LongbeforeJoelBarker,StephenCovey,andBillGatestherewasSunTzu.Forover2000yearsthewritingsofSunTzuWuhavebeenstudiedbythemilitaryminded.Justrecentlytheyhavebeenappliedtobusiness.Itiswiththisapplicationthattheinformationreachesitshighestvalue.Knowledgeispower.

TheArtofWarisareflectionconcerningreactionstomovesandcounter-movesofopposingforces.BusinessesandorganizationsnowrepresenttheopposingforcesandthereisnolongerbloodshedinvolvedinourthinkingoftheArtofWarphilosophy,unlessyouconsidermoneypaperblood.PleaseEnjoy.

TheArtofWar

Chapter1:Estimates

Warisamatterofvitalimportancetothestate;amatteroflifeordeath,theroadeithertosurvivalortoruin.Hence,itisimperativethatitbestudiedthoroughly.

Therefore,appraiseitintermsofthefivefundamentalfactorsandmakecomparisonsofthevariousconditionsoftheantagonisticsidesinordertoascertaintheresultsofawar.Thefirstofthesefactorsispolitics;thesecond,weather;thethird,terrain;thefourth,thecommander;andthefifth,doctrine.Politicsmeansthethingwhichcausesthepeopletobeinharmonywiththeirrulersothattheywillfollowhimindisregardoftheirlivesandwithoutfearofanydanger.Weathersignifiesnightandday,coldandheat,finedaysandrain,andchangeofseasons.Terrainmeansdistances,andreferstowhetherthegroundistraversedwitheaseordifficultyandtowhetheritisopenorconstricted,andinfluencesyourchancesoflifeordeath.Thecommanderstandsforthegeneral'squalitiesofwisdom,sincerity,benevolence,courage,andstrictness.Doctrineistobeunderstoodastheorganizationofthearmy,thegradationsofrankamongtheofficers,theregulationsofsupplyroutes,andtheprovisionofmilitarymaterialstothearmy.

Thesefivefundamentalfactorsarefamiliartoeverygeneral.Thosewhomasterthemwin;thosewhodonotaredefeated.Therefore,inlayingplans,comparethefollowingsevenelements,appraisingthemwiththeutmostcare.

Whichruleriswiseandmoreable?

Whichcommanderismoretalented?

Whicharmyobtainstheadvantagesofnatureandtheterrain?

Inwhicharmyareregulationsandinstructionsbettercarriedout?

Whichtroopsarestronger?

Whicharmyhasthebetter-trainedofficersandmen?

Whicharmyadministersrewardsandpunishmentsinamoreenlightenedandcorrectway?

Bymeansofthesesevenelements,Ishallbeabletoforecastwhichsidewillbevictoriousandwhichwillbedefeated.

Thegeneralwhoheedsmycounselissuretowin.Suchageneralshouldberetainedincommand.Onewhoignoresmycounseliscertaintobedefeated.Suchaoneshouldbedismissed.

Havingpaidattentiontomycounselandplans,thegeneralmustcreateasituationwhichwillcontributetotheiraccomplishment.By"situation"Imeanheshouldtakethefieldsituationintoconsiderationandactinaccordancewithwhatisadvantageous.

Allwarfareisbasedondeception.Therefore,whencapableofattacking,feignincapacity;whenactiveinmovingtroops,feigninactivity.Whenneartheenemy,makeitseemthatyouarefaraway;whenfaraway,makeitseemthatyouarenear.Holdoutbaitstoluretheenemy.Striketheenemywhenheisindisorder.Prepareagainsttheenemywhenheissecureatallpoints.Avoidtheenemyforthetimebeingwhenheisstronger.Ifyouropponentisofcholerictemper,trytoirritatehim.Ifheisarrogant,trytoencouragehisegotism.Iftheenemytroopsarewellpreparedafterreorganization,trytowearthemdown.Iftheyareunited,trytosowdissensionamongthem.Attacktheenemywhereheisunprepared,andappearwhereyouarenotexpected.Thesearethekeystovictoryforastrategist.Itisnotpossibletoformulatethemindetailbeforehand.

