By: Andrew Nickerson

Throughout history, many tactical/strategic manuals have risen/fallen from prominence…with one exception: Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. This legendary manuscript’s wisdom has withstood the test of time, not just for its common-sense approach, but its primary goal—winning. It touches on warfare’s every edifice, from terrain to spies, and is so universally effective everyone from businessmen to athletes to politicians have used it to achieve victory.

However, there’s one medium it still hasn’t truly tapped: pop culture. If its wisdom is universal, why not there too? To better illustrate this, we’re going to examine a famed anime plot arc: the defense of Alsace from Lord Marksman and the Vanadis[i]. More specifically, we’ll look at it through the following Sun Tzu principles: morality, terrain, preparation, improv, foreknowledge, direct-indirect acts, recklessness, cowardice, delicacy of honor (DOH from now on), underestimation, and seizing an opening.

            Here’s the background: war breaks out between the kingdoms of Brun and Zhcted, and their respective armies ready for battle on the Dinant Plains. Brun’s army, personally commanded by Crown Prince Regnis in his debut campaign, is 25,000 strong, 5x that of its foe, and its ranks are adamantly convinced they’ll win. Thus, they’ve already violated one of Sun Tzu’s Five Fatal Failings of Leadership, DOH[ii], as well as another principle, never underestimate a foe[iii]. They pay dearly for this when the Zhcted Army, commanded by Eleonora Viltaria (Ellen from now on), one of Zhcted’s 7 War Maidens, launches a daring nighttime sneak attack. In the melee, Regnis is supposedly killed and Brun’s army routed.

As daylight comes, series protagonist Count Tigrevurmud Vorn (Tigre from now on) is stranded, looking to escape. He’s the young, handsome feudal lord of Alsace, a modest province in northeastern Brun. However, he’s best known for his exceptional archery, an incredible display of one of Sun Tzu’s Five Essential Victory Factors, preparation[iv], more specifically its principle better training[v]. Ironically, that same skill is one his fellow countrymen (especially nobles) openly despise, another brazen violation of DOH and underestimation, for such shortsightedness can be dangerous. That lack of vision is proven when Tigre’s accosted by a Zhcted soldier, openly violating those same principle by thinking him an easy kill, only to pay when former quickly kills him with an arrow. Then, spotting Ellen riding with her entourage, Tigre quickly uses two more Essential Victory Factors, morality and terrain[vi], by opting to use a small hill to sneak out before said party, thinking that eliminating Ellen will stop the hunt for survivors. What’s more, Ellen et al. have violated both underestimation and another Fatal Failing, recklessness[vii], by lowering their guard, assuming all is clear. They pay for it when Tigre emerges and uses prep by killing her lead knights’ horses, clearing his line of sight. But he’s violated underestimation too, since Ellen, as a War Maiden, wields a magical Dragon Gear weapon, the sword Arifal, granting control of the wind. She uses it lift herself over her comrades and charge Tigre, who promptly fires his last two arrows, only to have her swat both before capturing him.

            Later, Tigre is called before Ellen by her bodyguard Lim, where he learns Ellen sent an exorbitant ransom request to Brun, then asks him to display his archery to her troops. It’s all a carefully planned move to assuage some hotheaded officers, who’re feeling highly jealous of Tigre, a good use of one of Sun Tzu’s favorite tactics: use a direct act to focus your enemy’s attention and an indirect to win[viii]. But she’s violated underestimation, since those officers secretly gave Tigre a shoddily made bow to embarrass him, a shameless violation of morality, underestimation, and another Fatal Failing, cowardice[ix]. However, the move backfires, first via Tigre’s using morality by alerting Ellen to an assassin; she then uses another principle, “be flexible; according as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans”[x], or improv, by using Arifal to block said foe’s attack. As the killer flees, Tigre suggests taking the man alive, adds, “Fine I’ll hit his foot”, and then wields improv himself by using the bad bow to do so, even though the assassin is a moving target on an elevated platform a hefty distance away. These acts prompt an apology the next day from Ellen, who’s learned of the conspiracy and wants to execute the conspirators, but Tigre instead uses morality by convincing her to show mercy. That’s when Lim reveals something extraordinary: Ellen spared him because she fell for him at first sight—due to his archery. Ellen then asks if Tigre will serve under her, but he declines, telling her he wants to return to Alsace. Furthermore, Tigre’s earlier morality soon pays off when Ryurik, the conspiracy’s leader, is so moved by his goodness/skills he and the others ask him to teach them archery.

