Part XI: Complete Book of Strategies by Guigu Zi

'Mưu' originally meant to plot, to offer a plan, that is, to plan and propose a strategy. In the thoughts of ancient strategists, 'mưu' was often associated with 'quyen', forming the concept of 'quyen tư'. In Quỷ Cốc Tử's strategy, these two concepts were clearly distinguished: quyen is to consider the situation, and mưu is to plan the content, the core of the strategy. Quyền is 'how to say', and mưu is 'what to say'. Any strategy that wants to be successful needs to combine both power and mưu, creating completeness.

Gui Gu Zi emphasized that planning cannot be separated from reality: ' Any plan with reason must follow certain rules, clearly understand the cause of the event and grasp the actual situation to have the right plan. Understanding the event and understanding people's hearts are the premise to come up with appropriate solutions. The person making the plan needs to evaluate the ability, analyze the relationship and measure the benefits between the parties. This rule is the basis for determining the right strategy.

From that principle, Gui Gu Zi divided strategies into three levels. The best strategy is the invisible strategy, which makes things successful without leaving any trace. The middle strategy is the visible strategy, which brings the desired results but still leaves traces, and is often praised. The worst strategy is the last resort, which solves difficult situations but wastes a lot of human and material resources. A good strategist needs to know how to combine all three levels to create a complete solution.

Gui Guzi also pointed out how to apply strategy to each type of person. A benevolent gentleman disregards material gain and cannot be bribed with money, but can encourage them to contribute their efforts. A brave man is not afraid of danger and cannot be threatened with hardship, but can be entrusted with important responsibilities in difficult places. A wise man is not easily deceived, but can be persuaded with morality. On the contrary, a fool is easily blinded, a coward is easily intimidated, and a greedy person is easily bribed with money. Understanding human nature and choosing the appropriate way to behave is the clearest expression of strategy.

The strategist must observe from the inside to the outside behavior, from the eyes to the response. Observing reactions will help determine the key points to persuade. At the same time, the strategist must skillfully adjust, thereby flexibly applying the art of strategy.

Gui Gu Zi asserted that strategies must be linked to the laws of motion of things. Great strength is formed from the accumulation of many small factors, resilience is sometimes tempered by fear, and excess can originate from deprivation. A good strategist must look at the whole picture, grasp the correlation to advance and retreat at the right time. Strategies must be based on a deep understanding of the laws, clearly distinguishing similarities and differences to handle them. This is the 'art of Tao', the foundation for developing many wonderful strategies.

Another principle emphasized by Gui Gu Zi is that it is better to keep a secret than to openly announce a plan, to be direct than to skillfully suggest, and to follow common sense than to flexibly apply it. Strategy is not only about ideas but also about concealment, suggestion, and improvisation. Those who participate in the plan need to have emotional ties to ensure secrecy. When things are always changing, the plan must be flexible. Only strategy can help plan and apply it to control the situation, when to advance, when to retreat, always keeping the initiative.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the story of 'Three Brocade Bags' by Zhuge Liang (181 - 234) is a vivid illustration of this principle. When Liu Bei was holding Jingzhou - the land that Sun Quan was eyeing, General Zhou Yu plotted to marry Sun Quan's sister to trick him into going to Eastern Wu, then imprisoned him and forced him to hand over Jingzhou. Zhuge Liang saw through the plot, devised three brilliant plans, sealed them in three brocade bags and gave them to Zhao Yun. He instructed that if he encountered danger, he should open the bags in order.

As soon as Liu Bei's group arrived in Eastern Wu, Zhao Yun opened the first brocade bag. The plan required Liu Bei to meet Elder Qiao. Liu Bei presented a marriage proposal, turning the plot of 'marrying Sun Quan's sister' into a public matter. Thanks to the intervention of powerful people in Eastern Wu, the marriage was made real, Liu Bei escaped danger and married Lady Sun. Zhou Yu came up with another plan, had the palace renovated, and arranged for beautiful women to sing to charm Liu Bei. Zhao Yun was worried, so he opened the second brocade bag. In it was a plan to spread fake news that Cao Cao was about to bring a large army to attack Jingzhou. Hearing this, Liu Bei used the excuse of going to the temple and then retreated. The Eastern Wu army pursued, the situation was critical, Zhao Yun opened the third brocade bag - the plan was to borrow Lady Sun's prestige. The Eastern Wu soldiers did not dare to stop the princess, and the group escaped. Zhou Yu led his army to chase but was defeated.

Three brocade bags, three layers of strategy, helped Liu Bei escape danger, marry Lady Sun, and still hold Jingzhou. Even though he was not directly present, Zhuge Liang still controlled the entire situation. This case shows the power of preparing many plans, anticipating developments and responding promptly - the spirit of 'Heaven's Plan'.

Gui Gu Zi wrote: 'The most precious thing is to take the initiative to control others without being controlled. Controlling others is taking the initiative, while being controlled is leaving fate to fate. This principle still holds true today. In management, business or communication, whoever takes the initiative will not be put in a passive position.

The sage often keeps his strategies secret, while the insensitive tend to show off. Only those who know how to restrain their emotions and not show their likes and dislikes can be entrusted with great tasks. Lost things are difficult to recover, danger is difficult to turn into safety, only by secretly applying strategies can one avoid risks. ' The sage's rules of conduct are also subtle in their concealment ', not based on external moral forms, but on conformity to the laws of motion and practicality. This view of Gui Gu Zi is similar to the thought of politician Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) - author of the masterpiece The Prince - The Art of Governance , one of the valuable books in the Foundation of Life-Changing Bookshelves . Both of them emphasized that to win - on the battlefield or in the marketplace - requires intelligence, careful preparation, knowing how to conceal and flexibly apply principles at the right time.

'Mưu thiên' not only discusses planning, but also emphasizes the art of understanding people's hearts, seizing the situation, and preparing many layers of strategies to turn danger into safety, and weakness into strength. 'Mưu thiên' belongs to the 10th chapter of 12 strategic chapters in the book 'Quy Coc Tu's strategic strategy book', carefully selected by the Founder - Chairman of Trung Nguyen Legend Group, Dang Le Nguyen Vu, in the 'Life-Changing Foundation Bookshelf'.