Now,iftheestimatesmadebeforeabattleindicatevictory,itisbecausecarefulcalculationsshowthatyourconditionsaremorefavorablethanthoseofyourenemy;iftheyindicatedefeat,itisbecausecarefulcalculationsshowthatfavorableconditionsforabattlearefewer.Withmorecarefulcalculations,onecanwin;withless,onecannot.Howmuchlesschanceofvictoryhasonewhomakesnocalculationsatall!Bythismeans,onecanforeseetheoutcomeofabattle.

Chapter2:WagingWar

Inoperationsofwar-whenonethousandfastfour-horsechariotsonethousandheavychariots,andonethousandmail-cladsoldiersarerequired;whenprovisionsaretransportedforathousandli;whenthereareexpendituresathomeandatthefront,andstipendsforentertainmentofenvoysandadvisers-thecostofmaterialssuchasglueandlacquer,andofchariotsandarmor,willamounttoonethousandpiecesofgoldaday.Onehundredthousandtroopsmaybedispatchedonlywhenthismoneyisinhand.

Aspeedyvictoryisthemainobjectinwar.Ifthisislongincoming,weaponsarebluntedandmoraledepressed.Iftroopsareattackingcities,theirstrengthwillbeexhausted.Whenthearmyengagesinprotractedcampaigns,theresourcesofthestatewillfallshort.Whenyourweaponsaredulledandardordampened,yourstrengthexhaustedandtreasurespent,thechieftainsoftheneighboringstateswilltakeadvantageofyourcrisistoact.Inthatcase,noman,howeverwise,willbeabletoavertthedisastrousconsequencesthatensue.Thus,whilewehaveheardofstupidhasteinwar,wehavenotyetseenacleveroperationthatwasprolonged.fortherehasneverbeenaprotractedwarwhichbenefitedacountry.Therefore,thoseunabletounderstandtheevilsinherentinemployingtroopsareequallyunabletounderstandtheadvantageouswaysofdoingso.

Thoseadeptinwagingwardonotrequireasecondlevyofconscriptsormorethattwoprovisionings.Theycarrymilitaryequipmentfromthehomeland,butrelyontheenemyforprovisions.Thus,thearmyisplentifullyprovidedwithfood.

Whenacountryisimpoverishedbymilitaryoperations,itisduetodistanttransportation;carryingsuppliesforgreatdistancesrendersthepeopledestitute.Wheretroopsaregathered,pricesgoup.Whenpricesrise,thewealthofthepeopleisdrainedaway.Whenwealthisdrainedaway,thepeoplewillbeafflictedwithurgentandheavyexactions.Withthislossofwealthandexhaustionofstrength,thehouseholdsinthecountrywillbeextremelypoorandseven-tenthsoftheirwealthdissipated.Astogovernmentexpenditures,thoseduetobroken-downchariots,worn-outhorses,armorandhelmets,bowsandarrows,spearsandshields,protectivemantlets,draftoxen,andwagonswillamountto60percentofthetotal.

Hence,awisegeneralseestoitthathistroopsfeedontheenemy,foronezhongoftheenemy'sprovisionsisequivalenttotwentyofone'sownandoneshioftheenemy'sfoddertotwentyshiofone'sown.

Inordertomakethesoldierscourageousinovercomingtheenemy,theymustberousedtoanger.Inordertocapturemorebootyfromtheenemy,soldiersmusthavetheirrewards.

Therefore,inchariotfightingwhenmorethantenchariotsarecaptured,rewardthosewhotakethefirst.Replacetheenemy'sflagsandbannerswithyouown,mixthecapturedchariotswithyours,andmountthem.Treattheprisonersofwarwell,andcareforthem.Thisiscalled"winningabattleandbecomingstronger."

Hence,whatisvaluedinwarisvictory,notprolongedoperations.Andthegeneralwhounderstandshowtoemploytroopsistheministerofthepeople'sfateandarbiterofthenation'sdestiny.

