strategic-patience-warfare

name	strategic-patience-warfare
description	Use when commanding a large army against a determined enemy or planning patient siege warfare. Based on Wang Jian's (王翦) conquest of Chu with 600,000 troops — refusing battle, maintaining troop welfare through recreation and shared conditions, then striking when the enemy withdraws.

Strategic Patience Warfare

Based on Wang Jian's conquest of Chu with 600,000 troops.

Overview

When commanding a large force against a determined enemy, use patience and comfort to maintain readiness while waiting for enemy to make mistakes.

Steps

1. Gather Overwhelming Force

   • Request more troops than seemingly necessary
   • Do not proceed with inadequate forces
   • Accept criticism of "cowardice" rather than risk defeat

2. Establish Defensive Position

   • Build fortifications upon arrival
   • Refuse all challenges to battle
   • Let enemy exhaust themselves trying to provoke engagement

3. Maintain Troop Welfare

   • Provide excellent food and rest
   • Allow recreational activities
   • Personally share conditions with soldiers

4. Monitor Readiness

   • Watch for signs of boredom and energy
   • When soldiers start "throwing stones and jumping distances" they are ready
   • High morale indicates combat readiness

5. Strike at Withdrawal

   • Enemy will eventually tire and withdraw
   • Pursue immediately with full force
   • Destroy enemy while they are in motion

Expected Outcomes

• Preserved force strength
• High morale at moment of attack
• Enemy caught in vulnerable transition

Validation

1. Monitor troop welfare indicators — when soldiers begin recreational activities ("throwing stones and jumping distances"), combat readiness is high; continued lethargy signals morale problems
2. Verify the enemy has genuinely begun withdrawal versus executing a feigned retreat to draw you from fortifications
3. Confirm pursuit forces are fully committed once the strike order is given — half-hearted pursuit allows enemy to regroup