Most victories are created through speed, not caution. Rather than planning out slowly and carefully down the road, better is it to set a course of action with velocity. The longer you wait, the more prepared the enemy is. As you prepare slowly and cautiously, the enemy will be redoubling their defense with haste, letting [...]
“Attack when the Enemy Strikes” is where you attack the enemy when he is fighting another enemy. By understanding that the most opportune time is when the enemy is preoccupied in striking another enemy, you can seize the moment. The enemy’s defense will be lax when they allocate all their resources on another enemy so [...]
34. Inflict injury on oneself to win the enemy’s trust This phrase means to win the enemy’s trust by injuring oneself. This stratagem is a great way to deceive your enemy in order to win the enemy’s confidence through sympathy or revenge against ex allies. One would injure him or herself as a way to [...]
28. Remove the ladder when the enemy has ascended This phrase means to lure the enemy out and then trapping them in order to cut off their escape route. Lure the enemy out with a bait to trap them in an unfavorable position. The trapped place will be treacherous and full of dangers for the [...]
Ma Su: “The enemy’s mind is more important than his city. Psychological struggle is superior to armed struggle.” This passage shows the capabilities of Ma Su when he contributed this quote to Zhuge Liang during the southern expedition campaign to pacify the Man. The enemy’s mind is of the utmost important for conquering it will [...]