Chapter3:OffensiveStrategy

Generally,inwarthebestpolicyistotakeastateintact;toruinitisinferiortothis.Tocapturetheenemy'sentirearmyisbetterthantodestroyit;totakeintactaregiment,acompany,orasquadisbetterthantodestroythem.Fortowinonehundredvictoriesinonehundredbattlesisnottheacmeofskill.Tosubduetheenemywithoutfightingisthesupremeexcellence.

Thus,whatisofsupremeimportanceinwaristoattacktheenemy'sstrategy.Nextbestistodisrupthisalliancesbydiplomacy.Thenextbestistoattackhisarmy.Andtheworstpolicyistoattackcities.Attackcitiesonlywhenthereisnoalternativebecausetopreparebigshieldsandwagonsandmakereadythenecessaryarmsandequipmentrequireatleastthreemonths,andtopileupearthenrampsagainstthewallsrequiresanadditionalthreemonths.Thegeneral,unabletocontrolhisimpatience,willorderhistroopstoswarmupthewalllikeants,withtheresultthatone-thirdofthemwillbekilledwithouttakingthecity.Suchisthecalamityofattackingcities.

Thus,thoseskilledinwarsubduetheenemy'sarmywithoutbattle.Theycapturetheenemy'scitieswithoutassaultingthemandoverthrowhisstatewithoutprotractedoperations.Theiraimistotakeallunderheavenintactbystrategicconsiderations.Thus,theirtroopsarenotwornoutandtheirgainswillbecomplete.Thisistheartofoffensivestrategy.

Consequently,theartofusingtroopsisthis:Whententotheenemy'sone,surroundhim.Whenfivetimeshisstrength,attackhim.Ifdoublehisstrength,dividehim.Ifequallymatched,youmayengagehimwithsomegoodplan.Ifweakernumerically,becapableofwithdrawing.Andifinallrespectsunequal,becapableofeludinghim,forasmallforceisbutbootyforonemorepowerfulifitfightsrecklessly.

Now,thegeneralistheassistanttothesovereignofthestate.Ifthisassistanceisall-embracing,thestatewillsurelybestrong;ifdefective,thestatewillcertainlybeweak.

Now,therearethreewaysinwhichasovereigncanbringmisfortuneuponhisarmy:

Whenignorantthatthearmyshouldnotadvance,toorderanadvance;orwhenignorantthatitshouldnotretire,toorderaretirement.Thisisdescribedas"hobblingthearmy."

Whenignorantofmilitaryaffairs,tointerfereintheiradministration.Thiscausestheofficerstobeperplexed.

Whenignorantofcommandproblems,tointerferewiththedirectionofthefighting.Thisengendersdoubtsinthemindsoftheofficers.

Ifthearmyisconfusedandsuspicious,neighboringrulerswilltakeadvantageofthisandcausetrouble.Thisiswhatismeantby:"Aconfusedarmyleadstoanother'svictory."

Thus,therearefivepointsinwhichvictorymaybepredicted:

Hewhoknowswhenhecanfightandwhenhecannotwillbevictorious.

Hewhounderstandshowtofightinaccordancewiththestrengthofantagonisticforceswillbevictorious.

Hewhoseranksareunitedinpurposewillbevictorious.

Hewhoiswellpreparedandliesinwaitforanenemywhoisnotwellpreparedwillbevictorious.

Hewhosegeneralsareableandnotinterferedwithbythesovereignwillbevictorious.

Itisinthesefivemattersthatthewaytovictoryisknown.

Therefore,Isay:Knowyourenemyandknowyourself;inahundredbattles,youwillneverbedefeated.Whenyouareignorantoftheenemybutknowyourself,yourchancesofwinningorlosingareequal.Ifignorantbothofyourenemyandofyourself,youaresuretobedefeatedineverybattle.

Chapter4:Dispositions

Theskillfulwarriorsinancienttimesfirstmadethemselvesinvincibleandthenawaitedtheenemy'smomentofvulnerability.Invincibilitydependsononeself,buttheenemy'vulnerabilityonhimself.Itfollowsthatthoseskilledinwarcanmakethemselvesinvinciblebutcannotcauseanenemytobecertainlyvulnerable.Therefore,itcanbesaidthat,onemayknowhowtowin,butcannotnecessarilydoso.

