[October 3, 2024] As one who studies military strategies, the history of warfare, and how people develop successful ways of running a commercial business, I collect stratagems to help better remember ideas. Today’s stratagem is taken from “The 36 Strategies” and is called Point at the Mulberry and Curse the Locust.
Of course, this strategy’s name is a metaphor that tells us that while you are doing one thing (pointing at the mulberry [tree]), you are really taking another different action (cussing the locust). This stratagem means to take the indirect method, where being more direct might bring too much trouble.
“Sun Tzu wanted to show the king of Hu that even women could be trained to be invincible. He created two regiments from court women and put the king’s two most-liked concubines in charge of each. He then gave them marching orders, but the groups just giggled. He had the concubines beheaded and put two women from the front rows in charge and gave the order again. This time, they obeyed. In this way, Sun Tzu made his point to the king.” – from 36 Strategies
The main point is the use of indirect methods to accomplish your mission. Sun Tzu was a follower of the indirect approach. A more recent follower is B.H. Liddell Hart, where there is a discussion about the “indirect approach” as a major technique of winning on the battlefield. You can read more in his book Strategy (1991), which can be found in most bookstores.
Here are several ways to get to the heart of this strategy:
- Use indirect means of getting your way or of showing what you mean or want.
- Do not name names so you cannot be accused. Use intermediaries, third parties and others.
- Cow the weak and convince the strong. Use scare tactics, threats, warnings and even physical beatings and punishment.
- Make an example of those who do not comply with your commands or who oppose you. Use disproportionate punishment that will scare others into submission.
I’m going to start a mini-series on these 36 Stratagems, so be ready.
I also recommend listening to S.H. Verstappen, who discusses this stratagem on his YouTube channel. All 36 are discussed and can be found here.
So, if you want to beat your competitors, regardless of who they are, then Point at the Mulberry and Curse the Locust.
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Please read my books:
Interesting metaphorical writing style.
Point at the Mulberry and Curse the Locust
I had absolutely no idea what this article was going to be about.
I’m happy I read it.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. And now after going to the links in Gen. Satterfield’s article, I saw the entire list and they are about the same as this one in the use of metaphor language. It takes a bit of getting used to but below docwatson gives us an explanation. Gen. Satterfield is da man.
“Use indirect means of getting your way or of showing what you mean or want.” This is the main idea here. And the indirect approach has been around for a long time. If you get a chance, study the ancient battles which you can find on YouTube where they show the alignments and movements of various military forces on land and sea.
God Bless, Gen. Satterfield. 🙏
Very interesting and very informative. Hard to read because of the heavy on metaphors.
Well, good point ijore but we also have to remember that this is a very ancient memory technique where stories are built around ideas. People more easily remember stories and quirky titles to things than just a long dull list of basic ideas. That is one of the reasons, I think, that the Bible is written the way it is written, one book after another telling great stories of mankind. Just think about it, and I do believe you will understand. Get used to the use of metaphors, they help us all. And, BTW, they are also entertaining just like this one “Point at the Mulberry and curse the Locust.”
I went and looked at the other STRATAGEMS. This is a very interesting list. And very useful. It is a collection of wisdom across the ages.
– and who else thought this was a weird title?
Well Lana, I always know that Gen. Satterfield is about to write something different (you called “weird”) when he has one of those weeks where the topic subjects range greatly from macro strategic thoughts to micro psychological ideas. That is also what makes this website one of my favorites and I’m sure always will be. Gen. Satterfield, keep up the great works you are doing. And I loved your books.
“Our Longest Year in Iraq”
“55 Rules for a Good Life”
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
Ha Ha Ha , weird weird weird Ha Ha Ha
I’m new to this website and I like what I see. I hope to make contributions to the ideas here.