Sun Wu, known as the "originator of military science", is highly praised by later generations, not only because of his military command ability, but also because of the shocking military classic Sun Tzu's Art of War. The Art of War consists of thirteen articles, with a full text of about 6,000 words, which are divided into three parts: planning, war, planning and attack, shape, potential, reality, military debate, nine changes, marching, topography and topography. Concise and profound, it can be said to be the "world's first ancient art book" at home and abroad.
Sun Tzu's Art of War has been published for more than 2,500 years, with social and historical changes and vicissitudes of life. Why can it transcend the limitations of the times and regions, still shine with the brilliance of truth, and still have such great charm and influence? The key to analyze the reasons lies in the fact that the Art of War, based on simple materialism and dialectics, summarizes and reveals the universal laws and basic strategic and tactical principles of war from the reality of war. At the same time, it has profound strategic connotation, moral connotation and philosophical connotation, and has the thought and creative spirit beyond the times.
The military thought of Sun Tzu's Art of War is a profound, meticulous and complete system, a treasure house of human wisdom and an encyclopedia of world strategies. For more than two thousand years, Chinese and foreign politicians and strategists have said that it is applicable to all fields with competitive activities. Military strategists regard it as a "sacred book of military science", politicians regard it as a strategy for governing the country, philosophers regard it as a treasure book of life, diplomats regard it as a magic weapon for negotiation, writers regard it as a masterpiece of art, and entrepreneurs regard it as the highest textbook for commercial warfare.
Sun Tzu's military thought can be summarized as the following points:
(A) Heavily guard against war-Sun Tzu's theory of cautious war.
Sun Tzu's Art of War has a clear meaning at the beginning. The first statement is that "soldiers, national affairs, places of life and death, and ways of survival must be observed."
Sun Tzu closely linked war with the fate of the country and the life and death of the people. He not only pointed out the important position and role of war in state affairs, but also clearly pointed out that the political purpose of war is to ensure the survival and development of the country. This pushed the war to the top position of national affairs. The truth that "being a soldier is a national event" is simple, but not all rulers know it. In this regard, the basic idea of Sun Tzu's Art of War is to fight again, be cautious and prepare for war, so as to ensure that "the way to secure the country is the policy of the whole army." Ji Pian not only discusses the idea of heavy fighting from the war consequences of life and death, but also further expounds the seriousness of the war consequences from the relationship between war and economy in Ji Pian, and repeatedly points out that "taking 100,000 pieces of armor" means "spending money every day", "being a violent teacher for a long time leads to insufficient use of the country" and "those who benefit the country outside the army have nothing". Similarly, considering the consequences of the war, the fire attack warned people: "If you don't move, you will have it, and you won't fight unless you are in danger. The Lord can't be angry and start a division, and he can't fight in anger; Move with profit, not with profit; Anger can revive happiness, resentment can revive happiness, national subjugation cannot revive, and the dead cannot revive. So it is wise to be cautious, and a good general will warn you. This is also the way of security for the country and the whole army. " From this, it can be seen that taking profit as the motive is the core of Sun Tzu's thought of emphasizing war and being cautious about war, and it is Sun Tzu's basic viewpoint and thought on war.
Based on the seriousness and possible consequences of the war, with the reason and responsibility that a military strategist should have, and based on the fundamental purpose of protecting the country and defending the country, Sun Tzu put forward the above theory of paying attention to the war, being cautious about the war and preparing for the war. Obviously, this is a calm, rational and realistic attitude. With this attitude, we can avoid blind belligerence, dragging the country and people into the abyss of disaster, and we can also avoid blind anti-war, eating hard, and making the country and people lose their vigilance and suffer sudden changes.
In Sun Wu's view, stabilizing the country and preserving the army is the most fundamental purpose of the war, and everything should be carried out around this center. Therefore, the greatest advantage of war is to defend the country and the whole army is wiped out. Monarchs and generals must handle this important issue carefully.
Sun Tzu's theory of "Cautious Warfare and Heavy Warfare" has been valued by military strategists in past dynasties, and it has become an essential character and condition for all "good fighters", and it still has its important value and significance.