Art of War (Seni Peperangan) - Sun Tzu

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Ideologi dan teknik ni sesuai digunakan untuk berjaya dalam perang dgn competitor
teknik-teknik yang kita dapat bagaimana nak compete dengan pesaing kita. Kini
falsafah dan idea Sun Tzu digabungkan dgn karya niccolo machiavelli'The Prince' utk membentuk satu gagasan idea kepimpinan dan kuasa...kalau bagi mereka yg dah baca The Concise 48 Laws of Power by RobertGreene & Joost Elffers sure dah faham benar taktik sun tzu danmachiavellian nih..
Apa pendapat korang?

Strategi untuk Menang


Strategi 1
Perdaya Langit untuk melewati Samudera.
Bergerak di kegelapan dan bayang-bayang, menggunakan tempat-tempattersembunyi, atau bersembunyi di belakang layar hanya akan menarikkecurigaan. Untuk memperlemah pertahanan musuh anda harus bertindak ditempat terbuka menyembunyikan maksud tersembunyi anda dengan aktivitibiasa sehari-hari.


Strategi 2
Kepung Wei untuk menyelamatkan Zhao.
Ketika musuh terlalu kuat untuk diserang, seranglah sesuatu yangberharga yang dimilikinya. Ketahui bahwa musuh tidak selalu kuat disemua hal. Entah dimana, pasti ada celah di antara senjatanya,kelemahan pasti dapat diserang. Dengan kata lain, anda dapat menyerangsesuatu yang berhubungan atau dianggap berharga oleh musuh untukmelemahkannya secara psikologi.


Strategi 3
Bunuh dengan pisau pinjaman.
Serang dengan menggunakan kekuatan pihak lain (karena kekuatan yangminim atau tidak ingin menggunakan kekuatan sendiri). Perdaya sekutuuntuk menyerang musuh, sogok orang kepercayaan musuh untuk menjadipenghianat, atau gunakan kekuatan musuh untuk melawan dirinya sendiri.


Strategi 4
Buat musuh kelelahan sambil menghemat tenaga.
Adalah sebuah keuntungan, merencanakan waktu dan tempat pertempuran.Dengan cara ini, anda akan tahu bila dan di mana pertempuran akanberlangsung, sementara musuh anda tidak. Dorong musuh anda untukmenggunakan tenaga secara sia-sia sambil anda mengumpulkan/menghemattenaga. Saat ia lelah dan bingung, anda dapat menyerangnya


Strategi 5
Merompak sebuah rumah yang terbakar.
Ketika sesebuah negara mengalami konflik dalaman, ketika terjangkitpenyakit dan kelaparan, ketika korupsi dan kejahatan maharajalela, makaia tidak akan boleh menghadapi ancaman dari luar. Inilah waktunya untukmenyerang.


Strategi 6
Berpura-pura menyerang dari timur dan menyeranglah dari barat.
Pada tiap pertempuran, elemen dari sebuah kejutan dapat menghasilkankeuntungan ganda. Bahkan ketika berhadapan langsung dengan musuh,kejutan masih dapat digunakan dengan melakukan penyerangan saat merekalengah. Untuk melakukannya, anda harus membuat perkiraan akan apa yangada dalam benak musuh melalui sebuah tipu daya.


Strategi Berhadapan dengan Musuh
Strategi 7
Buatlah sesuatu untuk hal kosong.
Anda menggunakan tipu daya yang sama dua kali. Setelah bereaksiterhadap tipuan pertama dan 朾iasanya- kedua, musuh akan ragu-raguuntuk bereaksi pada tipuan yang ketiga. Oleh karenanya, tipuan ketigaadalah serangan sebenarnya untuk menangkap musuh saat pertahanannyalemah.


Strategi 8
Perbaiki jalan utama untuk mengambil jalan lain.
Serang musuh dengan dua kekuatan utama.. Yang pertama adalahserangan langsung, sesuatu yang sangat jelas dan membuat musuhmempersiapkan pertahanannya. Yang kedua secara tidak langsung, sebuahserangan yang menakutkan, musuh tidak mengira dan membagi kekuatannyasehingga pada saat-saat terakhir mengalami kebingungan dan kekalahan.


