The principles
of warfare are:
There are dispersive
ground, marginal ground, contentious ground, open ground, intersecting ground,
critical ground, difficult ground, surrounded ground, and deadly ground.
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Where the rulers do battle
in their own ground, this is called dispersive ground.
Where one enters the
other's ground but not deep, this is called marginal ground.
Where it is advantageous
if you occupy it and it is advantageous if the enemy occupies it, this is called
contentious ground.
Where one can come and
go, this is called open ground. ?
Where ground is surrounded
by others, and the first one to reach it will gain the support of the masses,
this is called intersecting ground.
Where one enters deep
into enemy ground, with many walled cities and towns to his back, this is called
critical ground.
Where there are mountains
and forests, defiles and ravines, swamps and wetlands, and places difficult to
pass, this is called difficult ground. ?
Where the entrance is
narrow, the exit circuitous, allowing the enemy to attack his few to our many,
this is called surrounded ground.
Where if one who does
battle with full force survives, and one who does not do battle with full force
perishes, this is called deadly ground. ?
Therefore, on dispersive
ground, do not do battle. ?
On marginal ground, do
not stop. ?
On contentious ground,
do not attack. ?
On open ground, do not
become separated. ?
On intersecting ground,
form alliances. ?
On critical ground, plunder.
?
On difficult ground,
press on. ?
On surrounded ground,
be prepared. ?
On deadly ground, do
battle. ?
In ancient times, those
skilled in warfare were able to prevent the unity of the enemy's front and back,
the many and the few, the noble and the peasants, and the superiors and the subordinates.
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Have the enemy be separated
and unable to assemble;
if the enemy is assembled,
it should not be organized. ?
Move when advantageous,
stop when not advantageous. ?
Ask:
If the enemy is large
in number and advances, what should be the response?
I say:
Seize what he values,
and he will do what you wish. ?
The essential factor
in warfare is speed. ?
To take advantage of
the enemy's lack of preparation, take unexpected routes to attack where the enemy
is not prepared. ?
Generally, the Way of
invading is when one has penetrated deep into enemy ground, the troops are united;
the defender will not
be able to prevail. ?
If you plunder the fertile
fields, the army will have enough provisions. ?
If you take care of your
health, avoid fatigue, you will be united, and will build strength. ?
When moving troops and
calculating plans, be formless. ?
Throw your troops into
situations where there is no escape, where they will die before escaping.
When they are about to
die, what can they not do?
They will exert their
full strength. ?
When the troops are in
desperate situations, they fear nothing;
having penetrated deep
in enemy ground, they are united. ?
When there are no other
alternatives, they will fight. ?
Therefore, though not
disciplined, they are alert;
though not asked, they
are devoted;
though without promises,
they are faithful;
and though not commanded,
they are trustworthy. ?
Prohibit omens, and get
rid of doubts, and they will die without any other thoughts. ?
The soldiers do not have
wealth, but not because they dislike material goods;
they do not live long,
but not because they dislike longevity. ?
On the day the men are
issued orders to do battle, the sitting soldiers' tears will soak their sleeves,
and the lying soldiers' tears will roll down their cheeks. ?
However, if you throw
them into a desperate situation, they will have the courage of Chuan Chu or Ts'ao
Kuei. ?
Therefore, those skilled
in warfare are like the shuaijan.
The shuaijan is a serpent
on Mount Chang. ?
If you strike its head,
its tail attacks;
if you strike its tail,
its head attacks;
if you strike its middle,
both the head and tail attack. ?
Ask:
Can forces be made like
the shuaijan?
I say:
They can.
The men of Wu and Yueh
hated each other, however, encountering severe winds when crossing a river on
the same boat, they assisted each other like left and right hands. ?
Therefore, hobbling horses
and burying chariot wheels are not enough.
The Way of organization
is uniting their courage, making the best of the strong and the weak through the
principles of Ground. ?
Therefore, one who is
skilled in warfare leads them by the hand like they are one person;
they cannot but follow.
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Continued
