SUN-TZU: THE PRINCIPLES OF WARFARE "THE ART OF WAR"

Chapter Eleven:

Nine Grounds (continued)

It is important for a general to be calm and remote, upright and disciplined, and be able to mystify his men's eyes and ears, keeping them ignorant. ?

He changes his methods and plans, keeping them from knowing.

He changes his campsites and takes circuitous routes, keeping them from anticipating. ?

The day the general leads his troops into battle, it is like climbing up high and throwing away the ladder. ?

He leads his troops deep into enemy ground, and releases the trigger.

He burns his boats and destroys the cooking pots. ?

He commands his troops like herding sheep;
being herded to and fro without them knowing where they are going. ?

Assembling the masses of the army, and throwing them into danger are the responsibility of the general. ?

Adaptations to the nine grounds, the advantages in defensive and offensive maneuvers, and the patterns of human emotions must be examined. ?

Generally, the Way of invading is:

When troops are deep in enemy ground, they are united;

when troops are not deep in enemy ground, they are scattered. ?

Where you leave your country, and lead the troops across the border into enemy ground, this is called isolated ground.

Where there are four sides open, this is called intersecting ground.

Where you penetrated deep in enemy ground, this is called critical ground.

Where you penetrated little in enemy ground, this is called marginal ground.

Where the back is impassable and the front is narrow, this is called surrounded ground.

Where there is nowhere to go, this is called deadly ground. ?

Therefore, on dispersive ground, I have my troops united. ?

On marginal ground, I consolidate my troops. ?

On contentious ground, I hurry my back. ?

On open ground, I pay attention to our defenses. ?

On intersecting ground, I strengthen our alliances. ?

On critical ground, I maintain continuous supply of provisions. ?

On difficult ground, I press on quickly. ?

On surrounded ground, I block off openings. ?

On deadly ground, I show the troops our resolve to fight to the death. ?

Therefore, the nature of the army is:

To defend when surrounded, to fight hard when there are no other alternatives, and to obey commands promptly when in danger. ?

Therefore, one who does not know the intentions of the rulers of the neighboring states cannot secure alliances. ?

One who does not know the mountains and forests, gorges and defiles, swamps and wetlands cannot advance the army.

One who does not use local guides cannot take advantage of the ground. ?

One who does not know any one of these matters cannot command the army of a ruler. ?

When the army of a ruler attacks a great nation, the nation's masses cannot assemble.

When its power overwhelms the nation, alliances cannot be formed. ?

Therefore, one does not contend for alliances with other nations.

One does not foster the power of other nations.

If one pursues his aims, overwhelming the enemy, then, he can take the enemy's cities and overthrow kingdoms. ?

Give out rewards transcending law, give out commands transcending policy. ?

Command the masses like commanding one person. ?

Give your troops tasks, but do not reveal them your plans. ?

Get them to face danger, but do not reveal the advantages.

Throw them into danger and they will survive;
put them on deadly ground and they will live.

Only if the troops are in situations of danger will they turn defeat into victory. ?

The concern of warfare is that operations are in accord with the enemy's intentions. ?

If one then concentrates his strength on the enemy, killing his general a thousand li away, this is called achieving objectives through wit and skill. ?

Therefore, on the day war is declared, close off all borders, destroy all passports, and do not allow their envoys to pass. ?

Go through your plans in the temple and bring about the execution of those plans. ?

If the enemy presents an opportunity, take advantage of it. ?

Attack what he values most. ?

Do not advance on any fixed day or time;

calculate and adapt to the enemy to determine the matter of doing battle. ?

Therefore, be like a maiden;

once the enemy opens the door, be like a scurrying hare.

The enemy will be unable to prevail. ?

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Read also Introduction, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter13 END,


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