When the Emperor mockingly asked Sun Tzu, if he could organize an army, he accepted the challenge. What he did not know was that instead of soldiers, the emperor would send him 180 prostitutes, including his two favorite concubines. Seeing the rowdy women, Sun Tzu did not flinch. He approached them and asked if they could distinguish the left from the right, and the Emperor's 180 concubines said yes. Then Sun Tzu told them: "at my voice they will turn to the left or right flank, as I tell them," but when Sun Tzu gave the order, the women laughed. Sun Tzu thought, "If the order was not understood, because the soldiers do not know how to execute it, it is the fault of the one who gave the order, that is, the fault is mine." He went back to the women and showed them which was the left hand and the right, but when they gave the order to flip the flank, the women laughed again and touched their hair. Sun Tzu thought: "If the order is not well executed because it was not well explained, it is the fault of the one who gave the order, that is, mine" and returned to approach the women. This time, Sun Tzu explained to them which was the left and which was the right, even he executed the exercises to set the example. When he gave the order, the women burst into laughter again. Then Sun Tzu thought, "If the command was well given and well understood, and still not fulfilled, then it is the soldier's fault." He stepped forward with firm feet toward the women, drew his sharp sword and beheaded the two favorite concubines of the Emperor, then gave the order of left flank, and the 178 women turned in a perfectly synchronized movement. Sun Tzu addressed the Emperor, who was horrified at the bleak sword of the strategist: "Your Majesty, the army is ready" (The Art of War)
