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.
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.
Wise generals should forage supplies from the enemy to cut huge transport costs. Motivate troops with rewards to fight bravely. Reuse captured chariots and treat prisoners well to grow stronger after defeating foes.
Sun Tzu argues that one must recognize war’s harms to grasp its benefits. Wise generals source weapons at home and seize grain from enemies. Long-distance grain transport drains civilian and national resources severely in wartime.
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.
This opening part of The Art of War’s Chapter Two illustrates the huge daily costs of raising a large army. Sun Tzu reminds rulers and generals that warfare drains resources heavily, warning against prolonged military campaigns.