善用「勢」以達成勝利：孫子兵法的戰略智慧
孫子在《孫子兵法》中反覆強調「勢」的重要性，並認為能夠有效運用「勢」的人，才能在戰爭或競爭中立於不敗之地。「勢」是一種綜合性的力量，包含地形、軍隊士氣、戰略佈局、資源配置等多重因素，它不僅影響戰局的發展，也決定了勝負的方向。孫子主張，真正善戰者能夠因時因地制宜，創造有利形勢，使戰爭如同千仞之瀑布般強大不可擋，最終以最小代價取得最大勝利。本文將從「因勢利導」、「掌握無形的力量」、「運用人心與士氣」、「善用環境刺激戰局」四個方面，探討孫子如何善用「勢」來達成勝利。
一、因勢利導：趁勢而行，不逆勢而動
孫子在《始計》中提到：「計利以聽，乃為之勢，以佐其外。勢者，因利而制權也。」這句話的核心思想是，作戰應當順勢而行，而非逆勢強攻。善戰者應該分析戰局的有利條件，利用趨勢來決定戰略，而不是盲目依靠人的勇敢或單純的命令。
這種戰略思維與水流的運行方式相似——水會順著地勢流動，當它積蓄到一定程度時，便能形成強大的衝擊力。例如，當敵軍士氣低落、內部矛盾加劇時，這便是己方的有利形勢，應當及時出擊。反之，若敵軍強勢、士氣高昂，則應避其鋒芒，等待對方犯錯或形勢轉變後再行動。因此，真正的智者不會逆著大勢行動，而會像水一樣，在適當時機順勢而為，創造最佳勝利條件。
二、掌握無形的力量：勢如瀑布，節如機發
在《軍形》中，孫子以水流作比喻：「故勝兵若以鎰稱銖，敗兵若以銖稱鎰。勝者之戰民也，若決積水于千仞之谿，形也。」意思是，勝利的軍隊如同從高山奔瀉而下的洪流，強大而不可阻擋，而失敗的軍隊則如同用小砝碼去衡量大砝碼，毫無勝算。這正是「勢」的具體展現——當形勢有利時，應當迅速行動，發揮最大力量，以迅雷不及掩耳之勢擊潰敵軍。
孫子在《兵勢》中進一步強調：「激水之疾，至于漂石者，勢也。鷙鳥之擊，至于毀折者，節也。是故善戰者，其勢險，其節短，勢如張弩，節如機發。」這段話說明了**「勢」的威力來自於高度的累積，而「節」則是將這股勢能轉化為具體行動的瞬間**。戰爭中，戰略的部署（勢）應該像弓弩拉滿弦般充滿潛能，而戰術的執行（節）則應該如同機關扣動般迅速果決。一旦勢能積蓄完成，便應該果斷出擊，給敵人毀滅性的一擊。
這種「勢」的運用，在歷史上屢見不鮮。例如，漢高祖劉邦與項羽爭霸天下時，劉邦並沒有一開始就正面對抗項羽，而是先積蓄實力，等待項羽因驕傲與誤判而削弱自己的勢能，最後利用敵方的錯誤，一舉翻轉戰局，這正是善用「勢」的典範。
三、運用人心與士氣：勇怯來自於勢，非單靠命令
孫子在《兵勢》中提到：「勇怯，勢也。強弱，形也。故善動敵者，形之，敵必從之；予之，敵必取之；以利動之，以實待之。」這句話強調了戰爭中的勇氣與士氣，其實是來自於「勢」，而不是單靠將領的命令。如果能夠為軍隊創造一個「勝利可期」的局勢，那麼士兵自然會英勇作戰；但如果軍隊處於不利境地，無論將領如何鼓舞士氣，恐怕都難以改變戰局。
因此，真正的領導者應該運用「勢」來提高士兵的士氣，而不是單純依賴口號與訓令。例如，在戰爭中，適時展現己方的優勢，如糧草充足、援軍即將抵達、敵軍內部分裂等，都能極大地增強士氣。而在競爭環境中，企業領導者若能夠讓團隊看到成功的希望，例如市場需求旺盛、產品競爭力強，員工自然會投入更多心力去爭取勝利。
四、善用環境刺激戰局：以「不戰而屈人」之勢取勝
孫子在《兵勢》中還提到：「任勢者，其戰人也，如轉木石，木石之性，安則靜，危則動，方則止，圓則行。故善戰人之勢，如轉圓石于千仞之山者，勢也。」這段話的意思是，軍隊的動向應該像從高山滾落的圓石一樣，當勢能積蓄到一定程度時，便能產生驚人的破壞力。
真正的高手不僅會訓練士兵作戰，更會營造一種不可阻擋的戰局，使敵人陷入不利處境，最終不得不屈服。這也是孫子「不戰而屈人之兵」的精髓所在。在現代競爭中，企業可以通過市場佈局、技術壟斷、品牌影響力等手段，讓競爭對手無法正面對抗，最終選擇退出或合作，這與戰爭中的「勢」運用異曲同工。
結論：掌握「勢」，才能掌控勝負
孫子兵法強調，戰爭的勝利不僅取決於兵力的多寡，更關鍵的是如何運用「勢」來影響整個戰局。透過因勢利導、積蓄勢能、調動士氣、利用環境來壓迫敵人，可以讓己方以最小的代價獲取最大的勝利。
歷史上，許多偉大的戰略家都懂得這一點，從劉邦對抗項羽，到拿破崙的戰術運用，再到現代企業競爭的市場策略，無不體現「勢」的智慧。因此，無論是在戰爭還是現代競爭環境中，唯有掌握「勢」，才能真正掌控勝負，最終達成全勝之道。
Utilizing “Shi” (勢) to Achieve Victory: The Strategic Wisdom of The Art of War
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu repeatedly emphasizes the importance of “Shi” (勢), asserting that those who can effectively utilize “Shi” will always hold the advantage in warfare or competition. “Shi” is a comprehensive force that encompasses terrain, military morale, strategic positioning, and resource allocation. It not only influences the development of a conflict but also determines its outcome. Sun Tzu advocates that a true strategist should create favorable conditions, leverage momentum, and achieve victory with minimal cost, much like a powerful waterfall cascading from a thousand-foot cliff.
