The essence of "watching a fire from the other side of the river" lies in how to ignite the fire and the control of the timing. The most flammable place must be found and ignited first;

隔岸观火的精髓在于如何点火以及对时机的把握，首先要找出易燃点并将其点燃，然后静观其变。

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"In essence, the live-fire ranges are protection for the tortoises, " he said, looking at a patch of ground where bullets often rain down but rarely hit the burrowing reptile.

WSJ: An Army of Biologists Are on Nature Patrol at Military Bases