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Introduction:
Sun Tzu was a Chinese general who lived around the 5th century BC and to whom a great legacy is attributed through the collection of essays on The Art of War, the oldest known treatise on the subject. Despite its age, the advice is still valid.
The Art of War inspired Napoleon, Machiavelli, Mao Tse Tung and many more historical figures. This two-five-hundred-thousand-year-old book is one of the most important Chinese classical texts and is not just a book of military practice, it is a work to understand the roots of a conflict and seek a solution. “The best victory is to win without fighting,” Sun Tzu tells us, “and that is the distinction between the prudent man and the ignorant man.”
-Summary of the prologue of the Universal Virtual Library
Clarification:
This summary is completely prepared by me after reading and rereading Sun Tzu's essays. translated into Spanish, but you can still find a shorter and more concise analysis of the points that you will see below if you prefer to read my next article: The Art of War: Key Concepts.
Warning: The Art of War: Key Concepts It is an adaptation in which the fundamental concepts of the original work are kept intact, but I took the liberty of re-ordering some chapters and joining others since they dealt with very similar topics and in this way we try to facilitate the understanding of the concepts even more. Essays by Sun Tzu.
If you want to read a summary of the original 13 chapters, this entry will be more convenient for you.
INDEX
Chapter I: About evaluation
Chapter II: On the initiation of actions
Chapter III: On the propositions of victory and defeat
Chapter IV: On the measure in the disposition of the means
Chapter V: On firmness
Chapter VI: About the full and the empty
Chapter VII: On direct and indirect confrontation
Chapter VIII: About the nine changes
Chapter IX: On the distribution of the media
Chapter X: About topology
Chapter XI: About the nine kinds of terrain
Chapter XII: On the art of attacking by fire
Chapter XIII: On concord and discord
THE ART OF WAR: THE SUMMARY
Chapter I: About evaluation
A war has to be very well planned, and a lot of thought must be given to it. Not doing so means we don't care about losing our entire kingdom.
The advantage or disadvantage in a war can be analyzed before it begins by looking at five key factors of each army:
Discipline: The safety of the combatants against the orders of their leader.
Climate: Day, night, it snows, it rains, it's summer, winter... all of this affects a lot.
Land: You have to know where it suits you to fight: in your castle, in your rival's, open field, narrow places...
Leader(s): Who needs five qualities: wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage and discipline.
Organization: Internal ranges, actions taken at the calculated time, etc…
Furthermore, in war there are no rules or norms, so deception becomes a primary resource:
If you are about to attack, make them believe that you are far away and your troops are weak; If you are far away, make them believe you are close.
If your enemy is well organized, don't attack, spend time breaking their order.
There are many resources that you can use in your favor to make the enemy believe that information that is going to be most useless to them.
Chapter II: On the initiation of actions
Those who do not know the disadvantages of using a weapon are also not aware of all its advantages.
You need to keep your army happy, or they will rebel against you.
Long campaigns are never a good idea, your attacks have to be quick and concise, and if not, retreat. Keeping your men away from their families, and with scarce supplies will only cause them to lose trust in you, and end up revolting.
It is better not to win than to lose your troops.
Furthermore, it is important that you never mobilize the same troops twice in a row, and that you never supply food more than three times for the same campaign, since a good general takes advantage of the second distribution to steal supplies from the enemy; If you need a third delivery of supplies or a second mobilization of troops: retreat.
If you do not manage to steal food from your enemies, the citizens of your town will be the ones who will lose part of their food, the cost of food will rise, you will be forced to increase taxes and the discontent of the population will also grow. That is never an option.
Keeping the people happy and productive is also an essential part that any good general must take into account.
It is also important that you reward your men well, with possessions from the enemy, and that you highlight those who have done the best. For if there are good rewards, they will fight of their own free will, and if a few receive an even better reward, you will motivate the rest to strive even harder, on their own.
Use the enemy to defeat the enemy.
Always seek a quick victory, or abandon the contest; If not, your army will self-destruct: “He who kills with iron, dies with iron.”
Chapter III: On the propositions of victory and defeat
It is always better to win without destroying the rival army, and then capture its soldiers and dominate its generals.
