Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 4: 23 "In War, there are Five Steps: Measurement, Estimation, Calculation, Comparison, Victory."

If we grant our text its age, at 500 BC, here we are 2,500 years later. Yet, tell me, where have you ever been given such crystal clear instructions? I haven't, not anywhere else. So much so, that my mind fights against the clarity. Does yours?

Yo, Scopelliti, measure first. Measure twice. Measure until your measurements are certain. Measure. Okay, now, estimate. You measure what's there. You estimate what isn't there, but is needed. Now, calculate. Can you bring what's needed per your estimation? Cool! Oh wait...

War is a grave matter of the state, a matter of life and death. We're not just talking about squaring the legs for a kitchen table (wonderful as such a project may be), we're talking combat. We must compare our measurements, estimates and calculations of the enemy's disposition.

And there we are, at victory once again. Victory, victory, victory. Master Sun essentially thinks about nothing else. How will we win? Will we? Or will we lose? Measure, estimate, calculate, compare. Their forces. Ours. Position. Who has the advantage? Victory.

Until now, whenever I've read this verse, I always feel like it makes sense. It's natural, organic, logical. Yet, I still feel like there are layers beneath that are difficult for me to get to. I have two new friends to introduce. Jia Lin and Zhang Yu. Ancient commentators.

Jia Lin explains:

1) Measurement OF TERRAIN.

2) Estimation OF STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AND OF SUPPLIES IN GRANARIES.

3) Calculation IN TERMS OF NUMBERS. THE MANY AS OPPOSED TO THE FEW, THE STRONG AS OPPOSED TO THE WEAK.

Jia Lin concludes:

4) Comparison, HAVING CALCULATED THE NUMBERS, ASCERTAINING THE RELATIVE WEIGHT OF ABILITY OF THE TWO SIDES.

Before we turn to our new friend, Zhang Yu, we need to learn some other ancient stuff. We need to learn about the game of Go. And we need to learn about an even more ancient fellow named Duke Li. How do these ancient guys get their English names? Beats me!

Follow this from Wikipedia: Duke Li of Qi died 816 BC, was from 824 to 816 BC the ninth recorded ruler of the State of Qi during the Western Zhou dynasty of ancient China. His personal name was Lü Wuji, ancestral name Jiang, and Duke Li was his posthumous title.

There's more about this guy, and I'll share it in a moment. But first, let's catch our breath. Our guy, George Washington, died in 1799. Duke Li died 2,615 years previously. Work with me. Your brain has to work hard to imagine time.

2019 + 816 = 2,835 years ago.

From Wikipedia: Duke Li was a despotic ruler, and in 816 BC the people of Qi rebelled against him. Duke Li was killed by the rebels. Subsequently Duke Li's son Duke Wen ascended the throne, and executed 70 people who were responsible for Duke Li's death.

So there's our Duke, you'll see why in a moment. And the game of Go? It's believed to be the most ancient game in continuous play to this day. Older than chess. All you need to know for now is that it's a strategy game. It is just like war. Whew. Got through all that!

Finally, Zhang Yu tells us, about victory: "This refers to the proper arrangement of camp and battle formations. As Duke Li said, 'Training troops is like placing pieces on a Go board. If there is no designated path, how can you deploy your men?'"

Funny names, ancient characters, Asian games, how can all this relate to us in the USA in 2019? I am profoundly grateful to @realDonaldTrump. We know he studies Sun Tzu. So, catching our breath, let's go over the five steps of war, again...

1) Measurement
2) Estimation
3) Calculation
4) Comparison
5) Victory

And I ask. Who in your local district will complete these five steps?

We'll be looking at these exact steps again in tomorrow's verse. Master Sun never lets up. War is too grave a matter of state to take lightly, or to ever relent. True 2,500 years ago. True today.

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

83 verses completed, 339 to go. And also, be sure to purchase John Minford's translation, here:

amazon.com/Art-War-Pengui…