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Story collection

🏆 Winning Stratagems (胜战计)

Six guided culture readings for learners supported at HSK 1. The complete story text is HSK 3+, with pinyin, English, pre-teaching, and quizzes.

6 stories
Supports HSK 1Text HSK 3+

Deceive the Heavens to Cross the Ocean

瞒天过海

A clever general hides the sea from his king so the army can cross. This is the first of the Thirty-Six Stratagems: 瞒天过海.

4 min30 wordsNot started
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Supports HSK 1Text HSK 3+

Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao

围魏救赵

Instead of rushing to help, Sun Bin attacks the enemy's home, forcing them to leave. This is stratagem two: 围魏救赵.

4 min25 wordsNot started
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Supports HSK 1Text HSK 3+

Kill with a Borrowed Knife

借刀杀人

Cao Cao wants to silence a rude scholar but fears blame, so he sends the man to a hot-tempered warlord, who kills him. This is stratagem three: 借刀杀人.

3 min29 wordsNot started
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Supports HSK 1Text HSK 3+

Wait at Ease for the Exhausted Enemy

以逸待劳

General Wang Jian lets his army rest while the enemy grows tired, then attacks. Stratagem four is 以逸待劳.

5 min26 wordsNot started
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Supports HSK 1Text HSK 3+

Loot a Burning House

趁火打劫

When Yuan Shao's sons turn on each other, Cao Cao takes the chance to attack and wins the north. Stratagem five, 趁火打劫, shows how chaos can be an opportunity.

4 min25 wordsNot started
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Supports HSK 1Text HSK 3+

Make a Sound in the East, Strike in the West

声东击西

Han Xin is loud in the east so enemies look there, then crosses the river in the west. Stratagem six is 声东击西.

5 min24 wordsNot started
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