The Art of War Strategy One
Cross the Sea without Heaven’s Knowledge
Each military maneuver has two aspects: the superficial and the actual move with a hidden agenda. By concealing both, one can take the opponent/enemy completely by surprise. But such ideal secrecy can seldom be attained in actual warfare. In most cases to keep the enemy completely ignorant of one’s operations is no easier task than to “cross the see without heaven’s knowledge.” The only alternative is to trick the enemy to neglect or misinterpret the fundamental purpose of one’s operation.
Take into account that even people who take ample precautions are liable to be caught off guard and that familiar sights do not rouse suspicion. On the outset assume no posture or shape, say nothing literal and do nothing definite to attract the least attention by deep probing spies. At the same time adapt manoeuvres that are twofold; one that is superficial and a second within it that contains the primary goal. By masking both, the adversary can always be deceived and lured into fighting shadows. This would also provide one the advantage of surprise so as to launch strategic and deadly offensives or to ambush the enemy unopposed.
It is said: A good defender conceals beneath multitude layers of camouflage to avoid detection; a good attacker moves (usually from afar) too swiftly with such fabulous speed that the opponent is taken by surprise and robbed any chance for defense.
A superb military manoeuvres leave no trace and therefore avoid detection by deep probing satellites or spies. In this way he is able to both preserve himself and at the same time achieve victory.
“He assumes no posture and reveals no shape so that there’s nothing he cannot achieve. He reveals no shape and shows no move so that there is no change he cannot make. This is the supreme art of war.”
The End
