Hello everyone, this is a continuation of my Art of War review (part 8 to be exact). This section is fairly short compared to the last one. but what is good never lasts. Part 11 has 68 segments (That's a lot). I hope you enjoy this next part, Part 8: Variation in Tactics. (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
Variation in Tactics
1. Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces.
Even those in charge follow orders. (Real world example: The CEO of a big business still needs to follow government regulations).
2. When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions. In hemmed-in situations, you must resort to stratagem. In desperate position, you must fight.
Try to solve problems quickly, using the help of others. Fight when you have to. (Real world example: When you take a loan, you try to pay it back as quickly as possible).
3. There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.
Know when to use your plans and when not to. Sometimes it is best not to try. (Real world example: A middle school wrestler only wrestles at the middle school level, training to gain the ability to wrestle in high school).
4. The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.
First understand the situation, and your methods of winning, then handle your resources accordingly. (Real world example: When writing a paper, the first thing you do is research what you are writing about, understand it thoroughly, and lastly write it. In all more time is spent researching than writing).
5. The general who does not understand these, may be well acquainted with the configuration of the country, yet he will not be able to turn his knowledge to practical account.
6. So, the student of war who is unversed in the art of war of varying his plans, even though he be acquainted with the Five Advantages, will fail to make best use of his men.
If you don't understand the situation; you may have resources, but they will be of no use because you have no viable plan. (Real world example: You can't write a paper that gets a good grade unless you research your topic first).
7. Hence in the wise leader's plans, considerations of advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together.
Therefore a good leader will consider both advantages and disadvantages simultaneously.
8. If our expectations of advantage be tempered in this way, we may succeed in accomplishing the essential part of our schemes.
If a leader suppresses his expectations of success, and rather weighs the chances of both success and defeat, then he will have a better chance of achieving his most important goals. (Real world example: The news rarely talks about an event going well, but rather they talk about everything that didn't go well).
9. If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
If you seize every advantage that you can when you are in problematic times, you will have a better chance of achieving what you want. (Real world example: You need to pay off a debt, so you take the best paying jobs, and work hard to gain raises to eventually gain enough revenue to pay off your debt).
10. Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them; make trouble for them, and keep them constantly engaged; hold out specious allurements, and make them rush to any given point.
Make your opponent do what you want them to without them realizing. (Real world example: In chess, you try to trick your opponent into revealing openings for you to win with checkmate. You do this without them realizing).
11. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.
Rely on preparation, not on good fortune. (Real world example: I wrote this in my article called: Ideas I've had About Combining Steem With Minecraft Based On A Server I Played On Over the Summer. Here is what I wrote "This server is basically playing Minecraft, and doing the soul functions of the game (mining, building, and living) to earn a virtual currency that has no value in the real world. After playing this server (and gambling away around 200 million dollars of said currency). . ." That right there is an example of relying on good fortune :(
12. These are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: (1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction; (2) cowardice, which leads to capture; (3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; (4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame; (5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.
13. These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinous to the conduct of war.
Those are the five mistakes a leader should not make.
14. When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause will surely be found among these five dangerous faults. Let them be a subject of meditation.
What he said ^
Part 6a: Weak Points and Strong
Part 6b: Weak Points and Strong
Part 7b: Maneuvering
Part 8: Variation in Tactics
Thanks for reading this! It's been a while since I posted this series, but luckily this one wasn't too long. (Just wait for part 11). Anyway, let me know what you thought of this review, and as always Check back sometime for the next part in the series Part 9: The Army on The March.
Also remember to check for: My weekly 7 post, and my weekly piano performance of Christmas pieces.