Final answer:
The speaker in the poem will be a conqueror by demonstrating resilience, strategic cunning, and maintaining a sense of purpose against defeat, suggesting a psychological or strategic form of victory rather than a solely physical one.
Step-by-step explanation:
The speaker in the poem asserts they will be a "conqueror" despite experiencing defeat, not necessarily by any physical or immediate victory on the battlefield, but by demonstrating resilience and strategic thinking in the face of challenges. Lines such as "Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety" and "Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose" suggest a more complex understanding of victory that involves adaptability and cunning rather than sheer force. Additionally, the concept of winning by "breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting" reinforces the idea that the ultimate conquest may be psychological or strategic rather than solely about physical triumph.
Thus, the ways the speaker could become a conqueror include maintaining a sense of purpose despite setbacks (by pursuing only truly important goals), outsmarting the enemy (by sheer cunning), and demonstrating internal victories, such as courage and resilience (by fighting back with all possible strength).