The chapter entitled “Posture of Army” in Sun Tzu’s Art of War is a discussion of the way an army utilizes its position before a battle. By posture, Sun Tzu did not mean the formation or deployment of an army during a battle, but the strategically advantageous posture before a battle that enables it to have a flexible, mobile, and changeable position during a campaign.
In discussing “energy” or “posture,” it would appear that Sun Tzu set out several necessary preliminary conditions for having the most advantageous position:
1. Those who are superior in military strength and weapons.
2. Occupation of a favorable terrain.
3. Excellent training of troops and high morale among soldiers.
4. Commanders who are resourceful, thoughtful, and good at seizing opportunities for combat.
A good posture is not inherent but comes from excellent art of directing war, rich experience in combat, and thoughtfulness in strategy and tactics on the part of the commanders. Sun Tzu pointed out:
“The energy of troops skillfully commanded in battle can be compared to the momentum of round boulders which roll down from a mountain thousands of feet in height. . . . When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum; when a hawk strikes swiftly and breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing. Thus, the momentum of a good commander is overwhelming and his attack precisely timed.”
A brilliant commander seeks victory from the effect of combined energy and does not demand too much of his men. He selects his men and they exploit the situation. He should not only be skillful in employing various strategic considerations in order to change the disadvantages into advantages, he should also be good at creating momentum and regulating his troops, so that the attack can be both extremely swift and vigorous.
Generally speaking, those who are superior in military strength and weapons usually have an advantageous posture. But this is not universal. Sometimes one who is inferior can also be in an advantageous posture if he makes use of the situation and all the advantages that he has.
For instance, in southern China, there is a small animal, a kind of leopard, which is the same size as a cat. It is much weaker in strength than a tiger, but it often attacks a tiger when it sees one. It is as nimble as a squirrel and usually lays in ambush in a tree, and suddenly jumps onto the back of the tiger, gets hold of the tiger’s tail, and uses its sharp paw to vigorously scratch the tiger’s anus. The tiger jumps and roars from pain, but it is unable to reach the leopard cat. The only solution is for the tiger to roll on the ground, at which time the small animal flees rapidly.
The kingfisher is a small bird 15 centimeters long with green feathers and a sharp beak like a nail. It usually flies over water. When it sees a fish, it draws its wings in and dashes into the water with all its force like an arrow. Sometimes it can catch a fish bigger than itself. The action of a kingfisher fully illustrates what Sun Tzu stated: “the momentum is overwhelming and attack precisely timed.”
In ancient Chinese history, there is a story about a horse race between the sovereign of Qi (Qi Wei Wang) and General Tien Ji, in which Sun Bin assisted Tien Ji to win by exercising the concept of “operational research.” Sun was aware of how his advice worked but ignorant of why.
Tien Ji often had horse races with the sovereign of Qi, but lost each time because Qi’s horses were better. Qi’s best horses ran 45 li per hour (equal to about 15 miles per hour), while Tien Ji’s ran 43 li; Qi’s next-best horses ran 41 li, Tien Ji’s ran 40; Qi’s worst horses ran 38 li, Tien Ji’s ran 36 li. In each race, Tien Ji employed the same category of horses to race against the sovereign of Qi and lost in each. Upon learning this, Sun Bin suggested to Tien Ji that he first use his worst horses to race with Qi’s best ones, a race he would no doubt lose. In the second race, Tien Ji should use his best horses to race with Qi’s next-best ones, which would mean 43 li vs. 40 li, for a race he would surely win. In the third race, he would use his next-best horses against Qi’s worst ones, 40 li vs. 38 li, and he would again win. Then Tien Ji would win two out of three races and be the overall winner.
Operational research has not yet been popularized in the sphere of war. It will be a science of how best to employ one’s force when it is applied in the sphere of military science.
A commander who possesses wisdom and courage should try his best to have overwhelming momentum and take prompt action in a campaign. He should rely not only on his superior strength but also on all the advantageous factors so that he may be able to defeat his enemy with a surprise move.
There have been many examples in the history of the Chinese army during different periods of the Revolution when it was in an inferior position strategically, but was able to defeat the enemy by concentrating its forces on the offensive. It all depends on a commander’s resourcefulness and flexibility to seize an opportunity in which he may be able to have overwhelming momentum and take prompt action. Battles fought by the First Field Army at Qinghua Bian, Yangmahe, and Yichuan in the 1940s were such examples. There are also many examples one can find in battles fought by other field armies. And most of them share the following common characteristics:
1. Flexibility in moving troops and skillfulness in seizing opportunities to fight.
2. Concentration of forces to defeat the enemies one by one.
3. Swiftness in moving troops and a comparatively short time spent in a battle.
4. Annihilation of enemies in one movement.
There are many factors which lead to advantageous posture for an army. For example, the terrain. In China, there is a saying: “With only one man guarding the mountain pass, ten thousand men are not able to pass.” This does not mean that a single man can fight against ten thousand persons, but he who occupies an advantageous position can resist the attack of ten thousand men.
To take the enemy by surprise is another factor. In the East Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu attacked the rear of Wang Mang’s army by surprise with his five thousand soldiers and defeated it. This is a typical case.
To gain initiative and be flexible is another important factor. For instance, strike first whenever possible and force the enemy into passivity. Attack promptly where the enemy is most vulnerable. Try to occupy a location of command that offers a good overall view of the battlefield.
Sun Tzu wrote in the chapter entitled “Maneuvering”: “Close to the field of battle, they await an enemy coming from afar; at rest, they await an exhausted enemy; with well-fed troops, they await hungry ones. . . . Avoid the enemy when its spirit is keen and attack it when it is sluggish and the soldiers are homesick. . . . Do not engage an enemy advancing with well-ordered banners, nor one whose formations are in impressive array.”
The following is a summary of Sun Tzu’s thoughts regarding military posture:
Energy and favorable posture of an army come from the strategic considerations of commanders. A good commander must be deft at following Sun Tzu’s principles: “Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be defeated.” “Attack where the enemy is not guarded and catch him by surprise.” “Defeat your enemy by a surprise move.” “Attack the enemy at a place where the enemy is sure to come to its rescue.”
A commander should try to move troops with overwhelming momentum and prompt action; he should have troops moving swiftly and fighting courageously.
A commander should have a correct understanding of a battle, and development of a campaign, and try to seize upon a favorable opportunity for fighting.
A commander should establish superiority of his army over the enemy’s in number and in quality. (It is difficult to have an overall superiority, but to have partial advantages is possible.)
A commander should make use of advantageous terrains to make up for a lack of soldiers. Terrain can restrict the mobility of the enemy, which can even put it in a fatal position. However, if a good terrain is not properly made use of, the result will be catastrophic.