Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 6: 28 "According to my assessment, the troops of Yue are many, but that will avail them little in the struggle. So I say victory is still possible."

Sometimes, we use a specific example to illustrate a general principle. Yue is an example of having more soldiers than we do. It is a phenomenal story, filled with twists and turns and unexpected outcomes. We need to - and will - follow it out in detail. It's exciting!

In order to capture the flow of the moment, we turn, now, the Lionel Giles. First, I'll share his translation of this verse. And then, second, his own comments in explanation. After that, I'll disagree with him just a little and take it from there. Here we go!

Lionel Giles, #SunTzu 6: 21 "Though according to my estimate the soldiers of Yueh exceed our own in number, that shall advantage them nothing in the matter of victory. I say then that victory can be achieved." As you will see, Master Sun needed to add, 'as long as I'm alive.'

Lionel Giles, commentary: "Alas for these brave words! The long feud between the two states ended in 473 BC with the total defeat of Wu by Kou Chien and its incorporation in Yueh. This was doubtless long after Sun Tzu's death....

"[This] passage refers particularly to the soldiers of Yueh who, according to Sun Tzu's calculations, will be kept in ignorance of the time and place of the impending struggle. That is why he says here that victory can be achieved."

If we must blame Master Sun for anything, we must blame him for the human frailty of death. He should have lived forever. He didn't. He failed us, and most especially, the State of Wu. Smaller states CAN defeat larger ones, but they MUST have minds like Sun Tzu's to do so.

In the coming verses 6: 29 - 32 (and please read ahead!) Master Sun gives us the plan. Slow down with me. Contemplate that. Master Sun is giving us one of his OWN plans. I can hardly wait to unpack each verse. Here, he's just envisioning a possible, if unlikely victory.

Let's change topic. Succession. The ultimate mark of leadership is that your followers achieve more than you do. Master Sun was good. But, in our daily conversations, he confesses to me that he failed in the ultimate mission, which was to replace himself with his own superior.

#SunTzu 1: 1 "War is a grave affair of state; it is a place of life and death, a road to survival and extinction, a matter to be pondered carefully."

Can you feel it? The very end of Wu; absorbed into Yue. Let's look at that.

China has a larger army than we do. Could it be that China will absorb America into itself? Yes. 100% yes. In 100 years, we could be speaking Chinese here in what used to be the Great United States of America. We could become China's colony. They do have more soldiers than we do.

I'm never sure. I think #SunTzu 1: 2 is my favorite verse...but maybe not. Maybe verse 1: 1 is, actually, the most important of all. Let's give this a name. National Existentialism. Like Wu, will Yue absorb us? Or, will America continue to exist - EXIST - in its own right?

Another direction. Did George Washington's mother know he'd be the father of a nation? Not a chance. Did Master Sun's mother know he'd compose the most important book in history? Absolutely not. Do you know your own destiny? Likely not. What is in your future to achieve?

If history has failed to teach you that a single person's life matters and might be the very turning point upon which history hinges, then it has failed you. You - YOU - might be the most important person in the world today. You might be. So, might I. We just don't know.

We can be 100% certain of this. If Master Sun had been a bit younger, if he'd lived longer, Yue would NOT have absorbed Wu. Wu would have defeated Yue. Does this matter? Who knows? But my bet is that Wu was capitalist, not communist. My bet is that Master Sun was capitalist.

I know how silly I am. What possible difference might one empire vs another have had 2,500 years ago, when looking at today's world? Maybe none. But, I confess, that's not what I think. I think that if Master Sun had only lived longer, it would have mattered.

So, let's turn to you. What army do you face with more soldiers than you have on your side? Can you win, anyway? In coming verses Master Sun will teach you how. Will you listen and learn? If so, then all will be well.

138 verses completed, 284 to go.

To return to previous sections in our #WarForAmerica2020 and #SunTzuForMAGA series, don't forget to head over to @WarForAmerica21. You'll find the digital table of contents for this series, there. Please retweet each entry you enjoy.