Implementing Conserving Energy while Enemies Tired Out - 36 Strategies
From World's Chinese Wiki
Implementing Conserving Energy while Enemies Tired Out - 36 Strategies
"Conserving Energy while Enemies Tired Out" is actually to avoid attacking the enemy when it's fighting morale and spirit is very high. Usually this happens when the battles is about to start, at the initial stage as what the verse says. After avoiding the head-on collision, try to reduce the advantages that the enemy have without causing your own troops to be tired as well.
What are the factors that would lead to the successful implementation of "Conserving Energy while Enemies Tired Out"?
- Success of Avoidance
- Wearing Out of Enemy
- Engage Enemy after Wearing Him Out
Success of Avoidance
"Success of Avoidance" is the first stage towards the successful implementation of this strategy. Because if the avoidance does not happen, both side will be worn out thus none will have an advantageous over the other party. Of course, this is easier said than done. During war, the terrain will come into the picture. Sometimes the terrain may not allow you to avoid your enemy. If that is the case, such a strategy should not be used. For avoidance strategies, you may want to refer to "Feign an Attack in the East and Attack in the West" and "Secret Passage through Chen Cang". Thus you would have realised this strategy is best implemented if one has a position that can be defended easily, thus avoiding the enemy easily.
Now the emotional intelligence of the general is important here as well. There are many examples in war, where the general gave up a good defence position to attack the enemy because the enemy has provoked him. So it is of utmost importance that the general be not easily provoked offence.
Wearing Out of Enemy
After avoiding the enemy, it is time to wear him out. There is a need to wear him out because you want to reduce his advantages on you. Without doing that, it would be similar to a head-on collision with him. Now in war, this is easily done by avoiding to engage the enemy. Usually, the fighting spirit and morale would have died down quite fast if there was no engagement. But in business, this is different. You HAVE TO do something to wear out the advantages. If not it would remain the same. Rule of thumb is that you have to check whether the advantages will wear down over time.
Engage Enemy after Wearing Him Out
After you have worn out the enemy's advantage, it would be fruitless if you are not able to engage the enemy. So engaging is the final stage of completing this strategy successfully. With this in mind, you can either create a situation where the enemy will definitely have to engage you, thus avoiding the need to seek them out, or make sure you always know the movement of the enemy so as to plan ahead and engage them at the right time.
Back to "Conserving Energy while Enemies Tired Out"