We suggest you turn to the Tao Teh Ching:
69. Profound Use There are slogans for using armies. "I don't presume to deem-act as lord and deem-act as guest. Don't presume to advance an inch and withdraw a foot." This is called "carrying out not carrying out. Bearing non-existent arms; Throwing against non-existent enemies. Controlling non-existing armies." No disaster is greater than taking an enemy lightly. Taking an enemy lightly almost brings my treasures to grief. Inherently, opposing armies strengthen each other. Grieving then wins. -- tr. C. Hansen