Military Force

Sun Tzu said:

“In general, commanding a large number is like commanding a few. It is a matter of dividing up the numbers into groups. Fighting with a large number is like fighting with a few. It is a matter of communication and configuration.”

“What enable the masses of the Armies invariably to withstand the enemy without being defeated are the unorthodox and orthodox.”

“If wherever the army attacks it is like a stone thrown against an egg, it is a matter of weakness and strength.”

“In general, in battle one resorts to the orthodox to engage the enemy and gains victory through the unorthodox. Therefore one who excels at bringing forth the unorthodox is as inexhaustible as Heaven, as unlimited as the rivers and seas. Like our sun and our moon, they set and rise again. And like our four seasons they die and are reborn.”

“The notes do not exceed five, yet the change of variations of these five notes can never all be heard. The colors do not exceed five, yet the changes of these five colors can never all be completely seen. The flavors do not exceed five, yet the changes of the five flavors can never be completely tasted. In warfare the strategic configurations of power do not exceed the unorthodox and orthodox, but the changes of the unorthodox and orthodox can never be completely exhausted. The unorthodox and orthodox mutually produce each other, just like an endless circle. Who can comprehend or exhaust them?”

“The strategic configuration of power is visible in the rush of torrential waters tumbling boulders along. The effect of timing is visible in the onrush of a hawk breaking the bones of its prey. Therefore the strategic configuration of power of those that excel in warfare is overwhelming, their timing precise. Their strategic configuration of power is like a fully drawn crossbow, their timing like the release of the trigger.”

“Even in the midst of great battle, the fighting appears chaotic, but they cannot be made bewildered. In turmoil and confusion, their deployment is circular, and they cannot be defeated.”

“Chaos is given birth from order; fear is given birth from courage; weakness is given birth from strength. Order and chaos are a question of numbers; courage and fear are a question of the strategic configuration of power; strength and weakness are a question of the deployment of forces.”

“Therefore one who excels at moving the enemy deploys in a configuration to which the enemy must respond. He offers bait that which the enemy must seize. By manipulating the enemy he moves them, with the proper foundation he awaits to ambush them.”

“Thus one who excels at warfare seeks victory through the strategic configuration of power, and not from reliance on individuals. Thus he is able to select right men and exploit strategic power.”

“One who employs strategic power commands men in battle as if he were rolling logs and boulders. The nature of logs and boulders is to be quiet when stable on flat ground, but to roll when on steep ground. The square shapes are still, but yet the round shapes roll. Therefore the strategic power of one who excels at employing men in warfare is comparable to the rolling of boulders down the side of a steep mountain. Such is the strategic configuration of power.”