Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 5: 2 "Fighting with many is the same as fighting with few; it is a matter of marshalling men with gongs, identifying them with flags."

For as many times as I've read this verse, it was only this morning that the two action words, "marshalling" and "identifying" seemed even slightly difficult. I think of myself as a good reader, but these terms really aren't easy to decipher. Note to self, be more careful!

So first, the two l's in marshalling are the British spelling. Do NOT let me talk about irrational spelling, it has nothing to do with our topic. The word identifying though requires more help. We've talked about the historical commentators before, there are 11 great ones.

Speaking of which, the version in which Minford provides us translations of these great commentaries along with the Sun Tzu text is called: The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life. At any rate, our commentator today is Zhang Yu, and he tells us...

"When many troops are deployed and the distances between them are great, they cannot see or hear each other; with the use of gongs as a signal for retreat and flags as a signal for attack...

…the brave do not find themselves advancing in isolation, and the fearful do not end up retreating alone."

So now we return to the verse. Evidently, we marshal in retreat, and identify in advance. Am I being too technical? Likely. Wouldn't it be wonderful to sit with a scholar who had studied both Sun Tzu and all the technical specifics of ancient warfare? There are such people!

And think about the clarity of seeing a flag, attack, hearing a gong, retreat. Wouldn't it be wonderful if life always offered crystal clear instructions? Advance now, retreat now. I'd likely have done a good bit more retreating in life if only I could have heard its gongs.

Oh, oh, and identifying fellows vs enemies? Sometimes friendly fire isn't an accident. Some of the friends I've had, whew. On the other hand, so often the people I shot at were not enemies, that is, until I started shooting at them. Understand, I speak metaphorically here.

Just slightly hidden under the surface of this verse is the following definition of leadership.

1) Decide when to advance, when to retreat.

2) Communicate your decisions with clarity and 100% comprehensibility to your followers.

Allow me to add that in our world, in the MAGA Movement at the local level, we must self-determine what our mission is, and what is the method of attaining it. We discussed the signal importance of recruiting yesterday, as well as training, letting go and replacing team members.

Let's make a list:

1) Choose Mission
2) Determine Method
3) Recruit Followers
4) Train
5) Signal Advance
6) Signal Retreat
7) After Action Analysis

There is a national rhythm, a drum beat. Every four years we select a president. Everyone cares about that. As if the great leader in the White House was the single most important thing. And yes, it truly does matter. I know, it was a presidential election that got to me.

The truth was, while I did not know it, I was a follower and not a leader. I didn't even think in such terms, back then. Looking back, I'm thrilled to have been a follower. Yet I fear, at the local level, I have always shirked my leadership obligation. Well, not always.

I need to shorten the leadership list now. I'm now assuming a mission, a method, and training:

1) Recruit
2) Attack
3) Retreat
4) Analyze

Fighting with many is the same as fighting with few. I've lived my life as a loner. I respond to Master Sun; you haven't analyzed the life of the lone warrior. He laughs at me as he always does, and tells me, you are not merely one, you are two. Who decides, who fights?

Even within one soul, the decider and the fighter are two, not one. Fighting is not analysis; analysis is not fighting. You, lonely warrior on your own, you are two, not one. So, why not recruit? Why not lead? Or better yet, follow? I speak honestly. I found my leaders.

But be ye leader or be ye follower, mission, method, attack, retreat and analysis will be required. The follower's equivalent to recruiting (the ultimate act of leadership) is joining, signing on, committing, training, showing up, readiness to attack or retreat upon command.

That has to be a list. Honorable followers:

1) Join
2) Sign On To The Mission
3) True Commitment
4) Train
5) Show Up
6) Attack or Retreat
7) Upon Command

Whoops! A follower's analysis is no less and often vastly more valuable than the leader's analysis. In the military, these are called After Action Reports, Lessons Learned, and ultimately they turn into Doctrines. Be ye grunt or be ye general, analysis is required.

We reduce the list again:

1) Join
2) Fight
3) Assess

Last point. Lead or join. Lead or follow. Do one, or the other. Dive in. Commence. Decide. Do NOT allow the other side the advantage of their followers, of their leadership and coordination. If you fail to lead or join, America Herself will die. It's our time. Lead or join.

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

89 verses completed, 333 to go. And also, be sure to purchase John Minford's translation, here:

amazon.com/Art-War-Pengui…

The local MAGA leader’s library needs three other books. The first is by my great friend, hero, and today’s greatest constitutional scholar, @shestokas. His most important work so far is:

amazon.com/Creating-Decla…

The second is available free. It is the combined Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

uscis.gov/sites/default/…

Last is my own book. I'll give you the link here, and then conclude with its ten MAGA principles:

amazon.com/America-First-…

1. Remember The Forgotten Americans
2. Rule Of Law
3. American Jobs
4. Quality Of Life For Every American
5. Heal Our Cities
6. Build The Wall
7. Make America Wealthy Again
8. Make America Strong Again
9. Make America Safe Again
10. Make America Great Again