7 Maneuvering - 8 Variation in Tactics (The Art of War)

01VII.

02Maneuvering.

03Sun Tzu said, After enticing the enemy out of the way, and though starting after him, to contrive to reach the goal before him shows knowledge of the artifice of deviation.

04Maneuvering with an army is advantageous, with an undisciplined multitude most dangerous.

05The stronger men will be in front, the jaded ones will fall behind, and on this plan only one-tenth of your army will reach its destination.

06If you march fifty-ly in order to outmaneuver the enemy, you will lose the leader of your first division, and only half your force will reach the goal.

07If you march thirty-ly with the same object, two-thirds of your army will arrive.

08We may take it, then, that an army without its baggage train is lost.

09Without provisions, it is lost.

10Without bases of supply, it is lost.

11We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors.

12We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country, its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps.

13We shall be unable to turn natural advantage to account unless we make use of local guides.

14In war, practice dissimulation and you will succeed.

15Whether to concentrate or to divide your troops must be decided by circumstances.

16Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest.

17In raiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability like a mountain.

18Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

19When you plunder a countryside, let the spoil be divided amongst your men.

20When you capture new territory, cut it up into allotments for the benefit of the soldiery.

21Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.

22He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation.

23Such is the art of maneuvering.

24The book of army management says, On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough.

25Hence the institution of gongs and drums.

26Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly enough.

27Hence the institution of banners and flags.

28Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point.

29The host thus forming a single united body, it is impossible either for the brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone.

30This is the art of handling large masses of men.

31In night fighting, then, make much use of signal flyers and drums, and in fighting by day of flags and banners, as a means of influencing the ears and eyes of your army.

32A whole army may be robbed of its spirit.

33A commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind.

34Now a soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning.

35By noonday it has begun to flag, and in the evening his mind is bent only on returning to camp.

36A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.

37This is the art of studying moods.

38Disciplined and calm to await the appearance of disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy.

39This is the art of retaining self-possession.

40To be near the goal while the enemy is still far from it.

41To wait at ease while the enemy is toiling and struggling.

42To be well-fed while the enemy is famished.

43This is the art of husbanding one's strength.

44To refrain from intercepting an enemy whose banners are in perfect order.

45To refrain from attacking an army drawn up in calm and confident array.

46This is the art of studying circumstances.

47It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.

48Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight.

49Do not attack soldiers whose temper is keen.

50Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy.

51Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.

52When you surround an army, leave an outlet free.

53Do not press a desperate foe too hard.

54Such is the art of warfare.

55End of Part 7 Part 8 Variation in Tactics Sun Tzu said, In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign, collects his army, and concentrates his forces.

56When in difficult country, do not encamp.

57In country where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies.

58Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions.

59In hemmed-in situations, you must resort to stratagem.

60In desperate position, you must fight.

61There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.

62The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.

63The general who does not understand these may be well acquainted with the configuration of the country, yet he will not be able to turn his knowledge to practical account.

64So, the student of war who is unversed in the art of war of varying his plans, even though he be acquainted with the five advantages, will fail to make the best use of his mem.

65Hence, in the wise leader's plans, considerations of advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together.

66If our expectation of advantage be tempered in this way, we may succeed in accomplishing the essential part of our schemes.

67If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.

68Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them, and make trouble for them, and keep them constantly engaged.

69Hold out specious allurements, and make them rush to any given point.

70The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.

71Not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

72There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general.

731.

74Recklessness, which leads to destruction.

752.

76Cowardice, which leads to capture.

773.

78A hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults.

794.

80A delicacy of honour, which is sensitive to shame.

815.

82Oversolicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.

83These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinous to the conduct of war.

84When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause will surely be found among these five dangerous faults.

85Let them be a subject of meditation.

86End of Part 9 Recorded in Toronto, Ontario by Moira Fogarty October 2006 End of Part 9 End of Part 9 End of Part 9