Britain developed a coordinated grand strategy for 'elephant hunting' (defeating continental powers) involving six rules: (1) protect trade to fund everything; (2) blockade enemies' trade to weaken them; (3) arm and fund continental allies fighting the main front; (4) create peripheral theaters where sea power has advantage and force the enemy to divide forces; (5) avoid direct engagement with the enemy's main army until very late in the war; and (6) only engage the main army late when the enemy is exhausted.