This idiom is used metaphorically to mean enticing an enemy away from his safe haven in order to put him at a disadvantage.
東漢末期,北邊羌人叛亂。朝廷派虞詡平定叛亂,虞詡的部隊(duì)在陳倉(cāng)崤谷一帶受到羌人阻截。這時(shí),羌人士氣正旺,又占據(jù)有利地勢(shì),虞詡不能強(qiáng)攻,又不能繞道,真是進(jìn)退兩難。虞詡決定騙羌人離開堅(jiān)固的據(jù)點(diǎn),他命令部隊(duì)停止前進(jìn),就地扎營(yíng)。對(duì)外散布行軍受阻,向朝延請(qǐng)派增援部隊(duì)。羌人見虞詡已停止前進(jìn),等待增援部隊(duì),就放松了戒備,紛紛離開據(jù)點(diǎn),到附近劫掠財(cái)物去了。
虞詡見敵人離開了據(jù)點(diǎn),下令部隊(duì)急行軍,日夜兼程,每日超過百里,通過山谷。他命令在急行軍時(shí),沿途增加灶的數(shù)量,今日增灶,明日增灶,敵人誤以為朝廷援軍已到,自己的力量又已經(jīng)分散,不敢輕易出擊。虞詡順利地通過陳倉(cāng)崤谷,轉(zhuǎn)入外線作戰(zhàn),羌人在時(shí)間和空間上都轉(zhuǎn)入被動(dòng)局面,不久羌人叛亂被平定。