虚实第六
VI. Weak Points and Strong
孙子曰：凡先处战地而待敌者佚，后处战地而趋战者劳。
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.
故善战者，致人而不致于人。
Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.
能使敌人自至者，利之也；能使敌人不得至者，害之也。
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.
故敌佚能劳之，饱能饥之，安能动之。
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.
出其所必趋，趋其所不意。
Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.
行千里而不劳者，行于无人之地也；
An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches through country where the enemy is not.
攻而必取者，攻其所不守也。守而必固者，守其所必攻也。
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.
故善攻者，敌不知其所守；善守者，敌不知其所攻。
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.
微乎微乎，至于无形；神乎神乎，至于无声，故能为敌之司命。
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.
进而不可御者，冲其虚也；退而不可追者，速而不可及也。
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.
故我欲战，敌虽高垒深沟，不得不与我战者，攻其所必救也；
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.
我不欲战，虽画地而守之，敌不得与我战者，乖其所之也。
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.
故形人而我无形，则我专而敌分。
By discovering the enemy's dispositions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated, while the enemy's must be divided.
我专为一，敌分为十，是以十攻其一也。
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.
则我众敌寡，能以众击寡者，则吾之所与战者约矣。
And if we are able thus to attack an inferior force with a superior one, our opponents will be in dire straits.
吾所与战之地不可知，不可知则敌所备者多，敌所备者多，则吾所与战者寡矣。
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.
故备前则后寡，备后则前寡，备左则右寡，备右则左寡，无所不备，则无所不寡。
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.
寡者，备人者也；众者，使人备己者也。
Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible attacks; numerical strength, from compelling our adversary to make these preparations against us.
故知战之地，知战之日，则可千里而会战；
Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.
不知战之地，不知战日，则左不能救右，右不能救左，前不能救后，后不能救前，而况远者数十里，近者数里乎！
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!
以吾度之，越人之兵虽多，亦奚益于胜哉！故曰：胜可为也。
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.
敌虽众，可使无斗。故策之而知得失之计，
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.
候之而知动静之理，形之而知死生之地，
Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.
角之而知有余不足之处。
Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.
故形兵之极，至于无形。无形则深间不能窥，智者不能谋。
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.
因形而措胜于众，众不能知。
How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy's own tactics--that is what the multitude cannot comprehend.
人皆知我所以胜之形，而莫知吾所以制胜之形。
All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.
故其战胜不复，而应形于无穷。
Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.
夫兵形象水，水之行避高而趋下，
Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards.
兵之形避实而击虚；
So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.
水因地而制流，兵因敌而制胜。
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.
故兵无常势，水无常形。
Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
能因敌变化而取胜者，谓之神。
He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.
故五行无常胜，四时无常位，日有短长，月有死生。
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.
军争第七
VII. Maneuvering
孙子曰：凡用兵之法，将受命于君，
Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign.
合军聚众，交和而舍，
Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blend and harmonize the different elements thereof before pitching his camp.
莫难于军争。军争之难者，以迂为直，以患为利。
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.
故迂其途，而诱之以利，后人发，先人至，此知迂直之计者也。
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.
军争为利，军争为危。
Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.
举军而争利则不及，委军而争利则辎重捐。
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.
是故卷甲而趋，日夜不处，倍道兼行，百里而争利，则擒三将军，
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.
劲者先，疲者后，其法十一而至；
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.
五十里而争利，则蹶上将军，其法半至；
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.
三十里而争利，则三分之二至。
If you march thirty LI with the same object, two-thirds of your army will arrive.
是故军无辎重则亡，无粮食则亡，无委积则亡。
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.
故不知诸侯之谋者，不能豫交；
We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors.
不知山林、险阻、沮泽之形者，不能行军；
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.
不用乡导者，不能得地利。
We shall be unable to turn natural advantage to account unless we make use of local guides.
故兵以诈立，以利动，
In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed.
以分和为变者也。
Whether to concentrate or to divide your troops, must be decided by circumstances.
故其疾如风，其徐如林，
Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest.
侵掠如火，不动如山，
In raiding and plundering be like fire, is immovability like a mountain.
难知如阴，动如雷震。
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
掠乡分众，廓地分利，
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.
悬权而动。
Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.
先知迂直之计者胜，此军争之法也。
He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.