Defendyourselfwhenyoucannotdefeattheenemy,andattacktheenemywhenyoucan.Onedefendswhenhisstrangthisinadequate;heattackswhenitisabundant.Thosewhoareskilledindefensehidethemselvesasunderthenine-foldearth;thoseinattackflashforthasfromabovetheninefoldheavens.Thus,theyarecapablebothofprotectingthemselvesandofgainingacompletevictory.

Toforeseeavictorywhichtheordinarymancanforeseeisnottheacmeofexcellence.Neitherisitifyoutriumphinbattleandareuniversallyacclaimed"expert,"fortoliftanautumndownrequiresnogreatstrength,todistinguishbetweenthesunandmoonisnotestofvision,tohearthethunderclapisnoindicationofacutehearing.Inancienttimes,thosecalledskilledinwarconqueredanenemyeasilyconquered.And,therefore,thevictorieswonbyamasterofwargainhimneitherreputationforwisdomnormeritforcourage.Forhewinshisvictorieswithouterring.Withouterringheestablishesthecertaintyofhisvictory;heconquersanenemyalreadydefeated.Therefore,theskillfulcommandertakesupapositioninwhichhecannotbedefeatedandmissesnoopportunitytoovercomehimenemy.Thus,avictoriousarmyalwaysseeksbattleafterhisplansindicatethatvictoryispossibleunderthem,whereasanarmydestinedtodefeatfightsinthehopeofwinningbutwithoutanyplanning.Thoseskilledinwarcultivatetheirpoliciesandstrictlyadheretothelawsandregulations.Thus,itisintheirpowertocontrolsuccess.

Now,theelementsoftheartofwararefirst,themeasurementofspace;second,theestimationofquantities;third,calculations;fourth,comparisons;andfifth,chancesofvictory.Measurementsofspacearederivedfromtheground.Quantities,comparisonsfromfigures,andvictoryfromcomparisons.Thus,avictoriousarmyisasoneyibalancedagainstagrain,andadefeatedarmyisasagrainbalancedagainstoneyi.

Itisbecauseofdispositionthatavictoriousgeneralisabletomakehissoldiersfightwiththeeffectofpent-upwaterswhich,suddenlyreleased,plungeintoabottomlessabyss.

Chapter5:PostureofArmy

Generally,managementofalargeforceisthesameasmanagementofafewmen.Itisamatteroforganization.Andtodirectalargeforceisthesameastodirectafewmen.Thisisamatterofformationsandsignals.Thatthearmyiscertaintosustaintheenemy'sattackwithoutsufferingdefeatisduetooperationsoftheextraordinaryandthenormalforces.Troopsthrownagainsttheenemyasagrindstoneagainsteggsisanexampleofasolidactinguponavoid.

Generally,inbattle,usethenormalforcetoengageandusetheextraordinaryforcestowin.Now,theresourcesofthoseskilledintheuseofextraordinaryforcesareasinfiniteastheheavensandearth,asinexhaustibleastheflowofthegreatrivers,fortheyendandrecommence-cyclical,asarethemovementsofthesunandmoon.Theydieawayandarereborn-recurrent,asarethepassingseasons.Themusicalnotesarethepassingseasons.Themusicalnotesareonlyfiveinnumber,buttheircombinationsaresoinfinitethatonecannotvisualizethemall.Theflavorsareonlyfiveinnumber,buttheirblendsaresovariousthatonecannottastethemall.Inbattle,thereareonlythenormalandextraordinaryforces,buttheircombinationsarelimitless;nonecancomprehendthemall.Forthesetwoforcesaremutuallyreproductive.Itislikemovinginanendlesscircle.Whocanexhaustthepossibilityoftheircombination?

