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diff --git a/17405-0.txt b/17405-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..98ce972 --- /dev/null +++ b/17405-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1931 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Art of War, by Sunzi + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Art of War + +Author: Sunzi + +Release Date: December 28, 2005 [eBook #17405] +[Most recently updated: October 30, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ART OF WAR *** + + + + +SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR + +THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD + +Translated from the Chinese + +By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910) + + + [This is the basic text of Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War. It was + extracted from Mr. Giles’ complete work as titled above. The + commentary itself, which, of course includes this work embedded + within it, has been released as Project Gutenberg’s eBook #132.] + + +Contents + + CHAPTER I. LAYING PLANS + CHAPTER II. WAGING WAR + CHAPTER III. ATTACK BY STRATAGEM + CHAPTER IV. TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS + CHAPTER V. ENERGY + CHAPTER VI. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG + CHAPTER VII. MANŒUVERING + CHAPTER VIII. VARIATION OF TACTICS + CHAPTER IX. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH + CHAPTER X. TERRAIN + CHAPTER XI. THE NINE SITUATIONS + CHAPTER XII. THE ATTACK BY FIRE + CHAPTER XIII. THE USE OF SPIES + + + + +I. LAYING PLANS + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State. + +2. 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. + +3. 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. + +4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The +Commander; (5) Method and discipline. + +5, 6. _The Moral Law_ causes the people to be in complete accord with +their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, +undismayed by any danger. + +7. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons. + +8. Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; +open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death. + +9. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, +benevolence, courage and strictness. + +10. By _Method and discipline_ are to be understood the marshalling of +the army in its proper subdivisions, the gradations of rank among the +officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the +army, and the control of military expenditure. + +11. These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows +them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail. + +12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the +military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in +this wise:— + +13. (1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law? +(2) Which of the two generals has most ability? +(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth? +(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced? +(5) Which army is the stronger? +(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained? +(7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and +punishment? + +14. By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or +defeat. + +15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will +conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that +hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:—let +such a one be dismissed! + +16. While heeding the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any +helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules. + +17. According as circumstances are favourable, one should modify one’s +plans. + +18. All warfare is based on deception. + +19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our +forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy +believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are +near. + +20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. + +21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in +superior strength, evade him. + +22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. +Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. + +23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are +united, separate them. + +24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not +expected. + +25. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged +beforehand. + +26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his +temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes +but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to +victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation +at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is +likely to win or lose. + + + + +II. WAGING WAR + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: In the operations of war, where there are in the field +a thousand swift chariots, as many heavy chariots, and a hundred +thousand mail-clad soldiers, with provisions enough to carry them a +thousand _li_, the expenditure at home and at the front, including +entertainment of guests, small items such as glue and paint, and sums +spent on chariots and armour, will reach the total of a thousand ounces +of silver per day. Such is the cost of raising an army of 100,000 men. + +2. 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. + +3. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State +will not be equal to the strain. + +4. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardour damped, your strength +exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to +take advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will be +able to avert the consequences that must ensue. + +5. Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has +never been seen associated with long delays. + +6. There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged +warfare. + +7. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war +that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on. + +8. The skilful soldier does not raise a second levy, neither are his +supply-waggons loaded more than twice. + +9. Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus +the army will have food enough for its needs. + +10. Poverty of the State exchequer causes an army to be maintained by +contributions from a distance. Contributing to maintain an army at a +distance causes the people to be impoverished. + +11. 