《军政》曰：“言不相闻，故为之金鼓；视不相见，故为之旌旗。”
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.
夫金鼓旌旗者，所以一民之耳目也。
Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point.
民既专一，则勇者不得独进，怯者不得独退，此用众之法也。
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.
故夜战多金鼓，昼战多旌旗，所以变人之耳目也。
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.
三军可夺气，将军可夺心。
A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind.
是故朝气锐，昼气惰，暮气归。
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.
善用兵者，避其锐气，击其惰归，此治气者也。
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.
以治待乱，以静待哗，此治心者也。
Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy:--this is the art of retaining self-possession.
以近待远，以佚待劳，以饱待饥，此治力者也。
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.
无邀正正之旗，无击堂堂之陈，此治变者也。
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.
故用兵之法，高陵勿向，背丘勿逆，
It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.
佯北勿从，锐卒勿攻，
Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight; do not attack soldiers whose temper is keen.
饵兵勿食，归师勿遏，
Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.
围师遗阙，穷寇勿迫，
When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
此用兵之法也。
Such is the art of warfare.
九变第八
VIII. Variation in Tactics
孙子曰：凡用兵之法，将受命于君，合军聚合。
Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces
泛地无舍，衢地合交，绝地无留，围地则谋，死地则战，
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 desperate position, you must fight.
途有所不由，军有所不击，城有所不攻，地有所不争，君命有所不受。
There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.
故将通于九变之利者，知用兵矣；
The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.
将不通九变之利，虽知地形，不能得地之利矣；
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.
治兵不知九变之术，虽知五利，不能得人之用矣。
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.
是故智者之虑，必杂于利害，
Hence in the wise leader's plans, considerations of advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together.
杂于利而务可信也，
If our expectation of advantage be tempered in this way, we may succeed in accomplishing the essential part of our schemes.
杂于害而患可解也。
If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
是故屈诸侯者以害，役诸侯者以业，趋诸侯者以利。
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.
故用兵之法，无恃其不来，恃吾有以待之；无恃其不攻，恃吾有所不可攻也。
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.
故将有五危，必死可杀，必生可虏，忿速可侮，廉洁可辱，爱民可烦。
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 honor which is sensitive to shame; (5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.
凡此五者，将之过也，用兵之灾也。
These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinous to the conduct of war.
覆军杀将，必以五危，不可不察也。
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.
行军第九
IX. The Army on the March
孙子曰：凡处军相敌，绝山依谷，
Sun Tzu 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 neighborhood of valleys.
视生处高，战隆无登，此处山之军也。
Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order to fight. So much for mountain warfare.
绝水必远水，
After crossing a river, you should get far away from it.
客绝水而来，勿迎之于水内，令半渡而击之利，
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.
欲战者，无附于水而迎客，
If you are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invader near a river which he has to cross.
视生处高，无迎水流，此处水上之军也。
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.
绝斥泽，唯亟去无留，
In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over them quickly, without any delay.
若交军于斥泽之中，必依水草而背众树，此处斥泽之军也。
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-marches.
平陆处易，右背高，前死后生，此处平陆之军也。
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.
凡此四军之利，黄帝之所以胜四帝也。
These are the four useful branches of military knowledge which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several sovereigns.
凡军好高而恶下，贵阳而贱阴，
All armies prefer high ground to low and sunny places to dark.
养生而处实，军无百疾，是谓必胜。
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.
丘陵堤防，必处其阳而右背之，此兵之利，地之助也。
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 utilize the natural advantages of the ground.
上雨水流至，欲涉者，待其定也。
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.
凡地有绝涧、天井、天牢、天罗、天陷、天隙，必亟去之，勿近也。
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.
吾远之，敌近之；吾迎之，敌背之。
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.
军旁有险阻、潢井、蒹葭、小林、□①荟者，必谨覆索之，此伏奸之所处也。
If in the neighborhood 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.
敌近而静者，恃其险也；
When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on the natural strength of his position.
远而挑战者，欲人之进也；
When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious for the other side to advance.
其所居易者，利也；
If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a bait.
众树动者，来也；众草多障者，疑也；
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.
鸟起者，伏也；兽骇者，覆也；
The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.
尘高而锐者，车来也；卑而广者，徒来也；散而条达者，樵采也；少而往来者，营军也；
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.