13 Sun Wu
A Strategist Wrote the Book Sun’s Military Strategy
Sun Wu was one of the most prestigious military strategists in the Spring & Autumn Period. He won a historic and world-wide name for he had written his work Sun’s Military Strategy. In the book he brought forward many idioms of military schemes such as “(military was) the more cheating, the better”, “making sound at east, attacking to west”, “the false was true, the true was false”, … were still the applicable rules not only be used in modern war, but in diplomatic and business fields.
But, there recorded few stories about Sun Wu’s military deeds in historical books, except a stupid and uncanny one:
Sun had been a military commander of Wu State (in Jiangsu Province). When he met He Lv, Wu’s emperor at the first time, who asked him playfully if he could commanded well a women detachment. Sun answered yes. Then He Lv ordered tens of his concubines and imperial maids coming to the site. Women were put on costume uniforms and divided into two parts, and two of his best doting concubines were appointed leaders. Sun Wu began to shout orders, but the girls felt this kind of game was the funniest one they had ever had and paid no mind to his order. Sun Wu then asked a law enforcement officer: “What if soldiers refuse to obey my order?” Answer: “Execute the leaders.” Soon, several warriors came to bind up the two concubines. He Lv saw Sun Wu take the matter seriously, asking hurriedly to stop the game. The emperor’s attempt was actually in vain, what immediately ensued was two bloodied heads being offered in front of him. Next, Sun Wu appointed other two leaders. When he shouted orders, all the girls kept silence and trembling, fulfilled perfectly with all demands.
Shortly after Sun Wu commanded Wu troops winning a war over neighboring Chu State (a much more powerful enemy), people had no longer heard of his whereabouts.
