Browse reusable Agent Skills, each with a clear purpose and practical guidance.
Use when advising a ruler or selecting a remonstrance strategy. Offers four methods from metaphorical instruction (伊尹) to strategic withdrawal (箕子), with assessment criteria for ruler receptiveness and warning signs of a failed state.
Use when advising leaders on self-discipline, virtue maintenance, or preventing institutional decline. Applies Zhou Gong's teachings to King Cheng with models from Yin dynasty rulers like Zhong Zong, Gao Zong, and Zu Jia to identify habits that sustain or destroy long-term rule.
Use when locating capable individuals who have withdrawn from public life. Covers intelligence gathering, informal approach, and relationship-building with reclusive talent in humble occupations.
Use when advocating for your own inclusion in a mission or opportunity after being overlooked. Applies the 'point in a sheath' (锥处囊中) metaphor — reframing obscurity as lack of opportunity rather than lack of ability, and requesting a chance for talent to emerge.
Use when evaluating siege feasibility or deciding whether to continue besieging a fortified city. Based on Xu Jia's advice against attacking Daliang (大梁) — systematically assessing defender strength, fortification quality, historical precedent, and cost of failure before committing.
Use when establishing control over a newly conquered territory or winning popular support quickly. Simplifies harsh legal codes to three basic laws (约法三章) following Liu Bang's model at Xianyang to build rapid legitimacy.
Use when implementing comprehensive reforms to strengthen a state's governance and external position. Combines internal reforms (legal codification, agriculture/weaving promotion, military readiness) with external horizontal alliance strategy (连衡) from Shang Yang's model.
Use when building a coalition to encircle and weaken a superior adversary through indirect means. Based on Feng Tong's advice to Goujian: conceal intentions, ally with enemy's rivals (Qi, Chu, Jin), flatter the enemy into arrogance, and strike when they are overextended on multiple fronts.
Use when forming military coalitions against a dominant adversary or recruiting allies for multi-front warfare. Analyzes enemy grievances to identify partners like 九江王黥布, 彭越, and 韩信, then coordinates simultaneous pressure to prevent force concentration.
Use when analyzing historical power transitions through targeted action, such as Prince Guang's (King Helu) removal of King Liao. Covers legitimacy claims, agent recruitment, timing, operational security, and consolidation.