"One who commands an army but does not know the techniques for the nine changes, even though he is familiar with the five advantages,115 will not be able to control men.
"For this reason the wise must contemplate the intermixture of gain and loss. If they discern advantage [in difficult situations], their efforts can be trusted. If they discern harm [in prospective advantage], difficulties can be resolved.
"Accordingly, subjugate the feudal lords with potential harm; labor the feudal lords with numerous affairs; and have the feudal lords race after profits.
"Thus the strategy for employing the army: Do not rely on their not coming, but depend on us having the means to await them. Do not rely on their not attacking, but depend on us having an unassailable position.
"Thus generals have five dangerous [character traits]:
"One committed to dying can be slain.
"One committed to living can be captured.
"One [easily] angered and hasty [to act] can be insulted.
"One obsessed with being scrupulous and untainted can be shamed.
"One who loves the people can be troubled.
"Now these five dangerous traits are excesses in a general, potential disaster for employing the army. The army's destruction and the general's death will invariably stem from these five, so they must be investigated."
Sun-tzu said:
"As for deploying the army and fathoming the enemy:
"To cross mountains follow the valleys, search out tenable ground,16 and occupy the heights. If the enemy holds the heights, do not climb up to engage them in battle. This is the way to deploy an army in the mountains.
"After crossing rivers117 you must distance yourself from them. If the enemy is forging a river to advance, do not confront them in the water. When half their forces have crossed, it will be advantageous to strike them. If you want to engage the enemy in battle, do not array your forces near the river to confront the invader but look for tenable ground and occupy the heights. Do not confront the current's flow.118 This is the way to deploy the army where there are rivers.
"When you cross salt marshes and wetlands, concentrate on quickly getting away from them; do not remain. If you engage in battle in marshes or wetlands, you must stay in areas with marsh grass and keep groves of trees at your back. This is the way to deploy the army in marshes and wetlands.
"On level plains deploy on easy119 terrain with the right flank positioned with high ground to the rear, fatal terrain to the fore, and tenable terrain to the rear. This is the way to deploy on the plains.
"These four [deployments], advantageous to the army, are the means by which the Yellow Emperor conquered the four emperors.'20
"Now the army likes heights and abhors low areas, esteems the sunny [yang] and disdains the shady [yin]. It nourishes life and occupies the sub- stantial.121 An army that avoids the hundred illnesses is said to be certain of victory.122
"Where there are hills and embankments you must occupy the yang side, keeping them to the right rear. This is to the army's advantage and [exploits the natural] assistance of the terrain.
"When it rains upstream, foam appears.'23 If you want to cross over, wait until it settles.
"You must quickly get away from deadly configurations of terrain such as precipitous gorges with mountain torrents, Heaven's Well,124 Heaven's jail, 12' Heaven's Net,126 Heaven's Pit,127 and Heaven's Fissure.12' Do not approach them. When we keep them at a distance, the enemy [is forced to] approach them. When we face them, the enemy [is compelled to] have them at their rear.
"When on the flanks the army encounters ravines and defiles, wetlands with reeds and tall grass, mountain forests,129 or areas with heavy, entangled undergrowth, you must thoroughly search them because they are places where an ambush or spies would be concealed.'3o
"If [an enemy] in close proximity remains quiet, they are relying on their tactical occupation of ravines.13' If while far off they challenge you to battle, they want you to advance [because] they occupy easy terrain to their advantage.
"If large numbers of trees move, they are approaching. If there are many [visible] obstacles in the heavy grass, it is to make us suspicious.132 If the birds take flight, there is an ambush. If the animals are afraid, [enemy] forces are mounting a sudden attack.
"If dust rises high up in a sharply defined column, chariots are coming. If it is low and broad, the infantry is advancing. If it is dispersed in thin shafts, they are gathering firewood. If it is sparse, coming and going, they are encamping.
"One who speaks deferentially but increases his preparations will advance. One who speaks belligerently and advances hastily will retreat.
"One whose light chariots first fan out to the sides is deploying [for bat- tle].133
"One who seeks peace without setting any prior conditions is [executing] a stratagem.
"One whose troops race off but [who] deploys his army into formation is implementing a predetermined schedule.
"One [whose troops] half advance and half retreat is enticing you.
"Those who stand about leaning on their weapons are hungry. If those who draw water drink first, they are thirsty. When they see potential gain but do not know whether to advance, they are tired.
"Where birds congregate it is empty. If the enemy cries out at night, they are afraid. If the army is turbulent,134 the general lacks severity. If their flags and pennants move about, they are in chaos. If the officers are angry, they are exhausted.
"If they kill their horses and eat the meat, the army lacks grain.13s If they hang up their cooking utensils and do not return to camp, they are an exhausted invader.136
"One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great diffi culty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.137
"One who has emissaries come forth with offerings wants to rest for a while.
