Notes from the front
26 Nov 2021Kichuk
War is a great thing for the state, it is the soil of life and death, it is the path of existence and death. This needs to be understood.Therefore, it is based on five phenomena [it is weighed by seven calculations and this determines the position.
The first is the Way, the second is Heaven, the third is Earth, the fourth is the Commander, the fifth is the Law.
The way is when people achieve that the thoughts of the people are the same as the thoughts of the ruler, when the people are ready to die with him, ready to live with him, when he knows neither fear nor doubt.
The sky is light and darkness, cold and heat, this is the order of time
The earth is far and near, uneven and even, wide and narrow, death and life. A commander is intelligence, impartiality, humanity, courage, rigor. The law is the military system, command and supply. There is no commander who has not heard of these five phenomena, but the one who has learned them wins; the one who has not learned them does not win.
Therefore, the war is weighed by seven calculations and in this way the position is determined.
Which of the sovereigns has the Way? Which of the generals has talents? Who used Heaven and Earth? Who follows the rules and orders? Who has a stronger army? Whose officers and soldiers are better trained? Who is properly rewarded and punished?
By all this, I will know who will win and who will be defeated.
If the commander begins to apply my calculations, having learned, he will certainly win; I stay with him. If the commander begins to apply my calculations without having mastered them, he will certainly be defeated; I am leaving him. If he assimilates them with the benefit in mind, they will constitute a power that will help beyond them.
Power is the ability to apply tactics in accordance with the benefits.
War is a way of deception. Therefore, if you can do something, show your opponent that you can't; if you use something, show him that you don't use it; even if you are close, show him that you are far away; even if you are far away, show him that you are close; lure him with benefits; upset him and take him; if he has everything full, be ready; if he is strong, evade him; arousing anger in him, bring him into a state of frustration ; assuming a humble appearance, arouse self-conceit in him; if his strength is fresh, quench it; if he is friendly, separate; attack him when he is not ready; perform when he is not expecting.
All this ensures victory for the leader; however, nothing can be taught in advance.
Who – even before the battle - wins by preliminary calculation, he has a lot of chances; who - even before the battle - does not win by calculation, he has few chances. Those who have a lot of chances win; those who have few chances do not win; especially those who have no chances at all. Therefore, for me – at the sight of this one – victory and defeat are already clear.