“The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.”
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In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.
Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.
Secret operations are essential in war upon them the army relies to make its every move.