This is totally viable, since a country is not always conquered after eliminating its entire army, but rather the best leaders conquer countries without engaging in battle, completely demotivating the enemy, leaving them useless, with no desire to fight.
A good general is also responsible for breaking up his enemies' alliances, cutting off their supplies, and making sure none of their plans go well.
You also have to remember that you only conquer a country after getting all the combatants, leaders and citizens convinced that they do not want to fight.
It is never good to lay siege or attack, as it should be the last resort, and if you need to do it, do not do it for more than three months, or your army will begin to lose strength, and your expenses will increase.
Never attack out of rage, revenge or haste, even if you have the advantage. It is essential to spend time planning and coordinating any attack.
If you are going to engage in battle, you need your troops to fully trust you, and to be perfectly organized. If this is the case, and you manage to break the enemy's structure and spirit, even if your army is much smaller than the rival's, you will have a chance.
“If you cannot be strong, and you do not know how to be weak, you will be defeated.”
You will also be defeated if your king, not knowing the art of war, engages and influences the real generals in battle. Avoid that.
Five premises to get closer to victory are:
-Know when to fight and when to avoid it.
-Know when to use many troops and when to use few.
-Get everyone from lower-ranking combatants to leaders to share the same objective.
-Prepare against unsuspecting enemies.
-Have competent generals, without influences from the civil government.
Spend all the time available and necessary knowing yourself and the enemy. Never think that you know everything about yourself, much less about your enemy.
Chapter IV: On the measure in the disposition of the means
Invincibility is in oneself, vulnerability in the adversary.
If you want to be invincible and battle a vulnerable enemy you need to know yourself perfectly, and then know the enemy better than he knows himself.
It is essential to be invincible, even if your enemy is not vulnerable.
What is not good is to deprive your invincibility by making the enemy vulnerable.
If you know yourself but not your rival, even if you don't win, you won't lose either.
If you know your opponent but not yourself, even if you have a chance of winning, it may also be the case that you will face defeat.
Being invincible is a matter of defense, while making the enemy vulnerable is a matter of attack.
Combining both in their entirety is the obligation of a good general.
Winning when you can't lose doesn't have the same meaning as winning when you can't win; For a true leader leads his troops to victory even when winning is impossible. A true general must be able to perceive even the smallest details in the course of battle, and take advantage of them to completely change the outcome.
You are not a good general for winning a hundred battles in which your advantage was overwhelming, because what everyone knows is not within wisdom. He who is wise is so because he knows things that very few people know, and he who is a good general is so because he leads his army to victory in battles that very few people would win.
Winning a battle that cannot be won is not always related to the battlefield, because if you truly know the art of war, you will win the battle before it begins.
Consequently, a victorious army wins first and engages in battle later.
And once a good general has conquered a city or country, he does not get rid of the rival army, nor take prisoners, nor pollute the wells, nor cut down the trees, since both combatants and conquered civilians are now part of your domains, and have the same right to maintain their quality of life as the citizens of your capital.
Keep them happy and without altering their order or customs, and this way you will have the enemy's strength to continue defeating enemies.
Chapter V: On firmness
Strength for you is the quantity and quality of army you have, but it is different for the enemy. For the enemy, your strength will be what they perceive from your achievements and information.
If you get your strength to be perceived as double, triple, quadruple... of your real strength, you will be able to win battles before starting them.
If it is necessary to fight on the battlefield, always take into account the possible formations of your combatants, and coordinate their movements in the optimal way. If possible, treat them as small groups with a common goal.
Furthermore, you must always direct the course of the battle to where it suits you: if you and your enemy have the same chance of triumphing in the open field, attract them towards your territory, towards your walls, do not fight in the open field. It is not a matter of chance.
If you must fight, do so in such a way that your enemies are at a disadvantage and you have all the conditions in your favor.
In battle, combine the ordinary with the extraordinary, so that if your enemy has been preparing to fight an attack head-on, you defeat him by surprise, and if he has been preparing to receive a surprise attack, you defeat him head-on.
