Strategists in the three countries pay attention to the use of sequential strategies at three levels.
First of all, it is applied to the understanding of timing. Seeing before, knowing after. Prophets are philosophers, but hindsight is ordinary people. At this level, it's expensive first and then cheap. Famous strategists are far-sighted. After Dong Zhuo's rebellion, Yu Xun abandoned his post and returned to China. He said to the villagers: "Yingchuan, the land of the Fourth World War, the world has changed. Often driven away by soldiers, it is not advisable to stay long. " The fellow villager was pregnant with the soil and hesitated. Only Yu Xun led the family to Jizhou. Later, Dong Zhuo sent Li Jue and other generals to send troops to Guandong, and many of them passed by, until Yingchuan, Liu Chen and Yu Xun were killed. In addition, Yu Xun foresaw that Dong Zhuo would be defeated, pointing out: "Zhuo is very autocratic, he will end up in chaos, and there is nothing he can do." This judgment comes at a time when Dong is in the ascendant and arrogant. Since then, as Yu Xun said, Dong Zhuo has lost his reputation. Yu Xun's analysis of Cao Yuan's "four victories" and Cao Cao's exposition of Kyushu are all ignorant of the timing. Jia Xu persuaded Cao to surrender, Liu Bei knew the people's hearts, Zhuge Liang judged the situation, Sun Quan knew the actual situation, and Lu Xun prepared troops ... There are countless examples of foresight, success and success. The depth and breadth of ideological understanding of decision makers and strategists determine the future and destiny of individuals or groups. Those who know first deploy first, act first, and it is often easy to defeat those who know later. Cao Cao's major decisions, such as attacking Yuan Shao's son without paying attention to Liu Biao's radical salary, attacking Liu Bei without paying attention to Yuan Shao's courage, and Liu Bei taking full advantage of his geographical position and daring to deploy calmly, are all based on his opponent's ignorance, procrastination, misunderstanding and ignorance.
Secondly, it is applied to the decision-making process. "If you want to know people, you must first know yourself." (Lv's Spring and Autumn Annals) "Those who seek the afterlife will prosper first, and those who seek the afterlife will die first." "The victorious soldiers win first and then fight, and the defeated soldiers win first after the war." (Sun Tzu's Art of War Xing) During the Three Kingdoms period, major groups used strategic strategies very frequently in their decision-making procedures. A large number of decision makers search for think tanks, which has become a major feature of the three countries' hegemony. Decisions on many major events are repeatedly planned in advance and then put into practice. On the contrary, those decision makers who are not good at using the successor strategy often make temporary decisions, deal with them hastily and lack careful consultation, and the results will all fail. Even if there are a few successful examples occasionally, it will not help them to win the final victory.
Third, it is used in the process of action. Generally speaking, the principle of preemptive strike is often more effective. Military strategists such as Cao Cao, Cang Hong, Zheng Tai, Liu Shao, Hu Zhi, Zhong Hui, Zhang Zhao, Zhou Yu and Pang Tong all had successful practices in this respect. Pre-emptive strike is often a surprise, pre-emptive strike, striving for initiative and gaining an advantage. Before the opponent understands what is going on, he has restrained his opponent in a passive or even dead state. Deciding to start first requires laying a solid foundation in the first and second stages. Only by knowing and planning in advance can we ensure the success of the first move, otherwise, the first move may become rash and blind. Contrary to the situation of preemptive strike, the latter is often more powerful, because preemptive strike is based on understanding and planning in advance, which is a favorable condition for seizing the initiative with opponents. Backwardness is based on the constraints of the enemy's weaknesses, and more is the counterattack of the enemy's existing advantages or strength. Lv Meng, Lu Xun's attack on Jingzhou, Lu Xun's defeat of Liu Bei, Sima Yi's control of Cao Shuang and Si Mazhao's anti-clock club are all famous examples of latecomers.
In practice, these three different levels of strategic planning are often integrated, crossed and used continuously. No matter at what level or stage, the core and purpose of this strategic planning is to control people rather than controllers. In the face of opportunities, "strike people first, then strike people." ("Historical Records of Xiang Yu") In the face of a severe and complicated situation, think twice before you act, and be on the safe side. In the specific course of action, there is no accusation against the movement at any time. In the eyes of strategists in the three countries, we can use the strongest method of first move or the strategy of coming from behind. In the whole process, strategic planning has a great influence. Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao were first strong and then weak, while Cao Cao and Sun Quan were first small and then big. Liu Zhang lived in Yizhou first, and Liu Bei later occupied it ... In fact, strategy has played an extraordinary role in shifting space, changing subject and object, and changing victory and defeat, thus making all actions easy. Without entering the dead corner and being controlled by others.
In addition to making strategists have a comprehensive and holistic way of thinking in understanding, planning and action, strategists in the Three Kingdoms also paid special attention to another major aspect of strategic planning, namely the content of their thinking. Militarily, whether to attack before defending, or to defend before attacking; Take the lead or take the lead. Inside first, then outside, or virtual first, then real. In diplomacy, we should unite first and then split, or pay first and then leave, and in politics, we should rule by law or conquer first; Foundation first or end first ... once the form and content of strategy are skillfully combined, we can create a new world, turn the corner and approach the established goals steadily and quickly.