In the foundational chapter of The Art of War, Sun Tzu articulated a profound operational principle: “When the strategic advantages are assessed and the plan is adopted, one must then create a favorable strategic momentum to assist in external operations. Momentum means adapting to advantageous circumstances to exercise flexible control.”
This passage reveals a core truth about warfare: once a grand strategy is established, the immediate task for both the strategist and the sovereign is to cultivate a favorable external strategic posture. This posture may appear disconnected from direct military engagements on the battlefield; it often encompasses political maneuvers, diplomatic alliances, economic preparations, logistical networks, and even psychological or intelligence warfare. Step by step, these external efforts accumulate to form an overarching strategic momentum. Ultimately, the general’s role on the battlefield is merely to deliver the final, decisive blow.
The Blueprint of “Befriending the Distant and Attacking the Near”
The most brutal and historically consequential conflict in the pre-Qin period, the Battle of Changping, serves as the perfect illustration of this philosophy. While the legendary general Bai Qi is often credited with annihilating 400,000 Zhao soldiers, the true mastermind behind this grand strategy was Fan Ju. Originally from the state of Wei, Fan Ju fled to Qin after facing persecution. He presented King Zhaoxiang of Qin with a revolutionary grand strategy: “Befriend the distant states and attack the neighboring ones.” Prior to this, Qin’s strategy was to attack the distant state of Qi, crossing over the neighboring states of Han, Zhao, and Wei. Fan Ju advised the king to form alliances with the distant but powerful states of Qi and Chu, while focusing military efforts on the neighboring states. Among them, Wei was relatively weak, and Han was the weakest, making them the primary targets. Qin’s first objective was to seize Shangdang, a strategic highland atop the Taihang Mountains, serving as a springboard into the Central Plains.
The Spark of Conflict and the Stalemate
Bai Qi successfully severed the connection between Shangdang and the capital of Han, prompting the Han ruler to offer the territory to Qin. However, the local governor of Shangdang, despising Qin’s ruthless reputation, instead surrendered the territory to Zhao. The young and ambitious King of Zhao, eager to assert his military might, accepted the land, sparking a massive war between Qin and Zhao. Initially, Zhao dispatched the veteran general Lian Po, who adopted a highly effective defensive strategy. He constructed a hundred-mile stone wall, holding the high ground and refusing to engage in open battle. For over a year, the Qin army made no progress.
Shaping the External Momentum
At this critical juncture, King Zhaoxiang of Qin executed a series of masterful external maneuvers to shape the strategic momentum. First, he neutralized potential alliances. Fan Ju personally traveled to the state of Wei, issuing a stark threat: any state that dared to aid Zhao would be the next target of Qin’s annihilation. Terrified, Wei remained paralyzed. Second, he secured the logistical lifeline. Recognizing that a protracted war was a battle of attrition, the king ordered massive grain stockpiles in the Guanzhong region to ensure an uninterrupted supply line for his troops. Third, he waged a brilliant campaign of psychological and intelligence warfare. Qin agents spread rumors in Zhao’s capital, claiming that Qin feared only the young general and theorist Zhao Kuo, and that they would retreat if he were appointed commander. Facing severe supply shortages, the Zhao king fell for the trap and replaced Lian Po with Zhao Kuo.
The Decisive Blow and the Ultimate Execution
As expected, Zhao Kuo abandoned the defensive strategy and launched a reckless offensive, only to be surrounded in a mountain valley by Bai Qi’s forces. Starved and isolated for over forty days, the Zhao army’s fate was sealed. Yet, even at this climax, King Zhaoxiang took personal action to secure absolute victory. He traveled to the frontline in the Henei commandery to personally mobilize the population. He granted a rank promotion to every citizen and conscripted all males over the age of fifteen to block Zhao’s supply routes and prevent any relief forces from arriving. With all escape routes severed, the Zhao army surrendered after their commander was killed.
The Grandmaster of Momentum
Viewed through the lens of Sun Tzu’s philosophy, Bai Qi was merely the executor of a grander design. The true victory belonged to King Zhaoxiang, who masterfully shaped the strategic momentum. He ensured that the war was not confined to the battlefield but extended comprehensively into politics, economics, diplomacy, and human psychology. By meticulously preparing the external environment, he laid an unshakeable foundation for the frontline victory. This is the ultimate essence of Sun Tzu’s wisdom: “When the strategic advantages are assessed and the plan is adopted, one must then create a favorable strategic momentum to assist in external operations.”
Leave a Reply