It is also very important to generate false information for your enemy. To do this you need to know perfectly what is true, because only warriors who know their strength perfectly will be able to pass themselves off as weak, and only when your organization is perfect will you be able to create artificial disorder, to deceive.
You must get the enemy to move of his own will along the paths that you have laid out.
Know your soldiers too, and thus you will be able to assign them the most appropriate positions for each one, because when the strong fight, the careful defend and the intelligent study, the course of the battle is in your favor.
Chapter VI: About the full and the empty
The worst thing you can do is arrive last on the battlefield; arrive tired.
If you can get to the battlefield and rest before your opponent arrives, you will have an advantage. If your rival has already arrived at the battlefield and is resting, don't go, wait for them in your fortress, and ensure that they are the ones who arrive tired.
It is not easy to get someone to fight where you have an advantage, you will need to make them believe that they will win even if they are at a disadvantage, as that is what drives armies to move.
Never let the enemy get comfortable: Get them moving if they are at maximum energy, cut off their supplies if they are feeding well...
If you don't know how to make the enemy tired, start by never revealing your intentions, this way you will make them divide into groups to defend everything, and then, attack areas where they don't have many men, and force them to come to the rescue, keep them on the move, don't let them rest.
If they don't know your plans and decide to all defend the same point, they will have undefended areas, attack where there is no defense, and maintain your own defense even where there is no attack.
Never let your opponent know what you are going to do, do not shape your formations, but know all the formations that you can choose, this way you will ensure that your enemy does not prepare anything against you, and his analysts and informants will not have data with those to work.
Never let your enemy know where you are going to attack, you will force him to defend many strategic points, and whenever possible, send large groups to attack small groups.
If the enemy has many more men than you, it will be difficult for them to move, even on the same battlefield. If you know the enemy's plans, you can prevent them from reaching the battle, and then their number will not matter.
To do this, study the opponent's movements, formations, and habits.
The way in which a war was won is often studied, but the way in which generals secured victory before starting the war is rarely analyzed.
Therefore, never attack areas where the enemy is comfortable (full), but rather attack the most vulnerable and disadvantaged points (emptiness).
Chapter VII: On direct and indirect confrontation
The most difficult thing about weapon battle is making long distances into short ones, and making the most of your disadvantages.
To battle you need weapons, supplies and money.
You cannot ignore the opponent's plans, in the same way that you cannot fight if you do not know the terrain where you must go to battle nor do you know the terrain where the battle will be fought.
Use local guides, make sure you know every point on the map where your men will or could step.
Attack key and poorly defended points, loot enemy supplies to feed your soldiers and reward your army with the rival's loot. Use your enemy to make yourself strong.
It is also important to keep your men working as a group. He uses flags and banners to guide them by day, and drums and fire to guide them at night. Do not under any circumstances let them become uncoordinated, hungry, or tired.
Your job is to keep your men energized, and the enemies moving, so that they get tired, so that they arrive at combat with an empty stomach.
It is essential that you show that you have energy at all times, and good coordination on the battlefield, as enemy soldiers will become demoralized if they do not find a quick way to get through your army, and they will begin to fear for their lives.
Never attack head on when the enemy is well organized, nor when you are greatly outnumbered. Also do not attack armies high up in the mountains, as you will get tired while climbing, nor do battles when your only escape route is uphill.
If the enemy has energy and motivation and decides to retreat, do not chase them or consume the food they leave behind, as it will surely be a trap.
Don't corner defeated enemies either, or you will force them to fight to the death in front of your soldiers. If you want to take down a squad with no morale, give them an escape route, make them walk where you have planned, and defeat them without forcing them to fight.
Chapter VIII: About the nine changes
A good general knows how to position himself; They do not set up a camp where it will be difficult to maintain it, nor do they attack well-prepared armies, nor do they use routes that are not the best, nor do they attack where they will have problems fighting, nor do they follow orders that will be harmful.
A good general knows the objective, but not a single way to get there, since he must adapt to each situation and understand that change on the battlefield is constant.
It will also be necessary to objectively analyze the benefits and damages, both yours and those of the enemy; because the benefit also motivates the enemy, but the possible damages are what hold him back.
