Key Arguments

• Driving the army deep before revealing intent reduces wavering and ensures focus on survival and victory.
• Removing avenues of retreat forces cohesion and obedience under a single purpose.
• Mustering and bringing the host into danger is core to a general’s role in decisive moments.

Source Quotes

38. At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his hand.

39. He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and nothing knows whither he is going. 40.

40. To muster his host and bring it into danger: — this may be termed the business of the general. 41.

Key Concepts

• At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him.
• He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and nothing knows whither he is going.
• To muster his host and bring it into danger: — this may be termed the business of the general.

Context

xi. The Nine Situations — commitment tactics to enforce resolve