5.2

"Generally in battles, use the proper to join [the enemy], use surprise to win."
- Sun Tzu

Here Sun Tzu defines how to use what he calls "proper surprising." It is through proper surprising that one is able to receive a larger an enemy and prevent defeat. This requires the use of deception.

As we talked about in Book 4, the deception has two aspects: concealment and surprise. Proper surprising involves utilizing both aspects of deception to create momentum in battle.

First, the army must use "the proper," that is, common, straightforward, expected lines of attack, to engage the enemy. Once the enemy has been lulled into thinking he understands the situation, the army then does an unexpected, surprise attack or maneuver that throws the enemy off balance, thus tipping the dynamic of the battle in the army's favor.

Thus, it is through the proper that one conceals one's positioning, and it is through surprising that one utilizes it. It is Sun Tzu's equivalent of the jab-jab-hook.

In your own life, to gain momentum, you must follow the same principle. On the surface you must follow the rules, do what is appropriate, engage in expected ways. Conceal your plans and intentions and make the appearance of following the crowd.

Once you are in a position to attack, however, you must move with speed and take a line of least expectation. All this, of course, requires being in a strong position to attack, which is why Book 4 (on positioning) comes before Book 5.

It is when you attack with speed, using the element of surprise at critical points, that you gain momentum and control over the dynamic of your situation.