Sun Tzu - Art of War

Warfare is the greatest affair of state, the basis of life and death, the Tao to survival or extinction. It must be thoroughly pondered and analysed.

Therefore, structure warfare according to the following five factors, evaluate it comparatively through estimations, and seek out its true nature. The first is termed the Tao, the second Heaven, the third Earth, the fourth generals, and the fifth the laws for military organisation and discipline. The Tao causes the people to be fully in accord with the ruler. Thus they will die with him, they will live with him and not fear danger. Heaven encompasses yin and yang, cold and heat, and the constraints of the seasons.
Earth encompasses far or near, difficult or easy, expansive or confined, fatal or tenable terrain.
The general encompasses wisdom, credibility, benevolence, courage, and strictness.
The laws for military organisation and discipline encompass organisation and regulations, the Tao of command, and the management of logistics.
There are no generals who have not heard of these five. Those who understand them will be victorious, those who do not understand them will not be victorious.

Thus when making a comparative evaluation, ask:
Which ruler has the Tao?
Which general has greater ability?
Who has gained the advantages of Heaven and Earth?
Whose laws and orders are more thoroughly implemented?
Whose forces are stronger?
Whose officers and troops are better trained?
Whose rewards and punishments are clearer?
From these I will know victory and defeat!

If a general follows my methods for estimation and you employ him, he will certainly be victorious and should be retained. If a general does not follow my methods for estimation and you employ him, he will certainly be defeated, so dismiss him.

After estimating the advantages in accord with what you have heard, put it into effect with strategic power supplemented by field tactics that respond to external factors. As for strategic power, it is controlling the tactical imbalance of power in accord with the gains to be realised.

Warfare is the Tao of deception.
Thus:
Although you are capable, display incapability.
When committed to employing your forces, feign inactivity.
When your objective is nearby, make it appear distant; when distant, create the illusion of being nearby.
Display profits to entice them.
Create disorder in their forces and take them.
If they are substantial, prepare for them.
If they are strong, avoid them.
If they are angry, perturb them.
Be deferential to foster their arrogance.
If they are rested, force them to exert themselves.
If they are united, cause them to be seperated.
Attack where they are unprepared.
Go forth where they will not expect it. These are the ways military strategists are victorious. They cannot be spoken of in advance.

Before the engagment, one who determines in the ancestral temple that he will be victorious has found that the majority of factors are in his favour. Before the engagement one who determines in the ancestral temple that he will not be victorious has found few factors are in his favour. If one who finds that the majority of factors favour him will be victorious, while one who has found few factors favour him will be defeated, what about someone who finds no factors in his favour? Observing it from this perspective, victory and defeat will be apparent.

Chapter 2 - Waging War

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When employing the military in battle, a victory that is long in coming will blunt their weapons and dampen their ardor. If you attack cities, their strength will be exhausted. If you expose the army to prolonged campaign, the state's resources will be inadequate. When our weapons have grown dull and spirits depressed, when our strength has been expended and resources consumed, then the feudal lords will take advantage of our exhaustion to arise. Even though you have wise generals, they will not be able to achieve a good result. Thus in military campaigns I have heard of awkward speed but have never seen any skill in lengthy campaigns. No country has ever profited from protracted warfare. Those who do not thoroughly comprehend the dangers inherent in employing the army are incapable of truly knowing the potential advantages of military actions.

One who excels in employing the military does not conscript the people twice or transport provisions a third time. If you obtain your equipment from within the state and rely on seizing provisions from the enemy, then the army's foodstuffs will be sufficient.
The state is impoverished by the army when it transports provisions far off. When provisions are transported far off, the hundred surnames are impoverished.
Those in proximity to the army will sell their goods expensively. When goods are expensive, the hundred surnames' wealth will be exhausted. When their wealth is exhausted, they will be extremely hard pressed to supply their village's military impositions.

What motivates men to slay the enemy is anger.

The army values being victorious, it does not value prolonged warfare. Therefore, a general who understands warfare is Master of Fate for people, ruler of the state's security or endangerment.