Strategi 9
Pantau api yang terbakar sepanjang sungai.
Tunda untuk memasuki wilayah pertempuran sampai seluruh pihak yangbertikai mengalami kelelahan akibat pertempuran yang terjadi antaramereka. Kemudian seranglah dengan kekuatan penuh dan habiskan.


Strategi 10
Pisau tersarung dalam senyuman.
Puji dan ampu musuh anda. Ketika anda mendapat kepercayaan darinya, anda bergerak melawannya secara rahasia.


Strategi 11
Mengorbankan perak untuk mempertahankan emas.
Ada suatu keadaan dimana anda harus mengorbankan tujuan jangkapendek untuk mendapatkan tujuan jangka panjang. Ini adalah strategikambing hitam dimana seseorang akan dikorbankan untuk menyelamatkanyang lain.


Strategi 12
Mencuri kambing sepanjang perjalanan.
Sementara tetap berpegang pada rencana, anda harus cukup fleksibeluntuk mengambil keuntungan dari tiap kesempatan yang ada sekecil apapun.


Strategi Penyerangan
Strategi 13
Kejutkan ular dengan memukul rumput di sekitarnya.
Ketika anda tidak mengetahui muslihat lawan secara jelas, serang danpelajari reaksi lawan. Perilakunya akan membongkar strateginya.


Strategi 14
Menghidupkan kembali orang mati.
Ambil sebuah idea, teknologi, atau sebuah teknik yang telah dilupakanatau tidak digunakan lagi dan gunakan untuk kepentingan diri sendiri.Hidupkan kembali sesuatu dari masa lalu dengan memberinya tujuan baruatau terjemahkan kembali, dan bawa idea-idea lama, kebiasaan, dantradisi ke kehidupan sehari-hari.


Strategi 15
Memancing harimau untuk meninggalkan sarangnya.
Jangan pernah menyerang secara langsung musuh yang memilikikeunggulan sebab posisinya yang baik. Pancing mereka untuk meninggalkansarangnya sehingga mereka akan terjauh dari sumber kekuatannya.


Strategi 16
Pada saat menangkap, lepaslah satu orang.
Mangsa yang terdesak biasanya akan menyerang secara membabi buta. Untukmencegah hal ini, biarkan musuh percaya bahwa masih ada kesempatanuntuk bebas. Hasrat mereka untuk menyerang akan hilang dengan keinginanuntuk melarikan diri. Ketika pada akhirnya kebebasan yang merekainginkan tersebut tak terbukti, moral musuh akan jatuh dan mereka akanmenyerah tanpa perlawanan.


Strategi 17
Melempar Batu Bata untuk mendapatkan Jed.
Persiapkan sebuah perangkap dan perdaya musuh anda dengan umpan. Dalamperang, umpan adalah ilusi atas sebuah kesempatan untuk memperolehhasil. Dalam keseharian, umpan adalah ilusi atas kekayaan, kekuasaan,dan wanita.


Strategi 18
Kalahkan musuh dengan menangkap pemimpinnya.
Jika tentara musuh kuat tetapi dipimpin oleh komandan yang mengandalkanwang dan ancaman, maka tangkap pemimpinnya. Jika komandan mati atautertangkap maka sisa pasukannya akan terpecah belah atau akan lari kepihak anda. Akan tetapi jika pasukan terikat atas sebuah kesetiaanterhadap pimpinannya, maka berhati-hatilah, pasukan akan dapatmelanjutkan perlawanan dengan semangat balas dendam.


Strategi Huru-Hara
Strategi 19
Jauhkan kayu bakar dari tungku masak.
Ketika berhadapan dengan musuh yang sangat kuat untuk menghadapinyasecara langsung anda harus melemahkannya dengan meruntuhkan formasinyadan menyerang sumber kekuatannya.

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Strategi 20
Memancing di air keruh.
Sebelum menghadapi pasukan musuh, buatlah sebuah kekacauan untukmemperlemah pikiran dan pertimbangan mereka. Buatlah sesuatu yang tidakbiasa, aneh, dan tak terpikirkan sehingga menimbulkan kecurigaan musuhdan mengacaukan pikirannya. Musuh yang bingung akan lebih mudah untukdiserang.


