13.003 Two sides remain in standoff for several years...

Two sides remain in standoff for several years in order to do battle for a decisive victory on a single day.

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POV

/// *** Two sides remain in standoff for several years in order to do battle for a decisive victory on a single day. ***///

On that one day, the decisive victory comes from paid foreknowledge that allows one side to gain that superior advantage.

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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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Two sides will argue forever until one side acts. If that side acts quickly enough, victory can be achieved in little time.

Gonzo

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Standoff = Protracted War.

Protracted war can cost each side a great sum of money.
I agree with CARDINAL that a proper flow of foreknowledge can means a shorter war.

The side that correctly utilize the foreknowledge would gain an decisive advantage. ... At some point of time, it could lead to a guaranteed victory.

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with this line, sun tzu is laying out the premesis' for his argument for the usage of spies. In combination with the economic costs of the above two lines, he assumes the reader can draw the conclusion that this protracted war will cost dearly of both sides; and seems a bit insane that one would wait years of a standoff before performing an action that could have been accomplished on the first day.

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The two sides remain in a stand-off for such a long time because they are each very busy spying on the other side, in the expectation that they will eventually recognize an exploitable vulnerability in the other side.

The greater the warriors, the quicker the wars are ended.

BingFa

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Sun Tzu said, "Two sides remain in standoff for several years in order to do battle for a decisive victory on a single day."

The general knows that the decisive advantage will come from the opposition. If the two sides can not find an advantage to exploit, a stand off may last for decades. When the nation tires and lowers its guard the "door of advantage" will be open and the avalanche will destroy the exhausted.

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The moment of advantage

quote:

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Originally posted by sonshi
Two sides remain in standoff for several years in order to do battle for a decisive victory on a single day.

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Krishnamurti

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preemptive strike

I think Sun Zulu said it best. I would only add that I believe any preemptive or organizted attack for advantage or decisive victory be in accordance with the way or greater good.

Pawn12

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I believe Sun Tzu’s intention was to stress the magnitude, and potential cost of war. The general, who finds his armies in a standoff, while waiting years for the enemy to reveal or provide victory, should obtain as much knowledge as possible through “the divine manipulation of the threads.” "To do any less is height of inhumanity."

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Conflict is better adressed sooner then later.
The outcome can still be favorable to either side.

But the older one gets the less time to rebuild to previous strenght .

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