"If their troops are aroused and approach our forces, only to maintain their positions without engaging in battle or breaking off the confrontation, you must carefully investigate it.
"The army does not esteem the number of troops being more numerous for it only means one cannot aggressively advance.13S It is sufficient for you to muster your own strength, analyze the enemy, and take them. Only someone who lacks strategic planning and slights an enemy will inevitably be captured by others.
"If you impose punishments on the troops before they have become attached, they will not be submissive. If they are not submissive, they will be difficult to employ. If you do not impose punishments after the troops have become attached, they cannot be used.
"Thus if you command them with the civil139 and unify them through the martial, this is what is referred to as `being certain to take them.'14o
"If orders are consistently implemented to instruct the people, then the people will submit. If orders are not consistently implemented to instruct the people, then the people will not submit. One whose orders are consistently carried out has established a mutual relationship with the people."
Sun-tzu said:
"The major configurations [hsing] of terrain are accessible, suspended, stalemated, constricted, precipitous, and expansive.
"If we can go forth and the enemy can also advance, it is termed 'accessible.' In an accessible configuration, first occupy the heights and yang [side], and improve the routes for transporting provisions. Then when we engage in battle, it will be advantageous.
"If we can go forth but it will be difficult to return, it is termed `sus- pended.'142 In a suspended configuration, if they are unprepared go forth and conquer them. If the enemy is prepared and we sally forth without being victorious, it will be difficult to turn back and [is] not advantageous.
"If it is not advantageous for us to go forth nor advantageous for the enemy to come forward, it is termed 'stalemated."43 In a stalema
ted configuration, even though the enemy tries to entice us with profit, we do not go forth. Withdraw [our forces] and depart.144 If we strike them when half the enemy has come forth, it will be advantageous.
"As for constricted configurations, if we occupy them first we must fully deploy throughout them in order to await the enemy."' If the enemy occupies them first and fully deploys in them, do not follow them in. If they do not fully deploy in them, then follow them in.
"As for precipitous configurations, 146 if we occupy them we must hold the heights and yang sides to await the enemy. If the enemy occupies them first, withdraw [our forces] and depart. Do not follow them.
"As for expansive configurations, if our strategic power [shih] is equal,147 it will be difficult to provoke [them to] combat. Engaging in combat will not be advantageous.
"Now these six are the Tao of terrain. Any general who undertakes responsibility for command cannot but investigate them.
"Thus there are [six types of ill-fated] armies: running, lax, sinking, crumbling, chaotic, and routed. Now these six are not disasters brought about by Heaven and Earth but by the general's errors.
"Now if, when their strategic power [shih] is equal, one attacks ten, this is called `running [off].'148
"If the troops are strong but the officers are weak, it is termed `lax.'
"If the officers are strong but the troops weak, it is termed `sinking.'
"If the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, engaging the enemy themselves out of unrestrained anger while the general does not yet know their capability, it is termed `crumbling.'
"If the general is weak and not strict, unenlightened in his instructions and leadership; the officers and troops lack constant [duties]; and their deployment of troops into formation is askew, it is termed `chaotic.'
"If the general, unable to fathom the enemy, engages a large number with a small number, attacks the strong with the weak while the army lacks a properly selected vanguard, it is termed `routed.'
"Now these six are the Tao of defeat. Any general who undertakes responsibility for command cannot but investigate them.
"Configuration of terrain is an aid to the army. Analyzing the enemy, taking control of victory, estimating ravines and defiles, the distant and near, is the Tao of the superior general.'a9 One who knows these and employs them in combat will certainly be victorious. One who does not know these nor employ them in combat will certainly be defeated.
"If the Tao of Warfare [indicates] certain victory, even though the ruler has instructed that combat should be avoided, if you must engage in battle it is permissible. If the Tao of Warfare indicates you will not be victorious, even though the ruler instructs you to engage in battle, not fighting is permissible.
"Thus [a general] who does not advance to seek fame, nor [fail to retreat] to avoid [being charged with the capital] offense of retreating, but seeks only to preserve the people and gain advantage for the ruler is the state's treasure.
"When the general regards his troops as young children, they will advance into the deepest valleys with him. When he regards the troops as his beloved children, they will be willing to die with him. 150
"If they are well treated but cannot be employed, if they are loved but cannot be commanded, or when in chaos they cannot be governed, they may be compared to arrogant children and cannot be used.
"If I know our troops can attack, but do not know the enemy cannot be attacked, it is only halfway to victory. If I know the enemy can be attacked, but do not realize our troops cannot attack, it is only halfway to victory.
"Knowing that the enemy can be attacked, and knowing that our army can effect the attack, but not knowing the terrain is not suitable for combat, is only halfway to victory. Thus one who truly knows the army will never be deluded when he moves, never be impoverished when initiating an action.
