"Let the enemy create your victory." - Cao Cao
Can Cao (Emperor Wu of Wei) was considered to be a "Martial King" of China due to his expertise and success in war. Living in the period called the "Three Kingdoms Period" (220-280 A.D.), he was a self made man who rose to become king of Wei, a kingdom controlling a large part of China. Later Cao Cao's son would become Emperor of all China and proclaimed his father to be T'ai Tzu (respected founder) of the Wei Dynasty.
An expert strategist and martial artist, Cao Cao would have been familiar with the strategies of the "Art of War". In fact the earliest written commentary was written by Cao Cao and much like Sun Tzu he saw the strategies of war to be just as applicable to the mind as to the field.
After having experienced a vision of the goddess Nuwa (Chinese: 女媧) Cao Cao devised a martial art for the use of his military. The following 9 strategies are taken from the teachings of Cao Cao.
An expert strategist and martial artist, Cao Cao would have been familiar with the strategies of the "Art of War". In fact the earliest written commentary was written by Cao Cao and much like Sun Tzu he saw the strategies of war to be just as applicable to the mind as to the field.
After having experienced a vision of the goddess Nuwa (Chinese: 女媧) Cao Cao devised a martial art for the use of his military. The following 9 strategies are taken from the teachings of Cao Cao.
The Will of Heaven
This principle is a huge hint that the penultimate aim of strategy is to win without conflict. In Cao Cao's own words: "Without engaging the enemy in battle, the wise general accomplishes his goal with his force unscathed. Thus it is said he is victorious under Heaven because he has not sacrificed a single man to the sword." This is much like Sun Tzu's: "The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." |
No doubt that to be able to subdue an enemy requires more than a desire for victory. The will of heaven implies a natural need that arises by change. To be able to fill this need in a way that benefits all parties involved would certainly give a great advantage. Of course strategically these needs are often created by those who come to fulfill them. Likewise it would be crucial to be able to identify the fears and desires of your enemy. In this way you could apply a variety of tactics of manipulation. Here enters the use of deception.
"Nothing is constant in war save deception and cunning..." - Cao Cao
"Nothing is constant in war save deception and cunning..." - Cao Cao
Stand Firm on Solid Earth
While there are physical applications to this that can be used combatively, in strategy it refers to a sense of resolve that allows you to gaze into chaos and know that you can distill from it order. This resolve also will give you the strength to "stand your ground" on issues that are important to your strategy. Whether it be by show of force or use of threats, the enemy is always looking at your reactions for any signs of weakness. Remaining stoic in these situations will enable you to see beyond what is shown and heard to identify underlying motivations.
"It has been said that wisdom lies not in seeing things, but in seeing through things."
- Manly P. Hall
"It has been said that wisdom lies not in seeing things, but in seeing through things."
- Manly P. Hall
Taste the Wind
"Victory lies in understanding subtleties, in attacking the vulnerable, not the invulnerable." This strategy is all about reading the signs. Even the smallest clues can betray the biggest of plots. Whether it's a slip of the tongue, a sudden interest, rumors or body language, catching on to these signs can inform us with what we need to succeed. There are two forms of intelligence required for the strategist, innate intelligence and gathered intelligence. While innate intelligence can be seen as the whit you were born with, gathered intelligence can be seen as the the kind you would die without. A good strategist should pay close attention to any signs that can be turned into opportunities, and knowing what weaknesses others have enables you to manipulate them. Whether it be by desire for what they want or fear of what they don't. |
Once information is gathered it can be used strategically to subdue, weaken or entice the enemy. On the other hand you can use this same principle in reverse so that you use those that are "untrustworthy" to unwittingly relay a message to the enemy. This leads us perfectly into the next strategy.
Obscuring Clouds
"Winning begins and ends with keeping dispositions hidden." - Cao Cao There isn't much that can give you a better advantage than the element of surprise. Whether you are a military strategist, sports athlete or business person, keeping your plans secret until it is time to execute can very well determine the fate of your strategy as a whole. |
To use this strategy effectively would require a two pronged approach.
- Plan in secret: Keep a low profile and remember that if you want a secret kept, keep it yourself. When your planning involves others, only give them what they need to know to complete their task. Some strategists have been known to give false information when it comes to reasons a certain task is given. This is to ensure that the strategy plans are not compromised in the event that they fall into the wrong hands.
- Distract others from your goals: If one aspect is keeping your plans hidden, the other would naturally keep those who would want to know your plans guessing. While misdirection plays a big role, never underestimate the power of misinformation. Good example of this would be the Normandy invasion of World War II. In this case, victory was won by misinformation.
Flying Dragon
The dragons of the East are powerful symbols of wisdom and grace. The dragon harnesses the power of the wind by riding its currents, and it is this ability that has allowed man to sail the seas. Likewise a good strategist must be aware of the "winds of change". The practical action of going with the flow allows the opportunity for the enemy to "create your victory". |
The flying dragon also is said to be a symbol of the "will of heaven", and so we are warned again to embody this will. Several martial arts masters have been associated with the dragon for the quality of embodying the will of heaven. One of the more recent ones being Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, who considered himself an incarnation of the Dragon King Ame-no-murakumo Kuki Samuhara Ryu-O. He explained that the Dragon King stands for "the transformation of one's being into irresistible force", and that "Kuki" represents a two edged sword of Heaven and Earth.
