WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:06.160 The Arts of War by Sansu, translated by Lionel Giles, 2 00:00:06.679 --> 00:00:12.160 read by Bubbefeld. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. 3 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:18.000 For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. 4 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:25.839 Chapter one laying plans. The art of war is of 5 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:29.120 vital importance to the States. It is a matter of 6 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:33.960 life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence, 7 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:36.600 it is a subject of inquiry which can on no 8 00:00:36.679 --> 00:00:40.920 account be neglected. The art of war, then, is governed 9 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:44.439 by five constant factors to be taken into account in 10 00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:48.359 one's deliberations when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in 11 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:55.359 the field. These are the moral law, Heaven, Earth, the Commander, method, 12 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:59.479 and discipline. The moral law causes the people to be 13 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:03.079 incomplete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow 14 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:07.840 him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger. Heaven 15 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:12.319 signifies night and day, coal and heat, times and seasons. 16 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:17.879 Earth comprises distances great and small, danger and security, open 17 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:21.719 ground and narrow passes, the chances of life and death. 18 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:27.439 The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage, 19 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:32.040 and strictness, method, and discipline are to be understood, the 20 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:35.920 marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations 21 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:39.000 of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by 22 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:42.480 which supplies may reach the army, and the control of 23 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:48.439 military expenditure. These five heads should be familiar to every general. 24 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:52.200 He who knows them will be victorious. He who knows 25 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:57.680 them not will fail. Therefore, in your deliberations when seeking 26 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:01.000 to determine the military conditions, but them be made the 27 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.920 basis of a comparison. In this wise, which of the 28 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:08.560 two sovereigns is imbued with the moral law, Which of 29 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:12.080 the two generals has most ability? With whom lie the 30 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:16.439 advantages derived from Heaven and earth? On which side is disciplined, 31 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:21.599 most rigorously enforced, Which army is stronger? On which side 32 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:25.599 are officers and men more highly trained? In which army 33 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:29.199 is there the greater constancy, both in reward and punishment. 34 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:34.840 By means of these seven considerations, I can forecast victory 35 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:38.560 or defeat the general that hearkens to my counsel and 36 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:41.960 acts upon it, will conquer. Let such a one be 37 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:45.840 retained in command. The general that hearkens not to my counsel, 38 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:49.319 nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat. Let such a 39 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:53.719 one be dismissed while heeding the profit of my counsel. 40 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:57.960 Avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond 41 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:03.199 the ordinary rules. According as circumstances are favorable, one should 42 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:09.199 modify one's plans. All warfare is based on deception. Hence, 43 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:12.800 when able to attack, we must seem unable. When using 44 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:16.680 our forces, we must seem inactive. When we are near, 45 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.319 we must make the enemy believe we are far away. 46 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:22.879 When far away, we must make him believe we are near. 47 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:27.680 Hold out bates to entice the enemy, Feign disorder, and 48 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:31.439 crush him. If he is secure at all points, be 49 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:35.520 prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. 50 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:39.960 If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. 51 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:44.039 Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If 52 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:47.240 he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If 53 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:51.599 his forces are united, separate them, Attack him where he 54 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:57.039 is unprepared, Appear where you are not expected. These military 55 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:02.400 devices leading to victory must not be divulged beforehand. Now, 56 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:05.800 the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in 57 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:09.159 his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who 58 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:13.479 loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do 59 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:17.519 many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat? 60 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:21.680 How much more no calculation at all. It is by 61 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:24.720 attention to this point that I can foresee who is 62 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:31.720 likely to win or lose. Chapter two, Waging war. In 63 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:35.079 the operations of war, where there are in the field 64 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:38.800 a thousand swift chariots, as many heavy chariots, and one 65 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:42.600 hundred thousand male clad soldiers with provisions enough to carry 66 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:45.839 them a thousand lee, the expenditure at home and at 67 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:49.839 the front, including entertainment of guests, small items such as 68 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:52.920 glue and paint and sums spent on chariots and armor, 69 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:56.399 will reach the total of one thousand ounces of silver 70 00:04:56.519 --> 00:05:00.079 per day. Such is the cost of raising an army 71 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:04.839 of one hundred thousand men. When you engage in actual fighting, 72 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.480 if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will 73 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:11.800 grow dull, and their ardor will be damned. If you 74 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:16.680 lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength again. 