With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.
Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for the victory which is decided in a single day. This being so, to remain in ignorance of the enemy’s condition simply because one grudges the outlay of a hundred ounces of silver in honours and emoluments,
On the day that you take up your command, block the frontier passes, destroy the official tallies,
The enemy’s spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they will become converted spies and available for our service.
With his forces intact he will dispute the mastery of the Empire, and thus, without losing a man, his triumph will be complete.
These six are the principles connected with Earth.
The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.
On the other hand, the proximity of an army causes prices to go up; and high prices cause the people’s substance to be drained away.
These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.
It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.
Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focussed on one particular point.
If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy’s soldiers remain quiet, bide your time and do not attack.
Sun Tzŭ said: In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign.
With regard to ground of this nature, be before the enemy in occupying the raised and sunny spots, and carefully guard your line of supplies.
Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhausible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away but to return once more.
Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.
When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, the men’s weapons will grow dull and their ardour will be damped. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength.
If we know that the enemy is open to attack, and also know that our men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the nature of the ground makes fighting impracticable, we have still gone only halfway towards victory.
When you come to a hill or a bank, occupy the sunny side, with the slope on your right rear. Thus you will at once act for the benefit of your soldiers and utilise the natural advantages of the ground.
Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
The general who is skilled in defence hides in the most secret recesses of the earth;
In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack—the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of manœuvers.
If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.
If you are situated at a great distance from the enemy, and the strength of the two armies is equal, it is not easy to provoke a battle,
To muster his host and bring it into danger:—this may be termed the business of the general.
When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream. It will be best to let half the army get across, and then deliver your attack.
Though according to my estimate the soldiers of Yüeh exceed our own in number, that shall advantage them nothing in the matter of victory. I say then that victory can be achieved.
You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.
So, the student of war who is unversed in the art of war of varying his plans, even though he be acquainted with the Five Advantages, will fail to make the best use of his men.
If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.
It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
If a secret piece of news is divulged by a spy before the time is ripe, he must be put to death together with the man to whom the secret was told.
Those who were called skilful leaders of old knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy’s front and rear;
In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory.
If you are careful of your men,
Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.
Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.
Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise; for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.
After crossing a river, you should get far away from it.
When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious for the other side to advance.
Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat,
When there is much running about
Hence the skilful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.
And if we are able thus to attack an inferior force with a superior one, our opponents will be in dire straits.
To be near the goal while the enemy is still far from it, to wait at ease while the enemy is toiling and struggling, to be well-fed while the enemy is famished:—this is the art of husbanding one’s strength.
The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally;
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.
Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity.
By employing the officers of his army without discrimination,
Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.
If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait for it to break out within, but deliver your attack at a favourable moment.
One who acts thus is no leader of men, no present help to his sovereign, no master of victory.
Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your army with food.
Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blend and harmonise the different elements thereof before pitching his camp.
By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldier’s minds.
Be stern in the council-chamber,
If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.
