Ambush

Disciplines > Warfare > Tactics > Ambush

Action | Analysis | Example | Analogy | See also

Action

Lead your enemy into a zone where you can suddenly and unexpectedly attack them in a 'killing field'.

When ambushed, they should find it difficult to escape. It should be possible to kill or capture all of them with relatively few losses on your part, although a terrified rout may be an effective warning of your power.

Analysis

A classic way of leading the enemy into an ambush is to retreat in apparent terror from a battle. This abject behavior on your part makes the enemy feel superior. However, when you leave, the symbol that made them feel superior also leaves.

Also, when a soldier is in the bloodlust of battle, a retreating enemy denies him the primitive satisfaction of slaughter.

From a logical position too, a retreating enemy may regroup and attack you another day.

In other words, there are good reasons to pursue a retreating enemy, and several of these may be done in a state of high emotional arousal and hence low rationality. Thought of ambush may thus only occur to the very wary.

When the ambush occurs, bloodlust can turn to confused terror very quickly as the enemy, having closed on the notion of conquest, suddenly becomes the trapped victim.

Example

Analogy

People can be ambushed in argument, for example be appearing to give in to an aggressive onslaught but then, as they pursue you, neatly pull the rug out from under them with incisive comment.