Source?
"Attack the army, then attack the enemy, then attack the soldiers, and then attack the city" comes from the chapter "Attack by Tactics" in Sun Tzu's Art of War, an ancient military classic in China.
Excerpts from the original text
Go to the army to cut the plot, then cut the cross, then cut the soldiers, and then attack the city. Attack the market for the bottom, attack the heart for the top. Where the method of fighting is used, thousands of chariots are galloped, thousands of chariots are changed, and thousands of armor are used, and the military moment suddenly comes, which is called the virtue of winning, not the courage. Therefore, it is invincible, it is tied to the sky, not to the general.
Translation?
The best way to use troops is to defeat the enemy strategically, then to defeat the enemy diplomatically, then to defeat the enemy offensively, and finally to attack the enemy city. Attack the market for the bottom, attack the heart for the top. The rule of using soldiers is: a thousand cars and one team, ten thousand people and one soldier, travel a thousand miles, and quickly reach the battlefield. This is not because the generals are brave, but because of luck. Therefore, victory depends on fate, not the general.
Appreciation?
This sentence aims to show that in the use of troops, the most obvious is strategy, followed by diplomacy, force again, and siege at the bottom. In military confrontation, it is the best military strategy if disputes can be resolved through political, economic, cultural and diplomatic means. The second is to defeat the enemy through diplomatic means such as alliance and friendship. If the enemy's war behavior is inevitable, use some military forces to solve the enemy, so as to minimize the war losses. The worst thing to do is to attack the enemy city, because it is a costly military operation.
Creative background?
Sun Tzu's Art of War is one of the ancient military classics in China and one of the most famous military classics in the world. Written by Sun Wu during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it is one of the most important military books in ancient China. This book summarizes Sun Wu's military experience as a general and provides very important guidance for military leaders at that time.
To annotate ...
Soldier: the best way to use soldiers.
Cutting: relying on the application of strategy, including the comprehensive operation of political, economic, cultural and diplomatic means.
Break off diplomatic relations: mobilize the strength of the country and relevant countries, show determination, create overwhelming advantage or balance of power, and achieve the strategic goal of not resorting to force through setbacks and compromises.
Disassembly of forces: using some military forces to solve the enemy outside the political and economic center of gravity of the enemy, so as to minimize war losses.
Siege war: capture the enemy's strategic location, even all the territory.
Enlightenment of life
In real life, we can also get inspiration from this famous saying. In the face of difficulties and problems, we should not rush to take the most violent measures, but should first start from other aspects, such as communication and consultation, rational analysis, innovative thinking and other ways to find solutions. Only when these methods can't solve the problem should we consider taking tougher measures to solve the problem. At the same time, in the decision-making process, we should also learn to weigh the pros and cons and avoid losses and sacrifices as much as possible.