Sun Tzu stresses seizing battlefield initiative: arrive early to stay rested. Skilled generals manipulate foes via lures and threats, exhausting, starving or unsettling the enemy instead of being controlled by them.
Armies can stay orderly amid chaos. Disorder, cowardice and weakness stem from organization, momentum and troop deployment. Skilled generals use false appearances and bait to lure enemies, then await them with solid forces.
Sun Tzu states warfare relies on deception. He lists various deceptive tactics to mislead, lure and weaken foes. Striking the enemy off guard is the core winning secret, which must be kept strictly confidential.