[Daehanjeiguk]

After the review incident with the 1st Division, the Emperor confided in his officials, to determine how to instill better discipline, and they had reviewed the Division at a later time; both the Emperor and the Marshal agreed that the Division was then fit.

Another crisis came to the Emperor as he reviewed the details for the Imperial Armed Forces, concerning the development of a new line of aircraft carriers, and the objectives of a modern and efficient force. He had recalled the instructions of Master Sun, but nothing indicated how best to modernize clearly. He turned to Marshal Ma for final judgment.

(馬 - Ma)
(皇 - Emperor)

皇: You are aware that the Han Empire seeks to improve its force projection abilities by developing this new line aircraft carrier. I have reviewed the schematics recently, and while I am satisfied with its progress, I have little clue that this is the best course for our state and the navy.

馬: What does the Master Sun say of this?

皇: He claims that the key to securing victory to make oneself invulnerable, while seeking the enemy’s vulnerabilities. I take this to mean that one must make defenses impregnable, but if I seek to extend the power of the Empire to our periphery, how can I extend my defensive impregnability to counter the threats from abroad?

馬: But the Master Sun also says that the victor makes his intentions hidden. In this manner, the enemy knows not what to strike and thus must prepare to strike everywhere – if he strikes everywhere, he cannot make a concerted attack against one position and his attack is weakened. By developing aircraft carriers, we extend our strategic advantage by another league, because force projection allows us to send our planes where they are otherwise unexpected and gives reason to the enemy to prepare broadly against us, while we – holding the other strategic criteria – are able hold their attack.

皇: Therefore the project is a step in the right direction?

馬: Any project that is well conceived and has clear intentions and means is a step in the right direction. The Empire has long had a need for aircraft carriers, and by fulfilling this requirement, we increase our superiority. The Master Sun says in his instructions that the state becomes weak when it extends itself far in war and the wise commander aims to reduce this extension. By developing technologies that allow the enemy to remain far away yet avoid extending ourselves, we make the war more inexpensive for us and more costly for the enemy, because they are made vulnerable where our vulnerability is not even broken. For this reason, the navy is the guardian of our extension for they will determine how far we go in war.

But the army and the air force cannot be ignored, and neither should they be given more priority than any of the others – without the army, the enemy may march freely in our country far from our seas; without the air force, the enemy may patrol our skies and wreck havoc from there. In the end, the best approach is a combination of all three forces that matches the capabilities of the state and balances the priorities of its projection. The state that reaches far requires a great navy; the state holds many terrains requires a great army; the state that is small and hold no sincere priority of extension requires a great air force. The state that is extended greatly over land and sea will require all three.

And there is one weapon that is most useful for any situation yet either ignored or abused in employment – the missile. Our progenitors invented gunpowder many years ago, and since the first rockets, we have frightened our enemies and instilled a great fear for its roar. Today, the state with a missile unit is without any force because it remains vulnerable to enemy rockets. Our state has long boasted a great missile program and while it has stagnated in recent years, it is the one pride of Han that is the epitome of Master Sun’s instructions to keep the enemy far but the battle near. The next weapon of extension is the aircraft, then the ship, and then the tank. Each is master over its own realm of warfare, and any army without any of them has nothing. But we cannot forget the infantry soldier who roams the field and secures the victory in battle. They are the weakest employ of our force, but without them, we have an empty military that is only capable of destruction. Our soldiers add humanity to what is otherwise a cruel and vicious sport of monarchs. They are the first ambassadors to the enemy and they preach the grace and power of the Empire – every precaution to ensure their survival and welfare must be considered for they all sacrifice their life for the state and the Empire.

皇: You seem to have much to say about superiority. But I read the scrolls and see “terrain” written. Is there a reason why you speak of superiority and not of terrain?

