Tahiri Veila (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
weetuskenraider) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2016-01-12 08:21 pm
weetuskenraider) wrote in fandomhigh2016-01-12 08:21 pm
Entry tags:
Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 2 [Wednesday, Period 2]
"We're going to get right into it with P'ien number one today," Tahiri started once it looked like everyone was present. "If you read the text, it's about laying plans. Sun Tzu says that there are five factors you should always take into consideration when you're making plans and getting prepared: the Moral Law, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, and finally Method and Discipline." She'd been moving toward the board as she spoke, and wrote each of the five factors down as a separate column.
"It sounds more obscure than it actually is," Ghanima assured the class as Tahiri wrote. "The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives. Keep in mind that this is ancient China, so serfs do not count as 'people.' Their opinions don't count."
"Heaven and Earth are the physical conditions you may face on a battlefield: Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons, whereas Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death."
"The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness. And by Method and Discipline, it is to be understood that it means the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure."
Tahiri nodded. "He goes on to say that these are the basis for seven considerations you need to make, in order to weigh your chances for victory. Which leader has the advantage of Moral Law, and the loyalty of their followers? Whose general is more capable? Who has the advantage of Heaven and Earth, environment and terrain? Which army is better disciplined? Which is stronger? Which is better trained? Which -- going back to discipline a little bit -- makes a better practice of reward and punishment?"
"This isn't just applicable to armed war," Ghanima pointed out. "The boardroom, the bedroom, ideological war, economic war, wars between the social classes... the five factors can factor into any and all sorts of conflicts, and the ideals hold true no matter the situation."
"You may just have to figure out how they translate into the given situation," Tahiri added with a grin. "And be prepared to be flexible, of course, because circumstances do change. Especially because -- as Sun Tzu goes on to say -- all warfare is based on deception."
If she sounded a little bit like she enjoyed that concept, well. That was one of the Yuuzhan Vong's favorite parts of warfare. "You want to make your opponent believe they've got the advantage. The less real intel they have on you, the less chance you give them to gain any advantage, the better."
As if Ghanima would judge Tahiri for enjoying the deception part -- she was Atreides and Fremen. Anyone who'd gotten to know Ghanima as a person -- or met her brother -- would realize that the twins adored causing chaos and confusion through subterfuge.
"So let us create a war of the words," she said merrily. "Give us some scenarios, real or fictional, and let's argue about how to apply the five factors."
"Get creative with them, too," Tahiri added. "Military scenarios or completely mundane ones, whatever you can think of where these factors might apply."
"It sounds more obscure than it actually is," Ghanima assured the class as Tahiri wrote. "The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives. Keep in mind that this is ancient China, so serfs do not count as 'people.' Their opinions don't count."
"Heaven and Earth are the physical conditions you may face on a battlefield: Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons, whereas Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death."
"The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness. And by Method and Discipline, it is to be understood that it means the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure."
Tahiri nodded. "He goes on to say that these are the basis for seven considerations you need to make, in order to weigh your chances for victory. Which leader has the advantage of Moral Law, and the loyalty of their followers? Whose general is more capable? Who has the advantage of Heaven and Earth, environment and terrain? Which army is better disciplined? Which is stronger? Which is better trained? Which -- going back to discipline a little bit -- makes a better practice of reward and punishment?"
"This isn't just applicable to armed war," Ghanima pointed out. "The boardroom, the bedroom, ideological war, economic war, wars between the social classes... the five factors can factor into any and all sorts of conflicts, and the ideals hold true no matter the situation."
"You may just have to figure out how they translate into the given situation," Tahiri added with a grin. "And be prepared to be flexible, of course, because circumstances do change. Especially because -- as Sun Tzu goes on to say -- all warfare is based on deception."
If she sounded a little bit like she enjoyed that concept, well. That was one of the Yuuzhan Vong's favorite parts of warfare. "You want to make your opponent believe they've got the advantage. The less real intel they have on you, the less chance you give them to gain any advantage, the better."
As if Ghanima would judge Tahiri for enjoying the deception part -- she was Atreides and Fremen. Anyone who'd gotten to know Ghanima as a person -- or met her brother -- would realize that the twins adored causing chaos and confusion through subterfuge.
"So let us create a war of the words," she said merrily. "Give us some scenarios, real or fictional, and let's argue about how to apply the five factors."
"Get creative with them, too," Tahiri added. "Military scenarios or completely mundane ones, whatever you can think of where these factors might apply."
Re: Discussion [AoW, 1/13]
"Say if you have a family business," she said. "Hypothetically. And you want to be the one who takes control once the older generation is gone. Your parents, uncles and aunts would be the rulers and represent the Moral Law. Heaven and Earth would be the economy of the community in with you want your business to flourish. The Commander would be you, or perhaps your assistants. And the Method and Discipline would be how the business is run."
She thought for a moment. "But the Moral Law would change of the ruler is replaces, wouldn't it?"
Re: Discussion [AoW, 1/13]
"If you are the designated heir, in the minds of the people, the Moral Law is unchanged. They will follow you because you are the next member of the family in line. If you are not the designated heir, then whether or not the Moral Law changes depends on how you end up in control. Did you buy out a cousin who willingly signed over the business? Moral Law remains the same, for to the foot soldiers in your business, it's still family maintaining succession in a civilized manner. A few people die mysteriously but no evidence points to you?" She waved a hand dismissively. "Generally, the Moral Law remains intact."
"Actual uprising? Then it depends on how you pitch it to your employees and the rest of the family."
Re: Discussion [AoW, 1/13]
In a way she found that would be quite fitting.
Re: Discussion [AoW, 1/13]
Re: Discussion [AoW, 1/13]
Re: Discussion [AoW, 1/13]
Re: Discussion [AoW, 1/13]