            Unfortunately, that night, Tigre’s long-time attendant Bertrand arrives from Alsace with horrible news. Regnis’ death has left a massive power vacuum since there’s no clear heir. Into that vacuum steps two powerful Dukes, Thenardier and Ganelon, each known for horrible morality violations toward their own subjects. While mustering their armies, the former orders his son Zion to take 3,000 men and two newly bred dragons (an armored land type and a flying type) and annihilate Alsace so Ganelon can’t take it. It’s a stunning violation of morality and another Essential Victory Factor, leadership[xi], namely its principle “Move only if there is an advantage to be gained”[xii], since this move is mostly meant to terrify smaller provinces into siding with him. Sadly, it’s also a shameful violation of recklessness and another leadership principle, “choose moral leaders and able generals[xiii]”, for Zion’s a mess: he previously violated DOH and underestimation at Dinant, when he and his attendants cruelly mocked Tigre for wearing leather armor and using a bow. Now, he makes the bigger mistake of having his force march slowly to intimidate all around, which helps Alsace by violating two more principles: if an opening comes to seize victory, take it[xiv], and “What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men is foreknowledge.”[xv] By not moving swiftly, Alsace has more time to prepare, since they can now easily track him.

Friendly feudal lord Mashus, a capable tactician, promptly uses morality and foreknowledge by declaring he’ll halt Ganelon in the north, then wisely evacuates the provincial capital, sending the strong to the mountains/woods and the rest to their temple; he explains the latter move by saying not even Thenardier would dare attack there. Lastly, he sends Bertrand to Zhcted to inform/bring back Tigre. When Tigre gets the news, he foolishly violates recklessness and underestimation by trying to go back alone. Ellen stops him, reminding him he’s still a prisoner and, even if he did return, he couldn’t fight because Alsace has no army. It’s actually a quiet use of direct-indirect acts at work, because she’s secretly giving him an opening. In turn, she violates underestimation herself, for Tigre boldly employs morality and improv by begging her to lend him her army to defend Alsace. His request shocks all, so much so Ellen bursts out laughing, but then she tells him she’ll help…in exchange for Alsace. He agrees, so she mobilizes 1,000 men and moves out. En route, Tigre declares no one in the Thenardier house has been near Alsace in ages, while he knows the province like the back of his hand, enabling their force to use both foreknowledge and the terrain principle “make use of local guides[xvi]” in the coming fight.

Zion eventually reaches Tigre’s capital, where he arrogantly violates morality and cowardice by letting his troops pillage, followed by DOH since he feels the town is so flea-bitten there’s no fun in destroying it. He wants to use the dragons to do so, but was warned by his dad’s aide the beasts aren’t used to all the smells found in villages, so he must keep them outside the walls; it’s a critical bit of foreknowledge that’ll be a huge factor shortly. He then learns the town’s empty, although many have sought refuge in the temple, a place he thankfully realizes is off-limits, since attacking it would turn every temple against his family—a good use of foreknowledge. Just then, he notices the large estate at the back, correctly guesses it’s Tigre’s, and violates morality again by forcing his way inside. Tigre’s childhood friend/maid Titta is there, having violated recklessness by remaining to await the former’s return. Instead, she encounters Zion, who brazenly violates morality, DOH, and cowardice by taunting her and Tigre, forcing her onto an upstairs balcony, and nearly sexually assaulting her.

