Cryptocurrency Exchange - Detailed Explanation of "The Art of War" - The Military Struggle Chapter

Sun Tzu said:

According to the general principles of warfare, the commander receives orders from the ruler, gathers the people, forms the army, and advances to confront the enemy. Among these processes, nothing is more difficult than争夺先机之利 (seizing the advantage first). The hardest part of争夺先机之利 is turning a distant, winding path into a straight one, and transforming disadvantages into advantages. By taking a detour and诱敌以利 (luring the enemy with benefits), starting after the enemy but arriving first, this is the strategy of knowing how to turn indirect into direct tactics.

Therefore,军争 (military competition) has both benefits and dangers. If you bring all your equipment and supplies to争利 (seek profit), your march will be slow; if you abandon heavy gear to争利, your supplies will be lost. Thus, rolling up armor and rushing forward, day and night without rest, doubling the pace, traveling a hundred miles to争利, can result in capturing three generals—strongest first, exhausted last. The law is that only one-tenth will arrive; at fifty miles, the leading general may be defeated—half will arrive; at thirty miles, two-thirds will arrive. Therefore, without supplies, the army perishes; without food, it perishes; without accumulated resources, it perishes.

Those who do not understand the political strategies of the feudal lords cannot plan外交 (diplomacy); those unfamiliar with山林 (mountains and forests),险阻 (dangerous terrain),沮泽 (marshes and water obstacles) cannot march effectively; those who do not use乡导 (local guides) cannot gain terrain advantages. War relies on deception,利益 (benefits),分散 (dispersion), and和 (harmony) as methods of变 (change). Its speed is like the wind; its steadiness like the forest; its侵掠 (plundering) like fire; its immovability like mountains; its concealment like阴 (shade); its suddenness like雷震 (thunder). To plunder villages and divide forces, to expand territory and share利益, to悬权 (suspend authority) and act—these are the principles of victory. Those who先知迂直之计 (know the stratagems of indirect and direct tactics) will win; this is the law of争军 (military competition).

The “Military Governance” states: “When words cannot be heard, use drums and gongs; when sights cannot be seen, use banners and flags.” Drums and gongs, banners and flags, serve to unify the ears and eyes of the people. When the people are unified,勇者 (the brave) cannot advance alone, and怯者 (the timid) cannot retreat alone. This is the method of mobilizing the masses. Therefore, in night battles, drums and gongs are used more; in daytime battles, banners and flags are more common—these are to change the perceptions of the troops.

The morale of the three armies can be seized; the hearts of the generals can be captured. Thus, early in the day, morale is high; by evening, it wanes; and by night, it returns. A good strategist avoids the enemy’s锐气 (sharp momentum) and strikes when their惰归 (laziness and retreat) occurs—this is managing morale. Use order to counter chaos; tranquility to counter disturbance—this is managing the mind. Use proximity to wait for distant enemies; rest to wait for疲劳 (exhaustion); satiation to wait for hunger—this is managing physical strength. Do not challenge正正之旗 (the upright banners); do not attack堂堂之阵 (the imposing formations)—these are methods of managing变 (change).

Therefore, the principles of warfare are: avoid向高陵 (approaching high ridges); avoid背丘 (backing hills); avoid跟踪假败退 (pursuing feigned retreat); do not攻锐卒 (attack the elite troops); do not食饵兵 (consume bait troops); do not遏回撤 (block retreat); leave gaps when围师 (besieging the army); do not逼迫穷寇 (force the desperate enemy)—these are the laws of warfare.