75 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:20.519 If the campaign is protracted, the resources of the state 76 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:24.639 will not be equal to the strain. Now, when your 77 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:28.759 weapons are dulled, your ardor damned, your strength exhausted, and 78 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:32.279 your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take 79 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:36.759 advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will 80 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:41.839 be able to avert the consequences that must ensue. Thus, 81 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:45.600 though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness 82 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:49.600 has never been seen associated with long delays. There is 83 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:53.720 no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. 84 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:57.240 It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the 85 00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:00.600 evils of war that can thoroughly understand the proper way 86 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:04.839 of carrying it on. The skillful soldier does not raise 87 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:08.319 a second levee, neither are his supply wagons loaded more 88 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:12.519 than twice. Bring war material with you from home, but 89 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:16.319 forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have food 90 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:21.000 enough for its needs. Poverty of the state exchequer causes 91 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:24.040 an army to be maintained by contributions from a distance. 92 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.680 Contributing to maintain an army at a distance causes the 93 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:31.959 people to be impoverished. On the other hand, the proximity 94 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:34.959 of an army causes prices to go up, and high 95 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:39.560 prices cause the people's substance to be drained away. When 96 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:43.399 their substance is drained away, the peasantry will be afflicted 97 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:48.439 by heavy exactions. With this loss of substance and exhaustion 98 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:51.639 of strength, the homes of the people will be stripped bare, 99 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:55.480 and three tenths of their income will be dissipated, while 100 00:06:55.560 --> 00:07:00.600 government expenses for broken chariots, worn out horses, breastplates and helmets, 101 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:05.560 bows and arrows, spears and shields, protective mantles, draft oxen, 102 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:08.720 and heavy wagons will amount to four tenths of its 103 00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:13.199 total revenue. Hence, a wise general makes a point of 104 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:17.040 foraging on the enemy. One cart load of the enemy's 105 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:20.959 provisions is equivalent to twenty of one's own, and likewise 106 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:25.240 a single pecool of his provender is equivalents to twenty 107 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:29.839 from one's own store. Now, in order to kill the enemy, 108 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:33.600 our men must be roused to anger that there may 109 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:39.399 be advantage from defeating the enemy. They must have their rewards. Therefore, 110 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.160 in chariot fighting, when ten or more chariots have been taken, 111 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:46.959 those should be rewarded who took the first. Our own 112 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.079 flags should be substituted for those of the enemy. And 113 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:54.120 the chariots mingled and used in conjunction with ours. The 114 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:59.199 captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept. This is 115 00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:03.160 called using the conquered foe to augment one's own strength 116 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:08.240 in war. Then let your great object be victory, not 117 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:13.040 lengthy campaigns. Thus it may be known that the leader 118 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:16.360 of armies is the arbiter of the people's fate, the 119 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:19.360 man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be 120 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:25.519 in peace or in peril. Chapter three, Attack by stratagem. 121 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:29.439 In the practical art of war, the best thing of 122 00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:32.279 all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact 123 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:36.799 to shatter and destroy it. Is not so good. So too, 124 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:40.039 it is better to recapture an army entire than to 125 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:43.519 destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment, or a 126 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:48.080 company entire than to destroy them. Hence, to fight and 127 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:51.919 conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence. Supreme 128 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:57.639 excellence consists in breaking the army's resistance without fighting. Thus 129 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:01.360 the highest form of generalship is to the enemy's plans. 130 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.039 The next best is to prevent the junction of the 131 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:07.240 enemy's forces. The next in order is to attack the 132 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:10.519 enemy's army in the field, and the worst policy of 133 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:15.399 all is to besiege walled cities. The rule is not 134 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:19.120 to besiege walled cities if it can possibly be avoided. 