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. + +12. When their substance is drained away, the peasantry will be +afflicted by heavy exactions. + +13, 14. With this loss of substance and exhaustion of strength, the +homes of the people will be stripped bare, and three-tenths of their +incomes will be dissipated; while Government expenses for broken +chariots, worn-out horses, breast-plates and helmets, bows and arrows, +spears and shields, protective mantlets, draught-oxen and heavy +waggons, will amount to four-tenths of its total revenue. + +15. Hence a wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One +cartload of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of one’s +own, and likewise a single picul of his provender is equivalent to +twenty from one’s own store. + +16. Now in order to kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger; +that there may be advantage from defeating the enemy, they must have +their rewards. + +17. Therefore in chariot fighting, when ten or more chariots have been +taken, those should be rewarded who took the first. Our own flags +should be substituted for those of the enemy, and the chariots mingled +and used in conjunction with ours. The captured soldiers should be +kindly treated and kept. + +18. This is called, using the conquered foe to augment one’s own +strength. + +19. In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy +campaigns. + +20. Thus it may be known that the leader of armies is the arbiter of +the people’s fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall +be in peace or in peril. + + + + +III. ATTACK BY STRATAGEM + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is +to take the enemy’s country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it +is not so good. So, too, it is better to capture an army entire than to +destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire +than to destroy them. + +2. Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme +excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s +resistance without fighting. + +3. Thus the highest form of generalship is to baulk the enemy’s plans; +the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy’s forces; the +next in order is to attack the enemy’s army in the field; and the worst +policy of all is to besiege walled cities. + +4. The rule is, not to besiege walled cities if it can possibly be +avoided. The preparation of mantlets, movable shelters, and various +implements of war, will take up three whole months; and the piling up +of mounds over against the walls will take three months more. + +5. The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his men +to the assault like swarming ants, with the result that one-third of +his men are slain, while the town still remains untaken. Such are the +disastrous effects of a siege. + +6. Therefore the skilful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any +fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he +overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field. + +7. With his forces intact he will dispute the mastery of the Empire, +and thus, without losing a man, his triumph will be complete. This is +the method of attacking by stratagem. + +8. It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy’s one, to +surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to +divide our army into two. + +9. If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in +numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can +flee from him. + +10. Hence, though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, in +the end it must be captured by the larger force. + +11. Now the general is the bulwark of the State: if the bulwark is +complete at all points; the State will be strong; if the bulwark is +defective, the State will be weak. + +12. There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his +army:— + +13. (1) By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant +of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army. + +14. (2) 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. + +15. (3) By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, +through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to +circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers. + +16. But when the army is restless and distrustful, trouble is sure to +come from the other feudal princes. This is simply bringing anarchy +into the army, and flinging victory away. + +17. Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: +(1) He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. +(2) He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior +forces. +(3) He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout +all its ranks. +(4) He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy +unprepared. +(5) He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by +the sovereign. +Victory lies in the knowledge of these five points. + +18. Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need +not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not +the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If +you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every +battle. + + + + +IV. TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond +the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of +defeating the enemy. + +2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the +opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. + +3. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but +cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. + +4. Hence the saying: One may _know_ how to conquer without being able +to _do_ it. + +5. Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat +the enemy means taking the offensive. + +6. Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; +attacking, a superabundance of strength. + +7. The general who is skilled in defence hides in the most secret +recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from +the topmost heights of heaven. Thus on the one hand we have ability to +protect ourselves; on the other, a victory that is complete. + +8. To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is +not the acme of excellence. + +9. Neither is it the acme of excellence if you fight and conquer and +the whole Empire says, “Well done!” + +10. To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength; to see sun and +moon is no sign of sharp sight; to hear the noise of thunder is no sign +of a quick ear. + +11. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, +but excels in winning with ease. + +12. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor +credit for courage. + +13. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is +what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an +enemy that is already defeated. + +14. Hence the skilful fighter puts himself into a position which makes +defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the +enemy. + +15. 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. + +16. The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly +adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control +success. + +17. In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; +secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, +Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory. + +18. Measurement owes its existence to Earth; Estimation of quantity to +Measurement; Calculation to Estimation of quantity; Balancing of +chances to Calculation; and Victory to Balancing of chances. + +19. A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as a pound’s weight +placed in the scale against a single grain. + +20. The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up +waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep. So much for tactical +dispositions. + + + + +V. ENERGY + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: The control of a large force is the same principle as +the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their +numbers. + +2. Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different +from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting +signs and signals. + +3. To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the +enemy’s attack and remain unshaken—this is effected by manœuvers direct +and indirect. + +4. That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against +an egg—this is effected by the science of weak points and strong. + +5. In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, +but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. + +6. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible 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. + +7. There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of +these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. + +8. There are not more than five primary colours (blue, yellow, red, +white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can +ever be seen. + +9. 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. + +10. 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. + +11. The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is +like moving in a circle—you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the +possibilities of their combination? + +12. The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even +roll stones along in its course. + +13. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon +which enables it to strike and destroy its victim. + +14. Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and +prompt in his decision. + +15. Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to +the releasing of the trigger. + +16. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming +disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, +your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against +defeat. + +17. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear +postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength. + +18. Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of +subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a +fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected +by tactical dispositions. + +19. Thus one who is skilful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains +deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He +sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it. + +20. By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body +of picked men he lies in wait for him. + +21. The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and +does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick +out the right men and utilise combined energy. + +22. When he utilises combined energy, his fighting men become as it +were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or +stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a +slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped, +to go rolling down. + +23. Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum +of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So +much on the subject of energy. + + + + +VI. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of +the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field +and has to hasten to battle, will arrive exhausted. + +2. Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but +does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him. + +3. By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach +of his own accord; or, by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible +for the enemy to draw near. + +4. If the enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him; if well supplied +with food, he can starve him out; if quietly encamped, he can force him +to move. + +5. Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march +swiftly to places where you are not expected. + +6. An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches +through country where the enemy is not. + +7. You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack +places which are undefended.You can ensure the safety of your defence +if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. + +8. Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know +what to defend; and he is skilful in defence whose opponent does not +know what to attack. + +9. O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be +invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy’s +fate in our hands. + +10. You may advance and be absolutely irresistible, if you make for the +enemy’s weak points; you may retire and be safe from pursuit if your +movements are more rapid than those of the enemy. + +11. If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even +though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we +need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve. + +12. 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. + +13. By discovering the enemy’s dispositions and remaining invisible +ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated, while the enemy’s must +be divided. + +14. We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up +into fractions. Hence there will be a whole pitted against separate +parts of a whole, which means that we shall be many to the enemy’s few. + +15. And if we are able thus to attack an inferior force with a superior +one, our opponents will be in dire straits. + +16. The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then +the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several +different points; and his forces being thus distributed in many +directions, the numbers we shall have to face at any given point will +be proportionately few. + +17. For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; +should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he +strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his +right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, +he will everywhere be weak. + +18. Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible +attacks; numerical strength, from compelling our adversary to make +these preparations against us. + +19. Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may +concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight. + +20. But if neither time nor place be known, then the left wing will be +impotent to succour the right, the right equally impotent to succour +the left, the van unable to relieve the rear, or the rear to support +the van. How much more so if the furthest portions of the army are +anything under a hundred _li_ apart, and even the nearest are separated +by several _li!_ + +21. 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. + +22. Though the enemy be stronger in numbers, we may prevent him from +fighting. Scheme so as to discover his plans and the likelihood of +their success. + +23. Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. +Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots. + +24. Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may +know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient. + +25. In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain +is to conceal them; conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe +from the prying of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the +wisest brains. + +26. How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy’s own +tactics—that is what the multitude cannot comprehend. + +27. All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can +see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. + +28. Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but +let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances. + +29. Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural +course runs away from high places and hastens downwards. + +30. So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what +is weak. + +31. Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over +which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the +foe whom he is facing. + +32. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare +there are no constant conditions. + +33. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and +thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain. + +34. The five elements (water, fire, wood, metal, earth) are not always +equally predominant; the four seasons make way for each other in turn. +There are short days and long; the moon has its periods of waning and +waxing. + + + + +VII. MANŒUVERING + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: In war, the general receives his commands from the +sovereign. + +2. Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blend +and harmonise the different elements thereof before pitching his camp. + +3. After that, comes tactical manœuvering, than which there is nothing +more difficult. The difficulty of tactical manœuvering consists in +turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain. + +4. Thus, to take a long and circuitous route, after enticing the enemy +out of the way, and though starting after him, to contrive to reach the +goal before him, shows knowledge of the artifice of _deviation_. + +5. Manœuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined +multitude, most dangerous. + +6. If you set a fully equipped army in march in order to snatch an +advantage, the chances are that you will be too late. On the other +hand, to detach a flying column for the purpose involves the sacrifice +of its baggage and stores. + +7. Thus, if you order your men to roll up their buff-coats, and make +forced marches without halting day or night, covering double the usual +distance at a stretch, doing a hundred _li_ in order to wrest an +advantage, the leaders of all your three divisions will fall into the +hands of the enemy. + +8. The stronger men will be in front, the jaded ones will fall behind, +and on this plan only one-tenth of your army will reach its +destination. + +9. If you march fifty _li_ in order to outmanœuver the enemy, you will +lose the leader of your first division, and only half your force will +reach the goal. + +10. If you march thirty _li_ with the same object, two-thirds of your +army will arrive. + +11. We may take it then that an army without its baggage-train is lost; +without provisions it is lost; without bases of supply it is lost. + +12. We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the +designs of our neighbours. + +13. We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar +with the face of the country—its mountains and forests, its pitfalls +and precipices, its marshes and swamps. + +14. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we +make use of local guides. + +15. In war, practise dissimulation, and you will succeed. Move only if +there is a real advantage to be gained. + +16. Whether to concentrate or to divide your troops, must be decided by +circumstances. + +17. Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the +forest. + +18. In raiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability like a +mountain. + +19. Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you +move, fall like a thunderbolt. + +20. When you plunder a countryside, let the spoil be divided amongst +your men; when you capture new territory, cut it up into allotments for +the benefit of the soldiery. + +21. Ponder and deliberate before you make a move. + +22. He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation. Such is +the art of manœuvering. + +23. The Book of Army Management says: On the field of battle, the +spoken word does not carry far enough: hence the institution of gongs +and drums. Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly enough: hence the +institution of banners and flags. + +24. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and +eyes of the host may be focussed on one particular point. + +25. The host thus forming a single united body, is it impossible either +for the brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone. +This is the art of handling large masses of men. + +26. In night-fighting, then, make much use of signal-fires and drums, +and in fighting by day, of flags and banners, as a means of influencing +the ears and eyes of your army. + +27. A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may +be robbed of his presence of mind. + +28. Now a soldier’s spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has +begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is bent only on returning +to camp. + +29. A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is +keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This +is the art of studying moods. + +30. Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder and +hubbub amongst the enemy:—this is the art of retaining self-possession. + +31. 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. + +32. To refrain from intercepting an enemy whose banners are in perfect +order, to refrain from attacking an army drawn up in calm and confident +array:—this is the art of studying circumstances. + +33. It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor +to oppose him when he comes downhill. + +34. Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight; do not attack soldiers +whose temper is keen. + +35. Do not swallow a bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with +an army that is returning home. + +36. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a +desperate foe too hard. + +37. Such is the art of warfare. + + + + +VIII. VARIATION OF TACTICS + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: In war, the general receives his commands from the +sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces. + +2. 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. In hemmed-in situations, you must +resort to stratagem. In a desperate position, you must fight. + +3. There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not +attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be +contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed. + +4. The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany +variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops. + +5. The general who does not understand these, may be well acquainted +with the configuration of the country, yet he will not be able to turn +his knowledge to practical account. + +6. 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. + +7. Hence in the wise leader’s plans, considerations of advantage and of +disadvantage will be blended together. + +8. If our expectation of advantage be tempered in this way, we may +succeed in accomplishing the essential part of our schemes. + +9. If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always +ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from +misfortune. + +10. Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them; and make +trouble for them, and keep them constantly engaged; hold out specious +allurements, and make them rush to any given point. + +11. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the +enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the +chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made +our position unassailable. + +12. There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: +(1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction; +(2) cowardice, which leads to capture; +(3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; +(4) a delicacy of honour which is sensitive to shame; +(5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and +trouble. + +13. These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinous to the +conduct of war. + +14. When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause will +surely be found among these five dangerous faults. Let them be a +subject of meditation. + + + + +IX. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: We come now to the question of encamping the army, and +observing signs of the enemy. Pass quickly over mountains, and keep in +the neighbourhood of valleys. + +2. Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order +to fight. So much for mountain warfare. + +3. After crossing a river, you should get far away from it. + +4. 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. + +5. If you are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invader +near a river which he has to cross. + +6. Moor your craft higher up than the enemy, and facing the sun. Do not +move up-stream to meet the enemy. So much for river warfare. + +7. In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over +them quickly, without any delay. + +8. If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass +near you, and get your back to a clump of trees. So much for operations +in salt-marshes. + +9. In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible position with +rising ground to your right and on your rear, so that the danger may be +in front, and safety lie behind. So much for campaigning in flat +country. + +10. These are the four useful branches of military knowledge which +enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several sovereigns. + +11. All armies prefer high ground to low, and sunny places to dark. + +12. If you are careful of your men, and camp on hard ground, the army +will be free from disease of every kind, and this will spell victory. + +13. 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. + +14. When, in consequence of heavy rains up-country, a river which you +wish to ford is swollen and flecked with foam, you must wait until it +subsides. + +15. Country in which there are precipitous cliffs with torrents running +between, deep natural hollows, confined places, tangled thickets, +quagmires and crevasses, should be left with all possible speed and not +approached. + +16. While we keep away from such places, we should get the enemy to +approach them; while we face them, we should let the enemy have them on +his rear. + +17. If in the neighbourhood of your camp there should be any hilly +country, ponds surrounded by aquatic grass, hollow basins filled with +reeds, or woods with thick undergrowth, they must be carefully routed +out and searched; for these are places where men in ambush or insidious +spies are likely to be lurking. + +18. When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on +the natural strength of his position. + +19. When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious +for the other side to advance. + +20. If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a +bait. + +21. Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the enemy is +advancing. The appearance of a number of screens in the midst of thick +grass means that the enemy wants to make us suspicious. + +22. The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. +Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming. + +23. When there is dust rising in a high column, it is the sign of +chariots advancing; when the dust is low, but spread over a wide area, +it betokens the approach of infantry. When it branches out in different +directions, it shows that parties have been sent to collect firewood. A +few clouds of dust moving to and fro signify that the army is +encamping. + +24. Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is +about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the +attack are signs that he will retreat. + +25. When the light chariots come out first and take up a position on +the wings, it is a sign that the enemy is forming for battle. + +26. Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot. + +27. When there is much running about and the soldiers fall into rank, +it means that the critical moment has come. + +28. When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure. + +29. When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint +from want of food. + +30. If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, +the army is suffering from thirst. + +31. If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to +secure it, the soldiers are exhausted. + +32. If birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. Clamour by night +betokens nervousness. + +33. If there is disturbance in the camp, the general’s authority is +weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If +the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary. + +34. When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for +food, and when the men do not hang their cooking-pots over the +camp-fires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you may +know that they are determined to fight to the death. + +35. The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in +subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file. + +36. Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his +resources; too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress. + +37. To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy’s +numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence. + +38. When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign +that the enemy wishes for a truce. + +39. If the enemy’s troops march up angrily and remain facing ours for a +long time without either joining battle or taking themselves off again, +the situation is one that demands great vigilance and circumspection. + +40. If our troops are no more in number than the enemy, that is amply +sufficient; it only means that no direct attack can be made. What we +can do is simply to concentrate all our available strength, keep a +close watch on the enemy, and obtain reinforcements. + +41. He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is +sure to be captured by them. + +42. If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, +they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be +practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, +punishments are not enforced, they will still be useless. + +43. Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with +humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. This is a +certain road to victory. + +44. If in training soldiers commands are habitually enforced, the army +will be well-disciplined; if not, its discipline will be bad. + +45. If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his +orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual. + + + + +X. TERRAIN + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit: (1) +Accessible ground; (2) entangling ground; (3) temporising ground; (4) +narrow passes; (5) precipitous heights; (6) positions at a great +distance from the enemy. + +2. Ground which can be freely traversed by both sides is called +_accessible_. + +3. 