Generally in
warfare, keeping a nation intact is best, destroying a nation second best;
keeping an army intact
is best, destroying an army second best;
keeping a battalion intact
is best, destroying a battalion second best;
keeping a company intact
is best, destroying a company second best;
keeping a squad intact
is best, destroying a squad second best. ?
Therefore, to gain a
hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence;
to subjugate the enemy's
army without doing battle is the highest of excellence. ?
Therefore, the best warfare
strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, next is to attack alliances, next is
to attack the army, and the worst is to attack a walled city. ?
Laying siege to a city
is only done when other options are not available. ?
To build large protective
shields, armored wagons, and make ready the necessary arms and equipment will
require at least three months. ?
To build earthen mounds
against the walls will require another three months. ?
If the general cannot
control his temper and sends troops to swarm the walls, one third of them will
be killed, and the city will still not be taken.
This is the kind of calamity
when laying siege to a walled city. ?
Therefore, one who is
skilled in warfare principles subdues the enemy without doing battle, takes the
enemy's walled city without attacking, and overthrows the enemy quickly, without
protracted warfare. ?
His aim must be to take
All-Under-Heaven intact. ?
Therefore, weapons will
not be blunted, and gains will be intact.
These are the principles
of planning attacks. ?
Generally in warfare:
If ten times the enemy's
strength, surround them;
if five times, attack
them;
if double, divide them;
if equal, be able to
fight them;
if fewer, be able to
evade them;
if weaker, be able to
avoid them. ?
Therefore, a smaller
army that is inflexible will be captured by a larger one. ?
A general is the safeguard
of the nation.
When this support is
in place, the nation will certainly be strong.
When this support is
not in place, the nation will certainly not be strong. ?
There are three ways
the ruler can bring difficulty to the army:
To order an advance when
not realizing the army is in no position to advance, or to order a withdrawal
when not realizing the army is in no position to withdraw.
This is called entangling
the army. ?
By not knowing the army's
matters, and administering the army the same as administering civil matters, the
officers and troops will be confused. ?
By not knowing the army's
calculations, and taking command of the army, the officers and troops will be
hesitant. ?
When the army is confused
and hesitant, the neighboring rulers will take advantage.
This is called a confused
and hesitant army leading another to victory. ?
Therefore, there are
five factors of knowing who will win:
One who knows when he
can fight, and when he cannot fight, will be victorious; ?
one who knows how to
use both large and small forces will be victorious; ?
one who knows how to
unite upper and lower ranks in purpose will be victorious; ?
one who is prepared and
waits for the unprepared will be victorious; ?
one whose general is
able and is not interfered by the ruler will be victorious.
These five factors are
the way to know who will win.
Therefore I say: ?
One who knows the enemy
and knows himself will not be in danger in a hundred battles. ?
One who does not know
the enemy but knows himself will sometimes win, sometimes lose.
One who does not know
the enemy and does not know himself will be in danger in every battle. ?
