Strategies of Zhuge Liang

Tactical plans must always be kept a secret. When attacking an enemy, one must
attack like the gale, and when curshing your enemy, one must be swift as the falcon
tracking its prey. All battles must be completed swiftly like the raging river-
current. Only through this could one defeat their foe with the least casualties.
Those who are apt at war are not influenced by emotion. Those who have composed an
impeccable tactical plan have no reason to fear their enemy. Those who are wise
consolidate their victory beforehand through impeccable planning. On the other
hand, fools wage battle without planning, and make decisions in the heat of battle.

Winners proceed the path without veering, but losers try to take the shortcut and
get lost in the process. Fools take the opposite path.

An army functions at its best when commanders stand proud and soldiers man their
respective stations. This is like casting rounded stones down an inclined plank--
there are no edges to stop the flow. Such an army could defeat all in its path with
invincable strength. Thus is the basis of all tactics.

The Secret of Military Instruction

When facing those apt in offense, the opponent does not know how to defend.
Likewise, when facing those apt in defense, the opponent does not know how to
attack. This is because those who are apt in offense do not rely on weapons, and
those who are apt in defense do not rely on their fortifications. Thus, building
high walls and deep moats does not equal an impenetrable defense. Likewise, wearing
sturdy armor and wielding sharp weapons doesn't make an army strong.

What to do when an enemy has strong defenses?

Attack where they are lest protected.

What to do when an enemy dissolves their camp and starts marching?

Ambush them when least expected.

What to do when you and your enemy both start marching?

Choose an appropriate terrain and establish your formations.

What to do when you have started marching while your enemy remains silent?
Attack from both sides of the enemy.

What to do if your enemy is composed of many different factions?

First, attack their main force.

When one does not know the terrain, and does not have the correct timing, preparing
for battle only leads to misallocation of troops.

The Good and Bad of Military Tactics

Military tactics could be separated into three different levels of execution.

1. The Best Application of Military Tactics--Prevent problems before it occurs, and

resolve conlicts before it starts. Read the minds of your enemy and plan ahead of
them. Even if there are strict rules within your military, act in advance to make
sure none will break the military law. This is the best application of military
tactics.

2. Moderate Application of Military Tactics--Set up your ranks agains your enemies

and charge your cavalry. Then unleash your crossbows at your enemy and slowly
approach your enemy. Fear will breed within the minds of your enemy, leading them
to confusion. This is the moderate application of military tactics.

3. The Worst Application of Military Tactics--The leader sharges into the midst of
the enemy and gets rained on with arrows, and is blinded by shirt term goals. Many
soldiers die, freind and foe, but victory is not clear on both sides. This is
clearly the worst application of military tactics.

The Military Leader

There are many different types of military leaders.

Those who could see the darkness within others and detect danger beforehand while
managing his own soldiers adequately--such a man can be a leader of ten men.

Those who perform their duty from dawn until dusk while remaining courteous in
speech--such a man can be a leader of a hundred men.

Those who have a distaste for trickery but are resourceful, and are brave and
enthusiastic in battle--such a man can be a leader of a thousand men.

Those who are respectable in appearance, holding a warrior's spirit while having an
understanding of the hardships of his men--such a man can be a leader of ten-
thousand men.

Those who recruit men of skill while himself improving upon his skills, while being
trustworthy and wide in perspective, unyielding to the temptations present within
the confounded world of warfare--such a man can be a leader of a hundred-thousand
men.

Those who shed lovingkindness to his subjects and defeats surrounding nations
through trust and moral goodness, and is versed in astrology, geography, and human
affairs while garnering respect from all citizens--such a man can be a leader of
all under heaven.

The Fifteen Testaments of Military Leaders

The source of all defeat comes from underestimating your enemy. Thus, military
leaders must keep the following fifteen testaments within their mind.

1. Gathering Intelligence--Use spies to collect information.

2. Information--Gather information about your enemy from various sources.
3. Bravery--Do not show fear against even the toughest foe.
4. Selflessness--Do not be moved by profit.
5. Equality--Award and punish all equally.
6. Patience--Withstand humiliation.
7. Compassion--Be willing to forgive.
8. Trust--Do not lie.
9. Respect--Recruit those who have greater skills than yourself.
10. Wisdom--Do not listen to ill-will.
11. Humbleness--Act humbly.
12. Lovingkindness--Treat your subjects with lovingkindness.
13. Loyalty--Sacrifice yourself for the good of the country.
14. Discrimination--Discriminate between what is possible and impossible.
15. Strategy--Know yourself and your enemy.
If these 15 testaments are forgotten, defeat will come swiftly as the winds of
December.
Characteristics that make one unfit as a Military Leader

There are eight characteristics that makes one unfit as a military leader.

1. Filled with greed and knows not when to repress his lust.
2. Jealous against those with greater skill.
3. Listens to ill-will against others and employs sweet-talkers.
4. Knows one's enemies but does not know oneself.
5. Indecisive and lacks the ability to judge.
6. Indulges too much in drinks.
7. Uses trickery on others and is a coward.
8. Those whos words do not reflect their actions.

On leadership � First organise the inner, then organize the outer....first organize
the great, then organize the small. First organize yourself then organize others.

On marketing � Do the unexpected, attack the unprepared.

On competition � The loss of any army is always caused by underestimating the

enemy. Therefore gather information and watch the enemy carefully.

On failure � What loss is there in dignity, what worry is there of failure?

On self survival � by Cao Cao

�I�d rather betray the world than let the world betray me�.