Sun Tzu's Art of War states: "The speed of rushing water that carry boulders is due to its momentum; the swiftness of a bird of prey that shatters bones is due to its strength."

  This means that fast-flowing water carry massive rocks because of the momentum it gees, produg immense impact force. Simirly, a bird of prey kill with a sirike because it seizes the most opportune moment to unleash its explosive strength.

  There's another phrase in the same text: "Therefore, the momentum of one skilled in bat is like a round stone rolling down a mountain a thousa high. This is momentum."

  In other words, the momentum created by someone adept at leading in battle is like a boulder rolling down a steep and t mountain, unstoppable aructive.

  This is what is called momentum.

  The cept isn't fio Art of War alone.

  In Mencius Part I, there is a saying: "Even if you have wisdom, it is better to take advantage of the situation; even if you have strength, it is better to wait for the right time."

  This means that no matter how intelligent one may be, they must also observe the broader circumstances. Even if they possess tools or abilities, they must atiently for the perfeent to act.

  ---

  As Gao Shen's coag experience deepened, so did his uanding of why football is revered as the world's most popur sport. To many, it's not just a game but a "war without gunpowder."

  Whether it's the momentum of a single game, aire season, or a team's long-term development, the cept of momentum is vital.

  From the small shifts in momentum within a match, it gradually builds and snowballs into the rger momentum of aire season. Over time, the accumuted energy of multiple seasons shapes a team's lorajectory.

  Of course, there will be setbacks and obstacles along the way. But as long as the omentum remains steady, the overall dire ress will not ge drastically.

  It's not so different from real life.

  In the world we live in, momentum exists everywhere, from individuals to families, businesses, cities, and eveire nations. And throughout these processes, there are often key foroments that shape the trajectory of success.

  For example, sider Napoli's away match against Inter Min.

  ---

  At the post-match press ference, Inter Min's coaourinho remarked, "I must gratute Napoli because they defeated the stroeam in Serie A. They've taken the initiative on the road to the championship!"

  Although Mourinho quickly added that Inter hadn't given up and that there was still time to overturuation, his admission was telling. As long as his team performed better, there was still a ce to surpass Napoli and recim the top spot. After all, the league wasn't even halfway through, and it was too early to decre a winner.

  Still, the very fact that Mourinho aowledged this was enough to show how deeply Napoli's victory had shaken him and Inter Min.

  At his own press ference, Gao Shen was equally did. He emphasized that this game marked an important milestone, aing Inter Min on their home turf had greatly boosted Napoli's fidence.

  "This match is a testament to the hard work we've all put in, from the rotation system we've adhered to sihe start of the season to our tactical strategies and the sweat and effort of every pyer oeam. It's all been worth it!"

  However, Gao Shen was quick to crify that this victory didn't mean Napoli had already won the championship. It was far too early for that.

  "But what this game has given us is crity. We now have a better uanding of our capabilities, what we achieve and what we strive to aplish. And that is more important than anything else."

  Napoli was now aiming higher than ever.

  Their sights were set on the Serie A title.

  The Italian Cup.

  Even the Champions League.

  This victory extended Napoli's lead in the Serie A standings to five points. While the gap wasn't insurmountable, the crucial difference y in the momentum betweewo teams.

  Napoli was on an upward trajectory, brimming with fidend seemingly unstoppable. Oher hand, Inter Min, after suffering successive defeats at Napoli's hands, was reeling. Their morale had taken a signifit hit, and it wasn't likely to recover anytime soon.

  When the championship ratered its decisive phase, Inter Min would undoubtedly feel the impact of these setbacks.

  The day after the game, it wasn't just the head coaches of Napoli and Inter Min making headlihe major Italian media outlets were in a frenzy to praise Napoli's performance.

  Napoli had domihe match with nearly 70% possession and four times as many shots as Inter Mihey only mao score oe in the game. It was a grueli of both teams' strength, willpower, and fighting spirit and Napoli emerged victorious.

  The Gazzetta dello Sport decred, "From this game, it's clear that Napoli is the team with the most championship potential in Serie A this season. A top-tier team is like a natural-born king!"

