Sun Tzu Strategy six – Element of Surprise
In warfare surprise can be achieved by deception as well as by the troop’s speed and mobility. Also, what is termed “noise” refers to false moves. Make noise in the East and attack in the West, or make noise there and attack here, so that the enemy cannot decide where to put its guard. Thus we can attack the place where the enemy has no defense. The enemy’s command becomes confused and unrestrained; it can then be subdued when discipline is in disarray or lost.
The principal goes, “Against a good attacker, the enemy does not know where to defend.” For a successful attack, attack the place the enemy does not defend; for successful defense, defendant a place the enemy does not attack.
As it is, there can never be too much deception in war. However here some caution is warranted, for one has to be ascertained of the enemy’s lack of judgment before making such false moves to deceive it.
A good commander with presence of mind knows his strong and weak points and arrays his troops accordingly; he is therefore not liable to be misled by the enemy’s false gestures. He can even pretend to be deceived and turn the enemy’s trick against it. Therefore when one tries to deceive the enemy, one must bear in mind the deceitfulness of the enemy.
Thus Sun Tzu observes, “In the past, those who were good at marshaling warfare first made sure that they could not be defeated and then waited for an opportunity to defeat the enemy.”
Fin
