Part 4/10:
At its heart, the book advocates meticulous preparation. Success is predetermined by research, understanding the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, and using spies for intelligence—sometimes even to deceive through misinformation. Knowing which battles merit fighting and which are better avoided is crucial; Sun Tzu states that avoiding unnecessary conflict preserves resources and lives.
The importance of self-awareness is emphasized—leaders must understand their own capabilities and limitations to choose battles wisely. Sometimes, retreat or avoidance is the smartest strategy, adhering to the Taoist principle of sparing destruction and leaving the enemy intact whenever possible to turn their resources against them later.