135 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:24.000 The preparation of mantlets, movable shelters, and various implements of 136 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:26.919 war will take up to three whole months, and the 137 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:29.919 piling up of mounds over against the walls will take 138 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:34.480 three months more. The general, unable to control his irritation, 139 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:37.519 will launch his men to the assault like swarming ants, 140 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:40.440 with the results that one third of his men are 141 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:44.960 slain while the town still remains untaken. Such are the 142 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:50.759 disastrous effects of a siege. Therefore, the skillful leader subdues 143 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:54.519 the enemy's troops without any fighting. He captures their cities 144 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:58.440 without laying siege to them. He overthrows their kingdom without 145 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:02.919 lengthy operations in the field. With his forces intact, he 146 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:06.559 will dispute the mastery of the empire, and thus, without 147 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:10.960 losing a man, his triumph will be complete. This is 148 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:15.039 the method of attacking by stratagem. It is the rule 149 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.080 in war. If our forces are ten to the enemies 150 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:21.360 one to surround him, if five to one to attack him, 151 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:25.639 if twice as numerous to divide our army into two. 152 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:30.600 If equally matched, we can offer battle. If slightly inferior 153 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:34.519 in numbers, we can avoid the enemy. If quite unequal 154 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:39.519 in every way, we can flee from him. Hence, though 155 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:42.440 an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, 156 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:47.639 in the end it must be captured by a larger force. Now, 157 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:50.519 the general is the bulwark of the state. If the 158 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:53.960 bulwark is complete at all points, the state will be strong. 159 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:57.440 If the bulwark is defective, the state will be weak. 160 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:01.240 There are three ways in which a ruler can bring 161 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:05.919 misfortune upon his army. One by commanding the army to 162 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:09.240 advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that 163 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:14.159 it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army. Two 164 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.519 by attempting to govern an army in the same way 165 00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:21.039 as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions 166 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:24.759 which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the 167 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:29.440 soldier's minds. Three by employing the officers of his army 168 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:34.080 without discrimination through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation 169 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:39.039 to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers. But 170 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:42.799 when the army is restless and distrustful, Trouble is sure 171 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:46.159 to come from the other feudal princes. This is simply 172 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:50.600 bringing anarchy into the army and flinging victory away. Thus 173 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:53.960 we may know that there are five essentials for victory. 174 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:57.159 He will win who knows when to fight and when 175 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:59.679 not to fight. He will win who knows how to 176 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:03.879 handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose 177 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:07.320 army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. 178 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:11.279 He will win who prepared himself waits to take the 179 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:16.159 enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and 180 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:20.360 is not interfered with by the sovereign. Hence the saying, 181 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:24.240 if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need 182 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:27.639 not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you 183 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:31.480 know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained, 184 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:34.720 you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither 185 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:38.960 the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. 186 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:46.320 Chapter four, Tactical dispositions. The good fighters of old first 187 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:50.279 put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited 188 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:54.639 for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves 189 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:58.399 against defeat lies in our own hands, But the opportunity 190 00:12:58.440 --> 00:13:03.039 of defeating the enemy is by the enemy himself. Thus, 191 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:06.440 the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, 192 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:10.720 but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. Hence the 193 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:14.759 saying one may know how to conquer without being able 194 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:20.639 to do it. Security against defeat implies defensive tactics. Ability 195 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:25.039 to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive. Standing on 196 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:30.960 the defensive indicates insufficient strength. Attacking a superabundance of strength. 