The Art of War

Author: Ma Junying (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Graphic Chinese Classics Series. This book reveals the universal laws of war in concise and profound language. Its profound military thought has not only been widely studied and applied by political leaders, military strategists, and military theorists both in China and abroad but has also greatly attracted philosophers, writers, and entrepreneurs. Its ideas have become spiritual guides and success manuals for daily life. To help readers grasp the deep strategic thoughts of The Art of War, the compiler has meticulously added annotations, translations, and illustrative examples after each original passage. Through the integrated use of clear layouts, concise text, innovative design, and exquisite illustrations, this military work is presented in a comprehensive and three-dimensional manner, allowing readers to appreciate the vast wisdom of the ancient military strategist Sun Wu in a gallery filled with a sense of time and space.
King Huan of Qi, one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, possessed great talent and ambition. However, his successors were mediocre, and due to neglect of military and political affairs, the state of Qi gradually declined. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the state of Yan launched an attack, capturing the capital of Qi, Linzi. After fleeing to Jimo, the nobleman Tian Dan faced a formidable enemy and devised various strategies to restore his homeland, making extensive preparations. To strengthen his forces, Tian Dan shared the hardships of his soldiers, reinforced defenses, and even enrolled his relatives and wives into the army. In addition, to create favorable objective conditions for restoring the state, Tian Dan took a series of measures.
One of the actions Tian Dan took was to secretly send people to Yan during the time of the king's succession to spread rumors in the region. King Huizhao of Yan fell for the trick and replaced the capable general Yue Yi, who was leading the attack on Qi, with another general named Qi Jie, who was overconfident but lacked ability. Tian Dan was overjoyed.
Next, Tian Dan exploited the prevailing superstitions among the soldiers by saying, "The heavens have told me in a dream that Qi will once again rise in power, and Yan will surely decline. In a few days, the heavens will send us a strategist, and we will soon achieve victory." Hearing this, the soldiers were filled with optimism.
Tian Dan selected a very clever soldier and had him pose as the "strategist sent by the heavens." He dressed him in special attire and seated him facing south. Whenever Tian Dan issued orders, he would first consult the "strategist," and commands approved by the "strategist" carried greater authority.
Soon after, Tian Dan told the people in the city, "The strategist has instructed that every morning and evening before meals, every household must offer sacrifices to their ancestors to receive their blessings." Even a small amount of food placed on the eaves of their homes was considered a sacrifice—a simple and effective method that the people readily adopted.
The Yan army outside the city heard that a strategist sent by the heavens had descended upon the city and grew uneasy. When they also saw many birds flying to the city twice a day, their fear intensified. Still, Tian Dan was not satisfied and sent a group of trusted men to fan the flames outside the city. They claimed, "Formerly, the Duke of Changguo was so kind that he treated captured enemies well, and the people in the city naturally had no fear of danger. If the Yan army becomes harsh, cutting off the noses of captured Qi soldiers, how could the people of Qi still resist?" Some even spread rumors, "Our ancestors' graves are outside the city. If the Yan army really digs them up, how can we face our ancestors?"
These words reached Qi Jie's ears, and he truly ordered the noses of captured Qi soldiers to be cut off and their ancestral graves to be dug up. He even burned the bones dug up with torches. When the people in the city heard of this, they wept. Determined to avenge the humiliation, the entire city united in hatred for the enemy.
At this point, Tian Dan saw the time was ripe and deployed a thousand trained oxen in a fire ox formation, along with five thousand strong soldiers as the vanguard. At midnight, as the city's men and women shouted in support, they charged into the enemy camp and defeated them in a single blow. Tian Dan ordered a follow-up attack, and the land of Qi was fully recovered.
Sunzi said: "A skilled commander cultivates virtue and preserves discipline."