The Timeless Wisdom of Sun Tzu's The Art of War: A Rereading of the Age-Old Work: Content Explained and Contextualized Through the Lens of Artificial Intelligence by Tzu Sun & Harrington Robbie

Author:Tzu, Sun & Harrington, Robbie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7 - Maneuvers

Book content

Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign.

Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must mix and harmonize the different elements before setting up his camp.

After that come tactical maneuvers, of which there is nothing more difficult. The difficulty of tactical maneuvers lies in transforming the tortuous into direct and bad luck into gain.

Thus, taking a long and winding route, after luring the enemy out of the way, and although starting after him, managing to reach the objective before him, shows knowledge of the trick of diversion.

Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an unruly crowd, it is very dangerous.

If you put a fully equipped army on the march to seize an advantage, chances are you'll be too late. On the other hand, detaching a flying column for this purpose implies the sacrifice of its baggage and stores.

Thus, if you order your men to wrap up their coats and make forced marches without stopping day or night, covering twice the usual distance at once, making a hundred li to gain an advantage, the leaders of all three of your divisions will fall into your hands. of the enemy.

The strongest men will be at the front, the exhausted will be left behind, and with this plan, only a tenth of your army will reach its destination.

If you march fifty li to overcome the enemy, you will lose the leader of your first division, and only half your force will reach the objective.

If you march thirty li with the same objective, two-thirds of your army will arrive.

We may then conclude that an army without its baggage train is lost; without provisions he is lost; without supply bases you are lost.

We cannot enter into alliances until we know the plans of our neighbors.

We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country—its mountains and forests, its traps and precipices, its swamps and marshes.

We will be unable to take advantage of the natural advantages unless we make use of local guides.

In war, practice deception and you will succeed. Only move if there is a real advantage to be gained.

Whether to concentrate or divide your troops must be decided by circumstances.

Let your swiftness be like the wind, your compactness like the forest.

In invasions and looting be like fire, in immobility like a mountain.

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like lightning.

When you plunder a field, let the spoil be divided among your men; When you capture new territory, divide it into lots for the benefit of the soldiery.

Consider and deliberate before making a move.

He will win over those who have learned the art of diversion. Such is the art of maneuvers.

The Army Management Book says: On the battlefield, the spoken word does not go far enough: hence the institution of gongs and drums. Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly enough: hence the institution of flags and pennants.

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