Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 3 [Wednesday, Period 2]

[atreideslioness]

"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!]

Comments

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo wrinkled her nose. "I don't see how that follows," she said slowly. "I mean, just because there were bad people on our side doesn't some how magically make your side good."

You were going to need more than that, Lucille.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

Oh, she had misjudged Ringo. Lucille tried to come up with a response quickly.

"No, but we share a common enemy," she said. "If we defeat him together we have more chance of success."

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

"We might share a common enemy," Ringo allowed, a grin slowly settling across her face. "But I'm not sure we share a common goal. That's what really matters. And 'defeating evil people' isn't a very practical goal to share."

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

This should teach Lucille not to underestimate people she considered naive.

"So what is your goal?" She countered.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo had to think about that one. Generalities were much easier to work with.

"I suppose our biggest one is that we want to decide for ourselves how to live our lives without interference from outsiders." You know, outsiders like you, Lucille.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

"The world isn't a safe place. There will always be outsiders," Lucille pointed out. "And sooner or later they will interfere whether you like it or not. We would be able to defend you from them."

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

"How?" Ringo asked. "And what do you want out of it?" Because, yeah, there was always someone who wanted to interfere.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

"The price of our interference, as you call it, will be a small price to pay for being our allies. We merely want safe passage for our merchants through your lands."

Well, maybe other things too, eventually.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo raised an eyebrow, looking slightly amused. "And...?"

Ringo had spent years at the top of the AirTrek world, so she knew that no one 'just wanted' something so minor.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

"What do you mean?" Lucille smiled a little.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

"You didn't invade just to guarantee your merchants safe travel." Ringo was naive in some ways, sure, but she wasn't totally ignorant of how and why people exercised power.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

And Lucille wasn't as good at this as she thought she was.

"Well, your king was most uncooperative."

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

"A fact that you seem to have dealt with," Ringo nodded. Then she quirked an eyebrow. "And yet you're still here."

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

"We couldn't just leave your country open to attack, or to civil war," Lucille said, doing her best to sound concerned.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Oh? So it was all just out of the goodness of your hearts, then?" For some reason it didn't look like Ringo believed that.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

"Why, would there be another reason?" Lucille tried her best innocent smile, one that usually ended up looking a little insincere.

RE: Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo actually giggled at thag. It wasn't really an appropriate response, but the question was kinf of funny from a certain perspective.

"Really?" she asked. "Wars aren't cheap. Who fights them just out of the goodness of their hearts?"

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

"Open trade routes would more than pay for it," Lucille countered.

RE: Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

"So if we agree to let your merchants through, you'll remove your troops from our territory?" Hopefully Lucille could forgive Ringo for sounding skeptical.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

"Of course!"

Lucille would probably have to come up with something more convincing.

RE: Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

"What guarantees are you ready to provide?" It was easy to say things, after all.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

"What would you say to..." She had to think, here. "...A sum of money?"

No, Lucille, that wouldn't work.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo blinked in surprise. "Are you offering me a bribe?"

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

Lady Ghanima had said they could! It probably shouldn't be called that, so Lucille said:
"Of course not, it's merely a part of the agreement."

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

"And this money is supposed to make me feel more confident that your troops will actually leave our territory?" Ringo just wanted to check and make sure.