The Mind of the Strategist:   Knowing the Questions

(continued)

Chapter Ten: Ground Formation

• Do you know what terrains can be advantageous and disadvantageous to you?
• Do you know the Sun Tzu's "Six Ways of Ground (situations)" that are listed in Chapter 10?

"Do you know the Six Ways of Defeat? If you know the enemy and know yourself, the victory is not at risk. If you know the Heaven and you know the Ground, the victory is complete."

- Sun Tzu: Chapter Ten—Terrain

Chapter Eleven: Nine Grounds

• Do you and your field generals understand the basic Nine Grounds that can be seen in warfare?
• Are you willing to fight at your own ground?
• Do you know the differences of the Nine Grounds in how they will affect your mission?

Chapter Twelve: Fire Attacks

• Do you know the five types of fire attacks that are used in the game of war?
• Do you know when, what, and how to use those fire attacks?
• Do you know the five changes of fire?
• Do you know how to combine fire and water in your attacks?
• Do you know the "waste-and-delay" factor in when incorrectly attacking the opposition?

Chapter Thirteen: Using Spies

• Do you know the importance of securing intelligence on the opposition?
• Do you know the five different ways of securing intelligence on the opposition?
• Are you wise enough to use direct and indirect ways to secure intelligence on the opposition?
• Are you wise enough to understand how the opposition can use direct and indirect ways to secure intelligence on you and your army?

Summary

Many years ago, I asked an old Taoist scholar about how to develop a strategy to be in harmony with the Tao. His response was "Know the question first. You will be in harmony with the Tao. Know the answer first, you will lose touch with the Tao."

Suddenly, I became enlightened to his reply. He took a slow breath and continued his speech, "… Knowing the correct question for that moment is more important than anything else. … Anything can be the answer.

My perspective on achieving a "Sun Tzu" model of total victory is to know yourself, your opposition, and the game (Heaven and Ground).

"To be the victorious general of one's army, return to your library and quietly read Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' again and again."

Anonymous Chinese Chess Player

This article barely touches on the many additional questions that you must ask before you can have an adequate understanding of a potential victory. Further discussion on strategic questioning will be covered in a future article.

M.E.H. is currently working on a paper on strategic preparation and questioning. For questions in this area of strategy development and thinking, please contact M.E.H. through Jade Dragon Online.

Previous Writings of M.E.H.