Strategi 21
Lepaskan kulit serangga.
Ketika anda dalam keadaan terdesak, dan anda hanya memiliki kesempatanuntuk melarikan diri dan harus membentuk pasukan, buatlah sebuah ilusi.Sementara perhatian musuh tertumpu atas muslihat yang anda lakukan,pindahkan pasukan anda secara rahasia di belakang muka anda yangterlihat.


Strategi 22
Tutup pintu untuk menangkap pencuri.
Jika anda memiliki kesempatan untuk menangkap seluruh musuh makalakukanlah, sehingga dengan demikian pertempuran akan segera berakhir.Membiarkan musuh untuk lepas akan menanam bibit dari masalah baru. Akantetapi jika mereka berhasil melarikan diri, berhati-hatilah dalammelakukan pengejaran.


Strategi 23
Berteman dengan negara jauh dan serang negara tetangga.
Lazimnya diketahui bahwa negara yang bersempadanan satu sama lainmenjadi musuh, sementara negara yang terpisah jauh merupakan sekutuyang baik. Ketika anda adalah negara yang terkuat di sebuah wilayah,ancaman terbesar adalah dari negara kedua terkuat di wilayah tersebut,bukan dari yang terkuat di wilayah lain.


Strategi 24
Cari laluan aman untuk menjajah Kerajaan Guo.
Pinjam kekuatan sekutu untuk menyerang musuh bersama. Sesudah musuhdikalahkan, gunakan kekuatan tersebut untuk menempatkan sekutu andapada posisi pertama 杣ntuk diserang-.


Strategi Pendekatan
Strategy 25
Gantikan balak dengan kayu buruk.
Kacau formasi musuh, ganggu operasinya, ubah peraturan-peraturanyang digunakannya, buatlah sebuah hal yang berlawanan dengan latihanstandardnya. Dengan cara ini anda telah meruntuhkan tiang-tiangpenyokong yang diperlukankan oleh musuh dalam membangun pasukan yangkuat.


Strategi 26
Lihat pada pohon muberi dan ganggu ulatnya.
Untuk mendisiplinkan, mengawal, dan mengingatkan suatu pihak yangstatus atau kedudukannya di luar pertemuan secara langsung; gunakanejekan atau sindiran. Tanpa langsung menyebut nama, pihak yang tertuduhtidak akan dapat memukul balik tanpa ketahui pihak yang jelas.


Strategi 27
Berlagak cerdik.
Sembunyi di balik muka cerdik, mabuk, atau gila untuk menyebabkankebingungan utk tujuan dan motif anda. Perangkap lawan anda ke dalamsikap meremehkan kemampuan anda sampai pada akhirnya terlalu yakin akandiri sendiri sehingga menurunkan tahap pertahanannya. Pada situasi inianda dapat menyerangnya.


Strategi 28
Robohkan jambatan ketika musuh telah sampai di atasnya.
Dengan umpan dan tipu muslihat perdayakan musuh anda ke dalam daerahberbahaya. Kemudian putuskan ruang komunikasi dan jalan untuk melarikandiri. Untuk menyelamatkan dirinya, dia harus bertarung dengan kekuatananda dan sekaligus elemen alam.


Strategi 29
Hias pohon dengan bunga palsu.
Menampalkan sutera di atas pohon memberikan sebuah gambaran bahwapohon tersebut sehat. Dengan menggunakan muslihat dan penyamaran akanmembuat sesuatu yang tidak bernilai tampak berharga; tak mengancamkelihatan berbahaya; bukan apa-apa kelihatan berguna.


Strategi 30
Jadikan tuan rumah dan tetamu bertukar tempat.
Kalahkan musuh dari dalam dengan menyusup ke dalam benteng lawan denganmuslihat kerjasama, penyerahan diri, atau perjanjian damai. Dengan caraini anda akan menemukan kelemahan dan kemudian saat pasukan musuhsedang beristirahat, serang secara langsung ke kubu pertahanannya.


