A single chart from headquarters can decide the outcome a thousand miles distant.
Tips
history
From Sima Qian's 《史记·高祖本纪》 (Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Gao Zu). After founding the Han dynasty, Liu Bang credits Zhang Liang (张良): 『夫运筹策帷帐之中,决胜于千里之外,吾不如子房』— 'planning strategy within the command tent and deciding victory a thousand li away — here I am no match for Zifang.' Paired with the chengyu 运筹帷幄.
usage
Applied to anyone who wins contests through distant, off-site strategy — military, corporate, geopolitical. Almost always pairs with 运筹帷幄之中.