The Peril of Victory: A Paradox of War

History reveals a curious paradox – the moment after a great military victory often becomes the most dangerous time for an army. Across civilizations and centuries, triumphant forces have frequently fallen prey to their own success, allowing celebration to breed carelessness. Ancient Chinese military theorists identified this phenomenon with remarkable clarity, developing sophisticated philosophies to combat what they termed “the disease of victory.”

The Chinese military classics contain entire treatises dedicated to this problem, warning that victory can be more treacherous than defeat. These texts use the character “佚” (yì), meaning leisure or relaxation, to represent the dangerous complacency that follows battlefield success. The wisdom distilled from centuries of warfare produced a counterintuitive principle: the greater the victory, the greater the vigilance required.

Wang Jian’s Masterclass in Post-Victory Discipline

The Warring States period (475-221 BCE) provides one of history’s clearest examples of proper post-victory conduct through the campaign of Qin general Wang Jian against Chu. In 224 BCE, Wang took command of 600,000 troops after his predecessor Li Xin’s defeat, facing a Chu kingdom that had mobilized its entire military force in response.

Wang Jian’s approach demonstrated textbook execution of the “佚而犹劳” (leisurely yet laborious) philosophy. Rather than immediately pressing his numerical advantage, he established fortified positions and refused battle despite repeated Chu provocations. His daily routine became legendary:

– Morning inspections to maintain defensive readiness
– Afternoon training exercises including stone-throwing and obstacle courses
– Evening meals shared with common soldiers to boost morale
– Constant intelligence gathering about enemy movements

For months, Wang maintained this disciplined routine while the Chu army grew increasingly frustrated. His troops developed both physical strength and psychological patience while their adversaries exhausted themselves through fruitless challenges. When Wang finally detected signs of Chu demoralization, he struck decisively, crushing their forces in a carefully timed counteroffensive.

The Fatal Arrogance of Xiang Yu’s Uncle

The contrasting failure of Xiang Liang during the Qin collapse (209-207 BCE) illustrates how quickly victory can turn to disaster when commanders ignore these principles. After several victories against Qin forces including the brutal sacking of Chengyang and the defeat of Qin general Li You at Yongqiu, Xiang grew dangerously overconfident.

His advisor Song Yi recognized the warning signs:

– Dismissive attitude toward remaining Qin forces
– Relaxation of discipline among troops
– Disregard for enemy reinforcements under general Zhang Han

Song Yi’s prophetic warning – “Victory that makes commanders arrogant and soldiers lazy leads to defeat” – went unheeded. The result proved catastrophic when Zhang Han’s reinforced Qin army counterattacked, killing Xiang Liang and decimating his forces at the Battle of Dingtao. This disaster nearly ended the rebellion before Xiang Yu could rise to prominence.

Zhang Fang’s Remarkable Recovery

The Western Jin Dynasty (266-316 CE) offers perhaps the most dramatic example of recovering from defeat through proper psychological management. After General Zhang Fang suffered a devastating loss to Sima Yi’s forces in Luoyang (303 CE), his army retreated to Shisanli Bridge in complete disarray.

Facing demoralized troops and advisors urging retreat, Zhang Fang demonstrated exceptional leadership:

1. Reframed the defeat as temporary (“Victory and defeat are normal in war”)
2. Identified enemy vulnerabilities (Sima Yi’s relaxed vigilance)
3. Launched a daring night march to establish new positions
4. Surprised the overconfident enemy with sudden attack

This textbook recovery transformed certain disaster into decisive victory, proving the ancient maxim that “from harm can come deliverance.” Zhang’s ability to find opportunity in crisis exemplifies the strategic mindset Chinese theorists considered essential for military leaders.

The Psychological Warfare Within

Beyond tactical considerations, these historical cases reveal profound insights into military psychology. The ancient Chinese recognized that:

– Victory triggers dopamine-driven relaxation responses
– Defeat produces cortisol-fueled stress reactions
– Successful commanders must override these biological impulses
– Institutional practices can compensate for natural tendencies

Wang Jian’s systematic approach – combining physical training, shared meals, and constant readiness drills – created behavioral safeguards against complacency. His methods anticipated modern psychological principles about habit formation and stress inoculation.

Modern Applications Beyond the Battlefield

While developed for warfare, these principles translate remarkably well to contemporary challenges:

Business: Companies dominating markets often fall to disruptive competitors (e.g., Nokia in mobile phones) precisely through victory-induced complacency.

Sports: Championship teams frequently struggle the following season unless consciously maintaining discipline.

Personal Development: Success in weight loss, addiction recovery, or skill acquisition often founders on the “I’ve made it” mentality.

The core insight remains unchanged: Sustained achievement requires treating success as a vulnerability rather than an endpoint. Modern neuroscience confirms this ancient wisdom – victory actually reduces threat perception in the brain while defeat heightens it, creating biological traps that require conscious override.

The Enduring Wisdom of “Sheng Ruo Fou”

Perhaps no phrase encapsulates this tradition better than the maxim “既胜若否” (jì shèng ruò fǒu) – “be as if having not conquered when you have conquered.” This principle, drawn from the ancient military classic Sima Fa, represents the zenith of Chinese strategic thought regarding victory management.

Its modern equivalents might include:

– “Success is a lousy teacher” (Bill Gates)
– “Complacency is the enemy of progress” (Dave Stutman)
– “Stay hungry, stay foolish” (Steve Jobs)

Yet the Chinese formulation predates these by millennia while capturing subtler dimensions – the need not just for continued effort but for psychological reset to pre-victory mindset.

Conclusion: The Never-Ending Campaign

From Wang Jian’s patient drilling to Zhang Fang’s resilient recovery, these historical cases form a unified philosophy of sustained excellence. They remind us that:

1. Victory creates its own vulnerabilities
2. Discipline must intensify after success
3. Recovery begins with psychological reframing
4. Institutional habits can override natural tendencies

In an era where distractions multiply and competitive advantages evaporate rapidly, these ancient lessons gain fresh urgency. The true test of any victory lies not in the moment of triumph but in what follows – the ability to wake up the next morning and begin again as if nothing had been won. This paradoxical approach to success may represent ancient China’s most valuable strategic legacy to the modern world.