Whentorrentialwatertossesboulders,itisbecauseofitsmomentum;whenthestrikeofahawkbreaksthebodyofitsprey,itisbecauseoftiming.Thus,themomentumofoneskilledinwarisoverwhelming,andhisattackpreciselytimed.Hispotentialisthatofafullydrawncrossbow;histiming,thatofthereleaseofthetrigger.

Intumultanduproar,thebattleseemschaotic,buttheremustbenodisorderinone'sowntroops.Thebattlefieldmayseeminconfusionandchaos,butone'sarraymustbeingoodorder.Thatwillbeproofagainstdefeat.Apparentconfusionisaproductofgoodorder;apparentcowardice,ofcourage;apparentweakness,ofstrength.Orderofdisorderdependsonorganizationanddirection;courageorcowardiceoncircumstances;strengthorweaknessontacticaldispositions.Thus,onewhoisskilledatmakingtheenemymovedoessobycreatingasituation,accordingtowhichtheenemywillact.Heenticestheenemywithsomethingheiscertaintowant.Hekeepstheenemyonthemovebyholdingoutbaitandthenattackshimwithpickedtroops.

Therefore,askilledcommanderseeksvictoryfromthesituationanddoesnotdemanditofhissubordinates.Heselectssuitablemenandexploitsthesituation.Hewhoutilizesthesituationuseshismeninfightingasonerollslogsorstones.Now,thenatureoflogsandstonesisthatonstablegroundtheyarestatic;onaslope,theymove.Ifsquare,theystop;ifround,theyroll.Thus,theenergyoftroopsskillfullycommandedinbattlemaybecomparedtothemomentumofroundboulderswhichrolldownfromamountainthousandsoffeetinheight.

Chapter6:VoidandActuality

Generally,hewhooccupiesthefieldofbattlefirstandawaitshisenemyisatease,andhewhocomeslatertothesceneandrushesintothefightisweary.And,therefore,thoseskilledinwarbringtheenemytothefieldofbattleandarenotbroughttherebyhim.Oneabletomaketheenemycomeofhisownaccorddoessobyofferinghimsomeadvantage.Andoneabletostophimfromcomingdoessobypreventinghim.Thus,whentheenemyisatease,beabletotirehim,whenwellfed,tostarvehim,whenatresttomakehimmove.

Appearatplaceswhichheisunabletorescue;moveswiftlyinadirectionwhereyouareleastexpected.

Thatyoumaymarchathousandliwithouttiringyourselfisbecauseyoutravelwherethereisnoenemy.Tobecertaintotakewhatyouattackistoattackaplacetheenemydoesnotorcannotprotect.Tobecertaintoholdwhatyoudefendistodefendaplacetheenemydaresnotorisnotabletoattack.Therefore,againstthoseskilledinattack,theenemydoesnotknowwheretodefend,andagainsttheexpertsindefense,theenemydoesnotknowwheretoattack.

Howsubtleandinsubstantial,thattheexpertleavesnotrace.Howdivinelymysterious,thatheisinaudible.Thus,heismasterofhisenemy'sfate.Hisoffensivewillbeirresistibleifhemakesforhisenemy'sweakpositions;hecannotbeovertakenwhenhewithdrawsifhemovesswiftly.WhenIwishogivebattle,myenemy,eventhoughprotectedbyhighwallsanddeepmoats,cannothelpbutengageme,forIattackapositionhemustrelieve.WhenIwishtoavoidbattle,Imaydefendmyselfsimplybedrawingalineontheground;theenemywillbeunabletoattackmebecauseIdiverthimfromgoingwherehewishes.

IfIamabletodeterminetheenemy'sdispositionswhile,atthesametime,Iconcealmyown,thenIcanconcentratemyforcesandhismustbedivided.AndifIconcentratewhilehedivides,Icanusemyentirestrengthtoattackafractionofhis.Therefore,Iwillbenumericallysuperior.Then,ifIamabletousemanytostrikefewattheselectedpoint,thoseIdealwithwillfallintohopelessstraits.TheenemymustnotknowwhereIintendtogivebattle.ForifhedoesnotknowwhereIintendtogivebattle,hemustprepareinagreatmanyplaces.Andwhenhepreparesinagreatmanyplaces,thoseIhavetofightinwillbefew.Forifhepreparestothefront,hisrearwillbeweak,andiftotherear,hisfrontwillbefragile.Ifhestrengthenshisleft,hisrightwillbevulnerable,andifhisright,therewillbefewtroopsonhisleft.Andwhenhesendstroopseverywhere,hewillbeweakeverywhere.Numericalweaknesscomesfromhavingtoguardagainstpossibleattacks;numericalstrengthfromforcingtheenemytomakethesepreparationsagainstus.

