Ulysses Grant’s victories led to the end of the Civil War through great strategy and sound tactics.

Screens 190 – 217

In ‘Waging War‘ Sun Tzu told us that the point was to win, and to win quickly.  In ‘Attack by Stratagem‘ the primary point of strategy was to know your own capabilities and that of the opponent.  Strategy was the exploitation of that knowledge – and without that knowledge no strategy could be effective.

“You want to talk about waging war?”  The point is to win – not to wage a war.

“You want to talk about strategy?” Know your capabilities and that of your opponent.  Strategy falls from this knowledge.

The reader is now finding a similar pattern.  “You want to talk about tactics?”  Put yourself in a position where tactics don’t matter.  Choose the ground.  Choose the weapons.  Win the battle.

Be practiced. Be patient.  Operate within your capabilities – and when the chances arise to win, then win.  Many times an opponent will not have the same discipline and focus and their mistakes become your victories.

Best Quote(s)

“14. Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.” Screen 202

“15. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.” Screen 202

From a leadership standpoint, Sun Tzu counsels again that morality and ethics are fundamental to a leaders success:

“16. The consummate leader cultivates the Moral Law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.”

Page by Page, Screen by Screen

190

“The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.”

This has direct relevance to quality in a manufacturing organization.  Put yourself beyond loss in service of the account – know your quality is supreme.  Then extend and win with innovation.  Trying to win with innovation before quality is addressed is like a fighter who allows the enemy to defeat him.

191

“2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”

“3. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.”

202

“11. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.”

“13. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.”

“14. Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.”

“15. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.”

“16. The consummate leader cultivates the Moral Law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.”

217

“17. In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory.”

“19. A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as a pound’s weight placed in the scale against a single grain.”

“20. The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep. So much for tactical dispositions.”

Grant’s encirclement of Vicksburg was a great victory of tactics and strategy.