p.Terrible Start of Year 2014 (con't)

The last part is here:   Terrible Start of Year 2014

The battle was fought and I lost 5% in total. It was a very, very lucky recovery.

New proprietors were engaged. The damage reduced to almost zero.

I have gained in other aspects. So, hopefully, this episode will settle in time as a valuable lesson to me.

Let me repeat the statement:    "故其疾如風、其徐如林、侵掠如火、難知如陰、不動如山、動如雷霆".

b.孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) - 故智將務食于敵

The last part is here:   孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 5) (Part 15)

故智將務食于敵。食敵一鐘，當吾二十鐘﹔箕杆一石，當吾二十石。

Today, I did a good job. But, I don't know if I have done the magic 故智將務食于敵。I have made participants in my project pay up front for a share of the project and yet I didn't give any physical shares away. The money they put up is about 3-10 times greater than my total investment. In return, they would share only a small percentage of the investment returns. If the invested monies are lost, I bear no responsibilities.

I hope to achieve if I consume 1 part of the enemy's food, I would have saved 20 parts from my own resource.

b.孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 6) (Part 16)

The last part is here:   孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 5) (Part 15)

作戰篇第二

孫子曰：凡用兵之法，馳車千駟，革車千乘，帶甲十萬，千里饋糧，則內外之費，賓客之用，膠漆之材，車甲之奉，日費千金，然後十萬之師舉矣。
          其用戰也貴勝，久則鈍兵挫銳，攻城則力屈，久暴師則國 用不足。夫鈍兵挫銳，屈力殫貨，則諸侯乘其弊而起，雖有智者，不能善其後矣。故兵聞拙速，未睹巧之久也。夫兵久而國利者，未之有也。故不盡知用兵之害者，則不能盡知用兵之利也。
          善用兵者，役不再籍，糧不三載﹔取用于國，因糧于敵，故軍食可足也。
          國之貧于師者遠輸，遠輸則百姓貧。近師者貴賣，貴賣則百姓竭，財 竭則急於丘役。力屈、財殫，中原內虛于家。百姓之費，十去其七﹔公家之費：破軍罷馬，甲冑矢弩，戟盾蔽櫓，丘牛大車，十去其六。
          故智將務食于敵。食敵一鐘，當吾二十鐘﹔箕杆一石，當吾二十石。
          故殺敵者，怒也﹔取敵之利者，貨也。故車戰，得車十乘已上，賞其 先得者，而更其旌旗，車雜而乘之，卒善而養之，是謂勝敵而益強。故兵貴勝，不貴久。 故知兵之將，民之司命，國家安危之主也。

Let's continue ...

            故殺敵者，怒也﹔取敵之利者，貨也。故車戰，得車十乘已上，賞其 先得者，而更其旌旗，車雜而乘之，卒善而養之，是謂勝敵而益強。故兵貴勝，不貴久。 故知兵之將，民之司命，國家安危之主也。

Some translation suggested: 
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.
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.
This is called, using the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.
In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.
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. 
Moran:   Truly, killing the enemy is a matter of wrath; on the other hand, the taking of profits from the enemy can be done with the [utilitarian, rational] intention of giving one's soldiers their booty.
So, as for chariot warfare, one should reward those who first take more than ten [enemy] chariots, and give them a new banner [for the captured chariots].
By thus forming an irregular collection of chariots, and by treating the captured soldiers well , one may win against the enemy and supplement one's own strength [in the process].
Therefore in warfare value victory, negatively value taking a long time at getting it.
The general who has a good knowledge of warfare serves as the lord of life and death for the people and is the master of the nation's peace and the perils. 

