06.020 Therefore, if one knows the place of battle...

Therefore, if one knows the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle.

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ABOUT FACE! FORWARD. . . MARCH!

I have long felt that this passage is directly linked to Sun Tzu's admonition about the supremacy of remaining formless.

Because when the activities of an Army are formless and indiscernable to his foe, it makes it that much more possible for said Army to decide when and where to do battle. And equally important, it is also possible for the Army to travel great distances in order to get to the battlefield.

I do wish to qualifiy one important point. Although on its face the use of the phrase "he can march a thousand li and do battle" can and often is readily interpreted to mean actually marching or traveling towards the battlefield, I also think that there is a subtler meaning to the verb "march."

Basically, I think Sun Tzu is also suggesting that if the Wise General knows the place and day of battle, then he should take all necessary steps to prepare his country and his Army so that they are in the right position (both physically and psychologically) at the right time. This means of course, attending to the important tasks of logistics long before the actual battle march is begun. But it also means leading the way and getting the People of the Nation to be of one mind long before and even during any battle.

If you read Col. Harry G. Summers' treatise titled "On Strategy-A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War," you will see that the USA political leaders did a very poor job at getting the support and backing of the American People. And it is arguably no surprise that the false premises created out of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, formed the weak foundation for the reasons why the USA HAD TO go to war in South Vietnam. Our institutionalized deception came back to bite the USA in the arse.

And this, of course, is inextricably linked to Sun Tzu's instructions in his Chapter One, which is titled "Estimates."

It is my view that what Sun Tzu is really saying in the quoted excerpt, is that the "march" to the battle begins long before the "march to the battlefield."

-BingFa

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If you know where and when the attack will occur, then you can use the target as bait, and set up an ambush. You can arrive first and have a well rested army lying in wait for the foolhardy opponent to march right into you.

Gonzo

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POV

quote:

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Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, if one knows the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle.

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{* CARDINAL999 *}

"In the Field of Observation, Fortune Favors the Prepared (and the Bold)."

"The stillness in stillness is not the true stillness; only when there is stillness in motion does the universal rhythm manifest." - Old Daoist Text

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Sun Tzu said, "Therefore, if one knows the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle."

The reason that a general can do this is because he can control the major factors within his army, and at the same time, he can impose his will upon the opposition.

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Basically, if the general knows what to do, how to do it, where to do it, then he would be able to go over 300 miles and still fight because he controls the situation.

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If I were to consider starting a new job as a type of battle then of course it is very important to know the place (location) and time (start of shift). Without these two pieces of info, the battle is a defaut in favor of the employer. Incidently I am starting a new job today.

It is important to note that there is a lot of prep work that goes into a successful battle beyond this consideration but these two factors are critical ones. Travelling to the battle field (work) is something most of us have to do every day too. My Thousand li is five miles today.

pawn11

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Take care of your resources. Delivering resources at certain point of time costs a lot. You have to use time and money for this. That’s why if you decide to move your resources you have to be certain that it is worthwhile.

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And there is only blue sky above us.

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Movement is not wasted

quote:

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Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, if one knows the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle.

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Truthseeker


Suffering is the breaking of the shell that encloses our understanding


"Truth is narrowed down and made a plaything for those who are weak, for those who are only momentarily discontented. Truth cannot be brought down; rather the individual must make the effort to ascend to it."

Krishnamurti

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Therefore, if one knows the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle.

Time and place ...

The Sage General works towards decisive victory. Achieving this often requires battle, and always the threat of imminent defeat will be seen to have loomed large over the vanquished. Albeit that the decisive blow came at a time and place not of their choosing, and often not within their comprehension until it was too late.

Recognising this, the Sage General creates a plan that brings a necessary overwhelming force into the field at just the time and place where it can have maximum effect.

Unifying the motions of the many to bring sufficient force to bear, be it today or tomorrow, allows the victory. Having unified the motions of the many to this aim, therefore, the Sage General can go as far as is needed to achieve his desire.

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If you can plan the place and time of battle, you will be able to be prepare before hand. Those that are do not know the place and time of battle will never be able to prepare, no matter how rested their men and officers are prior to the battle.

Note: You may even coordinate armies from multiple locations to join and assist you to battle the enemy where they are illprepared to battle.

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Re: 06.020 Therefore, if one knows the place of battle...

quote:

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Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, if one knows the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle.

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Advantage of the Unnoticed

I think this refers to the freedom of movement enjoyed by a formless force. Having decided when and where to strike, the formless force can move a long distance unopposed because its movements go unfathomed. And, because the opponent will be stretched thin as a result of not knowing what the formless is up to, the formless force can also do battle as it applies its concentrated force against a single weak point in the opponent's fragmented defense.

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Re: 06.020 Therefore, if one knows the place of battle...

quote:

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Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, if one knows the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle.

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