices from panicked sellers.