26. Point at the mulberry tree, only to curse the locust tree
“Point at the mulberry tree, only to curse the locust tree” is a stratagem where one criticizes faults without naming any names in order to spread a point across. Without passing blame, people are much more willing to acknowledge faults and weaknesses that was made or exposed to. There will be no resentment or anger when using this stratagem so it is a fine way to discipline, warn and control the people.
Another way to use this stratagem is to criticize a person without naming the person, accusing the person who cannot retaliate without facing exposure. Taking offense, the person who retaliate or speaks up is usually the person who is at fault. This stratagem is also a good way to provoke indirectly at people in order to put the blame at the aggressor. That is what it means to “point at the mulberry tree, only to curse the locust tree“.
