Monday, Week I
You can't allow yourself to panic. Keep your head about the task we're engaged in and don't be side tracked. There's room for everyone in this task. That's why I told you I'm working out your assignments. When they are complete, I'll publish them and then we can move on together. You know what our goal is and you know the way to reach it.
A voice called out, 'We're not sure of the goal; how can we know the way to reach it?
You know me. My way is the only way to reach the goal. That is
the only approach you have. Understand me and you understand the
whole picture.
Tuesday, Week I
Let me put your mind at ease. I don't mean any easy peace, but
don't be disturbed or daunted. You heard me say that I'm leaving
you for a while. If you care about me and the cause, you will
be glad because I am going after reinforcements. I am warning
you in advance so that you will not be operating blindly. The
enemy wil1 soon be so close that we cannot talk. But the enemy
does not control the day! I will go on to demonstrate my
faith in life as it is and to do what is required of me. Now,
let's move out!
Thursday. Week I
What it means to be loyal to me is to obey promptly; that is what the situation is calling for. Such a man will be my comrade in arms, my close friend .
Then one said, "How come some will be close friends while to others you are aloof, a stranger?"
If you are loyal to me, do what I tel1 you. Then the whole situation
will depend on you and I will count on you. The disloyal one doesn't
share my vision and so I just can't count on him. That's just
the way it is. I'm leaving one in charge who will remind you of
all I've said and who will continue to teach you.
Friday, Week I
Let me tell you this: if you are going to have an army you have
to correct every mistake and train every strong point to perfection.
That's what I've been doing with you. Unless you stand in this
kind of disciplined corporateness, you haven't a chance of winning.
Continue in your training and you will be invincible! No soldier
wins a war by himself; a lone soldier is useless to everyone,
himself included. He will soon be burnt out. As long as you are
in the army, the total resources are at your disposal because
that is how the unity and glory of the army is maintained.
Monday, Week II
Again, let me warn you to be prepared for what is to come. Your
enemies ARE hidden; they will appear to be friends and loyalists,
but they will disown you and the cause and even feel virtuous
if they destroy you! This is because of their gross ignorance
about life and about me. Now be warned I won't be around to advise
you all the time, you know that. It's no wonder you are so
edgy that you don't even ask me where I'll be! You're just going
to have to believe me that this is for the best and that the one
I appoint in my place will expose those who don't share my views
and the continuing relevance of all I have stood for. He will
make it very clear what is realistic and what is sheer illusion.
Tuesday, Week II
There is more for you to learn than you can digest at this time.
I am sending you another teacher to continue your training in
necessary strategies and tactics . You can trust him because you
'11 recognize the similarities to what I have taught and the similar
stress on the future. He will draw on the total wisdom of the
forces and so will have a great wealth for you to profit from.
This is a sign of loyalty to me and the cause, if you continue
in your training.
Thursday, week II
I have given you general principles so far; now it is time to
give plain instructions. Submit all requisitions in my name. You
don't need to beg for the necessary tools for the task. Everything
will be provided for you. Your loyalty to the cause is the only
recommendation you need, that and your effort to duplicate my
style and stance. Yes, do imitate me, because I deal with reality
and no illusions. Even with my death, our cause is secure because
it is founded on the way life is. You will be scattered and leave
me for a while, but nevertheless the cause is secure and I am
not betrayed by life. I just want you to know all this in advance
so you won't get taken by surprise. You are going to have a rough
time in this battle, but remember, the war is already won!
Friday, week II
I have set up structures and guidelines to care for you. Hold
them for dear life. I mean, follow the structures. If you do this
you'll find the actual delight of life, the battle sheer pleasure.
And take care of each other also, in the same way. That's an order!
There is no greater care than giving up your own security to forge
the necessary structures for others. You are not a bunch of mercenaries;
you are my comrades, my friends. You share my confidence, my strategies
and tactics. You didn't volunteer for this; I selected you for
the role, to be my companions, my right arm. This means victory
for you for in this relationship you can't fail!
Questions:
1) What did you hear the man say?
2) What question would you ask if you were one of the troops?
3) What is the situation to which he is speaking?
4) Where do you find yourself in that situation?
5) What are the general's presuppositions?
6) What did you hear him say to you in your situation?
7) What do you remember the man said?
1. When the objective has been decided the "G" just
receives his assignment. He second gets his forces together and
third mobilizes the support milieu. Fourth he blends his forces
into a united team and fifth encamps it.
2. Now the "G" is ready for maneuver. This is the most
difficult of all arts; for you must be a magician: just making
the most direct out of the most indirect and second turning
misfortune into advantage (failure into success; defeat into victory;
impossibility into the possible).