197 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.960 The general who is skilled in defense hides in the 198 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:38.200 most secret recesses of the earth. He who is skilled 199 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:42.759 in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Thus, 200 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:45.840 on the one hand, we have ability to protect ourselves, 201 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:50.000 on the other, of victory that is complete. To see 202 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:52.600 victory only when it is within the ken of the 203 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:56.919 common herd is not the acme of excellence. Neither is 204 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:59.919 it the acme of excellence if he fights and conquer 205 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:03.480 and the whole empire says well done. To lift an 206 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:07.080 autumn hair is no sign of great strength. To see 207 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:09.600 the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight. 208 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:13.039 To hear the noise of thunder is no sign of 209 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:17.399 a quick ear. What the ancients called a clever fighter 210 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:21.159 is one who not only wins, but excels in winning 211 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:25.799 with ease. Hence, his victories bring him neither reputation for 212 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:30.360 wisdom nor credit for courage. He wins his battles by 213 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:34.840 making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the 214 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:38.159 certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that 215 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:42.840 is already defeated. Hence, the skillful fighter puts himself into 216 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:46.440 a position which makes defeat impossible and does not miss 217 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:50.759 the moment for defeating the enemy. Thus it is that 218 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:54.799 in war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the 219 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:58.679 victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to 220 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:03.600 defeat first fire rights and afterwards looks for victory. The 221 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:07.679 consummate leader cultivates the moral law and strictly adheres to 222 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:11.279 method and discipline. Thus it is in his power to 223 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:17.440 control success. In respect of military method, we have firstly measurement, 224 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:23.759 secondly estimation of quantity, thirdly calculation, fourthly balancing of chances. 225 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:30.000 Fifthly victory. Measurement owes its existence to earth estimation of 226 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:34.840 quantity to measurement, calculation to estimation of quantity balancing of 227 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:39.799 chances to calculation, and victory to balancing of chances. A 228 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:43.600 victorious army opposed to a routed one is as a 229 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:46.919 pound's weight placed in the scale against a single grain. 230 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:50.840 The on rush of a conquering force is like the 231 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:53.679 bursting of pent up waters into a chasm of a 232 00:15:53.799 --> 00:16:01.639 thousand fathoms deep. Chapter five Energy. The control of a 233 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:04.639 large force is the same principle as the control of 234 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:08.279 a few men. It is merely a question of divining 235 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:12.279 up their numbers. Fighting with a large army under your 236 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:15.480 command is nowise different from fighting with a small one. 237 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.200 It is merely a question of instituting signs and signals 238 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:22.799 to ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt 239 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:26.799 of the enemy's attack and remain unshaken. This is affected 240 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:31.240 by maneuvers direct and indirect. That the impact of your 241 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:34.159 army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg. 242 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:37.759 This is affected by the science of weak points and 243 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:42.120 strong In all fighting, the direct method may be used 244 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:45.360 for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in 245 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:51.919 order to secure victory. Indirect tactics efficiently applied are inexhaustible, 246 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:55.120 as heaven and earth unending, as the flow of rivers 247 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:59.120 and streams. Like the sun and moon, they end, but 248 00:16:59.320 --> 00:17:02.759 to begin a new Like the four seasons, they pass 249 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:06.839 away to return once more. There are not more than 250 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:11.400 five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give 251 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:15.440 rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There 252 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:20.000 are not more than five primary colors blue, yellow, red, white, 253 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:23.880 and black, yet in combination they produce more hues than 254 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:27.079 can ever be seen. There are not more than five 255 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:33.039 cardinal tastes sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter, yet combinations of 256 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:37.640 them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted. In battle, 257 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:40.720 there are not more than two methods of attack, the 258 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:45.160 direct and the indirect. Yet these two, in combination give 259 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:49.680 rise to an endless series of maneuvers. The direct and 260 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:52.640 the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It 261 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:55.519 is like moving in a circle. You never come to 262 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:59.839 an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination. 263 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:04.279 The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrents, 264 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:08.000 which will even roll stones along in its course. The 265 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:10.880 quality of decision is like the well timed swoop of 266 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:15.039 a falcon, which enables it to strike and destroy its victim. 