Sun Tzu, whose given name was Wu, was a native of the State of Qi. He sought an audience with King Helü of the State of Wu, presenting his military treatise. The King said, "I have thoroughly read all thirteen chapters of your work. Could you demonstrate your methods for me?" Sun Tzu replied, "Certainly." The King then asked, "Can you demonstrate them using women?" Sun Tzu answered, "Yes, I can."
Having accepted the King's challenge, Sun Tzu watched as the King selected 180 beautiful women from his palace. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies and appointed the King's two favorite concubines as the captains of each company. He had them all hold halberds (spears). Sun Tzu then asked them, "Do you know your heart, your left hand, your right hand, and your back?" The women replied, "We do." Sun Tzu explained, "When I give a command, 'Forward,' you will face the direction of your heart; 'Left,' face your left hand; 'Right,' face your right hand; and 'About-face,' turn towards your back." The women agreed.
After clearly stating the rules and setting up the executioner's axes to enforce discipline, Sun Tzu repeated the instructions multiple times to ensure they understood. Then, he sounded a drum to signal a turn to the right, but the women all burst into laughter. Sun Tzu said, "If the commands are not clear and the troops do not understand their orders, the fault lies with the general." He then repeated the instructions over and over again. Next, he sounded the drum to signal a turn to the left, and once again, the women laughed hysterically. Sun Tzu declared, "If the commands are unclear, it is the general's fault. However, if the orders have been made perfectly clear and are still not obeyed, the fault lies with the officers."
With that, he ordered the execution of the two captains—the King's favorite concubines. King Helü, watching the drill from his pavilion, was horrified to see his beloved concubines about to be beheaded. He immediately sent a messenger with an urgent order: "I am now fully convinced of your skill in warfare. However, without these two concubines, my food will have no flavor. Please do not execute them." Sun Tzu replied firmly, "Since I have been appointed as the general, there are commands from the sovereign that I do not have to accept while in the field."
He then proceeded to behead the two captains and displayed their heads as a warning. Afterward, he appointed the next women in line as the new captains and resumed the drill with the drum signals. This time, the women turned left, right, forward, backward, knelt, and stood up exactly as ordered. Every movement was precise, and not a single woman dared to make a sound. Sun Tzu then sent a report to the King: "The troops are now perfectly disciplined and ready for your inspection, Your Majesty. You may order them to do anything you wish, and they will carry it out, even if it means going through fire and water."
King Helü, however, replied, "General, please return to your quarters and rest. I do not wish to continue watching this drill." Sun Tzu remarked, "Your Majesty is merely fond of the words in my book, but has no intention of putting them into actual practice."
Despite this, King Helü recognized Sun Tzu's exceptional talent for warfare and appointed him as his general. Under Sun Tzu's command, the State of Wu achieved great victories: they defeated the powerful State of Chu in the west and captured its capital, Ying; they intimidated the states of Qi and Jin in the north; and King Helü's fame soared among the feudal lords of the era. Sun Tzu's strategic brilliance played an indispensable role in these monumental achievements.