Ghanima Atreides (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
atreideslioness) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2016-01-20 09:40 am
atreideslioness) wrote in fandomhigh2016-01-20 09:40 am
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Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 3 [Wednesday, Period 2]
"There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare," Ghanima said cheerfully as the students arrived. "So speaks both Sun Tzu, and history. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on."
"Which is to say you want to come out of it with more resources and people left than your opponent," Tahiri added. "Because what happens if you win, but you've depleted your treasury, you have no food production, and a only fraction of your troops survived? You'll have to rebuild, and you're in a vulnerable position where you could lose everything you've got left, if someone takes advantage of that."
"And someone will try to take advantage of that," Ghanima promised. "Either an outside force, or even someone from within your own circle who thinks they can use the moment to their advantage. Maybe not even an outright coup, but what will you owe them if they 'find' extra grain for your stores? Or offer free troops? Or maybe they held back on sending as many soldiers as they could have, and now have an army that's not battle-weary ready and waiting."
Tahiri nodded. "To apply that to a non-combat situation: you only have so much time and energy in a day. Generally speaking, when you're tired you're not at your best, right? Maybe fatigue slows you down, or keeps you from thinking too clearly. Someone might take advantage of that and get you to agree to something you'd know was a terrible idea if you'd been clear-headed. Or you might just --" she waved both hands in a slashing motion -- "burn out completely. I know we don't always have the luxury of down time, and some of us might be expected to go above and beyond as a matter of course, and even want to, but . . . Well, know your limits, is what I mean. Recognize when you might be getting to the point of having too much on your plate."
"Part of that is delegating," Ghanima continued. "Or as the pi'en says, 'using the conquered foe to augment one's strength.' Use the resources that are available to you: whether it's capturing enemy chariots or cartloads of supplies. Tzu also advocates that 'the captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept.' Not only because they're probably just unlucky draftees, but because it's always possible to turn even a high-ranking general against his own king. And then you've got one of the greatest resources of all: a new viewpoint with which to see things, and an extra pair of hands to help carry the load."
Tahiri grinned wryly. "And believe me, having a new viewpoint with which to see things is invaluable. It could help you win the war, or find the most effective way to convince someone to come to an agreement. But that brings us to today's activity. You'll be splitting up into groups: some of you will be the conquerors, and some of you will be the conquered foe. Conquerors, it'll be your job to try and sway the conquered foes into helping you out."
"Just remember, bribery is a perfectly acceptable tool of statecraft!" Ghanima, no.
[OOC:Please wait for the OCD is ready to negotiate!]
"Which is to say you want to come out of it with more resources and people left than your opponent," Tahiri added. "Because what happens if you win, but you've depleted your treasury, you have no food production, and a only fraction of your troops survived? You'll have to rebuild, and you're in a vulnerable position where you could lose everything you've got left, if someone takes advantage of that."
"And someone will try to take advantage of that," Ghanima promised. "Either an outside force, or even someone from within your own circle who thinks they can use the moment to their advantage. Maybe not even an outright coup, but what will you owe them if they 'find' extra grain for your stores? Or offer free troops? Or maybe they held back on sending as many soldiers as they could have, and now have an army that's not battle-weary ready and waiting."
Tahiri nodded. "To apply that to a non-combat situation: you only have so much time and energy in a day. Generally speaking, when you're tired you're not at your best, right? Maybe fatigue slows you down, or keeps you from thinking too clearly. Someone might take advantage of that and get you to agree to something you'd know was a terrible idea if you'd been clear-headed. Or you might just --" she waved both hands in a slashing motion -- "burn out completely. I know we don't always have the luxury of down time, and some of us might be expected to go above and beyond as a matter of course, and even want to, but . . . Well, know your limits, is what I mean. Recognize when you might be getting to the point of having too much on your plate."
"Part of that is delegating," Ghanima continued. "Or as the pi'en says, 'using the conquered foe to augment one's strength.' Use the resources that are available to you: whether it's capturing enemy chariots or cartloads of supplies. Tzu also advocates that 'the captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept.' Not only because they're probably just unlucky draftees, but because it's always possible to turn even a high-ranking general against his own king. And then you've got one of the greatest resources of all: a new viewpoint with which to see things, and an extra pair of hands to help carry the load."
Tahiri grinned wryly. "And believe me, having a new viewpoint with which to see things is invaluable. It could help you win the war, or find the most effective way to convince someone to come to an agreement. But that brings us to today's activity. You'll be splitting up into groups: some of you will be the conquerors, and some of you will be the conquered foe. Conquerors, it'll be your job to try and sway the conquered foes into helping you out."
"Just remember, bribery is a perfectly acceptable tool of statecraft!" Ghanima, no.
[OOC:
Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Three (AoW 3)
Conquered: Kathy Li
Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Three (AoW 3)
She was trying to be the Good Cop, here.
Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Three (AoW 3)
Mara, no.
Yes, that's how it worked at home, but no.
Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Three (AoW 3)
[OOC: Forgot to it post.]