SUN TZU

The Art of War! 

War is a matter of vital importance to the state!

It is a matter of life and death, survival or ruin! 

Keys:

• Deception
• Wisdom
• Strength

Understand the art of wars lessons, ignore them and you will fight in darkness.

No matter where your battle-field, you will prevail. 

1. If instructions are not clear and commands are not explicit. It is the fault of the general that the orders were not obeyed. If the orders are clear. It is the fault of the subordinate officers that the orders are not obeyed.
   1. War is a matter of life and death. Once this is understood, everyone from the leader to the individual soldier will be motivated to win.
2. Know your enemy and know yourself and in 100 battles you will never be in peril.
   1. To win 100 battles is not the height of skill – Subdue the enemy without fighting is.
3. Avoid what is strong, Attack what is weak. Don’t care about glory – Fight to Win.
4. Achieve your goals with minimum amount of resources and with a minimum amount of destruction.

·         Maneuver

·         Surprise

·         Deceptions

5.        It is more important to out think your enemy than to out fight him.

6.        In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power.

7.        Let your plans be as dark as night – then strike like a thunderbolt.

8.        In battle use a direct attack to engage and an indirect attack to win.

9.        Weather, terrain, leadership, military doctrine and most importantly moral influence. Must have the people behind him or the war will fail. The will of the people must be maintained.

10.         To move your enemy, entice him with something he is certain to take.

11.         Put the army in the face of death, where there is no escape. And they will not flee or be afraid. There is nothing they cannot achieve.

12.         All warfare is deception.

·         It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to spy against you and bribe them to serve you.

·         The way a wise general can achieve greatness beyond ordinary men is through foreknowledge.

·         When a falcon strikes and breaks the back of its prey, it is because of timing. When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of momentum.

·         It is essential for victory that generals are unconstrained by their leaders.

·         Make your enemy prepare on his left and he will be weak on his right. 

·         Deception

·         Foreknowledge

·         Superior Command Structure 

13.         The winning Army realizes the conditions for victory first, then fights. The losing army fights first then seeks victory

14.         No nation has ever benefited from prolonged war.

15.         Operation Developments cannot drive strategy! Goal orientation drives strategy!

16.         Move only when you see an advantage and there is something to gain. Only fight if a position is critical.

17.         When the enemy occupies high ground, do not confront him. If he attacks down hill do not oppose him.

18.         There are some armies that should not be fought. Some ground that should not be contested.

19.         Use attack to exploit a victory. Never use attack to rescue a defeat.

20.         Always use the intellect, rather than force. Never attack head long into an enemy force unless you can do otherwise.

21.         When troops flee, are insubordinate collapse or are routed in battle – it is the fault of the generals. Generals must be intelligent and cunning – Never rash or arrogant.

1.  
   • Preparation
   • Deception
   • Indirect attacks 

Sometimes the best way to win is not to fight at all. This is the Ultimate Secret. War can be a disaster. The angry can be made to be happy again, but the dead cannot be brought back to life.