Chapter 3 - Planning Offensives

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In general, the method for employing the military is this: Preserving the enemy's state capital is best, destroying their state capital second-best. Preserving their army is best, destroying their army second-best. Preserving their battalions is best, destroying their battalions second-best. Preserving their companies is best, destroying their companies second-best. Preserving their squads is best, destroying their squads second-best. For this reason attaining one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the pinnacle of excellence.

Subjugating the enemy's army without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence.

Thus the highest realisation of warfare is to attack the enemy's plans; next is to attack their alliances; next to attack their army; and the lowest is to attack their fortified cities. This tactic of attacking fortified cities is adopted only when unavoidable.

Thus one who excels at employing the military subjugates other people's armies without engaging in battle, captures other people's fortified cities without attacking them, and destroys other people's states without prolonged fighting. He must fight under Heaven with the paramount aim of preservation. Thus his weapons will not become dull and the gains can be preserved. This is the strategy for planning offensives.

In general, the strategy for employing the military is this: If your strength is ten times theirs, surround them; if five, then attack them; if double, then divide your forces. If you are equal in strength to the enemy, you can engage him. If fewer, you can circumvent him. If outmatched, you can avoid him. Thus a small enemy that acts inflexibly will become the captives of a large enemy.

The general is the supporting pillar of state. If his talents are all-encompassing, the state will invariably be strong. If the supporting pillar is marked by fissures, the state will invariably grow weak.

There are three ways by which an army is put into difficulty by a ruler:

He does not know that the Three Armies should not advance but instructs them to advance, or does not know that the Three Armies should not withdraw and orders a retreat. This is termed entangling the army.

He does not understand the Three Armies' military affairs but directs them in the same way as his civil administration. Then the officers will become confused.

He does not understand the Three Armies' tactical balance of power but undertakes responsibility for command. Then the officers will be doubtful.

When the Three Armies are already confused and doubtful, the danger of the feudal lords taking advantage of the situation arises. This is referred to as a disordered army drawing another on to victory.

There are five factors from which victory can be known:

One who knows when he can fight and when he cannot fight will be victorious.

One who recognises how to employ large and small numbers will be victorious.

One whose upper and lower ranks have the same desires will be victorious.

One who, fully prepared, awaits the unprepared will be victorious.

One whose general is capable and not interfered with by the ruler will be victorious.

These five are the Tao to know victory.

Thus it is said that one who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be endangered in a hundred engagements. One who does not know the enemy but knows himself will sometimes be victorious, sometimes meet with defeat. One who knows neither the enemy nor himself will invariably be defeated in every engagement.

Chapter 4 - Military Disposition

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In antiquity, those that excelled in warfare first made themselves unconquerable in order to await the moment when the enemy could be conquered.
Being unconquerable lies with yourself, being conquerable lies with the enemy.
Thus one who excels in warfare is able to make himself unconquerable, but cannot necessarily cause the enemy to be conquerable.
Thus it is said a strategy for conquering the enemy can be known but yet not possible to implement.

One who cannot be victorious assumes a defensive posture, one who can be victorious attacks. In these circumstances, by assuming a defensive posture, strength will be more than adequate, whereas in offensive actions it would be inadequate.

Those who excel at defence bury themselves away below the lowest depths of Earth. Those who excel at offence move from above the greatest heights of Heaven. Thus they are able to preserve themselves and attain complete victory.
Perceiving a victory that does not surpass what the masses could know is not the pinnacle of excellence. Wrestling victories for which all under Heaven proclaim your excellence is not the pinnacle of excellence.
Those that the ancients referred to as excelling at warfare conquered those who were easy to conquer. Their victories were not marked by fame for wisdom or courageous achievement but were free from errors. One who is free from errors directs his measures toward certain victory, conquering those who are already defeated.

