3. There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and special

1. Chapter 1 2. INTRODUCTION 3. Chapter XIII. The Use of Spies 4. INTRODUCTION 5. 1. TS’AO TS’AO or Ts’ao Kung, afterwards known as Wei Wu Ti [A.D. 6. 2. MENG SHIH. The commentary which has come down to us under this name 7. 3. LI CH’UAN of the 8th century was a well-known writer on military 8. 4. TU YU (died 812) did not publish a separate commentary on Sun Tzŭ, 9. 5. TU MU (803-852) is perhaps the best known as a poet—a bright star 10. 6. CH’EN HAO appears to have been a contemporary of Tu Mu. Ch’ao 11. 7. CHIA LIN is known to have lived under the T’ang dynasty, for his 12. 8. MEI YAO-CH’EN (1002-1060), commonly known by his "style" as Mei 13. 9. WANG HSI, also of the Sung dynasty, is decidedly original in some of 14. 10. HO YEN-HSI of the Sung dynasty. The personal name of this 15. 11. CHANG YU. The list closes with a commentator of no great 16. 1. _Wu Tzŭ_, in 1 _chuan_ or 6 chapters. By Wu Ch’i (_d_. 381 B.C.). A 17. 2. _Ssu-ma Fa_, in 1 _chuan_ or 5 chapters. Wrongly attributed to 18. 3. _Liu T’ao_, in 6 _chuan_, or 60 chapters. Attributed to Lu Wang (or 19. 4. _Wei Liao Tzŭ_, in 5 _chuan_. Attributed to Wei Liao (4th cent. 20. 5. _San Lueh_ in 3 _chuan_. Attributed to Huang-shih Kung, a legendary 21. 6. _Li Wei Kung Wen Tui_, in 3 sections. Written in the form of a 22. 7. _Li Ching Ping Fa_ (not to be confounded with the foregoing) is a 23. 8. _Wu Ch’i Ching_, in 1 _chuan_. Attributed to the legendary minister 24. 9. The mistake is natural enough. Native critics refer to a work of the 25. 10. "They attached strings to wood to make bows, and sharpened wood to 26. 11. The son and successor of Ho Lu. He was finally defeated and 27. 12. King Yen of Hsu, a fabulous being, of whom Sun Hsing-yen says in 28. 13. The passage I have put in brackets is omitted in the _T’u Shu_, and 29. 14. Ts’ao Kung seems to be thinking of the first part of chap. II, 30. 16. On the other hand, it is noteworthy that _Wu Tzŭ_, which is not in 31. 20. See Chapter 11, § 28. Chuan Chu is the abbreviated form of his 32. 22. The nucleus of this work is probably genuine, though large 33. 24. I do not know what this work, unless it be the last chapter of 34. 28. Ssu-ma Jang-chu, whose family name was T’ien, lived in the latter 35. 29. See Legge’s Classics, vol. V, Prolegomena p. 27. Legge thinks that 36. 31. When Wu first appears in the _Ch’un Ch’iu_ in 584, it is already at 37. 33. There is this to be said for the later period, that the feud would 38. 34. With Wu Yuan himself the case is just the reverse:—a spurious 39. 35. From _Tso Chuan:_ "From the date of King Chao’s accession [515] 40. 36. Preface ad fin: "My family comes from Lo-an, and we are really 41. 37. Hoa-yin is about 14 miles from T’ung-kuan on the eastern border of 42. 40. Cf. Catalogue of the library of Fan family at Ningpo: "His 43. 42. It is interesting to note that M. Pelliot has recently discovered 44. 43. The Hsia, the Shang and the Chou. Although the last-named was 45. 46. This appears to be still extant. See Wylie’s "Notes," p. 91 (new 46. 48. A notable person in his day. His biography is given in the _San Kuo 47. 53. The few Europeans who have yet had an opportunity of acquainting 48. 66. The other four being worship, mourning, entertainment of guests, 49. 68. This is a rather obscure allusion to the _Tso Chuan_, where 50. 70. Sun Hsing-yen might have quoted Confucius again. See _Lun Yu_, 51. 74. See XIII. § 27, note. Further details on T’ai Kung will be found in 52. Chapter I. LAYING PLANS 53. 2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to 54. 3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be 55. 4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The 56. 7. _Heaven_ signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons. 57. 8. _Earth_ comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; 58. 9. _The Commander_ stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, 59. 10. By _Method and discipline_ are to be understood the marshalling of 60. 11. These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows 61. 12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the 62. 13. (1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law? 63. 14. By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or 64. 15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will 65. 16. While heeding the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any 66. 17. According as circumstances are favourable, one should modify one’s 67. 18. All warfare is based on deception. 68. 19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our 69. 20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. 70. 21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in 71. 22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. 72. 23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. 73. 24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not 74. 25. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged 75. 26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his 76. Chapter II. WAGING WAR 77. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: In the operations of war, where there are in the field 78. 2. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, 79. 3. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State 80. 4. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardour damped, your strength 81. 5. Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has 82. 6. There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged 83. 7. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war 84. 8. The skilful soldier does not raise a second levy, neither are his 85. 9. Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus 86. 10. Poverty of the State exchequer causes an army to be maintained by 87. 11. On the other hand, the proximity of an army causes prices to go up; 88. 12. When their substance is drained away, the peasantry will be 89. 15. Hence a wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One 90. 16. Now in order to kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger; 91. 17. Therefore in chariot fighting, when ten or more chariots have been 92. 18. This is called, using the conquered foe to augment one’s own 93. 19. In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy 94. 20. Thus it may be known that the leader of armies is the arbiter of 95. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is 96. 2. Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme 97. 3. Thus the highest form of generalship is to baulk the enemy’s plans; 98. 4. The rule is, not to besiege walled cities if it can possibly be 99. 5. The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his men 100. 6. Therefore the skilful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any 101. 7. With his forces intact he will dispute the mastery of the Empire, 102. 8. It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy’s one, to 103. 9. If equally matched, we can offer battle; 104. 10. Hence, though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, in 105. 11. Now the general is the bulwark of the State: if the bulwark is 106. 12. There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his 107. 13. (1) By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant 108. 14. (2) By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he 109. 15. (3) By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, 110. 16. But when the army is restless and distrustful, trouble is sure to 111. 17. Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: (1) He 112. 18. Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need 113. Chapter IV. TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS 114. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond 115. 2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the 116. 3. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, 117. 4. Hence the saying: One may _know_ how to conquer without being able 118. 5. Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat 119. 6. Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; 120. 7. The general who is skilled in defence hides in the most secret 121. 8. To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is 122. 9. Neither is it the acme of excellence if you fight and conquer and 123. 10. To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength; 124. 11. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, 125. 12. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor 126. 13. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. 127. 14. Hence the skilful fighter puts himself into a position which makes 128. 15. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle 129. 16. The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly 130. 17. In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; 131. 18. Measurement owes its existence to Earth; Estimation of quantity to 132. 19. A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as a pound’s weight 133. 20. The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up 134. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: The control of a large force is the same principle as 135. 2. Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different 136. 3. To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the 137. 4. That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against 138. 5. In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, 139. 6. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhausible as Heaven 140. 7. There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of 141. 8. There are not more than five primary colours (blue, yellow, red, 142. 10. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack—the direct 143. 11. The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is 144. 12. The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even 145. 13. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon 146. 14. Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and 147. 15. Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to 148. 16. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming 149. 17. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear 150. 18. Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of 151. 19. Thus one who is skilful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains 152. 20. By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body 153. 21. The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and 154. 22. When he utilises combined energy, his fighting men become as it 155. 23. Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum 156. Chapter VI. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG 157. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of 158. 2. Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but 159. 3. By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach 160. 4. If the enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him; 161. 5. Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march 162. 6. An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches 163. 7. You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack 164. 8. Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not 165. 9. O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be 166. 10. You may advance and be absolutely irresistible, if you make for the 167. 11. If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even 168. 12. If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging 169. 13. By discovering the enemy’s dispositions and remaining invisible 170. 14. We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up 171. 15. And if we are able thus to attack an inferior force with a superior 172. 16. The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then 173. 17. For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; 174. 18. Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible 175. 19. Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may 176. 20. But if neither time nor place be known, then the left wing will be 177. 21. Though according to my estimate the soldiers of Yüeh exceed our own 178. 22. Though the enemy be stronger in numbers, we may prevent him from 179. 23. Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. 180. 24. Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may 181. 25. In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain 182. 26. How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy’s own 183. 27. All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can 184. 28. Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but 185. 29. Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural 186. 30. So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what 187. 31. Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over 188. 32. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare 189. 33. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and 190. 34. The five elements (water, fire, wood, metal, earth) are not always 191. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: In war, the general receives his commands from the 192. 2. Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blend 193. 3. After that, comes tactical manœuvering, than which there is nothing 194. 4. Thus, to take a long and circuitous route, after enticing the enemy 195. 5. Manœuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined 196. 6. If you set a fully equipped army in march in order to snatch an 197. 7. Thus, if you order your men to roll up their buff-coats, and make 198. 8. The stronger men will be in front, the jaded ones will fall behind, 199. 9. If you march fifty _li_ in order to outmanœuver the enemy, you will 200. 10. If you march thirty _li_ with the same object, two-thirds of your 201. 11. We may take it then that an army without its baggage-train is lost; 202. 12. We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the 203. 13. We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar 204. 14. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we 205. 15. In war, practise dissimulation, and you will succeed. 206. 16. Whether to concentrate or to divide your troops, must be decided by 207. 17. Let your rapidity be that of the wind, 208. 18. In raiding and plundering be like fire, 209. 19. Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you 210. 20. When you plunder a countryside, let the spoil be divided amongst 211. 21. Ponder and deliberate before you make a move. 212. 22. He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation. 213. 23. The Book of Army Management says: 214. 24. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and 215. 25. The host thus forming a single united body, is it impossible either 216. 26. In night-fighting, then, make much use of signal-fires and drums, 217. 27. A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; 218. 28. Now a soldier’s spirit is keenest in the morning; 219. 