The grounds
are accessible, entrapping, stalemated, narrow, steep, and expansive.
If you can go through
but the enemy cannot, it is called accessible. ?
For accessible ground,
first take the high and the sunny side, and convenient supply routes.
You then do battle with
the advantage. ?
If you can go through
but difficult to go back, it is called entrapping.
For entrapping ground,
if the enemy is unprepared, advance and defeat him. ?
If the enemy is prepared,
and you advance and are not victorious, it will be difficult to go back;
this is disadvantageous.
?
If it is not advantageous
to advance or for the enemy to advance, it is called stalemated.
For stalemated ground,
though the enemy offers you advantage, do not advance.
Withdraw. ?
If you strike them when
half has advanced, this is advantageous. ?
For narrow ground, we
must occupy it first;
be prepared and wait
for the enemy.
If the enemy occupies
it first, and is prepared, do not follow him.
If he is not prepared,
follow him. ?
For steep ground, if
you occupy it first, occupy the high on the sunny side and wait for the enemy.
If the enemy occupies
it first, withdraw;
do not follow him. ?
For expansive ground,
if the forces are equal, it will be difficult to do battle.
Doing battle will not
be advantageous.
These are the six Ways
of ground.
They are the general's
responsibility, and must be examined. ?
In warfare, there are
flight, insubordination, deterioration, collapse, chaos, and setback.
These six situations
are not caused by Heaven or Ground, but by the general. ?
If the forces are equal,
and one attacks ten, this is called flight.
If the troops are strong
but the officers weak, this is called insubordination.
If the officers are strong
but the troops weak, this is called deterioration. ?
If the officers are angry
and insubordinate, doing battle with the enemy under anger and insubordination,
and the general does not know their abilities, this is called collapse. ?
If the general is weak
and not disciplined, his instructions not clear, the officers and troops lack
discipline and their formation in disarray, this is called chaos. ?
If the general cannot
calculate his enemy, and uses a small number against a large number, his weak
attacking the strong, and has no selected vanguard, this is called setback. ?
These are the six Ways
of defeat.
They are the general's
responsibility, and must be examined.
Formations of the ground
assist the army. ?
To calculate the enemy,
create conditions leading to victory, calculating the dangers and distances.
They are the Ways of
the superior general. ?
Those who do battle and
know these are certain for victory.
Those who do battle and
do not know these are certain for defeat. ?
Therefore, if the Way
of warfare indicates certain victory, though the ruler does not want to do battle,
the general may do battle.
If the Way of warfare
indicates defeat, though the ruler wants to do battle, the general may not do
battle. ?
Therefore, the general
who does not advance to seek glory, or does not withdraw to avoid punishment,
but cares for only the people's security and promotes the people's interests,
is the nation's treasure. ?
He looks upon his troops
as children, and they will advance to the deepest valleys.
He looks upon his troops
as his own children, and they will die with him. ?
If the general is kind
to the troops, but cannot use them, or if the general loves the troops, but cannot
command them, or if the general does not discipline the troops, but cannot establish
order, the troops are like spoiled children and are useless. ?
If I know the troops
can attack, but do not know the enemy cannot attack, my victory is half. ?
If I know the enemy can
be attacked, but do not know the troops cannot attack, my victory is half. ?
If I know the enemy can
be attacked, and know the troops can attack, but do not know the ground in battle,
my victory is half. ?
Therefore, one who knows
how to advance the army is limitless when taking action. ?
Therefore I say, if you
know the enemy and know yourself, the victory is not at risk.
If you know the Heaven
and you know the Ground, the victory is complete. ?