Thus one who excels at warfare first establishes himself in a position where he cannot be defeated while not losing any opportunity to defeat the enemy.
For this reason, the victorious army first realises the conditions for victory, and then seeks to engage in battle. The vanquished army fights first and then seeks victory.
One who excels at employing the military cultivates the Tao and preserves the laws; therefore, he is able to be the regulator of victory and defeat.

As for military methods: the first is termed measurements; the second, estimation of forces; the third, calculation of numbers of men; the fourth, weighing relative strength; and the fifth, victory.
Terrain gives birth to measurement; measurement produces the estimation of forces. Estimation of forces gives rise to calculating the numbers of men. Calculating the numbers of men gives rise to weighing strength. Weighing strength gives birth to victory.

Thus the victorious army is like a ton compared with an ounce, while the defeated army is like an ounce weighed against a ton! The combat of the victorious is like the sudden release of a pent-up torrent down a thousand-fathom gorge. This is the strategic disposition of force.

Chapter 5 - Strategic Military Power

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In general, commanding a large number is like commanding a few. It is a question of dividing up the numbers. Fighting with a large number is like fighting with a few. It is a question of configuration and designation.

If the army's attack is like a whetstone thrown against an egg, it is due to the vacous and substantial.

What enable the masses of the Three Armies invariably to withstand the enemy without being defeated are the unorthodox and orthodox. In general, in battle one engages with the orthodox and gains victory through the unorthodox. Thus one who excels at sending forth the unorthodox is as inexhaustible as Heaven, as unlimited as the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. In warfare, the strategic configurations of power do not exceed the unorthodox and orthodox, but the changes of the unorthodox and orthodox can never be completely exhausted. The unorthodox and orthodox mutually produce each other, just like an endless cycle. Who can exhaust them?

The strategic configuration of power is visible in the onrush of pent-up water tumbling stones along. The effect of constraints is visible in the onrush of a bird of prey breaking the bones of its target. Thus the strategic configuration of power of those focused, their constraints are precise. Their strategic configuration of power is like a fully drawn crossbow, their constraints like the release of the trigger.
Intermixed and turbulent, the fighting appears chaotic, but they cannot be made disordered. In turmoil and confusion, their deployment is circular, and they cannot be defeated.

Simulated chaos is given birth from control; the illusion of fear is given birth from courage; feigned weakness is given birth from strength. Order and disorder are a question of numbers; courage and fear are a question of the strategic configuration of power; strength and weakness are a question of the deployment of forces.
Thus one who excels at moving the enemy deploys in a configuration to which the enemy must respond. He offers something that the enemy must seize. With profit he moves them, with the foundation he awaits them.

Thus one who excels at warfare seeks victory through the strategic configuration of power, not from reliance on men. Thus he is able to select men and employ strategic power.

One who employs strategic power commands men in battle as if he were rolling logs and stones. The nature of wood and stone is to be quiet when stable but to move when on preciptous ground. If they are square they stop, if round they tend to move. Thus the strategic power of one who excels at employing men in warfare is comparable to rolling round boulders down a thousand-fathom mountain.

Chapter 6 - Vacuity And Substance

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In general, whoever occupies the battleground first and awaits the enemy will be at ease; whoever occupies the battleground afterward and must race to the conflict will be fatigued. Thus one who excels at warfare compels men and is not compelled by other men.

In order to cause the enemy to come of their own volition, extend some apparent profit. In order to prevent the enemy from coming forth, show them the potential harm.

Thus if the enemy is rested you can tire him; if he is well fed you can make him hungry; if he is at rest you can move him. Go forth to positions to which he must race. Race forth where he does not expect it.

To travel a thousand kilometres without becoming fatigued, traverse unoccupied terrain. To ensure taking the objective in an attack, strike positions that are undefended. To be certain of an impregnable defence, secure positions that the enemy will not attack.
Thus when someone excels in attacking, the enemy does not know where to mount his defence; when someone excels at defence, the enemy does not know where to attack. So subtle it approaches the formless, so spiritual it attains the soundless. Thus he can act as the enemy's Master of Fate.

