"Sober Second Thought" [Reflections On Sun Tsu's Art Of War Chapter7 #5) (I Jn.2:15-17; Prov.1:8-19; James 4:1-3; Matt.6:13.34)

To set in motion, mobilize, at first of enterprise,
Is no small feat, as you move off, for this, you realize,
May not have planes, or ships involved, but simply marching men;
As Sun Tzu said, back in his day, and Army you now send –

Away from camp, so bags and baggage, carts, and all supplies,
Equipment huge, and not so big, armed soldier’s horse to ride,
Which must be tackled, fed with stores, just like the men astride;
Equipment, winter buff-coats, fast pile up with Army’s size.

If you bring full equipment with you, entire fighting force,
You won’t move quickly, it’s too big; whole Army’s size of course,
Will vary, but there’s slow and fast within each group of men,
So be aware you’ll plod along – each day set out again.

And that’s when skies are sunny, feelings high, and health is good;
When enemy is far away, and strife’s not understood
By average man; but days will come when life is not so bright,
For many then will drag their feet, as soon they’ll have to fight.

If suddenly advantage comes, if you will seize the day,
Chase after it, snatch up the chance, contending – you will pay –
For you’ll be late, you’ll fall behind, will not arrive in time;
It takes too long to move towards such situations fine.

Perhaps you think you can strip down, abandon camp a while;
Leave some behind, lay stuff aside, reduce for swifter style;
Dispatch of flying column to attain it in this way;
Well, think again, breakup your group and you will lose the day.

For men can’t fight when ill-equipped, contend for purpose bright;
Or struggle in the contest with no weapons for the fight;
This could result in suffering a loss of all supplies,
If foe slips ’round and gathers up your goods, to your surprise.

To order all to double up their pace, in half the time
Rush forward, things are just as bad; “No halting” works just fine
At first, but day and night no camp, or stopping for our rest,
Exhausts the troops in futile race, for needs are not addressed.

Perhaps you’ll move one hundred miles, gain twenty miles a day;
You’ll be strung out from slow to fast, lose leaders in this way;
Your generals, commanders of three groups will captured be,
And men depressed by what they see, are snared by enemy.

Strong soldiers with their vigor press ahead and get there first;
Out in the front, first to arrive, their situation’s worse
Than those behind – exhausted, weary, jaded, feeble, weak,
Who struggle on, far in the rear, who shelter, safety seek.

One group has armor and supplies, but are not best of troops;
The best are in the battlefield, but ill-equipped as group;
One tenth will last one hundred miles, the rest will not survive;
Advantage chased as tactic’s poor – it’s best to stay alive.

The Proverbs of King Solomon say watch impulsive eyes;
James adds to that the cause of wars is greed, which he despised;
So make your plans, beware of “Luck” – “Good fortune” oft can hide
A trap, or, in this case, bad moves – on Kingdom-layer abide.

Field-leaders should assess such “Breaks”, take sober second thought;
Perhaps all this, viewed differently, augments the luck they’ve got;
Where would the table lie when done, would Moscow really be
Good win for old Napoleon if he could future see?

Thanks Lord for this.

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