The seventh chapter of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”, titled “The Army on the March”, discusses the importance of arriving at the battlefield before the enemy to gain an advantage in warfare. Specifically, it talks about “battles for the initiative”. This refers to the struggle for dominance before the battle begins.
This chapter discusses “points to note for gaining the initiative”. It mentions tactics such as “indirect direct strategy” and “wind, forest, fire, mountain, darkness, thunder”.
The “indirect direct strategy” is a tactic where you appear to take a detour but arrive before the enemy. In other words, it refers to a strategy that turns a detour into a shortcut.
“Wind, forest, fire, mountain, darkness, thunder” represents the versatile nature of an army. The army moves quickly like the wind, making it difficult for the enemy to respond. It can also be eerily quiet, attack fiercely like a raging fire, defend solidly like an immovable mountain, remain undetected like darkness, and show a tumultuous movement like thunder.
By using these tactics, you can take the initiative from the enemy. In addition to your own quick movements, Sun Tzu’s idea is to delay the enemy. By understanding and appropriately applying these tactics, it is possible to gain an advantage in warfare.
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