Never take anything for granted, prepare for everything, and use the enemy's emotions against him, because a true general acts realistically and rationally, knows when to act and when not to, and does not allow himself to be blinded by bravery, compassion, neither anger nor sorrow.
Sometimes by not acting, lives are lost without any benefit, and even so, it is better than acting. A good leader considers that too.
Chapter IX: On the distribution of the media
A military maneuver is the result of the plan and strategy considered optimal to win, and the mobility and effectiveness of the troops depend on it.
Never fight an army that is on top of a mountain, not even when a river is going to divide your troops, but always try to achieve the opposite: incite your enemy to battle when you are higher than him, and start a combat whenever the rival army is crossing a river.
Also, never position yourself downstream, nor order your troops to move against the current or the wind.
Don't let your soldiers get sick.
Battle for the day whenever possible, and with the sun at your back.
It is essential that you take advantage of the terrain, locate yourself in the best area and take advantage of every advantageous factor.
If you cross an area with a lot of elements where your enemy may have spies, be careful with it. Observe your surroundings, as there will be moving vegetation, animals running from one point, and birds taking flight.
Furthermore, if you see tall clouds of smoke in the distance it means the arrival of horses, if they are smaller and narrower clouds, they will be foot soldiers.
If you are close to the enemy and his movements are calm, it means that he has good plans, a strong and advantageous position, surely.
If you are not fighting and he sends messengers with speeches of peace, hopefully he is preparing for war.
If the enemy's tanks are placed on the flanks, they are creating a battle front.
If the cars are placed in a row, you are waiting for reinforcements.
If only half of the enemy soldiers advance, he wants to lead you into a trap.
Always observe the enemy's gestures, as you will be able to tell if they are tired, hungry, thirsty, and they will even be able to tell if they are in a position or not depending on whether the birds flee or settle in an area.
Never stop monitoring the enemy, and this way you will know if the soldiers are irritated, planning to stop following their general, scared, desperate, etc...
It is also essential to go into combat with a retreat plan, or with a plan to carry out after the opponent's retreat; Never trust only in the strength of your army or that your plans will be better than those of the enemy general.
Never make soldiers fear you, but don't let them become arrogant either. Use rewards and punishments whenever necessary: Humanity, benevolence and firmness.
Never give an order if it may be confusing, nor retract a plan more than once. You must think very carefully first before carrying it out, and very carefully before you back out, or you will confuse your troops and they will lose confidence in you.
You must also ensure that your orders are reasonable and fair, since each and every one of your soldiers must understand them and follow them with conviction.
If your orders are good, but your soldiers have to follow them without understanding them, you could have a problem.
Chapter X: About topology
Six types of terrain are most likely to appear:
easy: Where you are in a high place, the sun rises behind you and the supply route is adequate.
difficult: When your enemy is on Easy terrain, you will have a difficult time fighting, so try not to start a confrontation if you do not have a good advantage.
Neutrals: Where no one has an advantage, and you will be the one who has to generate it. It is not advisable to face the enemy face to face and just see what happens, even when your army seems superior, since you can always resort to some method that puts you in a favorable position.
Narrow: The one who takes a position first will have the advantage. Still, if you win the fight, never chase an enemy blocking the gorge or alley.
Hilly: You must occupy the highest and sunniest points of the terrain, or else, withdraw.
Open: Similar to Neutral terrain, because in very large areas, it will be difficult for one side to take advantage of the terrain, since there will be better points for you and others for the enemy.
Even so, you can always resort to some method that guarantees a small advantage.
If troops flee, lose momentum, rebel, or are defeated, it will always be the general's fault. Even if the troops are strong and prepared, a bad general can lead to a disastrous defeat. On the contrary, it is preferable to have weak troops and a good general, although it is not the most advisable either.
There are six premises that a general must comply with, or he will be easily defeated:
Estimate your combat strength and that of the enemy.
Regulate a good system of rewards and punishments.
Train enough.
Passion and vocation.
Clear hierarchies and organizations.
Proper selection of soldiers.
Finally, you must take care of your soldiers as if you were taking care of your children, without forgetting discipline and order, and knowing when their lives are more important than your reputation or the orders of a superior.
