明修栈道，暗度陈仓 Repair the road openly, secretly cross Chen Cang
Explanation
比喻用假象迷惑敌人，暗中进行行动达到目的的策略。
A metaphor for a strategy in which one confuses the enemy with deception and secretly acts to achieve the goal.
Origin Story
公元前206年，项羽灭秦后自立为西楚霸王。刘邦被封为汉王，屯兵汉中。汉中与关中之间，有条险峻的栈道。刘邦想攻占关中，但兵力不足，难以直接进攻。谋士张良献计，建议刘邦明修栈道，暗度陈仓。刘邦采纳了计策，一方面在栈道上大张旗鼓地修路，制造声势，迷惑项羽；另一方面，秘密率领精兵，绕道陈仓，奇袭关中。项羽果然上当，认为刘邦不敢从栈道进攻，放松了对陈仓的戒备。刘邦的军队顺利到达陈仓，击败了守军，迅速占领了关中，为日后夺取天下奠定了基础。
In 206 BC, after Xiang Yu destroyed Qin and proclaimed himself the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, Liu Bang was made the King of Han and stationed his troops in Hanzhong. Between Hanzhong and Guanzhong lay a dangerous mountain pass. Liu Bang wanted to conquer Guanzhong, but lacked sufficient troops for a direct assault. His strategist Zhang Liang devised a plan: publicly repair the mountain pass, and secretly march through Chen Cang. Liu Bang adopted the strategy. On one hand, he made a show of repairing the pass, to deceive Xiang Yu. On the other hand, he secretly led elite troops on a detour to Chen Cang, launching a surprise attack on Guanzhong. Xiang Yu fell for the deception, thinking Liu Bang would not dare attack through the pass, and relaxed his guard on Chen Cang. Liu Bang's troops successfully reached Chen Cang, defeated the defenders, and quickly occupied Guanzhong, laying the foundation for his later conquest of the whole kingdom.
Usage
形容用假象迷惑敌人，暗中进行行动达到目的的策略，多用于军事或商业活动。
Describes a strategy of confusing the enemy with deception and acting secretly to achieve the goal. Often used in military or business contexts.
Examples
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他表面上答应了，暗地里却另有打算，真是明修栈道，暗度陈仓。
ta biao mianshang dayingle, andili que ling you dasuan, zhen shi mingxiu zhandao andu chencang
He superficially agreed, but secretly had other plans, a real case of "repairing the road, but secretly crossing Chen Cang".
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公司明面上大力发展新业务，暗地里却在裁员，真是明修栈道，暗度陈仓
gongsi mingmian shang dalili fazhan xin ye wu, andili que zai cai yuan, zhen shi mingxiu zhandao andu chencang
The company publicly promotes new businesses, but secretly lays off employees - a classic example of "repairing the road, but secretly crossing Chen Cang"