Winged Tiger
Cao Cao was known for attacking with large forces before the enemy was prepared. So much so that it was said that; "No sooner do you speak the Old Dragon's name than he appears!" In short, this strategy is about using the element of surprise, striking hard and striking fast. The German blitzkrieg used in World War II is a good example of how it would be used. |
Cao Cao describes this tactic as: "Make a show of being far away... then march with all haste to arrive before the enemy even suspects you are on the move. Choose a circuitous rout that gives the illusion it requires a great distance to travel. Even when you start out after the enemy does, so long as you calculate correctly, you can still alive before your enemy."
The Soaring Bird
Much like the Egyptian Horus, birds of prey were revered in Asia for their keen vision and swift hunting prowess. This strategy makes use of a higher perspective of vision to see the "big picture". Each action must fit into a larger scheme, combining short term gains (or apparent losses) with larger goals. In this way a strategist is able to systematically drive each interaction in accordance with their Will (which would follow "the Will of Heaven"), to a single end. When applied to the schemes of others, keen vision and wisdom allows the strategist to understand the motivations of others and how it fits into the larger playing field of the bigger picture. Cao Cao knew well that the basic human tendency was based on what we would call today the "pleasure principle", and saw this as a way to find opportunity. |
In his own words, he says:
"Human nature advances towards gain and retreats from pain." So naturally strategy looks for signs and opportunities to take advantage of desires for gain and fears of pain.
He also says: "Mastery comes from the opportunity itself, and the opportunity is mastered through action." Here he points out that we must act on opportunities. Since we cannot always predetermine what opportunities come, we need to have an adaptability that allows for change, as he points out:
"Just as water has no constant form, so too war has no constant dynamic. As water adapts to each vase, so too those who are adept at war adopt an attitude of flexibility, thus adapting to flux and circumstance. So much of this cannot be known in advance but must be judged on the spot with a practiced eye."
"Human nature advances towards gain and retreats from pain." So naturally strategy looks for signs and opportunities to take advantage of desires for gain and fears of pain.
He also says: "Mastery comes from the opportunity itself, and the opportunity is mastered through action." Here he points out that we must act on opportunities. Since we cannot always predetermine what opportunities come, we need to have an adaptability that allows for change, as he points out:
"Just as water has no constant form, so too war has no constant dynamic. As water adapts to each vase, so too those who are adept at war adopt an attitude of flexibility, thus adapting to flux and circumstance. So much of this cannot be known in advance but must be judged on the spot with a practiced eye."
The Twice Striking Snake
"My enemy rushes to the fore, but I am attacking his rear. When he responds by reinforcing his rear, his front again becomes vulnerable." - Cao Cao This strategy finds its origin with the a snake of Chinese legend called the shuai jan snake. Sun Tzu even makes mention of this snake in the Art of War's 11th chapter on the 9 situations. |
"The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang Mountains. Strike at its head and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle and you will be attacked by head and tail both."
While at first glance we can see that this strategy employs multiple wave attacks to draw enemy forces to and from different targets to weaken and confuse them, this also relates to the implementation of overt and covert forces. Sun Tzu advises using different kinds of spies so that when the time comes, confusion can be unleashed upon the enemy from within. They would also use specially trained forces (a.k.a. special forces) to engage in guerrilla type warfare while the larger force would engage directly.
From a psychological standpoint, this strategy can make use of several "outside" influences to take away the "competitive edge" from an opponent. This is a useful strategy for weakening the enemy indirectly, so that your direct attacks overwhelms them. In this way it is similar to Musashi's "cutting at the edges" strategy.
From a psychological standpoint, this strategy can make use of several "outside" influences to take away the "competitive edge" from an opponent. This is a useful strategy for weakening the enemy indirectly, so that your direct attacks overwhelms them. In this way it is similar to Musashi's "cutting at the edges" strategy.
The Turtle Triumphant
"I make myself invulnerable and await my enemy's moment of vulnerability. In an advantageous situation, one ponders disadvantages. In a disadvantaged position, one ponders advantage." In the East the turtle has long been associated with longevity, living long lives. One of the characteristics of the turtle is that it can hide in its own shell for protection. |
Like the turtle, this strategy is about having a strong and capable defense. During his many war campaigns Cao Cao never let himself get drawn out into a disadvantage. In one case where he appeared to be at a disadvantage, he faked an advance with a small portion of his army. When the enemy charged, he appeared to retreat into caves. As the enemy followed, the remainder of his military force attacked from the rear. Then as they were reinforcing the rear, he turned around to attack and crush a larger force.
"Slow and steady wins the race" says the turtle. With this strategy, you hold to your defenses and maneuver as necessary until the enemy makes a mistake. Then you strike.
These are the 9 strategies of Cao Cao. Because each of these are a principle, they can be applied to any of us in our daily lives, whether it be in the study of the martial arts, in business, or in how we manage ourselves in our own journey to success, whatever form that may take. I'll leave you with this:
"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win...The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy." - Sun Tzu
"Slow and steady wins the race" says the turtle. With this strategy, you hold to your defenses and maneuver as necessary until the enemy makes a mistake. Then you strike.
These are the 9 strategies of Cao Cao. Because each of these are a principle, they can be applied to any of us in our daily lives, whether it be in the study of the martial arts, in business, or in how we manage ourselves in our own journey to success, whatever form that may take. I'll leave you with this:
"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win...The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy." - Sun Tzu
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