Let's discuss:

故殺敵者，怒也﹔取敵之利者，貨也。:   So killing the enemy derives from one's anger; taking of profits from the enemy derives bounty.
故車戰，得車十乘已上，賞其先得者，:   In chariot fight, one should reward those who first take more than ten [enemy] chariots,
而更其旌旗，車雜而乘之，卒善而養之，是謂勝敵而益強。:   And give them a new banner [for the captured chariots]. By thus forming an irregular collection of chariots, and by treating the captured soldiers well, one may win against the enemy and supplement one's own strength [in the process].
故兵貴勝，不貴久。 故知兵之將，民之司命，國家安危之主也。:   Therefore in warfare value victory positively, value those victories that take a long time at it negatively. The general who has a good knowledge of warfare serves as the lord of life and death for the people and is the decider of the nation's peace and perils.

This topic of discussion is about mercy.

When you have won the battle, it is merciful for you to forgive the atrocities done by the enemy. Instead of killing them all out of anger, treat them instead like bounty goods. Reward it to the conquering army. In business, never try to be a monopoly, it will never work. Give your competitors a chance to cooperate with you, but at your own terms. If you showed that you are not a killer, you will similarly be spared in defeat.

For those who have done well and bravely, reward them amply. Every one in business are profit-driven. If your employees did a good deal, don't count on too much cost, reward them amply so that they will do it again when the next opportunity arise. This reward will bring forth great and selfless warriors.

Mix all soldiers effectively. Treat the new surrendered soldiers as one's own. This is in fact the idea behind reducing racism and classes. By mixing well, there would be little excuse for racial flare-ups. This assimilation will effectively strengthen one's army for real. Hence, one's victory is truly rewarding as it build further strength to one's army. There were so many business failures in mergers and acquisitions in history, mainly due to differences in business culture. Assimilation is key to adding business strength.

Therefore, winning battles is great, but, taking a long time to getting it is not. I am not so sure about this one liner. It simply means a victory achieved quickly is worthy, but a victory achieved over a long time is not. Let's just take this as just a motherhood statement till further analysis.

The general who has a good knowledge of warfare serves as the lord of life and death for the people and is the decider of the nation's peace and perils. In business, any one that has controls over other's life and death is god. Hold the power to reward / punish and reward / punish justly. That way is the only way to control a large sized business.

b.孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 5) (Part 15)

The last part is here:   孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 4) (Part 14)

作戰篇第二

孫子曰：凡用兵之法，馳車千駟，革車千乘，帶甲十萬，千里饋糧，則內外之費，賓客之用，膠漆之材，車甲之奉，日費千金，然後十萬之師舉矣。
          其用戰也貴勝，久則鈍兵挫銳，攻城則力屈，久暴師則國 用不足。夫鈍兵挫銳，屈力殫貨，則諸侯乘其弊而起，雖有智者，不能善其後矣。故兵聞拙速，未睹巧之久也。夫兵久而國利者，未之有也。故不盡知用兵之害者，則不能盡知用兵之利也。
          善用兵者，役不再籍，糧不三載﹔取用于國，因糧于敵，故軍食可足也。
          國之貧于師者遠輸，遠輸則百姓貧。近師者貴賣，貴賣則百姓竭，財 竭則急於丘役。力屈、財殫，中原內虛于家。百姓之費，十去其七﹔公家之費：破軍罷馬，甲冑矢弩，戟盾蔽櫓，丘牛大車，十去其六。
          故智將務食于敵。食敵一鐘，當吾二十鐘﹔箕杆一石，當吾二十石。
          故殺敵者，怒也﹔取敵之利者，貨也。故車戰，得車十乘已上，賞其 先得者，而更其旌旗，車雜而乘之，卒善而養之，是謂勝敵而益強。故兵貴勝，不貴久。 故知兵之將，民之司命，國家安危之主也。

Let's continue ...

           故智將務食于敵。食敵一鐘，當吾二十鐘﹔箕杆一石，當吾二十石。

Some translation suggested: 
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. 
Moran:   Therefore wise generals will put burdens for foodstuffs on the enemy. Eating one unit of the enemy's food will save the expense of twenty units of one's own food. Feeding one unit of hay or fodder of the enemy's will save the expenditure of twenty units of one's own forage.