This article explores how Sun Tzu harnesses “Shi” to secure victory from four key aspects: adapting to circumstances, mastering invisible forces, leveraging morale, and utilizing the environment to shape the battlefield.
1. Adapting to Circumstances: Following the Flow, Not Fighting Against It
Sun Tzu states in Initial Estimations (Shi Ji):
“Listen to assessments of advantage, then create ‘Shi’ to assist external conditions. ‘Shi’ arises from leveraging advantages to control the balance of power.”
This principle underscores that a successful strategist acts according to prevailing trends rather than forcing a situation against its natural course. Victory comes not from blind bravery or strict orders but from analyzing favorable conditions and exploiting trends to determine strategy.
This approach mirrors the way water flows according to terrain. When accumulated in sufficient quantity, water unleashes tremendous force. Similarly, when an enemy’s morale is low or internal divisions arise, this presents a strategic opportunity—one should strike at the right moment. Conversely, when the enemy is strong and united, it is wise to avoid direct confrontation and wait for their situation to deteriorate.
A true strategist moves with the trend, not against it, ensuring the highest chances of success.
2. Mastering Invisible Forces: Momentum Like a Waterfall, Execution Like a Trigger
In Formation (Jun Xing), Sun Tzu uses the analogy of flowing water:
“The victorious army fights like weighing heavy against light, while the defeated army fights like weighing light against heavy. The way to command troops is like releasing a flood from a high mountain—this is ‘Shi’.”
This passage illustrates that victory results from accumulating power and releasing it at the right moment, much like a flood unleashed from a high peak.
In Military Power (Bing Shi), Sun Tzu further elaborates:
“The speed of rushing water can move boulders—this is ‘Shi’. The strike of a predatory bird can break bones—this is precision. Thus, a good commander makes his momentum dangerous and his attacks swift, like a taut bow releasing an arrow.”
This underscores that “Shi” is the strategic buildup of power, while tactical execution is the precise release of that power. Military formations should be charged with potential energy, like a drawn bowstring, ready to unleash destruction in an instant.
A historical example is Liu Bang’s conflict with Xiang Yu during the Chu-Han Contention. Instead of confronting Xiang Yu head-on, Liu Bang patiently built his power while allowing Xiang Yu to exhaust himself through arrogance and poor judgment. Once Xiang Yu’s position weakened, Liu Bang struck decisively and secured victory—an excellent demonstration of strategic “Shi”.
3. Leveraging Morale: Strength Comes from Momentum, Not Just Orders
Sun Tzu emphasizes in Military Power:
“Courage and fear arise from ‘Shi’. Strength and weakness come from formations. A skilled commander shapes the enemy’s actions—if you offer them bait, they will take it; if you provoke them, they will react. Move them with advantage but prepare for them with reality.”
This highlights that a military’s courage and morale stem from “Shi” rather than direct commands. If an army believes in victory, its soldiers will fight with determination; however, if conditions appear unfavorable, no amount of motivational speeches will compensate.
A competent leader should create a favorable perception of victory to boost morale rather than merely issuing commands. For instance, demonstrating logistical superiority, revealing enemy weaknesses, or showcasing imminent reinforcements can all elevate morale. In the corporate world, if a company can show its employees that their products are competitive, demand is high, and market conditions are favorable, motivation will naturally increase.
4. Utilizing the Environment: Winning Without Fighting
Sun Tzu further explains in Military Power:
“A commander who understands ‘Shi’ directs his troops like rolling a boulder down a thousand-foot mountain. When at rest, the boulder remains still; when on a slope, it moves. A square boulder stays, but a round boulder rolls. Thus, a skilled commander maneuvers ‘Shi’ like rolling a round stone from a high peak.”
This analogy illustrates that a commander should set conditions that make victory inevitable, much like a boulder naturally rolling down a slope. A true strategist not only trains his soldiers but also shapes the battlefield to favor his side, compelling the enemy into a disadvantageous position.
This aligns with Sun Tzu’s famous doctrine of “winning without fighting” (subduing the enemy without battle). In modern business competition, companies use similar strategies: instead of engaging in direct price wars, they might leverage branding, intellectual property, or supply chain dominance to push competitors into a weaker position, forcing them to retreat or cooperate.
Conclusion: Mastering “Shi” to Control Victory
The Art of War teaches that victory is determined not only by the size of an army but by how effectively one harnesses “Shi” to shape the battlefield. By adapting to trends, accumulating momentum, inspiring morale, and shaping the environment, one can secure victory with minimal cost and maximum efficiency.
Throughout history, great strategists have understood this principle. From Liu Bang’s patience in defeating Xiang Yu to Napoleon’s masterful battlefield positioning, and even to modern business strategies, the effective use of “Shi” remains a timeless principle.
In both warfare and business, only those who master “Shi” can dictate the outcome, ensuring complete victory with minimal losses.