267 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:19.039 Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset 268 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:23.400 and prompt in his decision. Energy may be likened to 269 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:27.000 the bending of a crossbow, decision to the releasing of 270 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:31.920 a trigger. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there 271 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:36.039 may be seeming disorder, and yet no real disorder at all. 272 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:41.039 Amid confusion and chaos. Your array may be without head 273 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:46.039 or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat. Simulated 274 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:52.240 disorder postulates perfect discipline. Simulated fear postulates courage. Simulated weakness 275 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:58.160 postulates strength. Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is 276 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:02.079 simply a question of subdivision. Concealing courage under a show 277 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:07.160 of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy. Masking strength 278 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:12.559 with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions. Thus, 279 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:15.200 one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the 280 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:20.000 move maintains deceitful appearances according to which the enemy will act. 281 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:23.920 He sacrifices something that the enemy may snatch at it. 282 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:27.839 By holding out bates, he keeps him on the march, 283 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:31.000 when with a body of picked men he lies in 284 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:35.359 wait for him. The clever combatants looks to the effect 285 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:39.359 of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals, 286 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:42.839 hence his ability to pick out the right men and 287 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:49.000 utilize combine energy. When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting 288 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:52.759 men become, as it were, like unto rolling logs or stones. 289 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:56.039 For it is the nature of a log or stone 290 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:59.079 to remain motionless on level ground, and to move on 291 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:02.359 when on a slope, if four cornered, to come to 292 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:06.079 a standstill, but if round shaped, to go rolling down. 293 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:11.079 Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as 294 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:14.000 the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain 295 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:18.160 thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject 296 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:25.759 of energy, Chapter six, Weak Points and strong. Whoever is 297 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:28.319 first in the field and awaits the coming of the 298 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:32.000 enemy will be fresh for the fight. Whoever is second 299 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.839 in the field and has to hasten to battle, will 300 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:39.640 arrive exhausted. Therefore, the clever combatant imposes his will on 301 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.440 the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to 302 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:46.279 be imposed on him. By holding out advantages to him, 303 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.160 he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord, 304 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:52.960 or by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for 305 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:56.240 the enemy to draw near. If the enemy is taking 306 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:59.920 his ease, he can harass him. If well supplied with food, 307 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:03.559 he can starve him out. If quietly encamped, he can 308 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:07.279 force him to move. Appear at points which the enemy 309 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:11.160 must hasten to defend. March swiftly to places where you 310 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:15.720 are not expected. An army may march great distances without 311 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.960 distress if it marches through country where the enemy is 312 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:22.920 not You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks. 313 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:26.440 If you only attack places which are undefended. You can 314 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:29.359 assure the safety of your defense if you only hold 315 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:34.279 positions that cannot be attacked. Hence, that general is skillful 316 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:37.480 in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend, 317 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:40.599 and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not 318 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:46.559 know what to attack. Oh, divine art of subtlety and secrecy. 319 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:51.359 Through you, we learn to be invisible, Through you inaudible, 320 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:55.240 and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands. 321 00:21:56.519 --> 00:22:00.799 You may advance and be absolutely irresistible. If you make 322 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:04.079 for the enemy's weak points, you may retire and be 323 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:07.400 safe from pursuit. If your movements are more rapid than 324 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:11.200 those of the enemy. If we wish to fight, the 325 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:14.240 enemy can be forced to an engagement, even though he 326 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:17.240 be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. 327 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:20.960 All we need do is attack some other place that 328 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:23.960 he will be obliged to relieve. If we do not 329 00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:27.279 wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us, 330 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:29.839 even though the lines of our encampment may be merely 331 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:32.920 traced out on the ground. All we need do is 332 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:37.240 to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way. By 333 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:41.880 discovering the enemy's dispositions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can 334 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:45.799 keep our forces concentrated while the enemies must be divided. 