Strategi Kalah

Strategi 31
Perangkap indah.
Kirim kepada musuh anda perempuan-perempuan cantik yang akanmenyebabkan perselisihan di kubu pertahanannya. Strategi ini dapatbekerja pada tiga tingkatan. Pertama, pemimpin akan terpesona olehkecantikannya sehingga akan melalaikan tugasnya dan tingkatkewaspadaannya akan menurun. Kedua, para laki-laki akan menunjukkansikap agresifnya yang akan menimbulkan perselisihan kecil di antaramereka, menyebabkan lemahnya kerjasama dan jatuhnya tahap semangat.Ketiga, para perempuan pihak musuh akan terganggu oleh rasa cemburu daniri, sehingga akan membuat masalah yang pada akhirnya akan semakinmemperburukan situasi.


Strategi 32
Kosongkan benteng.
Ketika musuh kuat dalam segi jumlah dan situasinya tidakmenuntungkan bagi diri anda, maka batalkankan seluruh muslihatketenteran dan bertindaklah seperti biasa. Jika musuh tidak mengetahuisecara pasti situasi anda, tindakan yang tidak biasanya ini akanmeningkatkan kewaspadaan. Dengan sebuah keberuntungan, musuh akanmengurangkan serangan.


Strategi 33
Biarkan pengintip musuh menyebarkan konflik di wilayahpertahanannya. (Gunakan pengintip musuh untuk menyebarkan maklumatpalsu.)
Perlemah kemampuan tempur musuh anda dengan secara diam-diam denganmembuat konflik antara musuh dan teman, sekutu, penasihat, komander,tentera, dan rakyatnya. Sementara ia sibuk untuk menyelesaikan konflikdalamannya, kemampuan tempur dan bertahannya akan lemah.


Strategi 34
Lukai diri sendiri untuk mendapatkan kepercayaan musuh. (Masuk ke dalam perangkap; jadilah umpan.)
Berpura-pura terluka akan mengakibatkan dua kemungkinan. Kemungkinanpertama, musuh akan bersantai sejenak oleh karena dia melihat andasebagai bukan sebuah ancaman serius. Yang kedua adalah jalan untukmenipu musuh anda dengan berpura-pura luka oleh sebab itu musuh akanmerasa aman.


Strategi 35
Ikat seluruh kapal musuh secara bersusun. (Jangan pernah bergantung pada satu strategi.)
Dalam hal-hal penting, seseorang harus menggunakan beberapa strategiyang dijalankan secara serentak. Tetap berpegang pada rancanganberbeza-beza yang dijalankan pada sebuah skala besar; dengan cara ini,jika satu strategi gagal, anda masih memiliki beberapa strategi untuktetap maju.


Strategi 36
Selain dari semua hal di atas, salah satu yang paling dikenal adalah strategi ke 36:
Lari untuk bertempur di lain waktu. Hal ini diabadikan dalam bentuk peribahasa Cina:

pasolatido

bagi aku buku

iblismerah

aha.. ilmu nih.. terima kasih..

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[quote]Originally posted by pasolatido at 27-12-2007 05:08 PM
bagi aku buku

[X]

good strategy

nik2121

Bgnya strategi dlm Counter-Strike sudah mencukupi

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Originally posted by nik2121 at 28-12-2007 12:31 AM
Bgnya strategi dlm Counter-Strike sudah mencukupi

hahaha  Ilmu itu luas dan kita dituntut untuk menuntut ilmu hingga ke liang lahad mahupun hingga ke negeri cina. Setiap perkara ada kelebihan dan kekurangan. Jangan memandang rendah terhadap ilmu wahai saudara. Mungkin strategi dlm counter strike dah mencukupi untuk keperluan hidup saudara. Mungkin ilmu ini tak penting bagi saudara yg hanya makan dan tidur.. . Setiap perkara ada persaingan dan tak mungkin kita nak biarkan maruah dan kejayaan yg kita perolehi dgn titik peluh hancur begitu saja.
Sy bagi contoh dgn lebih dekat, sesetengah org melayu kita tak boleh pandang kejayaan yg dikecapi, mahupun rakan2 atau musuh. Bagi org spt ini tiada siapa yg dapat melebihi apa yg mereka ada. Pihak ini akan sedaya upaya jatuhkan kita.Meskipun kita dah jatuh tersungkur, pihak ini akan tetap berusaha untuk pijak kita.
Inilah realiti kehidupan saudara. Adakah Ia tidak penting??? Fikir2kanlah

adi_iskandar

bagaimana strategi ni relevan dengan zaman sekarang? boleh huraikan?

alphawolf

Apasal pulak?

alphawolf

Diadaptasi untuk perniagaan...gaya strategi tu puitis...tapi huraiannya praktikal...