To effect an unhampered advance, strike their vacuities. To effect a retreat that cannot be overtaken, employ unmatchable speed. Thus if I want to engage in combat, even though the enemy has high ramparts and deep moats, they cannot avoid doing battle because I attack objectives they must rescue.
If I do not want to engage in combat, even though I merely draw a line on the ground and defend it, they will not be able to engage me in battle because we thwart their movements.

Thus if I determine the enemy's disposition of force while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. If we are concentrated into a single force while they are fragmented into ten, then we attack them with ten times their strength. Thus we are many and the enemy is few. If we can attack their few with our many, those whom we engage in battle will be severly constrained.

The location where we will engage the enemy must not become known to them. If it is not known, then the positions they must prepare to defend will be numerous. If the positions the enemy prepares to defend are numerous, then the forces we will engage will be few. If no positions are left undefended, there will not be any places with more than a few.
The few are the ones who prepare against others; the many are the ones who make others prepare against them.

If you know the field and day of battle, you can traverse a thousand kilometres and assemble to engage in combat. If you do not know the field nor day for battle, then the left flank cannot aid the right, nor the right flank aid the left; the front cannot aid the rear, nor the rear aid the front. How much more so when the distant are some tens of kilometres away and the near several kilometres apart? Thus I say victory can be achieved. Even though the enemy is more numerous, they can be forced not to fight.

Critically analyse them to know the estimations for gain and loss. Stimulate them to know the patterns of their movement and stopping. Determine their disposition of force to know the tenable and fatal terrain. Probe them to know where they have an excess, where an insufficiency.
Thus the pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless. If it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it or the wise make plans against it.

In accord with the enemy's disposition we impose measures on the masses that produce victory, but the masses are unable to fathom them. Men all know the disposition by which we attain victory, but no one knows the configuration through which we control the victory. Thus a victorious battle strategy is not repeated, the configurations of response to the enemy are inexhaustible.

Now the army's disposition of force is like water. Water's configuration avoids heights and races downward. The army's disposition of force avoids the substantial and strikes the vacuous. Water configures its flow in accord with the terrain, the army controls its victory in accord with the enemy.
Thus the army does not maintain any constant strategic configuration of power, water has no constant shape. One who is able to change and transform in accord with the enemy and wrest victory is termed spiritual.

Chapter 7 - Military Combat

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From the time the general receives his commands from the ruler, unites the armies, and assembles the masses, to confronting the enemy and encamping, there is nothing more difficult than military. In military combat what is most difficult is turning the circuitous into the straight, turning adversity into advantage.
Thus if you make the enemy's path circuitous and entice them with profit, although you set out after them you will arrive before them. This results from knowing the tactics of the circuitous and the direct.

Thus combat between armies is advantageous, combat between masses is dangerous. If the entire army contends for advantage, you will not arrive in time. If you reduce the army's size to contend for advantage, your baggage and heavy equipment will suffer losses. For this reason if you abandon your armour to race forward day and night without encamping to contend for gain, the Three Armies' generals will be captured. The strong will be first to arrive, while the exhausted will follow. With such tactics only one in ten will reach the battle site. If the army does not have baggage and heavy equipment, it will be lost; if it does not have provisions, it will be lost; if it does not have stores, it will be lost.

Thus one who does not know the plans of the feudal lords cannot prepare alliances beforehand. Someone unfamiliar with the mountains and forests, gorges and defiles, the shape of marshes and wetlands cannot advance the army. One who does not employ local guides cannot guide advantages of terrain.

Thus the army is established by deceit, moves for advantage, and changes through segmenting and reuniting. Thus its speed is like the wind, its slowness like the forest; its invasion and plundering like a fire; unmoving, it is like the mountains. It is as difficult to know as the darkness; in movement it is like thunder.

Take control of the strategic balance of power and move. The one who first understands the tactics of the circuitous and the direct will be victorious.

