迅雷不及掩耳

From The Six Strategies:

智者從之而不釋，巧者一决而不猶豫。是以疾雷不及掩耳，迅電不及瞑目。赴之若驚，用之若狂，當之者破，近之者亡，孰能禦之？ [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]

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智者从之而不释，巧者一决而不犹豫。是以疾雷不及掩耳，迅电不及瞑目。赴之若惊，用之若狂，当之者破，近之者亡，孰能御之？ [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

From: Six Secret Teachings, c. 475 – 221 BCE

Zhìzhě cóng zhī ér bù shì, qiǎo zhě yī jué ér bù yóuyù. Shìyǐ jí léi bùjí yǎn ěr, xùn diàn bùjí míngmù. Fù zhī ruò jīng, yòng zhī ruò kuáng, dāng zhī zhě pò, jìn zhī zhě wáng, shú néng yù zhī? [Pinyin]

The wise take and never lose the advantage, and the skilful are decisive without any hesitation. In this way, the army is swift as a sudden clap of thunder or a flash of lightning. They advance like a startled horse, and fight as if deranged. Those who are in their way shall be destroyed, and those who approach them will be defeated. Who can withstand such an attack!

Alternatively, from Huainanzi:

擊其猶猶，陵其與與，疾雷不及塞耳，疾霆不暇掩目。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]

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击其犹犹，陵其与与，疾雷不及塞耳，疾霆不暇掩目。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

From: Huainanzi, 2^nd century BCE

Jī qí yóuyóu, líng qí yùyù, jí léi bùjí sè ěr, jí tíng bùxiá yǎn mù. [Pinyin]

Attack the enemy troops in a quandary like a sudden thunderclap or a lightning bolt, giving them no time to cover up their ears and eyes.

迅雷不及掩耳

1. as sudden as lightning