Maybe it was more a manual a general could hand to the rich dumbass in charge who was about to bet everyone killed and say "please review the wisdom of the great sage before making your battle plan."

That's because it was written at a time when nobles were considered the only natural choice of leadership class, so you've got military forces being lead by people with zero practical military knowledge. It's literally meant to be babies first strategy and logistics guide. Sun Tzu is intentionally dumbing shit down for his audience.

if combat is required it is best to be victorious

TBF it’s technically a Daoist philosophical treatise, rather than a how-to on war. To really understand it you have to look at it from that perspective.

Hmm. There was also:

• If you don’t know if you can trust them, kill them