There are five ways to foresee victory.Those who know when to fight and when not to fight will win.Those who know how to employ large or small forces properly will win.Those whose superiors and subordinates share one will will win.Those who meet the unprepared enemy with full preparation will win.Those with capable generals who…
Generals are vital to a state. Rulers may ruin the army by wrongly ordering advances or retreats, interfering in military affairs and commands. Confused troops will invite enemy attacks and lead to defeat.
Skilled warriors win full victories with minimal losses via strategies instead of direct fights. Sun Tzu also offers clear tactics: surround, assault, divide, fight, defend or flee based on troop strength, warning weak forces against stubborn resistance.
Sun Tzu ranks warfare tactics: defeating enemies’ strategies tops the list, followed by breaking alliances and field battles. Sieging cities is the worst choice, for it costs massive time, manpower and causes heavy troop losses.
Han Xin launched a brilliant northern campaign, conquering five states via ingenious tactics like the back-water battle and river diversion. This campaign isolated Xiang Yu, shifted the war tide and laid the foundation for the Western Han Dynasty.
Sun Tzu states preserving the enemy’s state and troops intact is ideal in warfare. Winning every battle is not perfect. The ultimate mastery lies in subduing the enemy completely without engaging in combat.
Sun Tzu stresses that war prioritizes swift victory over prolonged fighting. A general who masters warfare holds people’s fates and determines the safety or peril of the entire nation.
Sun Tzu argues prolonged warfare wears down troops, drains national resources and invites rival invasions. He insists swift victory is always preferable, for no long war can ever bring lasting benefits to a state.