"Strategy is the art of deception." By Sun Tzu

"Strategy is the art of deception." While this famous maxim from Sun Tzu is well known, winning in battle remains a difficult feat. A single victory might happen by chance, but eventual defeat is an absolute certainty for the unprepared. Learning strategy may lead to victory, yet defeat can still occur. Strategy functions like a set of guiding principles; following them simply increases your statistical odds of winning, but adhering to them guarantees nothing. Nevertheless, we must first consider whether it is truly worthwhile to master and apply these principles. The reality remains: without studying strategy, you cannot win. The Six Secret Teachings and Three Strategies of Jiang Ziya, along with The Art of War by Sun Tzu, are absolute essentials. As a Japanese person, I would also suggest Miyamoto Musashi’s The Book of Five Rings for reference. History records the famous duel between David and Goliath. Goliath was a giant whom no ordinary man dared to face, yet David, then an obscure shepherd, stepped forward. As is widely known, David secured his victory using a simple sling. In the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, both were renowned swordsmen. Kojiro wielded a long, live steel blade, while Musashi won using a wooden oar carved slightly longer than Kojiro's sword. A real sword is heavy, whereas a wooden oar is light; the deciding factors for victory were length and speed. Both of these encounters embody the foundational strategic principle that "strategy is the art of deception." Tragically, Alexander Hamilton and Alexander Pushkin both lost their lives in duels. It is a profound pity that such rare historical talents were cut down this way. Hamilton could have become President, and Pushkin might have written masterpieces that eclipsed The Queen of Spades. On the other hand, some victories defy conventional strategic logic. Napoleon’s Battle of Aspern-Essling and Battle of Wagram, as well as Han Xin’s famous "back-to-the-river" formation, achieved victory despite using tactical layouts that made little sense under standard military doctrine. They serve as excellent examples of exceptions to the rules of war. In the Battle of Actium, fought between Octavian (Augustus) and the allied forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian—who was undoubtedly a master of strategy—emerged victorious. Furthermore, Napoleon's use of artillery to suppress rebellions during the Siege of Toulon, Avignon, and the 13 Vendémiaire was highly unconventional and caught his opponents completely off guard for the time. "Strategy is the art of deception." This phrase teaches us that you must first thoroughly master standard tactics before you can effectively deploy the unconventional ones.