However, all Zion’s violations come back to haunt him when Tigre suddenly reappears with Ellen’s forces. Tigre first saves Titta via improv by shooting an arrow through Zion’s hand, then yelling for her to jump. Sadly, he also violates recklessness, since he’s so focused on her that he doesn’t notice one of Zion’s men nearby, the latter promptly tripping his horse; Ryurik kills the foe with an arrow, but Tigre quickly uses improv by leaping forward to catch Titta. Thankfully, Ellen appears and also wields improv by using Arifal to save the stumbling horse, Tigre and Titta, even scolding them for their move, the latter bit a nice use of the leadership principle enforcing discipline.[xvii] One of Zion’s archers now violates underestimation as well when he shoots at Titta, but Tigre, in a grand display of improv, catches the arrow and shoots it back, killing the former. Ellen immediately orders her men back to battle, but Tigre stops when he notices his last move damaged his bow. It leads to one of the series’ most important moments: Titta gives Tigre a treasured family heirloom she was guarding—a mysterious black bow.

The battle in town soon ends, and Lim reports they’ve killed 300 of Zion’s men, although their commander escaped. Tigre then explains the latter will probably retreat to the Molsheim Plains so his knights can use the open ground, a good use of terrain and foreknowledge. Both sides now begin planning. Zion orders his men to scout the Zhcted army, all while placing his remaining men in three lines: the first has 700 men equipped with bows and spears; next is a line of 1,000 plate-armored knights; and last is another 1,000 plate knights, along with the two dragons, a fairly good use of foreknowledge and prep. As for the Zhcted forces, they need to leave 100 men to defend Alsace, leaving only 900 for battle. Undaunted, Ellen and Tigre will lead 400 men to hit the Thenardier frontline, leaving Lim with the other 500, under orders to wait for an opening and then strike, a nice use of direct-indirect acts. The latter then requests some rope, preferably a lot, which Titta assists with by asking the townspeople’s aid, something they eagerly comply with. It’s a wonderful use of prep and improv, plus Zion’s immorality violations coming back to bite him for, as Lim later comments, “Our foreign army wouldn’t have collected what it did had Zion not treated his fellow Brunishmen so poorly.” A final great use of prep and improv then occurs when Tigre hints at an alternate use for their spare horses.

When Tigre and Ellen’s force is in position, they charge the Thenardier first line, which responds with a hail of arrows. However, Ellen quickly wields improv by using Arifal to swat the barrage, allowing her troops to swiftly smash the entire first line. The second Thenardier line now advances, supposedly to go toe-to-toe…only to skillfully use direct-indirect acts by suddenly splitting off to either side, boxing the Zhcted force in, whereupon the land dragon attacks, crushing two of Ellen’s knights since they can’t pass it. However, Thenardier’s men have painfully violated underestimation again, for Ellen’s prior use of direct-indirect acts now takes effect when Lim launches 400 men into the Thenardier flank, clearing a space for Ellen to face the dragon. That same violation costs them further when Ellen uses improv again by unleashing Arifal’s advanced attack, Ley Admos, a blistering wind blade-battering ram, killing the dragon. Here, Zion uses improv by having 400 men from his third line form a flying column to attack Lim, but she expertly wields direct-indirect acts herself by withdrawing toward the nearby hills, the flying column in hot pursuit. She then whistles to her men, who reveal a surprise: the collected rope, woven into a large trip-line that brings down their pursuers. Lim then turns her force around and smashes the flying column.

            Here, Zion gets an alert: a new Zchted force of 2,000 is approaching from behind. It causes him to panic, since he’s now cut off and outnumbered, a hopeless violation of cowardice and leadership. Worse, when one general suggests using the flying dragon, a good use of improv and the leadership principle “know how to use all forces”[xviii], Zion violates cowardice again by refusing; it’s Ellen’s past triumph taking effect again, because he’s terrified of losing the other dragon, thus incurring his dad’s wrath. Lim now rejoins Ellen and Tigre, and the pressure gets to Zion, causing him to violate cowardice and recklessness by ordering a retreat. The general who suggested using the dragon pleas with Zion to let their forces regroup and strike, a good use of the leadership principle “some commands must not be obeyed”[xix], but the latter again violates cowardice and DOH by punching him to stop any argument. Sadly, Zion doesn’t even realize he’s been had. The “reinforcements” are another ingenious use of direct-indirect acts by Tigre: he used the terrain, setting sun, his force’s remaining 100 men, and Ellen/Lim’s spare horses to create an illusionary force. Meanwhile, Zion’s knights are honor-bound to obey, a sad failure of prep that costs them when they attempt to comply while the Zhcted army counterattacks, smashing both remaining lines.

