7. MANEUVERING: LINES 23-37

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 focused 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 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. 

7. MANEUVERING: LINES 16-22

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 maneuvering. 

7. MANEUVERING: Lines 9-15

9

If you march fifty LI in order to outmaneuver 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 neighbors. 

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 advantage to account unless we make use of local guides. 

15

In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed. 

7. MANEUVERING: Lines 1-8

1

Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign. 

2

Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blend and harmonize the different elements thereof before pitching his camp. 

3

After that, comes tactical maneuvering, than which there is nothing more difficult. 

The difficulty of tactical maneuvering 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

Maneuvering 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. 

6. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG: Lines 20-34

20

But if neither time nor place be known, then the left wing will be impotent to succor the right, the right equally impotent to succor 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 Yueh 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. 

6. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG: Lines 13-19

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. 

6. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG: Lines 6-12

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 defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. 

8

Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense 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. 

6. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG: Lines 1-5

1

Sun Tzu 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. 

5. ENERGY: LINES 20-23

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 utilize combined energy. 

22

When he utilizes 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. 

5. ENERGY: LINES 15-19

15

Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a 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 skillful 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. 

5. ENERGY: Lines 10-14

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 maneuvers. 

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. 

5. ENERGY: LINES 6-9

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 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 colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen. 

9

There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted. 

5. ENERGY: Lines 1-5

1

Sun Tzu 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 maneuvers 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. 

4. TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS: LINES 16-20

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. 

4. TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS: Lines 6-15

6

Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength. 

7

The general who is skilled in defense 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 the 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 skillful 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. 

4. TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS: Lines 1-5

1

Sun Tzu 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. 

3. ATTACK BY STRATAGEM: LINES 16-18

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. 

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. 

3. ATTACK BY STRATAGEM: LINES 11-15

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. 

3. ATTACK BY STRATAGEM: Lines 6-10

6

Therefore the skillful 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. 

3. ATTACK BY STRATAGEM: Lines 1-5

1

Sun Tzu 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 recapture 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 balk 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.