Shaping the Enemy

Abstract Therefore, those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him. (Vl.2) To achieve the nation’s objectives and defeat the enemy a leader must first make the opponent conform to his strategy, rules, and will. He must seize the advantage and make the enemy meet him at the time and place of his choosing. To master the enemy in this manner is what Sun Tzu means by “shaping.” To shape your enemy one must first put together all that has been learned so far. A leader must know the situation. And as water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of the enemy. (VI.28) Then one must be able to deceive the enemy as to one’s plans. Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is the master of his enemy’s fate. (Vl.9)