Let's discuss:

故智將務食于敵。:   Therefore wise generals will put burdens for foodstuffs on the enemy.
食敵一鐘，當吾二十鐘﹔:   Eating one unit of the enemy's food will save the expense of twenty units of one's own food.
箕杆一石，當吾二十石。:   Feeding one unit of hay or fodder of the enemy's will save the expenditure of twenty units of one's own forage.

This is really good. If you eat off your enemy, you are definitely god-status.

To be able to execute this in business world is pure gold. How to execute one case is not so easy. I am learned.

But, there are some truth in this statement. A while ago, I started attacking a major business of 30 product line. I chose the best and the most sale-able. I concentrated on its quality and nothing else. Slowly the customers moved over to my single product. Suddenly, the business of 30-product started to stop production of the product in contention and a few others (among the 30-products, there are indeed very weak ones, those that needs the strong lead-horse to support; once support's gone, they have to go as well.). Now I have at least a 50-product range. He has dwindled to less than 10. Naturally the leadership role reversed. A 20-fold decrease due to a single attack.

But, I am not sure if this is the correct case study. I am still learning. But, I do feel this is a very good point:   故智將務食于敵。 But do be careful about the possible strong counter-attacks or rebuttals. Stay on the best quality.

b.孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 4) (Part 14)

The last part is here:   孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 3) (Part 13)

作戰篇第二

孫子曰：凡用兵之法，馳車千駟，革車千乘，帶甲十萬，千里饋糧，則內外之費，賓客之用，膠漆之材，車甲之奉，日費千金，然後十萬之師舉矣。
          其用戰也貴勝，久則鈍兵挫銳，攻城則力屈，久暴師則國 用不足。夫鈍兵挫銳，屈力殫貨，則諸侯乘其弊而起，雖有智者，不能善其後矣。故兵聞拙速，未睹巧之久也。夫兵久而國利者，未之有也。故不盡知用兵之害者，則不能盡知用兵之利也。
          善用兵者，役不再籍，糧不三載﹔取用于國，因糧于敵，故軍食可足也。
          國之貧于師者遠輸，遠輸則百姓貧。近師者貴賣，貴賣則百姓竭，財 竭則急於丘役。力屈、財殫，中原內虛于家。百姓之費，十去其七﹔公家之費：破軍罷馬，甲冑矢弩，戟盾蔽櫓，丘牛大車，十去其六。
          故智將務食于敵。食敵一鐘，當吾二十鐘﹔箕杆一石，當吾二十石。
          故殺敵者，怒也﹔取敵之利者，貨也。故車戰，得車十乘已上，賞其 先得者，而更其旌旗，車雜而乘之，卒善而養之，是謂勝敵而益強。故兵貴勝，不貴久。 故知兵之將，民之司命，國家安危之主也。

Let's continue ...

          國之貧于師者遠輸，遠輸則百姓貧。近師者貴賣，貴賣則百姓竭，財竭則急於丘役。力屈、財殫，中原內虛于家。百姓之費，十去其七﹔公家之費：破軍罷馬，甲冑矢弩，戟盾蔽櫓，丘牛大車，十去其六。

Some translation suggested: 
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.
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.
When their substance is drained away, the peasantry will be afflicted by heavy exactions.
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; while government expenses for broken chariots, worn-out horses, breast-plates and helmets, bows and arrows, spears and shields, protective mantles, draught-oxen and heavy wagons, will amount to four-tenths of its total revenue.
Moran:   When a nation's resources are depleted by its troops, that is because of long supply lines. When there are long supply lines, the ordinary people become impoverished.
When troops are stationed nearby, then commodity prices rise.
When commodity prices rise, the ordinary people are driven out of the market.
When the resources of the ordinary people are exhausted [by paying the high prices, taxes, etc.], that will create a furor over impositions.
When one's energies are tied up and one's wealth is exhausted within one's nuclear region, then the center of one's own domain becomes a void.
The common people will come up short on seventy percent of their ordinary living expenses.
As for the expenses of the establishment families, there are wrecked vehicles, infirm horses, [damaged or destroyed] armor, helmets, arrows, crossbows, lances, bucklers, and paveses, not to mention oxen and heavy freight wagons. Losses will amount to six parts in ten.

