Military Campaign Planning

Overview

Classical Chinese military planning methodology drawn from historical campaigns, emphasizing logistics, timing, and strategic positioning.

Pre-Campaign Assessment

1. Intelligence Gathering

• Know enemy strength and disposition
• Assess terrain advantages
• "知水草处" (Know water and pasture locations)

2. Resource Planning

• Calculate provisions needed
• Plan supply lines
• Example: 60,000 troops require extensive logistics
• "负私从者不与" (Personal servants not counted in official numbers)

3. Alliance Coordination

• Secure commitments from allies
• Example: Request 2,000 cavalry from allies
• Have contingency if allies "持两端" (hesitate/hold both sides)

Campaign Execution

Strategic Positioning

1. Control key passes:
   • "绝成皋之口，天下不通" (Block Chenggao pass, cut off the realm)
2. Secure water sources
3. Establish supply depots

Tactical Decisions

• "围其城，攻之四十馀日" (Besiege cities, attack for 40+ days if needed)
• Cut enemy resources: "决其水源" (Divert their water source)
• Accept surrender with conditions when advantageous

Managing Difficult Terrain

• "道远多乏食" (Long routes lack food)
• "士卒不患战，患饥" (Soldiers fear hunger, not fighting)
• Plan for: "出其北有胡寇，出其南乏水草" (North: enemy raids; South: no water/grass)

Post-Campaign

Securing Victory

1. Install friendly rulers
2. Leave garrison forces
3. Establish administrative control
4. "置使者护田积粟" (Station officials to protect farmland and store grain)

Reward Distribution

• Promote capable officers
• Distribute captured wealth
• Honor the fallen

Expected Outcomes

• Territorial expansion
• Enemy neutralization
• Resource acquisition
• Strategic position secured

Verification

• Confirm intelligence gathering covers enemy strength, terrain advantages, and water/pasture locations before campaign launch
• Validate that supply lines are calculated for the full troop count and contingencies exist for ally hesitation (持两端)
• Check that post-campaign steps (garrison forces, administrative control, farmland protection) are executed to secure the victory