3. For instance you may take an indirect route and divert the
enemy from the direct route by baiting him (which you could not
do if you smashed straight ahead) and thereby arrive at the desired
position before him. Now all of this is but a matter of understanding
the primordial strategy for winning a war, namely the principal
of direct/indirect.
7 8. Never overtax or over demand of the forces to gain an advantage (hard and long marches) or you will lose 90% or 50% or 33% of your forces. Only the strongest will survive and you need all.
9. Always the means of action must be secured equipment and stores or there is no chance of victory. This is a matter of secure base.
10. Always the conditions of the situation must be known and kept current or there can be no victory. This is a matter of secure movement (march)
11. Always the local leadership must be cultivated (guides not everybody) or there can be no victory. This is a matter of secure position (advantage).
12. The above has to do more with defensive maneuver, the avoiding
of pitfalls which is the first step in effective maneuvers. Now
consideration is given more to offensive maneuver and the first
thing to recollect is that war is based on creating illusion or
recreating reality (deception). This has to do with when and how
one "moves it." There are two ruling principles: first
only move from advantage, second, if you don't have the
advantage only be concerned with creating the advantage
by the dispersal and concentration of forces.
when campaigning (vying for position)
be as SWIFT as the wind
when marching (in a leisurely way)
be as MAJESTIC as the forest
when raiding (or plundering)
be as CONSUMING as the fire
when standing (in defense)
be as FIRM as the mountains
when moving (into action)
be as UNFATHOMABLE as the clouds
be as OVERPOWERING as the thunderbolt
14. This verse is enigmatic; working with the footnotes, I think
it means the following relative to effective maneuver or ''moving
it." First when you move divide your forces and also divide
your enemy forces. Don't put all your forces on one thing and
don't attack the enemy only from one side. Second when you succeed
defend it by again holding onto only that which is advantageous.
15. The basic key to maneuver will always be "weigh the situation"
then move it this is brooding, battle planning, considering
the consequences and the like.
16. Offensive maneuvering all comes back to the matter of direct
and indirect action. To effectively "move it" requires
a profound understanding of this principle. It is the basic
in the art of maneuvering.
IV
The Morale for Maneuvering
17. The immediately above has to do more with the rational or
objective factors in "moving it" (offensive maneuver).
What follows is more the spiritual or psychological factors. The
first part deals with the operation of one's own forces and the
second with the control of the enemy. Relative to impact on the
home forces first, this has to do with symbols and signs
such as banners, flags, trumpets, bells and other noises.
18. No the main emphasis here is upon conveying orders across
the front but there is more than simply a communication system.
The emphasis is upon focusing the attention of the body and upon
uniting the forces into effective team action welding together
the courageous and the fearful, the rash and the reluctant into
effective operating units. Here is the crucial means for employing
larger forces spread over larger territory. This is the symbol
system's function.
19. This symbol system day and night "influences the sight and the hearing (the vision and the story) of the troops. And, as one commentary says correctly, this system also likewise influences
the enemy.
20. The second arena of spirit in effective maneuver has to do with psychological warfare. The morale of the enemy can be collapsed and its leadership rendered timid without fighting or from a
distance. This includes controlling several factors: the moral,
the mental, the physical and the circumstantial.
2122. Any forces spirits vary: in the early morning they are high, later in the day they flag and in the evening their thoughts are on home. There are many other illustrations: the point is
you don't attack when the other is keen; you think through and
confront him when he is low in spirit. This is managing or controlling
the morale factor.
23. The "G" who would win must also control the mental
(or rational or discipline) factor. For instance one waits in
good order for a disorderly enemy; in serenity for a clamorous
one. It is discipline, transrationality, the model, the comprehensiveness
and the consequential nondefensive detachment that wins.
24. Next is the control of the physical factor; making sure your
troops are in superior shape when engagement is decided: wellfed
versus hungry, rested versus exhausted; close to battlefield versus
afar. Here is taking care of yourself.
25. Finally he who would win must control the circumstantial factors
(the factors of changing circumstances). This again has to do
with the symbolic dynamic. Do not engage an army with well ordered
banners or one whose formations are impressive. Where the teamwork
is strong and the sense of meaning firm, there is the center of
control and key to victory.
26. The final section on the art of maneuvers has to do with remembering
and heeding the basic principles or guidelines relative to the
deploying and engaging troops. First, when the enemy has the advantage
do not engage him.
27. Second, when he pretends to flee do not pursue him. You must
deceive, not get caught in a devise.
28. Third, when he offers his elite troops do not attack, seek
only for his vulnerable points. Head on is not the way to victory.
29. Fourth (like the second) when he proffers bait do not gobble.
Being antsie is not the way to success.
30 31. Fifth, when he goes homeward do not thwart his effort.
You do not have to have the last word.
32. Sixth, when he is at bay do not press him. He is on death
ground and will fight to the finish.
33. The above is the method of deploying troops.