(Note: This article is page of a project is explaining the deeper meaning of Sun Tzu’s classic work on strategy. See this article for the beginning of this project.)
This article continues our discussion of how to use strategic positions. These verses are in the second section of Chapter Four, the first chapter that focuses on positioning. The prior section of this chapter was about how we use new positions. This one is about using established ones.
When a lesson is straight forward, Sun Tzu has no problem saying it directly. Below we show the Chinese first, then the line from the English translation.
Comparing Conditions
<No> <can> <victory><is>
You are sometimes unable to win.
<Defend> <also>
You must then defend.
Art of War 4:2.1-2
Notice that defending our existing positions always comes first, before considering moving to a new position. It would be clearer to say “our positions are unable to win,” since positioning is the topic here and the title of the chapter. The “is” at the end of the first line refers to a stable state of positions, as opposed to positions that are in a state of transformation. We must defend because only solid positions generate more resources.
Our current positions are the bases of our future path. We want our positions to be dependable, and we do not want to take our situations for granted. Others put us in our positions for their own reasons. Maintaining a stable position is an active process. It uses resources but it also generates them by pleasing those whom we are in a position to serve.
<Can> <victory> <is>
You will eventually be able to win.
<Attack> <also>
You must then attack.
Art of War 4:2.1-2
Eventually, the conditions change to allow us to advance. Only by comparing our situation can we know when to defend and when to advance. Sun Tzu doesn’t say here what those conditions are. He says only that we must use them.
The conditions that allow us to advance must be stable enough to give us time to take advantage of an opportunity. Some of those conditions are internal: within our organizations and ourselves. We have extra resources that are not needed to defend our existing positions even if we are attacked. Some of those enabling conditions are external: we need an opening, an opportunity, into which we can move. Ideally, we want a choice of opportunities. But all opportunities are temporary. Conditions in the environment change.When we have the resources and an opportunity is there. are right, we must move . Our existing position will stagnate if we do not use it to advance ourselves.
Sufficient Resources
<Defend> <then> <no> <sufficient>
Defend when you have insufficient strength.
<Attack> <then> <has> <surplus>
Attack when you have a surplus of strength.
Art of War 4:2.1-2
What is sufficient? In my translation, I offered the idea of “strength” because it is very broad, but the Chinese is not specific. We only know this by comparing what our resources to the nature of the opportunity. Exactly what we need depends on the situation and what it requires. Those resources include a clear mission, enough time, the right ground, enough people, and a firm command of the situation. We must also have unity and focus, bringing our forces together at the time and place of the opening.
How do we get sufficient resources to advance?
<Good> <defend> <is>
You must defend yourself well.
<Hoard> <from> <nine> <ground> <of> <below>
Save your forces and dig in.
Sun Tzu uses “defense” to generally describe maintaining a position. Our positions are what generate our rewards. By maintaining our positions, we generate a steady flow of income. Our “income” can be money or any other resource that is valuable to us, such as credibility. Our position and its currency determines the resources it generates. We always have a choice about how we use those resources. We can use them to develop our existing positions, improving its value generation. However, it we want to advance, we must save up, “hoard,” some of those resources so we cannot use them all on improving our existing position.
Notice how Sun Tzu describes us saving up the “nine ground of below.” The “below” refers to the source of those resources, the “depth” of the ground. This refers to how many crops in can produce or how deep the vein of the mine goes.
More interesting is the “nine” describing the ground What does it mean?
As we discussed in a number of article before, these individual numbers not referring to quantities refer to the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching (see this article). Hexagram 9 is called “Small Changes.” It indicates small signs that predict a greater change coming. It also indicates gentle, force that is persistent, accomplishing big changes over time. The symbols are trigram Wind, the gentle force, over the trigram Heaven, aka Climate, the changes of time.
In the the context of the “nine ground,” small changes means subtle signs that the position is reaching its limit of production. The crops are good, but not as good as the year before. The gold mine is not played out but the gold vein is showing signs of shrinking. The ground controlled by the position is still producing an excess, but there are small signs it is time to advance.
Time to Advance
Other than these signs, what else indicates a time to advance?
<Good> <attack> <is>
You must attack well.
<Move> <to> <nine> <heaven> <of> <above>
Move your forces when you have a clear advantage.
Notice the change form “nine ground of below” to “nine heaven of above.” A good advance is one that takes advantage of an opening and supported by the trends of time. That opening is created by small changes in climate. An opportunity isn’t created by huge changes that everyone sees. Those can create openings, but everyone sees them or is looking for them in the change. The opportunities are usually too big for the resources any normal person has. These characteristics make the “big change” opportunities competitive and uncertain.
We want to see are small changes around us. These create local openings. We are already positioned to take advantage of them. Sun Tzu’s method is making small, continuous steps, a series of small movement not big scores. The opportunities that we want are much more frequent than big changes. Whenever we have enough resources to make a small advance, we want one of these small, “gentle” changes to offer an easy opportunity.
Final Thoughts
This brings us to the final line of the section:
<Make> <can> <self> <preserve> <and yet> <complete> <victory> <also>
You must always protect yourself until you can completely triumph.
This line is a pretty easy translation and needs little explanation.