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Things to Note on Marching Army

Disciplines > Warfare > Wu Zi's Art of War > Things to Note on Marching Army

Chapter | Observed lessons | Discussion | See also

Chapter

First part : 3 : 3

Observed lessons

• Three keys in commanding a marching army:
  • Sustain timing of advance and stop.
  • Sustain timing for eating and drinking.
  • Do not exhaust soldiers or horses.

Discussion

Soldiers need to be ready to fight whenever the enemy appears, which is likely to be at the most inconvenient moment (if they have good information on you). By ensuring they are rested and fed, you keep them ready even though they are marching. Only use a forced march when it is essential for them to travel on foot to a distant point within a short timescale.

While horses are no longer used, the same principle applies to machines. If they are maintained and ready, they they are useful. If they are broken by heavy use or careless transport, they become useless.

See also

Exhaustion

http://www.chinese-wiki.com/Wu_Zi_Art_of_War