Generally, the
principles of warfare are:
The general receives his
commands from the ruler, assembles the troops, mobilizes the army, and sets up
camp. ?
There is nothing more
difficult than armed struggle. ?
In armed struggle, the
difficulty is turning the circuitous into the direct, and turning adversity into
advantage. ?
Therefore, if you make
the enemy's route circuitous and bait him with advantages, though you start out
behind him, you will arrive before him.
This is to know the calculations
of the circuitous and of the direct. ?
Therefore, armed struggle
has advantages, and armed struggle has risks.
If the entire army mobilizes
for an advantage, you will not arrive on time. ?
If a reduced army mobilizes
for an advantage, your stores and equipment will be lost. ?
For this reason, by rolling
up your armor, rushing forward without stopping day or night, covering twice the
usual distance for an advantage a hundred li away, the general will be captured.
The strong will arrive
first, the weak will lag behind, and as a rule, only one-tenth will arrive. ?
If one struggles for
an advantage fifty li away, the general of the front forces will be thwarted,
and as a rule only one half will arrive.
If one struggles for
an advantage thirty li away, then two-thirds of the army will arrive. ?
For this reason, if an
army is without its equipment will lose;
if an army is without
its provisions will lose;
if the army is without
its stores will lose. ?
Therefore, one who does
not know the intentions of the rulers of the neighboring states cannot secure
alliances. ?
One who does not know
the mountains and forests, gorges and defiles, swamps and wetlands cannot advance
the army.
One who does not use
local guides cannot take advantage of the ground. ?
Therefore, the army is
established on deception, mobilized by advantage, and changed through dividing
up and consolidating the troops. ?
Therefore, it advances
like the wind;
it marches like the forest;
it invades and plunders
like fire;
it stands like the mountain;
it is formless like the
dark;
it strikes like thunder.
?
When you plunder the
countryside, divide the wealth among your troops;
when you expand your
territory, divide up and hold places of advantage. ?
Calculate the situation,
and then move.
Those who know the principles
of the circuitous and direct will be victorious.
This is armed struggle.
?
The Book of Military
Administration says:
It is because words cannot
be clearly heard in battle, drums and gongs are used;
it is because troops
cannot see each other clearly in battle, flags and pennants are used. ?
Therefore, in night battles
use torches and drums;
in day battles use flags
and pennants.
Drums, gongs, flags,
and pennants are used to unite men's eyes and ears. ?
When the men are united,
the brave cannot advance alone, the cowardly cannot retreat alone. ?
These are the principles
for employing a large number of troops.
Therefore, in night battles,
use many torches and drums, and in day battles, use many flags and pennants in
order to influence men's eyes and ears. ?
The energy of the army
can be dampened, and the general's mind can be dampened.
Therefore, in the morning,
energy is high, but during the day energy begins to flag;
and in the evening, energy
is exhausted. ?
Therefore, those skilled
in the use of force avoid high energy, and strike when energy is exhausted.
This is the way to manage
energy. ?
Disciplined, wait for
disorder;
calm, wait for clamor.
This is the way to manage
the mind. ?
Near, wait for the distant;
rested, wait for the
fatigued;
full, wait for the hungry.
This is the way to manage
strength. ?
Do not do battle
with well-ordered flags;
do not do battle with
well-regulated formations.
This is the way to manage
adaptation. ?
Therefore, the principles
of warfare are:
Do not attack an enemy
that has the high ground;
do not attack an enemy
that has his back to a hill;
do not pursue feigned
retreats;
do not attack elite troops;
do not swallow the enemy's
bait; ?
do not thwart an enemy
retreating home.
If you surround the enemy,
leave an outlet;
do not press an enemy
that is cornered.
These are the principles
of warfare. ?
