These lines reveal a hierarchy of mastery, where the ultimate victory is achieved through strategy and positioning (thế) before physical conflict even begins. The preface goes on to explain that Tran Hung Dao did not create new strategies but compared and collated existing methods, synthesizing them into a comprehensive whole. It is a manual on how to think, not just how to fight.
Here’s where you have to be very careful. A book called (or "Binh gia diệu lý yếu lược") is also attributed to Trần Hưng Đạo, and it is often confused with the Vạn Kiếp tông bí truyền thư . While some historical records mention both works, experts have concluded that this "Binh thư yếu lược" is a forgery, or "ngụy thư" (pseudepigrapha), likely written by someone in the 19th century, not the 13th. Many PDFs online claiming to be "Vạn Kiếp tông bí truyền thư" are likely this later forgery. van kiep tong bi truyen thu pdf best verified