            Tigre now confronts Zion, cornering him by using morality to point out he hurt his innocent countrymen…only to have Zion shamelessly violate morality and cowardice by declaring, “What about those fools? They’re just like plants! I can cut them down and they’ll grow right back! So what the hell do you care?” This only adds more weight to Tigre’s cause, and he uses morality again by yelling, “You marched your army onto my land! Tormented my people!” Sadly, Zion now violates DOH and the leadership principle “know when not to fight”[xx] by challenging Tigre to a duel. The former mounts his horse with his lance and shield, only to violate underestimation and morality by taunting Tigre for only using a bow. The latter replies he only needs a bow and promptly fires three arrows. Zion blocks each with his shield, mocking Tigre the whole time, then charges. Unfortunately, the latter’s violations cost him again, for he hasn’t noticed that Tigre used direct-indirect acts the entire time by ensuring all three arrows hit the same spot. He then fires a fourth arrow, striking it again, only this time punching through and skewering Zion’s arm. Tigre then aims to finish off his foe, prompting Zion’s men to charge forward to protect him; Ellen responds in kind, and battle recommences.

            Things take another hard turn when Zion violates cowardice, leadership, and DOH by leaping onto the flying dragon and taking off, abandoning his troops to their task. He’s moving too high/fast for Ellen’s Ley Admos attack, and he’s out of range of Tigre’s arrows, making it look like he’ll escape. But he’s also fatally violated underestimation, for Tigre’s bow suddenly speaks, telling him to shoot the dragon. Somehow trusting the voice, he draws an arrow, causing a horde of dark energy to start coalescing around it; Arifal then mysteriously adds its power to the shot, stunning Ellen. When Tigre releases the arrow, it blasts into the sky like a rocket, instantly catching up to/striking the dragon, unleashing a blast that kills both it and Zion. As they fall from the sky, the Thenardier knights’ morale shatters, and Ellen proclaims victory.

            This was a close-fought battle but, with Sun Tzu’s backing, Tigre defended his homeland, saved Titta/his people, and crushed a cruel bully. It’s the first of many great bouts in what’ll soon become an all-out war…all of it also guided by Sun Tzu’s wisdom too. This is why experts continuously suggest following The Art of War’s advice: if you don’t, you’ll lose.

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[i] Lord Marksman and the Vanadis: The Complete Series, dir.Tatsuo Sato (2014)

[ii] Lionel Giles, The Art of War (New York, NY; Fall River Press, 2011), 28

[iii] Giles, The Art of War, 33

[iv] Giles, The Art of War, 3.

[v] Giles, The Art of War, 4.

[vi] Giles, The Art of War, 3.

[vii] Giles, The Art of War, 28.

[viii] Giles, The Art of War, 15.

[ix] Giles, The Art of War, 28.

[x] Giles, The Art of War, 4.

[xi] Giles, The Art of War, 3.

[xii] Giles, The Art of War, 24.

[xiii] Giles, The Art of War, 4.

[xiv] Giles, The Art of War, 46.

[xv] Giles, The Art of War, 50.

 

[xvii] Giles, The Art of War, 4.

[xviii] Giles, The Art of War, 11.

[xix] Giles, The Art of War, 27.

[xx] Giles, The Art of War, 11.

                                                                   Bibliography

Sun Tzu. The Art of War. Translated by Lionel Giles. New York: Fall River Press, 2011.

Tetsuo, Sato, director. Lord Marksman and the Vanadis: The Complete Series. 2014; Funimation, 2014. 325 min. Blu-ray/DVD.