Book III, Chapter 19
The legendary Zhou general Sun Tzu defined strategy, bing-fa, as a set of rules to help make decisions about possible situations and decisions that a person might encounter on the battlefield and off. Personally, I prefer to define the concept somewhat more broadly: A strategy is the set of approaches one takes towards a goal that one has selected.
On a gameboard, the goal is to defeat the opposing player. At war, the goal can vary, from conquest to defense to punitive measures or other such possibilities. But the strategy is how one goes about implementing those goals. On a gameboard or at war, the strategy might be aggressive or defensive, offensive or reactive, straightforward or subtle. At play, my strategy might be to capture as many pieces of my opponent's as possible, or to outmaneuver them so that I can capture the enemy's key pieces without a protracted struggle. At war, the possibilities are even more numerous; I might have the goal of conquest, in which case, occupying and seizing control of the enemy's territory is my strategy—or, alternatively, I might strike at the head directly, aiming at the enemy leader with the intent of capture in order to force a surrender and settlement. In either case, the goal is served and possibly fulfilled.
But the goal is the why and what, and the strategy is the greater how and the when and where, and it is important to never lose sight of that distinction. You do not have a battle just because you wish to have a battle; no, battles are done in service of a greater strategy, and while stirring tales of heroism might seem like incentive to some, oftentimes it is better to not fight at all, or only fight on one's own terms. Many of the ruminations on dragon combat in these pages are seen by many as glorifying such battles, and I will certainly agree that there is glory and honor in fighting when necessary. And that is key. When Necessary. But if it is not necessary, then it is just a waste—and there is no honor in that. To win without fighting should be the strategy any commander worthy of being followed should aim for, and to preserve their forces for another day.
— The Wing And The Ax, Queen Marshal Astrid Haddock I, undated draft, Waterford University Archives
Tropes That Appear In This Chapter:
- Assassination Attempt: Three men attempt to kill William making this at least the sixth time someone has tried to kill him. Thankfully they were stopped by Toothless.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Platonic version; while Hiccup regrets that events have prompted Gobber to move on from Berk, he appreciates that his former mentor has the chance to find a new family.
- Loophole Abuse: Younger William is continuously targeted for assassination by the Duke of Brittany. While Hiccup can't take sides as part of the agreement to set-up mail-stations lest they be considered oathbreakers, what he does do is offer sanctuary to Younger William on Berk. Since Berk is too far away for the Duke of Brittany to try and continuously send assassins during the winter, it will buy them more time to come up with a more long-term solution by spring.
- One True Threesome: This chapter essentially serves to legally ratify Hiccup, Astrid and Wulfhild's relationship into this, as Hiccup affirms that he will never want more than Astrid and Wulfhild and the necessary legal issues are tackled to divide authority and titles clearly between the two women and their future children.
- Theseus' Ship Paradox: Gobber sets up a new workshop on Eigg away from Berk. Hiccup considers that the workshop he practically grew up in isn't gone, just moved.