Ifoneknowswhereandwhenabattlewillbefought,histroopscanmarchathousandliandmeetonthefield.Butifoneknowsneitherthebattlegroundnorthedayofbattle,theleftwillbeunabletoaidtherightandtherightwillbeunabletoaidtheleft,andthevanwillbeunabletosupporttherearandtherear,thevan.Howmuchmoreisthissowhenseparatedbyseveraltensoflior,indeed,beevenafew!AlthoughIestimatethetroopsofYueasmany,ofwhatbenefitisthissuperioritywithrespecttotheoutcomeofwar?Thus,Isaythatvictorycanbeachieved.Foreveniftheenemyisnumericallystronger,Icanpreventhimfromengaging.

Therefore,analyzetheenemy'splanssothatyouwillknowhisshortcomingsasstrongpoints.Agitatehiminordertoascertainthepatternofhismovement.Lurehimouttorevealhisdispositionsandascertainhisposition.Launchaprobingattackinordertolearnwherehisstrengthisabundantandwheredeficient.Theultimateindisposingone'stroopsistoconcealthemwithoutascertainableshape.Thenthemostpenetratingspiescannotprynorcanthewiselayplansagainstyou.Itisaccordingtothesituationsthatplansarelaidforvictory,butthemultitudedoesnotcomprehendthis.Althougheveryonecanseetheoutwardaspects,noneunderstandshowthevictoryisachieved.Therefore,whenavictoryiswon,one'stacticsarenotrepeated.Oneshouldalwaysrespondtocircumstancesinaninfinitevarietyofways.

Now,anarmymaybelikenedtowater,forjustasflowingwateravoidstheheightsandhastenstothelowlands,soanarmyshouldavoidstrengthandstrikeweakness.Andaswatershapesitsflowinaccordancewiththeground,soanarmymanagesitsvictoryinaccordancewiththesituationoftheenemy.Andaswaterhasnoconstantform,thereareinwarfarenoconstantconditions.Thus,oneabletowinthevictorybymodifyinghistacticsinaccordancewiththeenemysituationmaybesaidtobedivine.Ofthefiveelements[water,fire,metal,wood,andearth],noneisalwayspredominant;ofthefourseasons,nonelastsforever;ofthedays,somearelongandsomeshort,andthemoonwaxesandwanes.Thatisalsothelawofemployingtroops.

Chapter7:Manuevering

Normally,inwar,thegeneralreceiveshiscommandsfromthesovereign.Duringtheprocessfromassemblinghistroopsandmobilizingthepeopletoblendingthearmyintoaharmoniousentityandencampingit,nothingismoredifficultthantheartofmaneuveringforadvantageouspositions.Whatisdifficultaboutitistomakethedeviousroutethemostdirectrouteanddiverttheenemybyenticinghimwithabait.Sodoing,youmaysetoutafterhedoesandarriveatthebattlefieldbeforehim.Oneabletodothisshowstheknowledgeoftheartificeofdiversion.

Therefore,bothadvantageanddangerareinherentinmaneuveringforanadvantageousposition.Onewhosetstheentirearmyinmoritonwithimpedimentstopursueanadvantageouspositionwillnotattainit.Ifheabandonsthecampandalltheimpedimentstocontendforadvantage,thestoreswillbelost.Thus,ifoneordershismentomakeforcedmarcheswithoutarmor,stoppingneithedaynornight,coveringdoubletheusualdistanceatastretch,anddoingahundredlitowrestanadvantage,itisprobablethatthecommanderswillbecaptured.Thestrongermenwillarrivefirstandthefeebleoneswillstrugglealongbehind;so,ifthismethodisused,onlyone-tenthofthearmywillreachitsdestination.Inaforcedmarchoffiftyli,thecommanderofthevanwillprobablyfall,buthalfthearmywillarrive.Inaforcedmarchofthirtyli,justtwo-thirdswillarrive.Itfollowsthatanarmywhichlacksheavyequipment,fodder,food,andstoreswillbelost.