  La Repubblica, based in Rome, ented, "Though they only scored one goal—deep into injury time—Napoli's performance was ving both iion and i. They are the stro tender for the Serie A title this season."

  Even Turin Sports Daily, which has no historical ties to hrew its support behind them, stating that this team from the south has a strong ce of winning Serie A again. It would be a first in Italian football history.

  Since Genoa became the inaugural Serie A champions in 1898, the league has seen over a tury of petition. During this time, several southern teams, including Roma, Lazio, and Napoli, have cimed the championship. Napoli famously won in 1987 and 1990, led by the legendary Maradona.

  The two Roma clubs followed with titles in 2000 and 2001.

  But no southern team has ever won back-to-back Serie A championships.

  Not even Maradona's Napoli could achieve that feat.

  Yet now, Gao Shen's Napoli was being hailed as the frontruo achieve this historic milesto was not only a reition of Napoli's progress but also a validation of Gao Shen's leadership.

  After Napoli's 1-0 away victory over Inter Min, the three major European bookmakers adjusted their odds. Napoli overtook Inter Min as the favorite to win the league title.

  This was a first for Napoli.

  …

  In just one night, Napoli's win transformed the mood across the Serie A ndscape. Public opinion and the league's overall momentum shifted entirely in Napoli's favor. It felt as though the entire league, the fans, and the media were rallying behind them.

  The energy surrounding the team had bee pletely different.

  Gao Shen could feel this shift as well. While proud of his team's performance, he stantly reminded himself and his pyers that this recisely the kind of moment that required posure.

  "A pig fly if the wind is strong enough," he remihem. "But what happens when the wind dies down?"

  A pig without wings is just a pig.

  "If you want to fly, you have to grow your own wings."

  The day after the match, Gao Shen vened a staff meeting. With a stern tone, he warned his team: anyone who lost focus on training or failed to give their best effort would be immediately disqualified from peting—no exceptions.

  No matter who they were.

  But Gao Shen banced his strict warning with praise for his pyers, as was his style. He aowledged their efforts and made ambitious promises, reminding them that the team had the momentum to win the league, the Italian Cup, and even pete for the Champions League title.

  Carrot and stick. Simple and effective.

  …

  After the intech against Inter Min, Napoli finally got a week to rest.

  Gao Shen grahe pyers a two-day break, albeit on a staggered schedule to ehe team's rhythm remained intact. This did little to disrupt their focus.

  Oer, Napoli hosted Siena at the San Paolo Stadium.

  Just seven minutes into the match, Thiago Motta scored Napoli's first goal. Before the first half ended, i added another, bringing the score to 2-0.

  In the sed half, Sanchez, i, and substitute Mertens all found the in succession. Napoli crushed Siena 5-1.

  Siena's lone goal came from another pyer, and their starting striker that day was Emmanuel Caió.

  Yes, the same Caió who had once been Napoli's top scorer back when they were in Serie C. He had left the club shortly after Gao Shen took over, transferring to Siena for over €3 million.

  While Caió started the match, he had little impa the game, and Siena's only goal had nothing to do with him.

  After the match, Caió met privately with Gao Shen, as well as former teammates like Montevino and Yezo.

  But he quickly realized something disheartening: Napoli's fans had pletely fotten about him.

  And why wouldn't they?

  When Caió pyed for Napoli, they were a newly promoted team from Serie C, struggling to find their footing. Back then, his €3 million valuation made him the team's brightest star. Believing his ambitions outgrew the club, he had left for what he saw as greener pastures.

  At the time, he even harbored rese, wanting to prove that Napoli and Gao Shen would regret letting him go.

  But now?

  The truth ainfully clear. Caió's departure had barely registered. If anything, it had beed Napoli. The club used the funds from his trao recruit stronger pyers, building a squad that went on to win Serie B, quer Serie A, and even make waves in the Champions League.

  Meanwhile, Caió's career had stagnated.

  Two years after leaving, he was still the same pyer, no closer to achieving greatness. Standing on the field of the San Paolo Stadium, he couldn't help but feel regret.

  What if he had stayed? Would his career have flourished alongside Napoli's meteoric rise?

  In the end, Caió realized something bitterly ironic.

  The was not Gao Shen.

  The was him.