Chapter 11
Sun Tzu said: In war, there are various types of terrain—dispersed, light, contested, intersecting, strategic, difficult, perilous, enclosed, and death ground. When fighting takes place within a ruler's territory, it is termed dispersed ground. When the advance is near the enemy's border, it is light ground. Ground that can be occupied by either side with advantage is contested ground. Ground that can be approached and departed by both is intersecting ground. Ground where several states border and possession of which facilitates alliances with other states is strategic ground. Deep within the enemy's territory, passing through many of their cities, is difficult ground. Mountain forests, marshlands, and other places of difficult passage are perilous ground. Ground where the roads of entry are narrow and of retreat remote, and where a small force can hold off a large one, is enclosed ground. Ground where swift action means life and delay means death is death ground. Therefore, on dispersed ground, do not engage; on light ground, do not halt; on contested ground, do not attack if the enemy has occupied it first; on strategic ground, make alliances with neighboring states; on difficult ground, provision your army abundantly; in perilous ground, pass through swiftly; in enclosed ground, devise stratagems; and on death ground, fight with all your might.
The ancient generals esteemed for their military prowess were adept at disrupting the enemy's cohesion, rendering their large and small units unable to support each other, their officers and soldiers unable to assist one another, and their superiors and inferiors unable to maintain command and control. Troops would become dispersed and unable to regroup, and even when they did, they could not act in unison. They would act when it suited their interests and halt when it did not. One might ask, "If the enemy is numerous and well-disciplined, and advancing towards us, how should we confront them?" The answer is to strike at what the enemy cherishes and relies upon, thereby rendering them passive and compliant. The essence of warfare lies in speed, striking the enemy when they are unprepared, taking routes they do not anticipate, and attacking places they are not guarded.
The general principle of waging war in enemy territory is: When deep within enemy territory, the soldiers' minds become focused, and the enemy cannot defeat us. By plundering the enemy's fertile countryside, the army's provisions are ample. Train the troops diligently without fatiguing them, inspire their courage, and accumulate strength. Deploy forces and devise strategies to conceal your intentions and strengths from the enemy. Place the soldiers in situations where retreat is impossible, so they will fight to the death without hesitation. Faced with peril, soldiers will fear nothing; having no escape, their morale remains firm; deep in enemy territory, they will adhere together and dare not disperse; when driven to desperation, they will fight with their lives. Under such circumstances, the army will be vigilant without needing discipline, responsive without needing solicitation, cohesive without needing restraint, law-abiding without needing orders, free from superstitions and doubts, and unwilling to flee until death. Soldiers do not retain excess wealth, not because they dislike it, nor do they disregard their lives, not because they do not value them. When the order to fight is given, soldiers sitting will have tears on their sleeves, and those lying down will weep. Once placed in a desperate situation, they will display bravery akin to that of Zhuan Zhu and Cao Gui.
A skilled general commands his troops like the "Shuairan" snake. The Shuairan, found in Changshan, strikes back with its tail when its head is attacked, and with its head when its tail is attacked; if its middle is struck, both head and tail counterattack. One might ask if troops can be commanded like the Shuairan. The answer is yes. Although the people of Wu and Yue are enemies, when they find themselves in the same boat during a storm, they help each other as if they were left and right hands. Therefore, tying horses and burying wheels are inadequate means of stabilizing the army; what makes the army cohesive and brave is effective command. Making the brave and timid contribute to the war effort relies on skillful utilization of terrain. Ancient generals who excelled in warfare made their troops act as one by placing them in desperate situations.
Commanding troops requires calmness, profoundness, impartiality, strictness, and the ability to deceive soldiers into ignorance. Constantly change plans and strategies to conceal intentions; camp in different locations and march along indirect routes to obscure true objectives. When issuing combat orders, the commander should remove the ladder of retreat, leaving the soldiers no choice but to advance. Leading the troops deep into enemy territory, seize opportunities to attack, burn boats and bridges, and destroy cooking utensils, driving the enemy like sheep, with no one knowing where they are headed. Assembling the army and placing them in peril is the duty of a commander. The flexible application of various terrains, the advantages and disadvantages of offense and defense, and the psychological changes of soldiers in different environments must be carefully considered.
The general principle of fighting in enemy territory is: The deeper the penetration, the more focused the troops become; the shallower, the easier it is for the soldiers to disperse. Leaving one's own territory and crossing the border to fight in enemy territory is called extreme ground; a battlefield with access to multiple directions is strategic ground; deep within enemy territory is difficult ground; near the enemy's border is light ground; backed by dangers with narrow paths ahead is enclosed ground; and having no escape is death ground. Therefore, on dispersed ground, unify the soldiers' will; on light ground, maintain continuity; on contested ground, urge the troops forward swiftly from behind; on intersecting ground, defend cautiously; on strategic ground, strengthen alliances with neighboring states; on difficult ground, ensure continuous supply of provisions; in perilous ground, pass through swiftly; in enclosed ground, block escape routes; and on death ground, demonstrate resolve to die. The psychological changes of soldiers are: When enclosed, they will unite to resist; when driven to desperation, they will fight with all their might; when in grave danger, they will obey commands.
One who is unclear about the intentions of other states cannot engage in diplomacy, and one unfamiliar with mountain forests, marshlands, and other terrains and their principles of application cannot lead troops in battle. Without guides, one cannot secure advantageous terrains. Ignoring any of these four or five aspects makes one's army unworthy of being called a conqueror's. A conqueror's army attacks a great power swiftly, preventing them from mustering their people and assembling their army in time. When the military might is directed at the enemy, their diplomacy cannot succeed. Therefore, there is no need to rush to make alliances with any state or cultivate the authority of others. Bestow favors on your own people and soldiers, and direct your weapons towards the enemy. Then, their cities can be captured, and their capitals destroyed. Implement extraordinary rewards and decrees to command the army as if it were one person. Assign tasks without revealing intentions and inform them of advantages without mentioning dangers. Place soldiers in perilous situations, and they will fight desperately for survival. Soldiers in deadly peril will inevitably fight for their lives. It is in danger that soldiers will strive to achieve victory proactively. Commanding troops involves feigning compliance with the enemy's intentions while concentrating elite forces on a single target, traveling thousands of miles if necessary to slay their commanders. This is what is commonly known as achieving great things through ingenuity.
When deciding to wage war, close the border gates, abolish travel permits, and cease diplomatic exchanges with the enemy. Deliberate repeatedly in the temple and formulate war plans. When an opportunity arises, strike immediately and seize what the enemy cherishes first, without waiting for an appointed battle. Execute plans flexibly according to changing enemy conditions to secure victory. Thus, begin like a maiden, calming the enemy's vigilance, and then strike swiftly like a fleeing hare, leaving the enemy no time to resist.
