"The Art of War" is also a book by Machiavelli (worth mentioning since AoW isn't exactly a china expansion).
I think it breaks the pattern in so far that all other names seem to have quite an epic, universal scale. "The Cossacks" makes it seem like it's a regional expansion about a minor steppe people.
Also worth mentioning that there's a copy of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu on sale as an EU4 DLC with a forward by Thomas Johansson. Here's the whole thing:
PREFACE
It is not exactly clear when Sun Tzu wrote the Art of War, nor even who he was, but it was
certainly written well before the time period covered by Europa Universalis IV; probably
some 2500 years ago. Still,the teachings of this the classic of all classics about warfare
would surely have been just as useful to Wallenstein and Gustavus Adolpus as it was to the
ancient Chinese generals or indeed will be to the modern Europa Universalis player. The
book was probably not known to the captains of the Thirty Years’ War however, since the
first European translation, into French, didn’t appear until 1772.
The book is structured into thirteen chapters, covering all aspects of warfare from
planning and alliances to maneuver, terrain and espionage. It’s written in an old-fashioned
poetic style. Some of its teachings are very concrete, such as the advice to attack if you
have 5 to 1 odds, while others are much more poetic/philosophical. For me, reading Sun
Tzu is a bit of a meditative exercise. It’s not a list of dos and don’ts but wise words to
consider as you discern your strategy. Reading it while pondering strategic problems from
future or past campaigns in a game can give you new insights.
When it comes to Europa Universalis, the game which has put this copy of Sun Tzu in
your hand, each chapter has something to bring to your experience, just as it has something
to teach to just about any field where you manage resources towards victory. The main
thrust of Sun Tzu is an indirect approach to warfare and, ideally, winning without fighting.
The skilled general should have won the battle before his army finds itself in the same
province as the enemy and even won the war before he presses that Declare War button. One of
the biggest mistake new EU players make is believing that the first thing they need to do is find
someone to declare war on, since the point of a strategy game is fighting. This is often a mistake,
the objective of a strategy game is to win, not simply fight. This is the approach that Sun
Tzu teaches us. Know your own nation and its strengths and weaknesses, know the enemy and
his strengths and weaknesses and know the land over which you are going to fight, including
all potential allies and enemies. The conclusion that wars are won before they are fought also
implies that it is disadvantageous to fight a battle that cannot be won. When you find yourself
the smaller nation under attack by a larger, don’t waste your army in a lost battle; preserve your
force, give up a province or two and fight another day. Sun Tzu says: First make sure you cannot
be defeated, then wait for an opportunity where you can defeat the enemy.
When using Sun Tzu as a guide to playing Europa Universalis IV my advice would be
to start playing the game, use the hints and the tutorial to get into it and launch your campaign.
Then, after playing for a while, take an extended break, find a comfy sofa and read
the book with your recent campaigns at the back of your head. What can Sun Tzu teach you
about achieving victory, and what can his wisdom tell you about the mistakes you made?
Many great generals in history have been guided by the wisdom of Sun Tzu. I hope Sun Tzu
will be your guide to victory and that you will have a great time playing Europa Universalis IV.
Thomas Johansson Stockholm, July 7th 2013
Project Lead, Europa Universalis IV
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