How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Certain Escape

Disciplines > Warfare > The Six Secret Teachings > 4.4 Certain Escape

Teaching set  | Observed lessons | Discussion | See also

Teaching set

Tiger Secret Teachings 4.4 (34)

Observed lessons

• When you will be penetrating enemy territory, first understand the territory.
• Put the brave at the front (to break through defenses), the weak in the middle and skilled fighters at the rear (where they can deploy out into ambushes).
• Large bodies of water are often not defended strongly. This is an opportunity.
• Burn your supplies to indicate there is no way back.
• Send out a vanguard to find defensible positions to which the main force can advance.

Discussion

When you are going into strange new lands, understanding the land helps you know places to avoid, places you can hold and lines of retreat.

Putting the brave at the front creates a strong shell for the rest of the advance. The brave will not crack, even though they are most likely to die. Putting skilled soldiers and shooters at the rear lets them drop back or quietly move away sideways so a short retreat by the main force can lure the enemy into a trap.

Burning supplies sends a strong message that this is a one-way mission. It removes doubt and forces troops to look forward.

See also

No Way Back

Sawyer, R.D. (1993). The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China, Basic Books