The Dry Stone

Commander Hayes and his battered unit were hopelessly surrounded in a deep canyon outpost. Rations were gone, and morale was shattered. Under the cover of darkness, a stealth drone dropped a tiny capsule from high command. The men desperately tore it open, expecting a rescue plan or emergency supplies. Instead, they found no note, no coordinates—only a single, completely dry, smooth river stone. While his men despaired, Hayes simply smiled. At dawn, he ordered his troops to abandon their fortified positions, leave their last remaining food behind, and immediately climb up to the barren, exposed mountain ridges. The enemy eagerly swarmed into the canyon to claim the outpost and the feast. Three days later, Hayes wiped out the entire enemy army without firing a single shot.