335 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:49.920 We can form a single united body, while the enemy 336 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:53.400 must split up into fractions. Hence, there will be a 337 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:56.920 hole pitted against separate parts of a whole, which means 338 00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:01.079 that we shall be many to the enemy's view. If 339 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:04.160 we are able thus to attack an inferior force with 340 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:07.920 a superior one, our opponents will be in dire straits. 341 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:12.359 The spot where we intend to fight must not remain known, 342 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:14.920 for then the enemy will have to prepare against a 343 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:18.480 possible attack at several different points, and his forces being 344 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:21.720 thus distributed in many directions, the numbers we shall have 345 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:24.960 to face at any given point will be proportionately few. 346 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:28.720 For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken 347 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:32.039 his rear. Should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken 348 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:35.079 his van. Should he strengthen his left, he will weaken 349 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:37.960 his right. Should he strengthen his rights, he will weaken 350 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:42.880 his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere 351 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:47.759 be weak. Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against 352 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:52.480 possible attacks. Numerical strength from compelling our adversary to make 353 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:56.920 these preparations against us. Knowing the place and the time 354 00:23:57.000 --> 00:24:00.440 of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest 355 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:04.319 distances in order to fight. But if neither time nor 356 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:07.519 place be known, then the left wing will be impotent 357 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:10.920 to succor the right, the right equally impotent to succor 358 00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:14.279 the left, the van, unable to relieve the rear or 359 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:17.440 the rear to support the van. How much more so 360 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:20.839 if the furthest portions of the army are anything under 361 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:24.440 a hundred lie apart, and even the nearest are separated 362 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:29.160 by several lie. Though according to my estimates, the soldiers 363 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:32.839 of Yuey exceed our own in number, that shall avantage 364 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:36.119 them nothing in the matter of victory. I say, then, 365 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:40.799 that victory can be achieved. Though the enemy be stronger 366 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:44.880 in numbers. We may prevent him from fighting scheme so 367 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:48.400 as to discover his plans and the likelihood of their success. 368 00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:53.039 Rouse him and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. 369 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:55.880 Force him to reveal himself so as to find out 370 00:24:55.920 --> 00:25:00.759 his vulnerable spots. Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, 371 00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:04.759 so that you may know where strength is superabundant and 372 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:09.880 where it is deficient. In making tactical dispositions, the highest 373 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:14.480 pitch you can attain is to conceal them. Conceal your dispositions, 374 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.880 and you will be safe from the prying of the 375 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:21.839 subtlest spies from the machinations of the wisest brains. How 376 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:24.640 victory may be produced for them out of the enemy's 377 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:30.079 own tactics. That is what the multitude cannot comprehend. All 378 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:33.960 men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, But what 379 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:37.359 none can see is the strategy out of which victory 380 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:41.160 is evolved. Do not repeat the tactics which have gained 381 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:44.519 you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by 382 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:50.240 the infinite variety of circumstances. Military tactics are like unto water. 383 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:53.799 For water, in its natural course runs away from high 384 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:58.559 places and hastens downwards. So in war the way is 385 00:25:58.599 --> 00:26:01.240 to avoid what is strong and to strike at what 386 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:05.319 is weak. Water shapes its course according to the nature 387 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:08.440 of the ground over which it flows. The soldier works 388 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:10.799 out his victory in relation to the foe whom he 389 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:16.240 is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, 390 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:20.279 so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who 391 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:23.720 can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and 392 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:28.039 thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven born captain. 393 00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:34.400 The five elements water, fire, wood, metal, earth are not 394 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:38.920 always equally predominant. The four seasons make way for each other. 395 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:42.799 In turn. There are short days and long the moon 396 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:49.200 as its periods of waning and waxing. Chapter seven. Maneuvering 397 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:53.920 In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign. 398 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:58.559 Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, He must 399 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:02.880 blend and harmonize different elements thereof before pitching his camp. 400 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:07.640 After that comes tactical maneuvering, than which there is nothing 401 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:12.640