29. A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is 220. 30. Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder and 221. 31. To be near the goal while the enemy is still far from it, to wait 222. 32. To refrain from intercepting an enemy whose banners are in perfect 223. 33. It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor 224. 34. Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight; do not attack soldiers 225. 35. Do not swallow a bait offered by the enemy. 226. 36. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. 227. 37. Such is the art of warfare. 228. Chapter VIII. VARIATION OF TACTICS 229. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: In war, the general receives his commands from the 230. 2. When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high 231. 3. There are roads which must not be followed, 232. 4. The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany 233. 5. The general who does not understand these, may be well acquainted 234. 6. So, the student of war who is unversed in the art of war of varying 235. 7. Hence in the wise leader’s plans, considerations of advantage and of 236. 8. If our expectation of advantage be tempered in this way, we may 237. 9. If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always 238. 10. Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them; 239. 11. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the 240. 12. There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: (1) 241. 13. These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinous to the 242. 14. When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause will 243. Chapter IX. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH 244. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: We come now to the question of encamping the army, and 245. 2. Camp in high places, 246. 3. After crossing a river, you should get far away from it. 247. 4. When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not 248. 5. If you are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invader 249. 6. Moor your craft higher up than the enemy, and facing the sun. 250. 7. In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over 251. 8. If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass 252. 9. In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible position with 253. 10. These are the four useful branches of military knowledge 254. 11. All armies prefer high ground to low, 255. 12. If you are careful of your men, 256. 13. When you come to a hill or a bank, occupy the sunny side, with the 257. 14. When, in consequence of heavy rains up-country, a river which you 258. 15. Country in which there are precipitous cliffs with torrents running 259. 16. While we keep away from such places, we should get the enemy to 260. 17. If in the neighbourhood of your camp there should be any hilly 261. 18. When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on 262. 19. When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious 263. 20. If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a 264. 21. Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the enemy is 265. 22. The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. 266. 23. When there is dust rising in a high column, it is the sign of 267. 24. Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is 268. 25. When the light chariots come out first and take up a position on 269. 26. Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot. 270. 27. When there is much running about 271. 29. When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint 272. 30. If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, 273. 31. If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to 274. 32. If birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. 275. 33. If there is disturbance in the camp, the general’s authority is 276. 34. When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for 277. 35. The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in 278. 36. Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his 279. 37. To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy’s 280. 38. When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign 281. 39. If the enemy’s troops march up angrily and remain facing ours for a 282. 40. If our troops are no more in number than the enemy, that is amply 283. 41. He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is 284. 42. If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, 285. 43. Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with 286. 44. If in training soldiers commands are habitually enforced, the army 287. 45. If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his 288. Chapter X. TERRAIN 289. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit: (1) 290. 2. Ground which can be freely traversed by both sides is called 291. 3. With regard to ground of this nature, be before the enemy in 292. 4. Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called 293. 5. From a position of this sort, if the enemy is unprepared, you may 294. 6. When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the 295. 7. In a position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us an 296. 8. With regard to _narrow passes_, if you can occupy them first, let 297. 9. Should the enemy forestall you in occupying a pass, do not go after 298. 10. With regard to _precipitous heights_, if you are beforehand with 299. 11. If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but 300. 12. If you are situated at a great distance from the enemy, and the 301. 13. These six are the principles connected with Earth. 302. 14. Now an army is exposed to six several calamities, not arising from 303. 15. Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against 304. 16. When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too 305. 17. When the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, and on 306. 18. When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are 307. 19. When a general, unable to estimate the enemy’s strength, allows an 308. 20. These are six ways of courting defeat, which must be carefully 309. 21. The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally; 310. 22. He who knows these things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into 311. 23. If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even 312. 24. The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without 313. 25. Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you 314. 26. If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority 315. 27. If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but are 316. 28. If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that 317. 29. If we know that the enemy is open to attack, and also know that our 318. 30. Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; 319. 31. Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, your 320. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: The art of war recognises nine varieties of ground: 321. 2. When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive 322. 3. When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to no great 323. 4. Ground the possession of which imports great advantage to either 324. 5. Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is open ground. 325. 6. Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states, 326. 7. When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile country, 327. 