1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes

nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive

ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious

ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of

intersecting highways; (6) serious ground;

(7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground;

(9) desperate ground.

2. When a chieftain is fighting in his own

territory, it is dispersive ground.

3. When he has penetrated into hostile

territory, but to no great distance, it is

facile ground.

4. Ground the possession of which imports

great advantage to either side, is

contentious ground.

5. Ground on which each side has liberty of

movement is open ground.

6. Ground which forms the key to three

contiguous states, so that he who occupies

it first has most of the Empire at his

command, is a ground of intersecting

highways.

7. When an army has penetrated into the

heart of a hostile country, leaving a

number of fortified cities in its rear, it

is serious ground.

8. Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes

and fens--all country that is hard to

traverse: this is difficult ground.

9. Ground which is reached through narrow

gorges, and from which we can only retire

by tortuous paths, so that a small number

of the enemy would suffice to crush a large

body of our men: this is hemmed in ground.

10. Ground on which we can only be saved

from destruction by fighting without delay,

is desperate ground.

11. On dispersive ground, therefore, fight

not.

On facile ground, halt not.

On contentious ground, attack not.

12. On open ground, do not try to block the

enemy's way.

On the ground of intersecting highways,

join hands with your allies.

13. On serious ground, gather in plunder.

In difficult ground, keep steadily on the

march.

14. On hemmed-in ground, resort to

stratagem.

On desperate ground, fight.

15. Those who were called skillful leaders

of old knew how to drive a wedge between

the enemy's front and rear; to prevent co-

operation between his large and small

divisions; to hinder the good troops from

rescuing the bad, the officers from

rallying their men.

16. When the enemy's men were united, they

managed to keep them in disorder.

17. When it was to their advantage, they

made a forward move; when otherwise, they

stopped still.

18. If asked how to cope with a great host

of the enemy in orderly array and on the

point of marching to the attack, I should

say: "Begin by seizing something which

your opponent holds dear; then he will be

amenable to your will."

19. Rapidity is the essence of war: take

advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make

your way by unexpected routes, and attack

unguarded spots.

20. The following are the principles to be

observed by an invading force: The further

you penetrate into a country, the greater

will be the solidarity of your troops, and

thus the defenders will not prevail against

you.

21. Make forays in fertile country in order

to supply your army with food.

22. Carefully study the well-being of your

men, and do not overtax them.

Concentrate your energy and hoard your

strength.

Keep your army continually on the move, and

devise unfathomable plans.

23. Throw your soldiers into positions

whence there is no escape, and they will

prefer death to flight.

If they will face death, there is nothing

they may not achieve.

Officers and men alike will put forth their

uttermost strength.

24. Soldiers when in desperate straits lose

the sense of fear.

If there is no place of refuge, they will

stand firm.

If they are in hostile country, they will

show a stubborn front.

If there is no help for it, they will fight

hard.

25. Thus, without waiting to be marshaled,

the soldiers will be constantly on the qui

vive; without waiting to be asked, they

will do your will; without restrictions,

they will be faithful; without giving

orders, they can be trusted.

26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do

away with superstitious doubts.

Then, until death itself comes, no calamity

need be feared.

27. If our soldiers are not overburdened

with money, it is not because they have a

distaste for riches; if their lives are not

unduly long, it is not because they are

disinclined to longevity.

28. On the day they are ordered out to

battle, your soldiers may weep, those

sitting up bedewing their garments, and

those lying down letting the tears run down

their cheeks.

But let them once be brought to bay, and

they will display the courage of a Chu or a

Kuei.

29. The skillful tactician may be likened

to the shuai-jan.

Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found

in the ChUng mountains.

Strike at its head, and you will be

attacked by its tail; strike at its tail,

and you will be attacked by its head;

strike at its middle, and you will be

attacked by head and tail both.

30. Asked if an army can be made to imitate

the shuai-jan, I should answer, Yes.

For the men of Wu and the men of Yueh are

enemies; yet if they are crossing a river

in the same boat and are caught by a storm,

they will come to each other's assistance

just as the left hand helps the right.

31. Hence it is not enough to put one's

trust in the tethering of horses, and the

burying of chariot wheels in the ground

32. The principle on which to manage an

army is to set up one standard of courage

which all must reach.

33. How to make the best of both strong and

weak--that is a question involving the

proper use of ground.

34. Thus the skillful general conducts his

army just as though he were leading a

single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.

35. It is the business of a general to be

quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and

just, and thus maintain order.

36. He must be able to mystify his officers

and men by false reports and appearances,

and thus keep them in total ignorance.

37. By altering his arrangements and

changing his plans, he keeps the enemy

without definite knowledge.

By shifting his camp and taking circuitous

routes, he prevents the enemy from

anticipating his purpose.

38. At the critical moment, the leader of

an army acts like one who has climbed up a

height and then kicks away the ladder

behind him.

He carries his men deep into hostile

territory before he shows his hand.

39. He burns his boats and breaks his

cooking-pots; like a shepherd driving a

flock of sheep, he drives his men this way

and that, and nothing knows whither he is

going.