Troops grow united when marching deep into enemy lands. Cut off retreat to stir desperate bravery. Sustain soldiers, hide stratagems, ban doubts and superstitions; trapped troops will fight fearlessly without strict commands.
Sun Tzu puts forward seven criteria to compare rival sides, including virtuous rulers, capable generals and disciplined troops, to judge victory or defeat. He also notes leaving or staying based on whether a general adopts his strategies.
Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 一鼓作气 Pinyin: yī gǔ zuò qì Literal Meaning: Rally courage at the first beat of the war drum; Using the first drumroll to raise morale and launch an attack Figurative Meaning: Press ahead and finish a task in one go while enthusiasm and energy are at their peak. Cultural Background…
The story of “quenching thirst by looking for plums,” mentioned by Cao Cao in Chapter 21 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, is a classic example of psychological mastery in the novel. It illustrates how a leader can use mental stimulation to overcome physical limitations during crises.