When the men have been unified, the courageous will not be able to advance alone, the fearful will not be able to retreat alone. This is the method for employing large numbers

The ch'i (spirit) of the Three Armies can be snatched away; the commanding general's mind can be seized. For this reason, in the morning their ch'i is ardent; during the day their ch'i becomes indolent; at dusk, their ch'i is exhausted. Thus one who excels at employing the army avoids their ardent ch'i and strikes when it is indolent or exhausted. This is the way to manipulate ch'i.

In order, await the disordered; in tranquility, await the clamorous. This is the way to control the mind. With the near await the distant; with the rested await the fatigued; with the sated await the hungry. This is the way to control strength.

Do not intercept well-ordered flags, do not attack well-regulated formations. This is the way to control changes.

Do not approach high mountains, do not confront those who have hills behind them. Do not pursue feigned retreats. Do not attack animated troops. Do not swallow an army acting as bait. Do not obstruct an army retreating homeward. If you besiege an army you must leave an outlet. Do not press an exhausted invader. These are the strategies for employing the military.

Chapter 8 - Nine Changes

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In general, the strategy for employing the military is this. After the general has received his commands from the ruler, united the armies, and assembled the masses:

Do not encamp on entrapping terrain. Unite with your allies on focal terrain. Do not remain on isolated terrain. Make strategic plans for encircled terrain. On fatal terrain you must do battle.

There are roads that are not followed. There are armies that are not attacked. There are fortified cities that are not assaulted. There is terrain for which one does not contend. There are commands from the ruler that are not accepted. One who truly understands the changes in affairs knows how to employ military.

Thus the general who has a penetrating understanding of the advantages of the nine changes knows how to employ the army. If a general does not have a penetrating understanding of the advantages of the nine changes, even though he is familiar with the topography, he will not be able to realise the advantages of terrain. One who commands an army but does not know the techniques for the nine changes, even though he is familiar with the five advantages, will not be able to control men.

For this reason the wise must contemplate the intermixture of gain and loss. If they discern advantage in difficult situations, their efforts can be trusted. If they discern harm in prospective advantages, difficulties can be resolved.

Accordingly, subjugate the feudal lords with potential harm; labour the feudal lords with numerous affairs; and have the feudal lords race after profits.

Thus the strategy for employing the army: Do not rely on their not coming, but depend on having the means to await them. Do not rely on their not attacking, but depend on having an unassailable position.

Thus generals have five dangerous character traits: One commited to dying can be slain. One commited to living can be captured. One easily angered and hasty to act can be insulted. One obsessed with being scrupulous and untainted can be shamed. One who loves the people can be troubled.

Now these five dangerous traits are excesses in a general, potential disaster for employing the army. The army's destruction and the general's death will invariably stem from these five, so they must be investigated.

Chapter 9 - Manouevring the Army

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Now the army likes heights and abhors low areas, esteems the sunny and disdains the shady. It nourishes life and occupies the substantial. An army that avoids the hundred illnesses is said to be certain of victory.

You must quickly get away from deadly configurations of terrain. Do not approach them. When we keep them at distance, the enemy is forced to approach them. When we face them, the enemy is compelled to have them at their rear.

If an enemy in close proximity remains quiet, they are relying on their tactical occupation of ravines. If while far off they challenge you to battle, they want you to advance because they occupy easy terrain to their advantage.

One who speaks deferentially but increases his preparations will advance. One who speaks belligerently and advances hastily will retreat. One who seeks peace without setting any prior conditions is executing strategem.

When they see potential gain but do not know whether to advance, they are tired.

If the enemy cries out at night, they are afraid. If the army is turbulent, the general lacks severity. If their flags and pennants move about, they are in chaos. If the officers are angry, they are exhausted.

One whose troops repeatedly congregates in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great difficulty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.

One who has emissaries come forth with offerings wants to rest for a while.

The army does not esteem the number of troops being more numerous for it only means one cannot aggresively advance. It is sufficient for you to muster your own strength, analyse the enemy, and take them. Only someone who lacks strategic planning and slights an enemy will inevitably be captured by others.

