Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 5: 18 "The warrior skilled at stirring the enemy provides a visible form, and the enemy is sure to come. He proffers the bait, and the enemy is sure to take it. He causes the enemy to make a move and awaits him with full force."

Lovers seduce each other. This is not so very different from battle. There is a battle lust in each of our souls. We can be stirred to it. For all of our claims against violence, our denials and assertions of non-violent morality, we remain violent creatures, we humans do.

What a phrase, "provides a visible form." The skilled warrior implants a visual image in his enemy general's mind. That image is, for the enemy, a false but crystal-clear image of victory. The winning general makes the losing general see a fictional victory. He thus stirs him.

With a false image of victory, certain victory in his mind, the losing general will arrive at the precise site of battle the victorious general has set before him. The losing general will arrive at the precise moment the victorious general determined and stirred him to come.

In the tradition of Long Sword, the German tradition that I study, there are four basic guards. Sword held high right, is called The Day. It refers to the Sun in the sky. Above and pointing straight at your enemy's face is called The Ox, just like its horns.

The third guard is called The Plow, and it indicates the pommel low, by your hip, and the tip up, pointing at your enemy's throat. The last guard is called The Fool. You're casually holding the pommel by your hip, and the sword's tip is dropped to the ground, harmlessly.

Did I say harmlessly? Foolish me. Only a fool would drop his sword in battle. Your sword is your shield in our tradition. It is an unbreakable principle that its tip must always be between yourself and your enemy, guarding the line. Well, an unbreakable principle...except...

Except when you take the position of The Fool. Thing is, who actually is The Fool? Who's fooling who? I'll fess up. If you think my sword is safely far away from you when I lower it, it ain't me who's the fool. It's you. Consider. You step forward. I raise my sword to your belly.

With apologies, I have to offer the German names of these four guards. Vom Tag, Ochs, Pflug, and Alber. The Day is the most comfortable, and rightly should be your default. The Ox is wonderful, and if you're not good at it, you have not arrived. The Plow is wonderful too.

Where The Ox is very literally "in your face," and therefore a fantastic offensive position, The Plow is such a wonderful defensive position it also enjoys the delightful name, Iron Gate. You just won't get through. Who wouldn't want an iron gate between themselves and enemy?

But when it comes to stirring the enemy, your greatest visual form is to drop your sword's point to the ground. Come kill me, your sword says. It'll be easy. Effortless. I commit suicide upon your sword, you state with your defenseless guard. Come kill me. I surrender.

In negotiations with beloved friends, I always, well, often, explain that if I ever pretend, I'm surrendering, you shouldn't believe me. Even to friends, I lie about surrendering. In fact, "I surrender" may well be my two most dishonest words. Mostly, I never surrender. Never.

Okay, sometimes I surrender honestly. I do. Here's my key word. Peace. I NEVER lie about peace. If we agree to peace, and yes, even if that means I have to surrender, then you can trust me. If I offer you my sword, like Lee to Grant, I won't lie. Peace is sacred.

But if I merely point my sword toward the earth instead of at you, beware, I may be fooling you. Alber. The Fool. Sword tip down. Do you see me dead on your sword? Then I have stirred you with a visible form. Don't believe in my foolishness, it's not a good bet.

By the way, you don't need to buy an expensive sword to practice. Spend $2 on a wooden dowel and you'll be able to learn. Get a 1-inch, 3-foot dowel, you'll be fine. Drop its front end down, held at your side. Raise it up, toward your enemy's belly. You'll discover. It's fast.

How lucky are we in the #MAGA movement? We have a "foolish" president. He's always saying the silliest things, and he Tweets them. How many times have you heard commentators pontificate that he should Tweet less? Oh, what a fool he most obviously is. Uh huh.

Remember 'fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me?' How ashamed should the MSM, the Democrats, and oh yes, the anti-Trump Republicans be? @realDonaldTrump has been Albering, Fooling ALL his enemies for over 3 years now.

Want to know how he does it? He lowers his guard. He tells the truth. And every single time they come swarming as if he lied. They tell lie after lie in their attack upon him. Lies, lies and more lies. They sucker for his stirring every single time. Over and over. It's hilarious.

You can learn from our leader. Lower your guard. Drop your sword's point toward the earth. Tell the simple truth. Go figure, who does that? Do it. And watch your enemies scurry. They'll be sure you're lying every time, sure to take the bait. Just be open, honest.

When you have power, raise your sword high and strike down from above. When you have righteousness, point your sword straight at your enemy's face. When you're under attack, plow through, drop your sword low and point its tip up. When you're ready to win, bait your enemy.

Drop your sword's tip, pointing down to the earth in false despair. Lure your enemy with bait, the bait of his easy victory and your ignominious defeat. He will be sure to make a move; one you await with full force.

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

106 verses completed, 316 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