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Ancient Military Strategy Eighteen To Catch Bandits, First Catch the Ringleader

Crush the enemy’s main force and capture its chief to disintegrate its body. A dragon compelled to fight on land is faced with an impasse.

This expression is taken from a poem by the Tang poet Du Fu:

To draw a bow, draw one that is powerful; 
To pick arrows, take those that are long;
To shoot horsemen, first shoot their steeds;
To catch bandits, first catch the ringleader.

The word bandit here is a derogatory name for enemy forces that will scatter and flee after their leader is captured. When fighting such an enemy, one my simply catch the ringleader, and his followers will succumb.
 

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