If you impose punishments on the troops before they have become attached, they will not be submissive. If they are not submissive, they will be difficult to employ. If you do not impose punishments after the troops have become attached, they cannot be used.

Thus if you command them with the civil and unify them through the martial, this is what is referred to as being certain to take them.

If orders are consistently implemented to instruct the people, then the people will submit. If orders are not consistently implemented to instruct the people, then the people will not sumbit. One whose orders are consistently carried out has established a mutual relationship with the people.

Chapter 10 - Configurations of Terrain

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The major configurations of terrain are accessible, suspended, stalemated, constricted, precipitous, and expansive.

In an accessible configuration, first occupy the heights. In a suspended configuration, go forth if they are unprepared. In a stalemated situation, do not be enticed into going forth. As for constricted configurations, if we occupy them first we must fully deploy throughout them. As for precipitous configurations, we must hold the heights and await the enemy. As for expansive configurations, if our strategic power is equal, it will be difficult to provoke them to combat.

Now these six are the Tao of terrain. Any general who undertakes responsibility for command cannot but investigate them.

Configuration of terrain is an aid to the army. Analysing the enemy, taking control of victory, estimating ravines and defiles, the distant and near, is the Tao of the superior general. One who knows these and employs them in combat will certainly be victorious. One who does not know these or employ them in combat will certainly be defeated.

There are six types of ill-fated armies: running off, lax, sinking, crumbling, chaotic, and routed. Now these six are not disasters brought about by Heaven and Earth but by the general's errors. Now if, when their strategic power is equal, one attacks ten, it is termed running off.

If the troops are strong but the officers are weak, it is termed lax. If the officers are strong but the troops weak, it is termed sinking. If the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, engaging the enemy themselves out of unrestrained anger while the general does not yet know their capability, it is termed crumbling. If the general is weak and not strict, unenlightened in his instructions and leadership; the officers and troops lack constant duties; and their deployment of troops into formation is askew, it is termed chaotic.

If the general, unable to fathom the enemy, engages a large number with a small number, attacks the strong with the weak while the army lacks a properly selected vanguard, it is termed routed.

Now these six are the Tao of defeat. Any general who undertakes responsibility for command cannot but investigate them.

When the general regards his troops as young children, they will advance to the deepest valleys with him. When he regards the troops as his beloved children, they will be willing to die with him. If they are well treated but cannot be employed, if they are loved but cannot be commanded, or when in chaos they cannot be governed, they may be compared to arrogant children and cannot be used.

If the Tao of Warfare indicates certain victory, even though the ruler has instructed that combat should be avoided, if you must engage in battle it is permissible. If the Tao of Warfare indicates you will not be victorious, even though the ruler instructs you to engage in battle, not fighting is permissible.

Thus a general who does not advance to seek fame, nor fail to retreat to avoid being charged with the capital offence of retreating, but seeks only to preserve the people and gain advantage for the ruler is the state's treasure.

If I know our troops can attack, but do not know the enemy cannot be attacked, it is only halfway to victory. If I know the enemy can be attacked, but do not realise our troops cannot attack, it is only halfway to victory. Knowing that the enemy can be attacked, and knowing that our army can attack, but not knowing the terrain is not suitable for combat, is only halfway to victory. Thus one who truly knows the army will never be deluded when he moves, never be impoverished when intiating an action.

Thus it is said if you know them and know yourself, your victory will not be imperiled. If you know Heaven and Earth, your victory can be complete.

Chapter 11 - Nine Terrains

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The strategy for employing the military is this: There is dispersive terrain, light terrain, contentious terrain, traversable terrain, focal terrain, heavy terrain, entrapping terrain, and fatal terrain.

In antiquity those who were referred to as excelling in the employment of the army were able to keep the enemy's forward and rear forces from connecting; the many and few from relying on each other; the noble and lowly from coming to each other's rescue; the upper and lower ranks from trusting each other; the troops to be separated, unable to reassemble, or when assembled, not to be well-ordered. They moved when it was advantageous, halted when it was not advantageous.

