Cryptocurrency Exchange - Detailed Explanation of "The Art of War" - The War Situation Chapter

Sun Tzu said:

Managing a large troop is the same as managing a small one; the key is understanding the difference in organization and personnel. Commanding a large army or a small unit follows the same principles; grasping the structure and issuing appropriate orders suffice. The commander of the three armies, capable of making them stand firm against the enemy without defeat, relies on the clever use of tactics and the interplay of strange and regular strategies. Attacking the enemy as if striking an egg with a stone exemplifies the effect of attacking the虚实 (empty and solid).

In general, warfare involves combining正兵 (regular forces) and奇兵 (surprise forces) to achieve victory. Therefore, those skilled in employing奇兵 have tactics as limitless as天地 (heaven and earth), inexhaustible like a river. Repeating this cycle, like the movement of the sun and moon; returning again and again, like the changing seasons. Musical sounds are limited to five tones, but their variations are endless, pleasing the ear beyond measure; colors are limited to five hues, yet their transformations are boundless, captivating the eye; flavors are limited to five tastes, but their changes are infinite, delighting the palate;战势 (battle formations) are based on奇正 (strange and regular), and their transformations are inexhaustible. The interplay of奇 and正 is like a continuous cycle, with no beginning or end—who can exhaust it?

Rapid flowing water can carry away stones—this is the concept of“势” (势). Swift predatory birds, striking and destroying prey, represent短促的“节” (short and urgent rhythm). Thus, a good strategist creates a险 (dangerous)势 and short节 (tempo). The势 is like a弩 (crossbow) fully drawn, ready to fire; the节 is like releasing the trigger.

Flags and banners are intertwined, soldiers and horses are in chaos, yet fighting within disorder without losing formation; 混沌 (chaos) and模糊 (fuzziness) can still be arranged into a tight formation that cannot be defeated. Chaos arises from discipline; cowardice from勇敢; weakness from strength. Organization and disorder depend on the quality of arrangement;勇敢 and cowardice depend on the状 (situation); strength and weakness depend on the comparison of力量 (power). Therefore, those who excel at manipulating the enemy’s generals and commanders can create an illusion, causing the enemy to be deceived; giving the enemy a small advantage will tempt them to attack greedily; using small gains to lure the enemy, deploying elite troops to wait for their trap.

Skilled commanders always seek victory from势, not relying solely on subordinates. They can select suitable personnel and skillfully utilize the势. Those who master the use of势 command their armies as if rolling a stone or木 (wood) down a mountain. The nature of wood and stone is to remain still in平坦 (flat) and安全 (safe) places, but to roll when placed on险 (dangerous) or斜 (inclined) slopes; square objects tend to stay still, while圆 (round) objects roll freely.

Thus, the advantageous势 created by a skilled commander is like a圆石 (round stone) rolling down a千仞 (thousand-foot) mountain. This is what is called“势” (势).