also: さりゃく
noun
Archaic term for a plan, tactic, or strategy. Not used in modern Japanese; encountered only in historical or classical texts.
古い軍記物には「作略」という言葉が戦術の意味で出てくることがある。
In old war tales, the word 作略 sometimes appears meaning a tactic or strategy.
Modern word for scheme or stratagem; shares the reading さくりゃく but is written 策略 and is in common use.
Archaic kanji form; the reading さくりゃく is restricted to this spelling. Rarely encountered in modern texts.
Alternate archaic kanji form with reading さりゃく. Even less common than 作略.
The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 作 (make) and 略 (abbreviation/strategy) suggest a constructed plan or stratagem. The reading さくりゃく is a sound change from さくりゃく.