Hello everyone, this is a continuation of my Art of War review series, the last two days have been rather hectic, but I finally have some free time to write two Steemit articles, and of course: practice the piano. Here is Energy. (Please Note that I typed everything myself, and did NOT copy any online sources, however this is based on the Giles 1910 translation which is in the Public Domain.)
[Image Source: pixabay.com, License: CCO Public Domain]
Art of War original text.
cmp2020 commentary.
Energy
1. Sun Tzu said: The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.
You can accomplish the same goal just as well with limited resources as you can with abundant resources, as long as you stay organized in both cases. This is an example of a hierarchy. (Real world example: In a marching band, the director leads the assistant coaches, they lead the section leaders, and the section leaders lead the other students. Whether the band has a lot of members or a smaller amount of members, does not matter).
2. Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.
Numbers do not matter as long as communication is used in an orderly sense. (Real world example: Whether you're in a big company or a small company does not matter. You always report to a "boss" who knows your job and clearly tells you whether you are achieving efficiency or not).
3. To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy's attack and remain unshaken-this is effected by the science by maneuvers direct and indirect.
When facing a problem either respond with a direct solution, or an indirect solution. (Real world example: When typing number three of this article, the computer deleted all of my commentary. My direct response: Hit control Z as hard and as fast as I can (like Billy Joel does to the piano in the intro of this song) whilst screaming no as loudly as possible, indirect response, the Steemit editor saved it with cookies, so I opened the editor in a new tab, thanks Sun Tzu).
4. That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg-this is effected by the science of weak points and strong.
If you stay organized, communicate, and use direct and indirect responses, your result will be bigger than your competitor's. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your enemy's to achieve this. (Real world example: Because I organized this article, communicated with my dad, and he told me to open a new tab after my direct response, I saved this article, and learned I should probably copy and paste each new section in word pad, so I don't have a heart attack again).
5. In all fighting, the direct response may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.
In all competition, a person who uses a balance of direct and indirect tactics, will surpass the competitor who only uses one or the other. (Real world example: A football team needs to know their plays to win, but they also need players, which requires the coach to recruit).
6. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away but to return once more.
There are many different ways to use indirect tactics, almost infinitely. (Real world example: Besides lecturing, there is nearly an infinite amount of ways for a teacher to get their point across: debates, videos, hands on experiments, etc).
7. There are not more than five musical, yet the combinations of these five gives rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
8. There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen. (sic)
9. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.
10. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack-the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
I guess Sun Tzu didn't realize there are 12 (actually infinite if you include out of tune notes as notes), but I think his point is that you can use limited resources to accomplish nearly anything. (Real world example: There are a few different shapes of legos, but they can be used to build a vast a amount of complex structures).
11. The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle-you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?
When you use direct tactics, you will eventually use indirect to compensate change. When you use indirect, eventually you will need to use direct to compensate change. (Real world example: You do your homework for a grade, and study indirectly for a grade. When you do your homework eventually you need to study as well to achieve a good grade. When you study, eventually you need to do your homework for a good homework grade).
12. The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.
Once you start to achieve, everything that was once a problem will fall into place. (Real world example: Once you run for 30 minutes, you hit the runner's high, and it is no longer hard to run. Unless, like it is for me, running for thirty minutes is a challenge by itself).
13. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.
The decisions you make are what allow success to come, or go. (Real world example: An alcoholic deciding between investing his money in alcohol or stocks the good decision leads to prosperity, the bad decision leads to destitution).
14. Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.
Thus the good competitor will be fierce in execution of plan, and quick to make decisions. (Real world example: Whether or not to upvote an article that has been up for 15 minutes).
15. Energy may be linked to the bending of a crossbow; decision to the releasing of a trigger.
In this example bending the crossbow is the indirect action you take to achieve success, and pulling the trigger to direct decisions you make to achieve success. (Real world example: Writing the Steemit article is indirect, and posting it is direct).
16. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.
Sometimes something may seem one way, and actually not be that way in context. (Real world example: Steem looks like it is not valuable because it is only 16 cents, so many people left. But to the people who stayed it still holds value).
17. Stimulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, stimulated fear postulates courage; stimulated weakness postulates strength.
Disorder tests one's discipline and patience. Fear tests one's courage and ability to lead. Weakness tests one's ability to push through problems with strength.
18. Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be affected by tactical dispositions.
This restates that all warfare is based on deception. A portion of your resources may appear disordered, but really they are organized by you and those you work with using communication, so they only appear disordered. Act shy so your opponents believe you are unwilling to give level competition. Hide your strengths and weaknesses from your opponent to surprise them and succeed in the heat of the moment. (Real world example: A football team does not give away their plays to another team until they are in a game competing for victory).
19. Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it.
20. By holding baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body of picked men he lies in wait for him.
Use your opponent's lack of knowledge of you against them. Feed them fake information that they may reveal it and be proven a fool to the public. (Real world example: In the T.V show Gotham, the Riddler figured out that the person terrorizing his partner, the Penguin, was his lead security guard Butch. Rather than tell the Penguin who was doing it, he tricks Butch into wearing the uniform of the "Red Hood Gang" which had been terrorizing the Penguin, and killing the Penguin who was mayor. He told him he would then become mayor, and pardon him and let him help rule the city. When Butch did this, he was caught because the Riddler put blanks in his gun, so he was revealed as the leader of the gang).
21. The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy.
Those who are smart do not rely on individuals, but rather the whole group. They can tell who to trust and who not to. (Real world examples: Businesses do not rely on one employee, but rather the entire company to generate income).
22. When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four cornered, to come as a standstill, but if round shaped, to go rolling down.
If you are smart, once you start something you will finish it, rather than give up. (Real world example: Writing an At of War review. Seriously, I started at 11 and it's 2:23, I am inclined to give up, but thankfully there is only one more).
23. Thus the energy by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject of energy.
Therefore if you are smart, you will need to do very little work to achieve what you want, for the work you provide will be enough.
Thanks for reading this! I was three hours younger when I started writing this. I really appreciate all of the success that everyone is providing me with. It feels good to see that what I am writing is enjoyed, but as Billy Joel says:
"I won't be here in another year if I don't stay on the charts."
Remember to leave feedback, and check back later for 7 Love Ballads That You Should Listen to This Week, and check back tomorrow for Part 6: Weak Points and Strong and Oh Holy Night piano performance.
Also remember to check for: My weekly 7 post, and my weekly piano performance of Christmas pieces.