Hey – It’s Fulong.
A fresh week has begun, and now it’s time for a new thought-provoking issue.
Estimated read time: 2 minutes 10 seconds
Let’s get started…
One Thrilling Story
I.
An Amusing Analogy Saves Qin
During the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China, Duke Wen of Qin decided to invade Wei, so he called in the feudal nobles to lay out his plans for attack.
However, he was interrupted by the laughter coming from one of the nobles named Kong Zichu.
“May I ask the source of your amusement?” asked the duke.
“I was laughing at a man in my neighborhood and some gossip I heard,” replied Kong.
“It seems one day he was walking home with his wife when he spotted a lovely maiden gathering mulberry leaves by the roadside. No sooner did he escape his wife to go flirt with the girl when, upon turning around, he saw another man making love to his wife. I was just thinking about the story and I couldn’t help but laugh.”
Seeing the moral of this story, Duke Wen canceled his invasion plans and recalled his army away from its march.
No sooner had the Qin army returned when they were sent out to stop an invasion on their own northern border by an unexpected enemy.
Two Warfare Lessons
I.
Avoid The Strong; Attack The Weak
When the enemy is too strong to attack directly, then attack something he holds dear. Know that in all things he cannot be superior.
Somewhere there is a gap in the armor, a weakness that can be exploited.
If the enemy is on a campaign, his home defense will be weak; if his army is fast, his baggage train will be slow; if the army is well equipped, the treasury will be at a loss.
Taking this into account, therefore, the Qin would certainly have seen defeat had they not had a noble who was vigilant and cautious, and a leader who was willing to take his advice.
II.
Multiple Enemies
During the incessant feuding between the various kingdoms of the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China, any kingdom that attacked another was in danger of being attacked by a third country from the rear.
This strategy was used to maintain a certain degree of military status quo.
If any one kingdom attacked another, the rest would sit back and watch for the outcome. But if it looked as though one kingdom was going to become too powerful, then the other kingdoms would unite to cut the ambitious state back down to size.
However, there were ways to get around this issue which we can draw lessons from.
If your army is large enough, then fight many enemies at the same time. Build alliances. To distract a potential aggressor, sow discord within their own state, or incite a war between them and another party.
Three Favourite Quotes
I.
Sun Tzu on the attacking:
“Attack where he is unprepared, appear where unexpected.”
II.
Benjamin Franklin on caution:
“Distrust and caution are the parents of security.”
III.
Sun Tzu on sowing discord:
“Reduce the effectiveness of your enemy by inflicting discord among them.”
See you next Monday — Fulong
