Of course, if there had been,

当然如果有可能的话
you wouldn't be in the spot you're in now.

你现在的处境就不是这样了
All you can do is try to indicate to your opponent

你要做的就是尝试去暗示你的对手
that he will not achieve the goals he seeks,

如果他向你发动战争
if he launches a war against you,

他不会获得他想要的结果
and so that requires that you be very strong, militarily strong

因此你必须非常强大军事上强大
and strong in the way in which you negotiate.

而且你要以强硬的方式谈判
On the other hand, if that is your goal, deterrence,

另外如果威慑就是你的目的
then you also want to be very careful not to behave

你也想谨慎地不要表现得
in such a way that it's too frightening.

过于吓人
That indicates to your opponent that

那样会暗示你的对手
you are likely to defeat him, if he allows you to be as strong as you would like to be.

如果他由得你发展壮大你将会打败他