Victory does not represent any danger, since an attack is carried out when you are sure of winning, otherwise it will represent a risk for everyone. A true general does not attack if his chances of winning are fifty percent, but will attack when they are close to one hundred percent.
Chapter XI: About the nine kinds of terrain
Communication ground: Used by everyone to get around. Try not to let the enemy control it.
Intersection terrain: Area where paths that lead to different kingdoms intersect. Try to form an alliance with one of those kingdoms.
Scattering ground: Very close to your country. Avoid fighting here or your soldiers might sneak away with their family.
Light territory: Area of enemy territory near your border. Soldiers will fear discovery and will not be fully focused. Troops in these situations expand a bit and investigate individually.
difficult terrain: Area of enemy territory far from your border. You will need good supplies. At this point the troops come together and their actions are coordinated.
fenced land: Narrow and allowing little maneuverability. Try to control it yourself, and prepare traps in case enemies approach.
unfavorable terrain: Mountains, forests, swamps, cliffs... Never stay here for too long.
Unavoidable fighting ground: Area you need to defend or strategic point. It will be very difficult to fight for it if it doesn't belong to you.
Deadly ground: Area where your only option is to fight, whether against people, animals or dangerous weather conditions. Struggle. Your troops will gain good experience.
The best generals do not control their army alone, but they also have influence on the enemy's army. They hinder communication between troops on different sides, create discord between soldiers and generals, confuse enemies through sudden changes in strategy, sow fear in them...
Furthermore, we all make mistakes, so you must be attentive to quickly take advantage of your opponent's mistakes, or they will be able to notice and fix them.
If you need to defend a terrain at all costs, corner your own men, and thus they will fight as the only option and give the maximum of their ability.
You always need the objective of your troops to be the same, and for them to be almost as one individual, moving to position themselves on high ground and helping each other knowing that this will increase the individual's chances of survival as well.
It will also be essential that you are the only one who knows the complete plan, since it is important to deceive your own troops so that the enemy is the most confused of all. If no one knows your intentions, your plans will hardly be frustrated.
There will always be allies who ignore your plans. Only when your only option is to fight to survive will you be able to have the best defense that your soldiers can provide.
You will need to know: the enemy's plans and the circumstances of the terrain. That will be essential.
It is also essential that you motivate your troops with only positive data, without them being aware of possible dangers or disadvantages.
Managing to infiltrate and kill the enemy general will also be a key advantage if you want to battle.
Chapter XII: On the art of attacking by fire
Fire is essential in any war, and there are five ways to use it.
Against people, against supplies, against warehouses, against weapons and against equipment.
It is a resource that can work against you, so it is advisable to use it only when the weather is dry and calm. If you know how and when to use it, it will be a key element to wreak havoc on your enemy's ranks.
War never brings anything good, and should be used only in extreme cases, when there is no other remedy, so you should not attack an enemy if you are not going to obtain anything notable. Don't attack for the sake of attacking, keep your troops at home whenever possible.
Chapter XIII: On concord and discord
War requires a great effort on the part of all citizens, civilians and combatants, and can last for years, so during this time your main task will be to collect information that benefits your movements and your men. Spies will be your main resource.
A spy can be
Native: They will be citizens of your country, who will arrive in enemy lands to collect information.
Internal: They will be officials from the country you are investigating.
Double: They will be enemy spies who will act by spying on their own country.
Liquidable: People who will give false reports to enemy spies.
Floating: He will be in charge of collecting the information and bringing it to you.
Give them acceptable treatment, otherwise you run the risk of them giving information about your country to the enemy army, but don't trust them either, because if you are very lenient they could start working with the enemy just not be afraid of the reprisals you may take. .
If any espionage matter is disclosed before the spy has reported, he and the discloser must be eliminated.
You must look for enemy agents who have come to spy on you, bribe them and induce them to come over to your side, so you can use them as double agents. With the information obtained this way, you can find native spies and internal spies to hire. With the information obtained from them, you can fabricate false information using liquidable spies. With the information thus obtained, you can make the floating spies act according to the planned plans.
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