13. Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake
“Beat the grass to startle the snake” is where you try to stir your enemies up to see how they would react. Test your enemies to know their characteristics and their weaknesses. Their behaviors and actions will be a revelation on their upcoming strategy, giving you a way to counterattack it. Arousal and suspicion of the enemies can also disrupt their own strategy and thinking.
There’s another popular saying where “do not beat the grass to startle the snake”. This phrase means that any rash action will give your position or intentions away to the enemy. This will in turn lead to a defeat since you have revealed yourself to the enemy. “Beat the grass to startle the snake or do not beat the grass to startle the snake” depends on the situation and timing.
