Generally the
one who first occupies the battlefield awaiting the enemy is at ease;
the one who comes later
and rushes into battle is fatigued. ?
Therefore those skilled
in warfare move the enemy, and are not moved by the enemy. ?
Getting the enemy to
approach on his own accord is a matter of showing him advantage;
stopping him from approaching
is a matter of showing him harm. ?
Therefore, if the enemy
is at ease, be able to exhaust him;
if the enemy is well
fed, be able to starve him;
if the enemy is settled,
be able to move him;
appear at places where
he must rush to defend, and rush to places where he least expects. ?
To march over a thousand
li without becoming distressed, march over where the enemy is not present. ?
To be certain to take
what you attack, attack where the enemy cannot defend. ?
To be certain of safety
when defending, defend where the enemy cannot attack. ?
Therefore, against those
skilled in attack, the enemy does not know where to defend; ?
against those skilled
in defense, the enemy does not know where to attack. ?
Subtle! Subtle!
They become formless.
Mysterious! Mysterious!
They become soundless.
Therefore, they are the
masters of the enemy's fate. ?
To achieve an advance
that cannot be hampered, rush to his weak points.
To achieve a withdrawal
that cannot be pursued, depart with superior speed. ?
Therefore, if we want
to do battle, even if the enemy is protected by high walls and deep moats, he
cannot but do battle, because we attack what he must rescue.
If we do not want to
do battle, even if we merely draw a line on the ground, he will not do battle,
because we divert his movements. ?
Therefore, if we can
make the enemy show his position while we are formless, we will be at full force
while the enemy is divided. ?
If our army is at full
force and the enemy is divided, then we will attack him at ten times his strength.
?
Therefore, we are many
and the enemy few.
If we attack our many
against his few, the enemy will be in dire straits. ?
The place of battle must
not be made known to the enemy.
If it is not known, then
the enemy must prepare to defend many places. ?
If he prepares to defend
many places, then the forces will be few in number. ?
Therefore, if he prepares
to defend the front, the back will be weak.
If he prepares to defend
the back, the front will be weak.
If he prepares to defend
the left, the right will be weak.
If he prepares to defend
the right, the left will be weak.
If he prepares to defend
everywhere, everywhere will be weak. ?
The few are those preparing
to defend against others, the many are those who make others prepare to defend
against them. ?
Therefore, if one knows
the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle.
?
If one does not know
the place of battle and the day of battle, then his left cannot aid his right,
and his right cannot aid his left;
his front cannot aid
his back, and his back cannot aid his front. ?
How much less so if he
is separated by tens of li, or even a few li. ?
Based on my calculations,
though Yueh's troops were many, what advantage was this to them in respect to
victory?
Therefore I say, victory
can be achieved. ?
Though the enemy is many,
he can be prevented from doing battle.
Therefore, know the enemy's
plans and calculate their strengths and weaknesses. ?
Provoke him, to know
his patterns of movement. ?
Determine his position,
to know the ground of death and of life. ?
Probe him, to know where
he is strong and where he is weak. ?
The ultimate skill is
to take up a position where you are formless. ?
If you are formless,
the most penetrating spies will not be able to discern you, or the wisest counsels
will not be able to do calculations against you. ?
With formation, the army
achieves victories yet they do not understand how.
Everyone knows the formation
by which you achieved victory, yet no one knows the formations by which you were
able to create victory. ?
Therefore, your strategy
for victories in battle is not repetitious, and your formations in response to
the enemy are endless. ?
The army's formation
is like water.
The water's formation
avoids the high and rushes to the low. ?
So an army's formation
avoids the strong and rushes to the weak. ?
Water's formation adapts
to the ground when flowing.
So then an army's formation
adapts to the enemy to achieve victory. ?
Therefore, an army does
not have constant force, or have constant formation.
Those who are able to
adapt and change in accord with the enemy and achieve victory are called divine.
?
Therefore, of the five
elements, none a constant victor, of the four seasons, none has constant position;
the sun has short and
long spans, and the moon waxes and wanes. ?
