Armed Combat

Sun Tzu said:

“In general, the principles of warfare are: The general receives his commands from the ruler, unites the armies, and assembles the masses, and sets up camp. There is nothing more difficult than armed military combat. In armed military combat what is most difficult is turning the circuitous into the direct, and turning adversity into advantage.”

“Therefore if you make the enemy’s path circuitous and entice them with bait, although you set out after them you will arrive before them. This results from knowing the calculations of the circuitous and the direct.”

“Therefore armed combat between armies is advantageous; and armed combat between armies has risks. If the entire army mobilizes for advantage, you will not arrive in time. If you reduce the army’s size to mobilize for advantage, your stores and equipment will suffer losses.”

“For this reason if you abandon your armor and equipment to race forward day and night without stopping, covering two days normal distance at a time, marching forward for an advantage a hundred li away, the armies’ generals will be captured. The strong will be first to arrive, while the weak and exhausted will follow. With such tactics only one in ten will arrive at the battle site. If one marches forward for an advantage of fifty li away, it will cause the general of the front forces to be thwarted, and by following such tactics only one half the men will reach the battle site. If you march forward for an advantage at thirty li, then two-thirds of the army will reach the battle site.”

“For this reason, if the army does not have equipment it will be lost; if it does not have provisions it will be lost; if it does not have stores it will be lost.”

“Therefore one who does not know the plans of the rulers of our enemies, we cannot prepare alliances beforehand. Someone unfamiliar with the mountains and forests, gorges and defiles, the shape of swamps and wetlands cannot advance the army. One who does not employ local guides cannot gain advantages of the terrain.”

“Therefore the army is established on deception, mobilized by advantage, and changes through dividing up and reuniting troops. Therefore its advance is like the wind, it marches like the forest; its invades and plunders like a fire; unmoving, it stands like the mountains. It is formless like the darkness; in movement it strikes like thunder.”

“When you plunder the countryside, divide the wealth among your troops. When you enlarge your territory, divide up and hold places of advantage. Take control of the strategic balance of power, make calculations, and then move. The one who first understands the principles of the circuitous and the direct will be victorious. This is the strategy for armed military combat.”

“The Book ofMilitary Administration states: ‘Because they could not hear each other clearly in battle, they made gongs and drums; because they could not see each other clearly in battle, they made pennants and flags. Therefore in night battles the use of torches and drums are needed. Gongs, drums, pennants, and flags are the means to unify the men’s eyes and ears. When the men have been unified the courageous will not be able to advance alone, the cowardly will not be able to retreat alone. This is the method for employing large numbers of troops’.”

“Therefore in night battles, make the fires and drums numerous, and in daylight battles make the flags and pennants numerous in order to influence the men’s ears and eyes.”

“The vigor of the army can be snatched away; the commanding general’s mind can be seized. For this reason in the morning their vigor is burning; during the day their vigor becomes dampened; at dusk their vigor is exhausted. Therefore one who excels at use of force avoids their burning vigor and strikes when it is dampened or exhausted. This is the way to manage vigor.’’

“Disciplined await the disordered; in tranquility awaits the clamorous. This is the way to manage the mind.”

“With the near awaits the distant; with the rested await the fatigued; with the full await the hungry. This is the way to manage strength.”

“Do not do battle with well-ordered flags; do not attack well-regulated formations. This is the way to manage adaption.”

Therefore the principles of warfare are: Do not attack an enemy that has high ground. Do not attack those who have a hill behind them. Do not pursue feigned retreats. Do not attack elite or motivated troops. Do not swallow an enemy’s bait. Do not obstruct an army retreating homeward. If you surround an army you must leave an outlet. Do not press an enemy that is cornered. These are the principles of warfare.”