Let's discuss:

國之貧于師者遠輸，遠輸則百姓貧。:  When a nation's resources are depleted by its troops, that is because of long supply lines. When there are long supply lines, the ordinary people become impoverished.
近師者貴賣，貴賣則百姓竭，財竭則急於丘役。:   When troops are stationed nearby, then commodity prices rise.
When commodity prices rise, the ordinary people are driven out of the market.
When the resources of the ordinary people are exhausted [by paying the high prices, taxes, etc.], that will create a furor over impositions. 丘役是春秋时期各个国家打仗的时候各国百姓所交的赋税。
力屈、財殫，中原內虛于家。:   When one's energies are tied up and one's wealth is exhausted within one's nuclear region, then the center of one's own domain becomes a void.
百姓之費，十去其七﹔:   The common people will come up short on seven parts out of ten of their ordinary living expenses.
公家之費：破軍罷馬，甲冑矢弩，戟盾蔽櫓，丘牛大車，十去其六。:   As for the expenses of the establishment families, there are wrecked vehicles, infirm horses, [damaged or destroyed] armor, helmets, arrows, crossbows, lances, bucklers, and paveses, not to mention oxen and heavy freight wagons. Losses will amount to six parts out of ten.

The ang-mo translation is really weak. The more I studied the text, the more mistakes I found. I am not saying my interpretation is any better. But, at least, I hope to be more accurate. I have no choice but to look for more accurate ones. Moran's interpretation is thus much better.

From the above text, once the supply lines are stretched to battles that are far away. Once engaged, their losses even without true losses in battles are as huge as 60%-70%.

It is so amazing that Sun Tzu at this point still doesn't understand that war is never profitable. Any losses or delays will rob the state of 60%-70% of entire resources.

This passage tells us of the cost of invasion. So be careful if you must invade.

b.孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 3) (Part 13)

The last part is here:   孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 2) (Part 12)

作戰篇第二

孫子曰：凡用兵之法，馳車千駟，革車千乘，帶甲十萬，千里饋糧，則內外之費，賓客之用，膠漆之材，車甲之奉，日費千金，然後十萬之師舉矣。
          其用戰也貴勝，久則鈍兵挫銳，攻城則力屈，久暴師則國 用不足。夫鈍兵挫銳，屈力殫貨，則諸侯乘其弊而起，雖有智者，不能善其後矣。故兵聞拙速，未睹巧之久也。夫兵久而國利者，未之有也。故不盡知用兵之害者，則不能盡知用兵之利也。
          善用兵者，役不再籍，糧不三載﹔取用于國，因糧于敵，故軍食可足也。
          國之貧于師者遠輸，遠輸則百姓貧。近師者貴賣，貴賣則百姓竭，財 竭則急於丘役。力屈、財殫，中原內虛于家。百姓之費，十去其七﹔公家之費：破軍罷馬，甲冑矢弩，戟盾蔽櫓，丘牛大車，十去其六。
          故智將務食于敵。食敵一鐘，當吾二十鐘﹔箕杆一石，當吾二十石。
          故殺敵者，怒也﹔取敵之利者，貨也。故車戰，得車十乘已上，賞其 先得者，而更其旌旗，車雜而乘之，卒善而養之，是謂勝敵而益強。故兵貴勝，不貴久。 故知兵之將，民之司命，國家安危之主也。

Let's continue ...

         善用兵者，役不再籍，糧不三載﹔取用于國，因糧于敵，故軍食可足也。

Some translation suggested: 
The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy, neither are his supply-wagons loaded more than twice.
Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs.

Let's discuss:

善用兵者，役不再籍，:   A skillful general will not conscript his men more than once.
糧不三載﹔取用于國，:   There is no need to store war supplies for more than 3 years. Do take from the state.
因糧于敵，故軍食可足也。:  For further supply needs, forage from the enemy territories. Thus, the army will have food enough for its needs.

