subject: The Principle Of Adaptability [print this page] Despite all the detailed planning and swiftness of execution, things can still go wrong. Thus, you must be able to adapt to changing conditions. There are three primary aspects to the principle of adaptability:
1. Flexibility
2. Innovativeness
3. Deceptiveness
Flexibility
Again we will take "water" as an example of how to be flexible and how to "effortlessly" fit the situation.
The guiding principle in military tactics may be likened to water. Just as flowing water avoids heights and races downwards, an army should avoid strengths and strike weakness. Just as water configures its flow according to the terrain, an army controls its victory according to the enemy.
Water has no constant shape. The army does not maintain any constant strategic configuration of power. One who is able to change and transform in accord with the enemy and wrest victory is termed spiritual.
None of the five phases dominates; the four seasons do not have constant positions; the sun shines for longer and shorter periods; and the moon waxes and wanes.
--The Art of War
In order to gain maximum strategic advantage from changing circumstances, the general must be flexible and adopt fluid strategies that change in response to the situation.
Strategic power is exercised in accord with the enemy's movements. Changes stem from the confrontation between two armies. Orthodox and unorthodox tactics are produced from the inexhaustible resources of the mind.
--The Six Secret Teachings
When neither the beginning nor end have yet become visible no one is able to know them.
Heaven and Earth are spiritual and enlightened, with the myriad things they change and transform.
The commander's changes and movements should not be constant. He should change and transform in response to the enemy. He does not precede affairs. When the enemy moves he immediately follows up. Thus he is able to formulate inexhaustible strategies and methods of control. He can sustain and complete the awesomeness of Heaven. Such a strategist is a teacher for an emperor or true king.
-Huangshi Gong
Innovativeness
In addition to responding to the necessities of the situation, you must be innovative, take initiative and consistently alter your strategy.
This non-repetition of tactics suggests a constant search for new and innovative ways of meeting challenges. The use of new approaches will prevent the enemy from anticipating your plans.
Do not repeat tactics that won you a victory, but vary them according to circumstance.
[The commander] must be able to change his methods and schemes so that no one can know his intentions. He must be able to alter his camp-sites and marching routes so that no one can predict his movements.
--The Art of War
While flexibility is more reactive and implies flowing with the situation, innovativeness is more proactive and suggests initiating and dictating the situation.
Those skilled in manipulating the enemy do so by creating a situation to which the enemy must conform.
--The Art of War
Deceptiveness
Using deceptiveness can be a difficult topic because it involves ethical issues. You must use your own ethical radar in evaluating the appropriateness of deception. However, its implications are clear for warfare.
War is based on deception. Whether to concentrate or divide the forces, when changes should be made to gain advantages,
must depend on circumstance.
--The Art of War
Deception can be utilized in two primary ways. The first way is to conceal your true intention. This knocks the enemy off balance and keeps them guessing as to when and where you will attack. This gives you strategic advantage.
To be the first to gain victory, initially display some weakness to the enemy and only afterward do battle. Then your effort will be half, but the achievement will be doubled.
--The Six Secret Teachings
Also, you can use illusion to deliberately mislead the
enemy. One of the stratagems from the 36 Stratagems is "make a sound in the East and attack in the West". This is the technique of distraction, or as we used to say on the basketball court, "fake right, go left."
A different strategy based on illusion can be encapsulated in another schoolyard favorite--the tactic of "playing possum."
Therefore, when capable, feign incapability; when active, feign inactivity. When near to the objective, feign that you are far away; when far away, make it appear that you are
near.
--The Art of War
Illusion can serve several purposes. First, it will confuse your enemy about your real intention. This will make you unpredictable in the enemy's eyes.
Although you may have multiple engagements with the same enemy, he will have to do a new assessment of you each time. This can serve to wear him down and cause him to spend excess time and resources.
The tactical balance of power lies in the extremities of the way. If you have something, pretend not to have it; if you lack something, appear to have it. Then how can the enemy trust the appearance?
--Wei Liaozi
The use of illusion discussed above will make your opponent weary of you. Illusion can also cause your opponent to underestimate you - particularly if you feign incapability, vulnerability, humility and weakness. This serves to lower his defenses and indirectly encourage his arrogance. When the enemy has let his guard down, that is the best time to strike.
In the beginning of battle, be as shy as a young maiden to entice the enemy and lower his defenses. When the battle progresses, be as swift as a hare so as to catch him unprepared.
--The Art of War
You can even go so far as to initially accommodate your own plans with the designs of the enemy.
The crux of military operations is to pretend to accommodate one's plan to the designs of the enemy. Once an opportunity arises, concentrate your forces against the enemy, and no matter how distant the enemy, you can kill his general and defeat his army. This is what it means to achieve success in an ingenious way.
--The Art of War
But be careful with these kinds of tactics. To lure someone into your hands by seeming to be lured into his trap is an art that requires the utmost skill.
To feign confusion, one must possess discipline; to feign cowardice, one must possess courage; feigned weakness must be
born out of strength.
--The Art of War
This sudden change from weakness to strength and vulnerability to aggression can have a stunning impact that cripples the enemy. The true "master" of war wins so swiftly and covertly that by the time the enemy realizes what is happening, he is already defeated!
The victories won by a master of war never gained him reputation for wisdom or courage.
