The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent's strategy.

The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.

An army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids strength and strikes weakness.

Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.

Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.

And regulation entails organizational effectiveness, a chain of command, and a structure for logistical support.

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.