"Thus it is said if you know them and know yourself, your victory will not be imperiled. If you know Heaven and know Earth, your victory can be com- plete."151
Sun-tzu said:
"The strategy for employing the military is [this]: There is dispersive terrain, light terrain, contentious terrain, traversable terrain, focal terrain, heavy terrain, entrapping terrain, encircled terrain, and fatal terrain.'52
"When the feudal lords fight in their own territory, it is `dispersive terrain.i153
"When they enter someone else's territory, but not deeply, it is `light sa terrain.""
"If when we occupy it, it will be advantageous to us while if they occupy it, it will be advantageous to them, it is `contentious terrain.'155
"When we can go and they can also come, it is `traversable terrain.' 156
"Land of the feudal lords surrounded on three sides such that whoever arrives first will gain the masses of All under Heaven is `focal terrain.' 157
"When one penetrates deeply into enemy territory, bypassing numerous cities, it is `heavy terrain.'158
"Where there are mountains and forests, ravines and defiles, wetlands and marshes, wherever the road is difficult to negotiate, it is 'entrapping terrain.'159
"Where the entrance is constricted, 160 the return is circuitous, and with a small number they can strike our masses, it is `encircled ter- rain.'161
"Where if one fights with intensity he will survive but if he does not fight with intensity he will perish, it is `fatal terrain.""
"For this reason on dispersive terrain do not engage the enemy.
"On light terrain do not stop.
"On contentious terrain do not attack.163
"On traversable terrain do not allow your forces to become isolated.
"On focal terrain unite and form alliances [with nearby feudal lords.] 161
"On heavy terrain plunder for provisions.
165 "On entrapping terrain move [through quickly].
"On encircled terrain use strategy.166
"On fatal terrain engage in battle.
"In antiquity those who were referred to as excelling in the employment of the army were able to keep the enemy's forward and rear forces from connecting; the many and few from relying on each other; the noble and lowly from coming to each other's rescue; the upper and lower ranks from trusting each other; the troops to be separated, unable to reassemble, or when assembled, not to be well-ordered.167 They moved when it was advantageous, halted when it was not advantageous.
"If I dare ask, if the enemy is numerous, disciplined, and about to advance, how should we respond to them? I would say, first seize something that they love for then they will listen to you.
"It is the nature of the army to stress speed; to take advantage of the enemy's absence; to travel unanticipated roads; and to attack when they are not alert.
"In general, the Tao of an invader is that when one has penetrated deeply [into enemy territory], the army will be unified, and the defenders will not be able to conquer you.
"If one forages in the fertile countryside, then the Three Armies will have enough to eat. If you carefully nurture them and do not [over-]labor them, their ch'i will be united and their strength will be at maximum.
"When you mobilize the army and form strategic plans, you must be unfathomable.
"Cast them into positions from which there is nowhere to go and they will die without retreating. If there is no escape from death, the officers and soldiers will fully exhaust their strength.
"When the soldiers and officers have penetrated deeply into [enemy territory], they will cling together. When there is no alternative, they will fight.
"For this reason even though the soldiers are not instructed, they are prepared; without seeking it, their cooperation is obtained;168 without covenants they are close together; without issuing orders they are reliable. Prohibit omens, eliminate doubt so that they will die without other thoughts.
"If our soldiers do not have excessive wealth, it is not because they detest material goods. If they do not live long lives,169 it is not because they abhor longevity. On the day that the orders are issued t
he tears of the soldiers who are sitting will soak their sleeves, while the tears of those lying down will roll down their cheeks. However, if you throw them into a hopeless situation, they will have the courage of Chu or Kuei.
"Thus one who excels at employing the army may be compared to the shuaijan [snake]. The shuaijan is found on Mt. Ch'ang. If you strike its head the tail will respond; if you strike its tail the head will respond. If you strike the middle [of the body] `0 both the head and tail will react. If I dare ask, can we make the army like the shuaijan, I would say we can. For example, the people of Wu and Yueh hate each other; but if, when fording a river in the same boat they encounter severe wind, their efforts to rescue each other will be like the left and right hands.
"For this reason fettering the horses171 and burying the chariot wheels are inadequate to rely on [to prevent the soldiers from fleeing]. Unify their courage to be as one through the Tao of administration. Realize the appropriate employment of the hard and soft172 through the patterns of terrain.
"Thus one who excels at employing the army leads them by the hand as if they were only one man, so they cannot avoid it.
"It is essential for a general to be tranquil and obscure, upright and selfdisciplined, and able to stupefy the eyes and ears of the officers and troops, keeping them ignorant. 17' He alters his management of affairs and changes his strategies to keep other people174 from recognizing them. He shifts his position and traverses indirect routes to keep other people from being able to anticipate him.
The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China Page 22