8. Mountain forests, 328. 9. Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from which we can 329. 10. Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting 330. 11. On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt 331. 12. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy’s way. 332. 13. On serious ground, gather in plunder. 333. 14. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. 334. 15. Those who were called skilful leaders of old knew how to drive a 335. 16. When the enemy’s men were scattered, they prevented them from 336. 17. When it was to their advantage, they made a forward move; when 337. 18. If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly 338. 19. Rapidity is the essence of war: 339. 20. The following are the principles to be observed by an invading 340. 21. Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your army with 341. 22. Carefully study the well-being of your men, 342. 23. Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and 343. 24. Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there 344. 25. Thus, without waiting to be marshalled, the soldiers will be 345. 26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious 346. 27. If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because 347. 28. On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep, 348. 29. The skilful tactician may be likened to the _shuai-jan_. Now the 349. 30. Asked if an army can be made to imitate the _shuai-jan_, 350. 31. Hence it is not enough to put one’s trust in the tethering of 351. 32. The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard 352. 33. How to make the best of both strong and weak—that is a question 353. 34. Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were 354. 35. It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure 355. 36. He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports 356. 37. By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, 357. 38. At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has 358. 39. He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like a shepherd 359. 40. To muster his host and bring it into danger:—this may be termed the 360. 41. The different measures suited to the nine varieties of ground; 361. 42. When invading hostile territory, the general principle is, that 362. 43. When you leave your own country behind, and take your army across 363. 44. When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious ground. 364. 45. When you have the enemy’s strongholds on your rear, and narrow 365. 46. Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspire my men with unity 366. 47. On contentious ground, I would hurry up my rear. 367. 48. On open ground, I would keep a vigilant eye on my defences. On 368. 49. On serious ground, I would try to ensure a continuous stream of 369. 50. On hemmed-in ground, I would block any way of retreat. 370. 51. For it is the soldier’s disposition to offer an obstinate 371. 52. We cannot enter into alliance with neighbouring princes until we are 372. 53. To be ignorant of any one of the following four or five principles 373. 54. When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, his generalship 374. 55. Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and sundry, nor 375. 56. Bestow rewards without regard to rule, 376. 57. Confront your soldiers with the deed itself; never let them know 377. 58. Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it 378. 59. For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm’s way that is 379. 60. Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves 380. 61. By persistently hanging on the enemy’s flank, 381. 63. On the day that you take up your command, block the frontier 382. 64. Be stern in the council-chamber, 383. 66. Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, 384. 67. Walk in the path defined by rule, 385. 68. At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy 386. Chapter XII. THE ATTACK BY FIRE 387. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: There are five ways of attacking with fire. The first 388. 2. In order to carry out an attack, we must have means available. 389. 3. There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and special 390. 4. The proper season is when the weather is very dry; the special days 391. 5. In attacking with fire, one should be prepared to meet five possible 392. 6. (1) When fire breaks out inside the enemy’s camp, respond at once 393. 7. (2) If there is an outbreak of fire, but the enemy’s soldiers remain 394. 8. (3) When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it 395. 9. (4) If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do 396. 10. (5) When you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from 397. 11. A wind that rises in the daytime lasts long, but a night breeze 398. 12. In every army, the five developments connected with fire must be 399. 13. Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence; 400. 14. By means of water, an enemy may be intercepted, but not robbed of 401. 15. Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed 402. 16. Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; 403. 17. Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless 404. 18. No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own 405. 19. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where 406. 20. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by 407. 21. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again 408. 22. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full 409. 1. Sun Tzŭ said: Raising a host of a hundred thousand men and marching 410. 2. Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for the 411. 3. One who acts thus is no leader of men, no present help to his 412. 4. Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike 413. 5. Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot be 414. 6. Knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions can only be obtained from 415. 7. Hence the use of spies, of whom there are five classes: (1) Local 416. 8. When these five kinds of spy are all at work, none can discover the 417. 9. Having _local spies_ means employing the services of the inhabitants 418. 10. Having _inward spies_, making use of officials of the enemy. 419. 11. Having _converted spies_, getting hold of the enemy’s spies and 420. 12. Having _doomed spies_, doing certain things openly for purposes of 421. 13. _Surviving spies_, finally, are those who bring back news from the 422. 14. Hence it is that with none in the whole army are more intimate 423. 15. Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive 424. 16. They cannot be properly managed without benevolence and 425. 17. Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the 426. 18. Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of 427. 19. If a secret piece of news is divulged by a spy before the time is 428. 20. Whether the object be to crush an army, to storm a city, or to 429. 21. The enemy’s spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, 430. 22. It is through the information brought by the converted spy that we 431. 23. It is owing to his information, again, that we can cause the doomed 432. 24. Lastly, it is by his information that the surviving spy can be used 433. 25. The end and aim of spying in all its five varieties is knowledge of 434. 26. Of old, the rise of the Yin dynasty 435. 27. Hence it is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who