Survivor: China's Monday Morning Quarterback – Waging War

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. Zhan Hu is still awaiting that first taste of victory, having been bested in both close combat and feats of extended endurance. If the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain. Without winning the fishing gear, the tribe went hungry and their energies could not rejuvenate. This led to the defeat in the challenge of immunity, and a recurring spiral of loss.

Dave, as the general of Zhan Hu, is a man of small vision. His insistence of work when the rest of his army wished to nourish themselves went against all I believe. 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.

Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays. By delaying redress to the tribe's demands, Dave caused others to question his continued stay in the contest. Ashley rose up as a vocal adversary and started to win favor with her cohorts. This set up a head-to-head battle for survival that may could have been averted by not delaying the needs and wants of the group.

At Fei Long, we see another man involved in long delays. Jean-Robert is intentionally waiting to show his true strength to the tribe, and is hoping to feign weakness until such time as he sees fit to step up his efforts. As such, he thinks he is avoiding a target being placed upon his back, but no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue when taking time in the use of full force. This is a bluff that shall not be victorious if used much longer.

Jean-Robert's reprieve is based upon the victories of his fellow warriors. They have avoided the questioner-man's council and thus have not seen their numbers decrease. As reward for one such victory, the tribe was able to bring in a member of Zhan Hu, to glean wisdom from their foe.

They choose Jaime to observe, as fine a target as any for an initial contact. Todd is clearly a wise player as he has hearkened to my words: "Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs. 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." He informs his tribemates to keep an eye on their provisions, lest they be taken by Jaime and used against them. A favorite son I believe I have found.

But these words also have meaning in reverse. While you should forage on the enemy, also shall you not share your war material with your tribe unnecessarily. Leslie had been handed secrets of import regarding the location of a hidden immunity idol. Rather than keep this value to herself, she willingly shared it with Todd, who in turn divulged to the "gods who record all occurrences with their machines that are beyond my ken" that he will not share this information even with those he had sworn to ally with. Todd is wise and Leslie clearly has not read my words.

As we leave our tale for now, Dave has indeed survived of the coup, but has lost much power. 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. Dave's actions in the next few days will determine if Zhan Hu is in peace or in peril. Should he not change his ways and meet the demands of his tribe head on, his head surely will be the next to roll.

Until then, I diminish and remain, Sun-Tzu.

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When not speaking on behalf of long-dead Chinese philosophers, AJ Mass writes about fantasy sports for ESPN.com. You may reach him at ajmass@verizon.net.