The Waging Of War

Sun Tzu said:

“In general, the requirements for employing the military is this: Possession of one thousand four-horse attack chariots, one thousand leather-armored support chariots, one hundred thousand armored troops, and provisions being transported one thousand li, then the domestic and foreign campaign expenses, the expenditures for efforts of advisers and guests, materials such as glue and lacquer, and provisions of tribute chariots and armor will be one thousand pieces of gold per day. Only then can an army of one hundred thousand be mobilized.”

“When employing them in battle, seek a quick victory. A battle that is long in coming will blunt their weapons and dampen their spirits. If you lay siege to cities, their strength will be exhausted. If you expose the army to a prolonged campaign, the state’s resources will be inadequate.”

“When the weapons have grown dull and spirits depressed, and when our strength has been expended and resources consumed, the neighboring rulers will take advantage of our exhaustion to arise. Even the wisest generals, will not be able to prevent the consequences that will ensue.”

“Therefore in military campaigns I have heard of awkward speed but have never seen any skill in lengthy campaigns. No nation has ever profited from protracted warfare. Those who do not thoroughly comprehend the dangers inherent in employing the army are incapable of truly knowing the potential advantages of these actions.”

“One who is expert in employing the military does not enlist the people twice or transport provisions a third time. We must obtain your equipment from within the state and rely on seizing provisions from the enemy; therefore the army’s foodstuffs will be sufficient.”

“The nation is impoverished by the army when it transports provisions at great distances. When provisions are transported far off, the citizens of the nation will be impoverished.”

“Those in proximity to the army will sell their goods expensively. When goods are expensive, the nation’s wealth will be exhausted. When their wealth is exhausted, the citizens’ of the nation will be affected with increased burden and taxes.”

“When their strength has been expended and their wealth depleted, then the houses in the central plains will be improvised. The expenses of the citizens’ will be some seven-tenths of whatever they have. The government’s irrecoverable expenditures-such as ruined chariots, exhausted horses, armor, helmets, arrows and crossbows, halberds, protective shields, draft oxen, and large wagons, will consume six-tenths of their reserves.”

“Therefore the wise general will concentrate on securing provisions from the enemy. One bushel of the enemy’s foodstuffs is worth twenty of ours; one picul of fodder is worth twenty of our own.”

“Therefore what motivates men to kill the enemy is anger; what stimulates them to seize profits from the enemy is material reward. Therefore in chariot battles, when ten or more chariots are captured, reward the first to get one. Change their flags and pennants to our own; intermix and employ them with our own chariots. Treat the captured soldiers well in order to develop them for our use. This is referred to as ‘conquering the enemy and increasing our strength.’

“Therefore the important thing is being victorious; and not prolonged warfare.”

“Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of fate for the people, and governor of the nation’s security or endangerment.”