Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 2:17 "In chariot fighting, when more than ten enemy chariots are captured, the man to take the first should be rewarded."

How many ancient history movies have you seen? How about Ben-Hur? How about the chariots of Pharaoh in The 10 Commandments? Or Russell Crowe in Gladiator? We've talked about the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna drives the chariot and Arjuna shoots from it.

Dusty, sweaty, bouncy things, I have a hard time imagining actually fighting from within one. I bet our military men with their humvees and tanks would have an easier time than I do. I don't know why, but I have tanks associated with WWII. But, I don't see them getting captured.

I'm probably wrong. Think how amazing it would be to capture 10 or more of the enemy's tanks. What's worse by far is how we leave billions of dollars worth of equipment behind wherever we fight nowadays. It sure makes no sense to me.

I find this verse almost surprisingly tactical. Master Sun doesn't spend too much time being quite so specific, usually. Here, more than 10 chariots, reward the man who took the first one. Clear, clean, simple. So why, why is Master Sun giving us such specific advice?

Here's my theory. It's the spirit of it he wishes to convey. He wants us to respect our war fighters. He wants us to value their effort, and to reward it when it excels. He also wants us to stoke good fortune. It would be a good day, the day you took 10 chariots. Picture it.

Come to think of it, he was very specific about 1,000 taels of silver, and about the 20/1 ratio of food taken from the enemy, previously. Here, while mandating the reward, he doesn't tell us what reward to give. I know what I'd want. A sword. An extraordinary sword!

Now I want you to picture the reverse. See our soldiers returning from Viet Nam to scorn and derision, shame. The scars caused by that return are still with us to this day. Master Sun is teaching us, you have to say 'thank you' to your soldiers.

Maybe that first soldier got a new commission, with higher pay. Or maybe he was given a form of tax-free status. Maybe a magistracy upon returning home. There can be no doubt that he's a hero, and given a hero's respect, gratitude.

Such a simple thing, really. A soldier does well, reward him. Do you remember the list of Five Fundamentals in verse 1:2? The Way, Heaven, Earth, Command, Discipline. Can you see how each of these factors is here, in this simple charge? The Way cannot fail to respect.

10 chariots captured surely shows the will of Heaven. Yet, they are absolutely captured upon the Earth. The Command structure is precisely what must generate the reward. And you cannot hold Discipline if you fail to reward performance.

Let's return, now, to Alinsky and community organizing, radical activism. I've met a few who've come up through those ranks. If you have, then you know how well rewarded they are for their performance. We in the #MAGA world are quick to judge this, as if it were corruption.

I don't question how much corruption occurs. Ha! But, corruption is not the real danger to America in this. Rather, it is their so-well organized attack upon the very values of America herself where the danger lies.

But let's let go of that. Let's just listen to Master Sun. 10 chariots captured? Reward the man who took the first one. How will we live up to this ancient counsel in the #MAGA movement? I have ideas. Do you? I'll share mine. Please share yours!

To return to previous sections in our #WarForAmerica2020 and #SunTzuForMAGA series, don't forget to head over to @WarForAmerica21.

And also, be sure to purchase John Minford's translation, here:

amazon.com/Art-War-Pengui…

37 verses completed, 405 to go.