When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions.

If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way.

If you are careful of your men,

All armies prefer high ground to low,

Knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions can only be obtained from other men.

Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.

Now an army is exposed to six several calamities, not arising from natural causes, but from faults for which the general is responsible. These are: (1) Flight; (2) insubordination; (3) collapse; (4) ruin; (5) disorganisation; (6) rout.

Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.