“In battle, use both the direct and indirect methods to your advantage.”

Simplified Meaning:

When you are dealing with a difficult situation, it's smart to use a mix of straightforward and clever strategies to succeed. Imagine you're playing a game of chess. Sometimes, you move your pieces in obvious ways to attack your opponent directly. Other times, you set up sneaky moves to surprise them. In life, this means not always attacking problems head-on. Sometimes, tackling an issue directly is good, like talking to someone face-to-face to solve a disagreement. But other times, being indirect can be more effective, like quietly gathering more information before making a big decision. For example, in a work setting, you might directly ask for a raise. That's the straightforward method. But you might also show your value by taking on extra projects and demonstrating your skills. That's the indirect method. Using both approaches together increases your chances of success.