Stick #76: Between Advance and Retreat (Unfavorable)
进恐有险退有亏，两难之际贵知机。小步试探莫豪赌，稳中求脱是上计。
Plain reading
Advance may bring danger and retreat may bring loss. Test in small steps — do not wager everything. Steady probing is the way to escape safely.
Interpretation
This is an unfavorable lot titled "Between Advance and Retreat." Forward may harm, backward may lose — move by small trial and steady escape. "Small steps, no grand gamble; escape through steadiness" forbids staking all on one throw.
Advice
Test every decision small first — one tenth, one hundredth — then scale if results allow. Set maximum acceptable loss and never cross it.
From Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Zhuge Liang's Empty City Stratagem tested stillness; Sima Yi suspected and withdrew — small probing can escape peril.