Final answer:
Siege warfare principles emphasize avoiding prolonged sieges due to their drain on resources and morale, suggesting the best strategy is taking a city intact. Strong fortifications on the city's part often resulted in a defensive advantage against poorly equipped attackers. Effective leadership requires careful consideration of the costs and timing of siege strategies to ensure a swift victory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Principles of Siege Warfare
When discussing the strategy of besieging a city during warfare, several key points emerge from historical texts like those of Sun Tzu. First, during a siege, it is recommended to avoid destroying the city entirely as taking it intact is more beneficial. The preparations for a siege, including constructing shelters and siege weapons, can take significant time. Moreover, protracted sieges dampen soldiers' spirits and exhaust resources, making it an unfavorable tactic. Instead, a skillful leader should strive to subdue the enemy with minimal fighting and take cities without laying siege to them whenever possible.
From the perspective of the defending city, maintaining strong fortifications is crucial, as history shows that most soldiers were poorly armored conscripts, and defense strategies often outperformed offenses. The long-term effects of siege warfare are generally negative, exhausting both the attackers' resources and the moral endurance of their troops. Utilizing strategies like water and fire can provide strategic advantages, but they require a leader capable of judging the best moment to strike without wasting resources on prolonged campaigns. Ultimately, the goal in war should be victory, not lengthy sieges, and the art of war must be carried out with a deep understanding of its impacts.