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. Then you will be able to fight with advantage. + +4. Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called +_entangling_. + +5. From a position of this sort, if the enemy is unprepared, you may +sally forth and defeat him. But if the enemy is prepared for your +coming, and you fail to defeat him, then, return being impossible, +disaster will ensue. + +6. When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the +first move, it is called temporising ground. + +7. In a position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us an +attractive bait, it will be advisable not to stir forth, but rather to +retreat, thus enticing the enemy in his turn; then, when part of his +army has come out, we may deliver our attack with advantage. + +8. With regard to _narrow passes_, if you can occupy them first, let +them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy. + +9. Should the enemy forestall you in occupying a pass, do not go after +him if the pass is fully garrisoned, but only if it is weakly +garrisoned. + +10. 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. + +11. If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but +retreat and try to entice him away. + +12. 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, and fighting will be to your disadvantage. + +13. These six are the principles connected with Earth. The general who +has attained a responsible post must be careful to study them. + +14. 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. + +15. Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against +another ten times its size, the result will be the _flight_ of the +former. + +16. When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too +weak, the result is _insubordination_. When the officers are too strong +and the common soldiers too weak, the result is _collapse_. + +17. When the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, and on +meeting the enemy give battle on their own account from a feeling of +resentment, before the commander-in-chief can tell whether or no he is +in a position to fight, the result is _ruin_. + +18. When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are +not clear and distinct; when there are no fixed duties assigned to +officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard +manner, the result is utter _disorganisation_. + +19. When a general, unable to estimate the enemy’s strength, allows an +inferior force to engage a larger one, or hurls a weak detachment +against a powerful one, and neglects to place picked soldiers in the +front rank, the result must be a _rout_. + +20. These are six ways of courting defeat, which must be carefully +noted by the general who has attained a responsible post. + +21. The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally; +but a power of estimating the adversary, of controlling the forces of +victory, and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers and +distances, constitutes the test of a great general. + +22. He who knows these things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into +practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practises +them, will surely be defeated. + +23. 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. + +24. The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without +fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do +good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom. + +25. Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you +into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and +they will stand by you even unto death. + +26. If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority +felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, +moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to +spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose. + +27. 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. + +28. If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that +our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway +towards victory. + +29. 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. + +30. Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; +once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss. + +31. Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, your +victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you +may make your victory complete. + + + + +XI. THE NINE SITUATIONS + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: The art of war recognises nine varieties of ground: +(1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground; (4) +open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6) serious ground; +(7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9) desperate ground. + +2. When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive +ground. + +3. When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to no great +distance, it is facile ground. + +4. Ground the possession of which imports great advantage to either +side, is contentious ground. + +5. Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is open ground. + +6. Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states, so that he +who occupies it first has most of the Empire at his command, is ground +of intersecting highways. + +7. When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country, +leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it is serious ground. + +8. Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens—all country that +is hard to traverse: this is difficult ground. + +9. Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from which we can +only retire by tortuous paths, so that a small number of the enemy +would suffice to crush a large body of our men: this is hemmed in +ground. + +10. Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting +without delay, is desperate ground. + +11. On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt +not. On contentious ground, attack not. + +12. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy’s way. On ground of +intersecting highways, join hands with your allies. + +13. On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep +steadily on the march. + +14. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, +fight. + +15. Those who were called skilful leaders of old knew how to drive a +wedge between the enemy’s front and rear; to prevent co-operation +between his large and small divisions; to hinder the good troops from +rescuing the bad, the officers from rallying their men. + +16. When the enemy’s men were scattered, they prevented them from +concentrating; even when their forces were united, they managed to keep +them in disorder. + +17. When it was to their advantage, they made a forward move; when +otherwise, they stopped still. + +18. If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly +array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: “Begin +by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be +amenable to your will.” + +19. Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy’s +unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded +spots. + +20. The following are the principles to be observed by an invading +force: The further you penetrate into a country, the greater will be +the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders will not prevail +against you. + +21. Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your army with +food. + +22. Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not overtax +them. Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army +continually on the move, and devise unfathomable plans. + +23. Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and +they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is +nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forth +their uttermost strength. + +24. Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there +is no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they are in the heart +of a hostile country, they will show a stubborn front. If there is no +help for it, they will fight hard. + +25. Thus, without waiting to be marshalled, the soldiers will be +constantly on the _qui vive;_ without waiting to be asked, they will do +your will; without restrictions, they will be faithful; without giving +orders, they can be trusted. + +26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious +doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared. + +27. 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. + +28. On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep, +those sitting up bedewing their garments, and those lying down letting +the tears run down their cheeks. But let them once be brought to bay, +and they will display the courage of a Chu or a Kuei. + +29. The skilful tactician may be likened to the _shuai-jan_. Now the +_shuai-jan_ is a snake that is found in the Ch‘ang mountains. Strike at +its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and +you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be +attacked by head and tail both. + +30. Asked if an army can be made to imitate the _shuai-jan_, I should +answer, Yes. For the men of Wu and the men of Yüeh are enemies; yet if +they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, +they will come to each other’s assistance just as the left hand helps +the right. + +31. Hence it is not enough to put one’s trust in the tethering of +horses, and the burying of chariot wheels in the ground. + +32. The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard +of courage which all must reach. + +33. How to make the best of both strong and weak—that is a question +involving the proper use of ground. + +34. Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were +leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand. + +35. It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure +secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order. + +36. He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports +and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance. + +37. By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, he keeps the +enemy without definite knowledge. By shifting his camp and taking +circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose. + +38. At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has +climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. He +carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his hand. + +39. He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherd +driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that, and none +knows whither he is going. + +40. To muster his host and bring it into danger:—this may be termed the +business of the general. + +41. The different measures suited to the nine varieties of ground; the +expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics; and the fundamental laws +of human nature: these are things that must most certainly be studied. + +42. When invading hostile territory, the general principle is, that +penetrating deeply brings cohesion; penetrating but a short way means +dispersion. + +43. When you leave your own country behind, and take your army across +neighbourhood territory, you find yourself on critical ground. When +there are means of communication on all four sides, the ground is one +of intersecting highways. + +44. When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious ground. +When you penetrate but a little way, it is facile ground. + +45. When you have the enemy’s strongholds on your rear, and narrow +passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground. When there is no place of +refuge at all, it is desperate ground. + +46. Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspire my men with unity +of purpose. On facile ground, I would see that there is close +connection between all parts of my army. + +47. On contentious ground, I would hurry up my rear. + +48. On open ground, I would keep a vigilant eye on my defences. On +ground of intersecting highways, I would consolidate my alliances. + +49. On serious ground, I would try to ensure a continuous stream of +supplies. On difficult ground, I would keep pushing on along the road. + +50. On hemmed-in ground, I would block any way of retreat. On desperate +ground, I would proclaim to my soldiers the hopelessness of saving +their lives. + +51. For it is the soldier’s disposition to offer an obstinate +resistance when surrounded, to fight hard when he cannot help himself, +and to obey promptly when he has fallen into danger. + +52. We cannot enter into alliance with neighbouring princes until we +are acquainted with their designs. We are not fit to lead an army on +the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country—its +mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and +swamps. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless +we make use of local guides. + +53. To be ignorant of any one of the following four or five principles +does not befit a warlike prince. + +54. When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, his generalship +shows itself in preventing the concentration of the enemy’s forces. He +overawes his opponents, and their allies are prevented from joining +against him. + +55. Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and sundry, nor +does he foster the power of other states. He carries out his own secret +designs, keeping his antagonists in awe. Thus he is able to capture +their cities and overthrow their kingdoms. + +56. Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard +to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole army +as though you had to do with but a single man. + +57. Confront your soldiers with the deed itself; never let them know +your design. When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; +but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy. + +58. Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it +into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety. + +59. For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm’s way that is +capable of striking a blow for victory. + +60. Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves +to the enemy’s purpose. + +61. By persistently hanging on the enemy’s flank, we shall succeed in +the long run in killing the commander-in-chief. + +62. This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer cunning. + +63. On the day that you take up your command, block the frontier +passes, destroy the official tallies, and stop the passage of all +emissaries. + +64. Be stern in the council-chamber, so that you may control the +situation. + +65. If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in. + +66. Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtly +contrive to time his arrival on the ground. + +67. Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate yourself to the +enemy until you can fight a decisive battle. + +68. At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy +gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running +hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you. + + + + +XII. THE ATTACK BY FIRE + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: There are five ways of attacking with fire. The first +is to burn soldiers in their camp; the second is to burn stores; the +third is to burn baggage-trains; the fourth is to burn arsenals and +magazines; the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy. + +2. In order to carry out an attack, we must have means available. The +material for raising fire should always be kept in readiness. + +3. There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and special +days for starting a conflagration. + +4. The proper season is when the weather is very dry; the special days +are those when the moon is in the constellations of the Sieve, the +Wall, the Wing or the Cross-bar; for these four are all days of rising +wind. + +5. In attacking with fire, one should be prepared to meet five possible +developments: + +6. (1) When fire breaks out inside the enemy’s camp, respond at once +with an attack from without. + +7. (2) If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy’s soldiers remain +quiet, bide your time and do not attack. + +8. (3) When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it +up with an attack, if that is practicable; if not, stay where you are. + +9. (4) 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. + +10. (5) When you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from +the leeward. + +11. A wind that rises in the daytime lasts long, but a night breeze +soon falls. + +12. In every army, the five developments connected with fire must be +known, the movements of the stars calculated, and a watch kept for the +proper days. + +13. Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence; +those who use water as an aid to the attack gain an accession of +strength. + +14. By means of water, an enemy may be intercepted, but not robbed of +all his belongings. + +15. 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. + +16. Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; +the good general cultivates his resources. + +17. Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless +there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is +critical. + +18. No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own +spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique. + +19. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where +you are. + +20. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by +content. + +21. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again +into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. + +22. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full +of caution. This is the way to keep a country at peace and an army +intact. + + + + +XIII. THE USE OF SPIES + + +1. Sun Tzŭ said: Raising a host of a hundred thousand men and marching +them great distances entails heavy loss on the people and a drain on +the resources of the State. The daily expenditure will amount to a +thousand ounces of silver. There will be commotion at home and abroad, +and men will drop down exhausted on the highways. As many as seven +hundred thousand families will be impeded in their labor. + +2. 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, is the +height of inhumanity. + +3. One who acts thus is no leader of men, no present help to his +sovereign, no master of victory. + +4. Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike +and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is +_foreknowledge_. + +5. Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot be +obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation. + +6. Knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions can only be obtained from +other men. + +7. Hence the use of spies, of whom there are five classes: (1) Local +spies; (2) inward spies; (3) converted spies; (4) doomed spies; (5) +surviving spies. + +8. When these five kinds of spy are all at work, none can discover the +secret system. This is called “divine manipulation of the threads.” It +is the sovereign’s most precious faculty. + +9. Having _local spies_ means employing the services of the inhabitants +of a district. + +10. Having _inward spies_, making use of officials of the enemy. + +11. Having _converted spies_, getting hold of the enemy’s spies and +using them for our own purposes. + +12. Having _doomed spies_, doing certain things openly for purposes of +deception, and allowing our own spies to know of them and report them +to the enemy. + +13. _Surviving spies_, finally, are those who bring back news from the +enemy’s camp. + +14. Hence it is that with none in the whole army are more intimate +relations to be maintained than with spies. None should be more +liberally rewarded. In no other business should greater secrecy be +preserved. + +15. Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive +sagacity. + +16. They cannot be properly managed without benevolence and +straightforwardness. + +17. Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the +truth of their reports. + +18. Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of +business. + +19. 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. + +20. Whether the object be to crush an army, to storm a city, or to +assassinate an individual, it is always necessary to begin by finding +out the names of the attendants, the aides-de-camp, the door-keepers +and sentries of the general in command. Our spies must be commissioned +to ascertain these. + +21. 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. + +22. It is through the information brought by the converted spy that we +are able to acquire and employ local and inward spies. + +23. It is owing to his information, again, that we can cause the doomed +spy to carry false tidings to the enemy. + +24. Lastly, it is by his information that the surviving spy can be used +on appointed occasions. + +25. The end and aim of spying in all its five varieties is knowledge of +the enemy; and this knowledge can only be derived, in the first +instance, from the converted spy. Hence it is essential that the +converted spy be treated with the utmost liberality. + +26. Of old, the rise of the Yin dynasty was due to I Chih who had +served under the Hsia. Likewise, the rise of the Chou dynasty was due +to Lü Ya who had served under the Yin. + +27. Hence it is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who +will use the highest intelligence of the army for purposes of spying +and thereby they achieve great results. Spies are a most important +element in war, because on them depends an army’s ability to move. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ART OF WAR *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. 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