War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 5 - Strategic Conditions 《兵势篇》

is a continuation of on the way of gaining victories. Sun Tzu believes that 〈奇、正〉are the best way of intensifying one’s strengths. ‘正‘(Straightforward) refers to unchanging principles governing war, while ‘奇‘(Surprise) is the stratagem discussed in . Under the changes arising from the coordination of ‘Straightforward’ and ‘Surprise’, one’s enemy will be unable to grasp the changing conditions which will thus, elevate one’s own chances of earning victories. It is this meaning that’s aptly brought up in the Chinese phrase “To strike one in surprise, secures a victory” (出奇制胜).

〈色不過五，五色之變，不可勝觀也〉

〈戰勢不過奇正，奇正之變，不可勝窮之也〉

Sun Tzu sees ‘Surprise’ and ‘Straightforward’ as liken to colours, where even under the most basic of coordination and changes, results in the most unexpected combinations of colours.

War Kings - Sun Tzu Art of War Chp 4 - Strategic Dispositions 军形篇

Strategic Dispositions - highlights the way to gain victories. Sun Tzu believes that 〈昔之善戰者，先為不可勝，以侍敵之可勝。〉Which mean that for a capable General to gain victory, one must be prepared for all situations so as to be able to counter failure and to spring on one’s enemy when they are at their weakest.

〈兵法：一曰度，二曰量，三曰數，四曰稱，五曰勝。〉

Sun Tzu believes that the way to maintain one’s victories is through: Calculations, Quantities, Logistics, Balance of Power and Victories.

〈地生度，度生量，量生數，數生稱，稱生勝〉

Calculations: The scale of the war so as to aid one’s decision making process

Quantities: Estimates on required quantities in order to plan one’s actions

Logistics: Estimates on the required manpower and quantities, so as to aid one’s planning

Balance of Power: To weigh one and one’s enemy conditions, so as to better grasp the chances of victories

Victories: To be victorious