To wage a war, one must do it as if it is based on excess capital. If you don't have enough spare capital, never wage a war. Waging a war means you are invading new territory. Invading a new territory means you are expanding your ownership. Now, you understand full well why I suggest using full cash to gain new territory.

Just today, I was visiting my bank. The cashier curiously asked me why I am paying the ultra-grand chieftain. I said to pay for the down-payment for a piece of land. She then suggested I should take a loan for the best effects. I replied I have enough to complete the deal. She then said good for me. But, she went on to ask again. I smiled.

She understood that by not taking a loan, I am almost guaranteed of success. If I were to take a loan, I may close the deal, but, it is almost impossible for me to complete the deal. Because any time over the loan repayment periods, I might be sick, I might have urgent needs, then I go back on my repayments. I would die-cock-stand. Then what wealth are you accumulating? You have just work for free for the banks - the true blood-suckers.

Will you be weak since you can only start very small? Yes, the generations game theory states that you would have to start very small. But, each small start will add to a better start next round and the next round. After a while, you realize you can command the grand chieftains' attention. There is no better path. Just start as small as possible and as soon as possible.

How to start? Just look around. Be patience. Opportunity is where no people is looking. I often been asked: For 5,000 years, wouldn't every trick has been tried? NO. Otherwise, we will never have airplanes, computers, cell phones and internet. You just have to be very observant and creative.

LOL ... of course I am not telling you the true investables in public. If I am no longer around, ask my blood relations for the list.

I am now fasting in my temple for tomorrow's grand chieftains' meeting. There are battle considerations to think through.

b.孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 2) (Part 12)

The last part is here:   孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 1) (Part 11)

作戰篇第二

孫子曰：凡用兵之法，馳車千駟，革車千乘，帶甲十萬，千里饋糧，則內外之費，賓客之用，膠漆之材，車甲之奉，日費千金，然後十萬之師舉矣。
          其用戰也貴勝，久則鈍兵挫銳，攻城則力屈，久暴師則國 用不足。夫鈍兵挫銳，屈力殫貨，則諸侯乘其弊而起，雖有智者，不能善其後矣。故兵聞拙速，未睹巧之久也。夫兵久而國利者，未之有也。故不盡知用兵之害者，則不能盡知用兵之利也。
          善用兵者，役不再籍，糧不三載﹔取用于國，因糧于敵，故軍食可足也。
          國之貧于師者遠輸，遠輸則百姓貧。近師者貴賣，貴賣則百姓竭，財 竭則急於丘役。力屈、財殫，中原內虛于家。百姓之費，十去其七﹔公家之費：破軍罷馬，甲冑矢弩，戟盾蔽櫓，丘牛大車，十去其六。
          故智將務食于敵。食敵一鐘，當吾二十鐘﹔箕杆一石，當吾二十石。
          故殺敵者，怒也﹔取敵之利者，貨也。故車戰，得車十乘已上，賞其 先得者，而更其旌旗，車雜而乘之，卒善而養之，是謂勝敵而益強。故兵貴勝，不貴久。 故知兵之將，民之司命，國家安危之主也。

Let's continue ...

          其用戰也貴勝，久則鈍兵挫銳，攻城則力屈，久暴師則國 用不足。夫鈍兵挫銳，屈力殫貨，則諸侯乘其弊而起，雖有智者，不能善其後矣。故兵聞拙速，未睹巧之久也。夫兵久而國利者，未之有也。故不盡知用兵之害者，則不能盡知用兵之利也。

Some translation suggested: 
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 city, you will exhaust your strength.
Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain.
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.
Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.
There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.
It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

This part is not well crafted by Sun Tzu. Maybe this explains the fallacy faced by the Chinese for 5,000 years. I will analyze why at the end.

