"Annihilate Your Enemies: The Ultimate Guide to Total Domination and Unstoppable Success"

It is no coincidence that the two stories illustrating this law originate from China. Chinese history is rife with examples of enemies who were spared and later sought revenge against those who showed them mercy. "Crush the enemy" is a fundamental strategic principle articulated by Sun-Tzu, the fourth-century B.C. author of The Art of War. The concept is straightforward: your enemies wish you harm. Their primary goal is to eliminate you. If, in your struggles, you falter or hesitate—stopping halfway or even three-quarters of the way out of misplaced mercy or hopes for reconciliation—you merely embolden them. They become more determined, more resentful, and they will eventually seek their revenge. They may appear friendly for the time being, but this is only a façade. They are biding their time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. The answer is clear: show no mercy. Completely crush your adversaries.

The true danger of your enemies lies in their very existence. Mao Tse-tung, a keen reader of Sun-Tzu and Chinese history, understood this imperative. In 1934, he and around 75,000 poorly equipped soldiers embarked on the Long March into the barren mountains of western China to escape Chiang Kai-shek’s vastly larger army. Chiang was unwavering in his resolve to eradicate every last Communist. A few years later, Mao was left with under 10,000 soldiers, and by 1937, when Japan invaded China, Chiang mistakenly surmised that the Communists posed no further threat and chose to abandon his pursuit in favor of dealing with the Japanese. A decade later, the Communists were strong enough to decimate Chiang's forces. Chiang had disregarded the timeless wisdom of completely annihilating his enemy; Mao had not. Chiang’s regime ultimately retreated to Taiwan, leaving no trace on the mainland.

The wisdom behind "crushing the enemy" is as ancient as conflict itself. The first practitioner may well have been Moses, who, guided by divine instruction, parted the Red Sea for the Jews only to let the waters crash back and eliminate the Egyptian pursuers—“not so much as one of them remained.” When Moses returned from Mount Sinai and found his people worshipping the Golden Calf, he ensured that every last offender met their end. Just before his death, he commanded his followers, about to enter the Promised Land, to utterly destroy the tribes of Canaan, make no covenants with them, and show them no mercy.

The principle of total victory remains an axiom of modern warfare, cemented in the analyses of Carl von Clausewitz, the foremost philosopher of war. In examining Napoleon's campaigns, von Clausewitz declared that the direct annihilation of the enemy’s forces must always be the primary objective. After a significant victory, there can be no talk of rest or breathing space—only the relentless pursuit, the seizing of the enemy’s capital, and an attack on any resources that could aid their survival. The rationale is clear: after warfare comes negotiation and the division of territories. If you achieve only a partial victory, you will inevitably forfeit gains made in battle during negotiations.

The solution is unequivocal: deny your enemies any options. Render them powerless and their territories yours to dictate. The aim of power is to entirely dominate your foes, compelling them to conform to your will. You cannot afford to go halfway. If they are left with no alternatives, they will be forced to comply with your demands. This law extends far beyond the battlefield; negotiation is a treacherous game that, if mishandled, can undermine your victory. Give your enemies nothing to negotiate with—make it clear that they have no hope or room to maneuver. They will be crushed, and that is the end of it.

Understand this: in your quest for power, rivalries and enemies will inevitably arise. There are some individuals you cannot win over, and they will seek to undermine you regardless of your efforts. Whatever wounds you may inflict upon them, do not take their hatred personally. Recognize that as long as you maintain your position of power, peace between you is unattainable. If you allow them to linger, they will seek their revenge, as sure as night follows day. Waiting for them to reveal their intentions is impractical; as Empress Wu understood, by then, it may be too late.

Be pragmatic. With enemies like these, your security is never guaranteed. Remember the lessons of history and the wisdom of Moses and Mao: never go halfway. It's not merely a matter of murder; it’s about banishment. Ensure they are sufficiently weakened and exiled from your domain indefinitely, rendering them harmless. Deprived of hope for resurgence, they cannot insinuate themselves back into positions of power to threaten you. If banishment isn't feasible, remain vigilant, aware that they are likely scheming against you, and disregard any semblance