Scope And Scale (Sun Tzu 2:1) (Psalm 3)
Saw an RV on the street,
Label on the back was sweet –
Emblazoned on spare-tire wrap:
“Costa Lotta” – made me laugh.Chapter two draws out this fact:
Money drains ’fore troops get back;
Costa Lotta – yes indeed!
Off to war? You’ll money need.Hidden costs, and those up front,
Hits both sides when they confront
Prospect of a time of war;
Some say, “That’s what monies for”.Snapshot from the days of yore,
Shows the costs of going to war;
When defending it’s the same,
Fighting is a costly game.Upfront money is the key,
Lubricates one’s strategy;
If you lack it, you’ll get whumped,
Best when all your costs are lumped.Based on what your tactics are
(Principles, like near and far),
Preparations frame the cost –
Large and small – no detail’s lost.Preparation is not war –
Readiness gets set before
Military is employed;
This is task field-men avoid.Operations’ needs supply,
Generals can tell you why –
“It establishes a base,
Forward, back – whichever case.“Fundamental to the use
Of our forces – no excuse
Will suffice – we need those stores;
Base of action is resource.At the front one hundred K
Soldiers, in their coats of mail;
Swift-attack-(one thousand strong)
Four-horse-chariots belong –To this base of infantry;
Backed by heavy chariotry –
Leather armored – four-horse too;
And these soldiers all need food.Tens of thousands – wagons, carts,
Ship supplies, then disembark
Say, one thousand li away
(That’s three thousand miles today).Weapons must be shipped there to –
Arrows, spears, and swords – once used,
Need replacement or repair –
Glue and paint for armor’s care.Vehicles need maintenance;
Horses need their fodder, hence,
Transport is a major cost,
Paid up front lest war be lost.Staff and soldiers home, away,
All require their costs and pay;
Envoys and intelligence,
Officers’ extravagance –All this adds to cost of war;
Calculate expenses for
Everything as cost per day,
Then you’ll know if you’re okay.In his day Sun Tzu said one
Thousand pieces (liang) was sum
Of the force which he required
To attain what he desired.If one wants to army raise,
Send them out and win the day,
Raise the cash which you will need,
Then a victory you’ll see.Money stores up energy;
When released, results you’ll see;
Horizontal cash is swell;
Vertical helps out as well.navigation