Let's discuss:

其用戰也貴勝，久則鈍兵挫銳，:   Wage a battle, the victory longing, the men's weapons will now grow dull and their ardor will now be damped.
攻城則力屈，久暴師則國 用不足。:   Siege a city, you will exhaust your strength. If the campaign is protracted, the resources of the state will be insufficient to supply the army.
夫鈍兵挫銳，屈力殫貨，則諸侯乘其弊而起，雖有智者，不能善其後矣。:   Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor damped, your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other warring chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Even with however wise men as advisers, they will not be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.
故兵聞拙速，未睹巧之久也。:   Thus, though we have heard of crude hasty victories in war, we never witness a classic win due to protruded time strategy.
夫兵久而國利者，未之有也。:   Hence, there is no instance of a country having benefited from protracted battle engagement.
故不盡知用兵之害者，則不能盡知用兵之利也。:   Therefore, it is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it out.

Interestingly, as I take a longer timeline to study 孫子兵法。I realized Sun Tzu is not a 帥才 but a good 將才，i.e., he can try to win local battles but overall, he was a poor strategist. Based on this segment, he already showed his weakness. No battle can be won on a permanent basis. When you are strong, you beat the living daylight out of your neighbour, but, on other days, your neighbour will soon ask for a rematch and he in turn will beat the living daylight out of you. Since both of you are neighbours, both of you can't quit. No conquests are permanent. Just look at Genghis Khan, he may have the largest empire. He lost it all in 2 generations. Just look at British Empire, within 350 years, the empire that sun never sets closed shop. There are numerous other examples. Although I can't think of counter-examples. It is good to note that there are very peaceful companies that last for many centuries and the ownership is with the original family, such as Kikkoman, Hennessy and many others (please wiki them, too many to name). All of them are super non-aggressive types. Once they are aggressive, they will lose in no time. Only patience will win the day.

It is important to note that our enemies won't die. Once they are defeated, they just lie dormant for a while to recuperate. When the day comes that they are strong enough, they will do a rematch. If you can't play well this next time, you will be beaten. This push-pull will last forever.

If you bother to study about trees, most trees don't last very long. Some 100 years; some 500 years; some 1000 years. Very seldom beyond 1200 years. The reason being that the tree couldn't regenerate enough new tissues all the time for renewal. Yet, if you do a research on the net, you will find trees that can last up a million years old. They managed to clone themselves forever and older tissues just die off, but the clonal tree stayed alive.

Hence, given a choice, conserve your resources. If you don't need to battle, please don't tempt your evil intent. Even if you have won, it is not at all permanent. It is only with resources in hand that victory is permanent. Try your luck in building century-old business type. Please don't waste time to wear monkey suits and ties.

Shit! Talking about suit and tie, I am buying and wearing one to meet the ultra-grand chieftains this week and the next.

p.Strategy - How to survive in White Land

The last part is here:   绝情

Tomorrow is an important day for me. I am going to the white chieftains to buy their wares. It is going to be a very hard bargain ahead. How easy and difficult I not yet know. But, I should be able to feel their strengths soon enough.

Playing in the white land is really tough if you just simply think about it. You don't know any one. They don't care about giving you jobs. They just want to make you do menial tasks that they themselves shunt. They don't hang out with you. They don't even invite you for coffee, let alone Halloween or Christmas party.

You might have bought them drinks. But, they will never buy back. You were all the time wondering what has gone wrong? Your own yellowskins tried like hell to con you. The shitskins are too many and smell bad even at -50degC.

If you try to engage them, whites or shitskins in the earnest, what you get is only pure disappointment. When you hit that pit-stop, you will simply give up and think about returning to your ex-home country, that fucken little island. When you do that, you are nowhere to survive in that fucken little island ever again. You are now ostracized even by your own fuckens. Sad, isn't it?

Welcome to reality, my friend. This is immigration at its best. To stay is shit, to leave and return to little hole is shit. Then how?

That's why all the gals who happily went ahead with the immigration will happily blog about how happy they were when they landed, but diappeared totally when shit hit their walls. This is the most cruel joke ever.

Sigh ...

Not many people plan ahead. That's why my partner-in-crime always called me a cunning bastard. I have planned way, way ahead of every one else.

