Strategy and Planning
The emphasis of the book is not, surprisingly, carrying out an actual physical campaign, but strategizing and planning before beginning a campaign. The most important thing about any campaign is not the actions of the troops on the field, or the size of the force that one is taking into enemy territory, but the checks and balances that go on long before the first action is taken in the campaign itself. There has to be a reason, or an objective, or a thought process involved in the decision to go to war; it cannot be a knee-jerk reaction to an event or an unplanned bid to take over power in another territory. The good Warlord is a planner before he is a soldier or a general.
Subterfuge
This is a recurring theme in each of the chapters. It is almost more important to the success of a Warlord that he beats the enemy with his mind before attempting to beat him in an actual physical battle. It is important to create an image of your own forces to the enemy, even if the image you are creating is a false one. From making it appear that your troops are heading to the east when they are really heading to the west, to making any disadvantage seem like a deliberate action, the emphasis is on out-thinking and "snowing" the enemy long before the Warlord attempts to out-fight them.
The good Warlord also invades a territory by stealth wherever possible, so that the territory does not realize it has been invaded.
Doing Everything with Heart and Soul
There are many references in the book to acting with heart and soul in complete alignment. A Warlord who does everything with his heart and his soul fully invested in it will ultimately be successful because in putting forth this completeness of effort he is harnessing the power of the Heavens; with the Heavens on his side he cannot do anything but succeed. It is also important for troops to be similarly dedicated. Early in the book it is explained that a man who is constantly looking for the next job, or the next promotion, will not be properly committed with both heart and soul to the job that he is currently assigned to do. Putting heart and soul into a task ensures success because it is done with only the best of intention.
