The Art of War by Master Taigong Chapter 17 Martial Strategy - Three Doubts

King Wu of Zhou sought advice from Jiang Taigong on conquering powerful enemies, alienating family members, and dispersing opposing groups. Jiang Taigong's strategy emphasized strategic resource allocation and manipulation of psychology. He proposed strengthening enemies to induce their downfall, using loved ones to isolate targets, and assembling larger groups to dissolve smaller ones. The overarching approach involved careful planning, secrecy, and the strategic use of wealth and rewards to achieve dominance. Ultimately, gaining the favor of the populace through generosity was deemed crucial to success.