There is no way you can survive without support in the white land. You must have a plan. You don't go into the white land and try to get employment and cheat jobs from the white's hands. No whites will employ the yellowskins if they were to be paid the same. If the yellowskins cost way less and do the nobody-want jobs, sure the yellowskin will be able to survive, but to what ends?

Even after working for a decade without any job promotion, what are you going to achieve except to burn your candle of life for free?

Your kids are also nobodies as they only are clever in mathematics in school. They knew nuts about making in-route to white strongholds. The whites will never accept any yellowskins to their inner circles. You are the kids' father, if you yourself can't do it, what makes you think, your young blur-like-fuck kiddos can make it without experience, money, foundation and help from you, the father?

The solution

Enough said about the problem. In fact, there are even more issues. But, sufficed to say that they are indeed serious and real problems to settle.

The way ahead must therefore to stop talking in white language. Stop learning their ways, haven't you learned enough already? You are no longer young and naive. You can't jump as far nor run as fast as younger lads. Listen to yellowskins' music, shows, songs, articles and works. Fill yourself with things that are familiar to you and you alone.  You will feel loads better. With a strong inner sanctum, you will be able to smile.

Then, start exercising your strength. You came from another shit-hole into this new shit-hole. Both need shit to fill their holes. Do that! Fulfill their needs.

This is your strength. Most of the whites I met have not even travel further that 300 km from their own town. They are too poor to spend. They were so excited when I said I would treat them to a Christmas meal. They jumped up and immediately booked the restaurant in town for our meal. Of course, I am using money to buy affection. Let's not hope that they will treat me back in return. As far as I am concerned, I am only paying for the arm-candy for that Christmas meal. Even if I were to engage a social escort, it would also cost me money lah. So don't stingy-ch over such a small sum. Now these same people will guard my car when I leave for home. Keep my house in order. Check my mails. Don't you think I have gained even more? How often do you see a bunch of whites dinning happily with a single yellowskin, with the yellowskin laughing the loudest?

When you made it, you too will employ only the yellowskins as employees. They will sing yellowskin's songs, act on stage and cook your favourite yellowskin's meal.

You just have to dream big ... of course, must be correctly too ...

b.孫子兵法 (作戰篇第二) (Chapter 2 - 1) (Part 11)

The last part is here:  孫子兵法 (始計篇第一) (Chapter 1 - 9) (Part 10)

作戰篇第二

孫子曰：凡用兵之法，馳車千駟，革車千乘，帶甲十萬，千里饋糧，則內外之費，賓客之用，膠漆之材，車甲之奉，日費千金，然後十萬之師舉矣。
　 　 其用戰也貴勝，久則鈍兵挫銳，攻城則力屈，久暴師則國 用不足。夫鈍兵挫銳，屈力殫貨，則諸侯乘其弊而起，雖有智者，不能善其後矣。故兵聞拙速，未睹巧之久也。夫兵久而國利者，未之有也。故不盡知用兵之害者，則不能盡知用兵之利也。
　 　善用兵者，役不再籍，糧不三載﹔取用于國，因糧于敵，故軍食可足也。
　 　國之貧于師者遠輸，遠輸則百姓貧。近師者貴賣，貴賣則百姓竭，財 竭則急於丘役。力屈、財殫，中原內虛于家。百姓之費，十去其七﹔公家之費：破軍罷馬，甲冑矢弩，戟盾蔽櫓，丘牛大車，十去其六。
　 　故智將務食于敵。食敵一鐘，當吾二十鐘﹔箕杆一石，當吾二十石。
　 　故殺敵者，怒也﹔取敵之利者，貨也。故車戰，得車十乘已上，賞其 先得者，而更其旌旗，車雜而乘之，卒善而養之，是謂勝敵而益強。故兵貴勝，不貴久。 故知兵之將，民之司命，國家安危之主也。

In this chapter 2 of 13, 作戰篇 - Waging War, Sun Tzu explained how to understand the economic nature of war and how success requires making the winning play, which in turn, requires limiting the cost of competition and conflict. The speed of conclusion of conflict is important.

孫子曰：凡用兵之法，馳車千駟，革車千乘，帶甲十萬，千里饋糧，則內外之費，賓客之用，膠漆之材，車甲之奉，日費千金，然後十萬之師舉矣。

Some translation suggested: 
Sun Tzu said: In the normal operations of war, where there is a need to field a thousand swift light chariots, as many heavy chariots, and a hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers, with provisions enough to move them a thousand li, the expenditure at the rear and at the front, including entertainment of important guests, repair items such as glue and paint, and sums spent on maintaining chariots and armour, will reach the total of a thousand ounces of gold per day. Such is the consideration and cost of raising an army of 100,000 men.

As in business, to start a business is no different from waging a war. Everything has to be considered, in particular, the economics of the warfare. Every minute detail has to be handled. There must have light chariots to take on the war swiftly. There must be heavy armoury to handle tough situations. There must have a sizable occupation ground force. Over and above that, the other details include logistics and facade maintenance. The wager of war must show opulence.

I am a little stuck by this last sentence. I have always believed in humility, i.e., in the eyes of chineseman, I am shown to be quite basically useless. But, this tactics cannot be applied to the white land. In the white land, humility is not favoured, i.e., the whites are so squared that they naturally assumed what they heard is the truth and nothing, but the truth. They simply can't believe that there are people out there that can push the envelope further than they say they could. They take everything at face-value. Because of that, I have lost several deals due to this humility. There is therefore a need to adjust one's strategy to one's environment. Showing off on the other extreme is also not favoured. You simply has to be a little louder and bolder. That will do.

Once upon a time, I had wanted to start a hawker store doing fried crabs in quite a seriously popular place. I paid the rental and deposit, bought the equipments, employed my staff and secured my supplies. In the end, even before it started, I folded. I simply didn't count too well. I thought by having a varsity degree would have allowed me to do anything under the sun. I was proved dead wrong. The cook just before starting demanded a sharp raise in his salary and shortened his working hours. I was left stone-cold. Of all the technologies I have, I can't cook for nuts!

In summary, this Sun Tzu's phase is to highlight the need to understand its enormous cost in starting and waging a war. It is no difference from business endeavours. it is thus foolhardy to start a war with no ready and trustworthy resource.

b.Big Business Starts Small

My dream lifestyle. Let me settle my other stuff first before buying a small horse to play. hehehehe ...

I used to have friends who always gun for that billion-dollars deals. I have since lost contact with them. They are ultra-intelligent and well-connected. To date, I have not heard from them, but I wish them well.

Their philosophy is to get into billion-dollar deals. Even if they get only just a 1% commission, that would have gotten them at a $10m income instantly. All their troubles would be behind them. I always have doubts in this kind of deal as I am not a gal. If I am gal, I would open my legs and see how far I can go. But, I am not. I always wondered how can a princeling gives us guys a deal when he can leverage this deal for a beautiful gal on the side. I never understood and will never understand.

I always believe all big businesses must start small. Small deals, small incomes and therefore, more stability in numbers. Since these numbers are small, there is no need to access the banks. When these small numbers add up, it will become bigger and the economy of scale would have kicked in and a huge barrier of entry would be erected in my name. Thereafter, the business deals become more strategic and easier to explain. Because at these business meetings, we no longer talk about bread and butter issues, but strategic directions for the future. With no bank borrowings to worry about, the skill set to do well is so small.

Can this be implemented even for big time business like property deals? The answer is yes. All you need is to look. If you look hard enough, these cash deals will come. You need to be very patient. If you have no patience, then play Texas HoldEm Poker to pass your time.

Are you sure you can pay in cash these deals? Yes, why not? All you need is to be humble and go for the tiny deals before collecting on the bigger ones. Take small steps and cash steps.

But property deals are not the only game a guy can play. The options are aplenty. Don't be bullshitted by the property market in Singapore, the richest men are not just in property deals.

The discussion in property deals is just that a discussion or merely as a simple example.