How do defending commanders deceive the enemy?

Defending commanders deceive the enemy primarily by confusing their actual dispositions and intentions. This method is critical in military strategy, as creating uncertainty about troop locations, strength, and intended actions can mislead the enemy and disrupt their plans. By effectively obscuring their true positions and the nature of their defensive efforts, commanders can induce the enemy to make errors in judgment regarding where to attack or how to allocate their resources.

Deception in military operations aims to manipulate the enemy's perception, leading them to arrive at a false understanding of the situation. This can allow the defending force to maintain the upper hand, as the enemy may waste resources or choose ineffective strategies based on incorrect intelligence.

Engaging in a major offensive, altering battlefield terrain, or reinforcing unimportant positions could have strategic implications, but they do not primarily serve the purpose of deception in the same direct manner as confusing enemy perceptions. These actions might even reveal intentions rather than obscure them, which is not aligned with the fundamental principles of military deception.