馬: His Majesty must realize that the terrain is indeed equivalent to the terrain. The victor brings the enemy to battle upon his own field. By ensuring superiority, we force the enemy to fight upon our level of excellence, not theirs. The terrain of war has many faces – the field, the projection, the way, and the objective. Superiority of technology is only one facet, and yet dominates the other faces. With sufficient technological development, we are able to project ourselves to face the enemy where they cannot see us.

皇: Then this terrain is metaphorical?

馬: Perhaps, if His Majesty wishes to perceive it so. But the terrain is real – and as a criterion, it cannot be ignored as real. There are factors of the terrain that reflect metaphorical language as well as logical sense. The common adage – fight from the high ground – applies in many perspectives. Literally, it is useful maxim when attacking many enemies; holding the high ground allows you to survey the land and fight the enemy before they can coordinate together. Interpreting in other means, one can surmise that the moral high ground is useful for commanding the wills of men. One can also infer that the technological high ground permit more flexibility in the method of attack.

The ideal maxim is one that can be repeated innumerably and not lose sense of purpose in each situation – such are maxims of common sense but speak louder than literal or figurative speech. They are guidelines to action and the deeper thoughts that penetrate its meanings evoke a stronger sense of directed advance. By the simple, we can manage the complex and order it effectively. By this very mechanism, the great leader is able to decide resolutely and still have a sense of mind to act honorably in combat, which begs men to ponder confusing thoughts.

皇: Therefore the simple maxim allows the leader to command his forces despite the complexities of circumstance. That seems reasonable, but I fail to understand why this has anything to do with terrain that isn’t metaphorical. But I only found it curious and I did not wish to incite a tangent for what I consider the more proper discussion. I am satisfied with our progress in developing the modern force projection capability as you have approved it, and I have in advance approved it.

馬: May I ask His Majesty under whose instruction the satisfaction of His Imperial Majesty’s program is sustained? If it is by mine, I urge you to consider my thoughts as advice. While I may be more skilled in certain regimes, you are the ultimate master of judgment in the realm; I cannot be the Emperor while you reign. If it is by yours, then I ask why you ask of terrain as a metaphorical situation. There are many situations in which His Majesty must consider the metaphorical language of Master Sun’s instruction, especially as they preach to a different audience. In this manner, to speak literally of the defiles in the terrain will leave you confounded.

I return to my discussion of the faces of war: the way, the field, the projection, and the objective. This is the terrain of war: we possess the way by managing how we fight. Are the troops in high spirit? Is their equipment well furnished? Are they prepared and their disposition set for battle? We possess the field by managing where and when we fight. Is the field flat? Is it obvious? Is it hidden? We possess the projection by managing what we fight. Are they far? Are the near? Are they numerous? We possess the objective by managing why we fight. Is it power? Is it honor? Is it security? By understanding these configurations, we manage the terrain, and attain the criterion of superiority in battle and in war.

皇: You speak more clearly, and I understand the language better. But when you spoke earlier of my satisfaction, it is my satisfaction of your approval, for I had anticipated that such developments of the aircraft carrier would fit into the doctrines I seek to advance. But I had also sought to understand in what manner the doctrine could be fitted, and it was this reason that prompted my inquiry.

SUMMARY
- Having the top in technology improves your chances in war.
- Don’t neglect any one branch of your armed forces in search of the perfect army/navy/air force; a combined airs approach is very effective in many situations.
- In a lecture that excessively complicates the nature of simplicity, keep things simple so that when you’re stuck in the middle of a conflict, you’re not left wondering just what exactly happened to the 235th Regiment of the 431st Division of Air Assault Infantry from Timbuktu when they’re stuck in some RP-wonderland playing volleyball on the beaches of a an island of virgin women warrior-cannibals; complexity in a war makes things more hectic and less willing to commit forces if you can’t account for every single one of them.
- WAY: have good provisions, supply, morale, and equipment.
- FIELD: always fight where you are most comfortable.
- PROJECTION: always be aware of your enemy and the condition in which they fight.
- OBJECTIVE: probably said it before, but have a reason to go to war.
- A final note, always a have a first strike capability; always have a second strike capability too.