LimpBizkutMerri

[quote]Originally posted by pasolatido at 27-12-2007 05:08 PM
bagi aku buku

LimpBizkutMerri

Originally posted by disclaimer at 27-12-2007 04:46 PM
Ideologi dan teknik ni sesuai digunakan untuk berjaya dalam perang dgn competitor
teknik-teknik yang kita dapat bagaimana nak compete dengan pesaing kita. Kini
falsafah dan idea Sun Tzu digabun ...

takde dlm bahase englishh ker?? x paham aku dlm bahase melayu nii.. translate lain je bunyi..ehehehe

alphawolf

Google aje...mesti ade punya dalam BI

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The Art Of War is one of the oldest books ever written, yet it is still used today. It is the worlds first known treatise on war but the lessons it teaches can be applied to almost any area of your life where conflict is involved. People have been referencing this book for years in both military and civilian fields and now you can read it for yourself.

I don't think 'The Art of War' was meant to be a moral guide in the strict sense that we attribute to morality in Western civilization, in this particular era. In my opinion, Sun Tzu summarized all his personal experience on tactics and strategy (and perhaps other people's experience, too) in order to write a concise, logical and solid military manual. Military history is one of my biggest personal interests, and I've seen that it is possible to adapt Sun Tzu's ideas to most historical battlefields and eras. Not only does 'The Art of War' deals with manoeuvers and tactics in the battlefield, it addresses everything a commander should take into account prior to engaging battle: logistics, intelligence, terrain, morale and last, but not least, the psychological understanding of the opponent. As I mentioned above, 'The Art of War' cannot be seen as guidance for the ethics and morality of our acts, nonetheless, it is a valuable instrument when it comes down to overcome daily life difficulties, it helps focus problems in such a way they can be solved systematically. And when it comes to use such knowledge against individuals, personal foes, it's important to keep on mind that it's best to beat an enemy without actually fighting; overkill is not the best outcome most of the times.

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I always think that he had two basic strategies and then a series of techniques for dealing with individual scenarios which could be intertwined for a endless range of options that he could use.

The first and most important strategy was to avoid fighting. His strategy was to always try to win in order by:

   1. Superior Positioning
   2. Diplomacy
   3. Threat of Military Force
   4. Military Force.

In business terms Superior Positioning was Achieved by having:

   1. Superior Brand
   2. Superior People
   3. Superior Alliances
   4. Superior Resources
   5. Superior Technology

His Second strategy was that he would only fight when he knew he would win, this he achieved by going through a set process.

   1. Definition of Terrain
   2. Measurements
   3. Estimations of Quantities
   4. Calculations based on Estimates
   5. Comparisons based on Calculations

To me these are the two critical strategies of SunTzu, these two things set him apart from all others as they ensure that he was

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Note: I am posting this translation not becuase I endorse it orthink its the definitive translation but because it is freely availableand you can copy/print or do what you want with it. Saying that it isquite good.
Translated from the Chinese By LIONEL GILES, M.A. (1910)

I. LAYING PLANS
1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.
2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or toruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account beneglected.
3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to betaken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determinethe conditions obtaining in the field.
4. These are:
(1) The Moral Law;
(2) Heaven;
(3) Earth;
(4) The Commander;
(5) Method and discipline.
5,6. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord withtheir ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives,undismayed by any danger.
7. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
8. Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security;open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
9. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.
10. By method and discipline are to be understood the marshalling ofthe army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among theofficers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach thearmy, and the control of military expenditure.
11. These five heads should be familiar to every general:
he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.
12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine themilitary conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, inthis wise:--
13.
(1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law?
(2) Which of the two generals has most ability?
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven
and Earth?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
(5) Which army is stronger?
(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained?
(7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?
14. By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.
15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command!
The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:--let such a one be dismissed!
16. While heading the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules
17. According as circumstances are favourable, one should modify one's plans.
18. All warfare is based on deception.
19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable;when using ourforces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemybelieve we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we arenear.
20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.
22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.
24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
25. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought.
The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations todefeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to thispoint that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.

