Planning Attacks

Sun Tzu said:

“In general, the method for employing the military is this: Preserving the nation is best, destroying the nation second-best. Preserving the battalions is best, destroying the battalions second-best. Preserving the companies is best, destroying the companies second-best. Preserving the squads is best, destroying the squads second-best. Therefore attaining one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the pinnacle of excellence. Subjugating the enemy’s army without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence.”

“Thus the highest realization of warfare is to attack the enemy’s plans; next is to attack their alliances; next to attack their army; and the lowest is to lay siege on their fortified cities.”

“This tactic of laying siege on fortified cities is adopted only when unavoidable. Preparing large protective shields, armored assault wagons, and other equipment will require three months. Building earthen mounds will require another three months to complete. If the general cannot control his patience but instead launched an assault wherein his men swarm over the walls, he will kill one-third of his officers and troops, and the city will still not be taken. This is the calamity that results from attacking fortified cities.”

“Therefore one who has skill at employing the military subdues the enemy’s armies without engaging in battle, captures their fortified cities without attacking them, and destroys their fortified cities without attacking them, and destroys their nation without prolonged warfare. His goal is to take all that is under Heaven, preserved and in tact. Thus his weapons will not become blunted, and the gains can be preserved. This is the principal for planning offensives.”

“In general, the strategy for employing the military is this: If your strength is ten times theirs, surround them; if five times, then attack them; if double, then divide them. If you are equal strength to the enemy, you can engage him. If fewer, you can evade them. If weaker, be able to avoid him. Therefore a small enemy that is inflexible will become captured by the larger enemy.”

“The general is the foundation of the nation. If his talents are well structured, the nation will be strong. If the supporting foundation is marked by imperfection, the nation will invariably crumble to the ground.”

“Thus there are three ways by which an army is put into difficulty by a ruler:

• “He does not know that the armies should not advance but instructs them to advance or does not know that the armies should not withdraw and orders a retreat. This is called entangling the army.
• “He does not understand the armies’ military affairs but directs them in the same way as his civil administration. Then the officers and troops will become confused.”
• “He does not understand the armies’ tactical balance of power but undertakes responsibility for command. Then the officers and troops will be skeptical.”

“When the armies are already confused and skeptical, the danger of other nations taking advantage of the situation arises. This is referred to as a disordered army leading another on to victory.”

“Therefore there are five factors from which victory can be known:

• “One who knows when he can fight, and when he cannot fight, will be victorious.”
• “One who understands how to employ large and small numbers will be victorious.”
• “One who knows how to unite upper and lower ranks for a common purpose will be victorious.”
• “One who is fully prepared, and awaits the unprepared will be victorious.”
• “One whose general is capable and not interfered with by the ruler will be victorious.”

“Therefore it is said that one who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be in danger in a hundred engagements. One who does not know the enemy but knows himself will sometimes be victorious, sometimes meet with defeat. One who knows neither the enemy nor himself will be defeated in every engagement.”