If I dare ask, if the enemy is numerous, disciplined, and about to advance, how should we respond to them? I would say, first seize something that they love for then they will listen to you.

It is the nature of the army to stress speed; to take advantage of the enemy's absence; to travel unanticipated roads; and to attack when they are not alert.

In general, the Tao of an invader is that when one has penetrated deeply into enemy territory, the army will be unified, and the defenders will not be able to conquer you. If you carefully nurture them and do not over-labour them, their ch'i will be united and their strength will be at maximum.

When you mobilise the army and form strategic plans, you must be unfathomable.

Where if one fights with intensity he will survive, but if he does not fight with intensity he will perish, it is "fatal terrain". Cast them into positions from which there is nowhere to go and they will die without retreating. If there is no escape from death, the officers and soldiers will fully exhaust their strength.

When the soldiers and officers have penetrated deeply into enemy territory, they will cling together. When there is no alternative, they will fight. It is the nature of the army to defend when encircled; to fight fervently when unavoidable; and to follow orders when compelled by circumstances.

For this reason even though the soldiers are not instructed, they are prepared; without seeking it, their cooperation is obtained; without covenants they are close together; without issuing orders they are reliable. Prohibit omens, eliminate doubt so that they will die without other thoughts.

If our soldiers do not live long lives, it is not because they abhor longevity. On the day that the orders are issued the tears of the soldiers who are sitting will soak their sleeves, while the tears of those lying down will not roll down their cheeks. However, if you throw them into a hopeless situation, they will have the courage of the great assassins.

Unify the soldiers' courage through the Tao of control. Realise the appropriate employment of the hard and soft through the patterns of terrain.

Thus one who excels at employing the army leads them by the hand as if they were only one man, so they cannot avoid it.

It is essential for a general to be tranquil and obscure, upright and self-disciplined, and able to stupefy the eyes and ears of the officers and troops, keeping them ignorant. He alters his management of affairs and changes his strategies to keep other people from recognising them. He shifts his position and traverses indirect routes to keep other people from being to anticipate him.

At the moment the general has designated with them, it will be as if they ascended a height and abandoned their ladders. The general advances with them deep into the territory of the feudal lords and then releases the trigger. He commands them as if racing a herd of sheep - they are driven away, driven back, but no one knows where they are going.

Assembling the masses of the Three Armies, casting them into danger, is the responsibility of the general.

The nine transformations of terrain - the advantages deriving from contraction and expansion, the patterns of human emotions - must be investigated.

One who does not know the plans of the feudal lords cannot forge preparatory alliances. One who does not know the topography of mountains and forests, ravines and defiles, wetlands and marshes cannot manoeuvre the army. One who does not employ local guides will not secure advantages of terrain. One who does not know one of these four or five cannot command the army of hegemon or a true king.

Now when the army of a hegemon or true king attacks a great state, their masses are unable to assemble. When it applies its awesomeness to the enemy, their alliances cannot be sustained. For this reason it does not contend with any alliances under Heaven. It does not nurture the authority of others under Heaven. Have faith in yourself, apply your awesomeness to the enemy. Then their cities can be taken, their state can be subjugated.
Bestow rewards not required by law, impose exceptional governmental orders. Direct the masses of the Three Armies as though commanding one man. Press affairs upon them, do not explain the purpose to them. Compel them with prospects for profit, but do not inform them about the potential harm.

Cast them into hopeless situations and they will be preserved; have them penetrate fatal terrain and they will live. Only after the masses have penetrated dangerous terrain will they be able to craft victory out of defeat.

The prosecution of military affairs lies in according with and learning in detail the enemy's intentions. If one then focuses his strength toward the enemy, strikes a thousand kilometres away, and kills their general, it is termed being skilful and capable in completing military affairs.

For this reason on the day the government mobilises the army close the passes, destroy all tallies, and do not allow their emissaries to pass through. Hold their intense strategic discussions in the upper hall of the temple in order to bring about the execution of affairs.

