This article analyzes Sun Tzu’s rule valuing swift victories over drawn-out wars. Long campaigns drain funds, troops and invite rival invasions. King Helü’s prolonged occupation of Chu illustrates the peril of delay, enabling Yue’s sneak attack and Wu’s costly retreat.
This article explains Sun Tzu’s temple calculation principle: thorough pre-war planning secures victory. It contrasts Wu Zixu’s well-devised exhaustion strategy against Chu with Cao Jiu’s reckless, unplanned battle defeat, extending the wisdom to modern business and life decisions.