Onewhoisnotacquaintedwiththedesignsofhisneighborsshouldnotenterintoalianceswiththem.Thosewhodonotknowtheconditionsofmountainsandforests,hazardousdefiles,marshesandswamps,cannotconductthemarchofanarmy.Thosewhodonotuselocalguidesareunabletoobtaintheadvantagesoftheground.Now,warisbasedondeception.Movewhenitisadvantageousandcreatechangesinthesituationbydispersalandconcentrationofforces,.Whencampainging,beswiftasthewind;inleisurelymarching,majesticastheforest;inraidingandplundering,befierceasfire;instanding,firmasthemountains.Whenhiding,beasunfathomableasthingsbehindtheclouds;whenmoving,falllikeathunderbolt.Whenyouplunderthecountryside,divideyourforces.Whenyouconquerterritory,defendstrategicpoints.Weighthesituationbeforeyoumove.Hewhoknowstheartificeofdiversionwillbevictorious.Suchistheartofmanuevering.

Chapter8:Adaptations

Thegeneralruleformilitaryoperationsisthatthemilitaryleadershipreceivestheorderfromthecivilianleadershiptogatherarmies.

Lettherebenoencampmentondifficultterrain.Letdiplomaticrelationsbeestablishedatborders.Donotstayinbarrenorisolatedterritory.

Whenonsurroundedground,plot.Whenondeadlyground,fight.

Thereareroutesnottobefollowed,armiesnottobeattacked,citadelsnottobebesieged,territorynottobefoughtover,ordersofciviliangovernmentsnottobeobeyed.

Thereforegeneralswhoknowallpossibleadaptationstotakeadvantageofthegroundknowhowtousemilitaryforces.Ifgeneralsdonotknowhowtoadaptadvantageously,eveniftheyknowthelayofthelandtheycannottakeadvantageofit.

Iftheyrulearmieswithoutknowingtheartsofcompleteadaptivity,eveniftheyknowwhatthereistogain,theycannotgetpeopletoworkforthem.

Thereforetheconsiderationsoftheintelligentalwaysincludebothbenefitandharm.Astheyconsiderbenefit,theirworkcanexpand;astheyconsiderharm,theirtroublescanberesolved.

Thereforewhatrestrainscompetitorsisharm,whatkeepscompetitorsbusyiswork,whatmotivatescompetitorsisprofit.

Sotheruleofmilitaryoperationsisnottocountonopponentsnotcoming,buttorelyonhavingwaysofdealingwiththem;nottocountonopponentsnotattacking,buttorelyonhavingwhatcannotbeattacked.

Therefore,therearefivetraitsthataredangerousingenerals.Thosewhoarereadytodiecanbekilled;thosewhoareintentonlivingcanbecaptured;thosewhoarequicktoangercanbeshamed;thosewhoarepuritanicalcanbedisgraced;thosewholovepeoplecanbetroubled.

Thesefivethingsarefaultsingenerals,disastersformilitaryoperations.

Chapter9:ManeuveringArmies

Wheneveryoustationanarmytoobserveanopponent,cutoffthemountainsandstaybythevalleys.

Watchthelight,stayontheheights.Whenfightingonahill,donotclimb.Thisappliestoanarmyinthemountains.

Whencutoffbywater,alwaysstayawayfromthewater.Donotmeettheminthewater;itisadvantageoustolethalfofthemcrossandthenattackthem.

Whenyouwanttofight,donotfaceanenemynearwater.Watchthelight,stayinhighplaces,donotfacethecurrentofthewater.Thisappliestoanarmyonwater.

Gorightt