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II. WAGING WAR

1. Sun Tzu said: In the operations of war, where there are in the field a thousand swift chariots, as many heavy chariots, and a hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers, with provisions enough to carry them a thousand li, the expenditure at home and at the front, including entertainment of guests, small items such as glue and paint, and sums spent on chariots and armour, will reach the total of a thousand ounces of silver per day. Such is the cost of raising an army of 100,000 men.

2. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardour will be damped. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength.
3. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain.

4. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardour damped,
your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.

5. Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.

6. There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.

7. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand
the profitable way of carrying it on.

8. The skilful soldier does not raise a second levy, neither are his supply-wagons loaded more than twice.

9. Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs.

10. Poverty of the State exchequer causes an army to be maintained by contributions from a distance.
Contributing to maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished.

11. On the other hand, the proximity of an army causes prices to go up; and high prices cause the people's substance to be drained away.

12. When their substance is drained away, the peasantry will be afflicted by heavy exactions.

13,14. With this loss of substance and exhaustion of strength, the homes of the people will be stripped bare, and three-tenths of their income will be dissipated; while government expenses for broken chariots, worn-out horses, breast-plates and helmets, bows and arrows, spears and shields, protective mantles, draught-oxen and heavy wagons, will amount to four-tenths of its total revenue.

15. Hence a wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy's provisions is equivalent to twenty of one's own, and likewise a single picul of his provender is equivalent to twenty from one's own store.

16. Now in order to kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger; that there may be advantage from defeating the enemy, they must have their rewards.

17. Therefore in chariot fighting, when ten or more chariots have been taken, those should be rewarded who took the first.
Our own flags should be substituted for those of the enemy, and the chariots mingled and used in conjunction with ours.
The captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept.

18. This is called, using the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.

19. In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

20. Thus it may be known that the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people's fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril.

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III. ATTACK BY STRATAGEM

1. Sun Tzu said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.

2. Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

3. Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans; the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces; the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field; and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.

4. The rule is, not to besiege walled cities if it can possibly be avoided. The preparation of mantlets, movable shelters, and various implements of war, will take up three whole months; and the piling up of mounds over against the walls will take three months more.

5. The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his men to the assault like swarming ants,with the result that one-third of his men are slain, while the town still remains untaken. Such are the disastrous effects of a siege.

6. Therefore the skilful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.

7. With his forces intact he will dispute the mastery of the Empire, and thus, without losing a man, his triumph will be complete. This is the method of attacking by stratagem.

8. It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.

9. If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him.

10. Hence, though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, in the end it must be captured by the larger force.

11. Now the general is the bulwark of the State; if the bulwark is complete at all points; the State will be strong; if the bulwark is defective, the State will be weak.

12. There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his army:--

13. (1) By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army.

14. (2) By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldier's minds.

15. (3) By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.

16. But when the army is restless and distrustful,trouble is sure to come from the other feudal princes. This is simply bringing anarchy into the army, and flinging victory away.

17. Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory:
(1) He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
(2) He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
(3) He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
(4) He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
(5) He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

18. Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

disclaimer

IV. TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS

1. Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
3. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.

4. Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.

5. Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive.

6. Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.

7. The general who is skilled in defence hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Thus on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves; on the other, a victory that is complete.

8. To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.

9. Neither is it the acme of excellence if you fight and conquer and the whole Empire says, "Well done!"

10. To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength; to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight; to hear the noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear.

11. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.

12. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage.

13. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.

14. Hence the skilful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.

15. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

16. The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.

17. In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory.

18. Measurement owes its existence to Earth; Estimation of quantity to Measurement; Calculation to Estimation of quantity; Balancing of chances to Calculation; and Victory to Balancing of chances.

19. A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as a pound's weight placed in the scale against a single grain.

20. The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep.