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REACTION PAPER
ON CHAPTER 2 OF
ART OF WAR BY SUN TZU

Submitted by: Arnaiz, Ronald C. Submitted to: Ariel T.

Vivar
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1. “In the operations of war, where there are in the field a thousand swift chariots, as many heavy
chariots, and a hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers.”

The quotation highlights the variety of components present in combat activities, including
mail-clad warriors, quick chariots, and heavy chariots. It also highlights how intricate these parts
are. It emphasizes the need of mobility by mentioning a thousand fast chariots, implying that
rapid and nimble movements are crucial in combat. The presence of large chariots suggests that
strong, capable vehicles are strategically required, maybe for the purpose of transporting
equipment or projecting a formidable presence during combat. A hundred thousand soldiers
dressed in mail are mentioned, highlighting the size and scope of military operations and the
significant amount of manpower involved. Swift and heavy chariots together imply a tactical
balance between power and speed, pointing to a sophisticated strategy for combat.

2. “When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will
grow dull and their ardor will be damped. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your
strength.”

The delay in winning a battle can cause soldiers' weapons to lose some of their efficacy.
Extended hostilities have the potential to sap the will and morale of the fighting parties. Long-
term combat can cause weapons to deteriorate from constant usage, which lowers their overall
effectiveness. Because siege warfare is so prolonged, the besieging forces may lose all of their
physical and mental fortitude. There may be a decline in the fervor and dedication of those
fighting if victory in the battle is delayed. The soldiers' energy and morale can be affected by the
prolonged duration of military activities. Long-term conflicts can deplete the resources and
fortitude of the parties involved, affecting.

3. “Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain.”

The State's skills might not be enough to meet the demands in protracted campaigns.
According to the quote, sustained military operations may exhaust the State's supplies. An
extended campaign may put undue strain on and surpass the State's resources. There may be a
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risk to the State's capacity to mount a protracted battle. The quote emphasizes how difficult it is
to hold onto resources during protracted hostilities. Extended hostilities might surpass the State's
ability to offer essential assistance. If a campaign drags on, State resources can become
insufficient. This quotation suggests a clear relationship between the length of a campaign and
the State's budget constraints. The State might not be able to withstand the pressures of a
protracted campaign. It cautions that if a campaign continues, the State might have trouble
upholding

4. “Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor damped, your strength exhausted and your
treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man,
however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.”

A dulled weapon suggests a diminished military might, which reduces the potency of your
defense. Damped ardor is an indication of diminished ardor or passion, which impairs your
resolve and determination in general. A depletion of energy and resources is indicated by
exhausted strength, which leaves you open to attack from the outside. A spent treasure indicates
that you have run out of money, which means you can't work as hard or take as many calculated
risks. The emergence of other chieftains demonstrates the opportunistic.

5. “Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated
with long delays.”

The quote implies that intelligence is not usually associated with protracted delays, yet haste
in battle is sometimes condemned as stupid. It draws attention to the widespread belief that
making decisions quickly during a conflict is a sign of inexperience. It suggests that there is a
difference between impetuous behavior, which is referred to as "stupid haste," and strategic
cleverness, which is not usually linked to prolonged waiting. According to the quotation, there
isn't much proof that a long-haul hesitancy approach is intelligent in the context of combat. In
contrast to brilliance, the term "stupid haste" suggests that acting hastily without giving it
considerable thought is unacceptable. The quote emphasizes the conventional wisdom that states
that prompt decision-making and strategic balance are essential components of efficient military
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tactics.

6. “There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.”

Extended armed conflicts frequently result in financial hardship when resources are taken
away from profitable industries to finance the fight. Long-term conflicts cause nations to lose a
great deal of human capital, which has an impact on labor force participation and overall
productivity. Prolonged disputes weaken social cohesion and create enduring rifts within the
populace. Prolonged combat often results in infrastructure destruction or damage, impeding a
nation's ability to heal and prosper. A protracted war's financial cost might cause inflation and
other economic instability. Building and maintaining international alliances can be difficult for
states involved in protracted battle, which negatively impacts diplomatic ties. Long-term military
spending has a negative opportunity cost that makes expenditures in healthcare, education, and
other vital areas more difficult. Extended hostilities frequently produce refugees.

7. “It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly
understand the profitable way of carrying it on.”

According to this remark, knowing effective wartime plans requires a thorough awareness of
the bad sides of war. The speaker makes the implication that understanding how to wage war in a
way that is advantageous requires a full understanding of the devastating effects of war. The
remark emphasizes the significance of being acquainted with the "evils of war," highlighting the
need for firsthand knowledge about its destructive effects. The concept suggests that developing
effective and advantageous strategies for waging war requires a thorough understanding of its
drawbacks. It implies that only people who are familiar with the challenges and consequences of
war can genuinely understand and employ the strategies that produce favorable results. The
quote emphasizes the point.

8. “The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy, neither are his supply-wagons loaded more
than twice.”
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An effective soldier puts efficiency first by preventing the need for a second military draft.
Strategic preparation is valued by the experienced warrior, reducing the need for new
recruitment. Effective military commanders are adept at using what they have first hand without
having to send out further orders. The skilled soldier places a premium on inventiveness, making
a second conscription unnecessary. Effective leaders use their resources carefully, avoiding the
necessity for a reserve battalion. A skilled military strategist recognizes the value of optimizing
the first force deployment's efficacy. The astute soldier shows vision, minimizing the need for a
second wave of enlistees. Skilled military strategists avoid a second recruitment wave by making
the best use of the personnel that are already on hand. In combat, strategic excellence requires
careful resource allocation.

9. “Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have
food enough for its needs.”

The phrase "bring war material with you from home" implies that an army that has been well-
prepared should have enough supplies and resources when it enters the battlefield. "But forage
on the enemy" alludes to a tactic whereby the army uses the resources of the captured area to
meet its demands during the campaign. The quote highlights the value of strategic planning by
urging armies to make use of both their own resources and those they have taken from the
opposition. It emphasizes the idea of self-sufficiency, in which a military unit can fend for itself
by bringing the necessities and using cunning in hostile areas. By strengthening adaptability in a
range of operational contexts and decreasing reliance on outside supply routes, this strategy
seeks to secure the army's long-term viability. The idea promotes flexibility, allowing armed
forces to modify their logistics strategy in response.

10. “Poverty of the State exchequer causes an army to be maintained by contributions from a
distance. Contributing to maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished.”

When the State's coffers are thin, it must rely on contributions from outside to maintain its
armed forces. The army must rely on funding from distant areas to remain afloat due to a
depleted state coffers. The depletion of the State's fiscal reserves leads to the military's reliance
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on donations from outside. The State's budgetary deficiencies force it to rely on donations from
far-off places to sustain an army. When poverty grips the State's coffers, it becomes imperative
to contribute to the maintenance of a distant army. The State's lack of resources forces it to rely
on outside funding sources to maintain its armed forces. Due to the State's exchequer's
destitution, contributions from far-off places are required in order.

11. “On the other hand, the proximity of an army causes prices to go up; and high prices cause
the people's substance to be drained away.”

According to the quotation, prices may rise when an army is stationed nearby. It suggests that
the state of the economy is directly impacted by the presence of armed personnel nearby. One
aspect contributing to economic strain is the army's presence, which has resulted in high pricing.
The quotation suggests a link between military operations and price inflation. It suggests that the
market's ability to maintain stable prices can be upset by the presence of an army in the
immediate vicinity. It portrays the relationship between army proximity and growing costs as a
cause-and-effect one. The quote discusses how rising costs brought on by a military presence
impact people's level of prosperity. It implies that the public's economic well-being is negatively.

12. “When their substance is drained away, the peasantry will be afflicted by heavy exactions.”

According to this quotation, the maintenance of the peasantry's material wealth is directly
related to their well-being. "Drained away" refers to a slow loss or exhaustion of necessary
components that are crucial to the peasantry's way of life. Resources, such as agricultural
products or financial means required for subsistence, are probably included in this definition of
substance. Affliction from severe exactions suggests that the peasantry's problems will get worse
with further demands or obligations. The connection between ailment and substance emphasizes
how susceptible the peasantry is to outside influences. It suggests an unstable equilibrium in
which a reduction in material resources results in more hardships for the people living in rural
areas. The word "exactions" suggests taxes or demands imposed by outside parties, which could
suggest a socioeconomic conflict. According to this viewpoint.
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13-14. “With this loss of substance and exhaustion of strength, the homes of the people will be
stripped bare, and three-tenths of their income will be dissipated;”

According to the phrase, there will be serious repercussions if substance and strength begin to
wane. It suggests that the foundations of people's houses will deteriorate as resources become
scarcer. The phrase "stripped bare" evokes feelings of helplessness and poverty in homes. The
relationship that exists between the depletion of revenue and the loss of substance underscores a
vicious circle of financial difficulties. The phrase "three-tenths" highlights the seriousness of the
problem by indicating that a considerable amount of income is being lost. There's a subliminal
caution about this loss's wider societal ramifications, which go beyond private residences.
Physical and financial exhaustion may be implied by the exhaustion of strength, adding to the
entire difficulty. "Homes of the people" highlights the impact that everyone has on the
community.

15. “Hence a wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy's
provisions is equivalent to twenty of one's own, and likewise a single PICUL of his provender is
equivalent to twenty from one's own store.”

The quote highlights how crucial foraging is to military strategy from a strategic standpoint. It
implies that a prudent general does not depend only on their own supply, but also on acquiring
resources from the enemy. A military commander can obtain a big provisional advantage by
foraging on the adversary. The effectiveness of this strategy is demonstrated by comparing one
cartload of the enemy's supplies against twenty of one's own. The idea is expanded to include the
worth of obtaining one "PICUL" of the enemy's provender, which is the same as twenty units
from one's own supply. This tactic emphasizes how crucial resource management is to combat. It
suggests that supply lines and logistics can be overcome by successful foraging. The quote
implies that military personnel should have a pragmatic and inventive approach.

16. “Now in order to kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger; that there may be
advantage from defeating the enemy, they must have their rewards.”
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The quote highlights how crucial it is from a strategic standpoint to incite soldiers' emotions
—especially rage—in order to increase their combat efficacy. It implies that arousing troops'
emotions, especially wrath, is essential to prepare them for the rigors of combat and motivating
them to overcome obstacles. The remark emphasizes the psychological side of battle,
recognizing that an enraged and determined force has a higher chance of victory. The reference
to prizes suggests that, in addition to psychological drive, material incentives contribute to
troops' dedication to winning. The concept of incentives is related to the idea that soldiers should
receive concrete advantages from victory, giving them a feeling of accomplishment and
fulfillment. This viewpoint is consistent with the knowledge.

17. “Therefore in chariot fighting, when ten or more chariots have been taken, those should be
rewarded who took the first. Our own flags should be substituted for those of the enemy, and the
chariots mingled and used in conjunction with ours. The captured soldiers should be kindly
treated and kept.”

Chariot fighting is a combat sport where bravery and strategic skill are rewarded for capturing
the first 10 or more chariots. Replacing the enemy flags with our own signals the victory of our
troops and reaffirms our superiority in the battle. Combining and utilizing seized chariots with
our own shows a realistic strategy, making the most of the resources at hand to improve our
overall fighting power. Keeping and caring for captured soldiers demonstrates a humanitarian
approach and encourages moral behavior even during combat. In addition to protecting tangible
goods like chariots, this tactic seeks to cultivate collaboration and goodwill among trapped
soldiers. Honoring and praising the first charioteers fosters a sense of competition.

18. “This is called, using the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.”

This quote alludes to the strategic idea of using a vanquished opponent to strengthen one's
own position. It suggests using the defeated opponent as a tool to increase one's own power. The
idea of using a defeated enemy as a tool to improve one's position is conveyed by the phrase. It
emphasizes the strategic benefit of adding to one's own armory the advantages or assets of a
vanquished adversary. The quote suggests that it is possible to derive benefits from vanquished
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enemies and turn them into a source of strength. It suggests a cunning strategy for fighting in
which the vanquished adversary is used to bolster one's own might. The idea isn't just about
beating your opponent; it's also about using their advantages to your advantage.

19. “In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.”

The phrase highlights making victory the main objective of war. It cautions against becoming
involved in protracted armed conflicts. Getting things done quickly is more important than
having protracted arguments. It emphasizes how crucial a strategic approach to combat is.
During protracted confrontations, effective utilization of resources and tactics is highlighted.
According to the saying, swift victory is preferable to drawn-out conflicts. It promotes a military
strategy that is both decisive and successful. The main goal is to reduce the amount of time that
battles take in order to achieve victory. It prohibits needless wars from being prolonged for their
own sake. The focus is on attaining the ultimate goal of triumph without any needless
postponements.

20. “Thus it may be known that the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people's fate, the man on
whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril.”

The quote emphasizes how crucial an army commander is in determining a country's future. It
underlines that the leader has the authority to decide whether a country will be at peace or in
grave peril. The remark implies that the military leader's choices and deeds have a significant
impact on the fate of the people. It draws attention to the leader's duty as the final decision-maker
who affects the welfare of the entire country. The title "arbiter" suggests that the head of state
has the power to decide and direct the destiny of the country. According to the remark, the
decisions made by the leader will have a lasting effect on the people's future as a whole. It
suggests that there is a direct relationship between the leader's decisions and military affairs.