If the enemy opens the door, you must race in.

Attack what they love first. Do not fix any time for battle, assess and react to the enemy in order to determine the strategy for battle.

For this reason at first be like a virgin at home; later, when the enemy opens the door, be like a fleeing rabbit. The enemy will be unable to withstand you.

Chapter 12 - Incendiary Attacks

2009-05-09T23:23:00.006+01:00

There are five types of incendiary attack: The first is to incinerate men, the second to incinerate supply provisions, the third to incinerate supply trains, the fourth to incinerate armories, and the fifth to incinerate formation.

Now if someone is victorious in battle and succeeds in attack but does not exploit the acheivement, it is disastrous.

If it is not advantageous, do not move. If objectives cannot be attained, do not employ the army. Unless endangered do not engage in warfare. The ruler cannot mobilize the army out of personal anger. The general cannot engage in battle because of personal frustration. When it is advantageous, move; when not advantageous, stop. Anger can revert to happiness, annoyance can revert to joy, but a vanquished state cannot be brought back to life. Thus the unenlightened ruler is cautious about it, the good general respectful of it. This is the Tao for bringing security to the state and preserving the army intact.

Chapter 13 - Employing Spies

2009-05-09T22:24:00.016+01:00

When you send forth an army of a hundred thousand on a campaign marching them out a thousand kilometers, the expenditures of the common people and the contributions of the feudal house will be one thousand pieces of gold per day. Those uncovenienced and troubled both within and without the border, who are exhausted on the road or unable to pursue their agricultural work, will be seven hundred thousand families. Armies remain locked in a standoff for years to fight for victory on a single day, yet generals begrudge bestowing ranks and emoluments of one hundred pieces of gold and therefore do not know the enemy's situation. This is the ultimate inhumanity. Such a person is not a general for the people, an assistant for a ruler, or the arbiter of victory.

The means by which enlightened rulers and sagacious generals moved and conquered others, that their achievements surpassed the masses, was advance knowledge. Advance knowledge cannot be gained from ghosts and spirits, inferred from phenomena, or projected from the measures of Heaven, but must be gained from men for it is the knowledge of the enemy's true situation.

Thus there are five types of spies to be employed: local spy, internal spy, turned spy or double agent, dead or expendable spy, and the living spy. When all five are employed together and no one knows their Tao, this is termed spirtual methodology. They are a ruler's treasures.

Local spies - employ people from the local district.
Internal spies - employ their people who hold government positions.

Double agents - employ the enemy's spies.

Expendable spies - are employed to spread disinformation outside the state. Provide our expendable spies with false information and have them leak it to enemy agents.

Living spies - return with their reports.

Thus of all the Three Armies' affairs no relationship is closer than with spies, no rewards are more generous than those given to spies, no affairs are more secret than those pertaining to spies.

Unless someone has the wisdom of a Sage, he cannot use spies; unless he is benevolent and righteous, he cannot employ spies; unless he is subtle and perspicacious, he cannot perceive the substance in intelligence reports. It is subtle, subtle! There are no areas in which one does not employ spies.

If before the mission has begun it has already been exposed, the spy and those he informed should all be put to death.

In general, as for the armies you want to strike, the cities you want to attack, and the men you want to assassinate, you must first know the names of the defensive commander, his assistants, staff, door guards, and attendants. You must have our spies search out and learn them all.

You must search for enemy agents who have come to spy on us. Tempt them with profits, instruct and retain them. Thus double agents can be obtained and employed. Through knowledge gained from them, you can recruit both local and internal spies. Through knowledge gained from them, the expendable spy can spread his falsehoods, can be used to misinform the enemy. Through knowledge gained from them, our living spies can be employed as times require.

The ruler must know these five aspects of espionage work. This knowledge inevitably depends on turned spies; therefore, you must be generous to double agents.

Thus enlightened rulers and sagacious generals who are able to get intelligent spies will invariably attain great achievements. This is the essence of the military, what the Three Armies rely on to move.