Sun Tzu prioritizes planning above all else. An unplanned war is a disaster waiting to happen, but a carefully planned one has a good chance of success.

Planning takes place in several stages. The first is receiving the commands of the ruler. If the king tells his general, “You must conquer State X within three months,” the general knows that he must move quickly to prepare a strategy, organize his army, and build supply lines.

War plans must take into account the terrain and weather in the State to be contested. Different types of terrain call for different actions: Difficult terrain should be worked around; valuable wide and flat terrain will need to be occupied quickly before the opponent gets to it; passes and cliffs must be taken as well. Weather also affects maneuvers: Windy conditions might make fire a useful weapon, while rainy conditions may offer a chance to divert rivers to flood the enemy.

The general then gauges the opposing army’s strength and considers carefully any of its weaknesses, which can be attacked at the right moment. The leader draws up a list of the opposing country’s most valuable resources to be captured when it is time to divert or split the adversary’s focus and forces.